September 1, 2002

  • Time to Breathe


    So the conference is finally over... I finally have some time to breathe, eat and sleep.  I didn't write too much about what it was about on here, mainly because I didn't have enough time, but the whole purpose of doing the conference was three-fold.  I like saying "three-fold".


    Firstly, I'm a strong believer of extra-curricular activities during the school year, and because of the apparent lack of it here in China, I wanted to create a platform for students here to get involved and have fun while at the same time learn how valuable an experience like this can be to the development of your inner self.


    Secondly, entrepreneurs are a driving force behind any economy, always the first to try out new ideas, first to take risks when the economy is down and are drivers of human advancement.  Many students don't believe in working for a start-up, or aren't driven enough to think about starting a company up themselves after a couple years of work, some thing that China desperately needs as it continues to grow.  Conferences like the one that just occured this past week will hopefully encourage people to look at things in a different light.


    Third, to show students that a project like this is entirely possible.  There were so many doubters in the beginning.  So many skeptics, complainers and non-doers.  Reflecting on all that has happened, I think all that has occured has made my staff realize just how possible a dream can be if you work at it.  Our conference ran on a budget of $150,000 RMB, consisted of 7 days of lectures, discussions, company visits and activities, and over 80 delegates from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Singapore and the United States.


    Of course that's not all, there are some hidden agendas as well.  It provided me networking opportunities with multinational corporations, gave me exposure to working with the Chinese and management of them, allowed me to practice my Mandarin on a more formal setting, gave me a glimpse of the bureaucracies in China, and provided me with a handful of good friends.


    I wasn't able to actually attend too much of the conference since I had to work, but some of the highlights included:


    - taking 90 students to a restaurant that gave 10% of them food poisoning, of which about half had to go to the hospital
    - me sleeping at the office for 3 consecutive days because work deadlines and coordination of the conference gave me absolutely no time to do anything
    - the fear of being abducted by the People's Army because a speaker I didn't screen for an event I ran started to bash the government of China's judicial system during a 20 minute presentation (fuck I was so pissed)
    - finding a full page story of our conference in a Chinese newspaper (and my picture!)
    - over budgeting and having an excess of 60,000 RMB left over (over $10K Canadian)


    I guess the conference wasn't all that exciting.


    So in the next 2-3 months, so far we'll be involved with:


    Sep. 14 - Moet & Chandon and LVMH fashion show
    Sep. 27 - Grand Opening of The Warehouse (and viewing of the Lotus Elise)
    Oct. - Paul Oakenfold in Shanghai
    Nov. - Paul van Dyk in Shanghai


    Right now, it is 10pm.  I'm sitting in the office, looking through Xanga sites, chatting on ICQ, listening to Norah Jones and downloading the first two episodes of Star Trek Enterprise.


    Egads... I've passed my 1 year anniversary of being in China (August 27, 2001).


    Happy birthday Mom, Marv, Daphne and Rodge.

Comments (3)

  • wow, you survived!  congrats!  (i would have been afraid re: the speaker!!)  good job!  so how long are you staying there???

  • great job Simon!!  i'm so proud of you.  i'm still looking for work, particularly in Korea... but if i have the chance to pass by Shanghai, I'll come visit you. ok?

  • since you've missed my birthday for the last 2 years, bring me back a magnum of moet when you get back.

    while you're at it, brink me back a lotus too.

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