China’s newness to prosperity and the wonders of things like all-you-can-eat buffets and boat cruise dining can make for some interesting YouTube videos.  As China becomes more “modern” so will some of the dining etiquette. But for now “buffet” remains a contact sport in mainland China on a par with a rugby tournament.  See this YouTube video to see what I mean.  And you thought that traffic in LA, the Bay area or Seattle could be bad?  Think again.  Click HERE to read about this recent 60 mile traffic jam in China.

The size and scale of emerging markets like China and India, including their immense populations, can be overwhelming to many Westerners.   Get ready to adjust your sense of personal space and distance when we travel to China!

Terms, and how they are defined are important.  A good friend and colleague once told me how he can remember a number of discussions/arguments he has had with individuals where they were both basically saying the same thing, but their terminology was just different. It reminded him of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the idea of an experiential dictionary, where two lovers have dramatically different reactions to the words, “I want to make love with the lights on,” based on their past experiences. Culturally, it’s the same game at stake; we each have different experiences forming our perceptions of certain concepts. Articulating how we get to those concepts and what these words mean to us is important.

So before we arrive in China, I would like you to reflect and give the (loaded) terms that are embedded in the title of this post some critical and serious thought.

To that end, click HERE and listen to this Sinica podcast and discussion in Beijing on the topic of China apologists among China hands Kaiser Kuo, Jeremy Goldkorn of the respected Danwei blog, journalist Gady Epstein of Forbes, Will Moss of the respected Image Thief blog and David Moser.

Note:  Start at the 16:00 mark of this podcast and listen to the end at 42:30.  You do not need to listen to any part of this podcast before the 16:00 mark.  And you can link to Shaun Rein’s short article in Forbes that fueled a part of this debate and podcast by clicking HERE.

After you listen to this podcast and these commentators, what did you learn and what do you now know about this topic and debate that you did not know before?

And do you have a better sense of what a Panda Hugger, a Dragon Slayer, a Centrist, is or could be, and when, where and why?

For this course there is no litmus test or expectation that you be one or the other, but I do have the expectation that you be able to intelligently define and discuss such terms, even when their meaning shifts, when asked by a person in the US or China when they come up in a conversation or debate.

Discuss.

Click HERE to see what happens when the gates of the World Expo in Shanghai open, and people want to see their country Pavilion of choice and not have to wait in line for hours to see it.

My memory is that roughly 500,000 people a day are visiting the Shanghai World Expo, and most of them are mainland Chinese.  Not many foreigners have come specifically to China to see it.

Cal Poly MBA students going to China this year … better get used to adjusting some of your concepts of personal space and privacy.  San Luis Obispo (and much of California for that matter) is the boon docks compared to some of the airports, cities and train stations we will see in China.

“Yo’ dawg,” as some say.

Click HERE and HERE (scroll down a bit for this second video) and check out this NPR story and two short videos on rap daddy Eli Sweet, who is breakin’ it down in Chengdu.  For some time NPR has been running such spotlights on China and its growing influence on the world.  I have enjoyed many of these features as I sip my morning cha.

But the purpose of this post is not to suggest that we travel to China to admire and hang out with rappers.

Instead, and notwithstanding the artistic and cultural intrigue of these videos on our man Eli, this post recognizes that Eli the rapper is an entrepreneur and in business, regardless of whether as an “artist” he will cop to such a label.

To be more specific, his hometown of Atlanta appears to be over saturated with rappers, he sees a possible need for what he has in another place - an emerging market called China — he is trying to fill said need, and he is trying to make money doing it (gotta pay the bills).   MBAs could no doubt teach him a thing or two about business, but he could also teach them a thing or two about guts, stepping off the ledge, getting on the plane, and seeing where moving out of one’s comfort zone can take you.  That too, is an unappreciated part of business.

There are also two money quotes in the first video I want you go back and replay and listen to closely.  First, where he says, “There is always a possibility [here in China] that you will see something today that you have never seen in your entire life”.  And second, “I didn’t come [to China] because I thought that the life would be better than it was in America.  I came here because I couldn’t envision a great life for myself in America.”

