This is a topic that I seem to be discussing on a frequent basis (personally and professionally), and is perhaps one of the core issues that many face in working in China and "balancing life".. or organizationally, succeeding in China

Essentially, we (a small group of friends and I) came to the conclusion that those with the best chance of success here were the ones who are comfortable with never getting to comfortable, have a pretty clear idea of what they hope to achieve, have a high tolerance for pain, and can think on their feet

Organizationally, (and this gets back to the thread on QC in China) it is for this very reason that firms must create processes by anticipating the changes that can come and then program responses early on... and you can look at firms like GE to see just how they do this, and do it well through a matrix structure, six sigma black belts, and constant training...

So, follow your hear to China if you like, but keep in mind that it is a strong will, sense of direction, and a high tolerance for pain that will keep on here. Professionally and personally.

R

There's also the fact that there is no reason to think that the litigator knows *anything* about immigration law or court procedure.

But this really is an opportunity for someone that is young and inexperienced. It's frightfully easy to find some obscure topic in law, and become the world expert in it. What the young lawyer should have done is to find the answer, let the experienced lawyer know that he found the answer, so that if the experienced lawyer has any questions on immigration law procedure in Washington Federal courts, the young lawyer is now the "go to guy."

When I arrived, it was a different story altogether. My language was terrible, my view of history was skewed to the people who lived here.

I have found every year I live here, the more complexities I start to understand, the harder it is to keep up!

I think this is why China is so fascinating to me. Every time I think I know, there is this creeping feeling that it could also be "What I use to know"

In law,society,Internet trends,language,your favorite noodle shop *have not found one like it in 4 years :(* and even what used to be a great place to have beers is always dynamic here...

Life in China is an ongoing studying process

I woke up at my DaWangLu apartment this morning to the sounds of a demolition crew taking apart two blocks worth of mom and pops restaurants, jianbing stands, and fruit vendors (For you Beijing heads, its the row of food vendors to the East of "Maison Couture" on Jianguo Lu, before the Dawang Qiao intersection).

This is the third time in two years that I have watched from a window as the buildings and restaurants below me have been torn down. Each time, it has been in a different part of Beijing.

Two take away morals;

"Always put on pants when you go out to
breakfast, because you can't just assume that the downstairs restaurant from the night before is still going to be open in the morning."

and

"Never get an apartment because it has a fantastic view overlooking an old Chinese hutong."