DMikeS4321

That would be one of those "Trip of a Lifetime" rides, no?

I just read an interesting thread about ESL certification. My question is this; is starting a private English school a viable idea? I don't have a certificate and I'm not sure if I could get one, but it seems that one could open a school and teach privately. I know a Chinese woman who made quite a bit of money teaching English privately in Shenzen. I've been thinking this could work, especially in a town like Nanning where there are (seemingly) so many women looking to learn English. I've started a thread like this before but I can't find it. I'm interested in everyone's opinion. Thanks in advance...

Good points about the U.S., but I was specifically commenting on China. I don't understand the mechanism by which a strong currency is inflating. Maybe the RMB's tie to the dollar is part of the problem. I wasn't claiming the article is wrong and I certainly don't understand what is happening. Tax cuts are, for all practical purposes, an increase in income. As for a 25% increase in cost of living, that is true. It's also true that the size of government expenditure has increased 40% during that same time period. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen any extra Wheaties on MY breakfast table. Where IS all the money going??? (I don't think it's the military. I heard just yesterday that the military, even with our current 'involvements', accounts for just 3% of GDP). I think the Medicare bump and the new prescription program are supposed to constitute the largests new 'entitlement program' in the history of the planet. 'Rebates' are no solution. Taxes are ALWAYS a problem, but government spending is always the BIGGEST problem. Cutting taxes is a proven way to increase total revenues (I think that is a proven fact, going all the way back to JFK). I used to work in the marine industry (sailboats and power yachts). You can't find a more clear example of government destroying an entire industry with tax policy than the marine industry in the 1970's. When cap gains taxes were reduced, the industry reappeared, like magic. Very true. I think the problem is primarily government spending, though. Government spending is up, WAY up, and the American people can no longer bear the burden of all our government programs. We never seem to get back what we put in. Borrow and spend is more than a mantra for the American consumer. It permeates government as well. This includes state governments. California went from a surplus to a 15 to 20 billion dollar deficit between August, 2007 and today!! Our roads are in worse condition than ever and our public schools are a disgrace. This is very true, but the Fed could simply print more money. They are already doing that anyway. I think this is all part of 'globalization' or 'evening the playing field'. We should probably get used to it as I doubt it will change. Best Regards

Something else at work here. With inflation we should see property values soaring. They aren't. We should see the value of the RMB dropping in value compared to other currencies. It's not. What we are seeing is a rapid rise in consumer prices without seeing a commensurate increase in wages; once again, not pure inflation as wages are flat. I've been reading that one of the factors in the increasing cost of food, the entire food chain, is the acreage dedicated to subsidized feed-corn being used for ethanol production. This is driving up the cost of feed corn for livestock and making it less economical to grow corn for human consumption. My wife was telling me a couple of weeks ago that corn has become outrageously expensive in Nanning. She loves it but won't buy it anymore, not until the price comes down. (As an aside, I don't imagine we'll ever see rice grown as feedstock for ethanol production!) I took econ in school and I don't have a clue what is going on. I do know this... we should all be worried.

Potentially 300 million unemployed.....that would be like if nobody in the US had a job...no matter how you look at it, from a US growth, world growth, or purely a internal Chinese problem...this is not good. The impact of such an occurance will be felt everwhere... My wife, who is without a doubt the smartest business person I've ever known, has been telling me that it is becoming very difficult to "make money" in China now. One of her friends, a virtual genius commodities trader, no longer trades because of the volatility of the market. She won't even sell short because of the uncertainty. A good part of the problem is rooted in the faltering U.S. economy. I've been saying for quiet a while now, if the U.S. economy sneezes, the Chinese economy will catch pneumonia. A couple of weeks ago Wall Street had a bad day. The Shanghai dropped 5%. We may all be in for a rough ride. CCP sees inflation as being their big problem but will probably abandon that policy concern if unemployment really gets out of hand. That could be very bad for them but better for us, IF we can keep OUR act together. We'll see what happens here in November. Mike, I'd be interested to know what your wife thinks about this for the long-haul. Does she think things will ever go back to the days when it was easier to "make money" in China. Or has that bubble burst for good? Dave, Her feeling is that the rapid growth that used to benefit everyone has now consolidated into the larger companies. In other words, there is still room in a VERY entreprenurial economy, but the focus has changed now, something like how the auto industry consolidated in the '20's and '30's, but on an economy wide scale. I can see what she is saying. There are more and more large chains and mega-retailers. From my perspective, China is moving along pretty much the same path that the U.S. took, but compressing our 100+ years of experience into about 25 to 30 years. It's like watching a dvd on fast forward.

