English with an American Corporate Accent - 035

This is another collection from recent meetings and trips. It works best if you can find a native English speaker with exposure to corporate America to elaborate on the finer points that I cannot cover well here.

* You can view that as a fork-lift upgrade. [You can view that as a heavy duty jumbo upgrade.]
* That performance number 540 is our baseline.  Anything beyond that is gravy to us. [That  performance number 540 is our baseline.  Anything beyond that is an extra bonus for us.]
* Any new bug report on the bubble here? [Any new bug report on the horizon here?]
* Rob can help out in a pinch here. [Rob can help out at a moment's notice here.]
* His father passed away last week.  He is pretty wrapped up now. [His father passed away last week.  He is pretty much emotionally occupied now.]
* Johnson seems to poopoo our suggestion.  He is not answering my calls. [Johnson seems to dismiss our suggestion.  He is not answering my calls.]
* That's a big hammer to resolve this simple problem. [There should be an easy way to resolve this simple problem.]
* We have not much left to do here.  Let's power through it. [We don't have much left to do here. Let's work extra hard to get through it.]
* I suspect that it's fait accompli. [I suspect that is an established fact now.]
* What happened was that Joe got wind that this feature was coming soon, and he turned around and sold it to the customers. [What happened was that Joe overheard that this feature was coming soon, and he turned around and sold it to the customers.]
* That is not the way we used to do software integration, but we aren't in Kansas anymore. [That is not the way we used to do software integration, but we aren't in that old world anymore.]
* Jerry felt that we are floundering in this project.  We need to do something to move it forward. [Jerry felt that we are struggling in this project.  We need to do something to move it forward.]
* It is not a moonshot.  There is something meaningful we can try. [It still has hope.  There is something meaningful we can try.]
* If you want to resurrect that project,  we better get buy-in from John. [If you want to restart that project, we better get agreement from John.]

English with an American Corporate Accent - 034

This is another collection from recent meetings and trips. It works best if you can find a native English speaker with exposure to corporate America to elaborate on the finer points that I cannot cover well here.

*I am more interested in the high-order bits, not worrying about whether it is a 3-week or 4-week project. [I am more interested in the high-level issues, not worrying about whether it is a 3-week or 4-week project.]
*I am not going to breeze down their necks for schedules. [I am not going watch them that closely to get schedules.]
* He won't lose any sleep if he jettisons that project today. [He won't feel any guilt if he kills that project today.]
* Our organization is oozing into other areas, including sales support and technical marketing. [Our organization is taking on new roles, including sales support and technical marketing.]
* It could be a disincentive if you actually offer that feature for free. [It could have the opposite effect of creating suspicion if you actually offer that feature for free.]
* Customers don't want to feel hemmed in if our vendor locking strategy is too obvious. [Customers don't want to feel stuck in choices if our vendor locking strategy is too obvious.]
* They have really dumbed down that discussion for the execs. [They have really simplified that discussion for the executives.]
* We are in such a conundrum situation. [We are in such a dilemma.]
* That patch is very toxic, don't use it if you can help it. [That patch is very troublesome, don't use it if you can avoid it.]
* After that change, they have a real house of cards on their hands. [After that change, they have a real difficult problem on their hands.]
* The only advantage for them is that they have one throat to choke now. [The only advantage for them is that they only need to deal with one vendor to solve the problem.]
* I don't like to white list that particular model.  If we replace that later, it would be very difficult to do an upgrade in the field. [I don't like to create a special case for that particular model.  If we replace that later, it would be very difficult to do an upgrade in the field.]

Fujian Tulou

Tulou Cluster, July 3, 2014

I took a side trip in Xiamen before I continued my trip to Kinmen and Taiwan from my June business trip to China.  I visited Xiamen in 2008 with a group organized by the now defunct Sun Microsystems. Tulou area is about 3 hours driving, west of Xiamen.  It was not possible to visit with the group at that time.

It is difficult to get there and get around by means of public transportation.  Joining a small tour group is an option.  I hired a car with the travel agent, Apple Travel, which I found in some travel blogs. They specialize in Fujian travel and serve international clients. I hired a car with a driver for 2000 RMB (300 US dollars) for two days.  Gas and tolls are included. They are very helpful, professional and knowledgeable.  I like what I got.  For English-speaking visitors, their services would be invaluable.

Famous TianLuoKeng Tulou Cluster, July 2, 2014

The so-called Tulou building is a community and residential structure with defense in mind, to deal with frequent bandits and pirates in the last few hundred of years.  The building is normally round in shape, with fortified earth walls and standing about 3 stories high.  The real windows are on the second story and higher. Almost all of the buildings get some ground well water inside the compound. During the Ming dynasty, pirates were known to come onshore far inland to attack and to rob small communities.

An inside panoramic view of one Tulou building

These buildings are normally associated with the Hakka people, which literally means guest people/families in Chinese.  The Hakka built these structures to defend themselves from the unfriendly forces of their neighbors and also of the sea.  Hakka people escaped persecutions and wartime chaos from the north of China in various periods of Chinese turmoil.  These buildings are especially prominent in the Fujian province and its surrounding areas.

Basic and Simple Tulou life style, July 2, 2014

Tulou structures were thought to be missile silos during the Cold War, based on aerial photography and satellite imaging.  But they were too big, and the clusters were too close together to make sense.  Anyway, legend has it that the CIA went in for visits for a first-hand look after the Cold War, when travel to these remote hilly Fujian areas became permissible.

Many of these buildings, which can accommodate around 50 families and 200 residents in an average-sized structure, are still in use by the communities.  Many people raise chickens inside the Tulou compound.  Some buildings have good open space in the center.  Some have a community ancestral hall in the middle, and that's used in various festivities and occasions.

