Smoothing the way
Article & photos by Jen Foster

Tiphaine Franc, 22, works as a consultant for the Fujian Provincial Overseas Talent Centre in Fuzhou. She is coming to the end of her six month internship and will soon be returning to her native France to complete her Management and Business Degree at Groupe ESC, Rouen. 来自法国的Tiphaine Franc在福建海峡人才市场当实习顾问, 她非常看重这种跨国工作经历. 为期半年的入乡随俗的实习经历不仅让她获得了更多的业务实践经验, 也对中国文化有了更加深入的了解.

International experience is the future

It can be a breath of fresh air to meet a foreigner in China who doesn't teach English. A classroom can be transformed into a safe haven of the language and culture of your own country; an open-plan office cannot. Tiphaine's life in Fuzhou allows her to experience all the joys, stresses and challenges of living in a foreign environment, whilst her job allows her to provide others with a similar opportunity.

"Our company liaises with Masters' degree programmes in other countries to allow Chinese students to study abroad, mainly in France and Canada. When faced with so many different degree courses, it can be difficult to know where and what to study. We offer students advice and help in finding the most suitable option in the most suitable place."

Having already spent a year studying Organisational Management in Baltimore, USA, Tiphaine is more than able to promote the benefits of international experience.

"As part of my work here I often visit universities to give presentations about the possibilities of international study. As a current undergraduate and having studied abroad myself, I'm able to address the students' concerns directly and with up-to-date knowledge. It's encouraging to see that more and more Chinese students are looking to study abroad. As more and more international companies make their way to Fujian, understanding of different cultures is fast becoming a must. These degree programmes are open not just to Chinese students, but to students from all across the world, so the opportunities for cultural exchange and establishing international contacts are immeasurable."

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

The prospect of travelling to a new, faraway country can seem daunting, but Chinese students don't all seem to have as many questions as you might expect.

"Once students have been accepted on a course, they are often so eager to get started on their exciting overseas venture that they forget some of the practicalities. Before I came to Fuzhou I had so many questions about things like the food and the climate that it amazes me how calm they can be. I think it must be very frightening to arrive at an airport where there is not a single Chinese character in sight so I try to prepare them for the difficulties they will face. I even find myself advising them on what to pack: for example, it's easy to forget that some parts of France can get very cold!"

"I try to encourage students to immerse themselves in the culture of wherever they travel to, to enjoy the local culture and meet the local people. Though it is tempting to spend a lot of time with fellow Chinese students, it is important to step outside of that comfort zone and really appreciate the opportunity to study in a different country."



Cultural differences: 'Ganbei' again?

Living abroad is not always an easy ride and sometimes these differences can take some getting used to.

"Approaches to studies and business vary across the globe. In China I have had to learn to adapt to the way things are done and it can be very difficult at first. For example, things here often happen spontaneously. I'm so used to having an agenda with everything planned weeks in advance, whereas here I don't hear about some events until they're about to take place. Also, at dinners foreigners always get picked on to 'ganbei' their beer," she laughs. "So dinners can be quite dangerous for me. I'm learning how to cope with it though!"

"This has been a great opportunity to really see how Chinese people do business. Since I arrived, everyone has been so friendly. It has been great to be part of the Chinese business community in Fuzhou and I'll be very sad to leave it behind."

Bye bye, Fuzhou

Tiphaine suggests that it is the return to her own country that may provide the strangest kind of culture shock.

"I think it will really take some time back in Paris to appreciate what I've learnt here. My friends from home will never quite be able to understand what my life was like in China. I think what I will miss most about Fuzhou are some of the everyday things. The taxi drivers, especially, they're so friendly here!"

Having heard the enthusiasm that Tiphaine has for experiencing life in a different country, I suspect that leaving Fuzhou will be an "au revoir" to international experience, and not a definitive "adieu".

Vocabulary
internship 实习
haven 安全的地方
liaise 与……建立联系
daunting 使人畏缩的
au revoir (法语)再见
adieu (法语)永别

My Xiamen



Marcella Smit, from the Netherlands, is working as a management trainee at The Marco Polo, Xiamen.

1. How long have you been in Xiamen?
I arrived in Xiamen on the September 23, 2005.

2. What do you like best about life here?
There are a lot of things that I like about Xiamen and China. First of all, the Chinese culture is totally different from Western culture, which I find very interesting. Second, the city is situated near the sea and it is very beautiful here. Besides that, I am very surprised about how developed Xiamen is. I did not expect to be able to buy Western products here, but I can buy anything I need. The citizens are very kind and they smile at me all the time. Actually I am enjoying it all!

3. What's your job here?
I am working as a management trainee in The Marco Polo, Xiamen Hotel. My job is to have contact with the Western guests who visit the hotel and help them out when there are problems. I also try to teach my colleagues some more English.

4. How do you spend your spare time in Xiamen?
Of course I go shopping when I am not working, because there are a lot of nice shops here in Xiamen. Besides this, I like to try new restaurants, both Chinese and Western, and I like to go out sightseeing. I want to see some of the culture and history of Xiamen, so I have been for example to the Xiamen Overseas Museum, Gulangyu Island, the Botanical Gardens, Xiamen University and many more. I have not been to Nanputuo Temple, but I am planning to see that soon!

5. If there was one thing that you could change about Xiamen, what would that be?
There is actually nothing that I would want to change about Xiamen, because it is just beautiful as it is now. Though, it would be an improvement if either the taxi drivers could speak English or I could speak better Chinese, because this is definitely a problem for me sometimes.

6. What do you think are the differences between Xiamen and other big cities in China?
The environment is very clean and in my opinion it is very peaceful and quiet here. I like that.

7. What's the last great book you read?
I actually have read a lot of great books lately, but they are all Dutch, so no titles familiar to you. I like reading novels or romantic books, or sometimes I enjoy exciting thrillers, especially from the writing couple Nicci French. It depends on my mood.

8. What's your favorite quotation or piece of advice?
My favorite piece of advice is the one that my parents used to tell me: "Marcella, you can't do better than your best!" This quotation I will always remember.