Sep 15, 2006: First Impressions!
Well...if one has to see Urban Design in action – one has to experience Suzhou. The Downtown rocks! I have just walked around it and feel that it has an uplifting quality about it (the history and geography here seems to be celebrated - more than Seoul or HK)!
Shi Quan Jie street here is the equivalent of Lan Kwai Fong - but is not just limited to eating places and bars (there is an Indian restaurant on it which I couldn't find!). After Singapore, everything appears cheap here... even "designer clothes and shoes". Lots of English DVDs and VCDs for 10 RMB each. I am impressed with what they have made of the City.
Right now, my Hotel stands on the boundary of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Downtown. So you have a China meets Singapore style peaceful modernity on one side of the highway and historic bustling revitalization on the other. The difference is quite evident on the boundary where you can feel the pollution and see the Constructivist public housing towards the downtown (imagine extruded Chinese shop-houses) and condominiums on the other. You already know which one is dirtier! Nevertheless, people still manage to "attend nature's call" on the beautiful landscape in SIP, very much like India (only less). The "humanizer" is the "2-wheeler way" between the road and the pedestrian walkway. Bicycles – normal would cost 200 RMB (even electric ones) and light mopeds can be seen in plenty...so lane discipline is an absolute must but no fines on jaywalking.
Shi Quan Jie street here is the equivalent of Lan Kwai Fong - but is not just limited to eating places and bars (there is an Indian restaurant on it which I couldn't find!). After Singapore, everything appears cheap here... even "designer clothes and shoes". Lots of English DVDs and VCDs for 10 RMB each. I am impressed with what they have made of the City.
Right now, my Hotel stands on the boundary of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Downtown. So you have a China meets Singapore style peaceful modernity on one side of the highway and historic bustling revitalization on the other. The difference is quite evident on the boundary where you can feel the pollution and see the Constructivist public housing towards the downtown (imagine extruded Chinese shop-houses) and condominiums on the other. You already know which one is dirtier! Nevertheless, people still manage to "attend nature's call" on the beautiful landscape in SIP, very much like India (only less). The "humanizer" is the "2-wheeler way" between the road and the pedestrian walkway. Bicycles – normal would cost 200 RMB (even electric ones) and light mopeds can be seen in plenty...so lane discipline is an absolute must but no fines on jaywalking.
Nov 18, 2006: Settling in…
So WHAT really has been happening? Besides living a normal life, my BIGGEST DISCOVERY is that of a New Work Culture! This provides some insights into the "Chinese mindsets/ psyche". I shall share my observations with you from my first-hand experience:
At Office:
• With all the ORDER in the physical environment around, the Mental Space is quite Chaotic. Professional meeting lengths are incomparable and there is an annoying habit of "beating around the bush - details first" instead of the logical flow of discussion (Big Picture first).
• Loss of tempers during such meetings doesn't mean "throwing chairs around", rather exhibiting a "disturbed visage" or raising of voice and in extreme conditions - walking out of the room. Benefits - prevents one from "zoning off" and provides one with an occasion to "speak your mind".
• Professional is intricately mixed up with Personal here (true what all the Biz in China books say). People work "for" individuals - "Leader can get angry"...overall quite hierarchical.
• Will avoid talking/ brainstorming during group meetings and if they do....(ref. point 1)
• "Copying" is not "unethical"
• 1-way filtered-out communication (they want to decide what u need)
• Management Buzzwords - ACHIEVEMENT, EFFICIENCY, WIN-WIN situation
AND Lunch Siesta is a must!
At Office:
• With all the ORDER in the physical environment around, the Mental Space is quite Chaotic. Professional meeting lengths are incomparable and there is an annoying habit of "beating around the bush - details first" instead of the logical flow of discussion (Big Picture first).
• Loss of tempers during such meetings doesn't mean "throwing chairs around", rather exhibiting a "disturbed visage" or raising of voice and in extreme conditions - walking out of the room. Benefits - prevents one from "zoning off" and provides one with an occasion to "speak your mind".
• Professional is intricately mixed up with Personal here (true what all the Biz in China books say). People work "for" individuals - "Leader can get angry"...overall quite hierarchical.
• Will avoid talking/ brainstorming during group meetings and if they do....(ref. point 1)
• "Copying" is not "unethical"
• 1-way filtered-out communication (they want to decide what u need)
• Management Buzzwords - ACHIEVEMENT, EFFICIENCY, WIN-WIN situation
AND Lunch Siesta is a must!
As People:
• Most PRAGMATIC, even Shrewd and will Adapt to reach W-W situation "efficiently"
• Overall - Simple, genuine, modest and extremely hospitable + accommodating (i CAN be different in thought process, food habits, not using chopsticks or not drinking and toasting wine)
• Like to work (diligent) and play hard – eat (DELICIOUS is their favorite description) and drink even harder (everything spreads over long periods of time)
• Overly-sensitive and patient - will go out of their way to maintain "harmony" (ref. Yin & Yang, Feng Shui. They are a "spiritual" lot despite Atheism
• Keen to learn (sometimes images serve as the only source of ideas because of the language barrier)
• Heightened sense of Aesthetics to the extent of being ornate
• Physical proximity/ Smaller Personal Space requirement (they speak softly and slowly - so
• Distance barrier must be overcome, 7 of us toasted atop a hill in a place for 3, very few people like me have the luxury of 1 in a cubicle)
Generally a HAPPY LOT in their own world (....is bliss?)
• Most PRAGMATIC, even Shrewd and will Adapt to reach W-W situation "efficiently"
• Overall - Simple, genuine, modest and extremely hospitable + accommodating (i CAN be different in thought process, food habits, not using chopsticks or not drinking and toasting wine)
• Like to work (diligent) and play hard – eat (DELICIOUS is their favorite description) and drink even harder (everything spreads over long periods of time)
• Overly-sensitive and patient - will go out of their way to maintain "harmony" (ref. Yin & Yang, Feng Shui. They are a "spiritual" lot despite Atheism
• Keen to learn (sometimes images serve as the only source of ideas because of the language barrier)
• Heightened sense of Aesthetics to the extent of being ornate
• Physical proximity/ Smaller Personal Space requirement (they speak softly and slowly - so
• Distance barrier must be overcome, 7 of us toasted atop a hill in a place for 3, very few people like me have the luxury of 1 in a cubicle)
Generally a HAPPY LOT in their own world (....is bliss?)
