Just a Test... Sabbatical Map

Just testing to see if this works...  Thx.

Joe

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5 Trips to 4 Police Stations

Some people ask if I ever feel like I am in a communist country.  The answer is hardly ever.  Actually, Shanghai feels more like a capitalist country than the US.  There are people doing anything and everything they can to make money.  From impromptu ‘bike repair shops’ on the corner (guy sitting on a chair surrounded by tubes and chains and grease) to the ‘corner video store’ (no copywrite laws, so movies show up on our corner within 2 weeks of their debut in theatres in the US), everyone is doing whatever they can to ‘make a buck’.

Shanghai is first and foremost about money.  It’s called ‘the Western facing part of China’…  It’s known as the ‘financial capital of China’ while Beijing is the ‘government and cultural capital’.

The only time I feel like I am in a capitalist country is when it comes to getting anything done with the government.

Case in point is when we have visitors come into town.  If you are not Chinese, the government wants to know where you are.  We are supposed to take our friends and family to the local police station to get a visitors permit within 24-48 hours of their arrival.  Repercussions of not registering and being asked for paperwork are unclear, but urban legends include hours at the police station sorting it out, and in extreme cases, people’s visas being taken away.

This story is a classic example of bureaucracy and paperwork for the sake of bureaucracy and paperwork.

When we arrived, we were issued ‘Residence Permits’ by the Chinese government.  They are pasted into each of our passports.  Olivia’s passport was set to expire last summer, so when we were home in June/July we got her a new passport.  Now she has a new passport, but the residence permit is in the old passport.  So I contacted the company Intel uses to handle our immigration issues in PRC and asked for them to take care of moving the permit from one passport to the other… pretty straightforward, right?  Well, not if you are in China!

In my discussion with the immigration company, he explains that I need to get new temporary residence permit in order to get the residence permit moved from one passport to another.  I ask the obvious question: why would I need a temporary residence permit, when we all have permanent residence permits in our passports that are valid until July 31 of 2009?  After a 5 minute conversation, the answer boiled down to: “I know it makes no logical sense, but to move the residence permit, we basically need to start the whole process over, and your actual valid residence permit is worthless”.

So then I resign myself to go get new temporary residence permits.  Normally the same immigration consultant takes care of this, but since this is ‘out of cycle’, I am on my own.  I am told by an acquaintance that she had to do the same thing and it was easy.  She simply went to the local police station with her driver with all their passports and the police gave them new temporary residence permits.  She said the driver basically took care of the entire conversation.  “No problem” I think to myself.

I get in the van one day and ask Daniel to take me to the local police station so I can get new paperwork.  First police station sends us to a second police station saying they don’t do this type of paperwork.  The second police station tries to send us back to the first one (which Daniel was prepared to do, until I got very angry and loud – it’s the Chinese way to get things done).  So the second police station gets on the phone to a third police station and confirms they do this type of paperwork there.  So off we go to police station #3.  Once at this police station, the officer explains there are 2 problems.  This station does not handle my neighborhood, and I must go to a station much farther away from my neighborhood than this one to get what I need…  That’s right – this station is closer to my neighborhood, but doesn’t handle my neighborhood.  I was initially flabbergasted, but then realized this really isn’t any different than the Beaverton High School district, and the fact that I could hit Driver – 4 Iron to Sunset High School, but will have to take the kids to Westview, which is practically in Hillsboro!

The other problem is that there are lots of things I need to produce to get the temporary permits: Rental contract, passports, copies of the landlord’s Chinese ID and a letter from the property management company.  When I explain that a friend walked in and got what she needed without any of this, the person suddenly spoke no English and just pointed at the list of what I needed.

So even more frustrated, I called it a day and decided to go to police station #4 some other day.

A week or so later, once I had successfully collected the required documents, I headed to police station #4.  I walked in, confident that I had what I needed, and I would finally get this crossed off my ‘honey do’ list.

I hand the officer all the paperwork and she starts to explain to my driver that I am missing something.  Daniel translates and says ‘you need copies of specific pages of your passport’.  I point to the list that I was given at police station #3, which just says ‘Passports’.  He points to the much longer line above in Chinese and basically says ‘they don’t really know English and didn’t know how to translate everything, but in Chinese this says you need copies of specific pages of your passports’.  I decide not to blow my top, and say ‘well, can they make copies here, do they have a copier?’  ‘No’, is the simple response.

