It has come to my attention that, unfortunately, Blogger's websites (like mine) do not have the most approachable comment box features. For my blog, you simply like "comment" which leads you to a new page with an empty comment box. The strange part is it seems like they expect you to have your own account with only a handful of other sites if you wish to post a comment.
Notice though, that the option "Name/URL" is listed. Choosing this is the easiest way to post a comment. You are by no means required to put any information in the URL box, you can simply leave your name.
I also recommend you all take a look at my nephew Christian's blog, http://crb-pictures.blogspot.com Its done very nicely and updated often! I'm going to recommend that he change his options for commenting on his blog, as it appears his is currently set up to require you to have an account with Google or one of the other few sites Blogger associates with. Because his site definitely deserves comments!
I spliced together a few different videos I've shot since I arrived. We start at my apartment, then I show the area immediately around my complex, then there is a brief shot of me riding one of the local buses (abnormally empty) as I ride towards the last bus stop for bus #22. Finally an interesting peek at the inside of the Trust Mart (bought by Wal-Mart as of 2007) located at the base of my apartment complex. Then, before it ends, I show some fireworks I managed to catch on film the other night when I came home.
Future videos will hopefully be more coherent, but I wanted to find a way to put all these short clippings together.
So I've posted another quick video. I've been so busy I haven't really gotten a chance to go out and film some of the cooler aspects of Xiamen yet. In the meantime, I figured I'd shoot this quick update. Basically, I've made some new friends and lined up a job. The Chinese New Year is finally coming full circle, only a couple days left before the last of the storefronts reopen for business.
I've also attached an interesting article that ran on Xiamen's local news site. Its in regards to the economic crisis and how China is handling it. I read some news on a western website a few days prior that painted a very stark picture for how China's New Year's sales were going. This story paints a much brighter picture. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but one thing does seem to be clear...China is repositioning itself away from exports and beginning to rely on manufacturing products to sell to their own people. How successful this transition is remains to be seen.
What slowdown - Chinese consumers responded with their wallets
03 Feb 2009 Months after the government shifted its focus to domestic consumption following an unprecedented export slowdown caused by the economic crisis, Chinese consumers have finally responded with their wallets.
The country's consumer spending rose strongly during the Lunar New Year holiday period, which just ended, the Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday.
Retail sales climbed to 290 billion yuan (42.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the week through Saturday, up 13.8 percent from the equivalent holiday week in 2008, the ministry estimated.
Meanwhile, a 15 percent increase in both the number of tourists and tourism revenue has been estimated for 19 tourist destinations nationwide during the week, according to the latest press release of the National Tourism Administration, posted on its website (www.cnta.gov.cn) on Sunday.
Holiday travel rose 20 to 40 percent in the economic powerhouses of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong, while the tourism market flourished in the southwestern Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces as well as Chongqing municipality, the document said.
Instead of traditional family reunions at home, "traveling has emerged as an important option in celebrating the Spring Festival for our citizens" this year, it concluded.
Beijing, Hong Kong, Sanya, Xiamen and Chengdu were listed among the top 10 tourist destinations during the annual festival season by Ctrip.com, a leading online travel portal.
The nation's capital, which topped the list, accommodated 830,000 tourists, up 20 percent from last year. Its tourism revenue totaled 2.16 billion yuan. Both figures are all-time records, the Beijing municipal tourism bureau said.
Chengdu, capital city of the quake-ravaged Sichuan province, ranked 10th.
The Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily attributed the unexpected rise in Spring Festival tourism to cheaper travel costs.
In Guangdong, for example, domestic travel costs 30 percent less than last year, while trips to Thailand cost half as much as in previous years as a result of the global economic slowdown.
Sales of food at major stores during the past week jumped 23 percent in value terms, while beverage sales gained 17.5 percent and sales of tobacco and alcohol rose 14.7 percent, the ministry estimated.
Sales of household electric appliances, aided by a government program to subsidize purchases in rural areas, gained 17.8 percent.
Last year's Lunar New Year holiday week was disrupted by fierce snowstorms that snarled rail and air traffic, stranding millions of passengers. Holiday travel was much smoother this year.
Over the past 20 days, the Chinese made an average 4.40 million railway trips every day as many crossed the country for holiday reunions with their families, Xinhua news agency quoted the railway ministry as saying. That was up 15.6 percent from the same holiday period last year.
