Happiness Theme
Last weekend we had more of a relaxed weekend before we leave to go to Beijing and head home. It's amazing to me that there is so much history everywhere we go, just a stones throw away from the city we are staying in. The history is so much more ancient than I am used to experiencing in the US. We visited a Buddhist temple, there was a tree there that was very old and supposed to be good luck. You could tie your wishes to the tree and it is supposed to grant your wish. I bought a red ribbon and tied it to the tree, I think mine was the only one with English writing- I wished for a long happy life for my friends and family. Then they had a drum that you could hit with a large suspended log, depending on how many times you hit it, it means different thing. To stay consistent with my happiness them for the trip, I hit the drum 3 times for happiness. \
We had our final presentation to our client last week, they were really surprised with all that we were able to do in such a short time period. They wanted to know how we had accessed so much industry specific information. I think we left them a good spot to continue the research and make decisions moving forward. It felt good knowing that they appreciated and valued our hard work!
As we approached the final days, the end of the trip was definitely bittersweet. I am really happy to coming home to family and friends, but will definitely miss my new extended family that we created with our IBM group and Lucy from ABV. It is really great that we all had the opportunity to meet and learn from each other. We also have commented many times on how even though we all come from different cultures, we are all very similar.
As usual, I have some additional thoughts and observations while in China:
1) People prefer to drink from pixie sized glasses and smaller plates. I think this is helping with portion control, but I also can't keep track of how many glasses or plates I have had, so I am not entirely certain!
2) Everything is negotiable, if I want a banana from a street vendor, I can bargain. It is going to be really odd to go home and just pay the asking price. Filippo is the master bargainer, I think he should move over to my procurement department, he is brutal! Conversely, it will be nice to know that the price I am getting is fair instead of grossly inflated.
3) I am seriously considering switching over from cold beverages to hot ones. Even though there is a lot of oil in the food, my stomach hasn't felt better, I am thinking that it's the hot water… J
4) Chinese myths:
a. Chinese people are quite and don't use a lot of expression– actually, they are very loud and they enjoy debating back and forth for quite a bit of time and are very funny.
b. Chinese people aren't able to feely discuss their issues- this was not the case with our client, they were able to express their weaknesses so that we could help, it was very refreshing.
c. Direct eye contact should be avoided – I have never been stared at so much in my life, so this definitely wasn't the case.
d. Business professional attire should be worn- work was very casual.
e. Smoking is banned in most places – people smoke almost anywhere, even if there is a sign saying that they shouldn't.
f. Following the customary seating, eating, and introduction policies is mandatory- as long as you are trying to speak some words, are courteous and polite, people will be more than happy to help you and welcome you!
On a serious note, I think that the biggest reminder that this experience has provided me is that life is too short, you should spend it dong what you love, experiencing new things, learning from people, focusing on the positive, appreciating what we have, and celebrating our differences. The more I am able to listen, ask questions, and truly care about others, the more I get in return!
Thanks for everything team, I will definitely miss Lucy's assertiveness and help, Ryan's jokes and observations, Filippo's ability to debate almost anything I say and his sense of humor, Olivia's energy and up beat spirit, Jay's advice on the best shopping and her cooking, Radha's laugh and up for anything attitude, Raj's funny comments that always make me laugh, Xu's input on his own culture and explanations, Bruno's excitement for animals and excursions, and Sona's kindred spirit for shopping and a good deal! You guys are the best, good luck for a long and happy life in the future, I hope we meet up again.
Sara
