I was an idiot, when I was paying my Dave Ho monthly rent, I turned back to pass him the cash and walked away from the ATM! In China, the card comes out after the money, and you need to press “confirmed I received the cash, please exit”. Stupid me!!

And I didn’t even realize it until about an hour later yesterday morning (yes, life has been this crazy). Rushing back to the bank, in my broken and limited Chinese I tried to explain (mostly with hand motions to the security guard) that I left my card when I left the ATM.

I found a nice woman working there (in the main blog photo here, of course giving the peace sign!) and she helped me – I had my passports (yes BOTH my passports, as I have an expired / damaged passport that I registered the bank account with, and a new passport) and they had a bit of trouble finding my account number without my knowing my account number…I was calling anyone I could think of that has sent money to my bank account to pass me the number (yes, I know I should keep my account numbers written down someplace…)

Finally the bank teller could find my bank account and saw that the card was captured…which I think is the best option – so they had the card in their back office. Unfortunately I could not get the card until the next business day. I was told to come back the next morning (today) and pick it up.

I was planning to go to Hong Kong bright and early for a couple days, and not having my Chinese bank card, while not the biggest deal since I will be in Hong Kong (for those of you aware, its a different banking and financial system – currency, etc) I was still paranoid not having physical possession of my bank card. So I decided to go to China Merchants Bank first thing in the morning.

Buying my Chinese breakfast (a couple tea eggs and milk yogurt thingie) I entered the bank. The bank admin remembered me and my problem, and helped me get my ticket number to wait for the next available teller. Eating my breakfast, my number was quickly called and the teller received my passports to look up my account.

Rather quickly (I know, I am still in shock!) she wrote down my bank account number and told me to go to the VIP section to wait for my card to be printed out. Grabbing an instant coffee (had to dig in the lower cabinets to find the coffee…all I could see on the counter was tea!) I sat in the plush chairs, popped out my Mac Air, glanced at some Chinese financial news on TV, and sipped on my instant coffee.

Its the simple things in life.

Quicker than expected, I was called up to a VIP booth and signed a couple documents and was given back the original ATM bank card I had used in the past. I was still rather shocked, caffeine was kicking in, and I didn’t want to disrupt the blessing I had received from above that day…and just took my card, smiled and left.

Is this the new China, or have I been here too long?

I just remember complaining all the time…seriously I was thinking I would have to close my account, open a new account, wait 2 weeks, sign a million papers…..

Or ….maybe I am getting used to living here….

But either way, today’s experience was worth blogging about!

Since they didn’t publicly post their views, I will place it here to give various

Against Keeping Her
Keep personal and business separate – you are not a non-profit, you’re a business, and your business goal is to make money. no drame.

Please, focus on business

For Waiting Longer

A few said its too early to see what can happen, give her some time to get over things, take care of her emergencies, think about what she wants, and take it from there.

For Keeping Her

I got a rather long email from a business mentor friend of mine:

Here’s what I think…

I had a similar thing happen with one of our workers, there was a period there when anything that could go wrong did – her friend was in teh Japanese earthquake (= one week off) her mother needed to go to the hospital (=late to work), her power was down (well that is regular and probably true), she had to go to teh dentist, her friends sister needed medical attention – i could go on, but you get my drift. WE can close to sacking her several times. But as you say – managing Filiponos is managing a culture. And my understanding of the culture is this:

- you very rarely speak the direct truth, especially to westerners
- you never know where your next $ is coming from and you must cobble it together as best you can

but also

- if treated well you are extremely loyal and very committed

So – anyway, your case…. I think an 18 year old girl who gets pregnant is going to be very very scared and she would most definitely not answer your question “are oyu pregnant?” Quite apart from the shame there is the fear of losing this big opportunity, her income, the scholarship.

I place it in a very different “lying” basket to say… “Did you steal this money?”

So, if it were me – yes I would give her another chance.

I would sit her down or on the phone, whatever, and say…. “I really value you and I really want you on this team, but i need you to be honest with me. For my part I can guarantee that I will never sack you without first a.) letting you know there is a problem, b.) giving you time to fix the problem and c.) giving you fair warning. But i need you to trust me and to tell me the truth.”

Also bear in mind most of these people have been treated appallingly by westerners – my staff tell tales of having firms use software so they can check their screens throughout the day to see if there are working.

And the end of my tale is that we stuck with her, even when her city flooded and she was off work for 2 weeks – and now we have the MOST loyal committed staff member you could ask for. Also competent (dont forget your year of training)

there ya go, thats one perspective, hope it helps

also – i know you know this – but they are not in the “mutual employee/ employer respect paradigm – they are in the “you boss/me worker” paradigm. Very hard to break down, and even when you think you have, it could be they are just giving what they think you want.

But then again, up until last night I had not heard from Darlene for weeks….and only hearing rumors and the report from Joel my accountant in the Philippines on what was happening….

And then I finally received a proper email from her last night…getting an open and honest feedback:

[Offline] Darlene to Michael
show details 7:58 PM (3 hours ago)

Hi Boss,

The truth is I confirmed that i was preggy on last dec 28 2010 and i was very afraid of everything. I decided to keep it to you, to my family and to my friends especially to you coz i know that your expecting too much for me and also my mom.. my mom leave me on april coz she found out the truth i as left alone.. till now I deliver my child without my mom and my boyfirend was Ian Cruz who has no work to provide what i need. He is hurting me and I really miss those person who really cares for me.. I deliver my child on august 24 after 3 days in labor i was in critical condition but h\then I did everything to make him okay coz he is already in critical too.. he already release his feces to my stomach and 2 weeks in hospital.. but now I’m already okay my aunt was the one whose taking care of my baby.. and I really need to work to provide his needs. I’m really really sorry boss for what I did. I made that thing and lied just to survive to buy my baby clothes also. I as thankful to shadstone coz it gives me everything and especially my career and dignity here in our town.. coz they saw me going to school and still working in spite i was pregnant thats why i was very thankful to you.. and I am ready of my punishment that you will give to me. if i have no work to be its okay i will just apply to mall as a sales lady or somewhere to pay my bills… i was very thankful to you and really really sorry..

Thanks!
Darlene

Darlene is a resourceful person, I believe she will make it even if she loses this job and this scholar program…..

I just need more time to think, I will chat to her more soon.

—–
Update Sunday Sept 18:

Good email from a friend, she agreed I can post it anonymously:

Hats off to you!

In some ways, you are now more Asian than I am Why?
Im less warm than most Filipinos — partly upbringing
and partly coz I worked overseas in the past… As such,
I would have confronted the said staff and would have
asked her point blank what the score was… If she told
the truth, I might have given her a second change… If not, good bye…

Having said that, I just wanted to let you know that regardless of your decision — and you seem to be pretty torn on which way you’d go — you’re doing a good thing!

