Last weekend I spend my time as usual: eating, drinking and shopping! What else can you do in Shanghai, right ;)? We bought some Christmas gifts for the family to bring back to Holland. Actually I am happy that I am not in Holland, because I remember the busy shoppingweekends; too many people in the shops and not able to find anything you want. I am not saying that China doesn't have many shopping people...hehe...but maybe I am just used to it in Shanghai. This year I am staying in Shanghai for Christmas holidays. Even though there is not much of a Christmas spirit in Shanghai, you still sometimes here the "lovely" Christmas songs and see all the nice department stores with Christmas decorations. They try their best and it is working, because many of my foreign friends have decided to stay in Shanghai this year!
Saturday evening we found a very nice Vietnamese restaurant! The 4 years I have been living in Shanghai, I haven't found one restaurant which had the authentic taste. This one is getting there! The Pho was nice and good spiced and they had the 7 flavour Beef fondue!!! Hmmmm....happy me to finally find a good Vietnamees restaurant! After dinner and a drink, we decided to take a look at the new exclusive club M1NT. I am not into clubbing that much anymore, but I heard they had sharks!!! So I had to just have a look! The club was nice; on the 24th floor, nice view of the city and 2 different areas to dance and enjoy yourself. I must say, the aquarium was really nice!! Where can you find sharks in a club right? But will I go back there? Not sure, maybe too snobbish for me..

Merry Christmas!

Looking back at 2008

It is December now, year-end and ready to do some evaluation. One conclusion I can make: the year 2008 has been good to me! I have met some good new people, but also remain to keep my many good old friends, business has been going well and I still had time to enjoy my private life! The beginning of 2008, one of my resolution was to go out of Shanghai once a month, whether this is for a business trip, a weekend away or just a daytrip, I needed this to stay sane and on my toes in busy booming city Shanghai. I have made it! Every month, I have managed to go out of Shanghai and enjoyed some very nice trips. Even my business trips had been fun and enjoyable. Let's see, Jan in Haerbin, Feb in Korea, March in Beijing, April in Hong Kong, May in Moganshan, June in Huangshan area, July in Holland and Copenhagen, August in Beijing, September in Nanjing, October in Holland and Belgium, November in Chengdu and December going to Malaysia. Not bad huh? Now you are thinking. Is this girl also working? Yes! We are still building up our business in China and it is going well. We have met de prime minister from The Netherlands in Shanghai! ( see picture below, sorry I have closed my eyes;))Your Op has been invited to attend a breakfast meeting with 10 other young entrepreneurs. We introduced ourselves and shared our thoughts with the prime-minister Balkenende about doing business in China. It was an interesting meeting and we were able to enter the discussion about how to do business in China. One of the questions prime minister Balkenende asked: "What is the biggest challenge that your clients have, the first time visiting China? I answered; not knowing is the most difficult part. If you don't know what is happening in China, it is difficult to do anything. I think it is important to adapt to different cultures you are in, both for foreigners and Chinese".



I close my year 2008 with an article in the Vrij Nederland. Michiel Hulshof wrote an article about Chinese-Dutch ( or Dutch-Chinese) who are living in China. What are they doing in Shanghai? Why did they come back? What are their motivations? To know what I have answered, buy a Vrij Nederland in the beginning of January 2009!

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and always Healthy 2009!!