BBC Wild China

If you are interested to travel to China, you will enjoy this program BBC produced , which is very nice. It is so pretty, I have not been to so many places there, which made me want to pack things up and hit on the road. Here is what BBC covers:

第一集 龙之心 Heart of the Dragon
第二集 香格里拉 Shangri-La
第三集 西藏 Tibet
第四集 万里长城的塞外风光 Beyond the Great Wall
第五集 熊猫之地 Land of the Panda
第六集 潮汐更迭 Tides of Change

If you ask me my favoriate place to visit in China, I will say -- the Great Wall, which is a very special place in my heart. When you are there, you will what I mean.

Will you choose Facebook and OpenSocial?

I am done reading , a great book for whoever is interested in computer development and current google's world. I spent a lot of time resarching information about what author talked about new Google development.

What is the fun? the fun is, this is my professional field, in IT. I am living in the current cutting-edge techology through work and personal life. Current research and bidding on which wil be the next trend, will chanllege me to see if I fully understand the enviornment well as well as the market needs. In short, such as Facebook (with Microsoft investment) and OpenSocial(Google social network, trying to compete with Facebook), what is the market need? what necessary updates and strategies will keep Facebook the leading head position?

It is like the past fame of Netscape. In 90's, it dominated high percentage of ineternet brower selection, when Microsoft did not believe the future of internet connecting with personal lives changes. Nowadays, really, how many people still remember Netscape. I recalled during my freshman year, only use Netscape. Unfortunately, the development and marketing strategies inside of Netscape let itself fail to deliver the new competitive version to market, even ignoring the market requests. well, market tolerance and customers' loyalty are based on the company's commitment on what it promised to deliver. Sort of like "Wolf is coming" story, you do not give a false alarm.

Back to Facebook and OpenSocial, what is your choice of selecting your social circle, the open or close one? OpenSocial is still much too young to stand next to Facebook. Shall see...

Books

Finally I am done with my crazy love-reading on "Paddington Bear" after finishing all the possible paddington bear books I could get from library. My parents have been seeing me reading those children books on and on. I bet they ware waiting for me to pass this mode, and wondering what next mode I will get myself into.

It is always mental rest to read Children's book. I am back to audio book "Anne of Green Gables". oh, aren't you love Anne? sometimes, I feel that I am sort of like her -- very talktive.

I read couple Nicole Sparks books to practice my reading speed. Well, this is my rule of reading, I am most interested in non-fiction, esp. biography, feeling like to live through his live with his words. But those reading can not include speed, sometimes, need repetitive work to understand, at least for me, a Chin-glish(Chinese English) speaker. During the reading break, I will take some fictions as my speed reading materials, as most of fictions, you could read faster but not loosing the grasp of meeting, plus, certainly help my english.

Now I am reading "Planet Google". It is so much related to my profession, the discussion of open and close source has been a forever topic in computer world. If Google gives Microsoft and Yahoo a big surprise, facebook definitely did a better job to Google. Google represents the open source but facebook represents the close. It is not to say one is better than another. Bottom line, which much serve the global community needs and continually enhance the need.

Friends are special through up and down with you

Ever since I came back from Boston, I clearly feel the desire of going to MIT. Though the offer came in on July, I was so much looking forward my trip to China. Plus, I have a few things on the plate, which I could not feel the strong opinion one over another. Even coming back from China, since I spent so much time with different CEOs, VC and investors, I just do not know my next step at all. For once, I really take my time, even before the trip to Boston, I wonder the alternative. But the time in Boston, SDM open house program, conversations with alumni and current students, and MIT conference. I know that I belong here, not for the name of ivy league but the true feeling of involvement of innovation technology and management.

Coming home, reality kicks in. I need to get status straight, which has cost me many years waiting and rejections to other opportunities. I got frustrated and talked with my close friends, who has been there for me all along, listening and supporting, even believing in me for who I am. They decided to contact local congressman and senators. "If there is a right button, we will help you to find it and let him know how valuable to keep you!" How special to hear this from friends and their trust give me a lot of strength here. I believe there is a miracle.

