Experience Product Designer IVAN

Week 6, Day 40

2009-05-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

On the 6June, I will be leaving Dalian, the campus, the people and the beautiful flowers that ruled the ground. I cannot believe myself that in just a week from now, it will be the end of the Dalian trip. Time starts ticking as the days start passing. The story that remains in my mind forever, an experience that is priceless. 19April the day I begin the journey. 6June the leaving of Dalian China to a city called Beijing. 9June the day I left my foot step on China made in China. Proudly announcing that I have been to China and this is my blog journal.

Week 6, Day 39

2009-05-28T02:56:00.000-07:00

Today, tomorrow and Saturday is the celebration of the dumpling festival in China. 3 days of public holiday. So great. So jealous. During the dumpling festival, the sales of dumpling can be seen selling along the streets along the school campus. Dumplings are bought as a symbol of celebration while eaten as togetherness. It is a time for bonding and a time for tradition relations. A handmade colourful bracelet is worn by people in China during the dumpling festival as a tradition. This bracelet must be thrown into the water immediately on the day it rains, from the day it is being worn. This action is said to bring good luck all year round! How Cool can this get.

Week 6, Day 36+37+38

2009-05-27T03:31:00.000-07:00

Work load is driving me crazy. There is so much work to be completed. Submission is getting nearer and nearer. Stress level is getting higher and hotter. Brain processor starts to overheat as many stuck themselves in their hostel mocking on the computers. The sound from key board “tact tack tact” filled the room as it raises the tension in us. This is how I felt and this is how we felt. The race to the end is just a few days away. A few days away before our minds could stop rest and relax.

Week 5, Day 34+35

2009-05-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

Let us join the 2009 Dalian’s yearly International Walking Festival! It is an event where people from all over the country gathers and walk together as one big nation. Participant could choose paths from a 5km walk to a 30km walk depending on each individual strength and motivation. The walk started from Xinghai Square and ended back at Xinghai Square as my buddies and I embarked on the journey for the 5km route which we decided the day before. Exploring and sight seeing was a mission but spending a day with our China buddies was the main. In 2 weeks time, we will be leaving Dalian China. Everything will come to a stop and the relationship between the China buddy and I will also be affected. How I wish I could extend my time in Dalian and I bet I could do even more. Friendship was important in Dalian so does the connection between the understanding of the two different cultural backgrounds of both countries. What I’ve learn is as simple as this… There is always something to learn from one another and there is also a time when we need to open our minds to the acceptance from others. This is part of a cultural exchange that I’m really proud experiencing in Dalian.

Week 5, Day 31+32+33

2009-05-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the continuation of the topic relation between people in Dalian while comparing it with the relationship between people we know in Singapore! Previously on the topic “GuanXi” I talked about the importance of the relationship and the lesson I learnt that taught me a very helpful lesson in Dalian China. Back to today’s topic! Since “GuanXi” is so important to the people in Dalian what about Singaporeans? I may think that “GuanXi” is equally important but from my point of view, in Singapore what is most important is the finding of contacts. What do I mean by the finding? In China, it is all about creating a strong background for networking. But before a creation of a good networking system for a businessman he has to find one. In China Dalian, losing one customer does not mean the end of world because there are many more others waiting to be invited. From my point of view this is only uniquely happening in China because Singapore is no matter what a really small county that only contain 3 million citizens on the tiny little red dot. However in China, people are like a never ending flow of water that never runs out. The probability of finding a good partnership is thousand and one higher in chance than what you can find in Singapore. Losing one customer in Singapore may cause very serious consequences in a business context because word of mouth only spread faster in the small and compact city. Thus, a careful planning is needed before the launching of a particular task. In Singapore, I head of a saying opportunity is every where and it is only how you find that opportunity. Looking back into Dalian China, I can literally see the word written right in front of my eyes “O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y.” Business buildings are everywhere. From healthcare centers, pharmacies too little food huts that always sell similar food spreads. Never the less did anyone complain about the tough competition. People in China just keep striving and doing what they are assigned to. The abundance is what I soon realize. Every thing can be bought and sold in China. There isn’t something I cannot find in China that I needed to get. Everything is in a mass producing and mass copying stage that I feel is part of China signature sight. In particularly, China is just like a subsistence business hub that can generate solely alone on it own. In Comparison, China is the only country I ever know of that captures its opportunity within the land of its own while Singapore’s opportunity lies outside the relationship of overseas networking that can only be found through after the understanding of “GuanXi”.

