The Woman Warrior
by cityweekend | Posted on Aug 02 2007 | Day in the Life 5 Comments | 0 Bookmarked
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American-born Chinese Dr. Hedy W. Lee, 李文, talks Olympic etiquette and the benefits of being an "ultra VVIP" in Beijing.

Concordia Plaza

7:30 a.m.

Wake up by my neighbor's “alarm clock” (i.e., construction or furniture moving).

7:40

Order soybean milk and a Chinese egg pancake from downstairs. Read the South China Morning Post.

Chaoyang Courthouse

8:30

File my eighth lawsuit in Beijing against GSN (the first so-called German property mgmt co. in China) and Concordia Plaza's association. So far seven won, one lost; not bad for a foreigner.

CCTV Tower Studio

9:30

Arrive for a TV taping with ABC and CCTV news regarding Olympic manners in Beijing.

Lei Garden Restaurant

11: 00

Meet with book publisher to sign contract for my eighth book in Beijing, “Dr. Hedy Talks Olympic Etiquette.” Argue about content and layout. Finally sign.

12:00 p.m.

They pay as I stare at the next table of customers spitting and talking loudly.

Taxi

12:30

Check e-mail via Palm.

1:00

AIA Insurance calls to remind me to renew my accident insurance; they are thinking about increasing my premium since I am suing more people this year.

Fauchon

1:35

Buy rose teas.

Ritan Park Shopping Building

1:45

Drop by for a new lightweight cashmere top (and get my celebrity discount).

2:00

Do a phone interview with China Youth Daily about my new book, “Chasing Justice in Beijing.”

2:20

Thank reporter for not asking stupid questions.

2:25

TIME magazine confirms interview regarding “uncivil manners in Beijing.”

2:28

Remind myself to e-mail photos of my former property mgmt shutting off my electricity illegally and of neighbors with farm birds in a villa compound.

Regent Taipan

2:30

Get a nice rosemary aromatherapy oil massage.

3:40

Receive a call from Tatler, who refuses to apologize on paper, just verbally (that doesn't fly with me—I will call their headquarters, Edipresse).

K-Plus Salon, Jian Wai SOHO

4:20

Go to get my hair done. See some former clients of Eric's and Toni & Guy's ... happy to see they finally jumped ship.

5:00

Try to call UNESCO to file a complaint about their IT guy (my upstairs neighbor) refusing to put chair pads under their chairs.

5:30

Make-up artist, manicurist and stylist come to the salon to get me ready.

6:15

Call American Embassy to file another report (I get death threats all the time). They tell me AGAIN that they can't protect me and it's best if I just return to New York. What a riot!

Palace Hotel

6:30

Arrive at Hermes party, do press photos.

7:45

Dad calls from Taipei. He wants me to file a lawsuit with the Washington, D.C. court for the second time to sue President Bush over the Taiwan Treaty Act; joke with him that I will soon need bodyguards.

7:55

Off to dinner with some fans.

Grand Hyatt

8:00

Dying for an imported romaine lettuce caesar salad.

8:55 S

tudent asks me how to translate "spritual" in Chinese and I sarcastically reply 灵 气, but tell her I don't see that many spiritual people in China so I understand her confusion.

Red Moon

9:00

Fashion shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine: “Hedy and her shoes.” Hate facing cameras, so I have a shot of Grey Goose ... more relaxed now.

10:00

Check e-mail: A New York friend writes that there is a buyer for my baby BMW M3 Convertible ... sad and delighted.

10:03

Get a call from a friend who says she was "scammed" by Relic Auction House. She wants me to investigate; I say sure in exchange for (lobster) dinner.

Hilton Hotel

10:15

Head to Zeta for a drink. See suspect looking ladies in the lobby. Take photos and file a complaint with the GM.

10:40

Head instead for CJW.

Concordia Plaza

11:00

See nouveau riche neighbors wearing pajamas in elevator, their kids rollerblading and unleashed dogs pooping in lobby. Take photos and complain to ineffective GSN security personnel.

11:30

Watch Ellen and CNN; put mask on my face.

12:00 a.m.

Return more e-mails and follow up with complaints about The Place mall regarding the Puma store's refusal to give out fa piaos. Threaten to sue; developer Ji too scared to respond.

12:15

Find flaws in ayi's work, jot them down.

12:30

Nice, hot lavender bath; light my essential oil candles and pray for my neighbors to sleep soon.

1:00

Wake up to illegal nighttime construction possibly from Sino-Ocean Land Development. Call Beijing Urban Construction Group again and will write a nasty letter to Mayor Wang tomorrow.

