We climbed the three stories to a small room, packed with ‘foreigners,’ of all shapes and sizes, each one of us eager to get the green light to stay in China. But unfortunately, there’s nothing eager about the pace with which we’re given the chop. (China’s regularly used word for the official stamp that certifies just about everything.) People are waiting idly for hours on the straight-backed, sea green Formica chairs, gazing into space, while a bored Ava attempts to cartwheel across the floor. Then without warning, we’re ushered over to the desk manned by staff in navy police-like uniforms. It’s our turn. The Chinese woman who’s helping us from the hotel, insists we just need to smile brightly at the head boss when she comes out and we’ll be issued our visa. She’s right. A few ‘Ni hao’s and gummy grins’ later, and we’re successfully chopped. Turns out we’ve got good ‘Guanxi’ (pronounced something like Gwarn Shee) and that has helped us get ahead of the pack. (Thankfully no need for a full medical check like the first time we received our visa. If you want a laugh (at my expense), check that out here.) Translated into English, Guanxi means connections or relationships. And despite being introduced in times long ago when Emperors ruled China, it’s a concept that is still alive and well in China’s 21stcentury. Why Giving Cash for Favours is Par for the Course in China. Embedded in society from the ground up, good guanxi is used by everyone from the average Chinese person in the street to any government official. In fact, many will say, having ‘good guanxi’ is crucial to success in the developing nation of 1.4 billion people, especially when it’s still very much, survival of the fittest. Desperate to get your child into a good school? You’re probably going to need to give guanxi to the principal or school owners. Want your child to get top marks, a little Guanxi with the teacher won't hurt. Want police to patrol an event you’re having? I.e. your hotel is putting on an event in the ballroom, well the police may just ask you to give guanxi in the form of fifty complimentary buffet vouchers or a free room night...because, you know....guanxi and all. And if you need surgery and want the doctor to perform at his very best on the day, and not just give a mediocre performance, you’re most likely going to have to show some guanxi for that, too. Guanxi is often misunderstood as being a relationship between two people, but in China, it’s a web of relations, a circle of influence, if you like, where someone in the circle is called on to help someone else, even if they’re not direct friends. Say for example, you're pregnant and want to get into one of the better hospitals, perhaps you know someone who knows the head Obstetrician there. You can give your friend some guanxi and some for him to give to the Obstetrician in question and voila! The concept of ‘face’ (another story for another day) helps to maintain trust and social order through the networks of guanxi, because, if favours are taken advantage of and not returned, the offender will lose face with all members of the network they're in, which for a Chinese person could be disastrous. As a BBC documentary put it: “Guanxi is thoughts and communication, but at the end of the day, it’s actions. It’s really like (being) the first person to put money in the bank. And it may be saying something nice, it may be doing something out of your way, and it may be when you’re in a deal together, you make sure you don’t take the last dollar off the table. The actions that you do, they mean even more than words and thoughts.” It’s not too far from that old adage we like to churn out in the West: ‘It’s not what you know it’s who you know’. The difference being guanxi connections often involve the exchange of cash for a favour. I distinctly remember a particular hotelier and some of his employees being given a ‘hairy crab’ as a gift from a new business associate. Not so unusual during hairy crab season, but on top of the hotelier’s chiller box, an envelope with $2000 cold hard cash. For the record, he didn’t accept it. One expat who’s been in China for 20 years puts it succinctly, “Guanxi is not what it used to be, there used to be real relationships, no benefits, you were doing a favour, there was no monetary transaction. When you pay money, it becomes corruption.” And, this is where, somewhere along the way, lines have become blurred. When does normal everyday guanxi become corruption? Current president Xi Jin Ping is trying to stamp out corruption from the top down and generally politicians are no longer allowed to accept anything from anyone, not even a buffet dinner! We’ve seen politicians of all political persuasions in Australia come under fire in recent years for accepting cash from Chinese businessmen, in exchange for secret meetings and special treatment. Rightly or wrongly, giving money to influence an outcome is par for the course in China, and before doing any deal with China, it pays to understand the beast that is Guanxi. While money is one aspect of today’s guanxi, it’s much more than that, it’s social currency. In Chinese business, it can take years to build up the levels of trust required to be successful. It takes many many meetings (aka lunches) with your business partners, where you’re not actually talking business, at all and wonder if you're ever going to get anywhere. It’s also about giving the right guanxi, which is often a thoughtful gift over direct cash which can be seen as unsavoury. Whichever way you use guanxi, know that at some stage you may be called on to return the favour. I know of one story where a man picked up the daughter of a successful businessman from school every Friday and fed her dinner for a year, all in an effort to ‘curry favour’ for the future. There’s a saying in China, ‘With guanxi, nothing matters, without guanxi, everything matters.’ This is China. … [Read more...]
