How to Succeed in Communist China

Baijiu Time for This Weblog

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:46:00 +0800

It's been nearly a decade since the last post. But I thought it was time for an update, as today marks the 21st year of this weblog's existence. That seems crazy, especially considering I was 21 when I first stepped onto the Mainland and breathed my first lungful of fresh Beijing smog. Oh, to have young, healthy lungs again.

Perusing through the blog, I noticed that despite 21 additional years of life, my grammar, spelling, and overall language and writing skills have not improved. They may have even regressed. So, don't expect a sudden improvement in this post. But thank goodness AI exists; otherwise, I might not have a job, given the amount of writing I have to do for it. I also noticed I was fortunate to go study, live, and work in China when I did. Doing so today would not yield the same experience. It was fascinating to witness a country building momentum in its process of modernity to now technologically surpassing the U.S.. While traveling to China can still be fun and exciting, I don't think the experience holds the feeling of the "Wild Wild East" that it once did. It feels more like traveling into the future, instead of a place where dysentery is a real, everyday risk, akin to the Oregon Trail.

Also, even though my blog posts might not have reflected it, the experience had a profound and lasting impact on me. When I first decided to learn Mandarin at Middlebury, I thought it would simply help me get a job in the future, but I never guessed the impact the experience would have on my entire life; an impact that may see reverberations for generations to come. Here are a few ways my Mandarin/China journey has influenced my life:

My current wife and I met and studied Mandarin together at Middlebury and in Hangzhou. (I have only been married once, and plan to deal with this experiment in patience only one time ever again).
I discovered my career in real estate while living in China, thanks to Golze.
My China experience was probably why I was accepted into b-school.
I am 90% certain that I got my current job because of my background in China.
My children are now learning Mandarin, and I expect my eldest's Mandarin to surpass mine within a few years.

Anyway, I wish I had something more enlightening or thoughtful to say, but maybe there will be an update in another 21 years. I wouldn’t wait around though.

Happy Belated Birthday This Weblog

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:10:00 +0800

It is hard to believe but this weblog recently celebrated its tenth birthday. I mean sure, we never write on it anymore, and I am probably largely to blame because I am the last one eking out an existence in China, but this is still quite an impressive feat of longevity. I mean this thing has the potential to out last the pyramids and possibly the Earth. I mean the thing is older than all of the children that the authors have put together, and probably older than most of the readerships children, if you exclude our immediate family members. What I am getting at is a decade is a long time.

Reading back on some of our blog posts (haven't actually taken time to read back, but I am sure the rest of the sentence will be semi-accurate), we knew nothing about China and were often times completely befuddled and more often bemused by the chaos. Since that time, we have grown greatly and have largely remained befuddled and bemused by the relenting chaos. So much so that two of the authors gave up on China and left to get master's degree's from California's hippiest university, where I am pretty sure life is the opposite of China.

Anyway, I thought I would write what is likely to be the last post on this weblog for probably another decade as a "where are they now piece" for students or people thinking about going to study or live in China, so that they can see where the long slog might take them. So without further ado:

Clark
Was the first to completely flame out on China (I was the first to leave, but got beamed back), and happily followed is girlfriend, now wife, back to Old Gold Mountain, where he now is getting an MBA at a local university and working for a Chinese solar company as a modern day Willy Loman. His final grade on Succeeding in China without really trying: Pass, his weblogging grade: Fail.

Ben
The second one to leave then come back then to leave and then come back again then leave. And is probably going to come back at some point in time, and then maybe leave. He also went back to Old Gold Mountain and got a master's degree in the art of drawing buildings, mostly on computers, sometimes on paper (I don't actually fully understand what he does). He claims that he works for a company that designs the Bentley of office buildings, and by that I think he means he designs buildings for people rich people having mid-life crises and are over compensating (hard to get more phallic than a large tower). His final grade on Succeeding in China without really trying: Pass, his sleeping on random benches outside of places he has a key grade: 1.

马渡
Left then came back and took over the job that he helped Ben get and later Ben gave to him (that is the power of a limited network). After working for that company for three years in Beijing, he moved to Tianjin to continue to work for that same company doing real estate research. And as of today he still lives in Tianjin working for the same company. Fated to reside within a shroud of pollution for the foreseeable future. Or until he buys his plane ticket to move to NYC to get his master's degree in spreadsheets at a school that should probably be in South America. His final grade on Succeeding in China without really trying: undetermined.

