Summary Journal

Ethical Issues in My Profession:

It is easy to exploit workers, especially uneducated workers, because there are so many people looking for jobs that employers can get away with paying ridiculously low wages. For example, Foxconn, a company that manufactures products for Apple, is constantly in the news for everything from high employee suicide rates to riots breaking out in their dormitories. A lot of these issues can be traced back to the ridiculously low wages and poor working conditions. We learned in one of our lectures that at Foxconn, in order to make enough money to live on, employees would have to work inhuman numbers of overtime hours.

I think that all or most of the companies we visited in Beijing are government affiliated so they have stricter regulations that must be followed and thus better working conditions. At the distillery we toured, workers were paid nearly double that of a comparable job at a private company. I asked why the company didn’t purchase a machine to do some of the jobs like putting labels on bottles. I was told that even though a machine might save some money in the long run, the company used workers so that more jobs could exist and the company could continue its relationship with the government.

There are also the environmental issues that exist in China. Their rapid industrialization pollutes both their air and land. These issues are apparent, and while in China it was apparent that the government was taking large steps to work on these problems. As we learned at Tsinghua Solar, the government offers incentives for installing solar water heaters. But as much as they are working to solve these problems, they are perhaps even more concerned about continuing economic growth and encouraging foreign investment. And foreign investors are attracted to China by the cheap labor and comparatively lower environmental standards. I therefor believe that U.S. companies have an ethical obligation to not exploit workers and set a good example on the international stage for other wealthy nations seeking cheap labor costs abroad.

Educational Breadth as Professional Development:

Being well rounded is always a useful thing, but it becomes even more important when working in a global context. It’s easy to learn about cultural differences, but it’s more difficult to recognize and appropriately change your behavior. For example, before the trip I had learned that when offered any type of paper, whether it’s a business card or money, that you must take it with both hands. Even though I had learned this, I repeatedly caught myself using only one hand. This is a small anecdote, but I believe it can apply to education on a much larger scale. We can learn as much as we can in a classroom, but we will really begin to grasp and apply what we learn when we are in the field, experiencing what we learned firsthand.

As a Global Management major, a lot of my business classes focus on international economics and how business varies in different cultures. Next semester I will be taking International Organizational Behavior and French IV. These are the classes I am most looking forward to. In addition to these, I can take Arts and Sciences classes for electives that focus on a specific culture or geographic area.

Lifelong Learning, Continuing Education as Professional Development:

Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom. A lot of learning comes from simply observing the people and things around you.

Many people that I’ve talked to have told me that college didn’t teach them to do their job, it taught them how to think. I think the specific requirements of a position are always learned on the job. Our guide at Capital Bio told us that he majored in molecular biology and began working for the company as a researcher.  He eventually switched to the business side of things and now works in the international business department. Many people end up working a job that is outside of their major, and acquire skills that qualify them for all types of positions.

There are few, if any, industries that do not change. Most necessitate ongoing learning, especially anything to do with technology because it changes and evolves constantly. I think it’s important to always be learning new things about your field of interest. Learning new ideas or concepts keeps things from getting boring. Attending conferences and staying on top of emerging trends can keep people excited and energized about the work they do. If you let your knowledge become outdated, then your value to your organization becomes outdated.

The Social Environment of Professional Life :

From what I’ve seen and heard, citizens of other countries know a lot about U.S. politics and news while Americans know very little about the politics and news of any other country. At several places in China, we saw t-shirts with Obama dressed in communist garb. It was shocking to see images of the American president at tiny souvenir carts throughout Beijing. Especially when I think that I couldn’t name a single modern leader of China. Some of this has to do with education and the individual’s level of interest. In one of our lectures, we were told that in some parts of China political knowledge is so low that citizens would vote for Mao Zedong because he is the only political figure they really know – and he died decades ago.

