| Soon to work in Harbin , Need to learn language fast! Starting now from Wisconsin USA | |
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| Oct 24, 2007 14:00 |   |
 | Hello! I am and inventor / engineer Now living in Wisconsin USA I am entertaining a new business venture that will take me to Harbin with increasing frequency for a month at a time many times a year. up to half the year. It is a big risk for me but It may Pay off nicely in the future with hard work. I need to find out many things such as Will it be better to keep an apartment or stay in Hotels? I am now unmarried (50 years old ) and Love to ballroom, blues, swing dance. I dont smoke and dislike it very much. where does one go to enjoy clean joyful music o dance without the smell of smoking? or is this an imposible dream? . I hear in china smoking is everywhere. I live in the country now but not to far from a cultured vibrant city which I visit often.and I Love this situation. I have have had occasion to live in the cities of chicago and Los Angles and Louisville and have never taken well to the big city life but here I go again. only with a much bigger cultural diffrence. Is it possible to live near Harbin in a nice place with clean air and make a short ( 1/2 hour) commute for work or is that not possible? How is the air and water quality there? I make beer and wine and love to cook but would love to learn more when I am ther how to cook the local cuisine. I need to learn so much more, Most of all I do not want to make foolish mistakes due to my ignorance of Harbin society. I Know I will need to study quite a bit ,I understand, I am ready willing and able to make this part time living arrangement a success and a joyful after work and weekend life is a big part of that success. . I want to know how to be open and trusting but still not be taken advantage of . How do I understand teh safe adn difficult parts of this city as I must extend my experience with travel to many cities in my life to expect some difficult parts of town exist in any big city? I wish to enjoy the company of nice smart adn athletic women and do not wish to spend time with professional flatterers or "Escorts". I will be working quite a bit but do not want to spend every night out drinking as I understand the "factory men" will likely want to drag me out everywhere. how does one facillitate good work relations without disrespecting their good intentions to entertain me ? Thank You very much for your help Metaphore, from Wisconsin I  |
| Oct 24, 2007 21:00 | #1 |
| Hi METAPHORE, It seems that you are so anxious about your life in Harbin. Well, take it easy. There are some cultural differences between US and China, but no need to worry too much. Actually, when you come to China, you will feel Chinese and Americans share a lot in common. Especially, from your engineering background, you will have much to talk about with the men at your workplace. Harbin like Chicago is city renowned for the heavy industry. You will find your room to demonstrate your talent. " I hear in china smoking is everywhere." Partly, you are right. Like the situation in USA, smoking is a serious problem in China. In most public amusement sites like ballroom, KTV room, it is hard to ward off smokers. Perhaps, there are some Non-smoking ballrooms. Since I was not a native Harbinese, it is only my assumption, hope some local harbinese will give you more constructive advice. "I make beer and wine and love to cook but would love to learn more when I am ther how to cook the local cuisine." You like beer very much, right? Several days ago, I have just read a report about the beer brewing and wine making industry in Harbin. It says that Harbin has a very long history of beer-brewing. As early as about 1900, the people in Harbin has learnt the beer-brewing skills from Russians. In the past 100 years, Harbin's role in China's beer-brewing industry is like Munich's role in Germany's beer-brewing industry. It is said that Harbinese are alcoholic(in a poitive sense). They can drink a lot of beer without being drunk. Harbinese are said to have the biggest beer belly ( beer stomach) in China. Ha ha! "I do not want to make foolish mistakes due to my ignorance of Harbin society." " I want to know how to be open and trusting but still not be taken advantage of ." Don't worry! Well, it is comprehensible that you are worrying about the complexity of interpersonal relationship when immersed in a strange environment. Like every other society, Harbin accomodates both the good and the evil. Generally speaking, most people are kind and nice. People from Northeast China enjoy the reputation of being broadminded, generous, simple and honest. Anyway, welcome to China! This is my little ( even trivial) proposal. Hopefully, it will help you. Others in this forum may give you some more helpful suggestions. Enjoy your journey to China! By the way, "metaphor" is a good name. Frankly speaking, I was impressed with your name so that I read your post. Hope you are not a metaphor yourself, since 'metaphor' is hard to understand. LOL!! |