I guess you have to ask yourself, is she worth keeping? There are plenty of other deserving Filipinos you could help… But she’s already there… So, if you do give her a second chance, make sure she holds up her end of the bargain… Otherwise, adios! Trust me, you don’t want to get too entangled in other peoples’ private lives.

You know what’s sad? Sometime, it’s the Filipinos who really need the money who act foolishly and do irrational things that potentially ruin their lives. Which is probably why I’m a bit frustrated — a good majority of Filipinos need to smarten up —- that’s the only way the Philippines will progress. Haaaay, how I wish it were otherwise!

Anyway, keep up the good work!

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Hi Mike,

Joel sent me this email telling me she needs to take an emergency leave starting today to assist her dying relative. I do not know how long will it be.

Hi Joel,

Thanks for this email. Please remind Darlene to send us a scanned copy of the hospital certification with regards to dying relative along with the details of hospital check in and check out.

Thanks,
Marie

Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Subject: text message from Darlene

“Joel emergency lang pakisabi kay Marie leave na ko. sya muna place order ngayon kasi punta kami hospital dinala na yung dying relative ko”

I was really wondering what this meant, and days went by….and then 2 days later Marie’s water broke and was rushed to the hospital….I was waiting / hoping Darlene would be back from her death in the family trip, or at least checking emails…..

There had been rumors in the neighborhood (all the staff that work on my team are in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines) that Darlene was pregnant…and that rumor had been going around since my june trip to the Philippines ….and I met her for lunch w/ Marie’s brother Roc Roc….. she came in her school univerity uniform (that I financed) and was rather “bundled up”. It was a rainy day, and I didn’t see it in her face that she could be pregnant. I asked her…and she told me she was not pregnant…and that her studies were on track. I had the scholarship agreement ready to print, she agreed to everything (she was saying that the monthly allowance was low….but accepted it)….

I almost wanted to cry. It has felt good to feel that I was sending someone to get an education. I had taken her under my wing….so many people told me I was crazy/stupid to keep her when I realized we needed to get her more experienced and better english in order to continue to add value to the business….I was told by friends and mentors not to waste time with sending her to school and let her go and hire someone new.

But I thought it would be giving her a chance after almost a year of loyal work, to send her to university and start a regular Philippines scholarship fund…

….well…tonight we had Joel go to her house and check on her…..and this is his report (sent to me just an hour or 2 ago):

Email Subject: Thursday visit Darlene’s House

from Joel Sy
to Michael Michelini
cc: Marie Balaan
date Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 12:02 AM
subject Thursday visit Darlene’s House

hide details 12:02 AM (1 hour ago)

visited her place Thursday afternoon, I called her why she is not here to meet me but she said the cellphone signal is not good so just text her my message.

– She chose the date of our meeting. Her text message reply – “She is sorry for not meeting me and she having her eye checkup and texted me to visit her tomorrow, “She is having eye problems after the delivery, a friend will visit her later to fix the laptop”.

I asked a person in her house – what is their landline number and text Darlene that she text me what time we can talk via landline phone.

-After few hours she texted me a different landline no. , called the number and the line is busy.

Called the landline number I got earlier.

– She answered the phone and said “this phone is working”.

I asked her what do you plan for your work and your school.

- “She is waiting for her parents to come to help her here in Manila”.
– “She will stop the 1st semester school and if she can still work for Shadstone she will work full time, the part time monthly allowance is not enough for her daily needs and for the 2nd semester she will work part time”

I asked her to chat with Mike to properly report her plans.

– “She has an eye problem , cannot open a computer”, She plans to chat with Mike next week.

I asked for the business cards.

– “ ok she will look for the business cards”.

Unreal….I mean, the business is back on track and operational…had to train 2 new staff (thanks Ecky and Czar!) under pressure, while this shenzhen bootup weekend was going on…..

So here is my thought process:

Reasons To Keep Her:
• I have already started to make the investment – Its hard to say you made a bad decision….but its also a waste to put good money after bad…seems this will only get more difficult….she is lying to me.
• She is young and scared – yes, she is just 18 years old and to work from her home when her parents went away was a bad thing. And then she got pregnant, scared to lose her scholarship, her job, and to let me down. Maybe this lie got exploded bigger and bigger.
• We spent time training her – A sad fact…..but yea, I’m used to training and having turnover…so not a big reason.
• This was not done as an attack on my business – Marie said how do we know she won’t do this again, and this could have bankrupted the company,…… But I feel if we let this one work out she should be super loyal in the future, right?
• I still believe she is a good person and worker – I still remember the day I interviewed, she had her cover sheet custom prepared for my company, and a list of questions about the business…how it operates, the flow, cashflow….really intelligent questions. This is compared to the majority I interviewed that didn’t even know the name of my business.

Reasons She Cannot Stay:

• She lied to me to my face – I met with her in Technohub in Quezon City…and asked her to her face if she was pregnant and she said no.
• How will this affect my image as a boss to current and future Filipino staff – Does this make me look like a pushover if I let her stay? Or kind and others will want to work for me?
• I’m not her father, brother, etc – I’m running a business…..I need to separate business and personal.

Things I do not know:

• Did she really have a baby? – I think its 99% sure now after Joel’s visit.
• How are her school grades? – Is it possible she kept her school grades in good standing?

I always think and wonder how to make this a win-win…..but really, it seems like a lose lose….

….if I keep her, then how will the others look at me as a boss/ manager? And will she do this again?

…if I let her go, she will become another single mom in the philippines without a job and not finishing her education. Or maybe she’ll find a way without me.

I’m also considering maybe taking her out of working part time, and keeping it a pure scholarship program….as she will have to take care of her newborn as well now.

But this is just highlighting another issue in the Philippines….and why a few other friends of mine have moved their businesses out of there…..

Again, managing people is also managing cultures….and in the Philippines, I am not alone in dealing with this family and personal trauma.

I always do too much, get into more then I can handle…..”bite off more then you can chew” as they say it.

BUT I CHEW IT ALL and I will get through it. I think its times like this when you define yourself as a business person, an entrepreneur, and overall as a person adding value to the business society.

Ok, now let me explain what the heck am I talking about.

Staff issues – my trusted sales manager having an early baby delivery, rushing to the hospital with Marie last wednesday as her water broke during our meeting. This will be a full blog post in the next few days…but newyorkbarstore is under fire now as emails are building up, warehouses, logistics, backorders…..Pure insanity that most of my ecommerce friends can also agree comes and goes. At least its a low season in the summertime.

