Saturday, April 24, 2010

My email was hacked...

Hi All,

Please ignore the email you received from me last night. My email account was hacked into and an email was sent out to all of my contacts. The email you received was NOT a virus - just SPAM. 

Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!!

Cheers,
Anne

Friday, April 23, 2010

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Team Bob Chicago Marathon! - Anne Grady

Hi All!

This October 7th I will be running the Chicago marathon to represent TEAM BOB. I created a wesbite for my fundraising - if you have time please check it out TEAM BOB. All the details are there =)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Love & Hope,
Anne Grady

http://teamrfs.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Jetlag Slideshow

I'm Home!!! Well, the website turned out to be quite a bit more difficult to update compared to what I had expected. I would like to say it was solely because I had very little access to the internet, or time, or funds to pay for the internet (which are all true) but I would have to say the real reason was "indigestion". To consume so much with my eyes in two weeks is going to take a while for me to digest. Anytime I would sit to even just journal I would be at a loss for words even though my mind had a million thoughts.

I think what was so different about this trip, other than China being like nothing I have ever seen, was the ability we were given to see aspects away from just tourism. The studying of business & operations in China was the reason for the many thoughts that were provoked and preconceptions dismissed (all of them).

So until I find some words, here is a slideshow with a few pictures from the trip. China was incredible but I am so happy to be home.

L, Annie



If the slideshow does not start refresh the page or Click here .

Monday, May 21, 2007

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Xi'an Culture

 
 
Nee Hao!!
 
    I thought I would be able to update a bit more but time is limited and so is the internet access! I had anticipated internet cafes everywhere but apparently in recent years the government has cracked down on illegal use of the internet and shops (not exactly sure what that means). We arrived in Xi'an, the original capital of China, on Saturday in the afternoon. We checked into a very nice hotel - awesome breakfasts w/ some western continental foods mixed in. The first night here we went to a restaurant near the city wall to have a dumpling banquet (Tim, you were right!). It was sooo good! I have had a little bit of a hard time mustering up courage to try foods here but the dumplings were great. It was family style with the different courses and varieties placed on a lazy susan to share. So great. Yesterday was more cultural than any day we have had yet. We first went to a ceramic building site where we saw the process of how they make porcelain (China) and replicas of the   Terracota warriors. Next we went to see the actual site of the Terracota Warriors. We stopped at the Huaqing hot springs made for Lady Yang. Check out those links to see what I am talking about. The temperature was extremely hot but everyone still seemed to enjoy the sites. Before ending the afternoon we stopped at the Wild Goose Pagoda and climbed to the top to get a bird's eye view of the city of Xi'an. For dinner we went to a production, mostly music and dancing, or the Tang Dynasty. It was really very nice and similar to ballet (but with a more celtic sounding beat to the music). I really loved that. After dinner our tour guide set up foot massages for anyone that wanted them after the long day of walking. It was a perfect ending to a really long day!!
 
    I can not believe how very different Xi'an is from Shanghai. It has a very strong cultural feel to it and has preserved its historical culture. Shanghai has not, i think, due to its very rapid growth and emphasis on industry and corporations. Both were an amazing experience. From what I here Beijing is also another world apart. We are taking off this morning (10 minutes actually!!) and the rest of our trip will be spent in Beijing. I will continue to send updates! I hope everyone is great at home --- please send me some updates (GRADY'S!!!!!!).
 
Lots of love,
Annie

Friday, May 18, 2007

Hello from Shanghai!
 
Well I guess I need to start with wow... it is hard to even begin to articulate words for this experience so far. I am so fortunate to come from a family (especially mom) that encourages traveling and have many experiences to compare this one to. I can say for certain that this country is like no other. I am constantly engaged in my surroundings and taking everything in but I have a feeling it will take much longer than these two weeks to even begin to digest what I am seeing. There is an incredible rate of change here that it is beyond impressive. Every manufacturer (moog - valves, cooper - power systems, krupp - steel) is in an almost brand new buidling surrounding by many many many others. From a business perspective it is becoming more and more clear (other than just low cost) why so many corporations are here. Today's tour of SIP was extraordinary though. SIP, short for Singapore Industrial Park is one of the leading in China. To encourage foreign enterprises to enter the country the government has given Industrial Parks the ability to approve and register and begin business within as short as 2 weeks time. Within the park is customs, human resources for all corps (headhunters, advertising, etc.), and any thing you could ever need. It is virtually an entire city built in only 5 years time. It currently has a population of 1/2 million... before the project began there were only 80,000 farmers. It is a prime example of the greater good vs. the individual. While such a growth produces many jobs --- in the US we would certainly be concerned for every one of those farmers rights.
 
ah. i could write forever....  time is up and no go with uploading pictures. I will write again soon (after finally finding the internet!)
 
Lots of love,
Annie