Luncheon in Taian
Taian Municipal MeetingSunday, December 04, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Final Instructions
I have asked Jerry Auclair to lead the group to China. Jerry has been to Asia a number of times and knows the customs routine. He will organize you appropriately in Hartford and Chicago to ensure a safe and orderly trip.
Peter Bogen has luggage tags that will be delivered to you at the airport. He will also have business cards for you.
See you in Beijing!
Ge Dan
Peter Bogen has luggage tags that will be delivered to you at the airport. He will also have business cards for you.
See you in Beijing!
Ge Dan
Monday, October 31, 2005
Hotels in China
Hotel Locations and Contact Information
Here are the hotels for our stay in China. All hotels are now confirmed!
Beijing
November 5-7 (Entire Delegation)
Beijing Jianguo Hotel
Add: 5 Jianguo Menwai Dajie, Beijing, China
Tel: 86-10-65002233
This hotel is a four-star hotel with a great location for all of our Beijing activities.
Qingdao
November 8-10 (Qingdao Sister Schools)
November 8 (Delegation except for Henry and Lowenstein)
Hotel Equatorial Qingdao
Add: No. 28 Xiang Gang Zhong Lu, Qingdao 266071
Tel: 86-532-5721688
Jinan
November 9-10 (Jinan Sister School)
November 11-13 (Entire Delegation)
Crowne Plaza Hotel Jinan
Add: No. 3 Tian Di Tan Street, Jinan 250011
Tel: 86-531-6029999
This hotel is a five-star hotel with a great location in downtown Jinan.
Taian
November 9-10 (Taian Sister Schools)
Taishan Overseas Chinese Hotel
Add: 15 Dongyue Dajie, Taian 271000
Tel: 86-538-8228112
Zhuhai
November 8-10 (Hartford)
Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel
Add: No. 9, East Shi Hua Road, Ji Da, Zhuhai, Guandong, China 519015
Tel: 011-86-756-3333 838, Fax: 011-86-756-3333 311
You can also do internet searches to check out any of the above hotels.
Here are the hotels for our stay in China. All hotels are now confirmed!
Beijing
November 5-7 (Entire Delegation)
Beijing Jianguo Hotel
Add: 5 Jianguo Menwai Dajie, Beijing, China
Tel: 86-10-65002233
This hotel is a four-star hotel with a great location for all of our Beijing activities.
Qingdao
November 8-10 (Qingdao Sister Schools)
November 8 (Delegation except for Henry and Lowenstein)
Hotel Equatorial Qingdao
Add: No. 28 Xiang Gang Zhong Lu, Qingdao 266071
Tel: 86-532-5721688
Jinan
November 9-10 (Jinan Sister School)
November 11-13 (Entire Delegation)
Crowne Plaza Hotel Jinan
Add: No. 3 Tian Di Tan Street, Jinan 250011
Tel: 86-531-6029999
This hotel is a five-star hotel with a great location in downtown Jinan.
Taian
November 9-10 (Taian Sister Schools)
Taishan Overseas Chinese Hotel
Add: 15 Dongyue Dajie, Taian 271000
Tel: 86-538-8228112
Zhuhai
November 8-10 (Hartford)
Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel
Add: No. 9, East Shi Hua Road, Ji Da, Zhuhai, Guandong, China 519015
Tel: 011-86-756-3333 838, Fax: 011-86-756-3333 311
You can also do internet searches to check out any of the above hotels.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Important Luggage Announcement
United Airlines now has a 50 lb limit on each piece of checked luggage for international. It used to be 70 lbs. Please watch the weight on you luggage carefully since I have seen some real unhappy people in airports who have overweight lugguage and the airline makes you pay! Also, the 44 lb weight limit for in China air transportation is for real. They assess a charge for the whole group if we are over. Quanxi helps but we don't use it unless we have too. It is also a cultural respect issue related to following the rules in China. See the following link for more details on United baggage policy: http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51146,00.html#International
Monday, October 24, 2005
Qingdao School Matches
Here are the matches for new schools in Qingdao and Connecticut:
1. Coventry High School and Qingdao Zhicheng Jr. and Senior Middle School
2. Darien High School and Qingdao No. 58 Middle School
3. Farmington High School and Qingdao No. 1 Middle School
4. Granby High School and Qingdao No. 16 Middle School
5. Ledyard High School and Qingdao Art School
6. New London High School and Qingdao No. 11 Middle School
7. Windsor High School and Qingdao No. 9 Middle School
1. Coventry High School and Qingdao Zhicheng Jr. and Senior Middle School
2. Darien High School and Qingdao No. 58 Middle School
3. Farmington High School and Qingdao No. 1 Middle School
4. Granby High School and Qingdao No. 16 Middle School
5. Ledyard High School and Qingdao Art School
6. New London High School and Qingdao No. 11 Middle School
7. Windsor High School and Qingdao No. 9 Middle School
Qingdao Schools
Here is information common to ALL schools in Qingdao. This information has been assembled by Charlotte and Carolyn to give you an idea what the schools will be like. All Qingdao senior middle schools, whether key, standard, or vocational, have:
- Grades 1, 2, and 3 "Gao yi, er, san" (Grades 10,11,and 12); the vocational schools have a five-year option
- Fine English teachers, mostly very young, who offer a range of pedagogy, engage their students, use technology, and teach almost entirely in English
- Multi-media classrooms
- Well-equipped biology, chemistry, and physics labs
- Computer labs with Internet access
- Interactive classes, when possible for the lesson
- School uniforms
- Little free time for students
- Examination pressure
- Little or no choice of classes for students, after the initial choice of math/science, humanities, or vocational track
- Supervised evening self-study classes
- Weekend classes for grade 3 preparing for the college entrance examination (and sometimes even for grades 1 and 2)
- Morning exercises after first two classes and eye exercises 2 x/day
- Class size of 50-60 (uncommon to have 40)
- Teachers teach 1 or 2 classes per day
- Some school fees, vary according to the kind of school and status
- Administrative structure includes a party secretary, who may be the assistant principal
- As described: a time-tested, "scientific," research-based approach to teaching and management
- Grades 1, 2, and 3 "Gao yi, er, san" (Grades 10,11,and 12); the vocational schools have a five-year option
- Fine English teachers, mostly very young, who offer a range of pedagogy, engage their students, use technology, and teach almost entirely in English
- Multi-media classrooms
- Well-equipped biology, chemistry, and physics labs
- Computer labs with Internet access
- Interactive classes, when possible for the lesson
- School uniforms
- Little free time for students
- Examination pressure
- Little or no choice of classes for students, after the initial choice of math/science, humanities, or vocational track
- Supervised evening self-study classes
- Weekend classes for grade 3 preparing for the college entrance examination (and sometimes even for grades 1 and 2)
- Morning exercises after first two classes and eye exercises 2 x/day
- Class size of 50-60 (uncommon to have 40)
- Teachers teach 1 or 2 classes per day
- Some school fees, vary according to the kind of school and status
- Administrative structure includes a party secretary, who may be the assistant principal
- As described: a time-tested, "scientific," research-based approach to teaching and management
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Group Check
In 2002, a Connecticut high school teacher taught me be a system to make sure that all participants were present for scheduled departures throughout the field study. After only a few days I had become very weary of counting. The system about to be described worked
flawlessly for over three weeks until we got to the Sinopec complex outside of Beijing. I called for a group check and there was no response which meant everyone was present. Our bus had moved about 100 feet when a hysterical roar from the back of the bus let me know clearly that someone was missing. It was the teacher who provided me with the flawless strategy. He had made a stop at the four star Chinese-style restroom!
I will provide an advance time for assembly in the hotel lobby for departures and for other events where you may have some free time before a scheduled departure. We will do group checks frequently. Here is how the system works. Below is the list for all participants in the group in alphabetical order. Each participant looks for the next person on the alphabet list. The last person on the list, Wood, looks for the first person, Auclair. In the hightly unlikely event a person is not with the group for a medical or other reason, you will need to skip that person and look for the next person on the alphabet. We do not need to keep track of Sternberg, Peng and Gregg because nothing will move without them.
Group Checklist
Auclair
Bogen
Clouet
Feser
Francis
Graner
Henry
Hetherington
Howley
Lowenstein
Van Dorp
Willard
Wood
flawlessly for over three weeks until we got to the Sinopec complex outside of Beijing. I called for a group check and there was no response which meant everyone was present. Our bus had moved about 100 feet when a hysterical roar from the back of the bus let me know clearly that someone was missing. It was the teacher who provided me with the flawless strategy. He had made a stop at the four star Chinese-style restroom!
I will provide an advance time for assembly in the hotel lobby for departures and for other events where you may have some free time before a scheduled departure. We will do group checks frequently. Here is how the system works. Below is the list for all participants in the group in alphabetical order. Each participant looks for the next person on the alphabet list. The last person on the list, Wood, looks for the first person, Auclair. In the hightly unlikely event a person is not with the group for a medical or other reason, you will need to skip that person and look for the next person on the alphabet. We do not need to keep track of Sternberg, Peng and Gregg because nothing will move without them.
Group Checklist
Auclair
Bogen
Clouet
Feser
Francis
Graner
Henry
Hetherington
Howley
Lowenstein
Van Dorp
Willard
Wood
Friday, October 21, 2005
Tickets and Passports
Electronic airline tickets and passports with Chinese visas have arrived. Tickets and passports will be delivered to you on October 24. We will be flying United out of BDL (Bradley/Hartford Springfield) to ORD (Chicago) to PEK (Beijing) and returning on the same route. Please plan to arrive for check in at the United counter two hours before check in at approximately 7:00A for a 9:09A depature for Chicago. The luggage chair will deliver your business cards and luggage tags to you at the airport so allow extra time to take care of that. Also, if you have a United Frequent Flyer number bring your card with you so you can have it entered when you check in. If you do not have a frequent flyer number, you can do it online. You must be present at the departure gate no later than 30 minutes prior to departure.
