Capitalizing on China An American tries to expand into China.

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My husband and I have a German shepherd mix named Raz that we rescued when he was a 9-month-old puppy. Today, Raz is always thrilled to go anywhere, whether it’s to the park or to visit the vet. I joke with my managers that I wish our employees jumped up and down and yodeled with joy upon arriving at our company’s office the way Raz does.

But even at the office, once Raz settles down and sniffs out any potential food sources, he’s ready to get moving again – always wanting to be somewhere new. I can relate. I share his desire to keep moving and his sense that there’s probably something better waiting at the next stop. As I build my auction business, I split my time between our offices in Arizona and China. When I’m in the United States, I find myself nostalgic for China. And when I’m in China, I get homesick for Arizona.

My response to this is to be grateful.

I have always kept notes of people, places and things I am grateful for, scribbled in notebooks and on scrap papers that I’ve saved. One of the lists, from when I was 6 years old, says, “Beethoven, my dog and getti,” which I am pretty sure means spaghetti.

As the New Year starts, I thought I would share some of the things I am grateful for while I am in the United States and some of the things I am grateful for while I am in China.

United States: Brushing my teeth in running water. I have earned to love that I don’t need a bottle of water to brush my teeth at home in Arizona and can just use the tap without any fear of contamination.

China: Having high quality, handmade clothes produced in a few days at affordable prices by talented tailors in Shanghai.

United States: Driving my car. It’s complicated for foreigners to get permission to drive in China, and I love to get in the car and go.

China: My driver, Mr. Li. It is very inexpensive to have someone drive you around in China, and it allows me to catch up on my reading.

United States: Food safety. I generally am not scared to eat at any restaurant.

China: Fruit and vegetables. There are so many different kinds of produce in China that aren’t available anywhere elsewhere and have only Chinese names.

United States: Customer service. From store clerks to waiters, it is the American way to greet you and offer good service as a normal part of doing business.

China: Opportunities. As an entrepreneur, I love the many new business frontiers and possibilities; it’s intriguing and entertaining.

United States: Traffic that’s bearable. Even when I’m in Los Angeles, I am able to say, “It could be worse, I could be in Beijing today.”

China: My American managers who are stationed in China. I hold them in especially high esteem because they have to overcome cultural differences every day.

United States: The price of food. Domestic and imported food in the United States is less expensive, and the selection and variety are massive.

China: The tea. I love tea, and there are so many varieties to be had in China. Some I’ll never drink because they’re staggeringly expensive — Tieguanyin tea sells for as much as $1,800 a pound — but I love China’s everyday teas too.

United States: The stars. I love being able to walk outside at night, look into the Arizona sky and pick out multiple constellations.

China: The history. I love China’s rich cultural background and thousands of years of history. It helps to gauge progress.

Both: The people in both places, especially the younger generation of Chinese, who seem so open to possibilities for the future.

Most importantly, I am grateful for my family and friends at home. I miss them when I am away, but I think I am the better for it because I never take anyone for granted.

I feel for those who are stuck in one place and worn down by the routine of their same old life, same old friends and same old family. If they were away for any length of time, they would realize everything they have to be thankful for. There’s no richer feeling then being homesick — especially or a dog named Raz.

Deb Weidenhamer is chief executive of Auction Systems Auctioneers & Appraisers.