28 Nov 2010: Fleamarket shopping and a trip to the flower market

28 Nov 2010

Greetings all from Cold and snowy Shenyang!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone!  We shared a lovely Thanksgiving buffet with 2 other American couples, 2 French couples and 1 German couple...a very international day of Thanks!  We were and continue to be truly blessed!  We do have much for which to be grateful!  We hope that all of you enjoyed your time with family and friends...and that you didn't get too full!  It's kind of slim pickin's today for my update...it's turned winter here…more snow today, and cold!  Right now, outside, it's "light snow and 15F"…tomorrow the high will be 28F.  The long silk underwear I bought at LL Bean before coming here came out of the package yesterday, and it felt good!  Rod and I did manage to go to the market yesterday with some American friends…we all braved the cold and came back to the hotel and had a hot hamburger in the restaurant!  At the market today, I found a strange decorative item...it's probably the first "antique", I've bought in China.  My eye was first drawn to the shape of the basket, then to the things in it.  We thought they were some type of marshal art baton, but someone told us they were use to clean clothes in the river, then someone else told us they were used to beat out wrinkles in the sheets...neither function will they ever be used for in our house, but bought them, just as they were, basset, batons and all!

old basket and washing/ironing batons from the flea market

Chinese Bamboo/wicker basket with washing/ironing batons...cold day at the market!  You can also see the cabbage pots in the background...they were part of my 50th birthday present this year!

The other highlight of the trip was stopping at the flower market...this place was wonderful..1st floor was many cut flower shops, 2^nd floor was all house plants and orchids...the smell was wonderful walking in the door!  I wish I would have had my camera, and I thought I would go back up today to get a picture, but I just couldn't pry myself out of this warm apartment...maybe next week!  Anyway, Rod bought me a unique little flower arrangement…gotta love that guy!

Sarah with the heart box of flowers from the flower market

Sarah Miller just getting in from outside Shenyang with a fresh box of roses!  What a man I'm married to!!

This week, we're going to Shanghai on Tuesday.  I have a 3 day meeting, and Rod will go to meet some friends of friends.  I doubt we'll have a lot of time to sight-see...the meeting starts on Wednesday and is over on Friday, then we'll be flying back...hopefully I'll have enough time to at least go to the pearl market one night!!

Take care everyone and enjoy all the Pre-Christmas parties and keep those emails coming!!

Sarah & Rod

21 November 2010: Japan,

21 November 2010

Hello everyone from cold, foggy, rainy Shenyang!

I guess the salutation says a lot today!  As I said in last week's update, I was in Japan this past week.  Professionally, it was a good trip, but like most business trips somewhat exhausting!  When I go to Japan, I'm not in a big metropolis like Tokyo..although that is where I fly into, then take a 3 hour bus ride to a town called Ohta.  If you Googleearth to Ohta Japan, you'll see it's just south of Tokyo..looks close on the map, and from what I understand, it takes about 1 hour on the highspeed train.  The hotel I stayed at is very close to the bus station and train station and has a western style breakfast.  It's name is the Grand Hotel Ohta..name sounds great right?  Well, the name is about the only thing grand about the hotel.  The rooms are tiny...and the bathroom is even smaller.  Here's a picture!

The complete bathroom in the "Grand Hotel", Ota, Japan

 Notice the shower water suppy comes directly out of the sink faucet. The tub is about as big around as a small individual shower (which it also serves for).  The toilet, like every toilet I used in Japan has a heated seat and several other functions to spray, blow air etc...you know you are really getting the inside scoop when I tell you about toilets!!

The highlight of the trip was going to a nice Kobe Steakhouse.  I don't know the entire story about Kobe steaks, but suffice to say there is a unique way to raise these beef cattle such that they are fed corn and beer and get massaged in order to make sure their meet will be tender.  And it was very tender!  Expensive, but very good!

Sitting at the Kobe steakhouse in Ohta, Japan with the chef...really good steaks!

Eating at a Japanese restaurant in Ota, Japan

Rod and I have started going to the Catholic Church here in Shenyang.  We are not Catholics, but when it's the only Christian church in town, it's going to do!  It's a small congregation made up of Chinese and Expatriots like Rod and myself.  The Priests are very nice, one Chinese who has studied in Boston and speaks very good English, and an American who is from Pittsburgh.  We don't go every Sunday, but it's a nice respite when we do go.  The service is in English and the songs are a mixture.  There is a large cathedral, but it's not used for a church service...it's rented out and used for a "photo-op" location for weddings.  The actual congregation meets in a small chapel on the grounds.  Rod and I went last Sunday..we were over dressed, but got out picture taken here in the hotel lobby before we left.

Sarah & Rod Miller, November 2010

Sarah & Rod Miller in Shenyang, China, November, 2010. going to Catholic Church.

