I'm sitting at the JAL (Japan Airlines) Business Lounge in Shock.....I can't believe it's over....Wow this past month went fast! I have so much to tell you all and don't know when I'll get the chance to write about it.
I know I've mentioned it before but the past month was very very special. It's amazing how well our Clients, the hotel staff, and our team all got along so well. We will all be suffering from Post Olympics Blues. We had 3 parties this week. On Monday night we took our 22 local staff out for a HOT POT dinner and then Karoake. For those of you that don't know what Hot Pot is, it's like Chinese Fondue...a big boiling bowl one half is a spicy broth and the other side is a mild broth. The servers then bring in all sorts of rare meat to be boiled and then you pull it out with your chopsticks.....items we had for dinner included and I'm not kidding you: Mutton (which is Lamb...yummy), Ox Stomach, Pig air pipe, and Duck Guts...yes that's right Duck Guts...I was sitting next to my new buddy Jan (she's from San Diego) and we were laughing our asses off and drinking a lot of beer to choke down our new entrees. Nothing was BAD it just wasn't GOOD. But I tried it all! JD another Senior Staff (from Australia) had made an awesome "yearbook" (photos compliled from the month) and put together for all of us to sign and keep. What a treasure!! He did an amazing job on it!!
Tuesday night was the final party for all of the staff who worked for the company I was hired by, there were like 400 people there. Team H (my team) was the only team that had everyone we worked with along with our client on the dance floor until 2:00am.
I have so many photographs to share as well. I'm cutting this short because I need to go grab a bite before I board the plane.
I'm heading to Narita, Japan for the night and then to Bali tomorrow. Looking very forward to the beaches and the rice paddies of Bali.
Sorry this posting is short and choppy but I feel like I haven't written forever.
Zaijan! April
Friday 29 August 2008
Sunday 17 August 2008
NiHao from the Bird's Nest
Hi! I'm blogging from the Bird's Nest! It is an absolutely gorgeous day in Beijing! The temperature is perfect and there is hardly a cloud in the sky.
I'm with our group in a suite watching Athletics. 400m, 200m, hammer throw, triple jump and hurdles.
So much has happened in the past week since I last wrote. I'll be sure to add an entry on the "glamorous" side of my job, later on tonight.
I will say though the program I am on has been great. I'm very fortunate, as I know othe people have been on some hellish programs.
Michael Phelps arrived at our hotel last night, the security that has been put in place is insane. I'm like he's just a 23 year old swimmer-bfd. Who happened to break a few world records and has 8 gold medals!
Its fun to be in the stadium when a Chinese athlete competes, the crowd goes wild! Screaming China China China.
Pictures and more stories to come.
I'm with our group in a suite watching Athletics. 400m, 200m, hammer throw, triple jump and hurdles.
So much has happened in the past week since I last wrote. I'll be sure to add an entry on the "glamorous" side of my job, later on tonight.
I will say though the program I am on has been great. I'm very fortunate, as I know othe people have been on some hellish programs.
Michael Phelps arrived at our hotel last night, the security that has been put in place is insane. I'm like he's just a 23 year old swimmer-bfd. Who happened to break a few world records and has 8 gold medals!
Its fun to be in the stadium when a Chinese athlete competes, the crowd goes wild! Screaming China China China.
Pictures and more stories to come.
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Opening Ceremonies, etc. etc.
By now you have all seen Opening Ceremonies! Wow! What a performance. I didn't get the chance to go to Opening Ceremonies and I know it's a once in a lifetime experience, but I will get to go to Closing Ceremonies.
I thought the drums at the beginning were amazing! I had a friend tivo it and I can't wait to watch it again.