Week 5, Day 29+30

2009-05-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the 5th week of Ivan’s Dalian blogging topic! Today I am going to talk about the relationship between people in Dalian. You must be curious why I am I raising this topic in my blog when the topic of relationship among people is usually a blogging topic that is against the norm. However I don’t find it boring and it is actually a very interesting issue to talk and understand about in Dalian. In Dalian China, one will understand that relation and networking among people is extremely important. This is because “GuanXi” said by many Chinese as relationship is a magical word that is imprinted into the mind of the Chinese. To enable a business to be successful, one has to have a good networking from friends and family. Without a good connection with the outside world, one is not able to survive long. It is as though living in a deserted city so huge that help is only available through teamwork with the survivals on the island. To get out of the island you have to know each other well. Who is the smartest? Who can you trust? Who is the danger? Who can you work with? This reminded me of the American TV drama program “Lost” that I find a close relevancy to the relationship among people. Getting back to the word “GuanXi”, it also recalled the time when I door by door visited offices hoping to get an interviews chance from the company. It was as though finding a little pebble in the deep vase sea. It is mission impossible. It was then when I truly understand the stupidity in me that I was wasting my time if I were to continue searching in the bush without the presence of networking/contacts. I consider myself lucky when I finally realize as it did really knocked my so hard before I truly understand the true meaning of relationship. It wasn’t too late! Thanks to the China Buddy contact, I was glad that they gave me and my teammate Rui Hon a helping hand that really benefited us in bring us one step further in understand the printing culture in China. Relation is indeed important but what do you think if we bring it to the Singaporean context in creation of a successful business. How will you think? To be continued…

Week 4, Day 27+28

2009-05-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

House Keeping Day! It was my first day of spring cleaning. The room was getting a little messy and its time to spend some effort to clean it up. Washed the cloths, scrubbed the toilet, wiped the room and sun our shoes. It was a day off cleaning and it was also my first attempt to such a 360° spring cleaning task. I found that doing house work was really not as easy as what I told it would be like. House work was as though doing a prototype model. Detailing was needed to perfect the finishing model. Effort was needed to ensure the high quality finishing while time acting as a timeline to ensure the completion of the given work before the deadline. The act of house keeping reminded me of a phrase of my own, “A day of house keeping, keeps the swine away” The outbreak of the swine flu had indirectly affected our lifestyle in Dalian. Pork is best not to be eaten and keeping oneself clean is definitely a key to prevent attacks. I can see the fear in the eyes of everyone with the topic of getting ill. If anyone would to be sick, he/she would have to be confined or quarantine. Worst, the whole Dalian group would be sent back immediately! What is so scary is that Beijing being the number 1 best/clean city in China had already been down with the virus, while Dalian is in vulnerable city that could be next. I don’t wish to be sent back so suddenly. I even don’t wish to get ill. Keeping clean and healthy has therefore become my main issue in Dalian to prevent any of such incidents to happen. Not breaking the spirit of both my school mates and I, we really hope that the swine flu situation could be resolve as soon as possible. Keeping our finger cross that Dalian would be safe.

Week 4, Day 26

2009-05-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

Whoooooo Huuu!!! The colors of the surrounding were attractive and the buildings of the park were fairy tale like. It was filled by visitors with the screaming of enjoyment. “Happy” music started playing as the Discoveryland, Fa Xie Wang Guo, opened its entrance for us. The Kingdom of Discovery is something like a theme park in Dalian that is popular among many visitors visiting Dalian. In the park, it has many exciting ride that really challenges the limit of each individual. If you don’t have the guts don’t ever try the rides. It’s just TO BAD!!! Haha!!! I wanted to try every single ride but time wasn’t on my side as we needed to regroup around 4.30 which officially pressed on the stopped button of the day. I loved all the rides, particularly the sub-zero gravity machine that was as though jumping down a 30 story high building, the sand storm machine that turns and swirl you from left to right and finally the roller coaster ride that I almost lose my heart after the ride. The speed was so fast that my eyes were unable to open as the cold air started to pierce my skin. The speed of the roller coaster was wonderful as it was what I always wanted to experience. To be serious, it really blew my hair off during the ride. It was scary yet as relaxing as I was lifted from the ground like a speeding eagle. Something that I think I will never experience in my whole life time, only when I took the roller coaster in the Discoveryland. In fact, I did not expect the rides to be so fun as there were even more thrilling rides and more to talk about but it had to be experience personally. Words are hard to describe, but words could only describe the feeling I felt during enjoyable 6 hours of excitement.

