June 6, 2012, Hong Kong, the Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hotel, 11:30 am
With this post, I'm going to try to capture one week of adventure in Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong. Time-permitting, I'll post day-by-day details when I'm back in the states.
Today is officially the last day our "Globalization in China" course. Drs. Pratt and Swanson have done a terrific job of leading Team China through a lot of twits and turns. We've learned only too well the meaning of TIC (This is China). A tour with Montreal Bank for this morning never materialized unfortunately after many emails back and forth, so we have a free day.
I will be heading to Shenzen at 12:30 pm to re-connect with Kate Wang, one of my international students I've hosted, and a 2+2 program student at UW-Eau Claire and Jinan University-Zhuhai Campus. An-ling, her mom, will be meeting me at my hotel in Hong Kong. She doesn't speak a word of English, and I barely speak Chinese, but something tells me with the relationship we have with her wonderful daughter, we will do just fine with my Chinese translation book and hand signals.
On the last blog, I recall leaving off describing the weekend cultural tour of Shenzen, Guanshou and Zhuhai over Memorial Day weekend.
Tues. May 29, 2012, aft:
Tour of Gree Air Conditioning Company in Zhuhai. Jackie Chan of Kung Fu movie fame is its celebrity spokesperson. Master of Kung Fu ties into Gree being the Master of AC technology. Gree contributes 50 percent to the GDP of Zhuhai; so as goes Gree; so goes Zhuhai. Throughout our travels, I've seen Gree air conditioners everywhere, and I mean everywhere, except the Zunlin Hotel where we stayed which had Panasonic. They also have expanded into chiller technology, water heaters, dehumifiers, and some appliances, such as rice cookers, tea pots, etc. Their president and CEO is a woman.
The tour brought back memories of my working as a spokesperson for Com Ed in Chicago. My friends took great delight in teasing me about being outside for a TV stand-up in front of our gas-fired peaking generating station in a typically pastel colored suit, hard hat, and pearls advising customers how to conserve electricity during peak electrical times on the hottest days of the year.
Wed. May 30, 2012:
AM: I have an opportunity to visit an Organizational Behavior class by "Susan," a professor who is married to the head of the International Business School here Dr. Zhaobin Fan. Theresa, one of my buddies, is giving a group presentation on a research topic. In this course, student select a topic of interest, and then as a team, work on reviewing a published research paper, and then present to their classmates using a power point presentation. I view about half a dozen in the two hour period, and am asked to ask questions at the end of each one. I'm glad to see group/team projects as many employers have commented that Chinese students need to do more work in groups/teams to work in business in China. For so many years, they are so individually based in their studies.
AFT: Tour of Print-Rite in Zhuhai. I've never complain again about our printer cartridges after seeing the assembly and production lines of teenaged workers putting them together. Trust me, it's a very involved process. Arnauld Hue, the founder and CEO, addresses us, and answers our questions, along with Jimmy Chang, the director of international marketing. Interestingly, we are generously provided with a cover for an I-Phone with the assumption that all Americans own I-Phones. Print-Rite is an amazing success story.
PM: We meet on campus for an excellent meal prepared by the cafeteria staff at the university. Afterwards, my buddies and I practice our song in Chinese (mostly me practicing with me) for our Farewell Ceremony. After six rehearsals, we're in our groove.
Thurs. May 31, 2012:
A full day of classes today, and then an impromptu trip to Macau. Highlights: Our excellent tour guide, Jinan University student Rolland, delicious dim-sum, and the superb architecture brought to the island by the Portuguese as it used to be a Portuguese colony. Plus, Haagen-Daas ice cream, a Starbucks on the street as well as Starbucks in the Venetian casino. Lowlights: Dee-Ann, one of my classmates, is stopped at the border passage on the way back to mainland China. Her visa only allows two entrances and exits total to mainland China rather than multiple visits as she had applied for. Rolland takes her under his wing, and she is stuck in Macau for the night, not exactly a bad place to be stuck. We are all extremely grateful for our student buddies who translated. Without them, we would not have known what was going on very easily.
Fri. June 1, 2012:
Great Joy! I've been invited to guest lecture again, this time in a Principles of Management class for 20 freshman students. I successfully "test" my interactive American teaching style with them in constrast to the Chinese style of professor lecturing and student taking notes.
Update on Dee-Ann. Dr. Pratt will travel to Macau, and together they will go to Hong Kong directly, a day in advance. SIGH OF RELIEF! Everything is going to be AOK. We'll all be able to leave mainland China at the same time.
Tammy, our English teacher, provides our names in Chinese. Mine means "children's toy." Ba Ba La. Everyone else's name has greater significance, but no matter. We learned a lot from her in the short time we were together.
AFT: Two tours. One of Reminda batteries, which I am familiar with based on my work with cell phones at Motorola. Portions of the factory and assembly production lines are shut down to conserve electricity during the heat as well as give the employees a couple of days off. That is followed by W.S.M., a clothing manufacturer for many U.S. and European, Latin American, as well as Chinese brands. Fascinating to visit the showrooms, and see pictures of how the knits are truly knit.
PM: Farewell Ceremony. Laughs and tears. My buddies and I do a fabulous job with our Chinese song. Fareewll by Lu Shutaong. (I'll post the words later.)
Sat. June 2, 2012:
Back to Hong Kong on the ferry. I strike up a conversation with an American next to me in line. He is China building racing sail boats. And he has captained quite a few boats in races, including an all-female crew, in Hong Kong. He confirms what I thought, that the water is too choppy between Zhuhai and Hong Kong for sailing. He's familiar with the Chicago Yacht Club, where I used to crew when I lived in Chicago. Fun! I love the water! I love sailing! He takes off for an 11 am race in Hong Kong!
Aft: Tour of Hong Kong Island. The Peak, Repulse Bay, (fun to run along with hot sand and put my big toes in the water), Stanley Market, Sampan boat ride, Dinner at the Jade Garden, and Laser Light Show on Hong Kong Harbor.
Sun. June 3, 2012: I'll post later the details of my wonderful visit with Bill and Mary Poon, who I met on the flight out. They are native Hong Kongers, and invited me to dim sum at their club today. Really FUN!
Mon. June 4, 2012: Two intriguing tours, worth going back another time for more information. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (I Can't Accept Cash) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
I'm off to Shenzen.
BaBaLa
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