5 Comments

Dear Editor, I am writing to inform you that your publication “CITY WEEKEND”, Vol 6,Issued 20, No, 15 (August 2-15) has untruth message that seriously damaged our reputation and hurt people’s feeling. On the page 22, you published the diary of Dr. Hedy W.Lee. In the diary, she mentioned that “she tried to call UNESCO to file a complaint about their IT guy (upstairs neighbor) refusing to put chair pads under their chairs. Firstly, there is only one IT assistant in UNESCO OFFICE BEIJING, who is a young man living with his parents in Fengtai District, Beijing. Secondly, the IT assistant is definitely not the Dr. Hedy W.Lee’s upstairs neighbor, and did not know her or meet her before. Thirdly, UNESCO has never received and recorded any complaint from Dr. Hedy W.Lee, via email, phone, fax, or post. Fourthly, there is no UNESCO staff recognize or meet Dr. Hedy W.Lee. The truth is that the neighbor of Dr. Hedy W.Lee is definitely not the UNESCO staff, and also she did not call UNESCO to file any complaint. The good reputation of the IT assistant is seriously damaged by Dr. Hedy W.Lee’s behavior and your magazine. Please ask her to clarify the truth and compensate the damage.

Posted by unesco 4 y, 9 m ago
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Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article published on page 22 of “CITY WEEKEND”, Vol 6,Issued 20, No, 15 (August 2-15), in particular to the line “5:00pm: tried to call UNESCO to file a complain about their IT guy (upstairs neighbor) refusing to put chair pads under the chair”. While I understand that these are the words of Dr. Hedy W. Lee, and not that of CITY WEEKEND, I feel there are a few points that need clarification. Firstly, the (only) IT assistant in the UNESCO Office Beijing does not reside at the complex Dr. Lee states she lives. Secondly, if Dr. Lee is in fact living in the apartment below, there has not been a single occasion where Dr. Lee has attempted to provide notification of the annoyance either in person, through the building management, or through any other direct means. Reading about it in the CITY WEEKEND article was the first time the IT assistant has been made aware of the said annoyance. Thirdly, and most importantly, it was unnecessary of Dr. Lee to so callously use the name of UNESCO for what is strictly a personal matter between herself and her neighbor. Whatever her personal endeavor may be, I consider such an attempt to tarnish UNESCO’s image to be highly unprofessional. Many thanks for your time. Yours sincerely, The IT assistant UNESCO

Posted by unesco 4 y, 9 m ago
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This is Dr. Hedy W. Lee responding to your email regarding UNICEF’s complaint of my “Day in Life” article dated august 2, 2007. I have double checked with my assistant regarding the actual organization's name. It is NOT UNESCO but UNICEF. I apologize for this mistake and I have already fired my assistant as a result of this. I guess my assistant put down UNESCO because I helped one of your hired curator person, Ms. Wu Hua from Tsinghua University who is also my good friend with your project "Beijing and Beijing. A critical dialogue," in fact, Wu Hua invited me to your event but due to a prior media interview, I couldn’t make it. Therefore, my assistant accidentally associated with UNICEF to UNESCO. Nevertheless, this is a serious mistake. Since she is just an intern, I take full responsibility of her actions. I would like to know how you would like me to compensate regarding this matter. Please note that I did not mention your IT guy's name or said if this is a "Beijing Office" UNESCO. Since this is not CW’s fault and the usually protocol is to do a “correction” on their next issue. I am willing to write that there was a misprint and misunderstanding on our fault. Again, I apologize for our mistake. FYI: I have made many complaints with expats/locals regarding their living habits in upscale apartments in Beijing and Shanghai, including embassy people and executives, this IS a very common situation in our building. I hope you understand my frustration. After my numerous complaints with the property mgmt company and butler, UNICEF IT guy’s chair problem has not gone away. Thank you your time, Warm Regards, Dr. Hedy W. Lee, Lee Wen

Posted by lydia 4 y, 9 m ago
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sandrababylarry@yahoo.co.uk 问候亲爱的,我的名字是桑德拉 我在http://www.cityweekend.com.cn看到您的个人资料 和我成为对你有兴趣,使 你这个朋友是我的电子邮件 sandrababylarry@yahoo.co.uk 我润湿您的邮件 我的信箱,所以我可以给 你我的照片 桑德拉 ///////////////////////////////////////////////// sandrababylarry@yahoo.co.uk Greetings dear,my name is sandra and i saw your profile at http://www.cityweekend.com.cn and i became interested in you,to make friend with you this is me email sandrababylarry@yahoo.co.uk i am wetting for your mail to my mail box so i can give you my picture Sandra

Posted by sandra200000 7 m ago
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Hi, My name is Patti Kling Bachmann, I was a childhood friend of Dr. Hedy Lee when she was in the US. I am trying to get a hold of her and was wondering if you can please pass my email on to her. Thank you, Patti

Posted by pkbachmann1213 1 m ago
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