Week 4, Day 25

2009-05-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Design talk lecture was long winded and boring.

The weekday seems to end so fast as we celebrated Cindy’s Birthday. Happy birthday Cindy!!!

Week 4, Day 22+23+24

2009-05-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

It’s the 4th week of Dalian stay. Right in front of me I can see the work load stacking itself up as we are running out of time. Another 3+ weeks to go before our research stops in Dalian in understanding the culture of (project) in Dalian. Surprisingly, the china market is pretty different from what I knew about. While using our context of a Singaporean will never allow me to understand the context in China. Visiting businesses and loitering among crowed areas had already become part and puzzle of the research practice that is flowing through my blood. I’m so eager and anxious to seek insights through behaviors, action and spaces. I am just like a vampire that hides is the dark corner while staring at its prey hoping to hunt them down unconsciously. Every move of mine will scare them away and affect the behaviour of their actions. There was no room for mistakes, no time for errors. I needed to understand more and dig into the understanding of the (project) code in China. More than what I can see above an iceberg. Swimming deep down into the icy water and immerging into the even deeper sight of the view of the iceberg that is waiting to be discovered. Only teleporting into a stranger environment helped me learn so much with a whole new opportunity to see the world with a brand new context. Dalian, a land of opportunities.

Week 3, Day 21

2009-05-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

In few minutes time, I would be entering the 4th week of my Dalian trip. Wow happy time really past so fast. The trip initially seems long but now it seems so short. I want more time to venture more and understand more about Dalian! In 4 weeks time, I will be flying back to the place I was born in. Probably by then I would be missing the people I met over at Dalian as a memory that would not be able to see them again. My China buddies, the 2 aunties in the hostel lobby, the fruit stall aunty, the CD uncle and the teaching and non teaching stuff that guided me in Dalian. The majority of people in Dalian were surprising polite towards us even though some may defend this by saying that China people are generally consider rude as they talked louder than the others and are more ill mannered in the way they portray themselves in public. But from what I see and understand, Dalian is not only a land for romance but also a land that contains many unique culture behaviors that outsiders would only understand if they try to understand Dalian personally. Taking the traffic for an example, drivers may seem notorious on the road but it is something that has become a lifestyle for the locals and if one will be driving as though he was driving in Singapore, he is for sure to face an accident. In China, time is money and there is no wasting of time for the people. Looking deeper into China’s context, the horning of the vehicle is also another unique site on the traffic. The constant horning and horning of the horns may seem impatient and irritating to the drivers on the roads. But if I was to be in the shoes of a China driver I would not see that as totally true. In fact the horning of vehicles is just like a simple friendly wave of road politeness to prevent accident from happening and also a kind of warning for the other driver’s existence. Horning as road safety. These are the kind of examples that made Dalian so different from Singapore. The world is so huge, just like Dalian. A land which is needed by the others to undiscovered itself by looking it at a brand new perspective towards Dalian China.

