由 admin So, I found myself in Foshan a while back, and part of my gig there was tackling what everyone on the team just called the “98 Field” run. Let me tell you straight up, it wasn’t some fancy tour or anything. It was work, plain and simple, and pretty gritty work at that.
This “98 Field” thing, as we nicknamed it, basically meant I had a massive list of spots to hit. Think small workshops, little manufacturing units, that kind of thing. They were all over the place, tucked into corners you wouldn’t believe. The main job? Get in, check some specific stuff against a long list, document everything meticulously, and then get out and on to the next one. Sounds straightforward on paper, but the reality was a whole different beast.
What Actually Went Down
My days pretty much started before the sun was properly up. I’d grab my list, my gear – just a basic kit, notebook, camera, you know – and then figure out how to get to the first location. Transport was always an adventure. One day it’d be a rickety old taxi whose driver knew every shortcut, the next it’d be a local bus that felt like it stopped for a chat at every corner.
- First challenge: just finding the darn places. Addresses sometimes felt more like philosophical concepts than actual locations. Spent a good chunk of time just wandering around, asking locals, showing pictures on my phone.
- Once I found a spot, it was down to business. I’d go through my checklist, point by point. This often involved a lot of looking, measuring, asking questions – trying to get the real picture of what was going on.
- Dealing with the people there was a mixed bag. Some were super helpful, offered you tea, happy to show you around. Others, well, they’d look at you like you’d just landed from Mars and clearly wanted you gone ASAP. You learn to read the room fast.
- Then, I’d write up my notes, make sure my photos were clear, and pack up. Then, back out into the Foshan heat or rain, and on to the next address on that never-ending list.
I gotta say, the humidity in Foshan can really wear you down when you’re on your feet all day, darting in and out of these places. And trying to get accurate information when there’s a language barrier, or when folks are just too busy or suspicious? That took a special kind of patience I didn’t know I had until then.
There was this one stretch, must have been a solid week, where I swear I lived off street food noodles and whatever packaged snacks I could find in tiny convenience stores. It wasn’t exactly the high life. You’re out there, operating mostly solo, just focused on getting through that list, making sure every detail is captured. It’s methodical, sometimes mind-numbing.
People usually only see the polished report at the end, all organized and clean. They don’t see the sweat, the confusion of navigating unfamiliar streets, or the sheer number of times you have to explain who you are and why you’re there. Honestly, by the time I was done with the “98 Field” assignment, it felt less like a specific zone and more like I’d completed some kind of endurance trial.
But, you know what? We got it all done. Every single point on that list was covered. And I learned a ton, not just about the work itself, but about navigating tricky situations, about the importance of a good pair of walking shoes, and definitely about how incredible a proper sit-down meal feels after a long, hard day. It’s one of those experiences that sticks with you. You push through it, you get the job done, and you come out the other side with a few more stories under your belt. This is just one of mine from that time in Foshan.
