HEBUST visiting professors

Radha and I have been commuting to the university these days on the little scooter that Lucy helped me buy in a big wholesale market. 

On Friday, we gave a presentation on IBM, new technologies, and research topics to some post-graduate students.

-Ryan

weekend in Xian

2000 year old terracotta warriors.....a cycling tour around the 600 year old Xian city wall with Ethan sporting an IBM cap.......and a Tang dynasty musical about dancing concubines

HEBUST - second year students

Radha and I gave another presentation last night at the university, this time to the second year computer science students, introducing IBM and WebSphere software.Some of them wanted advice on how to get a job at IBM and we were invited to a BBQ this weekend on the Cha River.


-Ryan

the team in the IBM Shijiazhuang office

Lucy is on our blog now!

 

Lucy, our ABV contact and fearless guide.

Sara - Another week at the Client, Xi'am, and new observations

Wow, time flies when you are having fun.  I can't believe it's the third week already.  This last week, we presented our itinerary to our client and they seem pleased with our timeline.  We are working on putting together a comprehensive marketing plan.  We met with the Vice General Manager and we got some additional insight on the company.  He let us know that the company was formed by a group of investors and now each investor is a manager of each department.  It sounds like the company is growing faster than anticipated and they need to really have some management training and create a strategic direction.   In addition, they need to be able to make decisions as a team.  We were surprised that he was so open and honest with us about the weaknesses of his company.  We decided that in addition to our marketing plan we should assist the management with some training on creating a strategic direction, goal setting, motivating their people, and decision making.  An overall feeling of negativity was there, we wanted to make sure to focus on positive things that they are doing.  Our training is on Wednesday, I will report back and let you know if it sinks in or not!

This last weekend we went to Xi'an, the old capital of China.  It was very interesting because the history dates back to 1046 BC, there were 12 dynasties that ruled China from Xi'an.  We were able to go to the Terra Cotta warrior tombs, Emperor Qin had over 700,000 people over 40 years to create terra cotta warriors and horses that were buried with him to protect him in the after life. We stayed in the ancient city and took a bike ride around the top of the wall that was build to protect the city, the total length of the wall was 13 kilometers.  We were definitely worn out after our ride since it turned cold and was sprinkling a little bit.  We also enjoyed a crumbed bread lunch which you crumble your own bread in a bowl and they fill it with noodles, broth, and meat, it was well needed during the cold day. 

I managed to hurt my foot while I was here, but it has actually turned into a bit of a neat experience with Chinese medical massage.  I learned some Chinese medicine tips: 1) do not get the injured foot hot 2) if your lower back is tense you have caught a cold in your back, make sure to keep it covered.  3) always keep your feet covered 4) keep your feet covered, you can catch a cold in your feet as well. 5)don't sit in one spot for longer than 40 minutes, it tightens up your shoulders and back.  6) running is good to loosen up you shoulders. 
 

Here are some other things that I think are extremely different here:

-After March 15, the government turns off the central heating system, so it is cold in a lot of the restaurants, we are lucky to have personal heating machines in our rooms!

-The beds are very hard, I think it has to do with a belief that it is better for your back, but not good for sleeping! 

-Clearing your throat in public apparently isn't considered rude, people are doing it all the time and very loudly. 
-The lines on the road are just a guide for where you might want to drive and the horn is also a means to clear people out of your way while you are driving.  I thought I was going to die last night on our taxi ride home, we were on the freeway going against on coming traffic, our driver was flashing his lights and honking his horn to alert people to move.  We were driving on the center line on a 2 lane road for a while, with people passing on the right and left.  We were all very quite until we got into the city!  Thank God, I live to see another day! :)
-Construction and dirt is everywhere, they are growing so fast.  We witnessed a bunch of electrical lines all tied together and hanging from tree to tree and a building being torn down with very little distance from the observers, just didn't feel safe. 
-Negotiating for trinkets is FUN, we were amazed at Fillipo's ability to get the lowest price in the group, he's an inspiration. In my guidebook it says to expect to pay 60% of the cost, but I think we were getting closer to an 80% discount, maybe they were marking it up extra for the Westerners!
-Vegetarian options aren't very common, there is meat in everything. I don't think I have ever eaten so much pork.  Unfortunately/fortunately, I have discovered that I like pork.... haha!

Well back to the work, hoping for some warmer weather soon! 