| Nov 15, 2007 18:58 | #2 |
| GUESTMETAPHORE | thank you so much for your words of encouragement and extensive reply to my questions. I am still waiting to find out when I leave for Harbin. I have been diligently trying to learn the common language, it is more difficult than any language I have ever attempted to learn, even more difficult than japanese! but perhaps that is because I was 25 years younger when I started to learn japanese. .. in any case I thank you for your kind encouragements. TG Also known as Thomas metaphor in my poetry circles |
| Dec 7, 2007 08:54 | #3 |
| GUEST25161 | hello friend, I am a student in Harbin. if you want to learn more about Harbin and China. You can add me MSN as 163.com|jgl3000. its my email address as well. =) Good luck for your trip. JIn |
| Dec 10, 2007 02:04 | #4 |
| Hi Metaphore, Actually you're qute lucky because in Harbin they speak the most beautiful putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) in the entire country. So if you do learn the language, you'll have a wonderful accent. May I suggest you check out chinesepod.com as an excellent resource. The truth is that smoking in China is everywhere. A few long distance buses have started to phase it out, but really, I've been in China nearly 3 years and travelled extensively and I've never come across a non-smoking bar/pub/restaurant. It's possible some exist, but you shouldn't expect it. Also, smoking is culturally very important, especially for men in business and relationships are often cemented over a glass of Baijiu (strong white spirit) and a cigarette or 2. It's difficult to avoid. Erm, I have no idea of statistics, but I do know the air-quality in most Chinese cities is poor. The North East especially so and especially in winter because it is full of coal-fired power stations that keep everyone warm. Very necessary, especially in Harbin! So, you get a lot of smog and not many blue skies. It's VERY unlikely you can find somewhere on the outskirts of Harbin, within commuting distance, that is clean and green. In China you can't drink the tap water unless it has been boiled first. Bottled water is readily available everywhere. China has amazing street markets packed with fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. Beer is very cheap and Harbin beer is pretty good (comparatively speaking with other Chinese beers), it's also pretty cheap. The Chinese like to drink very sweet red wine that tastes like grape juice and has a very low alcohol content. However, you can find some dry red wines here, and can always buy imported, but it's expensive. I've travelled Harbin as a single female and didn't have any problems with safety issues. In general China is pretty safe, certainly I feel safer here than in the UK. Buses and taxis are plentiful and can easi;y get you from A to B... I hope you'll enjoy China and wish you success with your business. |
| Dec 11, 2007 03:46 | #5 |
| Good luck.. LC's advice is great and as for dancing, Well, the Chinese take it to the streets and if you're any good the women will love you. Check out the big squares around town every night of the week and you'll likely find something that suits you. This way you will also avoid smoke filled rooms and perhaps find those athletic companions you're seeking. You may even be lucky to find a few women who speak a little if not good English but it's a long shot. I've heard that Harbin's pretty white Ice festival turns black as the winter wears on and the snowfalls abate. You'll find plenty to amuse you for your first few trips. You'll just be adjusting to the differences on your first few trips. Learning to cook Chinese dishes may be a great compliment to learning the language and sweeping the ladies off their feet. Have fun and beware the Baijou!!!!!!!! |
| Dec 18, 2007 05:39 | #6 |
| GUEST11610 | Hello I am going to Harbin China in mid Febuary . I am interested in learning the Cinese language in that region ,because I will be there for a while. I am also interested in learning their beauiful culture. I could be reached by Skype Nisey12 is my ID number. |
| Dec 18, 2007 10:48 | #7 |
| Again thank you all for the wonderful advice! I am Preparing for the first visit in middle to late January. my friend said to bring brandy ? he said his friends over there were very pleased with ginger flavored wisconsin brandy. Ok so I will bring some brandy and old bourbon ( 10-16 year old ) spirits just to share but I do not know if it will make it past customs. I would hate to have Very special gifts removed by customs agents. does anyone know what the ruels are in this matter? I am excited by the prospects and challenges I understand are in store for me. I will be working with a brewing equipment manufacturer and a bottling and canning line manufacturer. My friend who is sending me to harbin said it is difficult ( for him) to get changes done to plans that were made by the designers and planners of the equipment . Making changes that here in America I would just point to and ask be done would be finished