Trip Number One - Shenzhen - Home

After meeting the family Xin Jiao made our way back to Shenzhen for the last few days before I would return to Georgia.


The trip was long from Shaoguan to Shenzhen. Xin Jiao and I slept on the bus most of the time.

One of the reasons I went to China was that I wanted to start my own line of scrubs to sell catering to larger women.  I had a whole concept of what I wanted to do.  I took a few scrubs with me and bought some fabric when I was in Guangzhou.  Prior to leaving Shenzhen for Guangzhou I met with the owner of a sewing company and gave him a few 3X patterns.  They thought I was crazy.  They couldn't believe this size was correct and I told them that I would go to 5X but that we were starting with 3X.


I sent them material from Guangzhou and was looking forward to seeing what they had done.  You can see the owner of the shop, Xin Jiao and me.  Also in the picture is some of the finished product they made for me.

This next picture is a part of the shop.  He has a rather small shop in comparison to others.


Unfortunately we couldn't get the price where I needed it to be to be competitive with places like Walmart.  Xin Jiao got her brother involved who had worked for a sewing factory while putting himself though college.  When she told him the prices we were being quoted he said the sewing factory prices were very good and mine were unreasonable.  So I abandoned the idea.  Walmart being as large as they are can do it for much less.

The next day Xin Jiao and I had the distinct pleasure of having dinner with a friend I made from Canada, Ron and his lovely wife.  We ate at an Italian Restaurant for something different.  Xin Jiao had spaghetti and didn't like it very much.  She saw noodles and thought it would be good.  They were Italian noodles and not Chinese and I think the sauce was too rich for her.  I tasted it and thought it was pretty good.  She ate all of it though.

Ron and his wife Yan (I think) were delightful.  We had a great time with them.  We went to a children's play that Yan had to make an appearance at.  It was different.  It was backlit cells along with a Chinese narration of Children's stories.  Not knowing Chinese Ron and I created our own stories which amused the both of us but got the kindest of scolding for making too much noise.


Yan and Xin Jiao have become good friends and talk to each other on the internet.

My final morning there Xin Jiao and me had breakfast at the Holiday Inn down the street from her apartment.  Needless to say we were both quite sedate because from there I was getting on a bus and heading for Hong Kong.


I really didn't want to go.  I wanted to get to know Xin Jiao more.  We seemed real compatible with each other.  There was definitely chemistry and much interest from the both of us.  10 days just isn't enough to make a life changing decision but it was a good start.  This final picture is how she looked at that final breakfast and a look that was seared into my mind for a long time.


Now for the trip home.