So once again, I come away empty handed.

Yesterday I was working from home, and I decided I was going to get this taken care of for good.  I made copies of the required pages of our passports, along with other pages I thought might be important, just in case.  Off Daniel and I went to the police station.  I think he was tired of having to translate for ‘angry white man’ as he didn’t accompany me in this time.

So in I go.  I hand over everything, and the officer takes it all and hands me 4 forms, asking me to fill them in and sign them.  While I am doing this, I notice that the officer is scanning in our passports to the computer.  All I can think is ‘why do you need my copies if you can simply scan these things in?’

Anyhow, I was happy at making this much progress, so I just focused on filling out my forms.  Once I am done filling out the four forms (same info for each family member), she hand me 4 forms to sign.  They are the EXACT same forms I just filled out by hand.  The computer had taken the information from our scanned passports, combined with her entering the information into the computer and printed out the exact forms, which she pushed through the glass and asked me to sign.

I had not been able to fill in all the information on my hand written version of the forms, as they needed some information from the passports she had.  When I tried to explain this, she simply said ‘no problem’.  She took all the forms and all my copies and shoved them all together, not in any order, some parts intermixed with other parts, handed me my temporary residence permits and said ‘all finished’.

On days like this, it is clear to me I am in a communist country…  but most other days, not so much.

Deals to be had in China - The bedroom set!

Steph has always wanted a bedroom set.  I thought we had one...  it included a metal frame for our queen sized bed, my old dresser from when I was a kid, a couple of mismatched nightstands and the dresser from when she was young.  It also included very nice piece of furniture handed down through her family that originally belonged to her 'Nonnie'.  Then when we moved into the new house in Beaverton (Oak Hills) we went to Consignment Northwest and found a nice dresser with 2 end tables. 

This was the point at which I was sure we had a bedroom set.  Gone was the old dresser from my childhood (up to the guest room to be more accurate).  Gone were the mismatching nightstands.  Gone was her dresser from when she was a kid (since it was part of a matching set of furniture that's from Ethan Allan and is the girls bedroom set now).  In was the 'new to us' dresser and nightstands.  While not matching the style of the vanity/dresser from Steph's Nonnie, they were still in dark stain, and therefore 'close'.  Still no bed beyond the metal frame, but I was sure we now had a 'bedroom set'.

When it became clear that we would be headed home in June, as opposed to on time (end of July) or the extended date I had been talking with my management team about (end of 2009), we started to have the conversation about what we wanted to have done or have made to take home with us.  Steph explained that she wanted to have a bedroom set made, that it would be so much cheaper than it was in the US.  I asked and was quickly educated on what was wrong with our 'bedroom set' at home... seems an actual bed (headboard, foot board, etc), beyond a metal frame was the key component of a bedroom set.  My argument that random styles of furniture thoughtfully put together met the requirements of a 'set of furniture' not only lacked the key piece (an actual bed) but I was clearly told that our ecclectic collection of furniture was not a good example of a successful attempt at such.

So we started the process of deciding what bedroom set 'we' would like, so that we could compare the pricing to what we could have made in PRC before we head home. Stephanie picked out a set from Pottery Barn - a line they call 'Montego'.  The cost for all 5 pieces was ~$6000 including shipping.  OUCH.  The Pottery Barn construction is a combination of mahogany, mahogany veneer, plywood and MDF.

Off we went this afternoon to a furniture store that Steph found here in our part of Shanghai.  We had a set of cubbies made for the girls from ash that turned out well, and we like very much.  Stephanie has been leading a furniture tour of our part of Shanghai and has included this place in her tour, so she has some goodwill built up.

We started the conversation with the gal who runs the show there, and once she confirmed that they do many of these types of sets, the conversation moved quickly to money.  First was the type of wood we wanted to use.  There was no combination of wood, plywood, veneer and MDF, everything was made of wood.  This is why had we had the entire bed made in mahogany, it would have tipped the financial scale at 40% more than we paid!  We opted for elm with a dark stain (trying to match our best memory of the piece from Nonnie that's carefully tucked away in storage in the US).

All 5 pieces came in, after a little negotiating) at 17,000 RMB.  This equates to $2,500 USD.  LESS THAN HALF of the delivered cost of the Pottery Barn set!  Again, it's not the mahogany that the Pottery Barn set is, but it also won't have any MDF.  For less than half, we'll take the elm!

