National Holiday
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!!!???!!!!
October 25th, 2006 at 5:15 am
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
October 25th, 2006 at 6:05 am
Thanks for the update! Good luck getting your vonage box and with whatever else you are doing
October 25th, 2006 at 6:19 am
Glad you had a bit of time, I’ve missed reading about you and what you’re doing.
October 25th, 2006 at 8:51 am
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!
October 25th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Justin……heheh
Rachel…….thanks
Grammy……:)
Cousin Summer…….2 hours of work for a stamp
October 26th, 2006 at 6:11 am
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
October 26th, 2006 at 6:36 am
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
October 26th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
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).
October 27th, 2006 at 1:59 am
Don……glad you had a good time. I sure do love this place
Andy
October 30th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
Hey, glad you back on. I just want to say damn, I thought I was underpaid. Keep up the posts. Darren
November 1st, 2006 at 3:04 am
Darren……glad you are still reading the site.
–Andy