Xin Nian Kuai Le! Welcome to the Year of the Pig…
"It likes sleeping and eating and becomes fat!" Yep, google the Year of the Pig, and that's one of the first things that comes up. As someone who's born under this particular Chinese zodiac sign, it doesn't come as too much of a surprise. Eating and sleeping, I'm happy as a pig in mud. Mind you, that's not all we're about. I was pretty happy to read, it's perfectly ok to be a pig. The humble Swine has a 'beautiful personality and is blessed with good fortune in life!' High fives to that! And, not to brag or anything, but this was my favourite quote (not that I was searching or anything). ;) "The pig is gourmet, faithful in friendship, stylish, perfectionist, and hardworking. She is a tolerant being, recognised by her friends for her kindness and generosity." As I delved a little deeper, I discovered as the 12th of the 12 year cycle of animals, its 'lucky last' placing is because (as legend goes), just as the Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little Pig. The term "lazy Pig" comes in here, because the little Pig got hungry during the race, and promptly stopped for a feast then fell asleep. After the nap, the Pig continued the race and was named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. I like his style. Apparently I am in good company, with Hillary Clinton, King Henry VIII, Ernest Hemingway.... oh and Kendall Jenner, all pigs. ;) Us pigs can expect to be successful in all those things we endeavour to do in 2019 and new friends are on the horizon. We do need to keep an eye on our health though. More sleep? But as billions of people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, what does it actually mean for all of us this year, even if we're not a porky 'pig' by astrological measures? Each zodiac year is also represented by one of five elements, metal, wood, water, fire and earth, which has a significant impact on what happens. This year is the Year of the Earth Pig and he's going to be roaming our pastures until January 24th 2020 and get ready, because we can expect a lot of relaxation and serenity. And according to the Chinese astrology , 2019 is a great year to make money, and a good year to invest. It's predicted to be a year full of joy and a year of friendship and love for all the zodiac signs. It's an auspicious year because the Pig attracts success in all the spheres of life. Hear! Hear! Given it marks the end of a complete rotation cycle of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, it's also a signal for everyone to take a well deserved break and take the opportunity to reflect on previous years. If you're a Rabbit, Monkey or a Rat, you're in luck. These are the luckiest signs for 2019. Not sure what your Chinese zodiac sign is? Check out this link. For luck, go for red and white in the colour stakes. Mind you, can it all be taken with a grain of salt, one wonders? I read Pig's specifically born in my month and year are 'good with money and keep track of spending'. Ah, no. Let's just say we do believe though, the pig gets on well with other pigs, rabbits, goats and tigers (lucky for both the Hotelier and Small Person). So, let's farewell the Year of the Dog and say 'Nihao Nian de Zhu!' To all of you, Xin Nian Kuai Le. Happy New Year! Oh, and of course, I've written lots of other posts on Chinese New Year in the past. If you want to know what the rules are surrounding those lucky red envelopes, check out this post: Lai See: Lucky Money. If you want to know the dos and don'ts (aka the rules) for CNY, like not cleaning your house or cutting your hair and wearing red undies... check this post out. And if you just want to see what it's like in China on New Year.... read this one because it's pretty cool and look at these amazing videos. And the best bit, what it's like for a child at New Year...because they definitely have the best fun! Painting the Town Red: Chinese New Year through a Child's Eyes. … [Read more...]
