天美麻豆

Sos煤a, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Aug 1956 - Jun 2017

City of London, England, England

Property investment, development, construction, curtain walling, surveying
Business owner
When I was younger it was ok, but very limited nightlife outside pubs and clubs
England turned a corner and became no longer the country of my birth. An amazingly complex tax structure designed to squeeze you all ways from direct taxation to stealth taxes. Confusing and rigorous law enforcement again used as a way to extort more revenue from the general population. Rude and arrogant police force a very pale shade of what they used to be once again prolific tax collectors from motorists in particular. Oppressive usage of cctv. The most watched country in the world. The nanny state as it is called is not here to protect as you may think. The word nanny is of Victorian origin and was a person used to control children. Probably the most Orwellian society in the world.

Jun 2006 - Mar 2010

Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Married my wife and moved here
Hospitality
Wonderfully friendly people, but Cantonese I found very difficult luckily 80% of population speak either English or Mandarin. Many are tri-lingual to an extent. Never a dull moment always something to do the definitive 24 hour City. Entertainment is cheap and only the very poor cook at home. Amazing array of restaurants and eateries best food though seems to be from open air market restaurants and buffet style huge restaurants with massive daily turnover. Huge amount of massage parlours featuring hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms, pedicure, manicure and shave. Many offer complimentary drinks and cigarettes. Beware though, unless you specify otherwise a happy ending will be involved. Most offer facilities to both sexes and it is possible to take your partner and be massaged at the same time
after a while the constant hustle and bustle and fast way of life jaded me. Tall buildings loomed to the sky restricting your view. Apartments were small and often noisy with very basic amenities.Expats here seem to have a snob value and when drunk ( which seems to be often) forget how easy it is "to take the face" (insult) oriental people. Once again below the surface some abject poverty, wire sleeping cages in markets, disfigured children begging in some areas. A good place to work as an expat but not so good to go native in

May 2002 - Jun 2006

Hunan, China

Living as a local and absorbing the culture
Esol teacher
Wonderfully friendly people, I sometime felt like a Pied Piper being followed by teens and children as they had never seen a "ghostman" (colloquial expression for white man). Traders can be a bit tricky but good folk.
Below the surface abject poverty, children being stolen, localised fear of the regime, misuse of power, corruption bourne of necessity

Mar 1990 - Mar 1992

Soufri猫re, Saint Lucia

Lived in a wooden hut near Malgretoute bay before it was spoilt by developers whilst building 2 small villas
Construction
Wonderfully friendly happy welcoming country with the typical Caribbean laid back attitude which is easily adopted by any predominantly lazy person. I spent more time "liming" on the beach and in local rum bars than I did working. This was intended as more r&r than work orientated so fair game. Fantastically beautiful, country. Queff, local cure all medicine made from white rum and marinated caterpillars and local herbs. Maniqou, large rainforest rat type creature permitted to hunt only certain times of the year to keep numbers down. Delicious.
Mosquitos !!!!!! Dengue fever !!!!!!! Probably excaberated by my own lifestyle choice hurricanes.