Changing ecommerce warehouses in California – trying to build a cooperation with a Shenzhen logistics and ecommerce service company and they are building up a USA fulfillment center…..its been a rough transition with language, culture, and business differences…..as well as having staff and teams all over the world…China, Philippines, USA. Emails, time zones, chats, phone calls.

Reorganization at the fiveislands dongguan fulfillment center -big changes there….re organizing the company direction and staff. I have close connections as I spent a lot of my time living there in Dongguan, China ….as well as working relationships. Just seems end of last week and into this week been a lot of hard decisions to make.

Hurricanes and Earthquakes surrounding my friends back in USA – getting voicemails from friends worried their houses my blow down! (Ty!) And reading news online that Manhattan, NYC may flood…just insane!

More USA Wedding invitations - More and more wedding invitations to my Florida, USA address (that my poor dad has to scan in and figure out how to email me) ….that internal pressure to get serious in a love relationship, get married, spread the seeds, get kids, get a home…..isn’t that what life is all about? I’m 30 years old now …..getting that regular lecture from friends and family that I need to start thinking about a family.

College friend visit to Hong Kong first time – This will be a blog post soon, just one year ago my buddy Hasan visited me in Hong Kong ….this time it was another college and fraternity brother here, on business selling real estate to Chinese! I really am happy my friends are coming from USA here, so I had to give him some tour time around Hong Kong and Macau….but it was exhausting and draining while my business is under fire!

This Shenzhen coworking and startup community building is taking more time – It really does drain time and energy….and as much as I am passionate about it, I still do not see a way for it to pay my bills (in the short term at least) so I cannot dedicate 100% of my time, I need to build up the ecommerce business (above) which is under fire with staff having babies, on sick leave, and changing warehouses. I hope to keep the energy going towards this startup community. Getting tons of emails and calls about the BootUP! weekend this weekend, many people want and need this, so its fulfilling, and its what I’m passionate about.

I may need to tell you guys I need push back the launch of this podcast I am so excited about, but still aiming for this weekend, maybe from on site at the BootUP!

Rock on….just needed to vent here a bit…..its Monday and actually I think things will be better by mid-week…..

And I miss blogging….

Its these tough times though, this is when we are defined as business people….and human beings overall. And I will not give up or bend under pressure

Even after taking a business trip here in to Asia (hit Hong Kong first) it didn’t fully sink in to how a daily business day really transacted, as I was rushing around factory to factory, city to city. Not until I really started working here, building up my office, watching how my staff worked, watching how other offices got work done….working inside factories….

And maybe I never thought specifically about blogging on this topic, but a business friend in USA just emailed me, and I thought I would answer publicly (Note: I changed names and edited some of it to be more general):

Mike,

I wanted to ask you about a Chinese cultural issue, if I may.

I sent the below message, as you will see, to Jack without a response back. This is my second attempt to contact him.

Here in the States we would have to conclude that we are being “blown off”, would that also be the same kind of conclusion one would assume in China.

Thanks for your input.

Regards,

Jerry

From: ‘Jerry’
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 10:52 AM
To: ‘Jack’
Subject: Discussion Follow-up

Jack,

Again, thank you for meeting me on your recent trip to the US.

I wanted to follow-up our different discussion points with you and ask you what you think the next steps should be.

Looking forward to your reply.

Regard,
Jerry

Now I have to admit, I myself hate emails, it just seems like its everyone’s answer to get things done “hey, I sent you an email, you get it?”, or, I need to reply these emails. I think its not “replying emails”, but rather its getting work done in general right…and email is a form of communication to transmit ideas and information from one person to another.

Here are my reasons why I believe maybe email is not the best form of communication, in China especially, but in general:

• Demand to do business with China – come on, we see it in the news, I log into my finance news every day, and one of the top 5 headlines always has something about China in it. So what does this create, everyone in the west banging on China’s doors to buy something, to have some kind of “bragging right” to have at the cocktail parties that they are entering the China market. And what does this create, a lot of unnecessary emails into tons of alibaba factory directory accounts. I have looked at the “CRM” of factories…its exploding with tons of emails from all over the world of people who want to buy from them….and maybe 1% of them are serious, and 0.1% will choose this factory out of the others…..so therefore creating tons of emails in these Chinese businessman’s boxes to sift through, humanly impossible to reply to.
• Timezone difference…..arriving to office with avalanche of emails….especially if you deal with USA business….their day is your night…and you come to your desk at 8 or 9am…and all those emails come flooding in…..a bit overwhelming to say the least.
• Lack of management and organizational skills in Chinese educational system – What I and my fellow classmates in school used to call a waste of time, certain soft skill classes about email management, time management, people management was actually helpful. From my exposure here in China, I do not believe there educational system includes such material as these we have in the Western world. Therefore, the new graduate in school is exposed to a workworld where probably if they are doing international sales will be dealing with emails….and they probably never knew how to handle it!
• Prefer face to face business talk – This is in tons of Chinese business books, but it is true, Chinese people really prefer to do business face to face. And to build a relationship with the person. If there isn’t that feeling of trust, as well as maybe knowing the counterparty’s family, friends, and social network diversity…they may hesitate to do business. And an email is COLD….its really hard to put feeling and passion into an email….so many times I believe I am probably misunderstood in an email by my wording, cultural tone, “American directness”.
• Next step is phone – Maybe the below point (QQ chat) is becoming more popular, depends on generation….but again, because of feeling, tone, personality, trust, hearing a voice, as well as instant gratification of a phone call makes the Chinese business world go around. So many times I’ll get a call, day or night, with a request to have a rather last minute meeting that is urgent or not possible for the foreseeable future….making daily scheduling and planning almost a joke. Yet, the phone is the modern “business weapon” of the Chinese wild-wild-west….its a tool one cannot live without.
• and next step is QQ chat This is a daily necessity to doing business in China….its always right next to the mobile number, you have QQ groups and QQ IDs….both personal and business…file transfers, funny cartoon animations, screenshot sharing….China would seriously be in trouble if QQ web servers were to go down…I’m sure this has been a huge key to efficiency in Chinese business.
• Internet isn’t always so reliable – due to filtering, and basic infrastructure limitations, especially inland china where power outages are mandatory, sometimes emails just lag behind…

Hopefully this sheds some light on my fellow American businessman friends as well as the rest of those foreigners banging their heads against the desk wondering how to better get through to Chinese businesspeople.