Sara

HEBUST & Cloud Computing

Yesterday, Radha and I gave our second presentation at the Hebei University of Science Technology to teachers from the Information Science and Engineering department. They had asked us to present on new technologies and give them some research ideas. We presented on cloud computing, IBM's Smarter Cities initiative, and the new Watson super computer. It was very cold and cloudy yesterday from the sand storm that blew in over Shijiazhuang and Professor Kai kept making jokes about how it was good day to talk about cloud computing. 


Our student guides, Yang and Fei, are extremely nice to us, spending hours giving us Mandarin lessons at the campus coffee house called "Touch" and slipping us into a gym class to play ping pong.


Our first presentation last week was an introduction to IBM, the IBM centennial anniversary, and career opportunities to first year students. At the end of the presentation, one very enthusiastic student in the back of the room stood up and proclaimed "I WANT TO BE AN IBMER !!"  and asked how he could celebrate IBM's 100 year anniversary. 


This is us at the HEBUST entrance w/ Yang and Fei

Today's meeting at Zhongshi Testing.

Today Sara and I held a meeting with all of the Zhongshi Testing Machine
managers.
We wanted to ensure that our deliverables were in line with their
expectations.
The meeting went very well. The managers were impressed with our organization
and structure.
At the end we went lunch toghether and we ate dumplings, they were wonderful
dumplings! :-)
Filippo

The delicacy dinner and the Cha Party

(See attached file: Corner_house.jpg) Capitalizing on the limited resources
available, Jay managed to make a yummy dinner for all the 'strict' ( no
egg, no sea food) vegetarians of the China12 team in The Corner House - a
corner room (Sona's room - that we use to cook and dine) in the Motel 168.
duo xie (Many Thanks) to Jay and Sona

(See attached file: TeaParty.jpg) A tea party followed the dinner in
Rajani's room. She made the Kerala Chaya for us [ with the 'Kannan Devan'
tea leaves ;) ] xie xie Rajani!
- Posted by Radha.

Sara's additional thoughts on China, Qiao Gardens, and Pingyao

This weekend was really great because we got to learn about the history and additional customs of China.  First we visited Qiao's Garden where "Raising Red Lantern," was filmed.  I didn't realize that China used to have arranged marriages and the husband didn't know who he was marrying until the veil was lifted, also Chinese men used to have multiple wives.  The picture I have enclosed means double happiness in your marriage, I thought it was sweet.  Also children were given different toys when they were 1 year old to determine their future occupations.  We learned about the different days of the Chinese New Years, the first day is praying to the kitchen God to get good luck in your kitchen all year, I think I will start this tradition in my house. We saw a bank in Pingyao, a walled city, were they ingeniously created water marks on paper that served as receipts and created codes to withdrawal money.  We also saw many handy crafts (dried gourds for playing music, wood combs, and lacquer jewelery boxes) and typical food (flat bread, sunflower seeds, walnuts, red dates, and a sweet nut bark). 

 

Here are some other things that I think are extremely different here:

-Water and other beverages are served warm or at room temperature because it is easier for your body to digest.

-You must use chopsticks, some restaurants have knife and fork, but you have to ask for it.

-They like to put signs outside of buildings and in parks, I think it's for good luck.

-The language is very difficult because they use 4 different tones that go up, down, flat and v shape, so the same word can have 4 different meanings depending on the way it is pronounced.

-Always carry tissues with you if you are women because paper in toilets isn't always common, neither are western style toilets.

-Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are very similar, they mostly eat noodles, rice, and soup all hours of the day. You can't buy cheese that isn't processed at the grocery store. Also, wheat bread isn't available easily.

-Don't expect that what you order is going to match the picture, Filippo and I had bananas on our pizza a few days ago. :) I don't recommend this combination, especially with fish.

-Bars are not common, people go to dinner a lot, but not out for a drink typically.

-Badminton and ping pong are very popular, we rented a room and played for 2 hours, my wrist is still sore!

-Jogging isn't common, there are a few people that jog, but mostly people in the park are dancing, doing Tai Chi, or other group activities in the park.

-They don't sell t-shirts in the spring until it is warm, Filippo wanted a t-shirt and it has been impossible to find. Only long sleeved t-shirts are available.

-People are very friendly and will try to help no matter what, even if they don't understand any English. They also like to laugh a lot at us, I am not taking it personally! :)

Sona's and Jay's first picture with our client - some serious exchange of ideas with them!!

After some initial serious language challenges last week, it was wonderful to break through this week with our brilliant interpreter, Emily - a student from the Hebei Normal University - studying the course of English/Mandarin interpretation degree. We feel very happy and satisfied that our client is seeing a lot of value in the information we are providing them.