Ancestral Temple and the Memorial Steles, July 3, 2014

Hakka culture emphasizes reverence to ancestors and holds high value for family and clan relationships.  That is similar to mainline Chinese culture and emphasis.  I found quite a few examples of ancestral temples for various clans, that is, families with the same last name and root.  They erected memorial steles for those accomplished people from their own villages near the temples.

QingDe Lou Guest House we stayed on July 2, 2014

I stayed in one of the guest houses in a village called Ta-Xia in NanJing County.  It was arranged by the travel agent.  The accommodation was quite all right with hot shower and air-conditioning.  It is a small converted Tulou style building and operates more or less like a B&B enterprise.  The breakfast is standard Chinese steam bread, porridge, and various small dishes.  There is no set menu for dinner.  You discuss what you like to have with what's available with vegetables of the season, local fish, and free-range chickens. I had a good time in this place.

Taxia village, where my Guest House is, July 2, 2014

Taking Ferry from Xiamen, China to Kinmen, Taiwan

Xiamen Airport, July 1, 2014

You could not get from mainland China to Taiwan directly until 2008.  Going through Hong Kong as a stepping stone was a common practice.  The relationship between mainland China and Taiwan has improved so much in recent years that travel between Xiamen and Kinmen becomes possible.  The immigration formalities and procedures are streamlined enough that even foreign passport holders can travel between China and Taiwan through this interesting and often cheaper route.


Nowadays a ferry ride would take only 30 minutes from Xiamen to Kinmen.  There are regular domestic commercial air flights between Kinmen and major cities in Taiwan.  Domestic flights are considerably less expensive than cross-strait flights between Taiwan and mainland China.

Wutong Terminal from the ferry, July 3, 2014

After my business travel to Beijing this time, I flew from Beijing to Xiamen and took the ferry from the Wutong terminal to Kinmen.  The travel agent booked the ticket for me for 190 RMB (10 RMB service charge by the agent).  This is about 30 US dollars. There is a short taxi ride from the Xiamen airport to the Wutong terminal.  The ferry runs roughly hourly during the day.  The web link above is unfortunately only in Chinese.

Tulou Cluster, July 3, 2014

I took a side trip for two days to visit Tulou, west of Xiamen, which is about 3-hour driving distance.  You can see my future Tulou blog for that stint.

Wutong Ferry Terminal, July 3, 2014

The Wutong ferry terminal is fairly new and the immigration procedure is very streamlined and fast.  These days, new facilities like this all look alike with shiny floors, comfortable chairs and good lighting.

Ferry from Xiamen to Kinmen, July 3, 2014

On the day I traveled (July 3, 2014), the ferry was pretty empty, as you can see from the picture to the left.

Kinmen's Ferry Terminal, July 3, 2014

On the Kinmen side, the ferry terminal is also spiffy and fairly new.  The immigration formalities were quick and straightforward.  I have never been in Kinmen before, and this historical island is a place I always wanted to visit in person.

Kinmen Island map at the ferry terminal July 3, 2014

Kinmen and Matsu islands were the strongholds for Taiwan, which are only miles away from mainland China, during the intense confrontations between the Communist Chinese government and the KMT-led Taiwanese government.

One of the M5A1 Tanks that saved Kinmen in 1949

It is interesting to visit the Guningtou war museum that depicted the invasion that the Communist Chinese almost won in 1949 after the People's Republic of China was founded. The man-made underground tunnels that were built to move supplies through heavy bombardment also provide excellent perspectives on that period of time.
 

Area wise, Kinmen is only slightly smaller than urban Xiamen, which was also an island before the connecting bridges and tunnels were built in the last few decades.  Population wise, there is a huge difference.  Kinmen has about 100 thousand residents normally, while urban Xiamen is home for 2 million people.

Kinmen Airport, July 5, 2014

Shuttle to board plane from Kinmen to Tainan, July 5, 2014

My flight from Kinmen to Tainan took only 50 minutes at 20,000 feet.  Tainan was the historical capital of Taiwan before the Qing dynasty decided to modernize Taiwan.  My younger sister's family is in Tainan, which is an excellent excuse to visit.

The high speed rail (HSR) ride is less than 2 hours from Tainan to Taipei and covers about 250 kilometers.  Since early 2014, United Airlines has offered non-stop flights between Taipei and San Francisco.

English with an American Corporate Accent - 033

This is another collection from recent meetings and trips. It works best if you can find a native English speaker with exposure to corporate America to elaborate on the finer points that I cannot cover well here.

* That's the buzzword for "no more service is available." [That's the trendy word for "no more service is available."]
* I have my right ear burning with something urgent now. [I am sure that there is something urgent that needs my attention now.]
* To save time, we can piggyback on your work to deliver that feature. [To save time, we can leverage on your work to deliver that feature.]
* While we do that, let's take the opportunity to iron out the hardware wrinkles if any. [While we do that, let's take the opportunity to fix the hardware problems if any.]
* Our security portfolio is an organic version. [Our security portfolio is a home-grown version.]

* We had serious performance difference two years ago, now we are bridging the gaps. [We had serious performance differences two years ago, now we are closing the gap.]
* That new feature really gives our competitor a run for their money. [That new feature really challenges our competitor.]
* The status of that project falls into a yellow for me. [The status of that project falls into a "caution" status for me.]
* I have 24 direct reports; wheels are starting to fall off the cart. [I have 24 direct reports; things are starting to fall apart.]
* I am drawing a blank on that name. [I simply cannot remember that name.]

* We cannot use that half-baked prototype. [We cannot use that incomplete prototype.]
* There is a wrinkle to this action plan. [There is a small problem to this action plan.]