Saturday, March 30, 2019
The China Syndrome
I'm back from almost three weeks in China and Hong Kong. It was really fascinating, kind of scary, and wholly exhausting. Our first stop was Shenzhen, which is a giant city that basically didn't exist a few decades ago. It's sort of their equivalent of Silicon Valley, but without the adult men wearing comic themed apparel. Our hotel was within a gated compound owned by our client, so that got a bit claustrophobic at times. But there was a great breakfast buffet (as long as you avoided the dish they called "black fungus") and even robots to bring the room service. I'm sure they'll rise up one day to kill their human enslavers, but that's someone else's problem. My only real issue was that they don't exactly have a Wendy's on every corner there, and I got a little tired of eating Chinese food all the time. Also that I ran out of clean underwear and socks and laundering cost like $10 per sock.
Hong Kong was very different, in that there was a much larger Western element (by which I mean European, not country/western). I immediately got myself some McDonald's and almost as immediately regretted it. The area we were in was basically a giant luxury shopping mall -- people kept giving us directions by telling us to turn at the Gucci or the Prada. My work schedule was pretty intense, but I did get up early one morning and hike up to the peak, which was gorgeous even though it was overcast and I ended up drenched in sweat from the climb. And our hotel was amazing, with like the softest bed I have ever experienced. Why is it that so many of my happiest moments center around sleeping?
I'm back from almost three weeks in China and Hong Kong. It was really fascinating, kind of scary, and wholly exhausting. Our first stop was Shenzhen, which is a giant city that basically didn't exist a few decades ago. It's sort of their equivalent of Silicon Valley, but without the adult men wearing comic themed apparel. Our hotel was within a gated compound owned by our client, so that got a bit claustrophobic at times. But there was a great breakfast buffet (as long as you avoided the dish they called "black fungus") and even robots to bring the room service. I'm sure they'll rise up one day to kill their human enslavers, but that's someone else's problem. My only real issue was that they don't exactly have a Wendy's on every corner there, and I got a little tired of eating Chinese food all the time. Also that I ran out of clean underwear and socks and laundering cost like $10 per sock.
Hong Kong was very different, in that there was a much larger Western element (by which I mean European, not country/western). I immediately got myself some McDonald's and almost as immediately regretted it. The area we were in was basically a giant luxury shopping mall -- people kept giving us directions by telling us to turn at the Gucci or the Prada. My work schedule was pretty intense, but I did get up early one morning and hike up to the peak, which was gorgeous even though it was overcast and I ended up drenched in sweat from the climb. And our hotel was amazing, with like the softest bed I have ever experienced. Why is it that so many of my happiest moments center around sleeping?
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Bayside Roller
I just spent a week in San Francisco for work. I was excited to get out of the Chicago cold for a while, but as it turned out I traded it for a week of sunless, drizzly days. I do still think it was an improvement, as I was at least able to get out of earmuffs and gloves for a while, but I may be suffering a Vitamin D deficiency.
I saw very little of the city, since I was in depositions that went all day every day, even on Saturday. But I did get part of Sunday off and I went to SF MOMA, which was kind of great. I haven't been there in over a decade, and although abstract expressionism and pop art haven't changed much in the interim, there were some interesting temporary exhibitions that I enjoyed. Plus giant spider sculptures! Very much preferable to the real life version.
I also took a walk through Chinatown, because it was about a block from our hotel. I very quickly remembered, however, that I am going to actual China in a matter of days, which made me feel weird about the whole thing. I mean, what am I going to do, compare and contrast?
I do have to say that I am glad to be back in Chicago, even if it is not for very long. It may be cold, but it turns out it is where all my stuff is.
I just spent a week in San Francisco for work. I was excited to get out of the Chicago cold for a while, but as it turned out I traded it for a week of sunless, drizzly days. I do still think it was an improvement, as I was at least able to get out of earmuffs and gloves for a while, but I may be suffering a Vitamin D deficiency.
I saw very little of the city, since I was in depositions that went all day every day, even on Saturday. But I did get part of Sunday off and I went to SF MOMA, which was kind of great. I haven't been there in over a decade, and although abstract expressionism and pop art haven't changed much in the interim, there were some interesting temporary exhibitions that I enjoyed. Plus giant spider sculptures! Very much preferable to the real life version.
I also took a walk through Chinatown, because it was about a block from our hotel. I very quickly remembered, however, that I am going to actual China in a matter of days, which made me feel weird about the whole thing. I mean, what am I going to do, compare and contrast?
I do have to say that I am glad to be back in Chicago, even if it is not for very long. It may be cold, but it turns out it is where all my stuff is.
