MIKE

The title of this post is MIKE---very simple, very plain.  However, anyone that knows Mike, or has visited us here in Shanghai and had the chance to meet Mike, knows Mike is anything but simple and plain.  In fact, it is safe to say that Mike is probably one of the most interesting people we have met here in China!  Mike was our first driver when we moved here to Shanghai.  Deloitte set up an interview with several different drivers for John and I to interview.  Mike was the first one we interviewed---basically, he spoke English, he was hired!!
Soon after we hired Mike, we realized not only had we hired a driver, but had acquired a new member of our family.  Since we were new to Shanghai, and had never had a driver before, we didn't know "driver protocol" at all.  We thought it was completely normal for drivers to accompany their employers to restaurants, go shopping with them, raid their American supply of snacks, and even WANT to hang out with them on their days off--he was just part of the family.  Mike was the MOST LOYAL driver anyone could ask for, and truly we would not have made it through our first year here in Shanghai without his constant translation help from ordering pizza to buying cars.  He would happily drive all over the city just to find the best deals for us, and made sure we were taken care of in every way--we truly appreciated him!!

Yes, Mike was sooooo helpful.  Mike had an opinion about everything, and wasn't afraid to share it.  Most of the time we didn't agree at all with his opinions, but nonetheless, we took it as a grain of salt, and actually, as we drove throught hectic Shanghai traffic, his sometimes ourtrageous opinions brought us all a lot of entertainment, and lots of smiles!
For example....our favorite "Mike moment" was repeated every couple weeks when he would constantly ask John or I which of our four sons was our favorite (in front of all four of our boys might I add).  We loved that he said "Chinese people always have favorite son", which I always replied "yes, but they only have ONE son, in America most people have more than one child, and we love them all the same."  This never sufficed Mike, so he would answer back in all seriousness....."Well, Tyson the best! Bracken, Parker, Preston they ok, but everyone here in China only like Tyson."   Luckily Bracken and Parker never were too hurt emotionally over the comment, but more hurt physically as they tried their hardest everytime to not bust out laughing!!

After two years of having Mike as a driver, he decided to try something new, and he started an air-conditioning business.  Since then, he has remembered our birthdays (mostly Tyson's), and many holidays we receive texts or visits from him.  For Chinese New Year this year, we asked if he would like to go with our family to dinner to a restaurant of his choice.........we loved his reply "No, I just come your house and eat  western food!" 

So last night we did just this, so much for chopsticks and rice---bring on the roast, the potatos , of course the JELLO, and his favorite--American chocolate brownies!!  We enjoyed the evening with Mike, and appreciate the gift he brought our family.....

A 3-D Chinese Money God picture---Mike told us All Chinese know this...."Hang this in home and you become very, very rich!" Now that is a promise we can't turn down.  Still just looking for the perrrrrrfect place to hang it (:

Here's an upclose view in case you missed it the first time (:

and here's a slightly different view for you.....(:  (:!!

Thanks Mike....we might not ever become very, very, rich----but definitely people like you have truly

en-riched our lives!