I have checked each ticket and passport and everything is correct but you need to check them again on Monday. I see that seats have not been assigned so that is an even better reason to be at the airport early. They probably will not be able to do seat assignments at Bradley for the Chicago to Beijing link. When you get to Chicago go immediately to the gate and stand in line as soon as the counter opens. If you are there early, you can have a better selection of seats. Also, you must do a check in again anyway in Chicago at the gate so they can check your passport for the Chinese visa and put a stamp on your boarding pass. You don't have to worry about luggage because it is checked all the way to Beijing from Bradley. When you arrive in Chicago, I suggest that you find a common area for everyone to be together as a group and then group members can go get food and coffee etc. However, watch the clock carefully and make sure you are always close to the gate. I will be putting together a group checklist that we will use in China to keep track of everyone. I will also appoint a person to be "group commander" until you get to Beijing where that person can be relieved of duties.
When you arrive in Beijing all you need to do is follow the corridor. You will need to have a form that was provided on the plane that asks for you flight number, passport number, address in China, etc. That address is Mr. Lin Zhouping, Deputy Secretary General, CEAIE, No. 37, Damucang Hutong, Xi'dan, Beijing 100816, 86-10-6641-4918. You will need to complete a health form that you drop off and then proceed through immigration. You will need you passport and the form you filled out on the plane. Chinese immigration stamps you passport and you are in.
Then you head for the luggage area. The luggage committee will pick up the luggage and put it on carts -- they are free. Before leaving luggage make sure everyone has their luggage. Peng and I will meet you and welcome you to China as you emerge from the luggage area. Leave all the luggage on the carts because we roll them all the way to the bus across the street. We will also need to go down elevators.
Here is the schedule:
Friday, November 4
Flt: 145
Lv. Hartford Springfield 9:09A
Ar. Chicago O'Hare 10:44A
Flt: 851
Lv. Chicago O'Hare 12:05P
Ar. Beijing 3:40P (Next Day, Saturday, November 5)
Monday, November 14
Flt: 850 Lv. Beijing 5:30P
Ar. Chicago O'Hare 4:25P (Same Day)
Flt: 794
Lv. Chicago O'Hare 6:15P
Ar. Hartford Springfield 9:27P
You can find additional flight information online by going to the United Airline website. Tickets are issued by Asia Travel. Their phone number is 617-482-0605; fax is 617-482-2360. Please contact me first if you have questions.
I have checked each ticket and passport and everything is correct but you need to check them again on Monday. I see that seats have not been assigned so that is an even better reason to be at the airport early. They probably will not be able to do seat assignments at Bradley for the Chicago to Beijing link. When you get to Chicago go immediately to the gate and stand in line as soon as the counter opens. If you are there early, you can have a better selection of seats. Also, you must do a check in again anyway in Chicago at the gate so they can check your passport for the Chinese visa and put a stamp on your boarding pass. You don't have to worry about luggage because it is checked all the way to Beijing from Bradley. When you arrive in Chicago, I suggest that you find a common area for everyone to be together as a group and then group members can go get food and coffee etc. However, watch the clock carefully and make sure you are always close to the gate. I will be putting together a group checklist that we will use in China to keep track of everyone. I will also appoint a person to be "group commander" until you get to Beijing where that person can be relieved of duties.
When you arrive in Beijing all you need to do is follow the corridor. You will need to have a form that was provided on the plane that asks for you flight number, passport number, address in China, etc. That address is Mr. Lin Zhouping, Deputy Secretary General, CEAIE, No. 37, Damucang Hutong, Xi'dan, Beijing 100816, 86-10-6641-4918. You will need to complete a health form that you drop off and then proceed through immigration. You will need you passport and the form you filled out on the plane. Chinese immigration stamps you passport and you are in.
Then you head for the luggage area. The luggage committee will pick up the luggage and put it on carts -- they are free. Before leaving luggage make sure everyone has their luggage. Peng and I will meet you and welcome you to China as you emerge from the luggage area. Leave all the luggage on the carts because we roll them all the way to the bus across the street. We will also need to go down elevators.
Here is the schedule:
Friday, November 4
Flt: 145
Lv. Hartford Springfield 9:09A
Ar. Chicago O'Hare 10:44A
Flt: 851
Lv. Chicago O'Hare 12:05P
Ar. Beijing 3:40P (Next Day, Saturday, November 5)
Monday, November 14
Flt: 850 Lv. Beijing 5:30P
Ar. Chicago O'Hare 4:25P (Same Day)
Flt: 794
Lv. Chicago O'Hare 6:15P
Ar. Hartford Springfield 9:27P
You can find additional flight information online by going to the United Airline website. Tickets are issued by Asia Travel. Their phone number is 617-482-0605; fax is 617-482-2360. Please contact me first if you have questions.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Committee Responsibilities
Here are the committee responsibilities. These committees do not have official meetings! If you somehow feel inadequate for the assigned committee, only you will know.
Luggage Committee:
--Obtains carts at airports, place luggage on carts and roll carts to destination;
--Maintains luggage inventory;
--Hands personal luggage to fellow participants when handling group luggage;
--Makes sure each participant has visual check of personal luggage;
--At hotels makes sure everyone knows time luggage needs to be placed outside hotel door for bellhop pickup for departures;
--Carries extra self sealer luggage tags for lost tags; and
--Carries extra identification ribbons for lost ribbons on luggage.
Gift Committee:
--Arranges gift needs one day in advance in consulation;
--Collects group gifts from participants for bus driver and guides; and
--Arranges for gift transport to all gifting events.
Comfort and Logistics Committee:
--Advises on daily attire;
--Handles first aid needs;
--Carries files for medical and emergency information;
--Collects passports for hotel arrival; and
--Maintains participant room list.
Culture/Language and Travel Committee:
--Advises on international travel;
--Advises on culture/language issues; and
--Maintains group cohesion.
Luggage Committee:
--Obtains carts at airports, place luggage on carts and roll carts to destination;
--Maintains luggage inventory;
--Hands personal luggage to fellow participants when handling group luggage;
--Makes sure each participant has visual check of personal luggage;
--At hotels makes sure everyone knows time luggage needs to be placed outside hotel door for bellhop pickup for departures;
--Carries extra self sealer luggage tags for lost tags; and
--Carries extra identification ribbons for lost ribbons on luggage.
Gift Committee:
--Arranges gift needs one day in advance in consulation;
--Collects group gifts from participants for bus driver and guides; and
--Arranges for gift transport to all gifting events.
Comfort and Logistics Committee:
--Advises on daily attire;
--Handles first aid needs;
--Carries files for medical and emergency information;
--Collects passports for hotel arrival; and
--Maintains participant room list.
Culture/Language and Travel Committee:
--Advises on international travel;
--Advises on culture/language issues; and
--Maintains group cohesion.
Committee Assignments
China society functions as a group culture. The more we behave and function as a group, the easier it will be for us to gain access to Chinese institutions and to travel comfortably. Each committee will have a committee chair identified by an asterik and each participant will be a member of a committee. Tasks for the committees will be provided in another post and we will go over committee tasks on October 24.
The committees are:
Culture/Language and Travel Committee
*Graner, Henry, Wood
Luggage Committee
*Borden, Willard, Hetherington, Feser
Gift Committee
*Howley, Lowenstein, Clouet
Comfort and Logistics Committee
*Van Dorp, Francis, Auclair
The committees are:
Culture/Language and Travel Committee
*Graner, Henry, Wood
Luggage Committee
*Borden, Willard, Hetherington, Feser
Gift Committee
*Howley, Lowenstein, Clouet
Comfort and Logistics Committee
*Van Dorp, Francis, Auclair
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Ticket Purchase and Visa Process
Tickets for travel from Hartford-Chicago-Beijing on Friday, November 4 with return on Monday, November 14 have been purchased. Chinese visas are in process. We will hold a meeting on Monday, October 24 in 307A from 4:00 to 6:30 at the Connecticut State Department of Education. At this meeting, you will receive a copy of your electronic ticket as well as your passport with the Chinese visa. The meeting will also include final preparations: gifts and gifting, luggage restrictions, handling money, business cards, committees and a brief history of the Connecticut-Shandong relationship. We now have 15 participants including my friend, Peng Zhen, who will accompany us in Beijing and Shandong. We have one additional participant pending.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Tentative China Itinerary, November 4-14
Connecticut-Shandong Education Leadership Delegation
Commissioner Betty J. Sternberg, Delegation Leader
Friday, November 4
Hartford to Chicago to Beijing with arrival Saturday, November 5
Tiananmen Square
Dinner
Sunday, November 6
Panjiayuan (Antique) Market
Great Wall at Badaling
Lunch
Hutong Tour and Home of Ms. Kong, Retired Teacher, Cultural Revolution
Dinner
Beijing Acrobats
Monday, November 7
Ministry of Education: Ranking Officials from International, Basic Education, Language
Silk Alley (Xiushui)
Lunch
Forbidden City
Beijing Duck Banquet: Guests, China Education Association for International Education
(CEAIE) and Ministry of Education
Tuesday, November 8
Plane from Beijing to Qingdao (Shandong Deputy Commissioner Huang Qi will meet us in
Qingdao in the evening.)
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein -- Flies from Beijing to Zhuhai, Guangdong Province
Lunch
City Tour
Banquet (Some combination of Shandong Provincial Education Department and Qingdao
Municipal Education Department)
Wednesday, November 9
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Qingdao to Jinan (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Thursday, November 10
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Jinan to Taian (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Friday, November 11
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Taian (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Departure to Jinan
Banquet hosted by Mme. Huang
Saturday, November 12
Qufu, the home of Confucius
Lunch in Qufu
Dinner in Jinan
Sunday, November 13
Field Study in Jinan on your own
Banquet hosted by Sternberg
Monday, November 14
Soft Sleeper Train to Beijing
Lunch
Beijing to Chicago to Hartford with arrival on same day
Commissioner Betty J. Sternberg, Delegation Leader
Friday, November 4
Hartford to Chicago to Beijing with arrival Saturday, November 5
Tiananmen Square
Dinner
Sunday, November 6
Panjiayuan (Antique) Market
Great Wall at Badaling
Lunch
Hutong Tour and Home of Ms. Kong, Retired Teacher, Cultural Revolution
Dinner
Beijing Acrobats
Monday, November 7
Ministry of Education: Ranking Officials from International, Basic Education, Language
Silk Alley (Xiushui)
Lunch
Forbidden City
Beijing Duck Banquet: Guests, China Education Association for International Education
(CEAIE) and Ministry of Education
Tuesday, November 8
Plane from Beijing to Qingdao (Shandong Deputy Commissioner Huang Qi will meet us in
Qingdao in the evening.)
