I have started a new position in Beijing and I really do enjoy it. I am getting the chance to work in the midst of a start up company that has amazing potential and I am getting opportunities and responsibilities that someone ten years my senior would be aiming for. I am by far the youngest employee at my company, yet I am the Director of PR and Marketing. I am getting these privileges for one reason: I am American. I bring a new perspective to the table and that is exactly why my boss hired me.
Recently, my company CEO came to me and asked me to give a speech to our entire staff (around 50 people!). He wanted to boost their enthusiasm and promote creativity in our upcoming projects. He is very aware of the difference in business from the west and wanted me to talk about how I saw China through my American perception.
This is the basic outline of what I said…
"When I came to China there were many differences that stood out immediately. The pollution and the traffic is something that permeates any situation. Eating with chopsticks instead of a knife and fork left me hungry for the first few weeks. The first time I went to a market I paid the price marked, not knowing that I could bargain. No one uses lanes when driving. Getting on the train there are no lines, and if you wait in one, you will never get on. If you order water, it will come hot, not cold as I am used to. Crossing the street is always dangerous and cars never stop for you. Never expect to get anywhere in the city during rush hour. And no matter what I wear, do or say, people on the street will always stare at me.
Yet, a main difference that I have noticed between China and the West is not a tangible disparity. It is a mentality, a philosophy. It is the approach that Chinese people take to life. It seems that to the Chinese, there is a life path, only one. It is very structured, lined with rules and procedures. Having a process creates order and fairness. It ensures safety and dependability. This is important and a major sign of Chinese success is stability.
Risk is not something that the Chinese society seems to be particularly fond of. This makes sense considering your culture. You are expected to take care of your parents and grandparents as soon as you graduate University. You have to get a job to buy an apartment so that you can get married and start a family, whom you then have to continue to provide for. There really is no room for error in this plan. Too many people depend on you to disappoint them. And I respect all the responsibility you are willing to take on for the ones you love. But it alters the way you think, just as the structure of my society molded my way of thought.
A common saying in America is: “Think Outside the Box.” This means to be different and unique and creative. Unconventional ideas are often rewarded. Many American successes have been ideas that are “outside of the box.” Facebook was outside the box, it was the first time social networking had successfully been brought online and now is one of the largest online networks in the world. The new movie Avatar was outside the box, using a mythical world and new digital animation techniques, and it is one of the highest grossing movies ever. Madonna has been outside of the box for her entire career and that is what has kept people interested in her music for so long. These ideas are what make people stand out and in a western outlook that is a good thing.
In my life I don’t want to know the things I can not do. I want to figure out how to do anything I want. In my American mindset, anything is possible. I want to discover new and exceptional ways of accomplishing my goals.
Honestly, at times living in China leaves me confused, frustrated and exhausted. Getting the internet installed in my apartment is one of the hardest things I have ever done, not to mention registering with the government and paying my bills. But I adapt. I have no choice. And now I enjoy, and in fact crave, this variety. I like the different and unfamiliar. And while I know that I am nowhere close to understanding Chinese culture, the more I learn about your culture,and each of you individually, the more I learn about my own and myself.
Xie xie."
Now, I love fireworks. They are great to watch and make me crave hotdogs. But for two weeks straight is a bit much. Tonight will be the last night of explosions in Beijing. Tonight, two weeks into the lunar new year, is the first full moon of the tiger.
The local language, Melayu, is really fun and has many ties to English. Example: “teksi” is taxi.
It is not a good idea to trek in the jungle after it rains. Leaches can attach themselves to you and draw blood in under a minute.
Houses are on stilts because there is literally a 20ft strip of sand that separates ocean and jungle. And the tide moves that entire distance during the day.
Top random fact: They drive on the left side of the road! I had no idea!
On our marathon to Pankgor, we stopped in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Though I only spent two short days here, it was enough to fall in love. The city is a warm collaboration of old european architecture, muslim inspired mosques, and modern skyscrapers. The main square is a lovely green patch that is home to a cricket field and the world's largest flagpole! It is surrounded by incredibly old buildings. Visiting KL was also the first time I have ever gone inside a mosque. It was beautiful inside and the peaceful ambiance and natural beauty made it a place of solitude in the bustling city. The palm trees added a sense of relaxation mixed with the modern structures. A river runs through the city, offering a great place to sit and have a cool ice cream while watching the city wash by.
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Lunar New Year is a time to spend with your family. Sadly my family is in America and that is a bit far away. So I decided to make the most of my time off and travel a bit of Asia. I headed to Malaysia! My boyfriend and I meticulously planned a relay trek down south and set our sights on the quiet island of Pangkor. Pangkor is off the western coast of Malaysia and is only one small island in a chain of random sploches of land. It is less than 7 degrees from the equator and was plesantly scorching hot- which was most welcomed after a long winter in Beijing.
There is no lack of things to do on Pangkor. On our agenda of activities were snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and trekking in the jungle! We rented a motorbike and explored the island and all it's tiny villages, exchanging waves and cheers from the locals. To drive all the way around the island takes about 45 minutes.