In a professional setting, I would consider it important and necessary to be acquainted with the social and political goings-on of any country you visit. In a more general sense, it is always beneficial to have a broad world view. It gives us a better understanding of everything and with companies becoming increasingly global and utilizing global supply chains, we are now more tied to international events. For instance, the tsunami in Japan severely affected production of certain electronics and caused a shortage of supply in America.

Functioning on Multi-Disciplinary Teams:

I was so glad to have the opportunity to get to know engineers on this trip, a group that I don’t share any classes with. Right now we’re not very different. We’re all college students; we have had similar experiences and since we are here, seem to share a love of adventure. We just take different classes. But I imagine that as we get older and begin to identify more with our professions, that the differences will be more pronounced. It may be more difficult to identify with each other.

It’s a good idea to find a shared interest. Since you are on a team, you will obviously be working towards the same goal. Each person may have different methods, but I think that communication is of the utmost importance. It is very helpful if engineers remember to thoroughly explain the technical aspects of a project to the business people and if the business people explain their jargon to the engineers. This isn’t always possible because someone may not have the educational background to understand a concept even if it is explained thoroughly. Therefore, there is a need for trust within these teams. Also, when working on cross-functional teams, it’s a good idea to divide up the work so that each person is playing to his or her strengths.

Day 14 – Flight Home

On the final day in China I spent the morning packing. It was a bit of a struggle trying to stuff all of my new treasures and gifts into two small suitcases.

Some people wanted to again visit Papa John’s, but I wanted my final meal in China to be something Chinese! So I went with Jonathan, another student from the group, to the U-Center. Once we sat down at the restaurant we had picked, we realized that it was actually Vietnamese. Oh well, better than pizza. I got mango spring rolls and spicy crawfish and he got a whole fish. It was good and by that meal we were experts at the art of communication through pointing.

We took one last stroll through the U-Center and stopped at the grocery store to buy a few last-minute items. I bought a package of lollipops solely because they looked strange. They’re a bizzare shape and have some kind of fruit or nut that’s visible in the center.

When we returned to the hotel, it was time to say goodbye to Ruby and Vivien. I already miss them! They both gave us all a gift and said their farewells. Then we had the long bus ride to the airport. Once there, Dr. Gao and Vanessa took us as far as they could and then said goodbye to us.

The flight was much less enjoyable on the way back because there was nothing exciting to look forward to. We finally arrived back in the U.S., exhausted, late on Saturday night. I’m going to miss our group, the Chinese student guides,  Dr. Gao, Vanessa and of course China. I really hope to go back one day.

Day 13 – Lecture, Presentations and Farewell Dinner

As our departure from China gets closer and closer, there is a different mood that is in the group. I think we are all sad to be leaving China and the constant novelty, but we are also looking forward to some of the familiarities of home.

Our second to last day started with a continuation of the previous day’s lecture. The topics covered were so interesting. She touched on family dynamics, the evolution of marriage in China, and politics.

After our final lecture, we broke into our groups of four to present an idea for a business in China. My group pitched the idea of taking old computer equipment that still works and placing it in very rural areas of China so that they could easily report corruption in their local governments. The engineer in our group explained the technical side of the idea. I really liked some of the ideas the other teams had.

In the evening, we had our farewell dinner. It was the traditional style with many, many different dishes. We were joined by a professor from Tsinghua who had helped to facilitate our trip. There were so many delicious things to sample. I especially remember some green beans that were wonderful.

After dinner, everyone went back to the hotel for a little while. I then went out with someone from the group and we walked around the streets of Beijing talking about the experience that was quickly coming to an end.

Day 12 – Lenovo, Peking Duck, Lecture and Silk Market

We started today bright and early with our tour of Lenovo. Since we were at the international headquarters, they give a lot of tours and the whole thing was very impressive. We got to see some of Lenovo’s history with their original computers from the 80s. We got to see a lot of cool things like the torch they designed for the 2008 Olympic and some of their newer technology. Our guide told us that Lenovo plans to increase their presence in the U.S. market. Right now the majority of their sales revenue is domestic.