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein -- Flies from Beijing to Zhuhai, Guangdong Province
Lunch
City Tour
Banquet (Some combination of Shandong Provincial Education Department and Qingdao
Municipal Education Department)
Wednesday, November 9
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Qingdao to Jinan (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Thursday, November 10
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Jinan to Taian (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Friday, November 11
Partner School Visits
Qingdao (7) Clouet, Feser, Van Dorp, Auclair, Howley, Francis, Graner
Jinan (1) Hetherington
Taian (3) Wood, Willard, Borden
Taian (3) Sternberg, Gregg, Peng, Hosted by Mme. Huang
Zhuhai (2) Henry, Lowenstein
Departure to Jinan
Banquet hosted by Mme. Huang
Saturday, November 12
Qufu, the home of Confucius
Lunch in Qufu
Dinner in Jinan
Sunday, November 13
Field Study in Jinan on your own
Banquet hosted by Sternberg
Monday, November 14
Soft Sleeper Train to Beijing
Lunch
Beijing to Chicago to Hartford with arrival on same day
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
September 12 Agenda
Connecticut-Shandong Education Leadership Delegation
Monday, September 12, 2005
State Office Building, Room 307A
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
4:00 – 4:15
Monday, September 12, 2005
State Office Building, Room 307A
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
4:00 – 4:15
Welcome and Introductions: Dr. Betty J. Sternberg, Commissioner, CSDE;
Mme. Huang Qi, Deputy Commissioner, SPDE; and Mr. Daniel W. Gregg, CT-Shandong Liaison, CSDE
4:15 – 5:00
Mme. Huang Qi, Deputy Commissioner, SPDE; and Mr. Daniel W. Gregg, CT-Shandong Liaison, CSDE
4:15 – 5:00
Language for Survival and Chinese Names
Mme. Huang Qi
5:00 – 5:15
Mme. Huang Qi
5:00 – 5:15
Introduction to Shandong Province
Mme. Huang Qi
5:15 – 6:15
Mme. Huang Qi
5:15 – 6:15
Why China? Ms. Charlotte Mason, China Exchange Initiative, Ms. Carolyn Henderson, China Exchange Initiative
Schools in China and School Partnerships: Ms. Charlotte Mason
Schools in China and School Partnerships: Ms. Charlotte Mason
Ms. Carolyn Henderson
6:15 – 6:30
6:15 – 6:30
Questions and Wrap-Up
Valid passports must be brought to the meeting. Upon arrival participants will complete the Chinese visa application form. If you have a passport photo available, please bring the photo required for the Chinese visa application. A digital photo will be taken of all participants for purposes of photo documentation and/or Chinese visa application. Please review a participant information roster for purposes of creating a Chinese business card. Health forms to be completed will also be distributed. A display of Chinese RMB (money) with exchange rates will be reviewed.
Meeting Checklist:
Valid Passport (Bring to the meeting.)
Visa Application (Complete at the meeting.)
Visa Photo (Bring or submit to photo op at the meeting.)
Participant List (Complete missing data and correct existing information.)
Health Form (Distributed at the meeting.)
Valid passports must be brought to the meeting. Upon arrival participants will complete the Chinese visa application form. If you have a passport photo available, please bring the photo required for the Chinese visa application. A digital photo will be taken of all participants for purposes of photo documentation and/or Chinese visa application. Please review a participant information roster for purposes of creating a Chinese business card. Health forms to be completed will also be distributed. A display of Chinese RMB (money) with exchange rates will be reviewed.
Meeting Checklist:
Valid Passport (Bring to the meeting.)
Visa Application (Complete at the meeting.)
Visa Photo (Bring or submit to photo op at the meeting.)
Participant List (Complete missing data and correct existing information.)
Health Form (Distributed at the meeting.)
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Luggage
I will be providing you with luggage identification tags that will have your Chinese name on them. This will be important for the bellhops in the hotels and for us as a group to identify quickly the luggage that belongs to our group. I will provide you with extra name tags to put on carryon luggage as well. If your luggage identification tag becomes lost enroute, the luggage chair will have a self-sealer replacement tag so you can make an instant new one. I will also provide you with red, white and blue ribbons to attach to all checked and carryon luggage, camera cases or anything else you need to keep track of. Your colleagues will be able to save your potentially lost or misplaced items through visual identification from long distances. We will go over luggage protocol at our second meeting.
I expect to be using United Airlines but that could change due to prices etc. Our United Airline flight is considered to be an international flight beginning at Bradley Airport even though the first leg is a domestic flight. International luggage rules for weight limits apply. That means you are allowed two checked bags not to exceed 70 lbs each. For the return flight beginning in Beijing the generous weight allowance will work. However, once we get to China and fly from Beijing to Qingdao or other locations in China the in-China restrictions kick in. If you follow the international generous luggage limit, you will get the group in deep, deep trouble in China. China Air allows only one checked piece of luggage with a limit of 44 lbs. They will weight the entire delegation together and if it is over a little bit and we have good guanxi, we will be forgiven. However, if we are over a considerable amount, we pay and there is a bit of embarrassment to go with it. S o, please, please travel light! The return train from Jinan to Beijing will not be a problem. You can haul a lot more onto the train than allowable on the plane. Just remember that you do need to haul everything.
I strongly advise that you check only one bag at Bradley and place a soft cover duffle bag inside to use for your return trip home. You can put clothing and other items that need less protection in the duffle bag. Do not bring heavy metal objects such as irons, heavy books etc. They dramatically increase the weight plus you have to carry them yourself. For general information on travel, you can go to the United Airline luggage section. While it gives you the United information, it will not tell you about in-China restrictions. Here is the web link: http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html
Too much luggage slows us down considerably and you do have to carry all your own luggage yourself at various times. We can probably leave some luggage at the hotel in Beijing where we will be staying and then pick it up later when we return from Jinan. For those who find yourself with too much weight for Air China, you can leave items in Beijing. If you get overloaded with gifts and other educational necessities you find in China for the return trip, I suggest you find your way to Wal-Mart in Jinan on the last day and purchase a second suitcase. You are allowed two checked bags, one carryon and a small backpack for your return trip on United.
I expect to be using United Airlines but that could change due to prices etc. Our United Airline flight is considered to be an international flight beginning at Bradley Airport even though the first leg is a domestic flight. International luggage rules for weight limits apply. That means you are allowed two checked bags not to exceed 70 lbs each. For the return flight beginning in Beijing the generous weight allowance will work. However, once we get to China and fly from Beijing to Qingdao or other locations in China the in-China restrictions kick in. If you follow the international generous luggage limit, you will get the group in deep, deep trouble in China. China Air allows only one checked piece of luggage with a limit of 44 lbs. They will weight the entire delegation together and if it is over a little bit and we have good guanxi, we will be forgiven. However, if we are over a considerable amount, we pay and there is a bit of embarrassment to go with it. S o, please, please travel light! The return train from Jinan to Beijing will not be a problem. You can haul a lot more onto the train than allowable on the plane. Just remember that you do need to haul everything.
I strongly advise that you check only one bag at Bradley and place a soft cover duffle bag inside to use for your return trip home. You can put clothing and other items that need less protection in the duffle bag. Do not bring heavy metal objects such as irons, heavy books etc. They dramatically increase the weight plus you have to carry them yourself. For general information on travel, you can go to the United Airline luggage section. While it gives you the United information, it will not tell you about in-China restrictions. Here is the web link: http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html
Too much luggage slows us down considerably and you do have to carry all your own luggage yourself at various times. We can probably leave some luggage at the hotel in Beijing where we will be staying and then pick it up later when we return from Jinan. For those who find yourself with too much weight for Air China, you can leave items in Beijing. If you get overloaded with gifts and other educational necessities you find in China for the return trip, I suggest you find your way to Wal-Mart in Jinan on the last day and purchase a second suitcase. You are allowed two checked bags, one carryon and a small backpack for your return trip on United.
Health and Medical
I will be sending medical forms to be completed. These will be placed in a notebook that I will carry. You should keep a copy for yourself as well. You can use an alternate medical form as well. In an emergency, we need basic information so we can assist you. If there is an emergency we will have your records readily available. We will also have the copy of your SOS or equilavent evacuation insurance.
Do not forget to bring any prescribed medications or hygenic necessities. While drug stores are available in China, keep in mind that we will be on the move and running a tight schedule. S o please stock up on medical and hygenic items you will need in SMALL packaging. Some things to consider bringing:
Tissues and moist towelettes (in portage packages)
Multiple packages of tissue (the small pocket size) for use in toliets
Waterless anti-bacterial hand cleaner (SMALL container)
Necessary prescription medication and list of generic names
Common medications including aspirin, antacid, eyewash, decongestants, cough syrup or throat lozenges etc.
Medication for diarrhea and constipation
Bandaids, q-tips
A SMALL first-aid kit -- really small of basics that may include some of above.
If you run out or forget something in your hotel room, chances are your colleagues will be supplied.
Western toliets will be available in the hotels but chances are very good that the schools you visit will be the Asian squat style so be prepared. You will need to bring you own tissues. Tissues are not available in public bathrooms. Tissues are placed in a small basket and not in the the commode! The concept of privacy in public areas is different than in the United States. Sometimes the bathrooms are not as enclosed as we are used to. Don't worry people do respect space. This should be rare but just in case ........... Don't be surprised if the public bathrooms are a bit gross.
