24 days later.

17/6/2014. Left Shanghai for a second time. Completing a great second stint in China.

11/7/2014/  China is a happy memory. England is bathed in glorious sunshine. There are no apartment blocks or skyscrapers in view. Supermarkets have all this food that was sought after only a few weeks ago, fresh water on tap and hills that are accessible and climbable in your morning run.  The family are healthy and have had the first BBQ of the summer. Life is good.

Winchester, I’ve come to find though, is a tourist destination. The place is so lovely and English that it almost feels like the Chinese have made it. Its not a grievance, I continually count my blessings that I can come back here rather than say Hull but the idealistic nature of this place makes it feel like the The Truman Show. 

The culture shock is far greater coming back. You notice little things like white people doing mundane jobs, people saying ‘Thank-you’ excessively in places,  overhearing conversations constantly that are slurred and full of colloquialisms a far-cry from the ‘beautiful’ language to which the Chinese paint it.

I'm continuing Chinese on at Glasgow University and will attempt now I'm a Masters student to write more academic pieces like the one I tried about 3 months. So as I have no plans atm to return to Shanghai in the very near future, its a goodbye to this blog, for now? 

However, as an after-thought on Shanghai and China in general I thought I’d write a blog on the 10 things of the top things for me that makes the city and the country so delectable, so intoxicating (not just the smog), but mainly, so livable. Perhaps for the purpose of people living there now to smile and think life isn't so bad or for future people to go and seek out the wonders of the place.

1. Affordability. It goes without saying the ability to do things, to go anywhere, is about what is being young. Being able to afford the essentials like Accommodation, Food and Transportation without it breaking your budget, allows you to move, groove and really do anything that takes your fancy. This allows you to become hedonistic and worship yourself a bit more, you go out more often and massages, haircuts, shopping treat are instantaneous decisions.

Golf in a stadium, why not.

2. Futuristic. Shanghai is contesting what modernity looks like. The city is at the forefront of transportation. Tackling pollution, climate change, over-crowded lanes, I feel the worlds future is being experimented on in China.
   
   New bus design, starting in China.

3. Night scene. Shanghai had a reputation of being a sin city, where gangsters, prostitutes roamed the streets. Its not quite that culture yet, but the drinking outside, smoking indoors, over zealous spending in nightclubs, the surge in art and general lust for life from the youth, makes the night time an absolute playground.

4. International scene. This will sound stupid but whether you are from Kazakhstan or Kuwait, Iran or Iceland, you are all a foreigner in China’s eyes. The Chinese race is so strong they see themselves as one race one civilization with a long line of history. So this makes all foreigners, outsiders, I feel we as a group of outsiders revel in it, people from different backgrounds and countries get on and are all ambassadors for their own countries.

International housemates. 

5. Youth. Young people are flocking to China to study, to intern, to work. The young are beautiful, positive and ‘Yes’natured.Young people come as entrepreneurs to start their bright idea, i.e. new sport TRI see below. 

Trying out the new sport.

6. Language. I definitely miss the language. Writing Chinese characters is like some kind of secret code. It is the most spoken native language, and will be the language of tomorrow.

Bedroom wall. Live it breath it.

7. Lionized. China is internationalising, we as Westerners are in demand. A third perhaps more of population lived through the time of the Red Guards, of the Cultural Revolution, of the opening up of Chinese trade borders, foreign faces are a weird entity. A Western face is a sign of China modernising, you are treated with smiles, surprised looks, its a special experience.

8. The History. You are often told by enthusiastic students that the country has 5000 years of history. Following a century of humiliation, the Mao years, China you get the sense is forging a new era for itself as we speak. All the news seemed relevant and the change that was happening, e.g free traze zone in Shanghai, was dynamic and it was quite compelling to be a part of. Shanghai is like New York of the 80's/90's in that respect.

9. Chinese. Quirky, innovative in one sense,  resilient and hard-working in another. Unassuming and loyal but go out and you will see lavishness and energy.

10. Sights. The images that are just so far from your life back home make each day worth getting up for. 

As proof of this I put together a big, old video containing some of the pictures from my 16 months there. 

   ZaiJian 再见

62. China acting liberal.

The Two Unifiers

China(9,500,000km squared ) and Europe(10, 160,000 km squared) are of a relatively similar size give or take an area the size of Poland. However, unlike Europe, China does not have a long history of debilitating wars fought against neighbouring states. 

The two leaders who are credited with uniting China after war  are thus enshrined today.  These two leaders are separated by over 2000 years.

The first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC), who unified all the old states of China and subsequently instilled economic, social and cultural reforms. Some of those included building the Great Wall to centralise the state/keep out the Mongol hords, but he also buried alive 460 of the day's intellectuals in burials sites close to where his grand Terracotta Army was later found.

