Real post: Work, Food, and Karaoke

So China continues to be quite the experience.

Work is difficult because a large precentage of the equipment we shipped was damaged or not tested properly back at home. This = bummer. BUT, all of the equipment that I designed seems to be working great and I have no doubts that my stuff will rock China harder than communism.

We are brought by bus to the mill each day, our working time is strictly 8am to 8pm. This is good because we’re guaranteed to be out by 8pm. It’s bad because sometimes we stay late and don’t end up leaving by 8pm.

FOOD UPDATE
things I’ve eaten:

unknown vegetables
pork intestine
cow’s stomach
octupus legs
snail (different than escargo)
quail egg
the hotpot (yes!)
duck face
rice maggots (no!)
fish head

Other things that are really really strange:

Tonight we were taken to a Karaoke place. But wait, this was no normal Karaoke place. The five of us were dropped off by the vice president of our customer. We walked up stairs and were taken to a small room with large couches, two coffee tables, and a large Karaoke TV. San immediately picked up the mic and started singing. We passed around the mic a bit and then the door opened. Suddenly about 15 girls filed in. We were told to choose one (awkward?). Then that girl came over and cuddled against us as we sang.

wait? cuddling? huh?

They also refilled our tea and gave us slices of watermelon on napkins.

It was really weird. BUT, I assure you, the weirdness did not prevent me from ROCKING unchained melody as it has never been rocked before. I sang it to my little Asian. She laughed, but inside, I think she swooned.

7 thoughts on “Real post: Work, Food, and Karaoke

  • 7/20/2006 at 7:06 am
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    That is so, so wierd: the choosing a cuddler part, not the food part. Though that is different from our American customs also.

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  • 7/20/2006 at 8:39 am
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    Haha, wow, China does indeed sound like it is quite the adventure.

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  • 7/20/2006 at 8:41 am
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    Might they have been what americans call Prostitutes? After rocking so hard the Lil’ Cuddler would take you ‘backstage’ for a personal ‘encore’? I knew karaoke had a whole new meaning in Asian cultures but wow…

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  • 7/20/2006 at 4:47 pm
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    Word of mouth update:
    So, apparently Mike D. has 1 unit that’ll turn on, one that might, and one that “isn’t anywhere near turning on.” A decent part of this is because the customer somehow fried the junk out of one of these units (wiring melted, board fried, and they don’t know why), which then required a complete control board recalibration. This might be easier if someone had taken down better test data for the unit, and by someone I mean me, who played the primary role in testing all 3 annealers. haHA! He might try to murder me when he gets back, I expect you all to testify at the trial.
    So it’s definitely an uphill battle, in that the machines have to get to “basic functioning” mode, THEN Mike D. has to prove out his ultra-complicated seam-tracking system. I am soooo glad I’m not in China right now.

    I’ll keep folks updated if anything more interesting comes my way.

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  • 7/22/2006 at 3:55 am
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    Actually it’s not quite as bad as Sander reports. We have two of the machines up and running like champs. The third was indeed fried, but the replacement parts are all going to arrive after my departure. It will be someone elses duty to install them.

    More amazing than anything is that the ultra-complicated seam-tracking system is rocking out like none of us every expected. The two working pieces of equipment are tracking like crazy. Outside of a few wiring issues which were conquered relatively quickly, my designs have been an easy install.

    I’m having a pretty great time here. Don’t really want to go home. we’ll see if that changes soon. I’m bound to get sick of these Chinese buffet’s sooner or later.

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  • 7/22/2006 at 3:58 am
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    To a certain degree yes. Apparently sometimes you can take them home if you want. I think all you have to pay is 50 dollars and your dignity. But what’s weird is that I think any prostitution is seperate from this Karaoke bar.

    I tell you man. strange.

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