Potentially 300 million unemployed.....that would be like if nobody in the US had a job...no matter how you look at it, from a US growth, world growth, or purely a internal Chinese problem...this is not good. The impact of such an occurance will be felt everwhere... My wife, who is without a doubt the smartest business person I've ever known, has been telling me that it is becoming very difficult to "make money" in China now. One of her friends, a virtual genius commodities trader, no longer trades because of the volatility of the market. She won't even sell short because of the uncertainty. A good part of the problem is rooted in the faltering U.S. economy. I've been saying for quiet a while now, if the U.S. economy sneezes, the Chinese economy will catch pneumonia. A couple of weeks ago Wall Street had a bad day. The Shanghai dropped 5%. We may all be in for a rough ride. CCP sees inflation as being their big problem but will probably abandon that policy concern if unemployment really gets out of hand. That could be very bad for them but better for us, IF we can keep OUR act together. We'll see what happens here in November.

Hey Darnell, Thanks for the input. I go to the tea market in Guangzhou, although it's been far too long since I've been back. The variety of available tea and teaware is mindboggling. We usually source some tea and teaware from that market, but my wife does most of the buying in Nanning. It's easier for her (she lives there) and she has found the pricing to be better. We have a parther who is completely "vertically integrated"; from farm to factory to shipping to teahouse... we have complete control over all aspects of the product and processing. We also have very strong ties to a Pu'er plantation/factory in Simao, Yunnan. They've just won a couple of Certificate's of Merit for their sheng Pu'er. I have several bing cha that have gone up 900 to 1000% in just the last 6 months. Darn it!!! If I had more money, I could purchase more! Anyway, I'm hoping to get back to China soon, at which time we'll be adding some gong fu sets to our (very limited) line of teaware. I actually have several styles of gai wan now, but I'm having trouble getting quality digital photos for the website. I just can't seem to do it right by myself, but pros want a small fortune. Thanks again for your kind words. I hope this develops to the point where it can be my retirement, but... even if not, it's fun and gives me a direct link with China. Best Regards

10 second wash in boiling water is highly recommended, as with all wulongs and reds. Don't do that with whites or greens, though... you'll ruin the tea. What is the proper way to prepare the tea for us that are pure novice at it? Thanks! I'll contact you off list, Corbin.

Thanks, Top! I'll take good care of you. I'm sure Ping will make sure of that! Best Regards, Mike

I know the place!! I've been there several times. Do you live in the Bay Area?

10 second wash in boiling water is highly recommended, as with all wulongs and reds. Don't do that with whites or greens, though... you'll ruin the tea.

Chinese un-employment? http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/W...china_02_15.asp

I just started drinking a high-mountain grown variety of tie guan yin, the national drink of Southern China. That's all my wife had ever tasted before she met me!

As I've posted before, I drink about a liter per day and my blood pressure has dropped for the first time in my adult life. It's GOOD!

