I can't recall when I first learned about the Canton Fair, but I finally had the chance to attend as a "buyer." I had to bend the truth a bit and claim I was shopping for electronics to bring back to Canada. It's an enormous trade event that takes place three times a year in Guangzhou. When I attended, it was the electronics segment. I went on another river cruise and then returned to the hostel. A German guy generously shared his Lithuanian vodka with me, and I ended up a little intoxicated. When I returned to the room, I caused quite a stir upon seeing all the clutter on the table that I wanted to discuss with them. I scattered their belongings throughout the room, and they called the police. I stayed up all night and left for home in the morning. I received a refund for that terrible hostel (Lazy Gaga hostel; avoid it, as it is filled with homeless individuals rather than backpackers).
Yesterday was a lengthy day for Michael as he "sang for his supper," and I accompanied him as his wife. We were grateful to be picked up around 10 am, especially since we didn't get home the night we arrived until after 1 am! Our first stop was a new research institute linked to the university and the hospital, designed to support both basic and clinical research with dedicated buildings for cancer, neurological/mental health, and cardiovascular studies, among others. The complex is stunning and situated on the outskirts of the city. We had lunch there with prominent professors and staff before proceeding to the hospital, where Michael engaged with a group of psychiatry graduate students working with our host, Xiandong Tang. Each student presented a brief PowerPoint on their current research, and Michael offered both encouragement and constructive feedback to help them enhance their projects. By 4:30 pm, it was time for his lecture in front of a packed audience mostly composed of psychiatrists and graduate students. Interestingly, the majority were female, with only a few men present. As always, Michael was brilliant and alert, while I, on the other hand, was clearly feeling the effects of jet lag but pushed through!
20.06.2024 - 24.06.2024 22 °C
15.03.2025 - 15.03.2025
Nearly every weekend was filled with an exam. There were entrance exams for international high schools, PE assessments for middle school graduates (which my daughter excelled in, scoring full marks in all), and mock exams for subjects like English, Chemistry, and Physics, among others.
29.03.2025 - 29.04.2025 18 °C
I can't recall when I first learned about the Canton Fair, but I finally had the chance to attend as a "buyer." I had to bend the truth a bit and claim I was shopping for electronics to bring back to Canada. It's an enormous trade event that takes place three times a year in Guangzhou. When I attended, it was the electronics segment. I went on another river cruise and then returned to the hostel. A German guy generously shared his Lithuanian vodka with me, and I ended up a little intoxicated. When I returned to the room, I caused quite a stir upon seeing all the clutter on the table that I wanted to discuss with them. I scattered their belongings throughout the room, and they called the police. I stayed up all night and left for home in the morning. I received a refund for that terrible hostel (Lazy Gaga hostel; avoid it, as it is filled with homeless individuals rather than backpackers).