For lunch, it was fortunate that we were all looking very nice in our business casual ensembles because the Peking duck restaurant was on the fancy side. The duck was probably the best thing I ate in China. We were given thin wraps and lettuce leaves to eat the duck in. You would take your wrap and fill it with duck, mild onion and a sweet teriyaki sauce, then fold it up and enjoy.  We were served other accompaniments like duck-bone soup and a yummy stuffed eggplant.  I even tried some duck brain. Following our extremely satisfying lunch, we walked back to the hotel and had some time to change clothes and relax before our lecture.

Our lecturer was an older woman who just radiated intelligence.  As soon as the lecture was over, a group of us went to the Silk Market accompanied by Ruby. It was then that suffocation by subway occurred. When we transferred to our second subway, we ended up at a subway line that cuts across the center of Beijing. Thus, it is incredibly busy, especially because we were there during rush hour. When it was finally our turn to board, we were shoved on by a herd of people. There were guards who were stuffing people into the subway. I have never had so little personal space in my life. For a few moments I was worried about being suffocated to death. Luckily, our journey only required one stop in that subway car and we got off to transfer to a less-crowded line.

The Silk Market was very similar to the Pearl Market. I haggled for some silk scarves and other gifts. I had originally wanted to go to spend some of the Yuan that I still had, thinking that I had too much. Funnily enough, I ended up needing to go to the ATM to withdraw more because I found so many things I liked. The best thing about those markets is walking around and seeing all of the cool things being sold.

Day 11 – Company Tours and Fragrant Hill

Today we had two company tours, one of a distillery and the other a coatings company. The distillery had a very distinct and pungent smell that was noticeable the whole time we were there. I believe they mainly produce Baijiu, which is a type of liquor popular in China. The beginning of the tour was a brief lesson on the long history of alcohol in China. We went through a room with displays of the ornate bottles in which Baijiu is available and some other artifacts of production.

Then we were all given our first sample of the hard liquor. It was much less than a shot, and the first sample was of a lower alcohol percentage, but still quite potent. I did not care for it, to me it tasted faintly of dirt and since we had nothing to wash it down with, left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Next we toured the production and bottling areas. When we passed by the assembly-line worker, we learned about their wages. Because this company is state supported, the wages are higher and the workers who sit and put the stickers on the bottles make 3,000 yuan a month, which is about $500. In comparison, Apple workers make 1200 yuan a month because a private company can pay whatever they like.

Our second tour was of a coatings company. Unfortunately on this tour I wasn’t able to pick up much due to the soft voice of our guide, the noise from the production areas we toured and my position at the back of the group.

The distillery was nice enough to treat us to lunch and we went to a banquet hall that is for company lunches and dinners. It was again several dishes served on a turntable with everyone grabbing what they want.  I found as we were leaving that the men and women who had been following us on the two tours and joining us for lunch were government officials. I don’t think I ever found out exactly why they came with us today.

In the afternoon, we took the bus to Fragrant Hill. Hill is a little bit of an understatement, this thing was definitely more of a mountain. All but one girl in the group elected to take a cable car up instead of doing the hike. I’m glad I did because the view on the way up was incredible! Once we got to the top we were able to see an expansive view of Beijing. Seeing it all spread out (and realizing that there is still so much you can’t see) makes you realize how unbelievably large it is.

Day 10 – Bird’s Nest and Capital Bio

I’m so happy that the worst of the pollution haze was on our first day. These past few days it has been wonderful to see clear blue skies; it makes my photos look much prettier. This morning we were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather and visit the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. We ran out of time to go inside the Water Cube, but we spent a while in the Bird’s Nest. Its architecture is stunning from far away but just as cool up close.