The second is of course, Mao Zedong, whose statues adorn pretty much every city. His greatest achievement was in essence defeating the Chiang-Kai-Shek- led Kuomintang and unifying China after 100 years of foreign influenced rule and the cival war that followed after Japan had exited in 1945. Some of his reforms included instilling women into the working environment and creating a simplified writing system. Also Mao deployed a similar tactic to his predecessor, but nonchalantly dismissed any claim that he was similar to the First Emperor in a speech to his part cadres, he exclaimed
" He buried 460 scholars alive- we have buried 46,000 alive", he continued,  "You intellectuals revile us for being Qin Shi Huangs. You are wrong. We have surpassed Qin Shi Huang hundred fold".

China's out of date philosophy

Thus China has kept a unified, singular state for the majority of its 5000 year history. They are in the majority one race of people (Han ethnicity makes up about 93% of the population). Having been at the forefront of the worlds innovations between the 1st and 18th century, its no surprise the Chinese for China is 'Zhongguo' 'middle kingdom' i.e. the whole world revolves around them. They essentially don't need other countries help.

Chinese people's cultural heritage is more established than more than most countries in the world. However the reason why they had so much foreign influenced rule in the 100 years between 1850-1950, was because they weren't able or willing to rid to change from their norm. They have had an almost obnoxious belief that their way was the right way.

However, since Deng Xiaoping  reforms in 1978 that opened up China to the world, the country has drastically caught up with other around them.

The latest economic reforms first initiated last year, and expected to be extended even further this month, could prove an even greater step forward for the Chinese government, and they are taking place here

in Shanghai.

Free Trade Zone

Shanghai officially launched Mainland China’s first Free Trade Zone (‘FTZ’) in September 2013. The 29-square kilometre FTZ area marked a positive step forward to boosting reforms. 

Quoted in South China Morning Post, First Premier Li Keqiang stated that he ‘wanted to make the zone a snapshot of how China can upgrade its economic structure’. He added that the ‘FTZ is not only a trial program of the country’s reform and opening up strategy, but also offers an important opportunity to drive renovation and facilitate the transformation of development’.

The move makes Shanghai an increasingly competitive location for international business and commerce. This is partly due to the FTZ loosening the tax burdens, hence lifting the city’s ease of conducting business. The Shanghai FTZ offers easier investment access to both foreign and domestic capital and services. 

Sources from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Management Committee of the Shanghai FTZ have given further implementation details into the future liberalization movement in the FTZ expected to be released this month, these plans include:

• Further deregulation and liberalization in the investment and financing sector.

• Expand the cross border using of RMB to further internationalise the currency. 

• Further the liberalization of the banking interest rate. Currently, the nationwide interest rate is state-governed; the plans if they go ahead would mean banks in the FTZ could offer a lower interest rate to drive investment.

• Reforming of foreign exchange management. Currently, trade goods are able to be purchased in an RMB convertible currency. This measure is also gradually being introduced into capital items as well.

Implementations

These reforms show many things.

Not so long ago in China's history, China denied the Brits entry to import our Opium from India on to their shores. This kickstarted the Opium wars, which Britain won quite convincely. The Treaty of Nanjing, 1842, followed that led to us getting Hong Kong as well as three other trade sea ports.

Many other Western countries followed to do an unequal treaty after unequal treaty with China. It was the century of shame for China. 

Mao from 1949-1976 rid China of most of its foreign influences when he came to power. 

This therefore is within a lifetime of people living in Shanghai right now. The FTZ is another signifier of the future being very readily shown in the face of the past. 

The point here is that rather than the Chinese living in the present dominated by their tradition of being a unified, singular state they are essentially dropping their habits and embracing the future by embracing Western business like never before. For a country that is steeped in history, this change really is so uncharacteristic, and worth noting.

That probably explains why it is just a pilot scheme. However with 12 other cities around China putting in their request to get a Free Trade Zone, the demand is there.

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Now there is the other side of the coin and that is the how the Western world acts who have been given an opportunity to establish themselves in the Free Trade Zone. 

Early signs haven't been encouraging though. Pretty crazy given British ships used to bombard Shanghai to sell their Opium. Surprisingly then foreign capital enterprises only make up 3-5% of the companies occupying space in the FTZ. This could be identified because foreign investors want to understand China’s policies first, while the domestic government moves forward stably.

However, I feel that the Western world are  too dismissive of setting up in China, because they would rather cater for them in their own country. 

As you have seen recently in the news, Chinese rather than just making their presence felt in starting up takeaways on the street corner, they are now investing huge amounts of money in the centre of London.  Plus China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba is about to float itself on the New York Stock Exchange.