Here are some ideas:

• Work on different timezone sometimes – yes, international business is “sexy”, but this is one of those parts of the job that can drag…..sometimes you gotta work on their timezone. Maybe not even for phone calls, but for chat and emails….I remember being in USA and delay sending my emails to Chinese contacts until I knew it was further into their business days….just that morning overload of blast emails makes them all a blur….getting a fresh one in midday sometimes sticks out more.
• Try different forms of communication – QQ chat has an english version, but also many Chinese have skype and MSN, some even google talk. I know chats can be distracting, and many Americans think its for high school kids, but chatting in Asia is a softer way to get through

Happy communicating!

]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/07/why-chinese-dont-reply-to-many-emails.html/feed 9 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/07/single-moms-in-the-philippines.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=single-moms-in-the-philippines http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/07/single-moms-in-the-philippines.html#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:40:18 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=4236 As I bounce around Philippines, Hong Kong, and China, I so constantly run into single Filipino mothers working to support their children and family. I think its the biggest problem in the Philippines, and its a deep rooted problem that I wonder if I am even qualified enough to blog about…I will try my best to explain my perspective.

During my last two weeks back, being a social guy, I strike up conversations all over the place….and many of them are single Filipino mothers. I am so curious how this happens, and I am getting more and more bold to ask questions of the story how it happened.

Some example stories…. I will leave out names.

• She was under 18 (think 17), he was mid 20s, a filipino couple….she got pregnant, her father got so angry because she is so young, their families knew each other, so the girl’s father went to the boyfriend’s family to ask for (something?) and then got in a fight with the boyfriend at his home, punching out the boyfriends front tooth. In Philippines, girls under 18 are not allowed to date older men, and the boyfriend could have gotten in serious trouble from the police and government.
• Bartender in Wan Chai I met, she is 22 years old, computer science degree in Manila, has a 2 year old son, father left after she got pregnant, she now works 6 days a week night shift in Hong Kong, with a 2 hour commute each way to her home. Sends money back to the Philippines regularly…very angry at her baby’s father who left.
• Dancer in Angeles 22 years old with a 3 year old son, she was from the province (deep out in the islands far from city center) and she told me she thought she was in love…but after she got pregnant, here filipino boyfriend disappeared….

I can go on and on with stories, my friend MikeMo works at Western Union and the Philippines is one of the top countries to receive money from overseas workers….

Also in the airport yesterday, I met a European woman, Esther from Samaritana that supports Filipino single moms that become prostitutes to pay for their baby and their family. I was a couple hours early for my flight, and Esther and I went through some stories….her non-profit doesn’t do much internet marketing, she honestly said they don’t have the budget to scale too big and are focusing mostly on Quezon City area of Manila.

She also said facebook and website marketing wouldn’t be effective for her organization to find these victims, because most don’t have internet at all and sleep on garbage piles in back alleys. I still advised she make more internet awareness, guides, how to, and support networks….it inspires me to do something as well.

Lets analyze why this happens, try to break down points:

Culture

The Philippines is primarily a Catholic state, forbidding abortion and after morning pills. I am not going to get into pro-life and pro-choice discussions, I am just going to inform you guys thats how it is. Also people are not educated on condoms…asking some people they do not know what it is. And those who know what condoms is, either think its illegal in the Philippines (which it is not) or are too embarrassed to purchase them. They are afraid to purchase them because the cashiers give them strange looks, like they are a whores. Its just a deep rooted cultural topic in Philippines. Last year I blogged cultural differences between the Philippines and China that is worth a read.

Family First

In Asian culture, there is no choice, you need to support kids, family, whereas in Western culture, its a bit more of a choice or financial condition circumstance. And it seems women are expected to be the ones to earn the money…which is so opposite from anywhere else I know. Maybe the men feel women can earn more money, have better education. But overall, in my opinion, Filipinos really take care of their kids and so many times the mother has to leave her children to her parents (child’s grandparents) while she leaves the country or the province to a city to earn money….however she is willing or able to.

Sometimes the women get jobs overseas, Hong Kong or Singapore being popular places. I learned the basic process and hopefully the mother gets a job in a respectable family household that respects her.

Abuse, Cannot go to police

But many times, these single moms either willingly or entrapped, become prostitutes. Maybe they do it to earn more money than in a legitimate job, maybe they are not qualified to get a high enough paying job….or just have no idea how to get a job that can pay enough for their baby and their parents they are supporting. And prostitution is illegal in the Philippines, and Esther told me so many times boyfriends pimp out their girls, customers beat them and abuse them….and the mother cannot go to the police, as she is doing an illegal act of solicitation. And the overseas workers in Hong Kong or other places also may be subject to these conditions, also at a disadvantage being away from their home country and no one to turn to, no one to trust.

What about the men?

This is a touchy one….but I have to say, in my experience in call centers and web work, Filipino women are more diligent and willing to work hard. I’m not sure where this happens in the upbringing or educational system in the Philippines, but the men mostly work general contractor construction jobs or manual labor. They do not seem to be as computer savvy or as strong in the English language. Then they seem to rely on the women to earn the money.

Again, its another frustration in the Philippines that as Leon tells me, and I have to agree, has to be “bred” out over future generations….hopefully as the world is becoming more “flat” and information and opportunity are spread globally equally, all human beings will have a better chance at living the life they want.

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/07/single-moms-in-the-philippines.html/feed 9 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/the-aftermath-after-vacation-while-running-your-own-business.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-aftermath-after-vacation-while-running-your-own-business http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/the-aftermath-after-vacation-while-running-your-own-business.html#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:33:30 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=4234 Really did my best to de-stress…but the emails and “wired” self that I am I couldn’t help but try to reply to urgent emails and monitor emails as they flowed in. Being an open, social media, blogger dude, I would openly tell people I’m trying to take a vacation. Most of the time people would understand…but I have a feeling some maybe newer relationships got upset when I kept on pushing back replies to contract reviews, conference calls, and emails that require more then a couple sentences to reply.

But I’m a human being. I try to openly delegate, directly connect people in the organization…to not be the piece of the puzzle that if I get sick the pyramid crumbles…but still, such a small business the people running the business are the most valuable assets.

And running around like a madman in Philippines….delayed flights, boats not going for days on end…..hours of sitting in a taxi in metro manila during traffic. I have definitely gotten way more patient since coming to Asia from America….but even still, my nerves still get shocked with inefficiency in communication systems and transportation chaos.

Sadly, most people never see both sides…I do remember being that frustrated American businessman never having come to China or other parts of Asia. Its a developing economy, constant contruction, such rapid growth in infrastructure that there is downtime. Or there is such a glut of people who have no motivation to work to improve the system. It will take the current youth in these countries to have the global exposure and mindset to better develop these systems…the internet and communication platforms will better expose cultures.