The best part of the day was riding a Segway on the track. About 2/3 of us paid the 100RMB to ride around the track for 20 minutes. It was my first Segway experience. When I first got my Segway it was pretty fast and I was having a great time zipping along. But after my first lap they stopped me and made me switch onto a slower one. Later we walked around outside and go to see the outside of the Water Cube. We ate a rushed lunch and quickly went back to the hotel to change for our second company visit.

Capital Bio said that their major goal is to facilitate research and develop that into commercial success. Their clients are large and small companies that buy Capital Bio’s equipment for research or medical applications.

The first thing we were shown was the tissue library of the Chinese bone marrow donor program.  Capital Bio analyzes the genotypes of the blood cells, and then when someone needs a transplant; find a match from the donors. The large database of genotypes allows for statistical study because they also have detailed health records from the donors. They can figure out, statistically, who is susceptible to certain diseases. Capital Bio doesn’t make money doing this project; they do it for the social benefit and to keep a good relationship with the government.

Our tour guide was obviously very intelligent and so quotable! He gave this quote, “Even in the darkest times, it is impossible for everyone to lose money. Someone will make money.” He gave us information relevant to us as students, and as future professionals. He and Dr. Gao related their observations of American and Chinese engineers. They agreed that the Chinese engineers have an attitude of “if someone else has done it before, I can do it.” Americans think “if no one has done it, then I will do it.” I took this as the Americans being more arrogant, but it probably also has to do with the different education styles of the two countries. From what I’ve learned, compared to the Chinese, American students are encouraged to be more creative.

While talking to us in a circular conference room, his cell phone went off and his ringtone was Frank Sinatra! That was unexpected.

Right after getting back from Capital Bio, we again rushed to change and then headed to the subway station for an hour and half commute to the south-eastern part of Beijing for a Kung Fu show. The show was more of a dramatized play than I was expecting it to be. I’d thought it was going to be demonstrations of Kung Fu.  It included those things and was entertaining; it was just a bit cheesy at times.

Day 9 – Lecture and Tsinghua Solar

This morning started with a lecture on Chinese economics. Our new lecturer covered a lot of information and showed us a lot of graphs. I wish I could have absorbed more of it because the topic is really very interesting.  One of his major points was that China is growing fast, but this rapid growth leaves them with problems that they don’t yet know how to fix. Major concerns like pollution, low wages and workers’ rights still need solutions. Our lecturer pointed out that a major reason we were interested in China is because of the amazing things its economy has accomplished in such a short time.

In the afternoon, we put on our business casual wear and made the short trip to Tsinghua Solar. They gave a presentation on their products and how they work. The company manufactures solar collectors and seems to specialize in solar-powered water heating devices that are mounted on the roofs of homes and businesses.  The Chinese government offers a lot of incentives for people to install them.

From what I understand, this concept is unlikely to catch on in the U.S. because Americans are much more concerned about water pressure, and an expensive water pressurizer would have to be added to the system. Also, there is the dilemma of having lots of hot water in the summer and not so much of it in the winter. Most Americans wouldn’t want to deal with that.

In the evening, several of us went to dinner at Grandma’s Kitchen to see how the Chinese interpret American food. I’d say that they are very accurate, much better than we are at replicating Chinese food.  I’ve noticed that anything American is much more expensive. Our meals seemed to cost double or triple that of a comparable Chinese meal. Though it was still much cheaper than a meal in the U.S.

Day 8 – Pearl Market and Temple of Heaven

Sunday was our free day. All of us met Ruby in the hotel lobby at 9:30am and she helped us navigate the long subway trip to the Pearl Market. It was my favorite shopping location so far because there were so many different things being sold and it wasn’t overly crowded. The one thing I didn’t like was how much the sellers badger you.  As you walk past someone’s stand, they shout and sometimes grab you. It’s a very high pressure environment to buy something. When I even glanced at something, the seller would be in my face saying how he or she would give me a good deal and throwing out numbers. The bargaining was a little stressful but got easier the more I did it. Since I was at the Pearl Market, I had to buy pearls. It was very cool to pick out the exact size and length I wanted and then watch the seller stringing and knotting them right in front of me.