Today here in Shenyang, we had the official Cornerstone ceremony for the new plant.  It was quite a big deal with a lot of government officials.  One of the necessary things to do at a ceremony like this is to have a dragon and Lion dance ceremony.  I got the following explanation off of the internet about this ceremony:  "It has been believed that dragons are to bring good luck to many people and this is reflected in their characteristics which include great power -- dignity -- fertility -- wisdom and auspiciousness.  Lion dances are usually enacted to bring good luck and to ward off evil spirits--as with the beginning of the Lunar New Year and grand opening of businesses --- weddings and even red egg and ginger parties -- celebrating a newly born baby."

Dragons and Lions at the Cornerstone ceremony for the new Michelin plant

Sarah Miller and some of the China Leadership team

Sarah Miller moving sand at the cornerstone celebration

The ceremony also included the more traditional golden shovel and dirt around the cornerstone of the new plant.  I took my hand at the shovel too!

Sarah Miller with the cornerstone of the new Michelin plant in Shenyang, China

So that's about it for today.  Take care ya'll and keep those emails coming!!

Sarah & Rod

14 Nov 2010: 1st snow, a sneak preview of construction and more wierd food

14 Nov 2010

Greetings all from a dusting- of -snow- covered-Shenyang,

Yes it's cool here in Shenyang, enough for our first snow.  There is still a little bit left, but it most fell, made a mess, and is melting off now.  Sunny skies today, but still quite cold (today high will be 37 F, it's 27 outside right now)...and this is November!

Rod has had a bad cold, but despite that we got out and about a little...driving up to a fur market south west of town.  It was snowing all the while, but the driver never flenched...better him than me!  

driving in the snow..with the budda on the dashboard

Driving in the snow...notice the Budda on the dash...he's been there since day 1.  Guess it's working...no wrecks yet!

We didn't buy anything at the fur market, although there were some very nice coats and jackets..unfortunately not many in the "US Women's size"...I'm sure there's not a lot of market for large coats given the size of the average Chinese woman...very petite!  I really didn't need one anyway...I brought my winter coats from my Romania days, so I will be able to keep very warm!

 

This is a construction site of some more apartment buildings we took along the way.  The white buildings with blue trim are temporary housing for the construction workers.  I'm  not sure how much longer construction sites will be active, but I don't think it will be long!

Construction site in Shenyang in the snow

Speaking of construction sites...I normally don't speak much about my work in these emails, but I thought you might like to see that things are moving right along with our project.

Sarah Miller on the Michelin construction site in Shenyang

Project leaders on the site

Sarah Miller with the concrete being poured in the background

Some of the Shenyang team looking at the site in November 2010

Foundations being built...important to get this done before winter!

It's a lot of work, but it's so nice to actually see things happening...more than just numbers in spreadsheets and words on powerpoint slides!

While I'm out hanging around construction sites, Rod is finding more interesting things to eat...here is a selection of things I don't want to eat!

On the right, you have black eggs...not sure how these things are preserved, but I think they would probably last 1000 years in that vacuum packed container.  Next you have duck tongue..individually packed...just right for that mid morning snack..not!  Then, my favorite to the right...pick snout..vacuum packed to be just right for that special meal, and then of course we have the lone chicken foot including toenails and spurs.  I witnessed Rod giving this to the hotel maid this morning..so I can be sure (I think, unless he stuck one back) that I won't be seeing this for dinner!

One thing that is absolutely wonderful to eat are the fresh mandarin oranges...these little babies are great!  Just like miniature tangerines, no seeds, sweet as you have in the can.  These are fresh in the markets right now...I'm guessing they are grown in the South of China where it is quite tropical...couldn't be here in the frigid North!

Fresh Mandarin oranges.  The coin you see in the bottom is a 1 Yuan coin.  It's about the size of a US quarter.  I put this here so that you have something to judge the size of this little oranges...they are so tasty with a fresh sliced banana..great for desert!

Mardarin oranges

Well, that 's about it for today's note.  Tomorrow, I go to Ota, Japan for a week, then back here to Shenyang next Saturday.

Take care everyone and keep those emails coming!!

7 November 2010: Corn on the cob and more fruit markets

7 November 2010

Greetings all from cool Shenyang,

It's sunday afternoon as I write this (by the way China never changes times, so no "Spring Up Fall Back" to remember here!) and it's cold and wet outside.  It's rain today, but for forecast is calling for snow on Wednesday...we'll see!  The weather forecasts here are like the ones in the US...not something you can count on!

This weekend has been some needed rest and relaxation.  We got out a little but, but not much.  This time on year on Shenyang, the street food vendors switch to Corn on the cob and roasted sweet potatoes for your fast food pallets. Here's some fast corn on the cob!  If you have a 3 wheel trike here, you can go into business!

Corn on the cob street vendor in Shenyang

Awhile back I had a picture of some fruit that some of you wandered what the squashed Asian fruit was, and at the time, i didn't know.  Well, now we know. They are persimmons...and big ones!

Persimmons in China!  Are these the biggest Persimmons in the you've ever seen?!

Here's a picture with Rod and his favorite fruit market not far from the hotel.

Sarah at the fruit market in Shenyang

Rod with his fruit market girl

Always a winner with the girls!

Not much else going on here in Shenyang... take care everyone and keep those emails coming!!

Sarah