Back from 上海、无锡、苏州 and 杭州!
The business study trip to the YRD region was certainly an enriching learning experience. We visited more than 10 companies in total. It was certainly a privilege and eye-opener having able to have exclusive access to companies, especially reputable ones like OCBC, Stone Forest, APB, GM Motors, Ramatex, and we were even given the opportunity to tour around their manufacturing plants. Getting to know and exchange namecards with VIPs whom I'll never foresee myself interacting with during the three networking dinners. Went to the Expo 2010 Exhibition Centre which showcases impressive pavilion structures of the participating countries. Felt that there was so much to learn, so much to absorb within 10 days.
Yet there's always the flip side. Disappointing moments where you see your classmates engaged in class politics during meals and networking dinners, and how it became a prisoner's dilemma for your group to follow suit. If our school has already been notoriously known for its "competitiveness" within the campus itself, then this trip probably took it to greater heights. To me, no doubt the different dynamics and composition of the class already made us difficult to bond, it was the condone of such actions that result in the high barriers throughout the trip. Or perhaps it was just my group who felt that way, since the rest seemed to be able to mingle along just fine.
I would say I liked Suzhou the best and Shanghai the least. Perhaps my expectations was too high after hearing from friends who interned in Shanghai, that it became disappointing when I was actually there. Very developed city especially with the incoming Expo 2010, but sadly in my words, uncivilized people were aplenty. The gap was just too great to overcome. In the end, I felt like if people are rude, I will "just rude back". There was simply no other way. Suzhou was beautiful. People are genuinely nice and offer to help you out of kindness. Simplicity still works best for me.
Ok peektures time:
Flew off on the same night I ended my last paper.
Awesome friends came to send me off and waited with me
Groupmates
Shanghai
Of work
Of play!
Will miss the 小笼包s、锅贴s、汤包s and the likes!
Travelled to Hangzhou for 西湖. Beautiful, picturesque scenery even in the foggy and cold weather which took a further dip. Love the weather even though the wind could be unbearable at times!
It wasn't the most memorable trip- in fact I would think other business study trips would be a lot more fun. But I must say I learnt a lot from this trip even though they were more bad than good- made me grew a little I think!
