Beijing Experience - Bobby Weltner

Traveling to Beijing for the week of fall break was a great opportunity for learning and growth.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to join the eleven other Notre Dame delegates on this incredible adventure.  In conjunction with the students from Peking University in Beijing, Monica Laidig, Verona Lu, Qiaoning Li, and Ava Lee all did a fantastic job putting together a well-coordinated and well-timed schedule.  This comprehensive schedule allowed us time both to build new friendships with the Chinese students and to experience first-hand many different aspects of Chinese culture.

            The best part of the trip was definitely the opportunity that we had to make new friends with the delegates from Peking University.  It was extremely interesting to learn about the similarities and differences between our two cultures and to discuss the different ways that the American and Chinese students viewed the issues that were presented to us in the case competition.  Based on my personal experience, I felt as if the Chinese students were more detail-oriented in their analysis of the questions, and they seemed to place great emphasis on numbers and charts to support their analysis.  In contrast, the American students, including myself, enjoyed discussing the “bigger picture” more, and we tended to look for more ways to tie the different questions together.  Overall, I felt as if our two unique approaches to the case study complemented each other very well, and in the end, each of the three groups developed very strong presentations.  And fortunately, the team I was on won the competition!

            Outside of the work that we performed on the case, I really enjoyed the opportunities that we had to become fully immersed in the Chinese culture.  First, with regards to food, we tasted many of China’s most famous delicacies, most notably Peking Duck.  This roasted duck was my favorite meal of the week, and we ate it in one of Beijing’s most famous and traditional restaurants where many heads of states have previously eaten.  Second, we learned a great deal about the history of China through our visits to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.  I was absolutely amazed by the beauty of both of these sights, and it was truly remarkable to consider the number of people who must have dedicated their lives to constructing both of these wonders.

            Finally, I gained valuable insight into Chinese business through our three different company visits.  One of our company visits was to the headquarters of Sinosteel Corporation, a state-owned steel company.  During the visit, we talked to one of the company’s top managers, and it was fascinating to hear him characterize the relationship that the company has with the Chinese government.  I learned a lot from the experience about what it would actually be like to work for a state-owned corporation, and I believe that such an experience is important to have in order to understand the Chinese economy because many Chinese businesses are owned by the government.

            I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to travel to China with the Student International Business Council, and I appreciate the hard work that everyone put in to make this trip possible.  It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Beijing Experience - Mia Swift

It's amazing how much of this one little week I'll never forget. That's not to say I don't remember goofing off with friends on campus or the feeling of an undefeated football season, but nothing has remained so engraved in my mind as my time in Beijing. Just walking alone with my thoughts (and my huge, around the neck camera) through the Forbidden City was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Each gate led to an even greater sight, and all of the colors painted a beautiful landscape against the ever-smoggy sky. Once we climbed to the top of the palace (it'll also be hard to forget all those grueling treks, especially to the top of the Great Wall), we each took a conscious moment to fully take in our beautiful view. As much as I love my camera, it couldn't begin to properly capture all what I saw in those moments.  In Beijing, you'll try foods, meet people, and see those little glimpses of China that will all together form your brand new vision of this very foreign country. Things we forget in our everyday, like interactions with shopkeepers, bus rides, or street food snacks (do yourself a favor and eat as many sugar covered hawthorns as you can get your hands on) will become memories for a lifetime. I wouldn't trade my time in Beijing for anything, and I am so grateful I was provided this opportunity. Enjoy every second of your time there, because good or bad, I promise you that you won't want to miss a thing. 

Beijing experience - Alisha Anderson

I can say without a doubt that going to China over Fall break was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the 11-hour plane ride to chuting down from the Great Wall to visiting companies like Sino-Steel and Microsoft to eating too much Pocky, the week was a whirlwind of activities and fun. One of my favorite parts of the trip was simply navigating the huge city that is Beijing. It is one thing to read and hear about different aspects of Chinese culture, and it is another to be in the city and visit a state-sponsored enterprise, attempt to weave through the endless cars and bicycles, etc. Apart from the city atmosphere, perhaps my favorite part of the trip was working with the PKU delegates. I would be lying if I said this was always easy. There seemed to be constant misunderstandings about research assignments as well as the inevitable language barriers.  For example, we had to explain that "gambler" cannot be used interchangeably for "investor" and that there really is a difference between "supply chain" and "value chain." In spite of such apparent difficulties, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The conversations that we had - both case and non-case related - allowed me to understand that we are much more similar than different. I will forever be mindful of this insight as I move forward in my academic and professional career.

Beijing experience - John Reising

I’ve been back in the states for a week, and I still find myself needing a nap

during the middle of the day and struggling to fall asleep until 4 in the morning.

However, in the time I’ve been struggling to fall asleep, I’ve thought back to the past

week in Beijing and reflected on the tremendous experience offered to all us.

Although only a week, the time spent in Beijing opened a different

perspective on viewing the world. Traveling abroad and leaving the enclosed bubble

surrounding the United States and especially Notre Dame is a valuable asset to have.

By working with the students from Peking in the case study, we were able to

overcome many language and other barriers in order to produce a polished

presentation. Lectures from professors made me more aware of the skewed point of

view the United States takes towards reporting relations with China. Company visits

gave valuable lessons on business etiquette in China. For example, I quickly learned

the Chinese greatly value passing out business cards. You should accept the card

with both hands and read over all the content on the card instead of immediately

putting the card in your back pocket.

The highlight of the trip though was the sightseeing all around Beijing. From

the Forbidden City to Great Wall and many interesting diners, we made the most of

our week there. Each day was packed with a mixture of tourist and business

activities. Also, the Peking students accompanied us on many of our trips and

offered a Chinese point of view that expanded my initial thoughts on everything I

saw or learned.

Hello！ 你好！

Hi everyone!

This is the official blog of SIBC-GVI International Business Forum 2012.

Starting from Oct 12th, students participating the SIBC-GVI International Business Forum will share their stories here on a day-to-day basis.

We are all very excited!