Everything in Hong Kong is Better

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:54:00 +0800

On Thursday, I made my first trip to Hong Kong. Life here is so much more convenient than Beijing. People speak English, the air is clean, it is easy to get around, there are a ton of great restaurants and the cockroaches are the size of quarters, so they are easier to smash. However, it is super expensive and I think a little too convenient. I could see myself getting bored here quickly. Maybe after I move to Tianjin, I will come running to a place like Hong Kong. I will update you in a few months.

Kuta Beach

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sat, 6 Oct 2012 10:17:00 +0800

Arrived yesterday at Kuta. Compared to Gili Trawangan this place is a nightmare. Kuta is much more crowded and noisy than Gili Trawangan. However it is still a beach area so still pretty nice especially if you surf. Also I don't recommend Ronta Bungalows and the Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok 13th edition, it seems pretty outdated. The problems with Ronta are its mosquito infested, too close to the street so you hear all the traffic, it seems there is a 24 hour bar underneath so can the place's music all night and there is no hot water and the blanket did not smell the freshest. But having said all that it was the cheapest place we stayed so far, so I really cannot complain all that much you get what you pay for.

I have crabs...

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Thu, 4 Oct 2012 19:07:00 +0800

...but they went away

Meeting new friends

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 3 Oct 2012 21:53:00 +0800

Just met a new friend and it decided that my lap was going to be its bed for the night. It randomly came up to me and laid in my lap. I think it knew I had just ordered food. Because when the food arrived it expected a petting tax. However it did go back to sleep in my lap after it was satiated.

Had the fish eating out of my hands

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 3 Oct 2012 15:47:00 +0800

Just got back from a three island tour snorkeling trip on a glass bottom boat. We did snorkeling off the coast of the three Gili islands. The first drop was the least eventful but I accidentally food an octopus hiding in a rock. I swan down thinking it was coral but it moved and stared at me like you are messing up my attack spot. The only other thing that I saw besides your typical schools of different kinds of fish and besides coral was a colorful sea snake. The next place we went we were guaranteed to see turtles and we did. I dove down and a turtle swam right at me. I stared into its soul and its soul told me to get out of the way so I can get some air. Finally we went to a place where the fish eat food out of your hand. In the process I discovered that tropical fish love bread. Who knew? I think every time I go swimming on a tropical island from now on, I am going to bring a loaf of bread. It will make my swims more interesting. No pictures this time as my Motorola DynaTAC is not waterproof.

Trekking around Gili Trawangan

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Tue, 2 Oct 2012 18:45:00 +0800

Today, I literally walked around all of Gili Trawangan. The island is tiny. It probably can be done in about three hours but it took us all afternoon because we stopped to swim and eat and walk around the part of the island where the local people live. The best part of the trek was discovering goats have super leaping abilities. Also the views were great.

Another restaurant in Ubud

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 1 Oct 2012 16:07:00 +0800

Last night I went a pretty descent restaurant in Ubud. For some reason every person in there besides myself and the wait staff were French. But even with all the french the atmospheric was good. The place was literally across the street from the other restaurant I wrote about earlier. The was good but I enjoyed the other place better, so I want go in to details. Enjoy more pictures of food. This is turning into a lame food blog, instead of a lame blog about nothing. I need to rethink or mission statement.

Easily the best beach I have ever been to

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 1 Oct 2012 16:01:00 +0800

Just arrived to Gili Trawangan. The place is beautiful. Nicest beach I have been to. Here are a few picture of the bungalow and the beach. You can see my chicken satey lunch which was one of the best sateys I have had. Oh beach vacations are great.

Ubud has a lot of rice paddies

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:56:00 +0800

Today, my roommate and I took a walking trek (the trek on page 145 of the Lonely Planet: Bali & Lombok, everyone and there mom is carrying this lonely planet) through Ubud and got to copious amounts of rice paddies. The trek was pretty tiring but fun. However the best part of the day was going to a local Balinese restaurant by myself, I got the restaurant suggestion from a local. Attached are the only pictures I took today that is how much I liked the food. The best dish was the one with rice, it tasted almost like a Mexican mole, but it was curry chicken, and it was called nasi rendang a yam. The other dish was nasi campour ayam. It was vegetables covered in peanut sauce. Very tasty but the other dish was better, although I think anything covered in peanut sauce is good.

And last night we saw the Legong dance at ubud palace. I really enjoyed it. The music is like something out of Sun Ra's dream. It like a mix of choral music and avant garde jazz. It reminded me when I used to live next to Mead Chapel at Middlebury and they would play the church bells on Sunday, except more jazzy and a little atonal. I hope the videos I attach work but I still am learning to use my Motorola DynaTAC. Otherwise there will just be pictures.

