China Diva's personal list of the "essentials"

China Diva's  personal list of the 'essentials'

Rita Malvone  
Buyer

• Get your visa paperwork done quickly -- force the expediting with China HR and US HR… the final VISA is the only thing standing in the way of your acceptance bonus, and the pre-move costs are crazy big (lots of purchases, moving, etc… add up quickly!)
• For Nanjing -you need a RAISED SEAL-STAMPED letter from your police station stating your criminal record or lack thereof… unstamped will be returned.
• You need a photo copy of your diploma
• Bring home cordless phones from the US - they're really expensive here
• Get vaccinated for Japanese Envisilitis before you come if you think you'll need it.  It is no longer available in China
• Buy all travel books before you come - they are crazy expensive here!
• Get an alarm clock in the US at the global store - you can't find them here.
• Buy an ooma (phone), slingbox/vulkano (tv), I-pad and set them up before you come -- it makes life easier
• Wireless routers are cheap here and for some reason none of the ones brought from the US work
• Pack a flashlight in your luggage
• Pack all medicine in your suitcase, not your carry-on.  NOT in the Sea or Air.  Bring any allergy meds, etc you think you'll want. 
• Mac and Cheese is impossible to find - if your child likes it, buy it before you go
• Palmer will tell you that food has to appear as if it is in your pantry… so unpack the bulk buys from Costco and set them in a closet.
• No aerosol in sea/air - only in your luggage
• Deodorant, shaving cream, etc are incredibly expensive here - bring it from the US… all health and beauty, really, should come from the US
• Cereal, Peanut butter and other US products are incredibly expensive here - and ship very well
• BYOTP - bring your own toilet paper -- enough for your time here… there's been an outbreak of thrush tied to the TP in China
• BYOPT - bring your own paper towels -- the ones here stink (in fact, we're adding them to our list to have you bring if you don't mind!)
• Move into a hotel for the first 2-3 nights -- you'll thank me.  Every one of us had something "missing" or wrong -- one person's landlady was still living in her home!
• If you want to use an existing Blackberry, Droid, I-phone, etc.. Get it unlocked before you come.  Otherwise, the I-phone package is REALLY good.
• Move before the 15th of the month -- definitely financially better for you
• There is an IKEA here, so don't get worried…it matches the one in the Canton
• If you can, pack sheets in your luggage… it'll be 3 weeks until your air shipment arrives
• Laundry detergent, cleaning products, etc are all avialable here.
• Negotiate satellite/internet into your contract
• Water is really cheap - a dispenser can be installed immediately

Ford REC Supported 2011 Earth Hour by Turning out Lights

Last Saturday, March, 26th , was the 2011 Earth Hour Day and Earth Hour 2011 took place on Saturday 26 March at 8:30PM(local time).
REC turned out the lights to support of the Earth Hour 2011 , and we also took the before and after photograph to memorize this moment.

In addition, REC organized a succession of enviroment protecting activities such as 'Tree Planting Day' ,'Purple Mountain Trash Pick Up'  etc. and involved employees' family member as well.  Ford REC members believe that 'Protect the Enviroment, Protect our Furture'.





Office Building - Before

 

Office Building - After



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Tree Planting Day

Trash Pick Up



My Nanjing - George Bernwanger

George Bernwanger                         
D4.2/3 body integr mangr PDC

We have two daughters 6, and 9 years old. They went to British International School of Nanjing. They really enjoyed it.

 British School Football League spring 2010

British International School bus picked up my children at the gate of our subdivision. Children are required to wear uniform everyday at BIS.

We had Dr. Zhang to come to our house once a week for massage. My daughter got a short massage once in a while too. The cost was relatively cheap, around 70RMB (12USD) per hour for massage at our house.

My maid (ayi) for the past 2 years. My children love her!

 

SOS doctor Juergen took cast off my daughters arm.

 

My going away party in August 2010. We made so many good friends from different countries during our 5 year in Nanjing. We had so much fun together exploring Nanjing.

Cultural Differences in China

Contributor: Stuart Taylor
CE EESE/Eng Dir China 

These images show the differences between Western and Eastern cultures in a very simple way

Blue=West  Red=East

Way of Life

Sundays on the Road

  

Party

  

 

Travelling

Three meals a day
  

Transportation

The Boss

Elderly in day to day life

Moods and Weather

Contacts

 

   

My Nanjing - Chris Kuchel

Chris Kuchel                             
Senior Regional Purchasing Manager - Body and Exterior



When we first arrived in Nanjing it was a major culture shock.  You can't get everything you get at home, things don't work the same as at home, you have late-night conference calls every week, etc.  Some things you get used to and there's no issue, while others will always annoy you.  If you focus on these things, you will never be happy.  Once we recognised the number of really good things available here that we wouldn't get back home, we were happy.  So, we have a comfortable house and someone else does the gardening, we get weekly massages, have our children babysat most Saturday nights so we can go out, and we travel to exotic places many times every year.
A few illustrations.  We're from Australia so it takes forever and costs the earth to get anywhere.  Our four year old has already been to 15 countries.  In the last 12 months, our family has visited Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, US and Canada.  We would never have been able to experience that otherwise.
Since we have a housekeeper and the compound we live in is fully serviced, it means that our weekends are focused on friends and family.  Friday night is often very quiet for us, but Saturdays and Sundays typically consist of heading out for a walk or bike riding, play with the kids in the park, play on the Wii, swimming in Summer, shopping as required, catching up with friends or getting a meal out.

My Nanjing - Chen Kung

Chen Kung
Supervisor - VP Eng & PM
REC PD-Body Engineering Dept.


Hometown: USA

 

When asked about Nanjing, I often respond by saying "there's no other place in China I'd rather be."  The experience truly has been an adventure and there's no doubt in my mind that we made the right decision to come here.



Biking - top of Purple Mtn



In the past 2 years, Tracy and I have adjusted quite well.  Bolstered by the ISE incentives, we have been able to manage the hardships that come along with working and living in a foreign country.  There a 

re even moments when it starts to feel like home.  I think a good way to take stock of everything that Nanjing has to offer is to think about everything you would do if you only had a limited time left in Nanjing (sort of like a bucket list but not as dramatic or absolute).  The following is my Nanjing bucket list I would like to share with others:

Biking in Tong Shan

- Bike to the top of every "mountain" in Nanjing
- Organize a BBQ with friends/co-workers
- Hold a Nanjing-rules mahjong marathon
- Play a round of golf at Sofitel
- Invite friends over to clear out the humidor
- Tour the city on electric bikes with out-of-town visitors
- Join a foosball tournament in Shanghai
- Find the guy that kicks trees for no apparent   reason and post it on Youtube

Foosball Tourney