Right ok, I did not have a lot of time the last few days to explain that I switched jobs. Well... I took on a job as an advisor for the German Development Cooperation (GTZ) in Changzhou. The GTZ runs a special programme, which promotes harmonious urban planning in Yangzhou and Changzhou (Jiangu province). The company's programme aids the local municipalities of Yangzhou and Changzhou to become so-called Eco- Cities.
An Eco- City is a city, which develops its urban planning on the basis of a harmonious relationships between the economy, the natural environment and civil society. It is certain that such a concept sounds pretentious, however the programme very much tries to put things into practise through its many initiatives (http://www.ecocity-programme.org).
Enough of marketing and PR now. The job is not only interesting in terms of my diverse set of tasks, it also involves the ability to drink as much as the company's partners (i.e. local Party members) demand of you, the "laowei". Sometimes, its hard to imagine that people can guzzle an entire wine bottle in less than a minute. Gambei!
Party Member 7: "Let us guzzle this good wine for German- Chinese relationship"
Me: "The whole glass? I am not even German!"
Party Member laughs and shouts "Gambei"!
Spending a night/ afternoon drinking with Chinese Party members is like running a marathon. You need a certain strategy to keep from loosing face. One needs to be tactful and concurrently diplomatic, as their aim is to get you drunker than Oliver Reed.
Party Member 5: Let's drink this glass to the beautiful football that the Dutch have brought to the world!
Me: "Thanks, but I can't anymore"!
The Party member looks shocked and responds:
"You must understand Chinese culture, if you are my friend, you must drink this full cup together with me. We are friends!".
*no choice, no choice....* "Gambei!"
And after doing this for a certain amount of time one becomes dizzy and starts feeling ill...
One consequently needs to time his/ her "reverse peristalsis" for the right moment (during a short toilet visit in between the drinking sessions or afterwards, on one's way back home). How much I am learning at present!
Gambei!
An Eco- City is a city, which develops its urban planning on the basis of a harmonious relationships between the economy, the natural environment and civil society. It is certain that such a concept sounds pretentious, however the programme very much tries to put things into practise through its many initiatives (http://www.ecocity-programme.org).
Enough of marketing and PR now. The job is not only interesting in terms of my diverse set of tasks, it also involves the ability to drink as much as the company's partners (i.e. local Party members) demand of you, the "laowei". Sometimes, its hard to imagine that people can guzzle an entire wine bottle in less than a minute. Gambei!Party Member 7: "Let us guzzle this good wine for German- Chinese relationship"
Me: "The whole glass? I am not even German!"
Party Member laughs and shouts "Gambei"!
Spending a night/ afternoon drinking with Chinese Party members is like running a marathon. You need a certain strategy to keep from loosing face. One needs to be tactful and concurrently diplomatic, as their aim is to get you drunker than Oliver Reed.
Party Member 5: Let's drink this glass to the beautiful football that the Dutch have brought to the world!
Me: "Thanks, but I can't anymore"!
The Party member looks shocked and responds:
"You must understand Chinese culture, if you are my friend, you must drink this full cup together with me. We are friends!".
*no choice, no choice....* "Gambei!"
And after doing this for a certain amount of time one becomes dizzy and starts feeling ill...
One consequently needs to time his/ her "reverse peristalsis" for the right moment (during a short toilet visit in between the drinking sessions or afterwards, on one's way back home). How much I am learning at present!
Gambei!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment