Lost in Translation
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 1st - i must address your comments from yesterday.. I gave my speech last night you missed it. Here's a recap.
" You like me - you really - really like me" said Lucy SweetCorn Fields. "Oh my, i was not expecting this - Thank you for all the kind remarks. Your the best." I still want to add a new segment to the blog though - i have a couple ideas..brewing.
Now to the regularly scheduled program - Lost in Translation
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Tom leaves for China soon. He'll stay the first night in Shanghai 
and then visit various cities to conduct customer interviews. An interpreter will travel with him.
This picture is from a street in Shanghai. Is that a traveling McDonald's? and of course we all see the KFC - but i wonder where they are getting their chickens these days?
Below is some information Tom received on how to prepare and appreciate the cultural differences for this trip. When I read through these, I'm not picturing this street - do you?
Recommended books to buy beforehand - Lonely Planet Mandarin Phrase book & Lonely Planet Guide to China. Read the sections at the beginning of the guide on Culture, Economy and Costs, Government and Politics, Dining and Chopstick Etiquette.
RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP PLANNING
- Learn or become more adept with using chopsticks
- Buy the above phrase book, guide and a map and read up.
- Make sure you have a Hepatitis B vaccination
- Buy a travel adapter - two / three prong Asian adapter
- Always carry plenty of RMB in cash (at least 20,000RMB, possible more in the country). Very few places take credit cards and meals can range from very inexpensive to expensive. Nobody pays for there own meal the host will pay, so be prepared to find that you are the host or take turns.
- If you are going in winter, I would recommend bringing some thermal underwear - All buildings around Shanghai are not equipped with heating systems and it is not uncommon for office and residences to be as cold as outside. Windows are often open even in winter.
Chinese Banquet Guide (not covered in dining section of the book above)
Banquets are held in private rooms. The host typically sits opposite the door so he can see who is coming in. The hosts place is usually designated with a napkin standing up on the plate. The host will usually pay discreetly at the end of the meal by placing money into an envelope.
The guests of honor have a “pecking order” around the circular table 1) right of the host, 2) left of the host 3) second right of the host 4) second left of the host and so on. Everyone waits for the host to start eating first. The host will also make the first toast and it is then common practice that everyone toasts everyone else at the table as the meal proceeds.
Food is taken directly from the dishes on the lazy susan in the middle of the table using your chopsticks or spoon. You will often be offered rice or noodles at the end of the meal. These are seen as “filler foods”, and I read that if they are accepted, this may cause offence to the host since it implies that the rest of the food was not good enough. This however, is not always the case.
Many strong drinks may be offered so be prepared - typically a yellow/brown colored wine that tastes a bit like sherry (although I am sure it is not derived from grapes, but rice instead), and also a clear very potent concoction (Maotai) that is much stronger than vodka (57% ABV) but has an aroma reminiscent of Crème de Pequi from Brazil - Beware how much you drink when toasting - its ok to simply take a sip, however, “gun-bay” means to empty your glass! According to the guidebook, a high tolerance to alcohol is respected by the Chinese, needing assistance to leave the restaurant is not.
A LIST OF THINGS TO GRIN AND BEAR
- Driving experience - few rules of the road appear to be adhered to - Hold on tight!
- Lack of heat in buildings means there may be few opportunities to get warm - apparently this is most common in the Shanghai region.
- Pollution - a city of 17M people means that the smog can often reach very high levels - many Chinese people wear face masks for good reason
- Interruptions and distractions to the interview - the team experienced all of the following: TV, animals, mobile phones (most common), spouses, employees, chain smoking, babies, loud background noise, waitresses, lunch
- You will probably be offered a cup of (unstrained) green tea at each customer - you may end up drinking a lot over the course of the day as a strategy to keep warm.
- Condition of the interview location - prepare yourself. Team 1 conducted interviews in the following locations: derelict office block, squat, personal residences (more common that you will believe), restaurants and cafes, back of the mini van, job sites, dealer office, customers office, and in the street.
- Smoking is very common in China and it is normal practice for cigarettes to be passed around several times during the interview. All the customers and dealer reps we met smoked.
- Jet Lag - the 13 or 14 hour time difference makes adjusting to the long work days means tiredness and fatigue will probably last the whole trip.
- Getting lost on the way to the customer and or then having to wait for them to arrive.
- Long periods of conversation without being able to understand anything that has been said.
- Ensure you have your Chinese business cards with you. I read in my guidebook that red ink is bad luck.
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I have no idea what a squat location is - I'm afraid to ask. I miss him already. sigh
Reader Comments (10)
Best of fun and luck to Tom in his travels. Tell him to also resist the temptation to bow while speaking or being introduced to people. Don't ask me how I know. ;)
Lois Lane
What a kind surprise to read your words , just before I sign off for the evening.
I long to travel to many distant lands;however, china , as you explain in great detail, and the pic is perfect!, just seems to me so immensely crowded, that even catching your breathe, would require a really long ride-most likely out to sea =)
THis definately doesnt look like a "GOD I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE WITH HIM" sort of trip =)
I do love to learn about other countries through travel blogs, and appreciate you sharing this.
Namaste,
MB