www.andrewstrauss.net - my adventrues in Shijiazhuang, China 2005, 2006

October 25, 2006

National Holiday

Filed under: China,Shijiazhuang,USA — andrewstrauss @ 5:02 am

It has been a while since my last post. I just wanted to send out a quick update. I am still VERY busy, but things are starting to lighten up a bit. I will write more when I have a chance. I want to wish everyone a happy (belated) national holiday (about 20 days late). I also wanted to wish Justin luck with his new job in Kyoto, Japan programming video games :) .

My vonage box has been broken for about a month now (long story), so I haven’t been able to keep in touch with many of you back home. The new box has been shipped out and will hopefully get here soon.

Today’s quirky fact is this: My friend’s company had some workers go home for the holidays. He needed to find some part time workers to fill the night shift from 6pm to 10pm. He decided to advertise at the local university, and found many students willing to take the job at the offered salary. He was able to pick and choose the best of the bunch, and when one didn’t work out, he brought a different one in. The stated salary, however, is what cracked me up. For 4 hours of labor, the students were paid 5 RMB. That works out to be $0.16 US an hour. I was shocked when I found this out, and didn’t believe that there were that many students looking for that type of work, but I guess there are, and they were happy to have the salary!!!???!!!!


11 Responses to “National Holiday”

  1. Justin Says:

    Hey man, thanks a bunch for the shoutout :)

    That’s INSANE that people are not only willing, but eager to work for so little! I mean…even in China…

    …shock :-P

  2. rachel Says:

    Thanks for the update! Good luck getting your vonage box and with whatever else you are doing :)

  3. Grammy Says:

    Glad you had a bit of time, I’ve missed reading about you and what you’re doing.

  4. Cousin Summer Says:

    Glad to hear you are doing good. Keep learning Chinese! Hope to hear from you soon! I cannot believe those wages! Crazy! My friend Dan said, “you cannot even get a postage stamp for $0.16″ Miss you!

  5. Andrew Strauss Says:

    Justin……heheh

    Rachel…….thanks

    Grammy……:)

    Cousin Summer…….2 hours of work for a stamp

  6. Alan Strauss Says:

    Andrew

    Glad you are back posting!! You are living basic econ 101. Supply and demand. Traditional “Western” notions of business don’t work in an environment of $.16 an hour labor. Why purchase a mechanical digger when you can employ thousands of folks to do the same work for a fraction of the cost with shovels. Hell why even buy the shovel!!!

    Uncle Al

  7. Andrew Strauss Says:

    Alan,

    you don’t know how true what you just said is…..if you only saw 1/10 of the things I see out here on a daily basis, there would be no doubt in your mind that buying the shovel is quite questionable, and the mechanical digger would NEVER be bought!

    Andy

  8. Don Feinstein Says:

    Andy. Was in Zhangjiajie during the National Holiday week. Got to hike through the National Forest. Also saw Cave of the Yellow Dragon, and Phoenix City. Spectacular. Not too much English spoken for days on end. Lot’s of crowds. Also attended 80th Anniversary celebration at Hunan University, and 1030 anniversry of the Yaulen Academy in Changsha City. Spectacular fire works and other events. Again lots of crowds. I see why you enjoy China so much. Lots to see and to learn. Keep sending posts.

    Don (Goats).

  9. Andrew Strauss Says:

    Don……glad you had a good time. I sure do love this place

    Andy

  10. Darren Says:

    Hey, glad you back on. I just want to say damn, I thought I was underpaid. Keep up the posts. Darren

  11. Andrew Strauss Says:

    Darren……glad you are still reading the site.

    –Andy

Leave a Reply