Then we went across the street and down a couple of blocks to get to a beautiful Buddhist temple called the Temple of Heaven.

A prayer tree that is significant because of the nine dragons coiled around the trunk.

In the evening everyone else went to the water cube and I went with Ruby to Tsinghua University to walk around and buy something at the souvenir shop. It was so nice getting to talk to her and compare perspectives on our own countries. She took me to a porridge place near the U-Center. There was no English to be seen on the menu, so Ruby ordered for us. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the pork porridge I got was really good. We also got a spicy eggplant dish. It made me wish the U.S. knew how to season and cook vegetables like the Chinese do.

Day 7 – The Great Wall

Today was the most exhausting day thus far; we climbed the Great Wall! Before starting the climb, we explored a cave that was on the way.  When we were told we were going through a cave, I didn’t expect much but it turned out to be stunning. Pictures don’t do it justice. Much of the ground was covered in water so we walked on stepping stones. The stalactites and stalagmites were in the most unusual shapes and some resembled other objects. One was a perfect crescent moon. I think all or most of it were natural formations.

Once we passed through the cave, we began climbing steps up the mountain. There were so many! By the time we got to the actual Wall, I was already pretty tired. Once on the Great Wall, we paused briefly to take pictures and then began climbing along the length of it. One of the things I noticed, not just at the Great Wall, is that steps are often not even.  There will be several short steps and out of nowhere a tall step. You have to really pay attention to where you are walking. When on the Wall, I often had to remind myself that I was standing on the Great Wall of China; it was kind of surreal.

with Vivien and Ruby

The slide down was my favorite part.  I didn’t know there was a slide or even cable cars, so it was a happy surprise. We each paid 60RMB (about $10) and then waited in line to get into individual toboggans. There was a stick that allowed me to control the speed as I went down the track. My ride down was fun and scenic, but I later found out that a girl in line a few people before me flipped out of her toboggan on the way down.

On the way back, we stopped for lunch at a place that was supposed to be like an American pizza buffet. I’d compare it to CiCi’s, but with some unidentifiable Chinese food. Chinese pizza often has corn on it, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen in the U.S. I got an unpleasant surprise when I took a bite of what I thought was an individual dessert with bananas and a sweet sauce. It turned out to be tofu and chili sauce! Yuck.

Day 6 – Summer Palace

Today was the first day it rained while here.  It wasn’t bad because it cooled everything down and probably made the Summer Palace a little less crowded. Like other famous places we’ve visited, it’s mind blowing to realize that the entire site was dug, built, carved, and painted by hand. The lake was dug out and the land used to build Longevity Hill. Once we had climbed to the top, we were able to see an incredible view of the lake and surrounding buildings. There is so much detail everywhere and all of it has some type of meaning.

We took a boat ride to get back to the area we started and our group was seated next to a large tourist group of Chinese people from the western part of the country who rarely, if ever, see foreigners. Since I was right on the edge, I got pulled into a lot of their pictures and was asked to pose with them. It’s such a strange feeling to be photographed by people and it’s hard to understand why we’re so interesting to them.

The last thing we did before leaving the Summer Palace was to go down to an area along a canal that had little shops with souvenirs. My favorites were the places that sold their own type of art. A few vendors would draw or paint personalized messages in characters and a few people from our group had it done. One man painted miniscule pictures on grains of rice or pearls. The paintings were placed into vials with a magnifying glass. I bought one with a picture of three panda bears painted on a tiny piece of white stone.

For lunch we went to the U-Center and ate at a hotpot restaurant near the grocery store. It was similar to the lunch we had after the Forbidden City, but not as high-end. I love it because you basically get to play with your food. One of the interesting things that I ate (though I didn’t know it at the time) was duck-blood tofu. At these places they give you so much food that it’s impossible to even come close to eating everything.

After we got back from lunch it was after 4pm and everyone went back to the hotel and fell asleep.