Probably the most important health consideration is to drink clean water. This is true in many countries including our own. Do not drink any tap water! Drink bottled water. Your hotel room may have a large container of hot water that has been boiled. You can use that to make tea -- the tea bags will be there too! Bottled water will probably be in the hotel room as well. Bottled water is everywhere and very easy to purchase. The water provided in restaurants should be okay. I suggest that you brush your teeth and clean your brush with bottled water. The key to good health is to get as much rest as you can, drink bottled water, and relax. There will be no reason to be anxious about China. You will be surrounded by your colleagues and we will take care of you.
Do not forget to bring any prescribed medications or hygenic necessities. While drug stores are available in China, keep in mind that we will be on the move and running a tight schedule. S o please stock up on medical and hygenic items you will need in SMALL packaging. Some things to consider bringing:
Tissues and moist towelettes (in portage packages)
Multiple packages of tissue (the small pocket size) for use in toliets
Waterless anti-bacterial hand cleaner (SMALL container)
Necessary prescription medication and list of generic names
Common medications including aspirin, antacid, eyewash, decongestants, cough syrup or throat lozenges etc.
Medication for diarrhea and constipation
Bandaids, q-tips
A SMALL first-aid kit -- really small of basics that may include some of above.
If you run out or forget something in your hotel room, chances are your colleagues will be supplied.
Western toliets will be available in the hotels but chances are very good that the schools you visit will be the Asian squat style so be prepared. You will need to bring you own tissues. Tissues are not available in public bathrooms. Tissues are placed in a small basket and not in the the commode! The concept of privacy in public areas is different than in the United States. Sometimes the bathrooms are not as enclosed as we are used to. Don't worry people do respect space. This should be rare but just in case ........... Don't be surprised if the public bathrooms are a bit gross.
Probably the most important health consideration is to drink clean water. This is true in many countries including our own. Do not drink any tap water! Drink bottled water. Your hotel room may have a large container of hot water that has been boiled. You can use that to make tea -- the tea bags will be there too! Bottled water will probably be in the hotel room as well. Bottled water is everywhere and very easy to purchase. The water provided in restaurants should be okay. I suggest that you brush your teeth and clean your brush with bottled water. The key to good health is to get as much rest as you can, drink bottled water, and relax. There will be no reason to be anxious about China. You will be surrounded by your colleagues and we will take care of you.
Wardrobe
Business dress is required for the Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, school visits and banquets. For men that means suits or jacket with tie. For women there are more options so you might want to look at photos in the galleries of previous delegations to see how they dressed. Forget high heels -- pumps are very appropriate. You will find the ground beneath is often uneven with unannounced pitfalls.
Dress casual for plane travel, Great Wall visits etc. Wear comfortable clothes that give you a good image. Bring along those comfortable walking shoes or tennis shoes. Good traction is important, especially at the Great Wall where the steps are uneven and slippery. If we get caught in a combination situation, I will tip you off ahead of time so you can bring a shoe change on the bus. Generally, we arrange the itinerary to be appropriate for the occasion. You do not need to bring your entire wardrobe. It is okay if we see you with the same outfit day after day. If it is a little rumbled that is okay too. Just make sure you have a smile on your face and stay awake in meetings!
The hotels have same day laundry service at a cost, of course. You can put laundry items in a bag in the morning and you will probably have them when you return in the evening. If you do have laundry done, pay at the front desk long before we leave. The hotel manager will not release the group and you will hold up everyone. Also, protect your room key as if it is cash. You may have to pay if you lose it or do not turn it in.
Bring a lightweight coat or jacket that can combine as a windbreaker to keep you warm. I would suggest using a layered approach so you can be comfortable. A scarf will be handy for the Great Wall and open areas where we might be exposed to wind. Pack light! Everything you bring -- you carry. Everything you purchase -- you carry. You will not be able to ship anything home. It is a bit complicated and will take too much time.
I use ziplock bags to compress clothing and keep my suitcase organized. Compressed clothes save a lot of space. Ziplock bags also keeps the moisture out. There are weight limits for luggage on international travel and an even lower weight limit for in China air travel. There are extra charges if the limits are over. International is individual but China weights the group so we all get stuck with the extra charges. Usually it balances with those who travel light. Luggage will be addressed in another posting.
Dress casual for plane travel, Great Wall visits etc. Wear comfortable clothes that give you a good image. Bring along those comfortable walking shoes or tennis shoes. Good traction is important, especially at the Great Wall where the steps are uneven and slippery. If we get caught in a combination situation, I will tip you off ahead of time so you can bring a shoe change on the bus. Generally, we arrange the itinerary to be appropriate for the occasion. You do not need to bring your entire wardrobe. It is okay if we see you with the same outfit day after day. If it is a little rumbled that is okay too. Just make sure you have a smile on your face and stay awake in meetings!
The hotels have same day laundry service at a cost, of course. You can put laundry items in a bag in the morning and you will probably have them when you return in the evening. If you do have laundry done, pay at the front desk long before we leave. The hotel manager will not release the group and you will hold up everyone. Also, protect your room key as if it is cash. You may have to pay if you lose it or do not turn it in.
Bring a lightweight coat or jacket that can combine as a windbreaker to keep you warm. I would suggest using a layered approach so you can be comfortable. A scarf will be handy for the Great Wall and open areas where we might be exposed to wind. Pack light! Everything you bring -- you carry. Everything you purchase -- you carry. You will not be able to ship anything home. It is a bit complicated and will take too much time.
I use ziplock bags to compress clothing and keep my suitcase organized. Compressed clothes save a lot of space. Ziplock bags also keeps the moisture out. There are weight limits for luggage on international travel and an even lower weight limit for in China air travel. There are extra charges if the limits are over. International is individual but China weights the group so we all get stuck with the extra charges. Usually it balances with those who travel light. Luggage will be addressed in another posting.
Negotiating Outside the Hotel
Once you have driven through Beijing and observed the ebb and flow of traffic, you will develop a great deal of respect for our bus driver. Somehow everything works in what looks like chaos. If you are a pedestrian, crossing streets can be an experience of a lifetime. If an underground passage or crossing area does not exist, then you will have to negotiate you way across a street in the midst of cars, taxis, buses, trucks and bicycles. Be alert at all times in crossing streets. The experience will begin as soon as you step out of the Beijing Airport terminal. You will need to roll your luggage across the street to a bus. The distance is short but it can be an abrupt awakening to unsuspecting jet lagers.
When leaving the hotel make sure you take a hotel card. If you get lost, show it to the taxi driver and he/she will get you back to the hotel. People will be helpful if you show them the card. Beggars and vendors can be found in tourist places. There will be vendors selling post cards and other goodies you might want to bring home. You can bargain but you will also be hounded if they find out you are a "shopper." The beggars can be aggressive and persistent. Physical expression of annoyance is helpful in ensuring their departure or the guides will shoo them away. Unfortunately, acts of kindness quickly turns into a begging frenzy so it is best to move on.
When leaving the hotel make sure you take a hotel card. If you get lost, show it to the taxi driver and he/she will get you back to the hotel. People will be helpful if you show them the card. Beggars and vendors can be found in tourist places. There will be vendors selling post cards and other goodies you might want to bring home. You can bargain but you will also be hounded if they find out you are a "shopper." The beggars can be aggressive and persistent. Physical expression of annoyance is helpful in ensuring their departure or the guides will shoo them away. Unfortunately, acts of kindness quickly turns into a begging frenzy so it is best to move on.
Securing Valuables
Being vigilant about valuables are true for travel anywhere in the world including the United States. There will be occasions when we will be in very crowded places. In my own view, China is a very safe place. Since we will be hauling cameras, laptops, a passport, credit cards and cash, one needs to be careful. You might want to consider getting one of those travel pouches with a lanyard for cash, credit cards and passport. Hotel rooms will have safes. Also, do not put valuables in any checked luggage.
Luggage, Bellhops and Activating Power in Your Room
Once the luggage is placed in the hands of the bellhops at the hotel they take over the responsiblity for getting the luggage to your room. The bellhops log all luggage using the luggage tags that has your name which they match with your assigned room. DO NOT pick up or transport your own luggage to your room at any time except for the carryon luggage you carry with you. It will confuse the bellhops and they will have trouble keeping track of all the luggage. They NEVER lose luggage. The last room to receive luggage will be the director. I will check the log to see that all luggage has been delivered and take care of the tip for the entire group. I will also sign off on the luggage after it has been delivered to our bus for our next destination and take care of the tip. When you are on your own at hotels for the sister school visit, I will give you advice on tips.
When you enter your room, you will see a slot, usually to the right and about four feet from the floor, to place your room card. Inserting the card activates the electricity for your room. When you remove the card, all lights and power goes out!
When you enter your room, you will see a slot, usually to the right and about four feet from the floor, to place your room card. Inserting the card activates the electricity for your room. When you remove the card, all lights and power goes out!
Travelers Cheques
You may want to bring along travelers cheques since you will not be able to use a credit card in open markets where you bargain. You can easily exchange U.S. currency but you will probably want to limit how much you bring. You are probably better off having plenty of travelers cheques because you can bring them home if you don't use them and it does provide security. The Chinese will ask for your passport when using travelers cheques. The signature on your passport is what the Chinese will use so make sure you use that signature on the travelers cheque. They WILL NOT cash your cheques if it is different! Exchange travelers cheques at the hotel.
Powering Electronics
Internet access is readily available for most of the hotels we will be staying in. My hunch is that our Beijing hotel can be hooked up in your room at little or no charge. Jinan should be okay too but there will be hotels that are problematic. Once we get our hotels confirmed we can probably find out in advance. If you get desperate in Jinan, I can point you to the Dragonmouth Internet Cafe in Jinan that is a combination bar, pottery studio and internet cafe. So, if your school district needs to get ahold of you for a big decision, you will be accessible. In most cases it might be easier for you to simply say the answer is "no" if they can't reach you. You may need to put in some codes to access the internet from your hotel room. Hotel staff in China are very helpful. They will come to your room and set everything up for you but I do worry about all of us calling at once! Internet is also accessible in the business center. Most hotels have a small bank of computers with a charge. The cost varies widely from no cost at all to the outrageous. Yes, the market economy is working in China!