Again, I am just more aware and appreciative of the daily frustrations in the Philippines – brownouts, high electricity costs, massive traffic in Manila, inefficient public transportation, taxi hustlers, it wears on people and in a way creates and environment where the harder you work, the harder it is to maintain, the forces are against you.

I’m saying this as I charge my mobile phone in restaurants while eating dinner, struggling to catch a wifi connection in a free wifi zone (the signal is there, but connection just doesnt work….), and sitting in traffic tweeting from my mobile phone. If you stress about it, you will get an ulser…

Thursday night I will be back in Hong Kong, where the internet is fast, electricity is abundant, and transportation systems are efficient.

Location still matters, and after this holiday I am ready to really get down to business!

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• failure
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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/the-aftermath-after-vacation-while-running-your-own-business.html/feed 1 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/blog-like-no-one-is-watching.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blog-like-no-one-is-watching http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/blog-like-no-one-is-watching.html#comments Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:23:19 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=4069 I have been behind on my blogging. A bit discouraged, in a transitional state of business and life. To top that off, overwhelmingly getting people and articles telling me to focus and that this blogging is sucking up too much time and not worth the effort.

But I enjoy to blog, so who cares what others may think.

Maybe its the weather changing, but I have been “perma-sick” for the past two weeks, congestion, headaches, body aches, cough. I finally took a day off this Saturday and SLEPT!….much needed day of doing nothing.

While waking up and falling back asleep…..I had so many wild dreams….mostly thinking back to different times in my life…..business deals, relationships, family. Maybe some situations I wish I could change, go back and change….at least thats how it seemed in my dream. I had these chances in my dream, these intersections of my life where I could do more, say more, do less, say less.

There is the saying, dance like nobody is watching, and I applied that to my blog today, “blog like nobody is watching”.

What a week last week was, let me hit on a few points:

Marriage – So much pressure for women to get married before they are “too old”. Both directly in my life, and in my friends’ lives…this is a daily topic. At the age of 30, I also get that pier pressure to do what everyone else is doing and settle down, get a family. But to do it for the sake of doing it is crazy. I want to be 100% convinced I have found the right person, and am confident in my current life position its the bes thing to do.

Divorce – The opposite of the above, but I have been talking to friends who are going through divorce…that has to be extremely painful for anyone…wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But I also feel in today’s society, its getting more acceptable to give up more easily in a marriage…whereas in the past, social pressure frowned on divorce thus it was much less. Then in the past, did people simply stay together because friends/family/society didn’t like it? Did people live for themselves, or for others?

Pregnancy – Been a bit sad learning in Philippines unexpected pregnancy can affect a woman’s life so drastically. And in China its so common for birth control and abortion. Just such extremes. But I feel an unexpected child birth is why there is more poverty in Philippines and other lower income, less fortunate countries. Not saying what is right or wrong about “after morning pills” and abortions….but when a women gets pregnant at a young age, or an unexpected time in her life…it really has harsh reality outcomes. Yes, I know, this is life….

Child birth – Once the baby is born, the woman (or hopefully happy couple) will have to take care of this newborn baby. Food, clothing, school. Hopefully the child will grow up with equal opportunities to live the life they always wanted.

Unemployment – People feeling rejected from their jobs. Not sure what they are meant to do with their lives. Are they not good enough to add value to the company they used to work for? Which company or industry do they best fit in? Whats the point of work? These are just the random thoughts flying through someone who is unemployed and cannot find the right job. Hearing this over and over.

Working in jobs we don’t like because we don’t have a choice – Then so many people get stuck into jobs they don’t like. Maybe they have to pay the bills. They don’t have the schooling or education for their dream job. Maybe they don’t have confidence to quit and take a chance in their life. I think that is the most common reason, so many people are afraid to quit their job, to try something new.

I am glad I got so much must needed rest today. Didn’t check into any places on foursquare (ie, didn’t leave my apartment in Hong Kong), ate some various dried foods in my place, didn’t check email (too much) and instead…

slept and thought

Wish I could do this more often. It is mind expanding.

]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/06/blog-like-no-one-is-watching.html/feed 7 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/but-mike-you-cannot-live-like-them-you-were-not-born-chinese.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=but-mike-you-cannot-live-like-them-you-were-not-born-chinese http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/but-mike-you-cannot-live-like-them-you-were-not-born-chinese.html#comments Sun, 29 May 2011 03:47:54 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=4059 I talk a lot, I am open about my life and let others give input to help me make decisions, and the blog title today “But Mike, You Cannot Live Like Them, You Were Not Born Chinese” comes from a recent meeting with my friend, who i will hold back on revealing their identity.

And yes, living in China (Asia) has changed my mindset about logic, reality…the reason of life. And I think its true, the longer you are out here, the more disconnected with “home” you get.

I was not born chinese, sure –> that is a true statement. Does that mean i cannot live like “them” (sounds kinda racist…)? i do agree, american way of life is much more……how do yo say….smooth, easy…..i think for the most part, western life is much easier compared to the majority of Asian countries.

I can hear my older generations back in USA shouting out loud – “thats what our soldiers and ancestors fought so hard for, to achieve freedom and the American dream, so that future generations of Americans can live free and be rewarded if they work hard”.

Yes, that is something truly unique about America, compared to China with still a rather “strong handed” government, and Europe with a pretty high tax structure, America still seems to give the most allowance for people to work hard and build a comfortable life.

So many times I am amazed at how hard working Chinese are. Today’s blog photo is a couple years ago (originally posted on Ningbo trip recap in March 2008), but I thought it would be good to dig up and use for today’s blog post. If you look in the background, there is a Chinese farmer taking a rest in the wagon of his cart! They live their job, work and earning money is the way of life and thinking for the typical Chinese….they really can sleep anywhere

But friends said i have already sacrificed anough living in Dongguan and that my role as a marketing, sales, and online social media dude does not at all require me to be in Dongguan. I have to keep networking with ecommerce and technical companies in various cities, and actively blogging and using social media (which is difficult from within the GFW of China (great firewall))

Heck, it is true, most of what i do can be done anywhere…..reading the four hour work week it over and over tells you how you have to organize and manage more. My main thing is training the staff, as well as potential client visits to the warehouse. But I think both of those can be delegated and trained, others need to know how to replace me anyway!

Those following my blog (LIFE!) have seen me bouncing back and forth from dongguan to shenzhen to hong kong for the majority of 2011. It started out a bit more scheduled, living in hong kong (really small place, but dont need much) driving in from hong kong once or twice a week to the Chinese fiveislands fulfillment center. But it got a bit more crazy, client signing up on saturday, ecommerce meetups in shenzhen, startup mondays in hong kong, jumping around trying to find my calling, to find a balance in my schedule, which part of the week in which city of South China?