Week 3, Day 18+19+20

2009-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day. 1 lecturer, 1 tour guild, 1 bus driver, 20 students and another 2 strangers combined as one as we embarked on the long journey to the ice valley. I was hiding myself at the back of the bus’s corner with the wide window view opened beside me. Writing this post on my yellow note book I had on my left hand. It was raining and the weather wasn’t looking fine at all. The bus was jerky as I began to scribble my way using the help of my lap luckily without any much difficulty. I then took out my Mp3 and started to listen to the tune that sounded so familiar once again. Looking out of the window, the countless numbers of tree and greeneries flooded my sight yet my eyes just can’t stop looking at it. I thought in my mind. How did the environment become so dirty? When did this actually started? Why destroy the environment by littering or polluting the land, air and water? What didn’t we as man kind do something? The questioning of myself reminded me on the sentence said by a professor fromDalian Polytechnic University, during a talk on Thursday. He mentioned on the environmental issue that was urgently needed to be looked into. Something that we mustn’t escaped from. This is what he said: “We must always think about and link to the environment no matter it could be art, design or any other things we create. When we get ill, the environment gets ill. If the environment gets ill, we also will be ill” This acts like an electric current that’s runs all activities on earth and if it was to be stopped one day. It could only mean that it’s the end of life to earth and mother earth had already reached its maximum limit. It would then be too late. As I have been staying in Dalian for some time, I truly understand how the professor felt as the situation China is facing now is something that only changes and time could resolve. The air is dusty and many streets are filled with rubbish, flies producing unpleasant odor pollutants into the air. Vehicle are constantly flowing on the road as it produces so much harmful gases into the air not knowing that it could one day kill themselves. Mother earths aren’t coping well with the stress we are giving her. It is time for her to rest as she truly needed and deserved to rest. Just like what the professor had said why not really try to include the environment when designing.

Continuing… It was still raining as we reach the Ice Valley. The place was huge and the scenery was nothing I had seen before. It also made me feel so tiny compared to the tall and indestructible mountain around me. The view was still wonderful as the temperature was perfect even though the area was a little misty due to the rain which never stopped. It was around 2 hours later when we ended the entire walk in the Ice Valley. Although the Ice Valley is a national reserved in China and is so called one of the most beautiful places in China. I didn’t really enjoy much during the stay. In fact I’ve understood more than what I suppose to see. I remembered the time I was situated right in the middle of the mountain when my mind suddenly turned blank. I can still remember clearly that the mountains were all very tall and humongous as the existence of me seems to disappear. For that instance, I wanted to know who I am but I couldn’t remember who I actually was. I also felt totally free for once, forgetting who I was for that moment. The nature was as though trying to communicate with me and trying to convey a certain message to me. However, I am not sure what is it totally about but this was the kind of feeling I got at that particular place I was standing at. A message without a question and a question without an answer. A very mystical and unbelievable experience I encountered at the Ice Valley.

Week 3, Day 15+16+17

2009-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Right feet forward, left feet forward, right feet forward….” Constantly reminding myself that I must continue and carry on walking even though my legs were about to give way any second. The walk was like a never ending walk, as it slowly opened up many little streets and short cuts along the journey. Discovering has become more and more fun as I started to learn more about the things happening around Dalian. Today’s blog topic is related to the topic “Youth”. Who are the youth? Where can I find the youth? How can I understand the youth?... Having so many questions hanging in my mind, I wanted to truly understand the Code Youth. Not because it was part of the assignment but a challenge personally to unlock the code for youth in Dalian. The trip wasn’t planed as we (Rui Hon & I) wanted to be free from time line and easy on the direction. We started our journey from Olympic Square as we unconsciously ended our journey at Victory Plaza (another big shopping area which we visited before).

Continuing… It was a plot of land just behind a railway station at Victory Plaza when we discovered the roaring night life in Dalian for the very first time. We were first invited to the beat of the dancing crowd as we started to immerse our self with the locals into the night. There were also other activities such as badminton, roller-skating, cycling, chap-teh, martial arts, top spinning, street gaming stalls and even ground art drawings. The night was young and I can hear the heart beat of everyone around the square. Old and young. An initial glance using my eyes see many separated groups of people appear as individual groups of clicks. However, when my eyes started to focus a little, I was amazed. Those little groups was some sort like a fishing net where fishes started to trapped themselves into it as it start to get bigger and bigger. The sociable characteristic of the youth in the square started to approach us as we entered into a game of chap-teh. The only word I can say was “fun” and we was so comfortably playing that we almost forgotten about our time as we needed to leave even though the party had just started. The time spent with the youth in Dalian was the first bucket in which we had kicked off in understanding the context of youth in Dalian. As long as one is still active in their lifestyle, he or she will always be considered as part of the youth. The spirit we had in the square was indescribably incredible as there was no “you and me”. Instead, “we” was the kind of feeling I received. The word stranger did not exist in the people’s dictionary at all. Spending also 2 hours at the square, I started to develop a spirit of commitment to the surrounding and people around me. I was like part of them. One of them. As one big family.

