End of the Road

As our China Road comes to an end, it is time for reflection. Today we visited the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, two icons of ancient China. Modern China meets ancient China at these sites, mostly in the form of the people walking around trying to sell us fake watches, postcards, t-shirts, and a plethora of other little knickknacks and souvenirs. When we wrote our first post I was nervous about the food in China and excited for shopping for fake brand name goods. Apparently at the time I forgot to be excited to see the Great Wall and the Summer Palace, which ended the two highlights of the trip for me (along with karaoke). As it turns out I’ve adjusted to the food and I am disgusted by knockoffs.

 

For me, eating in China is about knowing what to order. To that end, it’s nice to eat out with a classmate who speaks Chinese or at a restaurant with English translations or pictures on the menu. Sometimes, though, guessing can work to your advantage, such as when we accidentally ate at a spicy food restaurant in Shanghai and I ordered mutton chops. They were delicious. Two new standards in my diet are hot pot and dumplings. Though I may never get used to seeing hooves and duck tongue on menus, there is usually something there I can order.

Unfortunately I didn’t stop to take pictures in the Silk Market, but the first thing I noticed when I walked in was a giant red sign that reads, “Protect intellectual property rights.” The irony is pretty breathtaking, considering it’s hanging over row after row after row of knockoff products. I just couldn’t do it; the blatant theft was too much for me. In that volume, the magnitude of the problem of IP theft becomes much clearer. First of all, the Silk Market is not the only fake goods market in Beijing; there are at least three that I know of and I am sure there are many more. The Silk Market is just the most touristy of these markets. Second, in this context “market” does not mean “quaint shopping experience.” These markets are 4+ floors full of vendors selling their wares. There is a whole industry in China around selling knockoff goods. It’s incredible. Almost immediately upon entering the Silk Market, I became repulsed by the whole concept of fake designer purses, watches, jewelry, jeans, shoes, sunglasses, etc., and instead I bought silk scarves and ties and some pearls. I’m happy with my purchases and, as far as I know, they aren’t knockoffs of any famous name brands.

The popularity of the Silk Market, though, highlights the challenge China faces in combating its international reputation as a blackhole of intellectual property. While high level issues of property rights between companies, manufacturers, subsidiaries, distributors, partners, etc., is the major concern, the street-level IP theft is a widely-visible symptom of the same problem. It doesn’t seem IP is respected here in China, although there are signs this attitude is changing.

Defining Moments

In a week, I will leave with 26 students for China.  For many it will be their first time in Asia – and China.  I expect — and hope — that it will be an experience that I call “a defining moment” — so impactful that it remains with them for the rest of their lives.   Defining moments occur when we are taken outside of our comfort zone.  I have experienced personally, and observed, that new international experiences can be just that – it is a stretching experiences, frequently pushing us outside our comfort zone. It may be as simple as challenging the palate.  Sometimes the real learning doesn’t take place until after the fact, upon reflection. 

I think of how we from the west may draw the world map.  As shown below, we see it as Americas-centric.  It’s human nature that we form our perceptions and expectations based on what we read, hear, see, experience, and it becomes our norm.      

 

And then our norm is challenged – sometimes the challenge sneaks up on you; other times it is a full, frontal attack.  The experience in China is hopefully more of later.  And we begin to see the world, and our experiences , through the lens of others.   This is a defining moment – something that shakes our thinking, reshapes our view – turns the world upside down, giving a whole different perspective. 

 

Time will tell to what extent the coming weeks will be a defining moment for the students.   Stay tuned to hear how our experiences, what we hear, and see – challenges our world-view and pushes us outside the comfort zone.