Final Thoughts...
Ni Hao You are good?
The vibration from the landing gear brought out two initial thoughts: 1. Yes! After months of informational sessions, reading, and research in addition to a not so short plane ride we have finally arrived in China! 2. Can someone please turn the heater off in China!
It is bound to happen sooner or later. You travel for years. You pack your things diligently, keeping grasp in the back of your mind that you may never actually see your belongings ever again. Sure enough, 33 people flying from LAX to Hong Kong and my luggage had to be the one to disappear. Nonetheless, I am in China, I am exhausted, I don’t speak Mandarin, and beyond asking the gentlemen at the United Airlines baggage claim counter for help, there really is not much I can do.
I have to admit that on the connecting flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong it had dawned on me that disposable underwear may be a profitable product. A vast market yet to be capitalized. Ironically, business lesson number one having arrived in China with no baggage: There does in fact exist disposable underwear. It comes in packages of five and according to our tour guide Paula, is inexpensive and easily found in China. How convenient! Thus, as I awaited news of my luggage’s whereabouts I began embracing the Chinese culture on a level not previously anticipated.
Having survived the long flight, I crawled onto my wood plank mattress, still eager to see what China has to offer. The next morning quickly threw me further into the depths of the Chinese culture. My morning orange juice was now tang, my Cheerios were converted to a bowl of warm Soymilk, and my morning toast was replaced by an egg custard filled tiny tart. Excluding the tang, I actually rather enjoyed my… interesting breakfast. Belly full, I was ready to embark on our first field trip.
It must be noted that in Shenzhen at the time of this trip it is rather hot and humid. Consequently, a multitude of air-conditioning units can easily be observed latched on to the sides of buildings
as viruses on a human cell. Moreover, much like a cell, many of Shenzhen’s buildings are pink. Yes, pink! The buildings are constructed and covered with pink tiles. A sight I had yet to see prior to arriving to China. I was mainly surprised to observe the impressive quantity of buildings sporting this look. I later realized that this style of sorts was predominantly confined to the borders of Shenzhen.
Hen Hao Very good
Having studied business and China over the past few months, I was ready to see first hand one of Shenzhen’s manufacturing facilities. The young employees from these factories work meticulously to complete their tedious and repetitive tasks. The employees are housed in an apartment like facility, each room consisting of 6 sets wooden plank bunkbeds on which I presume the employees rest at night. The windo
ws are draped with clothing hanging to dry. A common cafeteria provides three meals a day. The fountain greeting incoming visitors does not howerver echo the reality of the shower rooms on sight. Nevertheless, many workers migrate for one or two years from the farmlands of Western China. These migrants come to find factory work to send money back home so that other family members may attend school. These workers are happy to see a septic system, prepared meals, and a steady income. In contrast to sweatshop stories aired on CNN, these factories are fairly well maintained and employee rights are slowly developing. China has come a long from where it was with still a few steps to go. These factory workers are content and free to leave and return to their farm lives when they choose.
A powerful realization viewing China in the midst of this evolution emerges from the shallow educational foundation pored over Western China. Unlike many fully developed nations, in China an individual’s educational background determines the fate of their career path. Education is a powerful gift! A Chinese immigrant arriving East into Shenzhen cannot simply work there way up into a prominent and distinguished career. If your desire is to help a starving child in China, pay for her education!
Cesuo Zai Nail Where is the toilet?
Having spent a few days traveling the bazaars and marketplaces in Shenzhen and Shanghai, the realization sets in that I should have brought more tissues. Developed as it may be, toilet paper in public restrooms is a luxury in modernized China. Even more so, toilets in public restrooms are a luxury in modernized China!
While there may be a lack of sanitation and toilet paper, there is surely no shortage of Starbucks, KFCs, and McDonalds. Interestingly enough, such eateries are worth exploring. McDonald’s fried chicken sandwich carries the texture and flavor of a real chicken, suggesting that an actual bird may have been used to process the good. This in comparison to the artificially construed so-called “chicken patty” commonly found in the McDonald’s fried chicken sandwich from the States, is a pleasant surprise. Starbucks coffee in China is just that… coffee! In the land where hot tea is served abundantly (heat wave or no heat wave), and admired as almost sacred, it is nowhere to be found within the American coffee chain. Buying tea at Starbucks in China is much like a butcher buying an Oscar Meyer hot dog at Safeway. The Chinese culture aims to preserve quality and cost by simply brewing their own tea.
Dwo Shahw How much?