Now we are lucky that we'll be able to get the set home to Oregon as a part of our return shipment from PRC - otherwise, perhaps the cost would really not be that much better...  But at less than $0.50 on the $1.00, this was a deal that could not be beat.

So today a deposit was made and in 5 weeks, we'll have our new bedroom set delivered here to our apartment.  We won't set it up, instead leaving it wrapped and disassembled to ease the packing and shipping process.

The only problem that exists now is that we have to temper our enthusiasm for the great deal that furniture is here in PRC with the reality of spending money on things we 'want' as opposed to things we 'want'.

The dresser and night stands will make their way into the guest bedroom upstairs (much nicer for Barb and Jaques and my mom when they visit).  The old stuff in the guest room will likely make it into a summer garage sale.

At the end of the day, Steph is happy for the matching bedroom set - that meets all the requirements and definitions of an actual bedroom set - and I am happy for the killer deal we got!

There are lots of things on the 'what to get before returning to the US' list.  The criteria for making this list are either it's something to remind us of our time in China, or it's so much cheaper to get here.  The list is budget dependent, but these are some of the things we'd like to get to take home with us!

Stone lions for either side of the door at home

Couple custom made suits for Joe

Some golf pants for Joe

Coats for Steph

Framing

Some jewelry

Some pottery

Can't wait to see everyone again - it's been a great couple years in China, and we would have preferred to stay through 2009, but I am getting excited to be home again!

Cheers,

Joe

27 Rounds of Golf in 31 Days

As many of you might know, Intel offers a benefit unique in its industry, perhaps any industry.  That benefit is a sabbatical.  Every 7 years of service, Intel grants you an 8 week ‘recharge time’.  An 8 week vacation (in addition to your standard 3 or 4 weeks).  As explained to me, although there is some disagreement within the employee ranks on this, it is recognition of the stress and strain working in an aggressive technology company like Intel can put you under.  It’s recognition that after 7 years, you need time away from work to recharge the batteries and come back ready to bring your best self to work.

 

For me, it’s been over 9 years.  I postponed my sabbatical once as we had just bought a new home in Oak Hills, and in reality, had no money left to do anything!  Then I postponed it so I could take this international assignment working in China.  Now I am in the precarious position of approaching the expiration date of the benefit!  At the 10 year mark (3 years after eligibility), it expires.

 

We are on track for returning from our assignment in China in June of this year, and given the nature of my chosen trip, I will be taking it shortly after I return.  This allows me to both spend time with the kids (Olivia (6), Genevieve (4), and soon to arrive baby #3), before Olivia starts school in the fall, as well as exercise one of my passions (some might call an obsession) – play golf.

 

The plan as it stands is to spend ~3 weeks in Oregon with Steph and the kids before heading off to Scotland for a month long golf trip.  I know what many of you are thinking – you are taking Steph and the kids to Scotland for a month?  Now, let’s be clear, that is a trip we cannot afford.  I’ll be going by myself.  Now many more people are thinking – you are going to Scotland for a month and leaving your wife to deal with a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 4 month old?  Now, let’s be clear….  That’s exactly what I am doing.  The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds.

 

So, a little background is necessary.  When Steph and I were both working at Intel, we reached an agreement – our first sabbaticals would be whatever we wanted them to be.  Our choice alone, the spouse just went along with it.  For Stephanie’s sabbatical she spent ~6 weeks in Italy.  She rented a villa used as home base and hosted family and friends and traveled and saw the sights of rural Italy.  Admittedly she did this with an 18 month old Olivia, while pregnant with Gigi…  but nonetheless, her trip.  When we reached this agreement, it was clear that my trip would be to Scotland, the home of golf.

 

Original plans involved all of us going, which we quickly realized was fiscally near impossible.  Then we thought we could get grandmas and friends to watch the girls while Steph headed over for a week to 10 days of my time there, maybe hitting Scotland and Ireland.  The monkey wrench thrown into this plan was Baby #3.  Due in March, Baby #3 makes that plan near impossible.  Instead of taking care of a 6 year old and a 4 year old, the volunteer for this suicide mission would be signing up to care for a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 4 month old.

So, in what can only be described as a gesture of unequalled generosity and caring, Steph has continued to hold true to our original agreement and is letting me continue to plan and execute on the trip to Scotland.

