Going to government meetings here is one of the reasons why this is a “hard posting”. You need to sit there like you are interested, take notes, look serious with a faint smile indicating how happy and honored you are to be there.
Often my hard disc spins down, ready to wake up from sleep mode when triggered by something interesting. You would not believe how well that works. After years of training. Or I study Chinese.
Sometimes you wonder when those officials do something, they always seem to be in meetings. Actually, sarcasm apart, this is why they have little sleep because after their banquets they start being productive – and start calling us till very late. Many end up sleeping at their office (now you know why they HAVE beds in their offices). Contrary to what foreigners believe they do have a hard life and I don’t envy them (their spouses see them only occasionally…). This is the other side of the coin – others are of course specialized in late karaoke & all but it is wrong to generalize that picture.

Now those guys in DC are lucky. At least they have some fun. That guy deserves a prize for entertainment. We hardly can keep our eyes open over here. (cartoon from the IHT 7 Dec)

With all the complaints about pollution and other, why am I still here?
I am cutting down on all those boring seminars and alike. But I love to go to those rather informal networking events and parties, without any business agenda. You won’t find me going around distributing my business cards to drum up business; fortunately I don’t work in real estate or “financial advisory firms” (the guys who are after your money).
I stay in my corner and chat with friends and other relaxed guests. Often great to meet people.
People tell me I usually hang out with the girls. Hmmm why they have this idea? I wonder.
So, one VERY enjoyable evening was thanks to Emma Shao of AGS Four Winds (International Movers), December 14 at Chingari Restaurant.

Of course now you know. Three is a start. Four is better. But nothing beats five. Judge for yourself. Beijing is coooool. I won’t tell you which one is my favorite. I still have to make up my mind, tough choice.

Further to the story, China Daily joined Beijing Today in talking about it (18 Dec). Good old Shanghai, seems there the police is doing SOMETHING and quickly nabbed the bad guys, even returning the RMB 4,966 to the victim.
Even more surprising: they have a hotline for complaints and even ANNOUNCED the number (12315).
Beijing, what are YOU doing?

See here in full the article from Beijing Today (14 Dec 07) about the latest in scams: coffee swindle (?). I am sure Beijing either already has it or will soon introduce the same. Many foreigners are tricked by friendly “college girls” to have a cup of tea, look at “valuable” Chinese paintings and now, having a coffee. I wonder if the ex-Starbucks in the Forbidden City could be a strategic location. Maybe they don’t have (foreign) whisky but they could serve Maotai.
The problem is in Beijing that according to foreigners who went through the ordeal, the police looks the other way and does not want to “interfere in private business” (see earlier entry).
Good for the image of Beijing, good to increase local revenues during the Olympics.
When young girls approach me I play deaf and ignore them. If not tea or coffee they will offer massage, if you don’t look interested they will clarify – “make love”. Any interested males can hang out at the main entrance of Lufthansa Shopping Center or even the lobby of Beijing Hotel (pimps more likely there). At your own risk.
Tourists ensnared in Shanghai coffee swindle – Annie Wei / Beijing Today
A Swedish businessman was cheated in Shanghai’s most prosperous area during his November inspection tour, a Shanghai newspaper reported. Peter De Verdier, manager of OMX, a Swedish financial service company, was allegedly approached by two college-aged girls who asked to talk to him on an evening stroll down Nanjing Dong Lu. The girls asked whether he would like to help them improve their spoken English ability during his sight-seeing, he said.
Shortly after the chat, one of the girls said she felt cold and asked him to go to the Manabe coffee shop on the third floor of the Bailian Shimao International Mall, where they ordered three cups of coffee, he said.
Verdier said the coffee was listed at 40 yuan per cup in the menu, but after being served, one of the girls ordered whiskey after Verdier told her not to.
After the whiskey arrived, Verdier received a call and left the table. He was on the phone for 10 minutes while the girls continued to order and drink whiskey.
When Verdier asked to pay and leave, the waiter served him with a bill for 4,966 yuan. The waiter said each glass of whiskey cost 400 yuan, and these girls drank 12 glasses.
The girls said they were students and could not pay, and Verdier found the exit blockaded by what he described as “serious-looking” men.He wanted to call the police, but didn’t know the number since it was his first visit to Shanghai, he said. In the end, he had no choice but to pay the bill.The newspaper sent its reporter to investigate the coffee shop and found two German tourists ensnared in the same swindle, it reported.
The Germans said they met two college-aged girls on Nanjing Dong Lu, were taken to the coffee shop, and tricked into paying 2,600 yuan for two cups of coffee.
Shanghai authorities have started an investigation, and Manabe’s headquarters said it would fine the branch for its fraudulent acts. Xia Junyi, manager of Manabe franchising, said it received a similar complaint from a Japanese tourist before Verdier’s story made the press. Manabe’s legal department is taking action, he said.

We were all shocked to learn Ian Kay passed away on 20 November.
Ian had been a real friend since the year 2000, over those years we have worked together closely while having lots of fun, thanks to his energy, modesty, humor and spirit that I admired so much. We often felt “on the same wavelength”, surviving on a bit of sarcasm but still keeping an eye on our goals.
After being with a British insurance company in Beijing (when I first met him), Ian became one of the pillars to boost the presence of the European Chamber. He served the Chamber as Executive General Manager from 2002 to 2004, and continued after his retirement as an adviser to the Chamber. Ian returned in the role of Secretary General from January to August in 2007 to support the Chamber through a period of change, after Giorgio left.
We often met at functions, parties, seminars and meetings. Mostly we tried not to take life too seriously and used to joke a lot. But at the same time we would try our best to do what we were supposed to do. Ian was excellent at his job, I never met anybody with whom he had a dispute. He seemed to get along with everybody but also managed the Chamber in a smooth way.
It’s hard to lose a good friend in Beijing, one staying here for long often misses real friendship as many people come and go and relationships are mostly based on “business”.
Some personal pictures I found in my collection.

Our deepest sympathy to his wife Sue.