As we are halfway through the year, I have been reflecting on where to spend most of my time. the hong kong apartment is only a six month contract so renewal is coming. I see opportunity to setup the shenzhen coworking and bridge shenzhen and hong kong.

I’m getting closer to building up a network and experience inside China and ecommerce and social media Pieces are coming together, and I am not losing sight of the goal….the goal of building a massive network of people between China (Asia) and USA…international business. I think it was that movie Lord of War that got me addicted to the adventure of international business.

Can I live like a Chinese person? hmmmm

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/but-mike-you-cannot-live-like-them-you-were-not-born-chinese.html/feed 2 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/factory-power-outages-a-reality-of-chinese-factories.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=factory-power-outages-a-reality-of-chinese-factories http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/factory-power-outages-a-reality-of-chinese-factories.html#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 11:02:20 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=3988 Just another struggle with Chinese factory life…not sure if people here know, but due to high energy consumption and limited capacity of factories in China – they turn off power in certain factories. This is not the choice of the factory, but instead the local or province government forcing this to happen in order to prevent power outages (blackouts, brownouts) in the area.

But I was planning to take a trip to Dongguan today, but received this email from my assistant, Amy there:

Hi Mike,

I am sorry to tell you that we got power rationing today. Mr. Xu our electrician told me start from this week , we will got power cut on each Tuesday and each Friday. pls noted that.

http://english.eastday.com/e/100802/u1a5367173.html

http://www.subaonet.com/html/chinanews/2011428/1142894720634595755.html

http://www.china.org.cn/learning_english/2010-09/08/content_20886322.htm

Maybe this you can write a blog about this topic , Power cut

–

Best regards
Amy Gu
Office assistant

Its funny that she mentions I should blog about it! I am getting everyone in my life integrated into my blog…..yet I believe that is the future, the integration of social media in our work and personal lives.

Back to this power outage.. Its another reason China is different then other places….I think in America, this would not be allowed….the citizens would scream this is not freedom….there has to be power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Then again, this is a government owned / controlled business in China. I believe there isn’t much the people of China can say to stop this.

I have to note, the factory has a backup generator, but its used on a limited basis. It keeps basic work going, but in the evening, the dormitories have no electricity. If I cannot get electricity in my dorm…then no internet, no blogging, no life!

I have been stuck there on days where there is power out…Amy knows how crazy I get. I am addicted to internet…therefore electricity.

I’ll have to stick in Shenzhen another night, wake up early, and bus it Chang An, Dongguan.

—- More follow ups from Amy —-
{{Amy, you know you can comment }} Amazing Amy read the blog and followed up with all the information below:

Chinese government wants to develop its economics, but power rationing can do nothing to help that , if we got enough power , do you think the Chinese government still want to do power rationing in many provinces at the same time , did the Chinese government benifit from the power rationing ?

On one hand ——> challenges

China’s booming energy demand is caused by rapid economic growth, particularly in heavy industry.

Industry by industry, energy demand in China is increasing so fast that the broader efficiency targets are becoming harder to hit.

These challenges are all the harder to rise to given that not everyone’s energy needs have been met.

Beijing is putting considerable pressure on local governments to reduce energy demand by shutting down obsolete industries.

Another victim of China’s energy demands is the global environment.

On the other hand——-> opportunities

Moreover, China’s mounting energy needs mean that it has a huge incentive to promote energy sources other than oil.

Renewable energy systems include systems (wind, solar, biomass and geothermal) that may be used to produce and sell electricity.

I also have to say, its also because summer is nearing, and all those air conditioners blasting all over the country…Chinese are becoming more and more like Americans….consuming more goods and using more energy. Sales of cars are exploding here, everyone wants to use their newly developed disposable income for convenience.

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/factory-power-outages-a-reality-of-chinese-factories.html/feed 5 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/happy-mothers-day-miss-mom-and-nana.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=happy-mothers-day-miss-mom-and-nana http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/happy-mothers-day-miss-mom-and-nana.html#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 14:56:53 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=3934 You know whats the hardest things you sacrifice when doing business overseas? Some may think the hardest things about doing business overseas would be language, culture shock, risks of not knowing people as well as your hometown / country…..nope, by far its the separation from your family, especially your mom and dad. The connection you have with your mom – she gave you life, brought you into this world, fed you, raised you, changed your diapers, put up with your crying at night, saw you off to your first day of school.

I guess I gradually got used to be away from home, sleepover weekends with my grade school friends, boy scout summer camps, Italy culture trip in high school, going away for college, working in New York.

But those still allowed me to spend the holidays with mom and dad. Put up with some traffic and holiday scrambling to get home for some good cooking and sharing stories.

Now it seems I get home once a year, if not more.

I get used to it, more and more. Keep my family and friends in my mind when times get hard.  Pushing myself for them.

And grandma, Nana, I miss those weekend trips to your house, spending sometimes even a week during the summer there.  Picking rasberries, playing badminton, watching baseball with Granddad, Papa.

One of my favorite memories with my mom was getting ready to go to school in the morning. It was like preparing for “battle” or something. We would wave goodbye to dad from the window as he backed out of the driveway, my sister and I would finish packing our bags, and by 8 or 8:15am we had to be out the door to walk to school.

And we would run around the house certain days, and we would sing

GO, go, go-go-go-go.
Fight, fight, fight-fight-fight-fight
Win, win, win-win-win-win
GO – FIGHT – WIN

Other awesome memories were summer school at home (I know, right?). I don’t know how we pulled it off, but mom and dad arranged one of our church members, Janet, who was a teacher at a really fancy, rich school, to come certain days in the summer to our home and do “schooltime”. It was only a couple hours a day, two or three times a week (if that?) but I remember how much my sister and I loved to have school there. It was because it was more interactive, more fun…..learning was fun I remember. Discovering.

And then another great memory was also during our summer vacation, matinee movie time. Matinee movie is the first movie when the movie theater opens, and its at a deep discount because its like 12 or 1pm in the afternoon, so not a popular time. We would get a few of these per month (maybe) and mom, Jocelyn (sister) and I would hop into the VW Rabbit (yes, its a car!) and drive to the local theater. Driving in the summer heat, parking in the parking lot walking up to the 12 screen cinema that upn entrance was freezing cold, smelling like popcorn and candy. The other kids running around screaming waiting for the staff to open the velvet rope so we can get seated. And it was actually not during, but after the movie that was great too. Normally we’d drive to McDonalds, and on the drive, mom would make us reflect on the movie. To discuss our favorite part, answer questions about what the movie really meant. I think that critical thinking after the movie was always helpful….get our minds thinking about the meaning of the movie.

