Orientation

So I woke with my friend, the sun, at 4:30 am on Monday and watched it begin its daily climbed as I enjoyed wheat toast with strawberry jam.
Grade A day.
I made it to the bus on time and read some of "Rejuvenile" by Christopher Nixon, trying to ignore all the red lights that the driver was running along the way.
The day before Grace had warned me that everyone cleanses their bodies in the group showers in the locker room to keep their utility bills below our allocated 100 Yuan per month. Group showers don't bother me, I've been in a gym before. Its the "I'm going to run around naked no matter my age or the comfort of those around me" that was worth the warning. Although, they all took the time to steal glances as I changed into my uniform.
Foreigner, yes.
Alien, no.
I've got the same parts as you, now move it along before I start charging.
Unfortunately I don't know how to say ANY of that in Chinese, so it stayed in my head as I wished for another sarcastic English speaker.
Well, let's make it a good day.
I got my skirt on and realized it was a little, well, short.
And tight.
When I tried on my uniform they handed me a generic size, say a large, and asked me to try the jacket/shirt thing on. It was too big so I asked for a smaller size and was given a smaller set along with panty hose (damn it) and black heels.
Yes, Madison Sites now wears heels to work.
Oh, and finally a bow barrett with a little crocheted bag on it to hold the bun I'm required to put my hair in.
Panty hose, heels, and now a bun? And I've already allowed someone to put a Q-tip up my but for a health inspection?
I don't get paid enough.
I asked if I had to wear my hair in a bun if it was physically too short to put into one.
Nope.
I checked last night and a hair cut is 58 Yuan. $9.21, not bad.
What do you think? Should I chop it off?
Since I didn't have a translator nearby, I couldn't ask for a bigger skirt so that would have to wait.
We headed to the training room, ready for a full day of IHG propaganda.

It was a pretty boring day for me. Coming from the Kemmons Wilson School under the University of Memphis, I already knew about the history of IHG and so I day dreamed about all the foods I wanted in December.
Don't judge me.
Charles Zhou, the training director, was actually the inspiration for creating the "Heart of the House," a new company-wide initiative to get employees more involved and also to spruce up the back of house, which is generally ugly and very similar to a hospital corridor.
Shudder.
He is really passionate about IHG and especially Intercontinental. He was super-impressed that I "come from Kemmon Wilshun home and go to his shool" (hopefully you can understand the phonetic spelling). He loves that the hotel has management trainees and when he told us why, he explained a growing problem in the workforce of China.
As you're probably aware, China has a one-child policy. Everyone is only allowed one offspring. This is an attempt to curb their seriously over-populated country, that still has a rising population due to the increase in longevity.
This has created 2 unintended side-effects that I've discovered.
As you're probably also aware, many Chinese women will abort their child as soon as they find out it's a girl. Essentially, you only get one shot and you want that one to carry on your name. It's very medieval times-esque.
So you've got these shady side-street abortions going on with such great medical tools like a hangar. Yeah, a hangar. As you can imagine, this poses a serious health risk that often leads to death. Abortion isn't a DIY kind of deal - speaking of, has anyone seen Revolutionary Road? It's a good watch. At least I liked it, a lot of people don't. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The second issue is often found in the states. In fact, my high school (a private one) was practically a breeding ground for the epidemic.
Spoiled brat syndrome.
Real life problems, folks.
So you've got one kid that grows up as an only child, well, a whole generation of them. Since they're the only child and only grandchild, they are doted upon by 3 sets of people - both grandparents and mom and dad. Since this child is also their only expense, they have loads more money to spend on them, too.
They grow up and are still spoiled and sucking the proverbial tit, but they can't shame their family by being unemployed. So what do they do?
They get an office job.
The ones where they can paint their nails, sit on the phone, and read the paper all day doing virtually nothing. In fact, most women just want to be a secretary, holding papers for the big boss to sign.
That's a dream job?
How unfulfilling.
In essence, China now desperately lacks a talented work force. Which means there's tons of room for those of us in the states who actually work to come and work and move up quickly.
Moving on.
As an after-lunch break, Charles took us on a tour of the hotel. Check it out.
These are pictures of Club Continental, their executive club. It is an extra 350 Yuan plus 15% of the rate on Sunday-Thursday and 400 Yuan plus 15% of the rate on Friday and Saturday night ($55 and $63 respectively). A good rate considering what it includes. Free internet, 2 hours of meeting room time, 20 free prints, private check-in and check-out, plus private concierge services. They also serve complimentary meals: breakfast (6:30-10:30am), tea (2:30-4:30pm), and happy hour (6:30-8:30pm). I personally love the library and feel like that book, "The Shack" is following me through my life. No, I haven't read it, yet.













Here's a look at some of the rooms. They're super nice and have a lamp outside of each room that has the room number printed on it. All the toilets are those mega techy ones with a remote bar and automatically open the lid when you walk in the bathroom. Every view is panoramic with a Yamaha surround sound system in the room and an input bar to plug in your computer or phone to the TV. And every room comes with two complimentary gas masks. Apparently it is a law to keep them in the rooms in the event of a fire or emergency as there would be no way to distribute them to all the guests in the midst of an emergency. Sort of like keeping life jackets in your room on a cruise ship. Makes sense to me and sort of makes me wish we had those safety standards in the states, too.

The spa is pretty awesome too and even makes me, quite the un-girly girl, want to spend a day spending someone else's money in there. I need a sugar daddy, pronto. The pool is an awesome infinity pool that aligns to look as if it merges with Jin Ji lake. They even have 2 chess rooms and 6 Mah Jong rooms. I'm putting that on my China list, play real, not on the computer, Mah Jong.

Overall, awesome tour that made me wonder why I keep working in places I will never be able to afford.
Frick.
We finished with enough time to eat dinner and catch ourselves on the "New Faces" board before the next shuttle home.
 It was a really great day that made me really excited to be here and especially be at an Intercontinental.

I still can't believe I went from a concession stand worker to China in 6 years.