You will need adaptors for access to power for charging camera batteries and computers. Check out the hotlink to World Electric Power Guide http://kropla.com/electric.htm. It has a picture to show whether your computer electric cable is designed for world-wide access. Please carefully examine your power accessible electronic gear to make sure you have the correct equipment. I take no responsibility for fried computers! If you bring your own hair dryer you will need a converter. I suggest you not bring it since the hotels will have them. Yes, I have had a number of fried hair dryers. Office Max and Staples carry adapters. The same kit has the adaptors you will need for powering camera batteries and computers but the converter is not for electronic equipment.
You will need adaptors for access to power for charging camera batteries and computers. Check out the hotlink to World Electric Power Guide http://kropla.com/electric.htm. It has a picture to show whether your computer electric cable is designed for world-wide access. Please carefully examine your power accessible electronic gear to make sure you have the correct equipment. I take no responsibility for fried computers! If you bring your own hair dryer you will need a converter. I suggest you not bring it since the hotels will have them. Yes, I have had a number of fried hair dryers. Office Max and Staples carry adapters. The same kit has the adaptors you will need for powering camera batteries and computers but the converter is not for electronic equipment.
Guanxi
Sometimes you will hear us talk about guanxi as we conduct our field study. Our group might be overweight a small amount on our luggage limit for in China air travel. Technically, we would have to pay extra but because our luggage courier has good guanxi with the luggage handler at the airport, it is overlooked. To express some measure of our appreciation, I will make sure our luggage courier has a good tip.
Gift giving is also a part of guanxi. I will go over gifting in a later post. Chinese officials may walk with us to the bus. Our delegation leadership will give them a final farewell before boarding the bus. As the bus leaves we will wave to them and they will wave back. So, if you see me doing some things not normally done in the United States, it is probably related to guanxi. Guanxi is probably the most important concept in how we relate to our friends in China. The people we meet in Beijing and Shandong Province are all a part of the guanxi process. Because you are a member of the Connecticut delegation, you automatically become involved in guanxi.
Defining guanxi it is not easy. In fact, it probably can't really be translated. Relationship, connection and networking are concepts we are familiar with used to explain guanxi. These terms are really not adequate to explain guanxi. Feeling is also involved in guanxi. Guanxi is where our cultures connect and collide at the same time. For us to relate to Chinese culture both sides have to meet somewhere in the middle. Guanxi is often at the center of international trade issues between the United States and China. Without some measure of guanxi our group cannot access China at the level we are operating. One begins to understand guanxi through experience. You will begin to know it when you begin to "practice and feel it." Below is an explanation of business guanxi I have taken off the internet. I have also included "definitions" for guanxi and other related terms.
Understanding the Chinese Business Networking Concept: "Guanxi"
In order to make your products presence in China last, and ensure your business expansion successful in the long run, you must understand one of the most important elements of running your business operations in China - the concept of “guanxi”. Understand this is more important than all the work researching, establishing foreign offices, and making initial contacts with freight forwarders. Even after completing your first successful move into this vast market of opportunity, you will find all your efforts pointless and fail terribly in China without this practice. Technically, “Guanxi” stands for any type of relationship. In the Chinese business world, however, it is also understood as the network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another. The Chinese businessmen mentality is very much one of "You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours." In essence, this boils down to exchanging favors, which are expected to be done regularly and voluntarily. No matter how much experience you have in American business management, the right “Guanxi” in China will make all the difference in ensuring success. The inevitable risks, barriers, and set-ups you’ll encounter in China will be minimized when you have the right “Guanxi” network working for you. It takes time and experience in order to be able to observe and identify who will be most beneficial to you. Developing and nurturing “Guanxi” requires time and resources. Your immediate Chinese network can indirectly link you to new acquaintances and information resources. The Chinese and Western cultures conduct business differently, even if, on the surface, transactions seem to be the same. The Chinese prefer to work with people they know and trust, so are less inclined to simply close a deal. With a strong relationship, however, you can be trusted and even favored. This relationship extends between companies and also between individuals at a personal level on an ongoing basis.
"Guanxi" can take on many forms. It does not have to be based on money. It is completely legal in their culture and not regarded as bribery in any way. So, there is no need to feel uncomfortable about it. Trustworthiness of both the company and individual is an important component. Following through on promises is a good indication of this. Treating someone with courtesy while others treat him or her unfairly is another aspect. Frequent contact fosters friendship as well. Chinese feel obligated to do business with their friends first. There are risks with this system, as well. When something goes wrong, the relationships are challenged, and friendships quickly disappear. Establishing “Guanxi” with high rank officials is also helpful. Although Chinese companies are increasing having to survive without government subsidiaries, many foreign companies still need strong relations with government officials. For example, the process of obtaining a new license to market your products in a new region of China is greatly accelerated and much less expensive with the right connections. The time and money necessary to establish a strong network is well worth the investment. What your business could get in return from the favors for your partners are often more much more valuable, especially in the long run, and when you’re in need. Even domestic businesses in China establish wide networks with their suppliers, retailers, banks, and local government officials. It is very common for individuals of an organization to visit the residence of their acquaintances from other organizations, bringing gifts (such as wine, cigarettes, etc.). While this practice may seem intrusive, as you spend more time learning the Chinese culture, it will become easier to understand and take part in this practice that is so central to successful Chinese commercial activity.
"Gănqíng" (感情) is an important concept in Chinese social relations which is loosely translated as "feeling" and is related to the concept of guanxi. Gănqíng reflects the tenor of a social relationship between two people or two organizations. One can speak of having good gănqíng meaning that two people have a good rapport or deep ganqing meaning that there is considerable feeling within a social relationship. The term 'gănqíng' is often seen in Chinese government comments, and is often mistranslated when used in this context. Often one will see a statement that an action "hurts the feelings of the Chinese people." This statement is better translated as an action "disturbs the relationship with the Chinese people." When used in this context the statement is actually mildly threatening implying that should the action continue, that cooperation would not be forthcoming in the future. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganqíng
"Gūanxì (关系 or 關係), literally translated as "relationship", has been a central concept in Chinese society and describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service. The two people need not be of equal social status. The term is generally not used to describe relationships within a family, and is also generally not used to describe relationships which are defined by bureaucratic norms (i.e. a boss and an office worker or a teacher and a student). The relationships formed by guanxi are personal and not transferable. It has been extensively studied and described in studies of Chinese economic and political behavior, and sociologists have linked it with the concept of social capital. When a guanxi network violates bureaucratic norms, it can lead to corruption. Guanxi can also form the basis of patron-client relations. A closely related concept is that of ganqing or feeling which reflects the depth of feeling within an interpersonal relationship. See also: Chinese social relations
Face refers to two separate but related concepts in Chinese social relations. One is mianzi (面子 in pinyin: mian4 zi0). The other is lianzi (臉子 lian3 zi0). Lian is the confidence of society in a person's moral character, while mianzi represents social perceptions of a person's prestige. For a person to maintain face is important with Chinese social relations because face translates into power and influence. A loss of lian would result in a loss of trust within a social network, while a loss of mianzi would likely result in a loss of authority. To illustrate the difference, gossiping about someone stealing from a cash register would cause a loss of lian but not mianzi. Repeatingly interrupting one's boss as he is trying to speak may cause a loss of mianzi but not lian. When trying to avoid conflict, Chinese in general will avoid causing another person to lose mianzi by bringing up embarrassing facts in public. Conversely, when challenging authority and another person's standing within a community, Chinese will often attempt to cause a loss of lian or mianzi. A very public example of this occurred during the Tiananmen protests of 1989 when Wu'er Kaixi scolded Premier Li Peng for being late to a meeting with the demonstrators. See guanxi and ganqing. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_(social_custom)"
Gift giving is also a part of guanxi. I will go over gifting in a later post. Chinese officials may walk with us to the bus. Our delegation leadership will give them a final farewell before boarding the bus. As the bus leaves we will wave to them and they will wave back. So, if you see me doing some things not normally done in the United States, it is probably related to guanxi. Guanxi is probably the most important concept in how we relate to our friends in China. The people we meet in Beijing and Shandong Province are all a part of the guanxi process. Because you are a member of the Connecticut delegation, you automatically become involved in guanxi.
Defining guanxi it is not easy. In fact, it probably can't really be translated. Relationship, connection and networking are concepts we are familiar with used to explain guanxi. These terms are really not adequate to explain guanxi. Feeling is also involved in guanxi. Guanxi is where our cultures connect and collide at the same time. For us to relate to Chinese culture both sides have to meet somewhere in the middle. Guanxi is often at the center of international trade issues between the United States and China. Without some measure of guanxi our group cannot access China at the level we are operating. One begins to understand guanxi through experience. You will begin to know it when you begin to "practice and feel it." Below is an explanation of business guanxi I have taken off the internet. I have also included "definitions" for guanxi and other related terms.
Understanding the Chinese Business Networking Concept: "Guanxi"
In order to make your products presence in China last, and ensure your business expansion successful in the long run, you must understand one of the most important elements of running your business operations in China - the concept of “guanxi”. Understand this is more important than all the work researching, establishing foreign offices, and making initial contacts with freight forwarders. Even after completing your first successful move into this vast market of opportunity, you will find all your efforts pointless and fail terribly in China without this practice. Technically, “Guanxi” stands for any type of relationship. In the Chinese business world, however, it is also understood as the network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another. The Chinese businessmen mentality is very much one of "You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours." In essence, this boils down to exchanging favors, which are expected to be done regularly and voluntarily. No matter how much experience you have in American business management, the right “Guanxi” in China will make all the difference in ensuring success. The inevitable risks, barriers, and set-ups you’ll encounter in China will be minimized when you have the right “Guanxi” network working for you. It takes time and experience in order to be able to observe and identify who will be most beneficial to you. Developing and nurturing “Guanxi” requires time and resources. Your immediate Chinese network can indirectly link you to new acquaintances and information resources. The Chinese and Western cultures conduct business differently, even if, on the surface, transactions seem to be the same. The Chinese prefer to work with people they know and trust, so are less inclined to simply close a deal. With a strong relationship, however, you can be trusted and even favored. This relationship extends between companies and also between individuals at a personal level on an ongoing basis.
