Buddhist Monk in the famous Con Son Tiger Cages (’66).
Anita attended an American Chamber of Commerce conference recently held in Vietnam attended by key people who knew about and testified about the Tiger Cages built and supported by the US Government in Vietnam in 1970. It was American policy to pay the South Vietnamese government to perform torture on Vietnamese civilians. The victim’s names were never recorded by the government, but many of them recovered their lives and have significant success stories to tell.
The Dumb Foreigner and my journey into the hinder land of China.
Anita describes her recent trip to Western Chinese Tibet. Because they considered her a dumb foreigner she was lied to about salaries normally earned by Chinese school teachers and Principals. Anita describes the shock experienced by many Chinese when they realize that she knows prices and was not fooled.
Anita then described the road traffic she experienced on her long jeep trip into Tibet, where nearly all the traffic was large convoys of 100 or more military vehicles, but almost no civilian traffic. These trucks were proof that China is heavily investing in roads and infrastructure, far more than Vietnam, but China will have to balance that with expenditure on social welfare for its numerous poor.
Anita compares the packaging and pricing in China and find better deals here in the United States contrary to what many people think. She finds that many brand name items such as potato chips only are available in China in small packages because the Chinese do not like to buy larger quantities and keep them for another day.
She found that buying a computer in China with a legal copy of Windows not only difficult but more exp ensive than in the US.
The Chinese use IKEA more as a Disneyland than for shopping. Anita explains that for the Chinese shopping is to enjoy in the store the Western luxuries they do not have in many of their own homes. Thus taking pictures or lounging around rather than shopping is a common site on weekends
Anita talks of how marketing in China differs greatly from the West. In Asia many shoppers go to stores just to look and buy very little. She describes their behavior in IKEA that is certainly not what IKEA expected. She also compared Walmart in China with a similar large chain store.
Anita expands on cultural differences that can be found in management in Asia by relating an experience she had with a Spirit Box in her Vietnam Office.
Anita also reviews some of the implications for the US and the World resulting from the determination of China to rapidly expand infrastructure and expand provided employment.
Anita describes rapid change near her home and office. China is building infrastructure at a very rapid pace, and it has brought high speed rail construction close by.
She speculates on the implications of this rapid change in China for the future of US/China relations, and she contrasts China when she first saw it in 1985 with today.
Anita reviews the history between Vietnam and China in the context of a new mining project China want to develop in Vietnam. She relates how a well known 97 year-old General Giap, has attacked the Vietnamese Government for considering a large mining project with China that will pollute and harm the country and its people. His opposition has forced open internal controversy in Vietnam, especially since China controlled Vietnam for over 1000 years.
She also comments on recent export duties and appeals to the WTO (World Trade Organization) which also includes the United States
Anita explains the terms China Plus One which refers to the need perceived by many foreign multinationals to find another (plus one) source outside China. Now, a year later, the liberalization of laws by China is called China Minus Onea hope by China for the return of much needed foreign investment from other countries. She describes the differences between America and China in spending habits, and that the Chinese do not use credit cards. There is no social safety net for Chinese who lose their jobs.
In this podcast, Anita explains some of the things she has learned while studying for a Master’s Degree in Chinese law at a Hong Kong University. She explains some of the changes made since1985 when she first arrived. A big change has come in the individual rights and freedom of ordinary Chinese in their daily lives. Among many improvements she recounts how ordinary items were difficult to obtain back then.
To be admitted to the WTO (World Trade Organization), China had to obtain a unanimous vote of all member counties—a process that took over 5 years. When finally accepted in the WTO China has worked hard to meet international standards. A foreigner now has the many of the same rights as a local Chinese. Laws are easily available on-line in English, and laws have been improved affecting the rights of both the Chinese and foreigners—especially contract laws for business.
Anita opens with an example of a mis-translation at her church to show that what is said or done in one culture may be easily misunderstood in another. She has also had to teach her staff that prompt replies to e-mails is culturally expected in America even though in Asia their culture differs..
Anita opens by describing how her life is affected by recent flooding in Hanoi. The weather caused the Internet to go down and getting it repaired became a slow and frustrating process. In spite of the apparent chaotic mess of outside cables they were able to restore service-even though we in the West might think it impossible to do so.