I agree with most of that, but I am not sure that I would agree that a great life cannot still be had in the USA with some hard work and luck.  But you get the point — emerging markets such as China present business opportunities that we either don’t have or may no longer to be able to reasonably access in the West.  One of the reasons we go to China is to explore its business opportunities (and challenges).

So welcome to the first of these online readings, videos and assignments I give you during the academic year.  They will help bring you up to speed on some of the “China basics” and they will also help keep the drumbeat of China fresh in your mind during the academic year.   Once we arrive in China, I don’t want that to be the first time you have given any thought to this trip, the firms and industries we will visit, China, and/or any of its history, culture and business practices.

We will rock and roll once our boots hit the ground in China, the pace will be fast, and the days long, hot, humid, and challenging.  But this trip and course will also enrich and reward you, both personally and professionally, if invest in yourself and put in the necessary time, work and effort along the way.

Cal Poly MBA students, “Welcome to the People’s Republic of China, where, as the saying goes and as you will learn, anything is possible, but nothing is easy.”

- Professor Carr

[Click for larger view]

This is from a posting in Forbes I came across in my file.  It reminded me that that for the 2011 trip we will visit several of the listed places perceived to be favorable venues in China to conduct business!  Don’t know that this list has changed much from the publication date of this article.  Click on the image for a clearer view.

Now it’s time for you to see some visual specifics about how this trip works.

Click HERE to view this short YouTube clip.   Kudos to trip and MBA alumni Cece Reyes for putting this together.

What are your brief thoughts and impressions of this clip and the type of experience you are about to embark on?  Why are you taking this course?  What do you hope to get out of it?  What are you expectations of ME, the professor who will lead this course?   What are your expectations for YOU and what level of effort do you intend to put into this course to maximize your experience and learning?

This (third) post concludes the introductory materials I have assigned to you, and I will now move you more toward content about China and related culture, history, and business and applications.  Keep reading.  See you at the next post ….

New Delhi

Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, with one part of it, known as New Delhi. We will stay in this city for several 7 days, and the public transport system in this city seems good, there are buses, auto-rickshaws, metro trains and taxis.

Check the Auto-rickshaws - no doors here!

We have the same thing in China, it is fun to try!!

Red Fort

The Red Fort (Lal Qila) is one of Delhi’s top tourist sights. A brilliant red sandstone fort built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who also built Agra’s Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace.

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb in south Delhi, near Hazrat Nizamuddin station, is one of Delhi’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Qutub Minar

This complex in Mehrauli, houses structures dating from the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are kept in excellent shape, making this a popular relaxation and picnic spot.

Food!!

Chaat

If you want to eat chaat, the North Indian street side snack food, Delhi is the place to be. Delhi has arguably the best street food in India.

Mumbai

Mumbai is different from the rest of India in pretty much the same way that New York City is different from the United States. The pace of life is more hurried.

We only will stay in this city for 3 days, so time is very limited.

The cool thing in this city is we can travel by ferry, check this out.

Colonial buildings

The British built a magnificent city within the walls of Fort St. George. Some fine examples of the Gothic revival, Neo-classical style and Indo-Saracenic style are seen within this area. Worth seeing are the Gateway of India, the CST terminus, and the Police headquarters or generally just take a stroll around South Mumbai.

Beaches

Mumbai has a few beaches, including one in the downtown area. Some comments online said they are not very great…

Food!!!

I did some research, Mumbai has good street food too. Here is the list:

Butter chicken and naan

Kebab rolls

Indian Chinese

As many different kinds of chaat as your stomach can handle

Indian sweets- milky, delicious concoctions (try the kulfi falooda at Badshah’s in Crawford market)

Vada pav (the great Indian veg burger)

South Indian food from an Udupi restaurant

Kingfisher Blue beer

To get a real flavour of what’s unique to Mumbai, you will have to go a little lower down the scale and experience the street food and Irani cafes. Just remember to check whether the place is clean.

Bangalore

For many years, Bangalore was known throughout India as the most green, liberal and forward-thinking city. In recent years, these attributes have propelled Bangalore to the forefront of the high-tech industry boom in India, and it currently ranks as India’s most developed city and one of the world’s fastest growing urban areas.

This city has auto-rickshaw, too.

