Chapter 1: Setting the Stage for My Journey

In Blog #245, I shared my reflections on the year 2021. Now, I want to recount the beginning of my journey in China, which kicked off at the office.

My passion for collecting Starbucks mugs from my travels has grown, and I have amassed an impressive collection from locations all over the world, including:

• Alaska
• Beijing
• Boston
• California
• Cancun
• Chicago
• China
• Dallas
• Denver
• Dongguan
• Düsseldorf
• Florida
• Fresno
• Guangzhou
• Hawaii
• Hong Kong
• Kansas City
• Korea
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Los Cabos
• Macau
• Montreal
• Nashville
• New York City
• North Carolina
• Orange County
• Palm Springs
• Paris
• Pike Place (First Starbucks)
• Portland
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Shenzhen
• St. Louis
• Taiwan
• Utah
• Vail
• Washington D.C.
• Wisconsin

Eventually, I transitioned from collecting mugs to shot glasses due to their compact size, though that phase didn't last long either!

Linda and I were having a great time together; she shared my passion for travel. I decided to use some of my travel points to bring her along on this trip to show her my world. While visiting Dongguan might not sound glamorous, filled with factories and lengthy workdays, she was eager to join.

Her father had a tradition of traveling to various impoverished regions to immerse himself in different cultures. Having traveled extensively, Linda was a seasoned traveler, and I was thrilled to explore with someone so experienced.

This time, Richard couldn't join us; it was just Linda, Charles, and me on the lengthy 15-hour flight to Hong Kong, followed by an hour's drive to Houjie, a town in Dongguan.

Our first stop on this adventure was our office in China. Accompanied by Charles and Richard from Zappos, we met Taylor, the office manager, who graciously provided a tour of the facilities. We had previously interviewed him, and it was clear he was effectively establishing a thriving office environment.

Taylor guided us through the office and living quarters for the employees. Richard had successfully infused Zappos culture into the China office, and we were welcomed warmly by the staff, who were eager to showcase their work. One employee demonstrated how they conducted image corrections on the website, which was truly fascinating.

The living accommodations were typical for China, featuring bunk beds, a dining area, and recreational spaces. They even organized a mini-show for our entertainment, which was delightful.

That evening, we enjoyed an exquisite dinner with some staff members and a factory owner who collaborated with Taylor on quality control. The meal was a delightful array of authentic Chinese dishes, each more delicious than the last.

During our factory tours, I was reminded to keep my head up; the facilities were clearly designed with shorter individuals in mind, from doorways to lighting fixtures. One particular factory owner expressed his frustrations about the rising costs associated with new benefits that workers were requesting. He turned to me and bluntly stated, "Mike, this human rights thing is killing us." Those words stuck with me, deepening my appreciation for living in the U.S.

Later, Rob joined us and took us to a factory that specialized in larger sizes, where they had a massive display shoe. Years later, Charles commissioned a similar display shoe for our office. This trip also included a charity golf tournament supported by Zappos, aimed at helping children in need, which made our participation feel even more meaningful.

Unfortunately, Richard couldn't make it to the golf tournament, but our agent from Italy, who also shared the name Richard, would join us to complete our foursome.

Chapter 2: Unforgettable Experiences in China

In the first video titled "Our SHOCKING First Day in CHINA Did Not Expect To Be Treated Like This!" we explore the unexpected hospitality we encountered during our initial hours in China.

The second video, "CHINA is NOT what we expected - FIRST 24 HOURS in Beijing," showcases our surprising experiences and impressions as we navigated the vibrant city of Beijing.