A total of 248 million people traveled by road in the week through Saturday, up 5.6 percent from last year, the transport ministry said. Source: China Daily/Xinhua
That's all for now. I'll have more to share soon!
Jesse-
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Real quick, here are a few more shots I took recently. The first is of the "above ground subway" that was only completed in the past 6 months. This brand new, bus only bridge runs through the most important sectors of the island...and also happens to have a station a block from my building. Very convenient and actually cheaper than the normal bus lines...clocking in at 30 chinese cents per ride...so cheap i haven't even bothered to figure what that works out to USD...probably a penny or so.
I spotted this little Christmas tree in a storefront window today. Its decorated with little red cards, which is the traditional gifting method for Chinese during their New Years celebrations. One simply slips some cold hard cash in these red babies and passes them around to friends and family.
While walking down Zhong Shan, the main shopping street, I clicked a shot of the giant new mall they are building as well as a billboard of a very familiar face...he's doing a good job picking up where MJ left off eh? Lebron WorldWide.
Tonight, I'm heading out for a good bye drink with one of my best friends from home, Chas. He's been studying here for the month of January and is leaving tomorrow back to Eckerd to finish up his studies. I'll probably be seeing him again in as soon as 4 or 5 months.
Well school is out, my degree is in hand, and its time to put all that studying abroad to use. So I'm back in the city that has always treated me the best: Xiamen, China. Compared to my stint here in the Spring, I can safely say I am off to a much smoother start.
I've uploaded a video below that gives a tour of my new apartment. This apartment is much better than the one I had in the spring in every sense. The location is right smack in the middle of the island, right in the heart of the business district (where I graduate ought to be). No more rats greeting me every evening outside, no more 8 flights of stairs to march up everyday. Instead, I scan my fingerprint in the lobby, opening the door to my super fast elevators that shoot me up to the top of the tower. Of 32 stories, my apartment rests comfortably on the 30th floor, giving me an amazing view that really almost isn't fair. Take a look at the video I attached and you'll have a better idea of what $350 USD a month can get you with some diligent shopping around.
I was also fortunate enough to land a job interview by my third day on the ground. If all goes as planned, I should be starting an English teaching position within the next two weeks, after the Chinese New Year winds down.
I'll be posting more soon. Please leave me a comment or any questions you'd like answered about where I am, what I'm up to etc...
A friend recently suggested I check out Vista.com for good office supplies and all sorts of other customized items. What I didn't expect was to find Vista offering FREE samples of somet of their stuff. I decided to take a gander at the car magnets and came away with what I must say is quite unique Ron Paul car magnet.
It reads: Ron Paul showed the Way. Are you a Patriot of the modern day? ---- DailyPaul.com
The trick with these free samples is that the options are very limited, and its obviously tempting to buy the upgraded options (such as basics like fonts, text size etc...) But if you're willing to put up with all of the limitations (like me), then you can come away with some nice merchanidise.
Mine came in the mail only a few days after I clicked the send button. Oh, and if anyone wants to copy my Ron Paul layout, by all means!
After originally filming 2006's Lawn Mower Poker Run, hosted by Sheridan's Corner Tap, the film is finally edited and ready to be released to the public. There were all sorts of setbacks along the way, but this fun documentary is now complete.
The movie clocks in at 45 minutes in length. Its more than just a home video camera filming random lawn mowers. The DVD contains interviews with an assortment of top tractor pullers, the Corner Tap's owner, as well as numerous other personalities who help to make this event so exciting.
If you're interested in learning more about Sheridan's Lawn Mower Poker Run shoot me an email and I'll tell you all about it. Otherwise make sure to get yourself down to this year's 14th annual event this upcoming Sunday, August 24th. I'll be there all day, hopefully with camera in one hand, and DVD's in the other.
Jesse is a light-footed, freewheeling American who has recently taken up residence in China.
Starting January 15th, Jesse is returning to China to take up teaching English while furthering his own Mandarin studies.
This blog will serve as his main communication hub for sharing highlights with friends and family back home.
Enjoy!
It has come to my attention that, unfortunately, Blogger's websites (like mine) do not have the most approachable comment box features. For my blog, you simply like "comment" which leads you to a new page with an empty comment box. The strange part is it seems like they expect you to have your own account with only a handful of other sites if you wish to post a comment.
Christian in India