Clearly the Chinese have no desires to spend 24 Renminbi (approximately 3 U.S. dollars) on a cup of mass produced tea. However, the Chinese have no issues attempting to sale a product to foreigners at a huge profit. Reading about the negotiation and haggling culture within China is fascinating and intrig
uing. Partaking in such rituals day after day is purely exhausting. While haggling may be wide spread in China, the form or technique of haggling varies from town to town. In Shanghai everything is “very nice but too expensive.” In Beijing the same item is simply “WAY too expensive.” The Shanghai haggling style is softer and friendlier then the stern and boisterous bark of Beijing. The often-overlooked differences leave many foreigners paying high costs to some very happy Chinese workers.
The haggling variations similarly overflow to negotiations. In China haggling is to purchases as negotiations are to business deals. Much like haggling, negotiations are long, exhausting, and at times quite confusing. Nonetheless, negotiations are a vital part in doing business in China. A foreigner wishing to strike a deal should be ready to negotiate in the Chinese style, and moreover should be ready to negotiate in the Chinese style accepted within that particular province!
Bu Yao Don’t want
“You want Rolex? You want Coach bag?” If you do, start haggling! If you don’t a simple wave of the hand and headshake will suffice. Contrastingly, in ordering food, if it is MSG you do not want (or are allergic to) simple gestures will only get you sick. Important lesson number 3,657 in China: If you don’t want something in your food tell them it is going to kill you!
Prior to arriving to China I had been advised that many of China’s foods contain MSG. The reality is that 99.99% of food sold in China contains the salt like product… which I suppose is “many.” Having not anticipated such a grand percentage, I resultantly ate more cookies then I would have liked too. China is not a friendly place to foreigners prone to MSG derived migraines.
Xie Xie Thank you
Having been born and raised in France, I stood with a large grin overtaking my face. Capturing a greater portion of my direct and peripheral vision before me was the French superstore Carrefour. Within its walls were some pleasantly familiar MSG-free products. Much like Wal-Mart, this genius of a store is a one-stop shop. The products found within depicted yet another side of China. For example, while the shampoo selections monopolized two large aisle shelves, the 5 available deodorants were meekly noticeable. Correspondingly, the deodorants were outrageously priced even for U.S. standards. Although the reasoning behind the pricing remains a mystery, it reflects the reasoning behind the demand and thus allocated shelf space of deodorant.
Dway Boo Chee Excuse me
Smelling a near by passenger whom chooses not to wear the over priced body odor controller sold at Carrefour is one thing. Smelling the same passenger as he presses himself against you due to a lack of standing space is quite another. It should be noted that the Chinese have a much more relaxed sense of personal space then that of Americans. Waiting in line to purchase a few necessary items at the local Seven-Eleven, it is not uncommon to have your bottom constantly bumped into by the proceeding shopper. In efforts to purchase things quickly there is a natural tendency and drive to get to the checkout stand teller. I suppose the closer you are to the teller the more likely you are to feel like your wait will be shorter. Whatever the reason, the Chinese have a tendency to condense waiting lines beyond my comfort level. Feeling the fellow customer’s breath on my arm is not what I call happy shopping.
The lack of personal space is also reflected in simple conversations. While personal space may be reduced, the courteous and polite service rendered is by no means trimmed down. Shop tellers, passersbys, and even beggars often extended a smile. Conversations flowed easily and willingly. The minimal resistance encountered was when asking people about themselves. The cultural mentality of working as a collective group left many Chinese stunned when asked about personal accomplishments. This perspective quickly explained why many Chinese view self-prophesizing Americans as cocky.
Hen Piao Liang This is beautiful
Although the Chinese may not be an individually boastful society, they have wonders for which boasting would be more then justified. Visiting West Lake in Hangzhou, the Forbidden Palace of Beijing, and the Great Wall I was astounded by the beauty. Chinese history is filled with grand and marvelous constructions. Absorbing the splendor of it all would take years. The old water-town of Wuzhen was saturated with sculpted woods and charming allies. The Shanghai Museum echoed the stunning artwork China processes.
Sher Yes
Having seen and experienced the tea plantations, bustling city streets, and calming temples I am left with a greater desire then with which I arrived to explore China. Given the opportunity to return I would! I have found a great understanding and respect for the Chinese business culture. Having been home a few weeks now, I realize that the China I saw will quickly fade into a grander economy yet. China is changing and I have captured but a slide in the long movie real of its development.
Zai Jian Until next time!