Some funny moment at City Wall.

Here below some funny moment of yesterday's trip

  

And definetely tired when we were coming back,....

- Filippo
  

some of Bruno's aliens

the Taiyuan train station didn't know what to make of us....these are head massage-scratchers sold by the village vendors

Filippo w/ fans at Qiao Garden

 

Pingyao tourist w/ Olivia and Filippo

 

 

The “Aliens”

 

It's really funny to walk in the streets and everybody looks at you like they're wondering witch kind of "beings" are they? "Are they humans?" Or… "Where is the flying source they came from?" Our conclusion is that we really are Aliens in Chinese lands… but they don't need to worry, we are peaceful and came for a good reason: the volunteerism.

 

Everywhere and the most crowded a place is, the most we are observed by "wondering faces", maybe they believe we are a soccer team or western celebrities – Ryan really looks like a Rock Star. About him, it was so funny when some young girls told they had never met a handsome guy like him... he is also famous in here and, in a few days, I believe he will provide the first autographs : ))

 

Olivia`s blond hair is also the focus of many curious faces, sometimes they look at her and talk with his partners, maybe asking if she is our leader or not (???) or, "it could be a great idea to attack her first, maybe she is the most dangerous one"….

 

As tall as Felippo is, certainly he is in charge of providing security to the weaker aliens… he also got many male fans in Quiao's garden… I think their fans just wanted to show their friends how brave they were taking a picture beside of the tallest and strongest strange.

Bruno,

red china

	red china Uploaded by photomistic on March 12, 2011 © All rights reserved

Pingyao ancient walled city

this wall is not tall enough for Filippo

Sara

Bruno

Ryan

Radha vs. the Qiao courtyards vendors

Vendors outside Qiao's courtyards crumble when faced with Radha's master Mandarin bargaining skills

Team's wishes.... the famous Caipirinha

The caipirinha is a national cocktail of Brazil, and is enjoyed in restaurants, bars, and many households throughout the country. Once almost unknown outside Brazil, the drink has become more popular and more widely available in recent years, in large part due to the rising availability of first-rate brands of cachaça outside Brazil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipirinha

Bruno,

IBM China

Massage, Client, and Shijiazhuang hotel living

I have made it to Shijiazhuang and have adjusted to hotel living life with my teammates.  Our hotel is plain, but clean and we are all on the same floor so that is nice.  I am having a good time, Filippo and I met with our client, a testing machines manufacturer, yesterday and the day before.  They seem nice, but don't speak much English, our main contact speaks some English.  We are learning that when you are working with Chinese people we should ask a lot of questions because they don't share much until you ask.  So I am asking them a lot of questions.  Also I am writing the questions in emails so they understand exactly what I am asking.  We were able to find a problem to work on for them, they want to export to other countries and expand their scope, so we are going to help them with an international marketing and support plan.

English speakers are not common, so it makes it difficult when you want to order something or find something, especially since they use characters instead of letters.  It is really funny to walk around town because everyone stares at us, I think they look up to people with western culture.  Today we worked today and then this afternoon we went to a massage parlor for a $10 massage that lasted 80 minutes.  You leave your clothes on and friends, boys and girls, are put you in the same room private room with couch-like chairs.  They do a lot of work on your feet because the Chinese believe that your feet are a pressure point to the rest of your body.  They had a TV on the whole time, it was interesting, but relaxing.  The massage place is right around the corner so I think I am going to take advantage of it while I am here.  

We went for a walk after we got done with our massages and through a park where everyone was doing Tai Chi, it's like Yoga but standing.  Then we found a huge fruit and vegetable market, it had live fish, all sorts of vegetable, noodles, different types of dumplings and rolls, it was really neat. People are very polite and they are also really helpful.  I feel really safe here, so that is a relief.  You just have to be careful crossing the street because there are a lot of motorized bicycles and cars running around and they seem to have the right of way.  The bikes even have their own hand warmers which I think is ingenious, see my picture.

We are starting to plan many trips around the country to see as much as we can.  It is really great that we are able to go to a city that does not have a lot of foreigners and really immerse ourselves in the culture as well as learn about the cultures of the people that are with us.

Sara

Our 1st dinner.

This is our first dinner with our client.
It was in a very good restaurant, but actually I'm not sure what I ate.
-Filippo 


   

HEBUST - first day

Professor Kai Gao and Yang gave Radha and I a tour around the campus of  Hebei University of Science and Technology (HEBUST).
-Ryan