Final Reflection

Where does one begin to reflect on a trip that fit so much into a few short weeks, in terms of experience, activities and learning, than would seem possible to fit into a few months. Thinking back, some of the days seem like a haze and I can’t be too sure where one day began and another ended. My philosophy, good or bad, is not to expect much and then you can always be pleasantly surprised. Well, to say that I was overwhelmed by what I reaped from this trip might be an understatement. Although the primary purpose for our visit to China was to discover for ourselves as an emerging economy how they are succeeding and to develop an insight into international business as a whole, I don’t think I am alone in saying that I took away a lot more than that.

Given an initial observation of the Chinese people, they can appear rude, constantly pushing and shoving their way through crowds, oblivious to those around them as they rush towards their destinations. Their manner of driving sums this up well, three point turns in the middle of intersections were not an uncommon sight. This image, coupled with their descending in droves on us, refusing to take no for an answer as they press us to buy anything from Rolex and DVDs to bags, would not want to be the impression you take home. However, I did not observe many accidents on the roads, and beneath their façade of hustle and bustle they are one of the friendliest and kindest people I have met. I was afforded this generosity and kindness having one day found myself lost while running. People halted in their tracks as I desperately pointed at my hotel card with its name written only in English, (our first Beijing hotel), and performed a bit of miming to relay the message that I was lost. Not knowing the hotel’s location, each person would point me in the direction of someone or place that might. Eventually, I ended up in a Diplomatic Affairs building where a Chinese lady, who spoke English, sat me down with a glass of water before ringing the hotel, getting directions and organizing a taxi for me. This is just one example of the kindness that was extended to me during the trip and still remains the most vivid in my memory. Every place we visited, whether it was a factory or company, we were afforded this same kindness and generosity.

Having read many books and articles about China and its current growth trends, I thought I was adequately prepared for what I would encounter, but the sheer extent of expansion in the country still took me by surprise. Everywhere, especially the outskirts of the cities, there is a sea of cranes marking the horizon, as new buildings are constructed at an astounding rate. What shocked me most, was that some of these elaborate structures were being built with no clear purpose but to lie in wait for the next wave of investment that is sure to come their way. Without the same regulations imposed on construction as elsewhere in the world, building projects can be implemented in China in half the time. To believe that our first port of call, Shenzhen, was just a fishing village some years ago, is astounding. Beijing, in its preparations for the 2008 Olympics, serves as the best example. The four new subway lines, various motorways, along with the many other infrastructure projects being undertaken in view of the Olympics, would be insurmountable for any other country.

So the question is, can China continue to expand at this exponential rate? Or, are we looking at a future where the collapse of the Chinese economy causes devastating effects on the global economy? While China’s rate of growth may slow due to factors such as revaluation of its currency or inflation, its road to becoming a dominant and major player in the world’s economy and affairs is set to continue. Its labour force, both in its size and cost, is the biggest factor in China’s expansion. This was a point that was pressed upon us time and time again at the various tours and presentations we attended. With a population of over 1 billion, China has a near endless supply of workers and even as those in lower positions get promoted there will always be others to replace them. In this respect no other country can compete with them.

However, strength in numbers is not solely what this country possesses. The Chinese as a people have a determination and drive that is hard not to miss. This became especially evident to me on visiting English Corner. With a crowd of Chinese surrounding you, barraging you with questions and soaking in everything you have to say, it was hard not to be overwhelmed, (should I sign autographs now or later!). While I initially found the whole experience intimidating, I could not help but reflect on the typical Friday night for students back at home, a far cry from brushing up on foreign languages. These students are so eager to not only learn English but to learn everything they can about the world outside theirs. In trying to understand the root of this difference in attitude between most Western students and these students, I can only surmise that it is the result of the previous lack of opportunities available to the country as a whole until recently. Whereas most of us, relatively speaking, have been handed things on a plate, these students have been given a glimpse of what they can achieve and with that they have the necessary drive and motivation to achieve it. I suppose it is a trend that can be witnessed throughout history; those with less will inevitably work harder. It is this, more than anything else that we should take heed of. During the Irish famine in the mid 1840’s those emigrating to America knew the hardship they had left behind and were able to work their way up the ranks. It is easier for a country to climb up the ladder than for one to stay at the top.

Expansion in China, however, is coming at a price, both for its people and the country. With the realization that our exposure to China mostly centred on urban areas, and that the rural landscape of Western China most certainly tells a different story, I still have to mark on the prevalence of Western culture there. From the billboards displaying western models to the Starbucks and KFCs, one could not walk 100 yards before encountering some reminder of America. I feel that if China continues in this manner, all that will be left of its rich culture will be the remnants we saw for ourselves in its museums. Probably the biggest price China will pay in terms of expansion, is the pollution that forms a layer over the cities and seems to linger on everything you touch. On returning home and being asked about China, its pollution and dirt was something I had to remark on (maybe it’s just that we are spoiled having lived in SLO for the past year!). This is a problem which will only escalate as China continues to grow and there doesn’t appear to be any measures being implemented to rectify or at least improve the situation. When passing through the canal on our overnight boat and seeing people bathing and ‘cleaning’ their clothes in this water, you have to wonder how these people are benefiting from China’s new global position. In fact, it is more likely that it is these same people, on the sides of the canal and in the back streets of the cities, who are paying the price for China’s expansion. They are not sharing in its fruits. It seems to be a case of the rich getting richer while the poor get left behind.

Although I did not notice or encounter any watchful eye of the government, I still wonder to what degree the government impacts on what people say and do. With the knowledge of the restrictions that China places on search engines like Google, out of curiosity, I typed in ‘Tiananmen Square’, only to have returned to me what I expected, the smiling faces of tourists. An attempt to access my personal blog from China was a further reminder that I was in a country unlike any other I’ve visited, where censorship restrictions are a part of life. It was a comment from Professor Wu, regarding English Corner that really brought this issue to the forefront of my mind. Apparently, spies mingle among the crowds there, to ensure that no anti-government or propaganda material is being disseminated and to keep tabs on the topics of conversation being discussed. It is easy to forget sometimes when walking around the cities, with only the appearance of those surrounding you as a reminder, that you are in a country on the opposite end of the globe and more significantly a country still run by a communist government.

As for my advice to business people looking to China, it is definitely not a place to be ignored in ones business plan, be it in terms of competition or as forming part of your value chain. However the difference in business customs and styles is something that must be fully understood before considering to enter China. These include the various skills of negotiation, guanxi (personal connections) as a form of networking, the Chinese notion of saving face and a strong belief in formality and deference to authority. While I have read about these differences, in the two and a half brief weeks in China my exposure to most was limited. One practice however which I had endless encounters with was negotiation, which forms the center of most business transactions in China. Although my experience with negotiation extended only to shops and street vendors, I’m sure that it bears some of the same characteristics to that of the business world. I found that some of my best bargaining was as a result of patience. The more time I invested into developing a relationship of sorts and giving the impression of consideration the better I faired. A quick purchase never got me the best price. One tactic that was commonly used during negotiation was the use of guilt to try push a sale, “I lose money”, was a phrase I heard reiterated often. While I got great enjoyment out of bargaining I had to stop myself at times with the realization that I was quibbling over 25 cents, nothing to me but significantly more to these vendors. On one occasion I returned having completed the purchase to ask what I could have purchased the item for, only to discover that her English was limited to the terms required to make a sale. I think she thought I was trying to return the item, a practice that, when you think about it, would be impossible in China.

Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Professor Carr and Professor Wu for all the hard work that was put into organizing this trip. It was only by being there that one could see the level of organization that was required to make this trip the success it was.