Christine Lee
6/15/14
Reflective Experience Paper
The China Retail Study Tour was a wondrous, eye-opening, and enlightening experience
for me. In the short three-week period, I learned so much that it is a challenge to sum up or give
an overview of what I learned and experienced to those who have asked me upon my return to
the States in just a short period of time. From the company visits to the cultural landmark visits
to our own individual free time excursions, we deposited so much material into our brains and
notebooks, and filled our electronic devices with so many pictures that it feels as if we are
opening up a realistic storybook when looking back. Throughout the trip, our class learned from
numerous executives from various backgrounds, as well as from our instructors, tour guides,
Chinese locals, tourists, and from each other. We visited many differently styled cities, seen
many different lifestyles, and had all types of shopping and dining experiences that we can really
say we have fully immersed ourselves into Chinese culture. Putting all the aforementioned pieces
together, I believe that there is no better way to learn about international business, retail,
international politics, language, culture, attitude, confidence, and life than going on a study
abroad tour such as this. I am therefore really grateful for all the work Dr. Oh, our tour guides,
company executives, and my beloved family and group of friends I made these three months
have put in to create such an unbelievable opportunity and unforgettable experience for me.
I remember first attending the info session for the tour the end of last year, a couple
months before the tour application deadline. I knew my heart was set to go then, but I had no
courage to ponder the financial matters nor ask for my parents’ opinion immediately because I
expected their answer to be a solid “no.” I left the task untouched until about two months before
the application was due, and it took me more than 6 weeks of persuading my parents for them to
finally give me their consent. Although the process was challenging, I am glad I took the time to
do it and didn’t give up half way through the persuasion process. Looking back, I really took the
first step out of my comfort zone in getting past my parents to make this trip possible.
Our first destination, Hong Kong, had the most significant meaning to me. Since I was
born there and haven’t been back in over thirteen years, the couple of days we had there were
indeed very homecoming-like. I didn’t realize just how much I missed Hong Kong until I
arrived, and was in disbelief that I was standing there at the airport. We visited four companies in
Hong Kong: JCPenney, Ocean Park, DFS, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Those four companies
were a great start to the whole program. JCPenney introduced us to the complications of logistics
and quality management, Ocean Park to the challenges of presenting a “need” for tourists to
attend the park, DFS to the difficulties of handling global tourists as target consumers, and
Dick’s to the problems of sourcing from factories and obtaining licenses to produce items.
We really got to experience the rainy season in Hong Kong as well, as it rained everyday
we were there. Luckily, we still got to see some of the cultural sights that we wanted to go to,
including the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Victoria Harbor night show. Hong Kong was
such a familiar yet foreign place to me. I feel like so much change has taken place since I left,
but the big picture is still the same. It amazed me to be able to see just how integral such a small
island is to the business world, and how economically free and lively the place really is.
Traveling to Shenzhen was actually one of the most amazing parts of the whole trip for
me because I never knew just how close Mainland China was from where I used to live until we
crossed the border between the two cities. On the way there, we were travelling in the New
Territory part of Hong Kong, and I couldn’t help but think that that area may be the perfect place
for me to live in the future. The mountains and scenery were beautiful, it was quiet there, but the
location isn’t far from the city known for its nightlife as well as to Mainland China where lots
more business opportunities are.
Being in Shenzhen was also a wonderful experience. Although the city is still in its early
stage of development and growth, it is very robust already. People of all ages crowded the streets
at night, and people from all over the world as well as all over China come to visit. Situated
between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, it is a small pinpoint on the map that is quickly becoming a
bustling city that connects diverse populations and businesses. There, we visited Umbra, where
we learned about innovation, design, and the complex exchanges between the company and its
clients.
After Shenzhen, we traveled to the manufacturing city of Dongguan to visit Brownshoe.
Brownshoe opened our eyes to the intricacy of fashion design. There, we got to see the materials
used to help design the shoes we see in stores like Famous Footwear. It was amazing to get to see
the fabric, ornaments, and shoe soles in its original form before the design process starts.
Guangzhou, I learned, was a place I can consider living in if I decide to work in China.
What I liked the most about Guangzhou was the fact that I can switch back and forth between
speaking Cantonese and Mandarin. I felt incredibly comfortable there due to its similarity to
Hong Kong. I love how the city is a blend of old local China life with commercial life. The
intermingling of traditional and modern aspects really brings out the cultural lifestyle that exists
there, and creates an astonishing ambience for both locals and tourists. There, we visited the U.S.
Commercial Service Office, Chimelong Group, Starwood Hotel Call Center, and Y&R, learning
about foreign direct investment in both China and the U.S., the challenges to managing
numerous divisions as part of the tourism industry, the maintenance of guest inquiries and
complaints, and the functions and challenges of advertising, respectively.
Shanghai to me is a very ingenious and intrepid place. It is a place that is very culturally
similar to the United States and Hong Kong. People there are dressed especially well, and are
really into fashion and trends. The style of Shanghai makes it a very welcoming place away from
home for tourists like me. We visited Shanghai City Supermarket where we learned about the
competitiveness of the food retail industry, Baosteel of the collaborations between steel
manufacturers and other manufacturing industries, Online Design of the connections between
designers and fashion retailers, Jack Wolfskin of the business environment of China, UCCAL of
the challenges to managing across a variety of categories and brands, and Outback Steakhouse of
the challenges of presenting itself to a new segment of consumers who have their own food
preferences that differ with what the restaurant is known for serving.
Beijing is a very traditional place filled with history. As a fan of Chinese history, being
able to see and learn at the cultural sights was truly an invaluable experience. It felt very
dreamlike to be actually standing there in places like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and
Tiananmen Square. On the Great Wall, seeing the structure stretch onwards made you really
think about just how long we have come as humans to be at the place we are at now. At the
Forbidden City, the massiveness of the whole palace and surrounding gates made you really
think about just how many people have been there, lived there, and made history there since its
initial construction. I especially liked the part of entering through the gates to the Forbidden City.
It left you questioning just how long ministers had to walk and wait for in order to see the
Emperor and just how early they had to wake up to make it to Morning Court. The diligence that
people of the past really had to exhibit taught me the importance of hard work, patience, and
persistence.
In Beijing, we visited Hyundai, Right at Home, 51ants, Olympic Management Center,
JD.com, and Perry Ellis. We learned about the production of cars and meeting safety standards at
Hyundai, the challenges to recruiting enough caregivers and getting the elderly to accept care
services at Right at Home, the challenges of servicing both convenience stores and
manufacturers at 51ants, the task of marketing the area and its operations after the completion of
the Olympics at Olympic Management Center, the difficulties with dealing with well-known
international competitors at JD.com, and brand differentiation, e-commerce development,
production, and the benefits of meditation at Perry Ellis.
The “free time” opportunities we had were also very beneficial to our development as
students and individuals of the society. We were exposed to a whole array of things to learn and
to appreciate, some simple and some difficult to understand. However, I think that the simple
things we got to do, things that seem as though common sense at times, were actually
opportunities for us to thoroughly analyze ourselves as individuals as well as reinforce our
current beliefs, habits, and ideas.
The shopping experience was the most beneficial to me because it gave me the
opportunity to learn how to speak with more power, and stand on one’s own ground. I bargained
very minimally during my first attempt at it by myself, giving in almost immediately when I
detected a raise in the seller’s tone. With practice, by the end of the trip, I was tougher in
bargaining, and almost always got down to the price level I wanted. The business knowledge that
we learned about, such as price setting and profit margins, really supplemented my bargaining
confidence. During my last purchase before leaving China, I brought the price down 92%, but
the thing was that I didn't use any of the bargaining tips that we learned. Instead, I sat down and
talked about more personal stuff such as school, family, friends, home, interests, and hobbies
with the storeowner. Although I probably could have done even better, what I took away the
most from individual bargaining was the fact that each person has their own way of doing it.
There is really no right or wrong way. You just need to believe in yourself, be smart, and go for
it.
Additionally, having the opportunity to shop with friends and bargain as a group makes
the experience even better. Teaming up made the sellers lose patience more easily. My friends
and I had some memorable exchanges with sellers that included acting, getting angry, walking
away, and for me, pretending I didn’t understand any Chinese and scaring them in the end when
I did speak. We shopped for everything, from handbags, to clothes, jewelry, scarves, electronics,
sunglasses, and so on. We made lots of purchases, but what I got most from shopping with others
was fashion sense. My friends recommended me stuff, and asked me for my opinion throughout
the trip. We also all looked at style magazines together. I learned and memorized the styles of
many brands that I didn’t even recognize the logo of before just because of my friends’ interest
in them.