Week 2, Day 13+14

2009-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

2May, Saturday we were actually going to depart to a place called the Ice Valley. It is a national reserve and known for one of the most beautiful sites in Dalian. However, due to the bad weather there wasn’t any point to go since it would justvbe a waste of time if it is raining. The second time of disappointment something similar to the Strange Slope which I wanted to visit so much. However, this set back for the day did not stop us from wasting the Saturday. Instead, a small group of my course mates and I decided to enjoy ourselves by venturing and walking to places which we had never entered before. The direction in our mind was to travel as far as possible and to see as many things as possible and not to be afraid of getting lost. It was because we had already prepared for the worst by taking a cab back if we were to get missing. It may seem crazy but it was a successful trip to the “jungle” of Dalian because we discovered many interesting food places and also shopping areas (something like our Singapore’s Pa-Sam-Ma-Lam). I had known it as the heaven for the ladies for cheap grabs. The area was discovered in front of a road called Zhong Shan Lu. We spent almost the entire day walking too and fro from the start of the streets stalls and to the end. There were so many little items for us to see and realize from stall to stall. In fact the most fun part of the trip was the crossing of road which was always finds a problem because of the notorious driving in Dalian. Unfortunately, time wasn’t on our side and the sign of the night falls telling us that we should head back to our hostel. However, the day had not ended yet. Back into our hostel, we took the opportunity of the cool weather for a basketball play. Our heart beat fast and we finally perspired for the first time since we stepped into Dalian during the end-of-winter till now, spring.

Continuing… 3May, Sunday. I was typing this particular part of my blog of mine while looking out from the glass windows looking at the trees just outside my hostel room. Wow the trees are no long bare and empty from the first time I saw it. The blooming of flowers and emerging of leafs marks the beginning of spring, while the beginning of spring acts like the starting of the real learning adventure I got to experience in the next 37 days Dalian China.

Week 2, Day 12

2009-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

It was Friday and it was the day for visiting. The 4 places were the “Golden Beach”, the “Policewomen Training Base”, the “CCTV Tower” up on a mountain and finally the “Olympic Shopping Mail”

At the Golden Beach, it was a good place for visitors to clear their mind and spending time with the natural. The temperature may be a little colder than the idle temperature but it was still perfect and bearable. Activities along the beach spark up as some started a barbecue pit just to immerse themselves into beach’s temperature comfortably. The present of visitors filled the beach as loving couples took the opportunity to have their wedding photo shoot along the beach, by capturing the beauty of the Golden Beach as their marriage memories. The stroll along the beach was as though walking through a road of mind therapy that finally lightens the heavy load on my mind from yesterday.

The second place we visited was the “Policewomen Training Base” where everyone was attracted by a dog that we couldn’t leave our eyes off it. The dog was so special and one of a kind that no one had seen it before. It was as though a miniature version of the lion which also looks like a bear. Beside the dog that we were all amazed by, the policewomen also brought the group of us around and providing us with information and a real close encounter with the horses.

The third place we visited was the CCTV Tower which was the Dalian Sightseeing Tower Area Distribution up on a mountain. It was actually great to actually see the overall top view of the entire Dalian after spending so many days in Dalian. The view of the place we were standing makes each and everyone feel so small and vulnerable compared to the world below us.

Last but not least, the shopping mail which there was not much to talk about because it didn’t interests me much.

Week 2, Day 11

2009-04-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Staring into the “colourful” stadium while holding on tightly to my camera and seating quietly in the crowded stadium, I can already feel the spirit of commitment in Dalian Polytechnic University, during the sports day event being organized by the students themselves. The unity was unexplainable. Cheering for one another and supporting each other. 3, 2, 1 as the firing of the horn pierces through the air while switching on the running shoes of the runners. Running participants ranges from tall to short, skinny to fat and probably even lectures too. The atmosphere in the sports stadium was constantly being tensed up as every race began while the supporters yelled and cheered hoping to create an imagination boost for that runner. Completing and doing their best in the race was their main while winning was as though a bonus.