China has long thought of itself as the center of the world. Anita asks whether the recent invitation to China to participate in a G20 financial meeting places the Chinese people more nearly in the center of the world as shown on Chinese wall maps.
However, China has had more anti-dumping laws against it than any other country. Recent hard times has closed factories causing many Chinese workers to lose their jobs, their living quarters, and sometimes back pay owed them. Many workers will find no jobs back home.
Anita ends with the belief that China will cope with these problems by a variety of strategies such as by exporting through other countries, or investing in factories around the world.
Taking her information from a book about Joseph Needham entitled the Man who Loved China (by Simon Winchester), Anita briefly covers Needham’s personal life, which took him from England to China. The journey was a result of his relationship with a Chinese student who taught him classical Chinese and enabled him to document the many early inventions of the Chinese—some of which she lists.
Anita says that China can become not just the manufacturer but the creator of the world’s marketplace and observes that pirated DVD’s and software abound in China—a negative, while she has also observed a natural ability to solve problems manifest in her staff, her factory workers, and the Chinese people in general.
Striving for the Perfect Image to the world China has made many improvements, but often only if viewed from the front. Building are sometimes not painted in the back. Olympic fireworks at the opening ceremony were fake or pre-recorded which bothers many. The girl who sang the “Ode to the Motherland” for the opening Ceremonies was actually lip syncing.
Anita comments on how China is obsessed with image, but in reality it is a land of almost right. She talks of China selling women’s underwear and spending over 30 mins on the TV to talk of how the new griddle will improve your looks. This obsession with image is not new to China, but shown in classic foot binding in old China.
People in the US consider this the most difficult time to do business. Even China is finding competition as her prices rise. Anita closes her podcast on a positive note of how this is time to regroup and rethink and thus opportunity for growth.
Anita experiences a Non Boss while visiting a factory in China. The Non Boss is someone, usually related to the owners, who have a high sounding title such as General Manager, but absolutely nothing to do every day. They may sit in on meetings, but they will be ignored by everyone. The Non Boss may even be a western educated and highly titled, but have no work experience—something that does not seem to worry the older generation.
Anita relates how recent natural disasters have suddenly caused many ordinary Chinese to realize the need for them to give to charities—at great personal sacrifice. Some Chinese have also become critical of very successful businesses and individuals who have not given much.
Anita adds to her last pod cast by relating some of the legal issues she encountered when she fired three employees in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Anita opens by telling of her travels through China on a number of rickety old boats that, while old, always managed to get to where they were going. She quotes from a 1923 article written by her grandfather asking the question: “is interference in China necessary?” She points out that the Chinese usually prefer their own way and do not easily adopt outside ways. Our values and expectations are not considered important to the average Chinese. Anita contrasts this with her experiences in Vietnam which, while communist, has in recent years made major changes favorable to Westerners.
Anita opens by comparing how the Chinese eat chicken together with all the bones; whereas in the West we waste food. Another cultural difference shows in the reaction of an older Chinese mother upon seeing Anita’s antique boat hanging from the ceiling. She felt it should be put to practical use. This difference between generations, and between the rich and poor now is common in Asia. She closes by describing her Sprouts project which she hopes will receive donations for desks to a local school. See www.mondoro-charities.org.
Mondoro intern Nick Wester discusses the importance of team building in Asia. He draws on experiences working with the Chinese staff moving boxes to talk about how a group of people is not necessarily a team. He explains several cultural differences that require a larger emphasis to be placed on building teamwork and problem solving in Asia.
Anita relates a very personal trip to the local hospital when she was sick. She found that the privacy she was accustomed to in a US hospital or doctor’s office does not exist in China. Different medical practices are also compared.
She then compares how changing the date of her staff annual meetings until after the Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese Tet was important—reminding us that knowing the local culture is essential when doing business in Asia.
In Vietnam and China you must know the Rules of the Road, which means first of all that large vehicles and—by analogy large businesses—have the right of way, even if they are wrong. You are expected to put on a good face and adjust to their actions and not become frustrated. Finding a way around following the Rules of the Road is common for doing business or riding a bicycle. You need to be flexible—rules change quickly in China and Vietnam. This may be difficult for some Westerners accustomed to rigidly following the rules.