Being Japanese is not a good idea right now

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 23:01:00 +0800

Last week or the week before that. I don't remember any more. Japan pissed of a lot of people in China and made traveling around where I live annoying because I don't live far from the Japanese embassy. Here are some pictures of the Chinese army setting up a blockade so that protesters could not destroy the embassy. While setting up the blockade they made getting to dinner around lucky street impossible. Thanks for ruining my dinner plans Japan. The later pictures are of a Japanese restaurant on lucky street that had to put up signs saying that the diaoyu islands belonged to China. A lot protesters were harassing restaurant owners on lucky street because there are several Japanese restaurants there as it is close to the Japanese embassy. They even harassed owners of the Italian restaurant along the street.

I didn't take pictures of this but people where harassing the Japanese residents that live in the compounds next to lucky street. It was not a good week to be Japanese anything in China. Good thing I don't look too Japanese.

My office getting ready for national day

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:14:00 +0800

I think we need more flags. At least bigger full sized flags.

Yeah I am in Bali and you are not

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:12:00 +0800

Here are some pictures from my hotel room in Bali. Did I mention I am in Bali? Just got in today but so far so good although it looks like it might rain.

Sent from my Motorola DynaTAC.

Catching the bus during rush hour

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:29:00 +0800

I recently got a smartphone so expect a lot of short posts. Here is a series of people jamming on a bus in front of Shinkong Place. Catching the bus here can be a nightmare. The bus driver stopped traffic trying to get people to get off so he could close the doors but no one budged.

The exciting conclusion to solar oven cookies

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:47:00 +0800

The solar oven cookies were not quite a success, meaning that they were a complete and utter failure. One of things that I realized that you need for a successful solar oven is a Doppler radar system, because clouds come out of nowhere in this city. My early prediction of clear skies was wrong and by 11am on last Monday, clouds completely covered the sky. So the cookies only got to the ambient temperature by the time I got home from work, and were still gooey and tasted like styrofoam (a taste that may exist in whatever we try to bake in the future, we need to do more experimenting). But before the summer ends, I am determined to cook something to completion. I think I am going to try something simple next, like trying to toast something or melt some cheese or a M&M (the hard shell may be too much for the oven).

Solar Oven Cookie Fail

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:43:00 +0800

After the Noachian flood that happened on Saturday, the sky on Sunday was probably the bluest I have ever seen it in Beijing. So what do you do when you have blue skies, you bake some cookies in your solar oven that you have yet to test and have no idea how to use. After a mad dash back and forth to the grocery store, because I kept forgetting ingredients for our peanut butter cookies, we finally got dough mixed and out in the oven by 4pm, which we discovered is not enough time particularly on a cloudy day to cook the cookies (if you look at the picture carefully you can see the clouds in the glass). Apparently, our oven is not able to get to 374 degrees kelvin in two hours. Thus, our cookies ended up just being semi-warm dough. On the upside the dough was delicious, on the downside they weren't cookies. However, today is another sunny day and I put the cookies in the oven before I went to work this morning, so it should have a full day of sunlight as the rains on Saturday guaranteed clear skies for at least a week. I will give an update later on the success or failure of the second try. If all works out, we might upgrade to baking donkey ribs in the oven on the next try.

It's hot in Beijing....

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:15:00 +0800

...and this dog knows it

How to make a solar oven in da Jing

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 2 Jul 2012 14:16:00 +0800

This title was blatantly chosen to drive traffic.

Recently, the Golzer and I were jonesing for some homemade cookies, but realized we had no way to make them; thus, we decide that we needed to make a solar oven (real story: I have a ledge outside my window and I noticed it got a lot of son, and said to Golze I should make a solar oven and he was like let's do it, that's what we learn to do in architecture school). China may be one of the best places in the world to make a solar oven, essential all the parts we used to make it we could have gotten for free, although we did pay money for stuff, because we were to lazy to go walk and look for it.

Parts breakdown:

The styrofoam box we got from Jenny Lou's for free (downside it smells like fish, upside we get fish cookies)

The piece of glass on the top cost RMB 40 (however, the night before I was at a place that had old glass windows laying around that I could have taken for free)

The card board for the reflectors free (randomly asked some guy for a piece of cardboard)

Glue RMB 1

Aluminum foil around RMB 30 (unless you buy 200 sqft)

Extra pieces of styrofoam RMB 5 per half a kilo (this is like unnecessary and mostly for aesthetics, also you probably can find it for free).