Oh, and McDonalds….yes, I know its not healthy, and its marketing this fatty food to kids. But the happy meals, the playground, the other kids in the restaurant. The TOY inside the happy meal.

Life was really good. I miss those times mom. I love you.



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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/05/happy-mothers-day-miss-mom-and-nana.html/feed 4 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/return-of-the-geeks-have-their-fun-later-in-life.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=return-of-the-geeks-have-their-fun-later-in-life http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/return-of-the-geeks-have-their-fun-later-in-life.html#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:11:38 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/return-of-the-geeks-have-their-fun-later-in-life.html I consider myself always as semi geek, semi cool…..I played on both sides when in high school, and learned to be flexible and deal with many personalities. I am not afraid to make fun of myself, maybe its a sign I’m getting old! I also blogged about how us “social media” online people are a bunch of nerds! There have been social media prom nights – and the idea was made to give those “nerds” in high school that maybe didn’t have such a great high school prom to be able to get another chance. And now, nerds are cool! Geeks are multi millionaires. I wonder if they are still getting picked on in high school?

Sad, but probably they still are.

Lately I am more with the techies….maybe they are the guys that felt awkward in school, or even in America, and moved out to China for new surroundings…..

But again and again i will be exhausted at a nightclub wanting to leave and get some much needed zzzzzzz’s, and these geeks turned rockstars (not going to name names) will push me to keep on rocking.

For those who know me, i dont have much patience and get annoyed easily….but it was interesting to get a hwart to heart from one techie friend here in hong kong

He mentioned how he ws outcasted when in his teens and feels he missed out on so long of the fun that now that he’s in his mid 20s he can finally catch up to the cool kids.

Isn’t that true! The cool kids in high school aren’t here in Asia building up businesses and web projects.

I’m not going to put names to people here, maybe some of the readers who know me can figure out who these people are, but another example is an American who is brilliant. He did an exchange program in China when he was younger, and studied HARD. He explained to me how all his fellow American exchange students would party at the bars and date each other, while he would sacrafice and do the homework, and actually work hard to learn Chinese language and other culture courses he was taking.

I didn’t know him at that time, but now in his mid to late 20s he is getting it off his chest to me. Talking over beers in a bar, he would mention how his classmates would make jokes towards him for not going out and partying or enjoying life. He laughs outloud to me now, saying he wonders where those party guys are now, as he is reaping the rewards of having a good education and strong grasp of the Chinese language and culture.

I’m not so bitter, I think we all make decisions in life, choose at what point in our life to “enjoy” and which parts of our life to “invest” or “sacrifice”.

Maybe laid out like this:

• Invest Early / Reward Later – Geek? Business person?
• Reward First / Invest Later – Worker?

I can already imagine the possible comments on this post coming, BALANCE Life and Work, do your homework, and still go out on a Friday night to have drinks with friends. I do understand this, but I think in order to be a master at a skill, we need to kinda be a crazy nerd / geek. Or a social networker, dedicate time to dealing with people.

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/return-of-the-geeks-have-their-fun-later-in-life.html/feed 0 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/managing-when-everyone-wants-to-be-a-freelancer.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=managing-when-everyone-wants-to-be-a-freelancer http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/managing-when-everyone-wants-to-be-a-freelancer.html#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:18:34 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=3672 Seriously today’s world is changing so quickly world is flat, technology is moving at lightening speed with tablets and mobile technology replacing the need for laptops (never mind archaic desktops!), coworking is the new modern office, and everyone is a independent contractor and freelancer!

I have always wondered this since my day job at Deutsche Bank…so many people were not happy there, going to work day in and day out, when the sun is outside and it’s a beautiful day for a walk in the park…but because of schedule, management, and control we need to “punch in and punch out” at a set time to prove we are adding value and earning our salary. Doesn’t matter if we work faster or more efficiently then others, we still had to work the same amount of hours to show management we were putting in our time.

But companies lose people due to that…everyone wants to be their own boss, it’s a dream I think most people have. And its becoming more and more of a reality with the internet and technology. We can sell online, we can offer our skills and services online as a service. Location becomes more and more irrelevant, and the specific time we check in and out of an office is obsolete.

But still, as a “boss” management is my weakness I have to admit, I try my best to be flexible, accommodating people who want to work from home or have flexible hours….yet still there is nothing like SEEING THE PEOPLE WORK IN FRONT OF YOU. And teams….to have people work in teams…rather than large amounts of emails blasting back and forth or long boring conference calls where half the people on the call don’t need to be on the call.

As readers of my blog can tell, I have been exploring the best place for me to station myself…with China being a “hot market” yet so strict with internet censorship, and Philippines as a great English speaking support center but little sales opportunity, and America too expensive with not enough growth in my eyes…I’m just stuck seeing the best in one location offset with the hardship of being there at the same time.

So with everyone wanting to be a freelancer, location being less and less important, we need to adapt right? It also “hedges” the bet more between which country to base in, as you can manage workers in China, Philippines, Hong Kong, USA, Europe via online tools….YOU JUST HAVE TO WORK AT IT. Managing the freelancers becomes a full time job! And it’s a valuable job. Leon explained to me how its an endless pool of resources. Its more efficient…you can find experts in all kinds of fields, and grow your team.

Its just more LEARNING and adapting I have to put up with. While traveling like a madman between Hong Kong, Dongguan, and Shenzhen (with a sprinkle of Philippines), studying Chinese, and writing these blog posts. But learning how to manage an army of freelancers is a necessary thing, and it only can get easier once you break the ice.

Coworking and freelancers…the future of work. What about EDUCATION, do children still need to go to a classroom to learn? I actually think the main reason for going to school is not the education but the facetime with other students the INTERACTION and learning about yourself, your personality, and how to deal with all other kinds of personalities. Maybe then going to school is necessary (even if the young kid hates it!) but is going to the office really necessary (and most people hate that too!) And then you start thinking of the office politics, how much time and energy is wasted on that B.S.! Plus the rent for the office ,the electricity, overhead, and the cost the workers pay on commuting back and forth.