I don't know where to put this, so I'll just put it here based on the tie-in to China. As some of you know, my wife and I have started a tea import business. (No, I'm not really soliciting business here, but I DO offer a 20% discount to CFL members!). I'm looking for opinions/comments on our website and products. My wife handles everything on the China end while I do the marketing/selling here in the States. I've signed up one wholesale account, a coffee shop in the small town where I live, and I've actually heard through 3rd parties how good the tea is at XXXXX Coffee Shop! Very gratifying, but I don't think I'll do any more wholesale; it is expensive and time consuming, and most businesses require more handholding than retail customers. I've received almost uinversal high praise for our tea. The only negative 'review' came from an elderly English woman likes 'black tea' with lots of cream and sugar. I think the white, green and wulong teas I have are too subtle for her thoroughly scoured palate. Her favorite variety is 'gunpowder' tea (Bai Hao Xiang Zhu), NOT my favorite by any stretch (I don't even like my own stuff, although I consider it to be far better than the other's I've tried). Anyway, this has been an incredibly fun experience and we are actually making a few bucks. Lao Po and her friends initially thought I was feng kuang (crazy) for thinking Americans would like Chinese tea (at least they didn't say I was bai chi [moron ]), but so far I think it's working well. I started a blog today about my specific experiences with Pu'er tea. You can see it at: http://www.puerinvestments.blogspot.com The main website address (still not quite complete) is: http://www.newchinateahouse.com I hope you find all this to be interesting. I am always willing to discuss ANY business ideas with anyone, so PM me if you would like to chat. We have a couple of other things going, one of which involves another import to the U.S., the other being a product I am going to export to China or have manufactured there for use in the Middle Kingdom. All comments/suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Best Regards

Dennis, another really fine post. I have a sister-in-law who is married to a policeman who lives and works in another city several hundred miles from where she lives (Nanning). He sees his wife and daughter on average about once each year for maybe a week at a time. I couldn't have imagined that degree of loyalty and dedication before, on EITHER side, but my wife and I have been living that same life. Even with the separation, there is no doubt between us. It's just how she is and I am flattered that she trusts me as well. I've told her that I can't even think about being with another woman, and I also can't imagine trusting another woman to this degree. This is all because of her, really.

I beg to differ. Western Union is the easiest and most reliable way to wire money in a hurry. Maximum wire within any 30 day period is $2999, and this costs $26, a little less than 1%. If the maximum payout via ATM is $300 (what I've experienced), you are looking at 10 days, just to get the $3000. Current Western Union conversion as I write is 7.14 to 1.0. It is 7.195 to 1.0 on my 'always on' currency monitor. This amounts to another $22.93, but... if you specify payout in American dollars, there is NO exchange rate; the currency is paid out exactly as sent. My wife has received and sent American $$ via Western Union, no problem. Just make sure you specify payout in $$. You may be able to trim pennies from this cost, but I can't imagine an easier way to handle this issue.

I'd send it to your wife c/o a Western Union. She could pick it up when she arrives. If she no longer has China ID, send it to a trusted family member. It's cheap and reliable. I would have a couple of male family members escort her to China Post to pick it up. Might be a good idea to send it in a couple of different wires; wouldn't draw quite as much attention. Best Regards

This is probably not good: http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.d.../718249348/1001 Comments?

Sounds good, like what Social Security SHOULD be, vested and invested in the name of the beneficiary.

Sounds like a single pay annuity? My wife has one and I don't think it's a bad deal at all. Chinese economy is growing and the RMB is strong. I think it's worth it, but... does your wife still qualify if she is not longer a resident of China? That is my only question, but my wife hasn't said otherwise and she is very knowledgable about things like this. I would like to know more... Best Regards

Western Union is flawless. We've used it both ways, from me to her and from her to me. No problems and it's inexpensive. She doesn't need a bank; the money can be picked up through China Post (their post office), mo men tai. Only qualifier is, make sure you put her name in the right order or she won't be able to pick it up. W.U. used to have forms that were unclear as to first name and last name. They've changed that now, at least in my area. Haven't had a problem since. Good to hear about the "thaw". I hope everything works out for both of you! Best Regards P.S. You can track Western Union online if you like to know when the money is actually picked up.

Cathy, I think a lot of us wish you would post more often. Your wisdom is profound. We can always use more of that around here. Best Regards

When my business was doing well I would send my wife $500 to $1000 each month. Since my business collapsed, she has been sending me money, up to $2500 at a pop. She tells me: "Rich or poor, we are in this together." It doesn't matter how much you send, what matters is who you send it to. You're in my prayers, Buddy.

Another update: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d1187fe8-d018-11...00779fd2ac.html I feel for all those people, but they seem to be acclimated to the crush. I know my daughter and her friend still talk about the Guangzhou Station as being hell on earth! There is a good, two paragraph analysis of the cause of the power shortage at the end of this article. I quoted part of it in another thread regarding partial de-regulation of the power industry.