I think it’s interesting that Google made their announcement that they would potentially be leaving China on their blog post. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation as to the many reasons why Google may be quitting (as opposed to their official reason). I just think that it’s interesting that it was first posted on their corporate blog post. It says a lot about PR and how brands should be or are communicating to consumers or the publics today. Gone are the traditional days of brand driven communications. I’m sure people have been saying this for a long time now, but even in a place like China, where the Internet is relatively new, the way people hear about and interact with your brand is changing significantly. For myself, who wants to use the best products to meet my personal needs, most of my recent purchases have been through influencers. Mavens, if you will, of the various categories of goods that I buy… or through friends that share the same hobbies and interests as I do. The only question is, that despite the vast population online in China, how many of them have true purchasing power. Is this just a futile exercise on branding, or are these web experiences changing people’s opinion’s on purchasing products. Not to mention, how much of online conversation is controlled by Big Brother?

On a related incident, Google wasn’t the only one to take a stand on Big Brother. This article was pretty interesting and summed up for me the attitudes that I believe foreign companies will increasingly take in their stance against the government here. A take it or leave it attitude. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a product or brand that can win yet. If Google took their stance 5 years from now, as users in China continue to become disillusioned by the likes of Baidu and other greedy search engines, if Google acted a little later, I think more people would have been pissed off and really put big brother to the test.

Dear World,

Happy New Year. It’s 2010 and I am 32 years old. I’m old, I used to think mid twenties were old, but I’m now over 30 and wow… is that old?

I never would have imagined growing up that my life would turn out in this way. Not that I’m complaining, but as you are growing up, you always envision your friends then, to be your friends forever, your family to always be where you are and to be working at what you thought then was your dream job… or at least the sort of profession you always thought you would be in. For some people that may be the case, but as I enter 2010, I find myself on the other side of the world, meeting new people almost every day and working in an industry I never would have imagined being in.

The best laid plans can often be led astray I suppose, and that is why it is important to stay positive, to stay alert for opportunities and to stay flexible with what life sends your way. I can see how people, as they approach their mid thirties, reflect on what they once thought life should be like and realize that they are not where they wanted to be, or that they are a bit behind on where they thought they should be. Life is not predictable but as the daily grind continues, life’s many challenges, like sandpaper, slowly shape and refine you into the person you were meant to be. That person may stem from the dreams you once had while growing up and the choices you make, but that person, no matter what you end up doing with your life was meant to grow, experience and be happy. Happy new year world.

What happens when I write the same content on 2 blogs?

So here I am, making another attempt to resurrect my blog.  This is effectively a result of free time during Christmas and me being able to buy a VPN in China that allows me to access my blog sites!

So hopefully our paths will cross again soon…

It’s annoying that I cannot access Xanga from China.  Big Brother did a number on the website and I can’t access it.  I’ve moved to a new address, where I’ll likely stay.  Hope you’ll drop by.

http://simontung.blogspot.com/

I’m writing from Phuket and the weather is amazing.

I am on a painful quest to lose my small but obscene alcohol gut.  I don’t know exactly when it happened, and in the beginning I know it was starting to come out, but while doing my Hulk Hogan poses in the mirror and sucking in the gut, I deceived myself into thinking that it could be hidden.  Then the lovehandles came, sitting above my hips.  Didn’t notice those until one summer day I was sitting naked in my home watching TV (just because I can).  And most recently, it was pointed out by this girl that I was on a date with.  I vowed, early on, to start a running regime as soon as I got back to Toronto.  One month, hardcore.

And thus it began.  And it was brutal.  I know that I just needed to get over the hump – the mental struggle your mind plays to try to get you to sleep for another hour, surf the web for a little longer and throw almost every excuse to stop not run.  But I overcame it, if ever so pathetically, by starting to run at the treadmills in the gym.  Knowing I had to gradually ease it in, I started with smaller intervals.  First 10 minutes, then 15, now I’m at 20 minutes of running.  My body now aches, but it is a pleasureable pain as I know I’m getting something good out of it.  (There is some pain that I don’t mind ).

