21 March 2008 Miscellaneous musings
Weird and Odd musings, observations of a rather eccentric individual in Asia:

1. The shortshifting taxi cab drivers do inside China makes me cringe. They must go through gearboxes at a high rate, trying to keep the fuel mileage up. Absolutely crazy driving in every other aspect (no rules about lights, lanes, pedestrians or bikes, and ultimate speed), but it is a rare bird indeed that takes his engine over 2,000 RPM. Most shift around 1,500.
   
2. Every good and viable company I have run across here in Asia and in the US has people at its core that care about the people that work around them. My data set is primarily with sub 100 employee companies or plants, but many of them. Those people that tie together those around them, keep people working together, keep attitudes and activities pointed in the same direction, are the glue in any organization. They tend to be peacemakers and allow the gentle side to be exposed in a dog eat dog environment (called manufacturing, in my instance). These people might or might not be the managers, but they certainly are leaders, and 'inheritors of the earth' in ways most 'managers' would not want to admit. Time after time I have seen the peacemakers pushed out by managers perceiving a complacency that is anything but, only to have a given project or organizational unit implode on itself after. It sounds funny hearing myself say that, as I tend to be aggressive by nature, but it is absolutely true.
3. I went to a funeral yesterday, for a good friend's dad (Hong Kong citizen). I was reminded yet again the differences that are forced on cultural procedures due to population density!
   
1. You can't get a funeral room to conduct the ceremony for upwards of 30 days.
2. The funeral building I went to had 5-6 different rooms per floor, 6 floors high, 2-3 funerals per room per day. The crematorium was next door. Can you say MACHINE?
3. The staff moving the bodies in and out of the rooms were in t-shirts and polo shirts, on the move between rooms constantly.
4. As the ceremony I was in drew to a close, the staff came in and took down all the signage and decorations unique to that ceremony, well before everyone had left, and started to work on the next ceremony's decorations!
4. As another indication of population density and transportation efficiency/frequency here, seating in the train and MTR stations is almost non existent! It eliminates loitering; there is no need to stay in the stations for more than 2-3 minutes.
5. Boy, am I stretching myself in terms of business development in Asia. Having never done this, I can see where my skills fit well, but it is still the first time for me, and my head regularly swims figuring it all out. I am blessed having this opportunity, and I hope and pray I do it more than justice. 4 months into it, I am just starting to enjoy aspects of it, as opposed to really struggling to keep my head above water and figure out exactly how things will get done.
   
6. As well, the family is really stretching and learning, in ways that are not obvious to anyone at times. It can and is very stressful at times, but perseverance brings about other character qualities, as well. Keep moving :) My wife is a real trooper, no two ways about it. I love you, D!
   

21 March 2008 Thinking Cap Time
All right, prize time. The first person to come up with a plausible calculation of this gets a prize from Asia (customized to suit the winner!).

I saw my first pedunk in Hong Kong last week. I would call it a pididdle, but apparently a car with the taillight out is technically called a pedunk. It seems significant to this car fan that in 4 months of time in Hong Kong, walking amongst traffic A LOT, that I wouldn't see one at all until now. It speaks to the attention that is paid to people's cars here. All cars are cleaned religiously, and cabs are a cut above even that. Maintenance is done constantly in down time, and inspections are rigorous. So the quiz question: How fast is a pedunk (or pididdle) found and fixed in Hong Kong, versus the US? In Maine, I would see a pedunk practically every day on the way to work, with a car density orders of magnitude less than here in Hong Kong. Assume I am in the presence of cars 1 hour per day in both locations and that bulbs burn out at roughly the same rate. You will need to perform some research into the car density in both locations (southern Maine, Hong Kong), and work your way back to how fast a pediddle is found and fixed in both areas. Post your analysis as a response to this blog, and I will post the winner in a few weeks. While the most clinically correct answer is sought after (I am an engineer by training!), right brained answers are also welcome and will be considered in the contest. Yes, Tracy, that keeps you in the running.

21 March 2008 Hobbling in Hong Kong

Boy, if you can't walk, life is rough over here. I SMOKED my ankle 2 weeks ago playing hoops, and I am just now starting to walk normally with a brace. It bruised all the way up to the outside of my knee. I have really flat feet and the foot shown here was taped up HARD for 2 days prior to this picture. Travelling to China has been interesting with it, as well. Getting old is a beautiful thing on many levels, but this level has its issues! Walking was my primary source of exercise here in HK; to say I am a bit restless these days would be an understatement! If anyone knows a good Dr. to go to with access to an MRI machine over here (I just can't bring myself to go to the emergency room over here; it's not an emergency!), say the word. I got my Hong Kong ID card last week, which greases the medical care skids over here. It is getting better, but seems to be squeaking at me to get it looked at. Maybe that is my wife :).

21 March 2008 Daddy's Sayings
OK, those of you yearning for an update from the harried man of the house. Look out; here comes a string of update subjects I have been keeping a list of. No more whining!

Convinced I was not being heard much these days on the homefront, I made a rash promise Monday before flying off to China for the week. In the spirit of the Proverbs reading we have been doing, I promised to pay 10 Hong Kong dollars (about a US buck) for every Daddyism they could think of, in the hopes that writing them down would help cement some parental expectations in their minds. We will see if it helps, but the exercise was well worth the money. Can you tell who is most motivated by 'ka-ching', as she likes to call it?

Daddy's proverbs:
List from Bekah:

1. Have you brushed your teeth?
2. Keep your hair out of your face.
3. Clear the table, please (it is her responsibility to clean up after the meals, honest!)
   
4. Clean your room
5. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS
6. Keep moving
7. Keep quiet; we are in an apartment building!

List from Rachel:

1. Shut the toilet seat. (It is so humid here, you need to use dehumidifiers. Toilets are a real source of moisture!)
2. Close the curtains in the room when you get dressed! (we so lived in the country before this!)
   
3. Have you done your chores?
4. Time for school; it is important.
5. Put your dirty clothes in the hamper.
6. Wash your hands.
7. Wash your hands. (worthy of 2 slots while here in Hong Kong)
8. Brush your teeth.
9. Get ready for bed!
10. Did you get Lydia ready for bed? Brush her teeth? (one of her responsibilities)
11. Get your coat on.
12. Get your shoes on.
13. Got your Octopus card? (the key to transportation in the city - a beautiful thing!)
14. KEEP YOUR HAIR OUT OF YOUR FACE (with pride, she posted on her bedroom door her writing session of the sentence X 10: "I will fix my hair or lose it").
15. Stand back from the road.
16. Time to get out for exercise!
    

It is clear that David is a space cadet; he came up with a big fat goose egg! :) It is funny the sayings the kids seem to remember the easiest; the one I always seem to be saying is 'all actions have consequences', but they didn't seem to recall in this round.

Oh, I love my daughters. They have done really well in this HUGE transition over the past 4 months.