My election night experience

Was on the road on election night. I left the training class at 4:25 at North Little Rock and headed to the LIT airport. When I listened to NPR at around 5:30 PM, the poll in east coast was about to close. When I got to Atlanta for transfer, it was 8:30 PM EST, so I watched CNN and got to know PA became Obama land. One more flight later, about 10:45 PM when the MD-88 plane landed at STL, and I turned on the radio immediately. Obama won and was about to give acceptance speech.

Direct flight between STL and LIT
Yesterday I found out Southwest does offer a direct flight between STL and Little Rock (LIT). Oh well, the good thing is I read the CFA stuff during the delta flight. Otherwise I will have more time to waste on TV and Internet.

The market reaction
The stock market already had a big run before the Obama win. The stock market decided to hold two sell off days on Wed and Thurs. In a way, that signifies the challenges lies ahead for Obama administration. The expectation is so high, from health care, to economy/jobs, to Iraq, to his ethnic group (African American, though theoritically Obama is mixed race, half black half white).

It’s hard to do many of these in a tough economy.

The margin call

Go to STL tomorrow

This time I am not travelling alone 🙂

I spent past 3 months here in Shanghai, plus a few months I spent early this year, this year marks the longest time I stayed in China since 1997. I enjoyed my time (for the most part) here. At the same time I learned a lot things: by my own observations and by talking to friends. I already talked a bit in my blog; I will try to touch some more after I come back.

Of course, the most significant thing for me this year, is not Shanghai or China, not my work, or make money from stocks. It’s seeing my wife Ruixian, and getting to know each other better. There is something in life money can not buy. The other day when I talked to friends, we joked the marriage is different from stock in the sense that one doesn’t want to “sell” it.

I know for Ruixian, that’s her first US trip. I still remember much the details before and during my first trip. I hope hers will be unique. And then I can show her some interesting things in the “Show me state”.

Got visa, air ticket

Our visa applications finally came through, and I booked air ticket for my wife’s trip (PVG to STL, same itinerary as mine).

I already got the round trip ticket for myself, so the question is find a same ticket for her. I checked out flychina.com, aa.com and China-sss 春秋航空旅游网 (travel agency) and they all gave me a quote of about $1000. That’s not cheap consider my round trip ticket from STL to PVG cost about $1250.

Air Ticket Is Expensive

I bought air ticket for my late July trip back to Shanghai. It cost me $1260, American Airlines, STL to PVG (via ORD). Compared to $1090 I paid for my March trip (UA), it’s a little more expensive. The main reason is of course the soaring oil price lately.

St. Louis Jazz Festival 2007

Went to St. Louis Jazz and Heritage Festival 2007 at Shaw Park at Clayton yesterday. The weather did not cooporate, but the music was good. Note St. Louis has a very strong heritage in Jazz and Blues.