I like the Chinese People
by Bob Grant
I have been doing business in China for six years – with one of the other companies that I own. I enjoy my visits to China. I enjoy the associations I have built up in China. I like the Chinese People!
Our Speak Without Interruption site has been in existence since December 2008. We have been blessed with tremendous writers who have contributed to this site – from places not only in the United States but all over the world. However, we do not have a contributor from China and I hope to change this fact – soon! Today I wrote to a number of Chinese writing groups inviting them to participate in our site – I am sincerely hopeful I will receive some replies. It is through these contacts – and this posting – that I am inviting Chinese writers, and viewers, to participate in our site.
As with any business – I had to locate the right personnel, in China, before I could start my business. It took me two years of searching – and visits – to finally meet a young man named David (here is a photo of him and his family). David has a degree in Chemical Engineering and International Business and he is my manager/partner in China. Without David – I would not be doing business in China today or enjoy our success there.
Our office is in Shenzhen which is in Southwest China across the bay from Hong Kong. We import plastic and aluminum extrusions into the U.S. market. Unfortunately, our customers are involved in the Building Products trade and our business is not what is used to be two years ago. However, I maintain our office in Shenzhen and my association with David. Here is a photo of the front of our office complex and also a view from our office to surrounding Shenzhen (actually we are located in a portion of Shenzhen named Bao’an).
I have never felt threatened when visiting factories or venturing out on my own – anywhere in China. Because of the nature of our business I tend to be in places where tourists are never seen – in most cases I am one in a sea of many. However, not once have I been approached in any manner other than friendly. There are “Westernized” places to eat and stay in China; however, I prefer to go where my Chinese associates go and stay where they stay. I will admit that I don’t ask what I am eating or drinking – I just take some of everything and do my best with Chopsticks.
The factories with whom we deal are modern and first class operations. I have never been in a factory where I have seen “sweat shop” situations. The factories have living quarters for all their employees, and from what I have seen, take care of them very well. The work areas are clean and well maintained.
Although I have never taken much time for sightseeing – I have been fortunate to have been able to visit Tiananmen Square in Beijing, with David, and he took me on a tour behind the Forbidden City that most tourists don’t see. It was most interesting.
Throughout my travels – I marvel at the beauty of China’s everyday life and surroundings. There are even McDonald’s for those who just can’t 
be without one – I did resist, however.
I sincerely hope our site continues to grow in both viewers, and contributors, not only from China but from every country in the world. I truly believe that “everyone” has a right to Speak Without Interruption!!!!!
I have had similar experiences in China. My wife is Chinese. She was born in Shanghai and didn’t become a United States Citizen until her 30s. When we visit China, which has been often since we married, we stay in hotels that cater to Chinese tourists, not foreigners. We eat where I am the only Caucasian face, and the prices are great. I feel safer in China no matter where we go. For breakfast, I enjoy drinking fresh made soy juice, which is unlike any found in the United States. To do this, I usually get up with the dawn and walk by myself through sort-of-empty streets to the place where the soy juice is made. I would be the only white face in the place. Everyone is friendly and polite. You just have to be careful crossing the streets. The Chinese believe that the bigger and heavier the car, the more rights that car has on the road and a pedestrian is at the bottom of that food chain. I’ve gone to Chinese plays and movies, and I don’t speak Chinese but I can tell by the story what is going on. China is an amazing place, and I’ve been to many places and plan to visit more. Sometimes, we are out late at night on empty streets where there are no lights and feel perfectly safe everywhere we go. Remember, China does have crime like any country so take precautions. Although nothing has ever happened yet, I still take care.
Bob – a great post – and just highlights the truth that we are all people and as long as we look at each other through eyes of love and acceptance and recognize the royalty in each other as Jesse Duplantis says – all is well!
Hey Bob, What you say about the simplicity of Chinese people is absolutely true. They are so down- to – earth and honest that sometimes people who don’t understand often misunderstand some of their words and actions. For example in the rural areas Chinese people are more open about their curiosities about foreingers. I went to the beach in a pace in Dalian called Da Hei Shi last Tuesday and had a very interesting experience. This wasn’t the first time, thought but this one touched me particularly because it happened seven years after similar situations took place. I am a Cameroonian: writer, teacher and journalist who has worked and lived in China for 7 years now. What happened on the beach?
A woman came up to me and looked at my hair and then asked me if it was real. When I said, “Yes” she looked at me in surprise and asked if she could touch it. I smiled and joked that she could touch it if only she would pay me. To my surprise she asked, “How much?” I was in a great mood , so I simply said, “50 RMB!” The good woman exclaimed, “That’s too expensive!” With those words, she walked away. I continued digging a hole in the sand (for that’s what I was doing before she came up to me.)
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my back. I turned around quickly. It was the woman. This time, she wasn’t alone. She was with four other women. They all wanted to touch my hair. But the most interesting thing was since 50 RMB was too much for them, they had each contributed 10 RMB and were determined to either take turns touching my hair or to sacrifice their money and let one of them do it and then tell the rest of them about the experience later. This simple event touched me so much that I let them all touch my hair many times, for free, of course!
I forgot to mention that this is only one of the many interesting things that has happened to me in China. In the classrooms when I teach, the situation is simply magical. I have even published some of the situations here http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/teach-english-as-a-second-language-or-english-as-a-foreign-language-without-sending-students-to-sleep-17-easy-to-use-techniques-4-extra-tips-practical-examples-based-on-the-real-life-experiences-of-an-esl-teacher-in-china/7457533
Thank you – I have actually been to Dalian and to that very beach. I appreciate your comments – perhaps you would be interested in becoming a contributor to our site? If so – you can write to me at SpeakWithoutInterruption@gmail.com
I would love to contribute stories and articles to your site. Let me know if you need any specifics topics or just general stuff.
Yungsi – Again, please write to me – Bob Grant – at SpeakWithoutInteruption@gmail.com You are free to write about anything that is of interest to you; however, I would like to have some personal correspondence with you before you begin plus I have to send you instructions regarding becoming a contributor to our site.
[...] Doing Business in China I’ve talked to an American doing business in China who was frustrated with the process while another American like Bob Grant wrote I Like the Chinese People. [...]