“The Tragic Kingdom, or; “Prisoner in a Chinese Theme Park”, (found on all bookstore websites such as amazon.com, borders, etc), is a behind-the-scenes look into the field of design and build in China. The book is a profile of the personalities, culture, and psychology of the world’s most massive looming superpower as seen through the eyes of an ex-pat American.
I have witnessed a formidable decade in which China has commanded a modern presence on the world stage and have participated in the planning, designing, and building of mega-theme parks in Beijing, world-class aquariums in Shanghai, gigantic malls in the Pearl Delta, resorts in Tibet, and panda relocation projects in the foothills of the Himalayas.
The stories and themes found in The Tragic Kingdom spring from one man’s journey. At the same time I believe they disclose truths about a globalization that eventually will impact every economy, lifestyle, and person on the planet.

Thanks for the check in and kind words.

Best,

- Prof. Carr

Vikas, thank you for helping us out in India and being a great teacher as you have experienced so much. Thank you also to the student ambassadors Riddhi and Kamal for teaching us a thing or two about Indian culture and the students in it. I greatly recommend this trip to future students in the Cal Poly Master’s program in the Orfalea College of Business. Thank you again Dr. Carr.

Thanks for the check in, kind words, and all your help in India!

Chris.

Let me begin by saying that it was a pleasure to have you all here in India. Dr. Carr is right when he says that you all were great brand ambassadors. I have hosted groups before but this year I was greatly impressed by you all. I saw all of you more open to the challenges and the chaos that can be thrown at someone who comes to India for the first time. You all were all more adaptive no matter what you had to face. In today’s world these are great abilities to have.

I am sure you all will go on and have great futures. I hope this trip contributed in someway or the other to all of you. I wish you the best in life and try and stay in touch(I am on Morgan’s facebook list).

Thanks and Regards

Vikas

Though the students had fears about everything from pig flu quarantines, to malaria, to drunken lecherous expats, everything came out brilliantly in the end.

For me the journey has not yet ended, as I am still in China finding and exploring business and cultural opportunities on the daily. I look forward to both reading and sharing any interesting discoveries with this blog and you all in the future

Personal thanks to Dr. Carr, Jay Singh, and Neetu for their planning and tireless work all along. May you all have a great summer and much health wealth and happiness in the coming year.

Thanks for the kind feedback.

Logan, you raise a good question. My own feeling is that China and India can’t be explained or taught. Experiential (i.e., go there and see them for yourself) learning is required.

That said, here are some things I have learned to use to try and explain said places and business environments to those who have not been there, who don’t plan to go, or who are unable to go due to cost, time, etc.

1. Some comments and questions about these places are so far out there it’s better to just ignore them. For example, one person recently asked me, “Why do you take students to China which is anti-Christian?” Said comment was so silly, misinformed and self-serving that I just chuckled and ignored it. I.e., pick your battles. Some people you won’t change, educate or assist. Don’t waste your time or breath on those folks.

2. Try to speak of emerging markets like China and india in a respectful, favorable, optimistic and yet balanced (here is the good and bad) way. In time, curious people will seek to learn more and find what they need to know.

3. Gently push back when people say things about these places that are well intentioned but you know are wrong. For example, challenge them and ask, “How do you know that?”, or “Why do you say or feel that way?” or “Have you ever been there or plan to go?” or “On what evidence do you base the statement you just made?”. You might suggest they also read Zakaria’s Post American World or Khana’s Billions of Entrepreneurs book. In time, the people who really question and really do seek life long learning will find what they need to know or seek about such emerging markets as a China or India, both the good and the bad.

I enjoyed traveling with you. You also ask very insightful and tightly worded questions.

Prof. Carr

Thank you so much for the opportunity to study Chinese and Indian history, culture, and ambition. You along with Jay Singh, Neetu Bali, and all our gracious hosts gave us a greater experience than we could imagine and infinitely more than our domestic MBA competition. As for our graduate brothers and sisters abroad - especially those from MET - thank you for setting a higher standard. Prepare yourselves though, 32 members of the Cal Poly Chindia ‘09 Crew will see you in the global business arena soon enough. Don’t expect us to hold back either; we now know you’re up to our challenge.

This trip was exciting, enlightening, and exhausting. It is also intensely difficult to relay to the inexperienced. India cultivates a beautiful chaos: a country packed to the brim, suffering through the growing pains of modernization. Yet stop any man or woman on its frightening streets and you’ll confront passion able to thrive under any adversity. That same drive flourishes in China with its own unique flavors of certainty and reverence. Yet, if I could ask just one more question of you - my accomplished professors and leaders - it would be, “How do I teach friends, family, colleagues, or anyone at home what we learned without dragging them half-way around the world to see first-hand?”

I cannot measure the importance of conveying that knowledge. In many ways we in the U.S. are already many steps behind Chinese and Indian business practices. We may also lack the will to catch/pass them. However, I still hold a great deal of hope for us and our future success. After all, it took less than three weeks to awaken the ambitious spirit in each of us 32 graduates. So armed we will work wonders.

Thank you again for leading us to such riches of mind and soul. We will always remember the lessons learned and seek to leverage them at every opportunity.