 

Before Scotland, I hope to be able to accomplish a few things in the early part of my sabbatical.  These will be dictated by how well we are adjusting to being a family of 5 and being ‘fresh off the boat’ returning to the US.  I would like to spend some time at the cabin (Steph’s family’s cabin at Lake of the Woods).  Also, I would like to do some volunteer work – ideally something I can take Olivia with me to do, but another option would be a Habitat for Humanity project.  My time is normally so consumed with work and family in the normal course of life that I would like to spend some time dedicated to the service of others.  If you have any specific ideas, shoot them my way!

 

Now, for the ‘trip of a lifetime’ as I am calling it.  I cashed in a bunch of airline miles and got a ticket to London, where I’ll catch a regional airline up to Edinburgh.  Once on the ground in Edinburgh, I’ll grab my bags, pick up the rental car and head off to Prestwick – the home of the first Open Championship (called the British Open on this side of the pond).  This will be the start of what will equate to 27 rounds of golf in 31 days.

 

One of my old Fraternity brothers (Ryan Svenson) will be joining me in for the first 10 days or so, so that will be nice for a couple of reasons.  The primary reason is, having been in China for the last 2 years, I miss my friends greatly.  It will be great to have time to catch up with him on what’s been going on in his life.  It will also be great to have a fellow golf addict along to share the trip with.

 

Then the second week of August the next group of guys comes in.  The same day I drop Ryan off at the airport in Edinburgh, I’ll be picking up a minivan along with 3 other friends, forming a four ball (known as foursome here in the States) for a week in St. Andrews – known widely as ‘the home of golf’.

 

Then I put the group back on a plane to North America, trade in the minivan and get a small car and head out for the last ~10 days and 2 cities on my own.

 

I have opted for staying in Bed and Breakfast or Guest House accommodations, as they generally run less than half of the cost of a hotel – and they include full Scottish breakfast (I’ll pass on the Haggis, thank you very much).  While no means a cheap trip, I have maximized my ‘approved budget’, with the frequent flier ticket and use of B&B/Guest Houses.

 

I have included an itinerary of my trip below…  If you have reason to be in Scotland this coming summer, let me know…  I’ll find a way to accommodate you in my plans and share a pint, if not a meal, if not a round of golf!

 

Cheers,

Joe

Day	Date	Activity
Sunday	26-Jul	PDX -> LHR
Monday	27-Jul	LHR -> EDI
Monday	27-Jul	EDI -> Prestwick
Tuesday	28-Jul	Play Turnberry /  Prestwick St. Nicolas / Kilmarnock / Dundonald
Wednesday	29-Jul	Play Western Gailes
Thursday	30-Jul	Play Prestwick
Friday	31-Jul	Drive Prestwick -> St. Andrews
Saturday	1-Aug	Play St. Andrews Castle
Sunday	2-Aug	Play Carnoustie Championship
Monday	3-Aug	Play St. Andrews New
Tuesday	4-Aug	Play Golf in AM -> Drive to Aberdeen
Wednesday	5-Aug	Play Royal Abderdeen
Thursday	6-Aug	Play Cruden Bay
Friday	7-Aug	Play Murcar Links
Saturday	8-Aug	Drive to EDI, Drop Ryan, Pick Up Golfers, Drive to St. Andrews
Sunday	9-Aug	Play The Dukes
Monday	10-Aug	Play St. Andrews Jubilee
Tuesday	11-Aug	Play St. Andrews Old Course
Wednesday	12-Aug	Play Carnoustie Championship
Thursday	13-Aug	Play Kingsbarns
Friday	14-Aug	Play St. Andrews New Course
Saturday	15-Aug	Play St. Andrews Castle Course
Sunday	16-Aug	Travel to EDI - Drop Off Golfers - Travel to North Berwick
Monday	17-Aug	Play Dunbar
Tuesday	18-Aug	Play Muirfield/Glen Golf Club
Wednesday	19-Aug	Play Gullane No. 1 & No. 2
Thursday	20-Aug	Play North Berwick Golf Club
Friday	21-Aug	Drive to Inverness
Saturday	22-Aug	Play Brora
Sunday	23-Aug	Play Nairn
Monday	24-Aug	Play Royal Dornoch
Tuesday	25-Aug	Drive to EDI -> Fly Home