Monday, 29 March 2010
a night that i will never forget
Monday, 22 March 2010
Sunday, 7 March 2010
SH(straw hat) Wuhan Journal PART ONE
Day 1(2/3/10):
After reaching Wuhan airport the first thing that came to my mind is the temperature is super cold! I was shivering my way to the waiting point for the coaches to arrive. After standing and shivering for more than 30 mins we were finally guided to where the coaches are. I feel that they should at least let us wait in the arrival hall rather than leaving us in the cold. I am sure in Singapore there will be airport personnel holding walkie talkie to help with tourist holding up the area. While looking back at the airport neither was there airport personnel nor security guard to guide us. I felt that Singapore is much more tourist oriented. Boarded the bus and headed to Wuhan University. Singaporeans were to experience this in china especially during tour holiday. I am sure they will be really unhappy. In addition, standing in the cold weather to wait for the bus is going to agitate them. Especially elderly are around. To break the misunderstanding maybe the tour guide or an announcement can be made to inform tourist that they may be a delay in bus arrivals.
I have a question for myself. If in the future I was to bring my whole family for a tour to china at around this time. Will I be able to control my emotions
Day 2(3/3/10):
Woke up and had a refreshing morning bath. After a long wait for our lecture and instruction to be given out we headed to canteen 2 for breakfast. Excited about buying my first china breakfast but I was greeted with sheer disappointment. Why do I say that? Lets start off when I was queuing up for my breakfast. I found it long so I went to get some drinks. I queued from the start and finally reached the lady to serve me. I told my orders and she replied by saying it will be ready in a minute. But a few seconds later someone came in and said their orders. She instantly forgot my orders and prepared their orders. Not only that the person behind person that ordered she also got it done, forgetting mine. Was furious I went away to get my breakfast. I think people in Singapore will not do that as they will be reprimanded by the people queuing behind and moreover the person who is serving you will never forget your order and serving consumer before you. I hope I can get use to it as soon as possible. After which we had we did shopping for our necessities and lunch. Along the way we chanced upon a phone shop. I particularly like the service by the young lady. She answered all the queries with an excellent attitude. Even though after shopping all our necessities and went back to the same shop and served us with professional services. Looking forward to tomorrow’s exploring the campus. We went back to hostel to rest for the night. I had a taste of the food at the road side stall and it was marvelous. Looking forward to exploring the campus.
I have uncovered work ethics. Example if close friends of mine were to be in this trip. I am sure we will create a chaos at the drink stall by distracting her or by speaking another language like English that she does not understand.
Day 3(4/4/10):
Woke up late today at around 8.45am. why? Because last night I woke up just to clear my stomach. I guess the last meal I ate from the roadside food store created a chaos in my stomach. Today we went to the canteen early and got really warm and tasty breakfast. I got a meat bun, a man tou(plain bun) and a cup of cooked noodle. To top it off a warm cup of warm water! Shortly after the meal we had to assemble and our lecture gave us a tour around the campus and even showed us our classroom. Before setting off for the tour, Dr tan(our lecture in-charge) told us that there will be a ice breaker among our ME division. In the end his ice break was “you guys talk among yourselves” I was speechless. Well I guess you have to take the initiative to approach the others then. The tour around the campus was a wonderful experience. I particularly like those short sentence nailed onto the wall. Example “the love of money is root to all evil by some guy” it is a short sentence but holds strong meanings behind it. Words like these in campus I think will at least impact some of the students. After which it was free time. We headed to a shopping district similar to Singapore’s orchard road but it is way bigger. We did shopping again but I’m not the one doing the shopping. I found out that the customer services are really excellent. They attend to you immediately every time you ask them about the items. The other thing that I really appreciate is “welcome!” coming out from the sales person even though you only go in to do window shopping. From my past experience shopping in Singapore you could hardly hear “welcome!” from the sales person. Sometimes when you have too much questions to ask, the sales person may get agitated and neglect you. In addition there was a china man in a shoe shop choosing a pair of shoes that will fit him perfectly. The sales girl not only answered his doubts she even went to the extra mile by running to the main shop to get the shoe which she felt it suits him best. If it were to be a must to practice such things I think typical Singaporeans will grumble or may even quit after a few months of working. I think the only way to get the understand is Singaporeans have to understand by doing so, more people will come to patronize their shop which in return more tourist will be attracted to Singapore to spend more. Thus the salaries will increase. We continued our exploration of the big shopping mall and chanced upon a magic shop. I bought a magic accessories and a 75L bag pack. We dined at a local fast food stall and went back to hostel.
I have uncovered consumer behavior and work ethics.
In conclusion with sheer determination, you can overcome any obstacle.
Day 4(5/3/2010):
We woke up pretty late because the weather forecast for today will be raining. On the other hand today is also another day of free and easy day for us. This means we are free to do what we want at our own pace. I got up at 11+ am. After the other bunk mate of mine, woke up. We got to the canteen to grab some lunch. To our surprise it was so pack and we went to the streets. We headed to a shop selling dumpling. After which we came back to bunk to finish up our learning journal till dinner.
Day 5(6/3/2010)
We set out for the city late because we were waiting for other friends to wake up. We got to the nearest shopping mall, a 20-30 minutes taxi ride. At that time it was already 4+ in the evening, we decided to get our dinner and an exchange a faulty goods we bought the day before. After which we got to a local fast food store to fill our hungry stomach. This is where when a consumer flared up when he food he ordered have not come after a long time. Everyone turned their heads to look at him. That is where the interesting part comes. When a consumer in Singapore got frustrated when the food has not come, the Singaporean will call the waiter for the problem that caused the delay. On the other hand, the china consumer shouted for the waiter. The similarity is the professionalism that both the waiter possesses, the china waiter calmly walks to the frustrated Chinese consumer to tell him that the order was forgotten and the Chinese consumer was assured that his food will be ready in a minute. Given the same scenario in the fast food, I am sure that the conflict will be resolved when each understands the reason behind it. I have discovered work ethics and social behavior. We walked around the mall to digest our food and headed back to hostel for the day.
In conclusion if everyone were to be able to control their emotions it will be a better place to live in.
Day 6(7/3/10)
We decided to delicate today as our rest day after days of shopping in the city. We rest in the bunk till evening. At round 6 to 7 in the evening we left the hostel for dinner at a nearby muslim food. Once again the service is power packed. The food was fast, delicious and the waiter was never a doubt. He is kind, patient and his memory is a wonder. You and add last minute orders and he still remembers. From the way he adds the garnishes and serving the food. I can see that he is very diligent, even under such cold weather. I am wondering if I were to be in his situation, will I be able to do as perfect as how he does. I can give you a define answer, I cannot do it. My biggest weakness is I am unable to survive the cold temperature wearing only a long sleeve and my biggest enemy is my huge water consuming ability. Without water for 3 hours I will be like a fish being thrown out of the tank, gasping for oxygen. After which we went to those road side stores to get some finger tips. Got back to the hostel and here I am doing up my journal.
I am still wondering of teenagers of Singapore will be able to do a better job than the muslim food stall’s waiter.
I have uncovered work ethics.