"Guanxi" can take on many forms. It does not have to be based on money. It is completely legal in their culture and not regarded as bribery in any way. So, there is no need to feel uncomfortable about it. Trustworthiness of both the company and individual is an important component. Following through on promises is a good indication of this. Treating someone with courtesy while others treat him or her unfairly is another aspect. Frequent contact fosters friendship as well. Chinese feel obligated to do business with their friends first. There are risks with this system, as well. When something goes wrong, the relationships are challenged, and friendships quickly disappear. Establishing “Guanxi” with high rank officials is also helpful. Although Chinese companies are increasing having to survive without government subsidiaries, many foreign companies still need strong relations with government officials. For example, the process of obtaining a new license to market your products in a new region of China is greatly accelerated and much less expensive with the right connections. The time and money necessary to establish a strong network is well worth the investment. What your business could get in return from the favors for your partners are often more much more valuable, especially in the long run, and when you’re in need. Even domestic businesses in China establish wide networks with their suppliers, retailers, banks, and local government officials. It is very common for individuals of an organization to visit the residence of their acquaintances from other organizations, bringing gifts (such as wine, cigarettes, etc.). While this practice may seem intrusive, as you spend more time learning the Chinese culture, it will become easier to understand and take part in this practice that is so central to successful Chinese commercial activity.
"Gănqíng" (感情) is an important concept in Chinese social relations which is loosely translated as "feeling" and is related to the concept of guanxi. Gănqíng reflects the tenor of a social relationship between two people or two organizations. One can speak of having good gănqíng meaning that two people have a good rapport or deep ganqing meaning that there is considerable feeling within a social relationship. The term 'gănqíng' is often seen in Chinese government comments, and is often mistranslated when used in this context. Often one will see a statement that an action "hurts the feelings of the Chinese people." This statement is better translated as an action "disturbs the relationship with the Chinese people." When used in this context the statement is actually mildly threatening implying that should the action continue, that cooperation would not be forthcoming in the future. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganqíng
"Gūanxì (关系 or 關係), literally translated as "relationship", has been a central concept in Chinese society and describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service. The two people need not be of equal social status. The term is generally not used to describe relationships within a family, and is also generally not used to describe relationships which are defined by bureaucratic norms (i.e. a boss and an office worker or a teacher and a student). The relationships formed by guanxi are personal and not transferable. It has been extensively studied and described in studies of Chinese economic and political behavior, and sociologists have linked it with the concept of social capital. When a guanxi network violates bureaucratic norms, it can lead to corruption. Guanxi can also form the basis of patron-client relations. A closely related concept is that of ganqing or feeling which reflects the depth of feeling within an interpersonal relationship. See also: Chinese social relations
Face refers to two separate but related concepts in Chinese social relations. One is mianzi (面子 in pinyin: mian4 zi0). The other is lianzi (臉子 lian3 zi0). Lian is the confidence of society in a person's moral character, while mianzi represents social perceptions of a person's prestige. For a person to maintain face is important with Chinese social relations because face translates into power and influence. A loss of lian would result in a loss of trust within a social network, while a loss of mianzi would likely result in a loss of authority. To illustrate the difference, gossiping about someone stealing from a cash register would cause a loss of lian but not mianzi. Repeatingly interrupting one's boss as he is trying to speak may cause a loss of mianzi but not lian. When trying to avoid conflict, Chinese in general will avoid causing another person to lose mianzi by bringing up embarrassing facts in public. Conversely, when challenging authority and another person's standing within a community, Chinese will often attempt to cause a loss of lian or mianzi. A very public example of this occurred during the Tiananmen protests of 1989 when Wu'er Kaixi scolded Premier Li Peng for being late to a meeting with the demonstrators. See guanxi and ganqing. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_(social_custom)"
Chinese Culture
NAFSA: National Association of International Educators has developed a site for Chinese students coming to the United States. The website is http://www.china.nafsa.org. The culture section is particularly useful: http://www.china.nafsa.org/default.htm. Click on the "Differences between American culture" section and there is a neat chart detailing the differences in social relationships. You may want to explore the entire website.
Money and Bargaining
Chinese currency is called renminbi or RMB. A basic unit of RMB is called yuan or kuai, the colloquial term for yuan. A unit of currency (yuan) is called jiao or mao, the colloquial term for jiao. The current exchange rate is $1.00 is equal to 8.28 RMB; one RMB is about 12 cents. If you memorize the conversion rate, it will help you to determine the "value" of your money. You will be able to exchange travelers cheques or U.S. currency at the hotel. You will need your passport to do the exchange. Make sure your name is consistent for passport, travelers cheques and airline tickets. If you use a different name on the travelers cheque than on your passport, you will not be able to exchange money! You can use your credit card in China too -- no problem. It is a good idea to exchange your money at the hotel because we do not have time to go to banks or exchange offices.
Bargaining is the accepted way of purchasing in China in the open markets; less so in department stores and state-owned gift shops. Bargaining is a social experience and not the kind of behavior one might exhibit in American-style bargaining with unions or plea bargaining in court. In markets Chinese vendors will have small calculators to punch in their offering price. You might want to bring a small calculator yourself. In the open markets you may want to buy a scarf but you really don't want to let vendors know you really want it. Behave as if you really don't need it even thought you really want it. The opening offering price may be 50 yuan for the scarf. Based on U.S. prices that might be a great bargain but if you go for it in the silk market, you will be just another foreign sucker. And, you will have set the market price for the rest of us! Your response should be to offer 5 yuan. It is ridiculous and they will let you know it. Laugh and agree but behave as if you are still disinterested. They may come back with an offer of 40 yuan. You might offer 10 yuan. The next step I use is to let them know I want more than one scarf. My counter offer is to ask for 5 scarves for 20 yuan. You keep going until you come to an agreement. You have now set the price for purchasing scarves. If you want more, you can tell the next vendor what you paid, and they may simply give you the deal without any discussion. They might even try to switch a high quality scarf for a lower quality one. If you catch them doing it just laugh and switch the scarf back. They may even throw in an extra scarf if you have made a large purchase and the social experience has been a good one.
The next offer might be .... "Would you like a -----, the name of a very popular watch?" They are out of sight and underneath the scarves. The diamonds are coated with plastic but they do run. If you pay more than $10, you need to go back to bargaining school.
A member of our Fulbright-Hays Delegation in 2002 did an ethnography at the silk market. After extensive interviews and calculations (assuming everyone was honest), our paid purchase price for 20 participants was 27% of the opening price offering. I would say that was very good for novices. The vendors know you are from America and loaded with cash. You will need to be patient in your bargaining to approach Chinese prices. Another way of looking at it is to realize that the whole process is a good lesson in economics. You personally get to establish the market price -- the fundamental concept in a market or free enterprise economy.
The famous silk market next the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was closed down in January. It was a tourist icon for many years and could be found in most guide books on Beijing. A new market opened with the same vendors in an indoor three story complex. If we get the same hotel as in April, we are only a couple of blocks away! The atmosphere is the same but it can get unnerving when you have 6 to 8 vendors yelling at you at the same time and you can't see the sky for an escape route. In time it actually becomes fun and a very good way to get to know the Chinese. When they find out that you are an educator, you become an honored market guest.
Bargaining is the accepted way of purchasing in China in the open markets; less so in department stores and state-owned gift shops. Bargaining is a social experience and not the kind of behavior one might exhibit in American-style bargaining with unions or plea bargaining in court. In markets Chinese vendors will have small calculators to punch in their offering price. You might want to bring a small calculator yourself. In the open markets you may want to buy a scarf but you really don't want to let vendors know you really want it. Behave as if you really don't need it even thought you really want it. The opening offering price may be 50 yuan for the scarf. Based on U.S. prices that might be a great bargain but if you go for it in the silk market, you will be just another foreign sucker. And, you will have set the market price for the rest of us! Your response should be to offer 5 yuan. It is ridiculous and they will let you know it. Laugh and agree but behave as if you are still disinterested. They may come back with an offer of 40 yuan. You might offer 10 yuan. The next step I use is to let them know I want more than one scarf. My counter offer is to ask for 5 scarves for 20 yuan. You keep going until you come to an agreement. You have now set the price for purchasing scarves. If you want more, you can tell the next vendor what you paid, and they may simply give you the deal without any discussion. They might even try to switch a high quality scarf for a lower quality one. If you catch them doing it just laugh and switch the scarf back. They may even throw in an extra scarf if you have made a large purchase and the social experience has been a good one.
The next offer might be .... "Would you like a -----, the name of a very popular watch?" They are out of sight and underneath the scarves. The diamonds are coated with plastic but they do run. If you pay more than $10, you need to go back to bargaining school.
A member of our Fulbright-Hays Delegation in 2002 did an ethnography at the silk market. After extensive interviews and calculations (assuming everyone was honest), our paid purchase price for 20 participants was 27% of the opening price offering. I would say that was very good for novices. The vendors know you are from America and loaded with cash. You will need to be patient in your bargaining to approach Chinese prices. Another way of looking at it is to realize that the whole process is a good lesson in economics. You personally get to establish the market price -- the fundamental concept in a market or free enterprise economy.
The famous silk market next the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was closed down in January. It was a tourist icon for many years and could be found in most guide books on Beijing. A new market opened with the same vendors in an indoor three story complex. If we get the same hotel as in April, we are only a couple of blocks away! The atmosphere is the same but it can get unnerving when you have 6 to 8 vendors yelling at you at the same time and you can't see the sky for an escape route. In time it actually becomes fun and a very good way to get to know the Chinese. When they find out that you are an educator, you become an honored market guest.
