All three of us were up until 3 or 4 a.m. just hanging out. I think we meant to go out but I had crashed (again, ugh...) and those guys watched another movie, something like that. Anyway, getting up this morning was pretty painful, but Flora and I made it to the "domestic" airport just in time.

And before I forget to mention this...

Jim was such a terrific host while we were there, an absolute godsend and a lot of fun to be around. We're gonna miss him! We can't thank him enough for showing us around and for letting us crash at his place. A very nice guy he is and so very organized! So if he's reading this, THANKS AGAIN JIM!

Click here to see all of today's photos.

The "domestic" airport is the old airport in Shanghai that is now used for local (duh) flights and those to Hong Kong and Macau. Nothing like the Pudong Airport I flew into from SFO. That place was an absolute MAD HOUSE, and so very old and poor, and disorganized! It was so unexpected, I have to say.

Once we made it into the gate area, a battle in and of itself -- "Hey stop pushing me!" "Get off me!" "Why you..." "Stand BACK I say!" "Flora KICK him! I'll kick the kid!" -- things went smoothly. The flight to Macau was uneventful, plenty of seats, etc. The Macau Airport was so CUTE. Small, but clean and modern. So different from the one in Shanghai, lol!

I really got to know Flora on this trip to Shanghai, I guess because we usually see each other out at parties, typical of friendships out in Taipei (for me at least). I never knew what "her story" was in terms of how she ended up in Taipei from New York City as a designer for Ann Taylor, what it was like for her when she first arrived, and how she landed herself an expat package for Nike Taiwan.

I have to say...

For both of us, and for many others from Taipei I'm sure, moving over to Shanghai is NO SWEAT OFF OUR BACKS. It's like moving from D.C. to New York. The only challenge is getting to know the streets, but that only took us a week before we felt comfortable with the city.

One week!

So different than when we first got to Taipei, which Flora reminded me of when she mentioned how she couldn't even order food in Chinese when she first got to Taipei because her Mandarin was so bad!

I KNOW that feeling, lol!

For those who spoke Chinese at home or are originally from Greater China, it ain't no big deal to come back to this side of the world and find a job, etc. But for people like myself -- a 100% Chinese-born American -- and for those like Flora who were born in Asia but didn't speak Chinese growing up -- WE DEFINITELY PAID OUR DUES.

When I first arrived, I knew NO one except my godparents and Corrina's friend from the Loveboat, Roger Chan, whom I never met before I got to Taipei. I had relatives in the area, yes, but I wasn't close to them at the time, so it wasn't the same.

Single family, European-style house in Shanghai

On top of that, I couldn't say a complete sentence in Chinese. I only had three years of work experience at a non-profit in D.C. and therefore didn't know what I wanted to do much less know how to FIND a job in Taipei. Plus, qualifying for a meaningful position was only half the battle -- the other half involved work permit and visa issues, since at the time I didn't have my R.O.C. citizenship, nor did I know that I was eligible for one.

Violins playing in the background for added drama...

It took me a good 1.5 to 2 years to finally find my social circle, to be conversant in Chinese, to figure out what I wanted to do professionally and then to be eligible for such a position.

I finally got my Taiwan I.D. card after a full year (crazy laws) which many will remember because of this "intimate" party of ~100 people that I threw to thank everyone who helped me -- rented out an art gallery and threw a formal wine and cheese affair which was tons of fun -- and only then did I feel comfortable with Taipei City.

Shanghai? Takes a week.

Granted, Shanghai is a much more modern and international city with a standard of living much higher than in Taipei back in the mid '90s (and now), but still. The transition for all those who stuck it out in Taipei is going to be such a breeze -- especially for those who speak Chinese and have a TAI BAO ZEN.

With a TAI BAO ZEN, I can even open up my own company in China "cheaper, faster", and much more easily than other "foreigners", outside of marrying a local which I also heard a lot about, in the subtle form of --> "Yeah, he started his own company but the paperwork was easy because his wife is Shanghainese."

How very... convenient.

And yet, as modern and convenient Shanghai is today, I finally understand why so many people still say that the international folks in Taipei are a "friendlier" bunch and why people still go back to visit often.

Taipei versus Shanghai...

Taipei is a small city, and, unlike in Hong Kong where you pretty much have to take cabs or ride the metro to get around, everything (and everyone) is so easily accessible.

Shanghai is a HUGE city, and everyone (and everything) is so spread out. It's neat in that there are so many different really cool sections in the city to meet up with friends and hang out -- almost too many! -- but in Taipei, there is but ONE place to be, and that is, the east side of town. Dong Chr.

Amazing how we appreciate a place only after we leave it, eh?

Chinese-American professionals versus
Mainland Chinese professionals...

It will be interesting to see how the demographics of the international community in China changes over the years, but I do believe that Larry has the lead on this one with his company, Wang & Li Asia Resources.

When W&L first started out in Taipei, the company targetted "ABCs", but for the past few years, much more attention has been placed on the local nationals who went abroad for degrees and are now returning to the region.

Though China is a BIG place -- there is space for everyone -- the up and coming superstars are those that Larry profiles in his second book, Western-educated Mainland Chinese professionals.

As he said at his last presentation in Taipei, the window of opportunity for ABCs is closing MUCH faster in China than it did in Taiwan, as local Chinese nationals -- the "sea turtles" of China -- are what multinational corporations are looking for.

Even Jim's friend who works for McKinsey in Shanghai (hired 3 years ago?) admits that he wouldn't be hired if he applied today, and yet he is FLUENT. Outside of top-level management, he said, McKinsey is ONLY looking to hire local nationals at this point. Localization. Savings. Efficiency. Etcetera.

A sign of the times, eh?

The above of course, doesn't apply to those entrepreneurs who are starting their own businesses that target the local markets in China.

All very interesting...


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