I haven't been out of the hotel a ton because I've been working quite a bit. So I’ll give you a quick update on a few things:
Traffic in Beijing is insane, it truly is like playing a game of frogger….first there are the buses and big vehicles that have the right away and then it’s taxis and private cars and then it’s motorized bikes and then regular bikes and then people…..they tend to turn right from the 2nd to left hand lane yes that’s right turning right out of the left hand lane. People turn right in front of cabs, do u-turns in the middle of the street, bikes cut in front of buses and people stand in the middle of oncoming traffic like it’s no big thing. So the other day this guy and I decide to try it out like the locals. The next thing I know I’m standing in the middle of cross traffic….all of the sudden realizing that my butt and boobs are much bigger than the average Chinese and sticking out way further into on coming traffic than Ling Ling’s standing next to me. Clearly, I survived the trip across the street.
My colleague and I are starting a list of Chinese puns, the catch is we have to use it in a sentence: such as I’m on it like white on rice or What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? By the time I leave I’ll have a list and post it on my blog.
Yesterday I managed to get out of the hotel with our guests and accompany them on a trip to the Summer Palace. Basically some Emperor a couple of centuries ago built this amazing retreat outside of the city where he hung out with his concubines. That’s pretty much all I understood from our Chinese local tour guide. It was absolutely FABULOUS!
Gorgeous, such a wonderful place.
I believe I’ve mentioned how awesome our hotel staff is, but the head chef, main F&B guy and the Director of Ops are great! Today Jason (the head chef) with whom I’ve actually worked with before in Singapore was sitting in our office. Debbie- a colleague of mine was telling Jason to read something and he was holding it arms length and Debbie said “do you need glasses, it looks like you’re squinting”. I said “nah he’s just Chinese”. We all laughed our asses. It was soooo totally wrong and inappropriate, but that’s how comfortable we are with each other that it just came out.
More to come…..
I thought the drums at the beginning were amazing! I had a friend tivo it and I can't wait to watch it again.
I haven't been out of the hotel a ton because I've been working quite a bit. So I’ll give you a quick update on a few things:
Traffic in Beijing is insane, it truly is like playing a game of frogger….first there are the buses and big vehicles that have the right away and then it’s taxis and private cars and then it’s motorized bikes and then regular bikes and then people…..they tend to turn right from the 2nd to left hand lane yes that’s right turning right out of the left hand lane. People turn right in front of cabs, do u-turns in the middle of the street, bikes cut in front of buses and people stand in the middle of oncoming traffic like it’s no big thing. So the other day this guy and I decide to try it out like the locals. The next thing I know I’m standing in the middle of cross traffic….all of the sudden realizing that my butt and boobs are much bigger than the average Chinese and sticking out way further into on coming traffic than Ling Ling’s standing next to me. Clearly, I survived the trip across the street.
My colleague and I are starting a list of Chinese puns, the catch is we have to use it in a sentence: such as I’m on it like white on rice or What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? By the time I leave I’ll have a list and post it on my blog.
Yesterday I managed to get out of the hotel with our guests and accompany them on a trip to the Summer Palace. Basically some Emperor a couple of centuries ago built this amazing retreat outside of the city where he hung out with his concubines. That’s pretty much all I understood from our Chinese local tour guide. It was absolutely FABULOUS!
Gorgeous, such a wonderful place.
I believe I’ve mentioned how awesome our hotel staff is, but the head chef, main F&B guy and the Director of Ops are great! Today Jason (the head chef) with whom I’ve actually worked with before in Singapore was sitting in our office. Debbie- a colleague of mine was telling Jason to read something and he was holding it arms length and Debbie said “do you need glasses, it looks like you’re squinting”. I said “nah he’s just Chinese”. We all laughed our asses. It was soooo totally wrong and inappropriate, but that’s how comfortable we are with each other that it just came out.
More to come…..
Thursday 7 August 2008
Week in Review
Week In Review-
I’ve been here a week in Beijing and I’m close to becoming a “Beijinger”….okay so I have a lot to work on to become an official “Beijinger”. But here’s the latest-
I now know how to say:
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Night
How are you?