Dining in China
There are a few general principles one should be aware of when dining as a group in China. We will not be able to get together to practice before we go to China so we will get lessons in eating during our first two days in China. Then, when we have official banquets with Chinese officials, we will be prepared. For most lunches and dinners we will be seated at two large round tables. Our travel and guide services arrange the meals for us.
We will never order individually! There will be approximately 8 to 10 dishes or so that will be brought to the table within a VERY short time after we are seated. There will also be bottled water or soda. Tea, and plenty of it, will always be available. Generally, you should not make individual requests of the servers. Let Peng or I know that we are running low. Generally, we then need to pay extra. Or, because the group leaders are asking, it just gets done without a hassle and sometimes without the extra cost. The key is to let us know. It is the leaders job to take care of you the best we can within reason. Once you get back to the U.S., you are on you own!
We can be thankful that we are eating Chinese if you are a person who wants to have vegetables and not meat or vice versa. There are plenty of vegetable dishes. However, just because there is a veggie or meat dish you like, it is NOT yours to claim. Remember, everything is shared. DO NOT LOAD YOUR PLATE WITH YOUR FAVORITE DISH OR WITH SEVERAL DISHES. IT IS RUDE! Loading plates is only done in Chinese American buffet restaurants but not in China. Take a small amount of one or two items, eat them, and then have some more, some more ..... You will not go hungry. You will receive a small plate and you simply keep putting small amounts on the plate and keep eating. Do not ask for a clean plate! If you have bones, etc. simply place them out of the way in front of your plate on the table. That is the way it is done. The food is placed on a lazy susan so when you want a particular dish you do not need to ask. All you need to do is "gently" spin the lazy susan to your location. However, before you make your move, make sure no one else is left holding their chopsticks in the air because you just moved them away from a morsel of food they were after. You also need to watch out that a bowl that might be teetering too close to the edge does not wipe out your colleagues tea cup and make an embarrassing mess.
You will not have to worry about unsanitary food. Everything is cooked in China! You will not get raw vegetables. If they look raw, they are probably pickled. The tea is boiled and the water comes in water bottles.
It used to be common to put food on your neighbors plate. That is an old custom and rarely done now. You will probably not run into the custom unless you have dinner with someone who is of an older generation. In fact, for the younger generation it is something you will not want to do. The rule of thumb is to look at what your Chinese guest is doing in a banquet situation and then act accordingly. This will be true for Beijing but in Shandong Province expect to have food placed on your plate by your guest. You should do it in return.
The same goes with filling glasses. If your hosts glass is empty or nearly so, fill it for him or her. It is also common to give toasts during the more formal banquets we will have. Our host may make a small speech; Betty will do it in return. Others may follow. It is a good time to share in a sentence or so about things that you may have appreciated about the experience. Raise your glass and then everyone will raise after you have said a few words. There only needs to be a couple of these at a banquet. Toasting is a very important part of Chinese culture. Many agreements have fallen through because Americans did not understand the importance of the custom.
We will not go out of our way to buy alcoholic beverages but one should realize that drinking is an important part of the culture, particularly in Shandong. Our hosts will provide it and it will be an important part of the banquet scene. If you do not care to participate for personal reasons or if your glass is empty, hold up a glass anyway and fake it or hold up your tea cup and drink tea! Generally, you do not fill your own glass. Your guest or your group colleague will do it for you. Let them fill it even if you do not intend to drink it. If you do not want anymore, simply leave your glass full. It is not rude to leave the table with your glass left full.
Americans like to talk a lot a meals. Chinese banquets are a time to relax and have light conversation. In fact, it is okay to be silent for long periods of time. The guides need to translate everything you say and you will exhaust them if you talk too much. Make sure guides get to eat! Banquets are not a time to have in depth discussions on educational issues of the day! Chopsticks are to be used for eating and not as a prop for communication. If you are a person who talks with your hands, make sure you put your chopsticks down on the table before speaking.
Practice using chopsticks before you go. If you have difficultly using them, it is actually okay to move you mouth close to the plate and shovel the food in gracefully. The same for soups. You can lift the bowl so the distance is shortened and spillage lessened. Chinese soup spoons will be available. The Chinese will probably try to impose forks, knives and spoons on us because they will feel we are incapable of using chopsticks. Peng and I will have them sent back to the kitchen! We are an education delegation and have come to China to learn. They will be impressed with our attitude to learn. Such behavior is important because we want to develop good relationships with our friends in Shandong.
When you get back home you will probably learn to appreciate the speed, efficiency and menu expanse in Chinese dining. You will find that your spouse and family may not appreciate your cultural transformation. I had a delegation of 25 Chinese guests I was hosting in an out of the Wethersfield Diner in less than one hour. The reason is .... Peng and I ordered the same meal for everyone. The employees of the diner were rather stunned by the strategy but were very happy because they did not have to write anything down. If you do have special needs for medical or other reasons, you should bring items with you that you can eat at another time.
We will never order individually! There will be approximately 8 to 10 dishes or so that will be brought to the table within a VERY short time after we are seated. There will also be bottled water or soda. Tea, and plenty of it, will always be available. Generally, you should not make individual requests of the servers. Let Peng or I know that we are running low. Generally, we then need to pay extra. Or, because the group leaders are asking, it just gets done without a hassle and sometimes without the extra cost. The key is to let us know. It is the leaders job to take care of you the best we can within reason. Once you get back to the U.S., you are on you own!
We can be thankful that we are eating Chinese if you are a person who wants to have vegetables and not meat or vice versa. There are plenty of vegetable dishes. However, just because there is a veggie or meat dish you like, it is NOT yours to claim. Remember, everything is shared. DO NOT LOAD YOUR PLATE WITH YOUR FAVORITE DISH OR WITH SEVERAL DISHES. IT IS RUDE! Loading plates is only done in Chinese American buffet restaurants but not in China. Take a small amount of one or two items, eat them, and then have some more, some more ..... You will not go hungry. You will receive a small plate and you simply keep putting small amounts on the plate and keep eating. Do not ask for a clean plate! If you have bones, etc. simply place them out of the way in front of your plate on the table. That is the way it is done. The food is placed on a lazy susan so when you want a particular dish you do not need to ask. All you need to do is "gently" spin the lazy susan to your location. However, before you make your move, make sure no one else is left holding their chopsticks in the air because you just moved them away from a morsel of food they were after. You also need to watch out that a bowl that might be teetering too close to the edge does not wipe out your colleagues tea cup and make an embarrassing mess.
You will not have to worry about unsanitary food. Everything is cooked in China! You will not get raw vegetables. If they look raw, they are probably pickled. The tea is boiled and the water comes in water bottles.
It used to be common to put food on your neighbors plate. That is an old custom and rarely done now. You will probably not run into the custom unless you have dinner with someone who is of an older generation. In fact, for the younger generation it is something you will not want to do. The rule of thumb is to look at what your Chinese guest is doing in a banquet situation and then act accordingly. This will be true for Beijing but in Shandong Province expect to have food placed on your plate by your guest. You should do it in return.
The same goes with filling glasses. If your hosts glass is empty or nearly so, fill it for him or her. It is also common to give toasts during the more formal banquets we will have. Our host may make a small speech; Betty will do it in return. Others may follow. It is a good time to share in a sentence or so about things that you may have appreciated about the experience. Raise your glass and then everyone will raise after you have said a few words. There only needs to be a couple of these at a banquet. Toasting is a very important part of Chinese culture. Many agreements have fallen through because Americans did not understand the importance of the custom.
We will not go out of our way to buy alcoholic beverages but one should realize that drinking is an important part of the culture, particularly in Shandong. Our hosts will provide it and it will be an important part of the banquet scene. If you do not care to participate for personal reasons or if your glass is empty, hold up a glass anyway and fake it or hold up your tea cup and drink tea! Generally, you do not fill your own glass. Your guest or your group colleague will do it for you. Let them fill it even if you do not intend to drink it. If you do not want anymore, simply leave your glass full. It is not rude to leave the table with your glass left full.
Americans like to talk a lot a meals. Chinese banquets are a time to relax and have light conversation. In fact, it is okay to be silent for long periods of time. The guides need to translate everything you say and you will exhaust them if you talk too much. Make sure guides get to eat! Banquets are not a time to have in depth discussions on educational issues of the day! Chopsticks are to be used for eating and not as a prop for communication. If you are a person who talks with your hands, make sure you put your chopsticks down on the table before speaking.
Practice using chopsticks before you go. If you have difficultly using them, it is actually okay to move you mouth close to the plate and shovel the food in gracefully. The same for soups. You can lift the bowl so the distance is shortened and spillage lessened. Chinese soup spoons will be available. The Chinese will probably try to impose forks, knives and spoons on us because they will feel we are incapable of using chopsticks. Peng and I will have them sent back to the kitchen! We are an education delegation and have come to China to learn. They will be impressed with our attitude to learn. Such behavior is important because we want to develop good relationships with our friends in Shandong.
When you get back home you will probably learn to appreciate the speed, efficiency and menu expanse in Chinese dining. You will find that your spouse and family may not appreciate your cultural transformation. I had a delegation of 25 Chinese guests I was hosting in an out of the Wethersfield Diner in less than one hour. The reason is .... Peng and I ordered the same meal for everyone. The employees of the diner were rather stunned by the strategy but were very happy because they did not have to write anything down. If you do have special needs for medical or other reasons, you should bring items with you that you can eat at another time.
