Shenzhen
Just a few things about Shenzhen:
- It is so big that most people call Shenzhen sub-provincial. No wonder, really…within the city, there’s a different minimum wage requirements for Futian (the Central Business District, where our head office is), Bao’an (a municipality known for manufacturing), Songgang and the rest.
- It is number 7 in the top ten safest cities in China, behind Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and 3 other cities I now cannot recall. Shenzhen fall behind because the number of incoming and outgoing migrant workers here are totally way beyond the charts.
- It is number 3 (hip, hip hoorrraaayyy!) in the top ten most beautiful cities in China, behind Hong Kong and Beijing only! I can see and feel how utterly beautiful Shenzhen is. It has been my home for the last 3 years now and I just cannot help but always be awed of it again and again.
- It is one of the top ten fastest growing cities in the world and to be here when all these growth are taking place, whoa! Talk about the feeling of being in the right place at the right time.
- Western fast food places can be found anywhere here like McDonald’s (Mai Dang Lau in Chinese), KFC (Kendaji), Starbucks (you can even find them at bookstores!), Pizza Hut, Taco Bell Grande, Papa John’s (the Pizzas there are JUST to die for!) and Subway. Papa John’s delivers (we have one close to home and one close to work!) and Subway, too (we only have one near work).
- As for Western grocery places, there’s Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Metro. There’s even B & Q.
- This place is truly a wonder because just less than 30 years ago, this place just used to be swamplands.
If Lucena City is my hometown, Shenzhen is my HOME away from home. I just so LOVE it here. 