Cookie
April (though I’m still working on that one)
Excuse Me
Beer
Everyone I have met so far in China has been so smiley and accommodating. The hotel staff is amazing and always willing to help. We have local college students we are using at the Hospitality Desk and on the buses. They are so willing to learn
I’ve tried to get out of the hotel as much as I can but it’s mostly been at night. The other night 6 of us on the team headed out to the Hoa Hai district for a little drinking, dinner and dancing. It’s a great area there are a ton of restaurants and clubs lining a small lake, great atmosphere. We ate at this restaurant tucked away off the main drag called the “No Name Restaurant”. The food was fantastic, a bit spicy, but really good. We then stopped at a club and shook our tail feather! It was a blast it was like the 6 of us and maybe 4 other “foreigners”, the rest were all Chinese. They had a stripper pole on the dance floor so myself and another girl were demonstrating our skills and the Chinese girls loved it, so we convinced them to do the same thing. We were dancing with them and laughing it was so much fun!!
The other day we had to go back up to the Wall to do another site inspection of the venue we are using on our way back we stopped at restaurant along the way. There they fish out a fish for you, beat it to death and then fry it up…it was SOOOO yummy! Some of the best traditional Chinese food I’ve ever had and yes Paula the head was still attached, but it was good. I’ll post photos of lunch soon! As we were driving back into the city, we came across 4 cyclists with helmets (which in China no one where’s helmets) I jokingly said “look the Cycling team” as I’m saying that I turn to look closely and it was in fact TEAM USA. I didn’t get a shot because we drove by too fast and I didn’t have my camera out. I know I know..
However, during the games we will be having these Olympics eating off the buffets in my client’s hospitality suite:
Paul and Morgan Hamm
Wallace Spearman
The Lopezes
Some guy named Michael Phelps
The US women’s tennis team….yes Venus, Serena, etc.
In general as a staff person it is inappropriate to approach any of these athletes other than to make sure they have everything they need. I personally would not ask for autographs, but maybe photographs…..but it will be on a case by case basis.
I’m sure I’ll have some good stories along the way.
Today I actually got out of the hotel during the day. I ran a few errands with another TD and I drove past Tianamen Square and Forbidden City. I’ll be sure to hit up both of those places.
Tomorrow the Games begin!
I’ve been here a week in Beijing and I’m close to becoming a “Beijinger”….okay so I have a lot to work on to become an official “Beijinger”. But here’s the latest-
I now know how to say:
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Night
How are you?
Cookie
April (though I’m still working on that one)
Excuse Me
Beer
Everyone I have met so far in China has been so smiley and accommodating. The hotel staff is amazing and always willing to help. We have local college students we are using at the Hospitality Desk and on the buses. They are so willing to learn
I’ve tried to get out of the hotel as much as I can but it’s mostly been at night. The other night 6 of us on the team headed out to the Hoa Hai district for a little drinking, dinner and dancing. It’s a great area there are a ton of restaurants and clubs lining a small lake, great atmosphere. We ate at this restaurant tucked away off the main drag called the “No Name Restaurant”. The food was fantastic, a bit spicy, but really good. We then stopped at a club and shook our tail feather! It was a blast it was like the 6 of us and maybe 4 other “foreigners”, the rest were all Chinese. They had a stripper pole on the dance floor so myself and another girl were demonstrating our skills and the Chinese girls loved it, so we convinced them to do the same thing. We were dancing with them and laughing it was so much fun!!
The other day we had to go back up to the Wall to do another site inspection of the venue we are using on our way back we stopped at restaurant along the way. There they fish out a fish for you, beat it to death and then fry it up…it was SOOOO yummy! Some of the best traditional Chinese food I’ve ever had and yes Paula the head was still attached, but it was good. I’ll post photos of lunch soon! As we were driving back into the city, we came across 4 cyclists with helmets (which in China no one where’s helmets) I jokingly said “look the Cycling team” as I’m saying that I turn to look closely and it was in fact TEAM USA. I didn’t get a shot because we drove by too fast and I didn’t have my camera out. I know I know..
However, during the games we will be having these Olympics eating off the buffets in my client’s hospitality suite:
Paul and Morgan Hamm
Wallace Spearman
The Lopezes
Some guy named Michael Phelps
The US women’s tennis team….yes Venus, Serena, etc.