in an hour or two, bang bang! But in Harbin he said every little change takes many meetings and a week or more with much protesting that it is impossible when it is just a simple thing to understand or do ??? things like welding an extra fitting onto a tank. I am wondering if my friend is lacking the tack or cultural sensitivity to get along well or maybe it has to do with other business / cultural factors. like perhaps needing to pay off people or maybe something as simple as fear of loss of face or job? I know these things are subtle matters in an in environment where one is well immersed in the culture and I will not be able to have the luxury of subtle understanding but for living there for ten years or more. Here in Wisconsin almost everything is upfront, and fairly easy to do and understand how to get done. if a welding man is supposed to do a job to please the customer he does it to keep the customer happy and his boss without much delay or trouble ( IF the request is reasonable) . If there is an extra charge it can be told what that extra charge is in a matter of an hour or much less. So I need to understand better my friends difficulties in having changes made in equipment . I know He is not patient , He is an abrupt individual who can be brought to frustration and then screams to get things rolling and he said he often needs to make big noises to get things moving to have mistakes fixed or changes made. So I was wondering are there any books that might help me understand how to get things done in a manufacturing environment in china or should I not ask so broadly to say china, and just refer to Harbin as things may be done in a different way up north as they are down south? More in next note as I have exceeded 3000 charaters! |
| Dec 18, 2007 10:55 | #8 |
| IN America there are indeed differences in the way business and worker self responsibility expectations assumptions and realities are from north to south east to west. These vary widely from management levels to Professional crafts and trads ppersons to Production workers to novice and less trained workers In the northern Midwest we seem to have a work ethic that is very individually motivated and with a very high awareness of the social good . For example in Wisconsin, and Minnesota when many workers find a tool or part laying on a busy work place path he will pick it up and return it to where it belongs or to who it belongs . From my experience in Kentucky and Arkansas and Louisiana it is more likely the worker will step over it and keep walking (thinking it is not my job to pick up that tool) not thinking to keep the workplace neat or safer unless told to pick it up by a supervisor.. So when I have a Project and have a choice to hire a worker from the south or a worker from the north I have a tendency to have faith the worker from the north will have more personal motivation. I wish this were not true so as to make it seem like a prejudice but my long experience, on average seems to validate this thought mor than invalidate it . so I seek to learn more about the work ethic and social work structure. The traditional Ethic and the developing ethic as Chinas workers and managers move at high speed out from collective thinking getting comfortable with the world of capitalism. Are most working people ( welders, mechanics, drafts people, truck drivers) in a hierarchical thinking mode where orders must be given from above to implement changes or modifications or is there a a sense of ownership and personal initiative solidly in place ? I am so ignorant and have so little time to re mediate this lack of understanding. So many questions so little time. thanks TG |
| Dec 20, 2007 04:52 | #9 |
| Your friend has advised you correctly. It often takes forever to get things changed but when it happens it happens swiftly. Perhaps the best investment you can make when you arrive it to find an astute independent translator with some experience in business negotiations. Brief them on your requirements and expectations and ask for their advice on how to approach matters. Be sure to have plans B C and D up your sleeve. A few bottles of good quality of 'plonk' will go down a treat at these negotiations. Chinese generally like to do business over food and baijiu and a lot of palm greasing. If you can go the distance (drink a few under the table) then you may just get things done swiftly. Once you have their respect you can usually move ahead with a little or a lot less friction. But don;t ever expect smooth sailing. Just be ecstatic and grateful when you get it. Unless you own a factory hear I doubt you will have much contact with the general labour force, only relevant engineers and dept. heads. A couple of declared bottles should not cause any concern at customs. Be sure not to carry it in your carry-on luggage as it may be confiscated. Pack well in checked luggage. |
| Sep 24, 2009 17:19 | #10 |
| GUESTAWAD | I will go to Harbin as a teacher very soon. Is there plenty of work as I was told? |
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