Cannon Beach -- get away

Nov. 8-9, I took my parents to Cannon Beach. Amazingly, the entire drive was filled with pouring rain, but when I pulled into the parking of the hotel I reserved, it was gorgeous sunny and pretty. I hold huge guilty feeling for letting my parents in Olympia almost two weeks while I went to D.C. and Boston. So, I decided that this trip is totally to let them relax, and have fun time.

We agree there is no agenda, so everyone is on his own way, eating, playing, walking and wondering whatever and wherever. It becomes the best agreement we had ever!! suddenly they do not have to check me, vice versa. It is a quite nice hotel and we were at second floor with direct view of water. My dad has been dying to swim for a longtime. Pretty much the entire Saturday evening after dawn, he has been in the swimming pool for hours. That is quite unfair for him when he comes to see me. At home, he goes to the ocean swimming every morning for two hours. ye, two hours, I went once, he is a fast swimmer, me, use his word -- "sort of drifting like a piece of wood on top of water, not able to control speed and direction" :( ouch! past a few years, during his routine swimming exericise, he has been saved several persons' lives. I am so proud of my dad!

I felt this is a good get-away for me too from reality. Ever since I made my decision, I began to check in all the information. The most ironic response was back to this long-due document. oh, breath, breath!

A beautiful fall

I put a serious work-out plan in, to get in shape. ye, I had too many good meals in China, it is about time for me to get back to exercise. I have put a lot of time on cycling. Today I rode on trail to Yelm, listing , everything just went well until the way back home, pouring on me. By the time I walked in home, I looked like a "dipping chicken" (a chinese way to say 'a droughing rat').

I took my parents to Tumwater falls to see some running Salmon. The beauty of fall is gorgeous.





I just finished reserved a hotel at Cannon Beach to take my parents there this weekend. October I have left them here for two weeks while I went to east coast. I felt terrible and wanted to take them for a nice break. Just hope the weather is nice :)

What is your way to relieve your upset feeling?

Thursday evening after work, I clearly was not happy with overwhelming things happened at work. well, to make clear, I wish I handled those situations better. I have been considered the current position as a test-water experience to sharp my management skills and communication skills. I found the most conflict struggle is with people, different people, how can you handle the situations? Not to go to details of what happened, it is a project I am PM(project manager), coordinating the efforts with Microsoft field engineers. It is a very complicated system that required me to foresee the new picture of agency's infrastructure. The dilemma was how I can let people keep their own opinions, and willing to take advice to compromise. By the end of day, I need quiet moment.

My parents are great. They gave me space and let me be. I spent the rest evening, not to think about the work but drawing the Paddington Bear. Couple weeks, it was Paddington's 50 year's anniversary. I began to read his stories and love it. Is that a cute lovable bear? I could not help to keep on and on reading his books.

Decision

I have been pondering about the decision who I should take, for the longest time, to step up for form a corporation or go to school has been a hard decision. It circled my mind for quite a long time, then I chose to give myself enough time to plot along the road about the business idea. it went well, the plan, the model and meetings with business groups. Most of all, how to help investors to understand and fully see the vision I have. I have to admit, timing is very important. Before I left for China, the main three investors committed well and I went to the trip, did market analysis(only God knows how I managed my time in China) and I felt much firmly with my vision. Go Girl! Go with your dream!

Though noone could predict with economy, people could change their mind under severe economic situations or just feel uncertain. The recession has never bother me deeply. I always feel that is the way to correct what has been incorrect for previous peak economy. What does that mean to me? a few changes on my business plan but not major.

This morning, I felt more clear about what I choose to do. Not to choose one over another, but accomplish both in the right order after much thinking.

back from Boston's trip Oct. 21-25, 2008

I think my Olympic Blog serves a great deal of my trip in Beijing and afterwards. now I will spend more time here, focusing what I want to do.

Just got back from my Boston's trip, besides the long delay due to storms and burrr cold weather in Boston, I love this trip absolutely. part of me, deep inside of me feel alive, well-connected the spirits there, encouraging me to pursue.