Iskcon Temple

Temple built on a hillock in Rajajinagar atop scenic surroundings, is a perfect blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony. The huge cultural complex was built to promote vedic culture and spiritual learning, and abounds with shops selling devotional items and souvenirs. It is home of the ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ movement.

Pub

Experience the Bangalore pub scene, mostly around MG Road, Brigade Road, and Church Street.

Food!!!

Bangalore is far from the sea, and as such the quality of seafood can vary. Some of the higher end and popular seafood places manage this well, but foreign travelers may want to tread a bit carefully.

- Yuxiang Gao

References:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangalore#Eat

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangalore

http://wikitravel.org/en/Mumbai

http://wikitravel.org/en/India

http://wikitravel.org/en/Delhi

http://www.food-india.com/

http://www.indianfoodforever.com/

http://www.tourindia.com/

Most of you know that from June 11 till July 11 the worlds most important event takes place, the Soccer World Championship in South Africa.

While I was researching the important matches and trying to fit that somehow into our India schedule, I realized that India does not participate in the World Championship. I was stunned, should this country of 1.2 bln have no decent soccer players? I mean even North Korea (not exactly known as a soccer super power) somehow qualified. So, where is India?

I was even more surprised to learn, that soccer is extremely popular in India even outnumbering cricket and hockey. It is extremely popular with the lower and middle class. The Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Calcutta is the second largest Stadium in the world, and the 120.000 seats are sold out on games of the Indian premier league.

So even though there is a large population of soccer fans and soccer player the Indian national team (aka The Bhangra Boys) never qualified even once for a soccer world championship. However, in 1950, for political reasons some team withdrew, and India moved up, and was invited to play in the world championship. Surprisingly the All India Football Federation decided to pass because the FIFA required all players to wear shoes, an unacceptable infringement on the liberties of the Indian team, which was known to play without shoes but with bandages.

Let’s see and wait what happens in 2014.

- Vitus Holzner

Sources:

http://www.taz.de/1/sport/artikel/1/der-wecker-ist-gestellt/

http://www.footage-magazin.de/index_ndim536.php

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indische_Fußballnationalmannschaft

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft_1950

After Dr. Carr posted a link for Joe Wong, and Chase asked about stand-up in India- I’m inspired to share Russell Peters with the group. His ‘Be a Man’ routine is funny as heck.

Youtube Video

Like Joe Wong, Mr. Peters creates an environment that is safe to laugh at ourselves. We should send comedians as foreign diplomats. “Common, be a man! Do the right thing!”

- Kirk Story

As most of you know, India has one of the largest clandestine economies in the world. A major part of this revolves around the recycling and reusing of trash collected in junkyards and dumps. The city of Moradabad, located in northern India, receives about half of the total electronic waste (e-waste) generated by India. In its slums, thousands of people live off e-waste. More specifically, they use various techniques to extract different metals from circuits found in phones, televisions, computers, monitors, keyboards, remote controls, radios etc.

In Moradabad, also known as peetal nagri , the brass city, different families are specialized in different steps of the process: some use blow torches to heat the circuits until the soldering breaks down and different parts separate, some dip the pieces in acid, while others simply burn them. Needless to say, the process is hazardous and can be very dangerous, but a day’s work will earn a family around 300 Rupees, which is enough to attract thousands.

However, last April the Indian Government announced a new law that will aim to regulate the e-waste clandestine market in order to reduce pollution derived from such waste. Their goal is to only allow officially licensed facilities to treat e-waste. This could have strong implications for these people as they could be forced to find a new means to subsist, most likely having to migrate elsewhere. According to MAIT, an organization regrouping several large electronics companies, and GTZ, an organization whose purpose is to promote sustainable development on a global scale, over 90% of e-waste generated in India end up in clandestine markets.

Many international companies also look to India when deciding how to rid itself of old electronic equipment. Some do it through said licensed companies to promote a environmentally-responsible image, while others deal with the clandestine market to cut-down costs.

If this law is effective, it should significantly reduce pollution derived from e-waste, but many families will have to find a new way to make ends meet. Ultimately, this will take some time to take effect and many are skeptical in regards to the government’s ability to implement the law and effectively funnel all activities to licensed entities.

- Michael Harroch