In general as a staff person it is inappropriate to approach any of these athletes other than to make sure they have everything they need. I personally would not ask for autographs, but maybe photographs…..but it will be on a case by case basis.
I’m sure I’ll have some good stories along the way.
Today I actually got out of the hotel during the day. I ran a few errands with another TD and I drove past Tianamen Square and Forbidden City. I’ll be sure to hit up both of those places.
Tomorrow the Games begin!
Monday 4 August 2008
GreatWalldelayedblog
Nihao!
Last night I arrived to Beijing (which would be your Tuesday Morning) safe and sound. I met the team for a late dinner and was prepared to turn in for the night. When somebody mentioned “massage”, boy did my ears perk up. As some of you know I’m a bit of a massage whore, so I jumped at the chance. We headed to Dragonfly at 9:45pm to get foot massages it was a nice treat after a long day of flying!
This morning we all piled into a mini coach and headed to Mutinayu (a section of the Great Wall). I snapped some great photos. The whole time I kept thinking “I can’t believe I’m standing on the frigging Great Wall of China”. It totally did not sink in! It’s a really big wall. We got dropped off in a parking lot and then you walk up a path to the Gondola ride. It’s kinda like walking up to Tulum, Doi Suthep or any other landmark where people can sell you trinkets. They were selling hats, t-shirts, bags, magnets, statues of Mao, Buddha, your photo in front of the great wall on a mug, postcards, fruits and nuts etc. I heard a lot of “Hey Lady-you buy banana”. I didn’t have the heart to tell them bananas would be the LAST thing I’d be buying at the Great Wall. We rode the Gondola up to the top and then traipsed around the Wall for about an hour. It was a heck of a workout. We then rode the Great Wall Slide back down the side of the mountain. That thing was AWESOME! And it only made it better since it wasn’t in the US! That thing would be so regulated, helmets, waivers, blah blah blah. I think one of my friends shot video on my camera so I’ll post the video at some point.
We then did a quick site visit of this village area we will be doing an event at, headed to lunch and then back to the hotel. We have a lot to do before all the PAX (attendees) arrive onsite next week.
May get another massage tonight and then lights out, I hope to sleep through the night tonight!
Cheers!
Last night I arrived to Beijing (which would be your Tuesday Morning) safe and sound. I met the team for a late dinner and was prepared to turn in for the night. When somebody mentioned “massage”, boy did my ears perk up. As some of you know I’m a bit of a massage whore, so I jumped at the chance. We headed to Dragonfly at 9:45pm to get foot massages it was a nice treat after a long day of flying!
This morning we all piled into a mini coach and headed to Mutinayu (a section of the Great Wall). I snapped some great photos. The whole time I kept thinking “I can’t believe I’m standing on the frigging Great Wall of China”. It totally did not sink in! It’s a really big wall. We got dropped off in a parking lot and then you walk up a path to the Gondola ride. It’s kinda like walking up to Tulum, Doi Suthep or any other landmark where people can sell you trinkets. They were selling hats, t-shirts, bags, magnets, statues of Mao, Buddha, your photo in front of the great wall on a mug, postcards, fruits and nuts etc. I heard a lot of “Hey Lady-you buy banana”. I didn’t have the heart to tell them bananas would be the LAST thing I’d be buying at the Great Wall. We rode the Gondola up to the top and then traipsed around the Wall for about an hour. It was a heck of a workout. We then rode the Great Wall Slide back down the side of the mountain. That thing was AWESOME! And it only made it better since it wasn’t in the US! That thing would be so regulated, helmets, waivers, blah blah blah. I think one of my friends shot video on my camera so I’ll post the video at some point.
We then did a quick site visit of this village area we will be doing an event at, headed to lunch and then back to the hotel. We have a lot to do before all the PAX (attendees) arrive onsite next week.
May get another massage tonight and then lights out, I hope to sleep through the night tonight!
Cheers!
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