We also got a mirror for free that we are still trying to figure out how to attach (more on that in the future)

So essential the only thing you need to pay for is the glue and the aluminum foil, the rest of the stuff can be found lying around various places in da Jing. And if you find the right nongmin cart driver you just might be able to get it all in one place.

If you came to this site to learn how to build a solar oven I am sorry, but we don't actually know how, as this thing is untested and like to cause a solar flare, but I can recommend this site that looks like it knows what it is doing.

Look for more exciting post on our solar oven project and stay tuned to find out if our cookies taste like fish.

Greatest Food Map of Beijing in the History of the Universes

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:10:00 +0800

Recently, I had the idea of creating a map of all the places I have liked to eat in Beijing since I came here in 2007, because I was tired of going to the same places over and over again. I thought by creating a map I might start going to more places around the city. I quickly realized I could not remember many of the places I used to eat at over the past couple of years and the map end up just Beijing the last three places I had dinners and lunches at. Thus, I decided to add more people who have similar food taste to me. I think I sent invites to over 20 people to add more places to this map, but quickly found only three other people like to eat food in Beijing. Since creating this map, the three other contributors, Ben, Tyler and Eric, and I have formed a super exclusive club that meets bi-weekly dinners at different spots across the city. For anyone who wants to join just tell Golze the secret password (let me know when you guys are meeting).

Rest assured that the title of this blog post is no hyerbole. It has the greatest minds working to add only the best of the best of Beijing's fare. So expect the information on the map to continue to grow. Choose what mania you have to go to the map: Phagomania or Opsomania?

What will likely be the nicest day all summer

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:12:00 +0800

Today was one of those days in Beijing that makes you jealous of people that lived here twenty years ago, when 250 blue-sky days actually meant the sky was blue most of the time. A thunderstorm yesterday washed away the pollution and humidity, making it hard to stay inside and work. So we didn't, and instead took an extended lunch break strolling through the Old Summer Palace, where our office is located. The company has five annual passes to the park, but that's easily extended to 20 people by entering the park and passing the tickets back through the fence to our office. I'm also told it's pretty easy to hop the fence around the corner from where we work.

A pretty comfortable working environment if I do say so.

I don't know if I previously had fairly lame coworkers in Beijing, or if the ones I'm working with now are anomalies, but these folks are some of the biggest drinkers I've spent time with since college. Most surprising are the women, who more than keep up the guys in the office. My previous experience in China is that most women beg off even a small glass of beer. The girl on the left in the picture below is a total enabler, while the one one the right got very drunk and spent about half and hour trying to puke in the bathroom, without success. These dinners seem to be a semi-weekly event.

I'm rapidly earning a reputation as a big drinker, which is pretty easy considering how weak Chinese beer is. Apparently previous Berkeley interns have set a precedent (probably undergrads), but from what I've heard they haven't held their alcohol as well as I have so far (again, probably undergrads).

A good natured after work meal quickly devolves after returning to the office.

Young Empress

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:36:00 +0800

The one child policy definitely has it's advantages for young kids here. You do not even have to walk, you get to have your grandparents or your parents cart you around and have people following you carrying your school books and telling you entertaining stories while you cross your legs. Oh to be a young kid again.

Emphasis on the "mate" in travel mate

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:21:00 +0800

I recently came across this posting on Gumtree, the Australian version of Craigslist:

http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Community-travel-travel-partners-Are-you-still-seeking-for-the-dearest-she-W0QQAdIdZ275929860

And for when they take this posting down, I've put it below. I just want to add that this is a pretty damn good deal, considering how much flights to China cost from here. Plus you get to meet Chinese ladies, which is why anybody goes to China in the fist place. Right?

Are you still seeking for the dearest “she”?

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Time for activity: 01/01/2012---10/01/2012

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A post I forgot to make

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:44:00 +0800

Another entry in the intentionally ironic or not column: a street sign in Te Anau, New Zealand.

The right way to the dumpsters behind the Chinese restaurant

This street sign points to an alley that runs behind the only Chinese restaurant in town, incidentally where all the Chinese tour groups went to eat.

Nap Time at Work

noreply@blogger.com (HSCCWRT) — Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:39:00 +0800

At work, my colleagues have an amazing ability to sleep at their desk during our lunch hour. I have tried to join them before, but I cannot get the right spot. It may be that they bring pillows, which adds extra support. Anyway, I am jealous of their abilities.