Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Valentine Photo

“I love you as mice love rice.”, as the saying apparently goes in China. While celebrating Valentine’s Day with chocolates, flowers, and gifts, is a relatively new phenomenon in China, romance has long been strong in the Middle Kingdom. The “Butterfly Lovers” is a Chinese legend telling a tragic love story of a pair of famous lovers from 1600 years ago. Their love story is considered to be the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet.

Our favorite displays of Chinese romance were in the public parks – senior’s love mostly. Great numbers would waltz and spin daily beneath the leafy foliage. In another secluded corner crooners would belt out love songs with support from their portable music systems. Some couples would get their pre-work exercise with a lively game of badminton.

Young couples can be seen in public parks throughout the country having wedding photos taken in elaborate clothes, with red the most popular color choice. And though we saw little overt shows of affection – hand holding, kissing in corners – our overall impression was that romance is alive and well in China.

Ellen James, Master Relationship Builder

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Whether in travel or in business across cultures, new relationships are often mentioned as the source of the greatest satisfaction and reward. It may come from being taught a new word in the local language, understanding a person’s name, ordering food, sharing a train ride, or exchanging family details. There is something magical about the connection that takes perfect strangers into a warm relationship.

From over 30 years of observing her in action, including our recent journey in China, I believe Ellen is a master of relationship building. Here I share a few of her opening moves, which I repeatedly see turn into connections that the new acquaintance wants to nurture beyond a casual encounter.

  • Firstly, there are plenty of smiles
  • There is humility to the engagement, but also a confidence
  • A local language greeting is used, even if it is just one short phrase, “Ni hao”
  • Top words she knows and uses frequently in the local language – hello, thank you, please, sorry, excuse me
  • Has some sort of language aid nearby (usually a phrase book, a dictionary, some photos)
  • Expresses appreciation, thanks for taking the time, for talking with her
  • Apologizes for her poor local language skills
  • Takes time to engage relationally before getting to her question or request (if she has one)
  • Shows total engagement – face to face, smiles, expressions, hand gestures
  • Gets the person’s name figured out and practices using it, as appropriate
  • Asks how many languages the other speaks, which helps to learn about their background, provides topics of conversation, gives kudos for language skills smarts
  • Compliments new friend on his/her English language skills, and gives thanks for the effort the other person is putting into the conversation
  • Ellen mentions something she did, saw, ate, or heard about, that she liked in the person’s country / region /city
  • Asks about what local people like to do or eat in this region.
  • Asks the local words for food/drinks being enjoyed and writes them down
  • Asks questions on anything mentioned by the other person
  • Encourages the other to be speaking most but also tries for reciprocity, or back and forth conversation
  • Is ready to fill what might become an uncomfortable silence with another question or relevant story from her own experience; tireless engagement
  • Brings family into the conversation – spouse, children, parents, siblings.
  • Exchanges contact information; perhaps photos are taken, and discusses next time / way to connect (e.g. WeChat messaging app contact info.)

China Train Travel by Don

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We have logged over 7000 kilometres of train travel around China in the past 8 weeks. While in many countries that may sound like an ordeal, not in this land of quality railways. Main cities have huge modern terminals that keep people flowing through in great numbers, in an orderly fashion, and with the trains running on time.

Between high speed trains and slower overnight models, we have travelled in comfort, mostly. High speed trains are climate controlled, clean, smooth, and as you might expect, fast (up to 300 km / hour). With our second class tickets, we have designated seats so no need to sprint for the good seats. On the overnight trains, we have used the “soft sleepers”, with four bunks per compartment. Local Chinese assigned to our cabin usually seem slightly taken aback, but have been friendly. Unless it is a single family filling a cabin, people tend to be fairly quiet and mostly sleep or read while reclined. The weak link is usually the toilet. We are fine with squat or western seat style, but as the journey goes on, toilet paper runs out and cleanliness seems to decline rapidly.

Airlines connect all major cities at a reasonable price, but the trains provide a more interesting cultural experience. We are hooked.

Why Are There No Black Umbrellas by Ellen

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November 6, 2015

When traveling without constant access to Google, we observe, we wonder, we guess and come up with any number of possible answers to our questions. It’s a fun game sometimes.
Our most recent mystery has been ‘how come there are no black umbrellas in China’? We see every colour of the rainbow, but not black. Some of our guesses have included ‘a cultural taboo?’, ‘it’s just too boring?’, ‘the stores don’t carry them? ‘, ‘colour is more visible, so safer?’…..
We feel a little conspicuous with our boring black, tiny collapsible ones – and realize that black is the norm for the business person in Calgary. Why is that?
Hmm……more research required!😊

Canada China Business Council by Don

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October 22, 2015

Would you consider doing business in China? Perhaps you already are here (in China). Challenges span language, laws, customs, and possibly corruption. The upside is entry into the world’s largest market with the fastest growing middle class in history.

Of the many pieces of advice you may receive, not going it alone is one of the wisest. In the past few weeks, Ellen and I have met with representatives of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) in Beijing and Shanghai. They are a wonderful membership-based resource for those active in, or considering, China. In Beijing, we met Wei Zhang, deputy general manager, and Alain Joyal, membership director. Over coffee, Alain shared a glimpse of the inevitable ups and downs of living and working in China.

In Shanghai, Joyce Alonso Gorospe, SME Support Officer, and Travis Joern, CCBC Managing Director, gave their insights and experiences. Travis commented on how much more we know about the United States than China. As an example, most Canadians can name President Barak Obama, but how about President Xi Jinping? Or name leading Republican and Democrat candidates for U.S. President, versus how many can name up and comers in the Chinese system? Some real homework is required but the task is not insurmountable, as can be witnessed by Canadian companies doing well in China.

Victor Qi and Marc Mikhael of the Canadian Trade Service in Beijing also met with us. Victor sees the demand for specialized services (legal, environmental,…) rising along with products. Many Canadian provinces, including Alberta, have their own trade representatives in China. Excellent resources all.

While local contacts, especially government contacts, may not mean much in Canada, they are enormously helpful for building credibility in China. Good luck!

Food by Ellen

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October 20, 2015

No blog on China would be complete without a discussion about food. Ask for travel advice from any Chinese friend and it will include a rapt description of their favourite food from a region. “Oh you must go to…, as they have THE most delicious…, in all of China! “. So we have been diligently, and quite happily, sampling our way through the various local delicacies.

What has intrigued me most, however, has been our Chinese friends’ delight in the ‘wholeness‘ of their food, and the coordination and skill required to eat it. Where is the nutrition and where is the fun if the shells, bones, heads, feet, tails, have already been removed? A friend in Shanghai taught me how to remove the shell/head/tail from my shrimp or prawn without using my hands – only my chopsticks and tongue/teeth. Though I have yet to achieve her level of practiced dexterity, I have to admit it has been fun trying!

She also has little interest in ‘just meat’ (e.g. a boneless, skinless chicken breast), saying that it lacks flavour, is less nutritious, and way less fun. Give her the chicken neck or feet any day. Our friends in Qingdao told us that the Chinese prefer to cook their fish with the head/tail/bones all included – and are amazingly skillful at removing these bones with only chopsticks and teeth/tongue.

It made me think about the current rage of ‘bone broth’ in North America – the expensive new elixir of the rich and famous – and I can’t help but wonder how this would be viewed from the Chinese perspective –from the land where bone broth is part of most meals!