Continuing… I shut my eyes and thought about it the entire day. Hardly did any word come out from my mouth during the visit to the food factory nor did I want to speak much to anyone. I wasn’t exactly up sad but was just in a confused situation. There was something in my mind bordering me. Something I wanted to share it out but just didn’t know how to say it out. I needed time to actually seat back and run through it personally while making a decision to what to do next. Today was the 11th day I am in Dalian. The visit to Dalian had indeed widened my scope of thinking. Thus I wanted to question myself to how can I personally do better? What can I do to see and dig deeper into the context of people and behaviors? How can I find more insights? Finally, how did it go wrong? Give me a day or so to think about it and I will get back to you guys again and I’m sure we can definitely do better. Without any fall backs, there will not be any improvements. We shall take this as a learning opportunity for us. All the best!

Week 2, Day 9+10

2009-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

It was back to basic and back to class as everyone was preparing information, researches for presentations that were held on both Wednesday and Thursday. Attending gems classes while knowing more about the food delicacy in Dalian and the Olympic glory that Dalian participated in, during the Beijing Olympic 2008. Dalian is known for their fashion, beautiful ladies and hunks, buildings, shopping mails, food and finally the beautiful natural sight that is located almost every part of Dalian ranging from endless mountains to the blooming of trees and flowers that I can see outside the hostel window of mine. Dalian was in fact the first place which opens my eyes to so much more than what I first knew about the world. It was as though bringing the television programs out from its box into realization.

Besides having a close encounter with Dalian in Dalian, it had been a great and fruitful trip that I had already learn and see more then what I had initially expected. Everything went smoothly as I enjoyed most was the time spent with my course mates cooking and drinking together. I can say it was a great opportunity for forgiveness such as hatred, unhappiness and accepting each and everyone as whom they are. Respecting each other and trying to understand more for the other party.

Week 2, Day 8

2009-04-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcoming by the second week of the Dalian stay, I woke up with a brand new mind of mine hoping to venture more into Dalian. A slice of China filled with many hidden treasure pieces waiting for someone to discover it.

Continuing… The building was run down while the doors of the people aren’t closed up giving us (Rui Hon and I) an inviting approach to our first rural visit just about an approximate 30 min walk down from our hostel. At first sight, the little stretch of villages appeared to me only as a row of broken houses with vandalizing numbers written on the walls that was pretty badly destroyed while surrounded by the smell of poverty. But after coming close to the people and surrounding of the area, I realize I was totally wrong as my preconception blinded me for a second. In fact the place was beautiful. Much more beautiful and relaxing than any place I ever went to or stayed in. Every corner of the place excites me as I ventured deeper and even deeper, into the streets and home. Suddenly, the quite and silence street I was in, evoked my hearing as I started to listen while focusing on the environment and the little stuff happening around me. I can hear the soft chattering of the residence portraying the existence of the place. I can hear the yelling and laughter from the children which created life for the people. I can hear the speed of the moving of cars rubbing against the soil providing a route toward business. I can even hear and sense the wind pushing me forward, telling me that I should walk further.

“Ni Hao (meaning “hi” in English)” the words that came out from a stranger which we came across with. This simple word that came out from a lady at her mid 40s immediately question myself to the replaying of the same situation over at Singapore a city so well developed. How often do we use the symbol of welcoming when a stranger visit us unexpectedly? Or. How often are we invited with the feeling of welcoming when a stranger enters the prohibited territories of our home without any notice? My answer “never” that lead streams of guiltiness circulating through my body as I knew that it was time to step out from the Singaporean shell I was in for the past many years. It was a need and it was now. Thanks to the simple treasure key of “ni hao” that was discovered within the short experience of the rural village in Dalian.

Week 1, Day 6+7

2009-04-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Finally, I met up with our buddies on 25Apr while inviting Glenn, DXPD and Yikai, DXPD to join us (Rui Hon, DXPD, Ezann, DID, Adeline, DID, Lopaz, DID and I, DXPD). We had an enjoyable day of hell fun as we visited places that we couldn’t on 24Apr 2009 due to the heavy downpour (Excluding the Gui Puo). We had a great time as we joked and bullied each on the way. We even visited the KTV (karaoke) which we went crazy singing our throat out. The invisible barrier seems to vanish as we final stopped and started to know each others more into individual habits while knowing who can be easily bullied! Similarity between us started to appear as we got to know each other better and better even if it was just the first outing. Teenagers do really think alike one way or another!

Continuing… One week had past and I am slowing getting to know more and more towards Dalian. It is a developing city that is constantly changing and I could really see potential in the city in just a few years later. Looking at the never ending improvement of infrastructure such as the roads and high rise buildings all around the city Dalian is definitely at the fast lane towards developments. However, roads may be a little crazy at times as cars do not stop for passengers even if it was green. Human have to be always 100% alert while crossing the road as the heavy traffic gives no chance for mistakes. The notorious horning and cutting of lanes on the traffic is part and puzzle of the people daily life as the city does not stop and fear cannot be taken as an excuse to the survival in Dalian.

Week 1, Day 5

2009-04-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

It was another day of visiting to places of interest such as the museum of Dalian, the sea sides and shopping mails. However it started to rain and we missed out my most wanted to visit site the Gui Puo. I was a little sad but I am pretty sure that there is always a chance to get up there. One day!

Week 1, Day 4

2009-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a half day class as we will be departing to some places as part of the time table program in Dalian for the immersion program. A brief explanation could easily round up the places we visited. Instead I had something in my mind since the day I stepped into Dalian that I hope to share and raise up about. Although Dalian is considered one of the most livable cities in China, the presence of poverty still lies in many areas of Dalian. The differentiation of the rich and poor were clearly shown as the rich is really rich while the poor were really poor. One memorable scene hit my heart most during a walk to a not far away restaurant during the night. What I saw was a few dirtily dressed children squatting around and playing with a puddle of water collected by the broken road holes/gaps right in the middle of the street traffic. I felt a sense of sympathy for the kids as questions started to come into my mind. Why isn’t they studying and playing in such a dangerous area? Why didn’t their parents stop them from playing on the road? Why are they dress in such a manner? Why are they playing with rain water that is muddy and dirty? Is that their so called toy for the poor? Is there anyone to help save them from where they are now? But one thing that I was really sure and clear about them, was that they treasures what were around them and make use of every opportunity around them, even though they may not have much. To them even when they are poor it did not prevent them from being happy. Just like the few kids playing in the middle of the road, it clearly shown and proven to me that money is not everything and there are more to do in life that could bring happiness in life and things shouldn’t be taken for granted even if it can be as simple as a puddle of water.

Week 1, Day 3

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

The first day of class as we had a brief introduction by Thierry (Singapore Polytechnic’s lecturer) to what we will expect to do during the Dalian Immersion Programme. The classroom had no difference with the studio in Singapore Polytechnic as I comfortably blend into the classroom condition. We also did some admin work like the connection to the internet server and experience a never seem or heard before of the firing of some kind of Fire Crackers in the sky creating a “Ponk! Ponk! Ponk!” sound that filled the dusty air in China.

Continuing… Happy Birthday Jess as we when marketing to get some food items for a small party for Jazz after class.

Week 1, Day 2

2009-04-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that we finally had our first personal time to venture around Dalian and the school. The outlook of the school was wonderful. Never did I imagine a school so big and spacious. Places such as the basketball court, infested by groups of basketball lovers playing in the chilling weather, huge crowd of dancers dancing in the studios and streets and even badminton playing on the middle of the road. Every thing seems so united and everyone seems so close to each other in the campus. It was as though traveling through time into the past where simple thing seems so important in the building of each individual. Nothing is taken for granted over here. Examples, the weather is just an indication to what activities and practices to do during each season. During spring, the weather may be cold but it is the best time to enjoy the cold by playing sport outdoor in the wide open space and spending time close together with their love ones by hugging one another or staying close in groups forming portable human heating surrounding. Not forgetting the way student dress over here where they could dress as thick and stylish as they want compared to Singapore which does not allow us to do so all year round.