The vibration from the landing gear brought out two initial thoughts: 1. Yes! After months of informational sessions, reading, and research in addition to a not so short plane ride we have finally arrived in China! 2. Can someone please turn the heater off in China!
Bu Hao No good
It is bound to happen sooner or later. You travel for years. You pack your things diligently, keeping grasp in the back of your mind that you may never actually see your belongings ever again. Sure enough, 33 people flying from LAX to Hong Kong and my luggage had to be the one to disappear. Nonetheless, I am in China, I am exhausted, I don’t speak Mandarin, and beyond asking the gentlemen at the United Airlines baggage claim counter for help, there really is not much I can do.
I have to admit that on the connecting flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong it had dawned on me that disposable underwear may be a profitable product. A vast market yet to be capitalized. Ironically, business lesson number one having arrived in China with no baggage: There does in fact exist disposable underwear. It comes in packages of five and according to our tour guide Paula, is inexpensive and easily found in China. How convenient! Thus, as I awaited news of my luggage’s whereabouts I began embracing the Chinese culture on a level not previously anticipated.
Having survived the long flight, I crawled onto my wood plank mattress, still eager to see what China has to offer. The next morning quickly threw me further into the depths of the Chinese culture. My morning orange juice was now tang, my Cheerios were converted to a bowl of warm Soymilk, and my morning toast was replaced by an egg custard filled tiny tart. Excluding the tang, I actually rather enjoyed my… interesting breakfast. Belly full, I was ready to embark on our first field trip.
It must be noted that in Shenzhen at the time of this trip it is rather hot and humid. Consequently, a multitude of air-conditioning units can easily be observed latched on to the sides of buildings
as viruses on a human cell. Moreover, much like a cell, many of Shenzhen’s buildings are pink. Yes, pink! The buildings are constructed and covered with pink tiles. A sight I had yet to see prior to arriving to China. I was mainly surprised to observe the impressive quantity of buildings sporting this look. I later realized that this style of sorts was predominantly confined to the borders of Shenzhen.Hen Hao Very good
Having studied business and China over the past few months, I was ready to see first hand one of Shenzhen’s manufacturing facilities. The young employees from these factories work meticulously to complete their tedious and repetitive tasks. The employees are housed in an apartment like facility, each room consisting of 6 sets wooden plank bunkbeds on which I presume the employees rest at night. The windo
ws are draped with clothing hanging to dry. A common cafeteria provides three meals a day. The fountain greeting incoming visitors does not howerver echo the reality of the shower rooms on sight. Nevertheless, many workers migrate for one or two years from the farmlands of Western China. These migrants come to find factory work to send money back home so that other family members may attend school. These workers are happy to see a septic system, prepared meals, and a steady income. In contrast to sweatshop stories aired on CNN, these factories are fairly well maintained and employee rights are slowly developing. China has come a long from where it was with still a few steps to go. These factory workers are content and free to leave and return to their farm lives when they choose.A powerful realization viewing China in the midst of this evolution emerges from the shallow educational foundation pored over Western China. Unlike many fully developed nations, in China an individual’s educational background determines the fate of their career path. Education is a powerful gift! A Chinese immigrant arriving East into Shenzhen cannot simply work there way up into a prominent and distinguished career. If your desire is to help a starving child in China, pay for her education!
Cesuo Zai Nail Where is the toilet?
Having spent a few days traveling the bazaars and marketplaces in Shenzhen and Shanghai, the realization sets in that I should have brought more tissues. Developed as it may be, toilet paper in public restrooms is a luxury in modernized China. Even more so, toilets in public restrooms are a luxury in modernized China!
While there may be a lack of sanitation and toilet paper, there is surely no shortage of Starbucks, KFCs, and McDonalds. Interestingly enough, such eateries are worth exploring. McDonald’s fried chicken sandwich carries the texture and flavor of a real chicken, suggesting that an actual bird may have been used to process the good. This in comparison to the artificially construed so-called “chicken patty” commonly found in the McDonald’s fried chicken sandwich from the States, is a pleasant surprise. Starbucks coffee in China is just that… coffee! In the land where hot tea is served abundantly (heat wave or no heat wave), and admired as almost sacred, it is nowhere to be found within the American coffee chain. Buying tea at Starbucks in China is much like a butcher buying an Oscar Meyer hot dog at Safeway. The Chinese culture aims to preserve quality and cost by simply brewing their own tea.Dwo Shahw How much?