Getting to Know CEAIE
The China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) is a very important organization for our field study in China. CEAIE sponsors the China delegations that have come to Connecticut, hosts our delegations when we are in Beijing and works with the international sections in provincial governments. The also manage the Principal Shadowing Program that supports exchange of 12 Connecticut principals and 12 Shandong principals. CEAIE also authorizes our group visa application. The link to CEAIE is: http://www.ceaie.edu.cn/eabout.htm
If you check out the staff section, you will see the name of Lin Zuoping, Deputy-Secretary General. Mr. Lin has hosted delegations from Connecticut in China for more than ten years. He speaks fluent Japanese and served as the translator for the Chinese leadership when there were state visits with Japan. Other staff members in his department have accompanied delegations to Connecticut in the past or work closely with our delegations in China. The General-Secretary of CEAIE is Jiang Bo. He just moved from another section of the Ministry to his present post. He has hosted Connecticut delegations in the past. Our delegation will probably meet some of them when we have our visit at the Ministry of Education. While CEAIE is listed as a non-governmental organization, it is not by our definition. In reality, it functions as a part of government.
If you check out the staff section, you will see the name of Lin Zuoping, Deputy-Secretary General. Mr. Lin has hosted delegations from Connecticut in China for more than ten years. He speaks fluent Japanese and served as the translator for the Chinese leadership when there were state visits with Japan. Other staff members in his department have accompanied delegations to Connecticut in the past or work closely with our delegations in China. The General-Secretary of CEAIE is Jiang Bo. He just moved from another section of the Ministry to his present post. He has hosted Connecticut delegations in the past. Our delegation will probably meet some of them when we have our visit at the Ministry of Education. While CEAIE is listed as a non-governmental organization, it is not by our definition. In reality, it functions as a part of government.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Reading List and Guide Books
Reading List for China
Here is a basic reading list that will assist in preparation for the December. Keeping current by reading newspapers and magazines or news sources on the internet will also be helpful. Please click on the document below for a reading list to prepare for China.
Bibliography for Connecticut Shandong Sister School.doc
Guide Books for China
You may want to do a little reading in advance about the areas we will be visiting in China. For guide books I recommend Lonely Planet for the most comprehensive and descriptive reading. China and Beijing are the books they have available for the areas we will visit. You may simply want to go to Barnes and Noble and do some browsing before deciding to purchase. The China book is a bit hefty to pack so, if you do purchase, you might want to copy relevant pages to take to China with you. I also recommend a pocket size Mandarin phrasebook. Lonely Planet has one as well as other guidebook publishers. If they are not available at the bookstore, you can purchase online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The internet is also a good source for finding information, especially for information about Shandong and cities we will visit in Shandong. Most websites are more in the promotional-style category but they do have general information that is difficult to obtain elsewhere.
Payment Due Soon
The cost for the November 4-14, 2005 Connecticut Shandong Education Leadership Delegation trip to China is $2,700.00. Please make checks payable to the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. Mail the check to CAPSS office and be sure to designate that the check is for particicipation as a member of the Connecticut Shandong Education Leadership Delegation.
Delegation Meeting September 12
The first meeting of the Connecticut Shandong Education Leadership Delegation will be on Monday, September 12, 4:00-6:30 pm at the Connecticut State Department of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 307A, Hartford, CT. The meeting will include a delegation welcome from Betty Sternberg, an overview of the Connecticut-Shandong relationship, an overview of the partnership school process, a review of our itinerary, completion of Chinese visa forms, health/insurance requirements, gift preparation, and group business card purchase. I will be taking a photo of each participant in the delegation since the visa application requires a photo attachment. If you have an extra passport photo available, please bring it.
Full payment of the $2700.00 for the cost of the delegation visit is required on or before September 12. Our plane tickets will be purchased as soon as possible after that date so we can obtain the best possible price on fares. If you have not already done so, please send me a photocopy of your passport as soon as possible since I need to submit a list to CEAIE in Beijing so they can prepare a letter of invitation that will speed up the visa application process. For the meeting on September 12, BRING YOUR PASSPORT. You will be without it for no more than three weeks while your tickets and visas are processed.
For the meeting on September 12, Charlotte Mason and Carolyn Henderson from the China Exchange Initiative will go over what is involved in creating a school partnership. We will be conducting Connecticut school visits on September 12 and 13 for participants who will be getting new partner schools. I will be calling those who have indicated a desire for a partner school to set up appointments for the visit. It will take about one hour in your school.
Huang Qi, Deputy Commissioner, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, will attend our meeting as well. She is responsible for higher education and K-University international education for the province. She will be serving her internship in the Department as part of a management training program at CCSU. She will be giving you Chinese names, assisting with key Mandarin phrases for survival and later, providing information on the monetary system.
Communication for general China information will take place on the website: http://dangregg.com/ . For information specifically related to our delegation, the website address is: http://dangregg.com/blogger/blog_csel2k5.php Please check it regularly or have one of your staff people keep you up to date. You will receive very few emails and you will always be able to find essential information you need on the website.
We need to formalize our arrangements soon to lock in prices and make preparations in China. I expect the yuan to be fluctuating in October so I will have all of our in-China funds in China before the end of September.
I do have room for more participants but I expect the delegation to be full soon. Please let me know if your status should change. Please keep in mind that once I purchase tickets, you are locked in and any change will involve extra costs.
Ge Dan
Full payment of the $2700.00 for the cost of the delegation visit is required on or before September 12. Our plane tickets will be purchased as soon as possible after that date so we can obtain the best possible price on fares. If you have not already done so, please send me a photocopy of your passport as soon as possible since I need to submit a list to CEAIE in Beijing so they can prepare a letter of invitation that will speed up the visa application process. For the meeting on September 12, BRING YOUR PASSPORT. You will be without it for no more than three weeks while your tickets and visas are processed.
For the meeting on September 12, Charlotte Mason and Carolyn Henderson from the China Exchange Initiative will go over what is involved in creating a school partnership. We will be conducting Connecticut school visits on September 12 and 13 for participants who will be getting new partner schools. I will be calling those who have indicated a desire for a partner school to set up appointments for the visit. It will take about one hour in your school.
Huang Qi, Deputy Commissioner, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, will attend our meeting as well. She is responsible for higher education and K-University international education for the province. She will be serving her internship in the Department as part of a management training program at CCSU. She will be giving you Chinese names, assisting with key Mandarin phrases for survival and later, providing information on the monetary system.
Communication for general China information will take place on the website: http://dangregg.com/ . For information specifically related to our delegation, the website address is: http://dangregg.com/blogger/blog_csel2k5.php Please check it regularly or have one of your staff people keep you up to date. You will receive very few emails and you will always be able to find essential information you need on the website.
We need to formalize our arrangements soon to lock in prices and make preparations in China. I expect the yuan to be fluctuating in October so I will have all of our in-China funds in China before the end of September.
I do have room for more participants but I expect the delegation to be full soon. Please let me know if your status should change. Please keep in mind that once I purchase tickets, you are locked in and any change will involve extra costs.
Ge Dan
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Summer Barbeque for 2005 Education Leadership Delegation
You are invited......
RSVP Please
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2005
Time: 4:30 pm to ……….
Place: 202 Indian Hill Trail, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Invitees: Spouse or friend welcome
Terms: Bring salad or dessert and folding chair
Dress: Summer casual
Guest: Our guest will be Deputy Commissioner HUANG, Qi, Shandong Provincial Department of Education. Ms. HUANG is responsible for international education, K-University. She is currently participating in a six-month course at the U.S.-China Business Center, Central Connecticut State University. She will have a two-month internship at the Connecticut State Department of Education as part of her course experience. Ms. HUANG’S home town is Taian and her son will graduate in July from Taian No. 1 High School, the partner school of Glastonbury High School.
Arrival: Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 5:00 pm. There will be a mandatory viewing of my son’s 18-minute CD Video describing his recent teaching experience at Shandong Jiaotong University in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, and scenes of China and Shandong at 6:00 pm, followed by an evening of eating, relaxation and conversation.
Directions: 202 Indian Hill Trail, Glastonbury, CT is off Manchester Road (Hwy 83) near the Glastonbury/Manchester town line. You can use MapQuest for specific directions. Look for the welcome sign in Mandarin. The home phone is: 860-645-7971.
Please RSVP with number coming by email to: dwgregg@gmail.com
RSVP Please
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2005
Time: 4:30 pm to ……….
Place: 202 Indian Hill Trail, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Invitees: Spouse or friend welcome
Terms: Bring salad or dessert and folding chair
Dress: Summer casual
Guest: Our guest will be Deputy Commissioner HUANG, Qi, Shandong Provincial Department of Education. Ms. HUANG is responsible for international education, K-University. She is currently participating in a six-month course at the U.S.-China Business Center, Central Connecticut State University. She will have a two-month internship at the Connecticut State Department of Education as part of her course experience. Ms. HUANG’S home town is Taian and her son will graduate in July from Taian No. 1 High School, the partner school of Glastonbury High School.
Arrival: Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 5:00 pm. There will be a mandatory viewing of my son’s 18-minute CD Video describing his recent teaching experience at Shandong Jiaotong University in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, and scenes of China and Shandong at 6:00 pm, followed by an evening of eating, relaxation and conversation.
Directions: 202 Indian Hill Trail, Glastonbury, CT is off Manchester Road (Hwy 83) near the Glastonbury/Manchester town line. You can use MapQuest for specific directions. Look for the welcome sign in Mandarin. The home phone is: 860-645-7971.
Please RSVP with number coming by email to: dwgregg@gmail.com
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Hepatitis A
If you do not already have up to date immunization it is a good idea to see your physician now. Hepatitis A requires a series of shots.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Delegation Planned for China, November 4-14, 2005
A delegation consisting of Connecticut superintendents and principals is being planned for November 4-14, 2005. For participants wishing to obtain a sister school or desire to visit an established sister school, please contact Daniel W. Gregg, Connecticut-Shandong Education Liaison, at 860-713-6744 or email: dan.gregg@po.state.ct.us.
A delegation consisting of Connecticut superintendents and principals is being planned for November 4-14, 2005. For participants wishing to obtain a sister school or desire to visit an established sister school, please contact Daniel W. Gregg, Connecticut-Shandong Education Liaison, at 860-713-6744 or email: dan.gregg@po.state.ct.us.
