I could call 2006 a year of transition.
Trying to find a new focus in my life, in what I want to do – and what I should stay clear of.
I am getting a bit tired to be labeled as “Mr. Olympics”. Trying to keep track on what Beijing is doing (or not doing) to prepare for 2008 has taken too much of my time. Beijing remains a difficult place to have access to reliable information. The government’s track record in providing meaningful data and its handling of people interested in the Olympics (such as journalists) has improved a bit – but still leaves us frustrated. Construction sites remain off limits to witness the progress. Exhibitions showing the plans and scale models of venues are hard to visit and the staff has the very unfriendly and short-sighted attitude to stop people from taking pictures. Bad PR. As simple as that. Beijing could generate much more enthusiasm with all its efforts to transform the city into a modern metropolis.
Trying to help foreign companies in getting “a piece of the cake” in the Olympics is another migraine. With ferocious competition and (ridiculous) price levels, hard to satisfy your potential clients (and get some return). Better to decline inquiries.
I get so many requests for interviews (radio, TV, magazines and newspapers) that it has taken too much of my time. The same for the many seminars to talk about the progress and challenges for 2008. One can wonder, why spend so much of my time without any return when most people assume anyway the information and pictures must be easy to get.
And simply put in another way: “being well-know” in the media, Google and Baidu doesn’t pay for my fitness club membership.
Not to mention the curious fact that many China consultants like myself are bugged for free information all the time. How to set up an office in Beijing or other cities, how much school for the kids costs, level of salaries, tax rules, assistance to complete their research paper or PHD thesis. Worst, one provides help and one rarely even gets a proper thanks.
Big multinationals are not always the best example. Some can be pretty aggressive to get information and expect you to humbly provide them with all the insight. And then disappear, sign some big contracts and not even give you a meaningful present as a token of appreciation (like a USB memory stick). Of course not all of them are the same (check my USB’s).
Do you feel frustration here? Damned right. As my wife says, “I am too friendly”. Oh well, guess Chinese wives are always (too) right. (Are they?)
So, I intend to leave a bit the Olympics headaches to others.
Positive things also happen. (Surprised?).
On World Aids Day I (finally) signed my assignment with UNICEF to work on Aids Awareness and Child Injury Prevention, looking at sports in general for kids, and 2008 in particular. At least something interesting and meaningful where one feels he is doing more than just a “job”.
Beijing is also changing attitude and becoming more serious in tackling issues such as pollution, traffic and even drug use. I am pleasantly surprised to see they recently launched new action plans that are going far beyond the typical lip service.
To address the hopeless traffic chaos, Beijing recently announced several initiatives – public transportation will receive a considerable boost during the next coming years. Never too late, knowing that every day 1,000 new cars hit the streets in Beijing. Count me out here because I finally made the effort this year to get my driver’s license back. But I don’t intend to buy a car. Maybe I will drive somebody’s car when required. Taxis and subway are good enough for me.
OK, if you all shout, Gilbert, you really need a holiday, well I will indeed disappear for a trip to Chantilly VA (USA) to see my second grandson. Maybe next year I need to head to my preferred holiday destination, Thailand, to get away from mobiles, e-mails, late night calls and all. At least it is included in my 11th Five Year Plan. Maybe better luck than in the 10th FYP.
And next year?
Get all my courage together for the next October Marathon – improving my time. And continue my soul searching to start writing some book(s). And wake up every morning with the decision to really learn Chinese (nothing new here).
Or simply read a book with a glass of Bulgarian red wine and explore Beijing’s nightlife. Of course, not to forget, deepen my understanding of the massage business in Beijing.