Continuing… Today was the first day where the entire 67 students attended the common gems specially created for us. The lecturer whom we are assigned to is Professor Sun Xiao-Cheng. One common thing that I was grateful about was that he could speak English and the passion I can see in his teaching just like the lectures I have over in Singapore Polytechnic. An introduction was conducted by him on the first day of class while it unrolled the interest and knowledge in us about Dalian as a city that is just 110 years in age. Even though back in around 500 years, there were already people living on the same piece of land now known as Dalian one of the most living places in China. Population ca.6million (downtown 2 million) Professor Sun also talked about may economic knowledge about Dalian such as the agriculture, industries, port and foreign trade, places of exhibitions and most importantly the emerging business for IT-software and finance which is a growing market in Dalian. This particularly two market is one of the most money churning industries that provides a much better pay. However the most interesting part of the lesson which is also where I paid double attention to was the places of interest that I hope to visit during the days in Dalian. One includes the Strange Slope also called the Gui Puo in Chinese. We were told that things travel in the opposite direction from the way we see things. Example when the ground seems like slopping down, in actual we are walking up a slope. It is the disconnected link between the visual and the physical aspect that makes the place so mystical and interesting. Beside the Gui Puo there are even more to discover in Dalian as it is also a land for seafood, fruits!, sport (China so called Man-United in china), industrial sites, architectural, transportations and festivals that is held during the stay. I also hope to step out even further into place that I had never been before which could only give myself an eye opening chance to places I had never been before.

Week 1, Day 1

2009-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

The brand new page had just begun in Dalian as we visited supermarkets such as the Wal Mart and were invited for a small ceremony held in Qing Gong Yuan Dalian University Polytechnic. It was also the day which we were assigned to a student buddy. Boy to boy, girl to girl. However, there weren’t enough guys available and I had to partner with a female student. Unfortunate yet lucky, the girl I was partnering had her own group of close buddies which coincidentally includes Rui Hon’s (my room mate) buddy too. From that moment we met, we started to learn more about each other although there were differences such as the way they spoke Chinese was initially hard to understand. The eye of the opposite party seems to communicate a message of differences between us. But coming to think about it, it was just the first day we met. Therefore it was most likely to happen. However, I felt that time could definitely help unlock this barrel between us, during the process of understanding within both parties.

The Beginning of the Dalian Immersion Program

2009-04-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

0645hr I reached the air port accompanied by parents whom I knew they are extremely worried about me. Yet not trying to show any signs of unwillingness or sadness. As I finally left the hands of my parent an unconsciousness flashes of question started to appear in my mind. How does Dalian look like? What do the people think about us? What kind of place am I going to live in? How will be studying environment be like? Will I be able to communicate well with the local? Do I have enough money to survive for the approximately 51 days? Will there be great cultural differences between us? And most importantly will there be a sense of belonging for the 67 students, 4 lectures, from School of Design and School of Chemical and Life Sciences?

Arriving late in the night, we were invited by the heavy down pour and the chilling weather that was so unbearably cold, while Student helpers from Dalian University Polytechnic started to shield us from them using umbrellas they had on their hands. The student helper from Dalian University Polytechnic had indeed showed me the spirit of team work and a sense of heart warming welcoming sincerity, even though the initial first impression of the student helpers wasn’t that great. This taught me that I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Instead, I should learn to see while understand and not trying to judge using my personal thoughts as this blog will be a kind of reflection journal for myself and the understanding of Dalian that I hope to share it with the people around me.

Continuing… I was indeed shocked by the student hostel that we are allocated. WOW!
Never did I expect myself to be given a hotel standard student hostel. The room was considered a luxury living condition as I was prepared to live in a cramp, dirty, mosquito infected, squatting seat toilet, and stinking beds infected with a stuffy room atmosphere. Compared to the initial thought of how the student hostel will be like and where I am stay now and, it was hell moving into the heaven.

Dalian Immersion Program

2009-04-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Before I could begin typing this personal blog of mine, I was already starting to miss home. I was about to travel to a place called Dalian (China) located in the southernmost tip of Liaoning Province, with the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west. A place where is far, yet seems so near to me and a country that I knew little about. During this Immersion Program, I hope to learn and understand more about the people in China and try to forget about the past of mine and camouflaging myself as part of the citizen in Dalian. Seeing through eyes of a baby.