The Asian Workday

I really didn't know what to expect when we moved here. One thing that I guess didn't dawn on me was the length of the workday. Yes, I was usually on the other end of our conference calls early in the morning in the USA, and new our Chinese colleagues were staying late, but I didn't realize the extent that this seems to be the norm. Ok, I thought that given my situation of being away from the family most of the week, would result in my spending more time at the office, but I had no idea. During business trips visiting here, it's usually a late evening in the office followed by dinner, so naturally you expect that people are working a little longer while the visitors are present. The reality is, that just like in the USA, you might find yourself working through lunch on occasion, the same thing occurs here, but you also run the risk of also working through dinner. If you're not paying attention, you might miss dinner to find that you have to get on a conference call at 7 or 8pm, and not be likely to find a bite to eat for another couple hours. Of course sitting here typing this message at 20 minutes after midnight, thinking that I have to make a call or two to the USA is not helping...it seems that the workday blends in with the evening conference calls. And, even on nights when we don't have a call, I know people are staying until 10-11pm working, sometimes on Saturdays. It's a different world... Anyway, for the fun of it, I thought I'd share an image of dinner the other night...in the "cantina". If you're a fan of, or ever watched, M*A*S*H, think of one of the scenes in the mess hall where the food servers are taking a big ladle full of something and slapping it on your tray. Same goes for here. This meal was rice, steamed bread, steamed egg, some type of vegetable and tofu mix, some type of beet and other stuff mix, breaded pork (bone in), and fish (entire fish). A Chinese colleague has explained to me some of the finer points of Chinese eating. He explained that the Chinese like to eat the meat closest to the bone for the taste--most would agree. This is why when you have bite sized portions of meat, you have to be very careful when you put it in your mouth, because it's probably half bone, half meat. The interesting part is, if you want to buy meat, it costs more with the bone than without. I've been hoping they realize the cost reduction opportunity soon before I lose a tooth!