So today I was overseeing a photo shoot and letting the studio do they’re thing. We had one more to do. I was checking my email and saw everyone gather in a meeting room. Two hours later they are still having a meeting. Did they tell me, No. Did they hurry and take the last photo to give to me so that I could leave, No.
You just got to go with the flow. It would of been nice to let me know that they planned a big staff meeting so that I wouldn’t sit here expecting something to happen. I guess that just the way it is. Now I am going to have to tell the boss guy of the studio that I am upset at the fact no one let me know and that I wasted 2 hours. Nice huh?
I’m at work, trying to rush something so that it gets done. It really needs to get done. I mean really. And what happens, the power goes out. The man decided that today would be the power off day for this area. An they just started to enforce it. That’s right. The last three weeks, they haven’t done a thing, but today, and probably for now on every Wednesday, no power.
Will they work Sunday to make up for it. Nope. Does any of this make common sense, nope. Are there better ways to.. yep. Will someone do them, nope.
So at least they have a generator here. Or, I would, probably fly off the handle, or go home and drink beer. Maybe even both.
Why can’t we all just get along. So, I had to go get a new something in HK the other day. I had to stay over night. Not good. I had to miss some work. Which just made me busier. But on the flip side, I had a break and took some photos. Check’em out.
A little pano action..
Man I look stoned in this photograph. No I’m not but.. High on Starbucks. Yes.
Some sweet light.
Oh the city.
An alley of some sorts.
One problem. No English, No Mandarin. Um.. yeah give me that one.. that much, sure.
Street.
I forgot what I wanted to post about. Maybe I’ll remember. Well, lunch is over, back to the grind..
I got this from a blog that I read. They got it from the Max Magni and Yuval Atsmon of McKinsey & Company’s consumer practice in Greater China.
“China often witnesses reverse price wars, during which rivals compete to increase prices so they can attract shoppers who will only buy the more expensive brands. For example, in 2004, a maker of baijiu — distilled liquor that is a popular gift in China — launched a new brand at almost twice the price of its nearest rival. Its sales soared, leading rivals to hike prices too. This war has sent the cost of premium baiju skyrocketing by around 300% in the last five years.
Some multinationals have succeeded in charging higher prices in China by addressing one of the factors we mentioned earlier. For instance, a 900 gm can of Wyeth Gold S26 infant formula costs as much as $27 (RMB 160-200) in China compared to $22 in the United States; a tall Starbucks latte sells for $4.50 (RMB 30) versus $3.50 in the United States; and a pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream retails for a whopping $11 (RMB 75) in a Chinese supermarket as against $4 in a U.S. supermarket. In the Chinese market, for every rule, there are exceptions.”
It all comes down to face. In a society where my “face” social status means everything. The more expensive something is, the more face I get. Thanks guys. So now if I want my scrumptious mocha frap, I have to pay more.. Dang, but I guess in return, I get more face.. Catch-22. Dratz
That’s right folks. It takes 30 minutes to hang a towel holder on a wall. 15 to hang it the first time and 15 to hang it level. I deal with this stuff everyday. How about more on what things are like in the PRC
30 minutes to hang a towel hanger.
I almost got hit by 5 cars today. 2 when I was in a taxi. 3 while walking.
Coffee flavored Oreo sticks + 4 pints of beer = the taste of burnt pancakes without butter.
A 5 USD 60 minute foot massage is a cheap Mandarin lesson.
I stepped on an electrical cord the other day. It sissled and almost started on fire. I didn’t even flinch. Neither did the Chinese guy next to me. He just bent down and unplugged it. Nothing new.
No one works until the boss shows up or new potential clients arrive. Then Sh*t starts flying.. Everyone is working, fast, etc.. When they leave it all stops.
A taxi guy tried to stiff me the other day. I said 35 bucks to get home. He said 50, I said no, too much. 35 is enough. He said 50, I said I leave from here all the time. 35 is enough. He said ok. I get home. I give him a 50, the only bill I had. He said ok. I had to argue with him to give me back 15. He gave me back 5. I then said I will break the sh*t out of his dash meter thing if he didn’t give me 10 more back. He gave me 10 more.
People think I must be dumb because I am foreign. I like to scare them and tell them I know what they are talking about. I start ripping out some Chinese, they start pooping pants. Usually they shut up.
I had a heated discussion about a file name. I was given a usb with photos on it. I copied the two I know where the newest. The Chinese guy said those were not the newest. He was positive. I then showed him that the time on the file was 2 minutes ago. he shut up and walked away..
I had someone change the color of something in photoshop. I then had to re shoot it. They retouched the file again. But didn’t change the wall color. Aparently I have to tell them each time, it’s not assumed since last time I had you change the color that this time it also has to change. I didn’t tell you to change it back.
Taxi drivers always ask the same questions. Where are you from, and who is more beautiful, Chinese girls or American girls.
I had a conversation about “working girls” with a taxi guy the other day. That was interesting.
If you do it my way it will save you and me hours. You may say it can’t be done but, I can do it in five minutes and it happens all the time in America.
Oh good times here. Got to love it. Sorry I’ve been busy lately. It’s been chaotic. I’ll try to remember these things as they come to me and post more soon.
