Ni hao

I spent two weeks in southeast China on business.  I've been to Dongguan once before, but it was over 4 years ago and times are always changing.  I always think it is such a great experience and so eye-opening to see different cultures.  That's why I love to travel, even though it is not nearly as fun when you have to work!  I still have a lot to learn, but that comes with time.  Only speaking English, I always feel so "dumb" in other countries.

A few observations:

A lot of people smoke.

You can smoke virtually anywhere, including the mall and probably your desk at work.

No traffic safety.

People walk through main traffic roads wherever and whenever.  

Bikes, rickshaws, vans, large trucks, and mopeds all use the same lanes.  Or lack of lanes.

No one wears a helmet.

Forget child seats, kids aren't even buckled in.  They often climb to the windows and stick their head out.

I saw several bad accidents (after they happened).

You can fit your family of four on a single bike.

Landscaping along the main roads is beautiful - probably better than most people's private home landscaping in the US.

Noticed improvement since the last visit - better roads, more luxury cars, new border patrol.

It is so humid!  I was wearing sneakers taking a walking in the morning and almost fell because of the moisture in the air/ on the ground.

Billiards is very popular - driving to the factories, I saw pool tables sitting outside.

Soccer and baseball seem to be growing in popularity.

Watermelon is an after meal treat.

They cook with a lot of oil.

Had an amazing Taiwanese lunch and Japanese dinner but didn't venture very far into the food world on my own.  Surprisingly, didn't have much Chinese food but a lot of Italian!

Western toilets are not always available.  Reference picture below of what is commonly available...  yes, a flushing hole.  (or sometimes non-flushing!)

Chinese manners are different from ours - spitting is common.

Very respectful in the workplace - always stand when you walk up to them, always "present" things to you with two hands (handing you their business card, giving back a credit card, etc).

Buddhism is the most common religion.

Stayed tuned, more to come....