China can be incomprehensible for westerns on their first foray into the country. It is essential to understand business etiquette and certain aspects of Chinese culture: the philosophy of midstream living, Confucianism and its emphasis on hierarchy, the concept of mianzi and its significance.
I’ll explain how the Chinese communicate and what “yes” really means. And I’ll offer tips for success as well as for avoiding pitfalls.
Developing a Better Understanding of China’s Past to Better Comprehend Present Day Reforms
In 1980 when I was 16, I was taken out of school and put to work at a rocket factory. A mini-Communist state, the factory fed us at dining halls, housed us in identical workers’ dormitory and indoctrinated us at meeting halls. As an escape route, I taught myself English. It changed my life. What I learnt wasn’t just the ABCs but the whole cultural package. I dared to be different and I grew to be political. In 1989, I organized a major protest among workers from my factory in support the democratic movement led by the students.
My journey also reflects what China went through in the 80s when the economic reforms transformed China. It was a time that Chinese people started to break free from the political tight rope and to dream the impossible. It was a time when China became what it is today.
Now based in Beijing, I work as a writer, columnist and social commentator. All comes down to one thing – being a cultural bridge between China and the outside world. What I try to do is to help people understand where China comes from; what’s happening now and there it is going. Once you have a better understand of China, there’ll be less fear and more empathy.
My grandma was a prostitute-turned-concubine; my mother a frustrated worker and victim of the political campaigns; and myself a factory-worker-turned writer, making the best out of new opportunities. These stories illustrate the changes Chinese women have gone through.
I’ll discuss what the Chinese Communists did for women and the setbacks brought the reforms in recent years.
With insight and humour, I’ll tell my coming of age story which shows where China was coming from. The 80’s was an important era when things began to change and China became what it is today. I’ll also discuss the pressing issues facing today’s China and predict where it will be going.
This is a famous story by the ancient philosopher Zhuangzhi about a Frog being trapped in a well, unable to see the great world beyond the patch of sky above. For ten years, I was a frog trapped at the bottom of my factory well.
To change my situation, I started to teach myself English, which eventually gave me the drive to get out. Many of us find ourselves trapped in some kind of well. As long as we are willing to try, we can always find inspiration to make the jump.
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