Christmas in China is very different from Western Culture. Many Chinese children put on red suits and along with their parents celebrate Christmas with decorations familiar to us. However they know nothing of the religious meaning of Christmas. Anita emphasizes the need for cultural sensitivity toward others, and lists many personal interactions that can become offensive to Asians.
Many more Asians have the spirit of the entrepreneur than in the US or Sweden--countries Anita is familiar with. Asians expect to pay for education, medical care and many services we in the West take for granted. If they don’t earn money they will not eat. With no government to assist the poor or the unemployed everyone has to work. Anita cites examples of how even the very old are active.
Organization is not a strong point in Asia. She compares how Asians may start a business quickly without much planning, while in the US it may take years. She elaborated with personal experiences in her past.
Sacrifice for the next generation is the subject of this podcast. Anita compares this with some of the West who misuse credit cards while the Asians prefer to save or spend on the next generation. She points out that basic services are not free, and may be beyond the ability of the poor to pay. Most of her staff regularly send money home to their family. She ends by stating that many US and even Chinese firms expect to build factories in a rapidly changing Vietnam.
Anita tells about how dealing with Chinese custom officials makes her feel like an unwanted step-child, and describes a personal standoff between two difficult personalities, herself and the officials. She said that her own pride, ignorance, and stubbornness caused her trouble, and how her staff was able to resolve it easily in the proper manner.
Anita speaks of how Asia and America are again on the opposite side of the spectrum of things. One being the land of convenience and the other being the land of inconvenience. Join her as she reviews the differences and what each of us can do.
Anita describes how a landlord used his so-called friendship with Anita to gain his own personal advantage—citing other examples of this Asian characteristic. She tells stories of how she has been personally touched and treated in Asia because she is a foreigner. She cites similar things being recounted in letters written by her grandmother and grandfather which described the characteristic need of Chinese to consider making changes as a group—not as an individual.
Marc Favreau, a Mondoro intern, uses the analogy of the process of making a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich to show how you need to teach manufacturing steps to Asian workers. He describes how step-by-step demonstrations are needed using clear explanations and the need to show them the final result. He also told how he worked with a charity to help local people in need. Marc closes by telling how the internship helped him personally.
Asia needs to be watched, especially large companies, who need someone in China to monitor quality. If there is a lack of inspection of goods from China expect to have problems. Both China and America need to have a quality monitoring system in place. Anita describes the “Great Firewall of China” that blocks the Internet even with outgoing e-mails from China. She describes the greatly improved infrastructure in China—impressive by world standards.
Cameron Hilton, an intern with Mondoro, describes quality in China as a “mixed bag.” For instance, bicycles for export are high quality, those made for the domestic Chinese market are inferior. Cameron cautions businesses who buy from China need to inspect before shipment. He lists some examples of goods produced in China that were unsalable in the US. For the future, he sees goods made in China eventually becoming a symbol of high quality.
Anita describes her personal experiences during Hong Kong when it became part of mainland China. Hong Kong continues to be good for business, but it may not be better for the poor. She describes the beauty, the advantages, and the problems of living in Hong Kong. Child labor and the abuse of workers in mainland China is described and how money buys justice and power. She compares Vietnam with China.
In Asia you quickly learn that just telling someone what you expect is not likely to result in full understanding. You will need to provide hands-on, detailed teaching. Just writing an e-mail is unlikely to be sufficient. However, once they understand, Asians will be reliable. Anita describes the problems ordinary Chinese have with the legal system. She ends by pointing out that there are only 100 surnames for 1.3 Billion Chinese, and how a new law helps correct that problem.
Anita describes how a factory bribed an inspector and how she resolved it using the threat of exposure. Honor and Shame affect business in ways we in the West do not understand. For Asians, even one person doing something bad can affect the whole nation.
Finding a good Asian partner is more difficult than finding a marriage partner. It will take patience and time. You can learn a lot from Asia if you are willing to be a student, work closely with and become part of the group. How you handle problems, which are inevitable, will determine your success. Expect to pay to get started, since not everyone makes money in Asia.
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