Hello again,

I know all the other interns are saying the same thing, but I really have no idea where the time has gone. I remember sitting in the airport on the way to China thinking about what I was doing two months prior and thinking how far ago it was. Maybe that's just because I was starting my finals....who knows haha! I sometimes think to myself i should have done more whilst I was here, but when I look back I've been over to Hong Kong three times, been to Macau, been to Guizhou and been to just about every corner of Shenzhen so I can't reallt complain. The only major thing I still really want to do is visit Dafen. In 1988, a Hong Kong businessman called Wong Kong, who had a business specialising in reproduction art, decided that there was no future in Hong Kong and set up in Dafen, even though it was not in the SEZ. Soon he was joined by artists from all over China, some classically trained but many just talented amateurs fresh from the paddy fields. It is set in an old Hakka village and consists of street after street of shops selling art. Much of it is rubbish but some of China's best artists also have studios in Dafen. For a few hundred Yuan you can commission an artist to copy your favorite piece of art, your wedding photo, or photos of your family. There is a modern gallery exhibiting works by Dafen local painters but most of all I want to see the Qi Xing teahouse, built round several 300 year old Hakka houses with beautiful courtyards. If I pluck up the courage I might ask my manager for a day off this week to try and squeeze it in as I don't think I'll be too busy at work this week.

Today I met up with John Paterson, VP Supply and Chief Procurement Officer for IBM over in Hong Kong for a round of golf. Had a fantastic day out but I'm now a lovely salmon pink colour due to the fact I forgot my sun tan lotion. To be honest I've been so busy at work during the day I hardly get to enjoy the sun and today has really been the only time I've been caught out. I was a bit gutted though, when I woke up I decided to go down to my favourite ex-pat hangout and treat myself to a nice full english fry-up but once I got there the kitchen wall was being in the process of being torn down and the place was covered in dust. After a quick call to the manager (a friend from the rugby who is also from Scotland) he came down to see what was on. Even though he was the manager he had no idea what was going on as no one had told him. That's just the way it is over here in China. Communication between people is horrific and as a result problems arise very frequently, but the culture is to try and sweep them under the rug and forget about them. I love the lifestyle over here but I think working over here can get very frustrating at times for sure.

Right, need to boost! Away to play gaelic football down at the Futian Stadium.

See y'all later!