The Voice of Lan-bridge (15/12/2016)

2016 is nearly over! This year has been a leap year in more than one sense. It seems to have given us more startling headlines than preceding years. However, we shouldn’t just reflect on the major events of our time; now that Christmas is here, we have a chance to reflect on what the ‘Christmas Spirit’ is, and to think about those around us whose year may have been at least as tumultuous and transformative as the newspapers say our civilisation’s changes were. And who better to guide us in this than a one Charles John Huffman Dickens?

“But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”
– A Christmas Carol

Part 1: This week’s moments

1. The Internet Innovation Business Model Conference (Shanghai, 7-8^th December, 2016)

2. The 2^nd Marine Engineering Technology Development Summit (Guangzhou, 7^th December, 2016)

3. The Global Forum on Urban Development Summit (Shanghai, 9^th December, 2016)

4. China International New Energy Vehicles and Intelligent Transportation Exhibition and Summit (Shenzhen, 9-10^th December, 2016)

Part 2: Tips

We all have a little (or maybe a whole lot of) stress in our lives. The way we deal with that stress is crucial to our well-being.

So keep that nail-biting at bay. There are many quick and easy activities that reduce your stress level and keep cortisol levels in check. Believe me when I say that if you take time during your day to de-stress, you will not only feel better but you may even improve your memory and shrink your waistline. Here are eight stress-relievers I love; they are for day or night-time, and each take just a few minutes to do!

1. Try the eight-count breath. 
Breathe in as you (silently) count to eight, hold your breath for a heartbeat or two, then slowly exhale as you count to eight. Repeat. This very simple exercise is incredibly powerful and can help you improve your memory and manage stress.

2. Stretch and practice proper posture.
Both help to relieve pain, de-stress, relax your muscles and energize your body. In many ways, they are the basis for overall fitness. Try rolling your head from side to side, doing some toe touches and pulling your arms across your chest. And a few posture pointers: Stand straight, hold your shoulders back and keep your tummy in.

3. Brew some tea. 
There’s nothing better than getting cozy with a calm cup of tea. Green tea has an amino acid called theanine, which sends your brain into a state of relaxed alertness that allows you to get a deeper sleep and respond to stress more calmly. Too hot? Make it iced.

Part 3: Chatting

Since December, we have entered the holiday season, and our workload has temporarily transformed. My time in the office has increased, as -like my colleagues- I have been busily trying to finish off the last of the year’s work. Many of us have even been leaving the office later than 12am! As I write, some of them are still working their way through large piles of documents stacked on their desks.

2016 has almost passed from the realm of reality to the museum of memory. Thanks to our work in translation and interpretation for the exhibition industry we have been privileged to work with many great people. In order to develop even more, your author here would also like to collect some of the views of those in the industry: suggestions, complaints, etc. Any comments are welcome, anonymous or in person, you can email: 754635750@qq.com. We look forward to your messages, and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

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Translated by Kain Jagger