These recent examples just go to show that China is trying to internationalise itself in the business world. Will we see the Western companies now do it in mainland China?

61. An Ode to Graduates.

An all too familiar sight. An all too insipid process.

'Hello my name is Oliver Wessely. I am a graduate from the University of York, gaining a 2:1 in English Language and Linguistics. Indeed it is the same course that York Caudwell was on (University Challenge team 2011). Throughout my three years, I worked to the courses deadlines, developing and perfecting the celebrated art of procrastination in the process. In the termly presentation seminars, I showed oratory skills that would have with out doubt trounced Hitler, Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli in any public debate.

Outside the course, I showed my creativity in recycling many costumes for the Club D’s and Derwent rugby socials. I illustrated great attention to detail in always detailing Derwents contributions extensively in my match reports for York Vision. I demonstrated a strong work ethic under the pressure of the Nando’s Saturday back grill shift. I have excellent team skills coming from being a Fly Half who liked to pass the ball to other people to bring the best out of them, unlike that  Bobo Johnson!
At home, I am a driven individual having passed my driving test on the fourth attempt. I can adapt to change having had six different relationships.
While out travelling the world, I showed resilience having done door-to-door sales as a  geekish, white 18year old in Sydneys summertime. I have taken a hands-on approach to work as the Summit Camp audience appreciated in my slightly camp portrayal of Smee in the Peter Pan Staff play. Furthermore, I have often communicated to others, namely in China, where I would try and teach English, shout ‘Bi Zui’ (Shut Up) in Chinese and then enact the body language of a irate teacher when the mass of students didn’t.
So in all, Mr GraduateScheme man, I have shown all the criteria ( and written them in italic) you so dearly look for in the position of Trainee Assistant Administrative for Sales and Recruitment at GraduateSchemes Top 100 Graduatejobs. I am really passionate to obtain this position as it is something I have always wanted to do since I was a wee knipper.
I desperately hope to hear back from you.

Best Wishes,

Oliver Wessely BA Hons 

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Since coming back from my voyage to China, I’ve managed to secure interviews with Graduate Fasttrack (such a high turnover I’ve had a cousin go through there), Life Insurance company's Data Analyst (come on, it required 3 GCSE’s) and the HM Prison Winchester.

Surprisingly, the prison job was the only one I would be interested in doing. To my great sadness, it wasn’t like Shawshank Redemption inside. I don’t think I would have fitted in and I haven’t heard back.

Like the Tardis, different on the inside.

Despite the failures in me trying to make that first big step into the job market, I’ve had many temporary jobs in the past four months. From cleaning, to catering, to pasty shop pot washing, to manual labouring, to recently a job as a mechanic assistant at a joystick factory. Adaptable.
I’ve met some interesting co-workers also, but truth be told these have been people I never wished to meet but also I'm thankful that I have.
I’ve had to try and sympathise with a grown man as he faced a sexual assault charge for jokingly groping someone, decline interest to a guy who was looking to try and ship off some of his home-grown weed, try and interpret a guy whose verbal pronunciation could only be understood by his inbred looking sister (he was probably asking someone to pull up his low trousers). Further to this, I’ve had to apologise for reading a book on shift (ironic), joke along with the Poles builders who were convinced my broken nose was due to my sleeping habits rather than surgery and lastly and probably most painfully try and understand a guy from Wigan who moved to escape the gang that he is convinced will kill him if he ever steps back there.

Looking at Britain from abroad, the social divide it has is, in my opinion Britains best kept secret. From my own experience, I feel awkward talking about my privileged upbringing with anyone unless I have confidence in the listener. It’s the worst problem in Britain today, people will stay in the jobs that would bore any new graduate senseless, putting their security over any hope and aspiration.
Or Channel 4 Benefits Street will come a knocking!

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Anyway, the future looks red, not orange. The red of China. If you don't believe me go and ask Martin Jacques who has written a very good book about China taking over the world. Considering this I am heading back to Shanghai to do an internship where all the experience I’ve had in my life all seemed key to them saying the immortal words ‘Yes’ to my application. Yes I lied earlier. I did get a fourth interview that was done on the telephone so I could still lie in bed.

The company is called CBBC that translates as the China Britain Business Council. So unfortunately I won’t be translating Tinky Winky’s script for the Chinese audience or refilling the green tea of NuNu the Teletubbies badass hoover. If I had got a job at the Chinese CBBC (Childrens British Broadcasting Corporation). I imagined this would have been the case. Instead I'll be editing reports and shizzzz.

So goodbye to everyone here. It has been great catching up with you. Until the next time!

Tinky Winky says Goodbye