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/04/managing-when-everyone-wants-to-be-a-freelancer.html/feed 14 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/03/example-of-miscommunication-culture-differences-in-america-china.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=example-of-miscommunication-culture-differences-in-america-china http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/03/example-of-miscommunication-culture-differences-in-america-china.html#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:13:33 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=3633 So the roadtrip yesterday was fun….up until about 1 hour before I had to arrive at the VIP dinner for speakers and guests….We were so late, so lost, and under pressure, it took from 9:30am to 8:30pm (almost 12 hours!) to drive from Dongguan, China to Xiamen, China! Unreal……

Well, I documented it while on my mobile phone last night, to record it, and below series of events unfolds:

1. we get lost,,,,maybe the factory manager told us its Xiamen is closer to Dongguan than we originally thought l, and / or the driver with us had an old or wrong map
2. One of us calls hotel, finds out my reservation is cancelled at 4pm today, not sure who, maybe its my friend because i tell her i need to change hotel reservation,,,,,maybe they call her today? i did not have time to talk to her yet
3. The office manager and i are in the van saying who made mistake, i thought my reservation was cancelled and joan booked it all in philip name since he arrive by plane first….more fear for Chinese that its their fault and they are to be blamed.
4. its 745pm and we still cannot find hotel, joan goes to a taxi, i had our programmer, Jacky, write down address of where i have the vip dinner…..i thought joan is telling taxi to go there….
5. joan thinking she need to find me a hotel first, to change into my suit…..she tell taxi to find a hotel
6. i go to back of a fu van to change my clothes….it is past 8pm now…..so I dont have time to go to a hotel first, especially since I no longer have a hotel reservation….
7. joan stops taxi and checks with hotel ….i get out and angry where are we now…..she said this hotel also have no room……i get loud in tje street and say i dont need hotel now, i need to get to my event. and say i will jst go myself by my own taxi and i give up on people here……and take my backpack only……and drive away, I don’t have any of my luggage, and not even most of my chargers (my phone battery is almost dead)



8. i ask slan to stay in hotel with his friends….he say not much room but ok
9. joan call me and ask if i need room….i think that my clothes are there and i need to grt my clothes anyway, she say she will prepay and i pay later
10. she send me qq later that she doesnt pay and i can pay when i arrive there…….i feel strange….and i dont ever trust hotel to hold room without money…..so i feel i will arrive and the room will be gone. so i ask slan to stay his hotel
11. slan change to bigger room for me, one with 2 beds, and at 12 midnight i take taxi to his hotel
12. midnight joan ask if i am coming, i say i do not trust the room is really available (because money was not deposited) and i go to slans hotel
13. she calls get angry and say even i dont go that she has to pay the fee……
14. i say in china i never trust if its not paid, and she said she would prepay, why she change it – she says she promised them….but for me, all I could imagine is taking a late taxi to this hotel and finding the room is not available and was given to someone else…..
15. she say she will pay the 250 rmb fee hotel herself and to never ask her for help again, hangs up.
16. i call back, say i am sorry…just explode after so many problems….she says i always blame her, she is just translator….and that she is trying to help me….

This is common, I believe if you ask any foreigner in China, heck even Chinese in China get annoyed with ineffectiveness in hotel bookings, directions to different places, and just general day to day tasks.

…to be honest I thought I have gotten more patient and am used to this miscommunication….but really, with so many “emergencies” happening at the same time….it overwhelmed me and I had to take matters in my own hands…

Just another example of the cultural differences and stress a “stupid foreigner” (yes, I’m always making fun of myself) has in China…..what seems simple gets out of control.

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]]> http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/03/example-of-miscommunication-culture-differences-in-america-china.html/feed 3 http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/03/social-media-people-buying-the-same-doing-the-same-talking-the-same.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=social-media-people-buying-the-same-doing-the-same-talking-the-same http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/2011/03/social-media-people-buying-the-same-doing-the-same-talking-the-same.html#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:02:25 +0000 Michael Michelini http://blog.michaelmichelini.com/?p=3618 I am a fan of being social, connecting with people…learning about cultures and ideas and perspectives…but what is scaring me is as people now
• Talk about the same news (weather, etc)
• Buy the same things
• Think the same way

What is going to happen to individuality and CREATIVITY?!?!!? While social media is about being a HUMAN being and allows all voices in the world to be heard equally….I also feel allowing everyone to be so easily exposed to others more quickly forces them to “electronically” surround themselves with only like minded people, and wall out people they do not like, or do not want to associate themselves with.

And as the newborn generations grow up with social media and mobile technology (its amazing, seeing my friend’s children playing with iphone as if they are experts and they are only 4 years old…) they will never know how it was to live WITHOUT these technology and social media platforms…..their childhood will be surrounded by their friends in real life being in parallel with their “online facebook friends” and continuously surrounding themselves only with people they want to be surrounded with….getting real time status updates from their classmates on what dinner they are having, what tv shows they are watching, what clothing they are buying…..

And…..as sad as it sounds, the majority of people feel comfortable doing the same things their friends are doing. PEOPLE FEAR TO BE DIFFERENT and the social web makes it sooooo easy to see exactly what your friends are doing everywhere. You will not be able to live as an individual anymore…when faced with a decision that needs to be made in life, your friends will be with you, physically or virtually.

I know it’s convenient to be able to constantly wired….I rarely have to ask for directions anymore, I can go into foreign countries and not even need to ask anything…I can get all my answers on the internet, online maps, online guide, social media friends….but isn’t that taking the fun away? Where is that forced interaction with the strangers, that force us to learn how to deal with people from all different backgrounds and personalities…..

I can only forecast, but I can definitely see as the younger generation grows up, they will not be able to deal with as many people in “real life” situations as the current grown up…..I know I am an old man (30 next week) and I am sounding like it now….but really, even I am able not to interact with strangers now, utilizing my mobile phone and social network to get answers and feedback…..and if I’m an “old fart” then I can only imagine how the children of today will be when they get older….with these facebook, twitter and mobile tools to access information quickly and easily….

Here is an example of the future I see….for a teenager in maybe 5 years (heck maybe its like this already!)
Go to first day of freshman class, meet people….already have a facebook account since you were born, so you add your classmates that you get to know (wonder do high school kids add everyone, like do cool kids accept friend requests from non-cool kids??).

So now you have the friends in your facebook, and you will get their status updates when they are eating, buying things. Then there are the status updates…..about what they buy, what they eat…..where they are going. I can only imagine that the cool kids will be showing off the cool new shoes they bought, and maybe even bullies will make fun of people who cannot afford / don’t buy the cool new Michael Jordan sneakers?

Movie night, what movie are you watching, who are you with? Jeez I can only IMAGINE THE added pressure of a high school kid more and more as I type out this role playing….

High school is already hard enough, I could only imagine it now combined with social media….I used to like to go home to get away from the peer pressure….the gossip, the sharing of what the cool people are buying….and how this will never really turn off.

Makes me almost glad I grew up without this social media noise when I was a kid…..being a teenager is soo hard, so much pressure…..when I’m a “grownup” I think social media is better, because I have learned more about who I really am and taken priorities in life.

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