Miss Melinda Liu was my good associate friend when we were young in 1980, helping Petroleum News of Asia to open business in CHINA's ENERGY Business!! We were both very young & took our first trip to Guangzhou!! Time flies & we are both mature now. I had 40+ years of CHINESE OILFIELDS experiences with Eni, Husky, GSI & Western in CHINA but my stories are in XINJIANG & DAQING etc. Those were the most challenging days from 1980 to 2000!! Memories!! Melinda was great!!
This is a great video, a true contemporary reflection on the dramatic changes which happened in China. I lived in HK during the 1990s and went to China many times, and even as recently as 30 years ago I would not have been able to predict that China would be as developed as it is now.
It is foreseeable that in the future, China's high-end industrial products will occupy the original markets of the United States, Europe, and Japan, and China will become more developed.
China without street lighting reminded me of Schwerin in East Germany where I stopped for the night just after the fall of Berlin wall. The place was so dark without street light I could hardly find my way around. Even the shops were unlit. I had no chance of finding a hotel but to drive back to West Germany.
I went to Shanghai, China the first time in 1978. That time I was working on the first cruise ship allowed into China. Shanghai that time had no private cars, everyone was walking around in their blue jackets, millions of bicycles in the most loaded with everything from fresh vegetables to building materials. No traffic lights, every intersection had a police man directing the traffic. Taxi drivers were only allowed to take you to specific places. Still have a fond memories of the Seamen's mission and friendship store. Went back 40 years later and tried to find the old places, but they had disappeared, except for the Fairmont Peace Hotel. I have been back and have travelled in China extensively since and currently live permanent in Nanchang.
I worked as a temporary; receptionist, secretary, admin assistance, etc. able to do the job required. I got a job in the oldest law firm ever and THE most conservative one I’d ever seen, right down to the 1950’S furniture! As I walked in I was taken aback and thought I won’t be doing more than one day, called my counselor stated as much. She laughed told me to seek the older secretary who’d been there from the start. I did, she taught me a little on the telex and next job I helped someone operate it-looked up was surrounded by about 12 ppl! TEACH US PLEASE before we blow it up or toss it out the window!!! I did and never touched one again lol😝technology improvements are a godsend!!!🙏🏻🤨🤔
Listened to this interview while driving the car, and hooked up from the beginning. A great story. Melinda is very articulate.
Thank you so much, this really is appreciated. Many more episodes are coming.
Miss Melinda Liu was my good associate friend when we were young in 1980, helping Petroleum News of Asia to open business in CHINA's ENERGY Business!! We were both very young & took our first trip to Guangzhou!! Time flies & we are both mature now. I had 40+ years of CHINESE OILFIELDS experiences with Eni, Husky, GSI & Western in CHINA but my stories are in XINJIANG & DAQING etc. Those were the most challenging days from 1980 to 2000!! Memories!! Melinda was great!!
I would love to hear more. I hope they will interview you at one point.
Stephen, how can we connect? Linkedin?
This is a great video, a true contemporary reflection on the dramatic changes which happened in China. I lived in HK during the 1990s and went to China many times, and even as recently as 30 years ago I would not have been able to predict that China would be as developed as it is now.
It is foreseeable that in the future, China's high-end industrial products will occupy the original markets of the United States, Europe, and Japan, and China will become more developed.
Wonderful oral history: Well Done Melinda!
Shenzhen truly is an amazing city. Very clean, modern, with many beautiful parks, great air quality, and did not seem as crowded as other big cities.
But I remember the sea there being so polluted, very dark water..
I studied and worked in China 86 to 90. I can relate to her story 100%. I feel lucky to have lived and experienced China's transformation.
China without street lighting reminded me of Schwerin in East Germany where I stopped for the night just after the fall of Berlin wall. The place was so dark without street light I could hardly find my way around. Even the shops were unlit. I had no chance of finding a hotel but to drive back to West Germany.
I went to Shanghai, China the first time in 1978. That time I was working on the first cruise ship allowed into China. Shanghai that time had no private cars, everyone was walking around in their blue jackets, millions of bicycles in the most loaded with everything from fresh vegetables to building materials. No traffic lights, every intersection had a police man directing the traffic. Taxi drivers were only allowed to take you to specific places. Still have a fond memories of the Seamen's mission and friendship store. Went back 40 years later and tried to find the old places, but they had disappeared, except for the Fairmont Peace Hotel. I have been back and have travelled in China extensively since and currently live permanent in Nanchang.
What is very clear to people who visit China regularly, China changes continually. China this year and China next year is world's apart.
Just the number of EV's increases dramatically every year, even in second tier cities.
Has she published any biography ?
I asked, she mentioned it had not been published in book form.
Imagine having to type into a Telex machine. Before this interview I had been thinking "Telex" was just another word for "Fax."
I worked as a temporary; receptionist, secretary, admin assistance, etc. able to do the job required. I got a job in the oldest law firm ever and THE most conservative one I’d ever seen, right down to the 1950’S furniture! As I walked in I was taken aback and thought I won’t be doing more than one day, called my counselor stated as much. She laughed told me to seek the older secretary who’d been there from the start. I did, she taught me a little on the telex and next job I helped someone operate it-looked up was surrounded by about 12 ppl! TEACH US PLEASE before we blow it up or toss it out the window!!! I did and never touched one again lol😝technology improvements are a godsend!!!🙏🏻🤨🤔
That was really intriguing to read. Thank you!