Article by Chris Coraggio
Before I begin, I would just like to say that this trip will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. I know I’m not only speaking for myself. Thank you Dr. Bailey, Melanie, and the QUEST program for this once-in-a-lifetime QUEST2China experience!
Because the China blog (http://blog.umd.edu/quest2china/) covers specifics on the places we visited, here’s a brief list: Accenture Customer Innovation Network, J&J Tylenol Plant, Buddha Temple, silk museum, Old Shanghai, the Bund (the classic Shanghai Skyline), the French Concession and Yuyuan Gardens.
The moment we touched down in Shanghai, we were in disbelief. Think New York City in all its glory, multiply that by 6, add some mysticism and avant-gardism and that’s almost Shanghai. Its population is around 20M people compared to New York City’s 8.4M. All the articles that you’ve read about China’s rise to global prominence – we witnessed it!
Shanghai is all about the future of China – it’s the financial capital of the country, touting over 4000 skyscrapers! As our first city, it was also the first time we experienced “real” Chinese food – no General Tso’s chicken or chicken and broccoli, just KFC! Well, that and jellyfish, eel, dumplings, and MANY more “exotic” foods. One thing to remember: the Chinese eat “everything with 4 legs except the table”!
In Shanghai, we learned some important lessons. Bargaining is an art, especially for foreigners. Vendors jack up prices sometimes 100% over the actual retail price, so any discount less than 80% is a rip-off! And in terms of how to bargain, it’s all about theatrics. Just ask Jeff Jacobs or Asmi Joshi. Communication in general was very difficult; it often amounted to excessive gesturing and saying bùhǎo (translation: bad).
Beijing, China’s historic capital, gave us the history. Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City were awesome, but nothing beats the Great Wall. As expected, we conquered it! Other activities were visiting the U.S. Embassy, visiting companies, and riding a high speed train (Acela got NOTHING). Some of us who stayed later visited the Bird’s Nest, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Overall, Beijing was amazing because we witnessed hundreds of years of history, even in its people; truly a humbling experience.
But I can’t forget about our final presentations at the Smith School’s China Business Plan Competition! You should congratulate teams Transfastic, Happy Fish, Pangaea, and the award-winning QualiTea for completing incredible projects in less than 10 days!
Hannah Henningsgaard, a QUEST2China participant, said, “It is hard to describe the experience that we shared in China, but I can say this- it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I gained a new perspective on myself and my own country by immersing myself in the Chinese culture and developing relationships with others. Perhaps the most important lesson that we can take away from the experience is that the world is large and full of opportunity, so we must see it while we can!”