shenzhen=sleep

so nice to be able to sleep in. today i have to run over to shenzhen to negotiate office space for a client, which means that i go to the sheung shui train station at about 9:30 or so, since business starts past 9... one of the few benefits of living in egypt!! so fun, eh? actually, it is fun... i love negotiating, especially in a totally unfamiliar industry. i've come to appreciate how complicated real estate could be - and it's not just determining the monthly lease payments and such. i love learning... especially in mandarin, which is what these negotiations will be conducted in, and which i speak not-so-good nor professionally! i love the hands on nature... especially knowing that i'm paid to make some corporation's move into china [and hk] that much smoother. it's like your house - when you move in, you want to feel, well, at home... praise GOD for making this happen! [now if only i can land more clients!!!!!!]

so sad in recent news.... a bomb blast in the jakarta marriot killed 14 and injured over 100. the marriot's new - opened 2001, after i left - but the area is like a stone's throw from my old apt, and practically across the street from some of my good friends' apartment. so scary, and so sad. my heart's never really left jakarta - cause it's where i found God, and where He saved a wretch like me. it's also the place where i've probably spent the most consecutive time - 4+ years. i mean, we all read about afghanistan, iraq, chechnya, bosnia, n.korea.... none of those places has any relevance to me... but jakarta... *sigh*... why can't we all just log on to friendster.com and be friends?