As for dining experiences, the trip offered a whole variety of local and global cuisines to
allow us to open up and differentiate between different cultural styles. Other than local food like
Cantonese, Guangzhou, Shanghainese, and Beijing styled food, we also had Thai, Indian,
Brazilian, Italian, Greek, and Japanese food. Expanding our dining knowledge was an integral
part of the trip because it increased our awareness of others who are culturally different. It taught
us the patience and willingness to try other things that international business entails. The cultural
diversity immersion also allowed us to ponder our own values, ways of thinking, conceptions of
others, as well as how we handle relationships.
Fast food was also very fun to try because most of us are familiar with them from the
States. We visited McDonald’s, which had more local options in addition to choices from the
U.S., and was much cheaper in price. KFC also had a variety of options for the locals. Many of
the meals had rice in it, which was really fascinating. The environment was more family-oriented
than the U.S., and cleanliness was about the same. As for Pizza Hut, the menu is so much thicker
than the U.S. menus. There are many types of unique pizzas, including one with raw salmon on
top. The pasta selection was also very diverse, with seafood, meat, and vegetarian options. They
also served steak. Certain restaurants were decorated quite lavishly, with various paintings on the
side as well as fake candles as lighting. As for Starbucks, the drinks taste exactly like in the U.S.,
and prices are the same. However, unlike the U.S., you pay for the drink and get a receipt. No
names are taken, and you show the receipt for them to make the drink. The interesting thing
about all of these fast food restaurants was that there are no meal numbers to make ordering
easier. You either point, say the names in Chinese, or hope the cashiers understand English.
Overall, the fast food options were our ticket to late night meals as well as the way to get a break
from Chinese food here and then.
The most noteworthy dining experience I had was in Guangzhou, where I had seafood
with a couple of others. The ordering method was really unique. It was mind-blowing to have to
order at a seafood market, where you choose the exact crab or fish you want on the spot, and
then choose the option you want it cooked. The marketplace was loud, and it was hard to order
above the clamor. The best part of the dinner was trying the alligator, which was in a stew of
sauce. The seafood experience was not just any normal seafood meal to those of us who went. It
was a highlight to have the opportunity to try seafood at one of the world’s best places for
seafood.
Accommodation-wise, we were lucky to be able to stay at so many high-class, and wellpolished hotels. After each day of going all-out in learning and exploring, a clean and comfy
environment is the best to come back to. The hotel amenities were also very remarkable. With
outdoor and indoor pools, Jacuzzis, sauna rooms, massaging services, gyms, game rooms, and
more, it was easy to relax at night, have fun, and get the exercise you need from a day of eating
delicacies.
As for traveling, being able to utilize the extended network of transportation facilities in
China is a very stimulating experience. From traveling by bus, to using the MTR, to flying across
the nation, to using the taxi, we were really able to enjoy the wonders of getting around and
exploring. We passed by countless numbers of people, situations, businesses, and sights. One of
the best experiences we had was crowding in a packed subway train, grabbing on to each other,
and pushing our way out of the car. My group of friends and I also had our fair share of
arguments with taxi drivers trying to rip us off, but the experience is very positive and valuable
to us for future reference.
The whole trip was also amazing because we were able to meet so many executives from
different companies. Being able to see the environment they work in, the challenges they face
everyday at work, and the passion they have for their jobs was really spectacular. The
opportunities really let me see the distinctive side of doing business, working with different
people, and understanding concepts that the schoolbook and Internet cannot provide us with. It
was also nice to be able to hear the backgrounds of many executives. Hearing how they got
started really gave me motivation to start my career, no matter where and how small of an
opportunity it is. Many executives also gave us tips on life, talked to us about their lives, and
gave us beneficial resources. I felt very empowered by everyone who took the time to present to
us throughout the trip, and am sure that all the things I received from them, I will pocket wisely
from now on.
The trip has changed me in many ways as a person. I have become more confident of my
abilities, knowledgeable in both business and non-business aspects of life, aware of all the
cultural diversity around me, well-informed of my surroundings, and courageous in facing life’s
challenges. Just being away from home has made me realize even more the people I care for, the
people I hope to care for, and the people I need to care for. This trip has made me ponder the
things I should do to really reach my dreams. There are many things that I should start planning
for and seeking after, as well as many habits I need to change or strengthen. I have to keep my
self-confidence, give everything my all, and be proud of my own strengths and weaknesses.
Most importantly, the trip has made me understand that people are all different in their
capabilities. The qualities that you struggle with may be easy or irritating in someone’s eyes, but
if you let others judge you based off of your flaws, you are simply deeming yourself inferior.