Clearly the Chinese have no desires to spend 24 Renminbi (approximately 3 U.S. dollars) on a cup of mass produced tea. However, the Chinese have no issues attempting to sale a product to foreigners at a huge profit. Reading about the negotiation and haggling culture within China is fascinating and intrig
uing. Partaking in such rituals day after day is purely exhausting. While haggling may be wide spread in China, the form or technique of haggling varies from town to town. In Shanghai everything is “very nice but too expensive.” In Beijing the same item is simply “WAY too expensive.” The Shanghai haggling style is softer and friendlier then the stern and boisterous bark of Beijing. The often-overlooked differences leave many foreigners paying high costs to some very happy Chinese workers.The haggling variations similarly overflow to negotiations. In China haggling is to purchases as negotiations are to business deals. Much like haggling, negotiations are long, exhausting, and at times quite confusing. Nonetheless, negotiations are a vital part in doing business in China. A foreigner wishing to strike a deal should be ready to negotiate in the Chinese style, and moreover should be ready to negotiate in the Chinese style accepted within that particular province!
Bu Yao Don’t want
“You want Rolex? You want Coach bag?” If you do, start haggling! If you don’t a simple wave of the hand and headshake will suffice. Contrastingly, in ordering food, if it is MSG you do not want (or are allergic to) simple gestures will only get you sick. Important lesson number 3,657 in China: If you don’t want something in your food tell them it is going to kill you!
Prior to arriving to China I had been advised that many of China’s foods contain MSG. The reality is that 99.99% of food sold in China contains the salt like product… which I suppose is “many.” Having not anticipated such a grand percentage, I resultantly ate more cookies then I would have liked too. China is not a friendly place to foreigners prone to MSG derived migraines.
Xie Xie Thank you
Having been born and raised in France, I stood with a large grin overtaking my face. Capturing a greater portion of my direct and peripheral vision before me was the French superstore Carrefour. Within its walls were some pleasantly familiar MSG-free products. Much like Wal-Mart, this genius of a store is a one-stop shop. The products found within depicted yet another side of China. For example, while the shampoo selections monopolized two large aisle shelves, the 5 available deodorants were meekly noticeable. Correspondingly, the deodorants were outrageously priced even for U.S. standards. Although the reasoning behind the pricing remains a mystery, it reflects the reasoning behind the demand and thus allocated shelf space of deodorant.
Dway Boo Chee Excuse me
Smelling a near by passenger whom chooses not to wear the over priced body odor controller sold at Carrefour is one thing. Smelling the same passenger as he presses himself against you due to a lack of standing space is quite another. It should be noted that the Chinese have a much more relaxed sense of personal space then that of Americans. Waiting in line to purchase a few necessary items at the local Seven-Eleven, it is not uncommon to have your bottom constantly bumped into by the proceeding shopper. In efforts to purchase things quickly there is a natural tendency and drive to get to the checkout stand teller. I suppose the closer you are to the teller the more likely you are to feel like your wait will be shorter. Whatever the reason, the Chinese have a tendency to condense waiting lines beyond my comfort level. Feeling the fellow customer’s breath on my arm is not what I call happy shopping.
The lack of personal space is also reflected in simple conversations. While personal space may be reduced, the courteous and polite service rendered is by no means trimmed down. Shop tellers, passersbys, and even beggars often extended a smile. Conversations flowed easily and willingly. The minimal resistance encountered was when asking people about themselves. The cultural mentality of working as a collective group left many Chinese stunned when asked about personal accomplishments. This perspective quickly explained why many Chinese view self-prophesizing Americans as cocky.
Hen Piao Liang This is beautiful
Although the Chinese may not be an individually boastful society, they have wonders for which boasting would be more then justified. Visiting West Lake in Hangzhou, the Forbidden Palace of Beijing, and the Great Wall I was astounded by the beauty. Chinese history is filled with grand and marvelous constructions. Absorbing the splendor of it all would take years. The old water-town of Wuzhen was saturated with sculpted woods and charming allies. The Shanghai Museum echoed the stunning artwork China processes.
Sher Yes
Having seen and experienced the tea plantations, bustling city streets, and calming temples I am left with a greater desire then with which I arrived to explore China. Given the opportunity to return I would! I have found a great understanding and respect for the Chinese business culture. Having been home a few weeks now, I realize that the China I saw will quickly fade into a grander economy yet. China is changing and I have captured but a slide in the long movie real of its development.
Zai Jian Until next time!
posted by Caroll Moya @ 5:20 PM
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