The main purpose of this trip is to attend MIT SDM open house and this year SDM conference. Ever since I returned from my China trip, I put a lot of time to think through how I want to move the next step, but keep not getting a clear picture. I was hesitate to go to this trip but decide to go, to find more information about what I decide to do. I know that I will move out of current place, just matter of time. When most people worry how they could get offer, I got couple amazing ones in hands already. My hot potato is how to execute the plan, how to link each step well, making my own unique linear graphic here. Am I too engineering? Though the schools are very famous, I'd rather to select well based on how education helps my career growth and realize my dream, instead of bragging the fame of school. So, I went on the Boston trip.

Needless to say, I love MIT, like being a nurd in a right place, not feeling odd and getting funny looks from people. That is true, with my own oddness, sometimes, I found very off-beat with most crowd, but in MIT, feeling just in nature. Do not brag how smart you are, as you can always find someone who is smarter than you. Do not show off what you have done, as you can always find someone who did more amazing stuff than you. Here, you learn, you absorb, you dive in with clear vision.

Open house is much like a routine work. I went to check out the financial air and housing. The living standard in Cambridge is way high. Well, there are some drawbacks here, probably this is one of those things I need to get used to or deal with. The fun part of day 22nd was meeting with all current students and alumni. It is a small program with 30+ students. ye, you will get very inch of attention from professor and staff members. is that great? I do not want to be one of oven popseed muffin, rather getting what I am looking for. During the reception, I talked with an elder gentleman who sat next to me, for over an hour we discuss the relationship between engineering design and business strategic planning, fascinating! In the end, he said, "are you ready to be in my class?" ehh?? what class? He is Prof. Tom Allen, will teach one of core courses to me soon. cool!

Due to the time difference, 3 hours between east and west coasts, I keep reading my new book , a good one!

Trip in ShangHai

July 28, 2008 Monday

By early morning, we reached Dalian. The sleeping seat in the train was really comfortable. I only have 3 hours to be home before I headed to airport flying to ShangHai. My mom made fresh noodles. In Chinese sayings, welcome with noodles and eat dumplings at farewell. I'd rather to eat noodles.

View from Dalian airport, I just felt amazed with those apartment buildings.




Reach Shanghai, view the cross river bridge, which is a very important connection here.



Shanghai street, you can see the instant mineral water machine to purchase and local food vendor around the corners.


The largest ShangHai subway terminal, big, clean and safe.



I had some meetings this afternoon, by evening, when I went to hotel, at square, residents having an out-door dancing event. The sweet rhythm and sounds made you relax in the summer night. There are so many different age groups dancing.




Tonight I had Korean stone bowl rice dish, with eggs, veggies and meats. It is much better than the one I got in U.S., later I was told that there are quite a lot of Koreans living in Shanghai.



July 29, 2008 Tuesday
Today I am off since I have a whole day meeting tomorrow. I decide to tour around the city. I went to a traditional place to get breakfast, steaming bao-zi.





In pu-dong, there are many new buildings. But in the middle of pu-dong, there is a large century park, just like central park in NYC. It is a quite get-away place without traveling far away.







If you look at the central building shape, it just looks like a bottle opener. But, that is not Beer company, it is the financial district.


Central lake



Front landscape




Pigeon house





I walked around the financial district, ye, also went to a nice restaurant.



Since I need a pair of professional shoes for meetings, I went to Shinway Union Square "Ba Bai Ban", totally like NYC Saks Fifth Ave inside, locating right by the financial district. I had couple funny things happened there.



At women clothing location, when I asked a lady to pick up a shirt for me, she said that they do not have my size. I asked what the largest size they have, "only XL"!! goodness! By the time I was at shoes section, they told me that they do not have my size of shoes since too big(my shoes size is size 8). I guess I am completely out of Shanghai people average size. South of Chinese are petite, but I am only in petite in U.S. Hai-ya, I tried not to think too much about my size :(







July 30, 2008 Wednesday

Today is the day filled with meetings, talking, planning and discussing. I have to admit, that is very challenging and fun to work with people with different background. But we all have the same passion.

Tonight I went to Huang Pu river, the famous place in Shanghai. You will see the history of this city. One side is Pu-Xi district, another side is Pu-Dong district. Oh, I love this city, not because it is a city, but because its up-beating and youthful spirit!