But here is my point: What I find most helpful in getting through the run, is music.  It made such a difference, expecially when a hype song was playing.  I was at 15 minutes, my body was giving up.  Just then, I put on Timbaland’s The Way I Are – and the music just took over my body.  I was running harder, faster and to the beat.  I can’t explain it, but the rush of energy really made me forget about the timer on my treadmill as it screamed second by second, taunting me as it slowly made its way to 20.  I won that battle.

Ok, so it took me two days to finally get up and do something.  I’m used to flying between Shanghai and Beijing or Shanghai and Hong Kong.  They are only 2 hour flights, so the 15 hour flight to Toronto was brutal.  I’m still getting over jetlag and it took me 2 days to just be able to not sleep before 7pm in Toronto.

Flying back, I decided to fly Cathay Pacific, taking recommendation from my ex, she was so right.  I can’t imagine flying on Air Canada, the service, the plane would be unbearable.  I dread my flight back to SH on AC.  I like the long hauls much better now though, everyone has their own on demand entertainment.  I managed to catch 8 episodes of 30 Rock, and a few Everybody Hates Chris.  Tina Fey is one hot mama. 

But now I’m back in Toronto, here for a few days.  Then thinking of Vancouver, and then NYC before I head back to Toronto.  It seems I’m more busy here than I am in SH?

One thing that I did notice coming back though, after living in China for 7 years, is that everything seems bigger here in Canada.  Everything is bigger.   The food portions are a lot bigger, the streets are wider, people are taller (and fatter), my fridge is bigger, our apartment is bigger, even the snowflakes are bigger.

Anyways, I also wanted to do some volunteer work here… I don’t know if anyone still reads this, but if you do, let me know if you have any suggestions.

Okay… it’s official.  See the below email, word has gotten out and I’m running for prez.

Check this out.

Wow, so I must thank my friend James for hooking me up with WiTopia… now I can blog freely from China and surf for pron! 

So I just came back from a small trip to Hong Kong.  I seriously spent more than I should have.  Everything was on sale, and two Gucci belts, a pair of Tod’s shoes and various t-shirts and dress shirts later, I find myself a lot poorer.  Why can’t money grow on trees?  Or just one tree and I own that tree?

But seriously though, did you guys watch  the Olympics Opening ceremony?  I saw it in a small bar in Hong Kong and when the lights went off when the drummers were drumming with the glow sticks, the whole bar started going nuts.  Surrounded by Indians, Australians, Brits, Hong Kongnese and Canadians, the whole crowd erupted with cheers and applause.  How amazing.  I wish, however, Zhang Yimou’s comment on this being the best and that London couldn’t top this one was kept to himself.  Everyone knows it was the craziest shyte, but did he have to be the arrogant director and say it out?  Anyways, I suppose he has every right to be proud.  It was spectacular.  China, add oil…

So here I am, in Bali, Indonesia for one of my good friend’s wedding.  I hardly get a chance to come on here because it’s blocked in China, but as I’ve said before, any change I get I will write.  Have you been to Bali before?  We just spent this afternoon watching the sunset.  Truly majestic.

I’m here for a week… do any of you want me to send you a postcard?  If you do, send me a message.

Lots has happened since I wrote last…

- promotion at work
- helped raise 13 million for the earthquake victims with Jet Li
- dating a new girl (she is mad tall…)
- good friend getting married (that’s why I’m in beautiful Bali!)
- resigned my rental lease for my place
- got my driver’s license in Hong Kong
- got new sunglasses (just cavalli)
- surfed for the first time


Ok, so not the most exciting but life is always changing here in Shanghai… I miss my friend’s in TO though, so this winter, I’m thinking of going back to hang out for a month…

See you soon!

I just had a lunch with a client today.  I realized though, that instead of talking mostly about work, the conversation involved more of her problems in life.  This is also quite consistent across my relationship with a few of my other close clients.  Of course, as a supportive person, I tried to give her advice but it definitely made me realize that more often than not, as someone who works on accounts with people, they want to talk about their personal problems with you.  Is this rare or sound similar to you?

Valentine’s day today… happy valentine’s.  It’s been a while since I spent it with a significant other.  Everyone seems to blast this special day.  I agree that it’s become over commercialized, and that people should celebrate their love for loved ones every day, but what’s wrong with a special day?  Besides, it gives a small break to the daily routine.