Buying Your First House? 9 Tips for a Stress-Free Move
I don't take a lot of guest posts on MMM but when I do, I want to know that they're going to be interesting for you, my lovely readers. This particular one from freelance writer Allison Hail piqued my interest, given we were in a similar position not all that long ago. If you're about to jump into the housing market and buy your own home, this one's for you. *** You might be wondering what's the easiest way to move out of your rental property. There's definitely a lot to consider, but if you follow a few key guidelines you’ll save yourself a truck load of stress. Don’t rush things Yes, if you're anything like me, the first house you view might seem like 'the one' (take it from me, I had my heart set on every one we saw) but don’t buy it on a whim just because you’re so excited to finally stop renting and have you're own pad! Finding a worthy space is bound to take a while, so give yourself plenty of time for planning sessions, researching the market and area you want to live in. Commit yourself to the process and be in it for the long haul. Treat each viewing as if you are a potential landlord critiquing it, investigating assets and features such as accessibility, distance from your workplace and necessary amenities, house structure, and positioning for sunlight. (This one's a biggie because you'll regret not knowing which way is north facing when you feel like you're living in a dungeon!) Noting all the potential negatives as well as the things you love will ensure you aren’t looking at outwardly appealing properties with rose-tinted lenses – after all, you'll be the one living in the home and responsible for fixing any problems that arise, like that pesky mould issue or the aircon that doesn't work in summer. 2. Budget for your mortgage You might be up for paying more for your mortgage than you are for rent, or you might be looking at a similar figure – but make sure you budget well for your payments. A mortgage isn't as easy to back out of as a rental contract. If you can, regularly put aside money as a safety net, which will help you to feel secure and ensure that you don’t fall behind in payments if something adverse happens in your life. Even if you're choosing to pay 'interest only' on the mortgage for a period of time, make sure you still have the full amount put away, if necessary. 3. Stay organised Naturally, buying a home requires a great deal of paperwork, so it helps to be organised and to know what to expect. There will come a time when you're hightailing it into the city to get a cheque for 20 grand, and you'll need all your ducks in a row. Carefully research your obligations as a unit owner, and make sure you are prepared to meet them before signing a contract. Some people choose to invest in an agent who will take care of all of this for you, but it comes at a hefty price and unless you're out of the country, I don't recommend it. And if you are moving from overseas... here are a few tips for repatriation. 4. Remember your landlord So, you’ve finally found a place you want to buy! Don’t get so caught up in the elation that you neglect to consider your current place of residence. Remember to check the notice period for your rental property so you can offer your landlord advanced notice. It's all in the timing. You don’t want to be forced to pay a month’s rent for a place you won’t be living in, and it’s good to consider all parties involved – ending a contract or agreement on good terms is always a wise move. 5. Plan your move How are you planning on transporting your belongings? If your new place isn’t too far from your current residence, you may be able to recruit your friends (with the promise of a six pack and a pizza) to help you pack and move your furniture. (My tip: Start collecting those boxes early.) However, if you're moving house across cities or internationally, hiring professional movers will save you so much hassle. Just make sure you keep out all of those things you'll need sooner rather than later, because (especially if you're coming from overseas) shipping can take weeks if not months. International moves can be exceptionally stressful, as you will be separated from your belongings. You might like to consider renting a shipping container – built for durability, shipping containers are large enough to hold a decent amount of furniture and can be insured for peace of mind. Also, think about whether you'll be transporting all of your current furniture to your new home. If you won’t need all of it or are planning to redecorate (aka serious retail therapy), lighten your load now by donating, selling or even swapping your furniture for pieces you will soon need. Gumtree is a good one to get started on, just be prepared for lots of knocks on the door and potential buyers who suddenly back out. 6. Make yourself a toolbox When renting, you most likely had someone available to fix your fridge or a leak in the ceiling soon after you reported a problem. In your own home, any issues are your responsibility, so be prepared! Buy the necessary tools for repairs and ongoing maintenance. FYI, Ikea does a great mini drill! 7. Consider the furniture a new home will require Often, having been a renter means you haven’t had to worry about purchasing every single piece of furniture needed for a home. Don’t let yourself be caught out – make a list of the new furniture and appliances you’ll need, and arrange for them to be ready either before or as soon as possible after your move date. Sometimes things take time to be delivered and you don't want to be caught short without a couch or TV for several months. You'll also want to consider getting things like the internet and cable TV sorted before the big move. 8. Meet your new neighbourhood Before you move, get yourself acquainted with your new neighbourhood’s amenities. You’ll feel much more at home when you move in, if you already have a feel for the area and know where you can pick up food or petrol on a whim. If you've got children, of course schools are going to be a priority. Make sure you're in the right catchment for the school you've got your heart set on. Sometimes the same street can be split right down the middle and you're just a few houses out. 9. Enjoy the experience You’re finally paying your own mortgage instead of somebody else’s! If you follow your plan and treat the experience as exciting rather than terrifying, you’re sure to love the freedom that owning your place will give you. Moving to your first home is always rewarding – happy nesting! Allison Hail is a freelance writer residing in the North Island port city of Wellington, New Zealand. She especially enjoys discussing anything related to home living, travel, and lifestyle. To read more of her articles or simply say hello, visit Allison’s Perspective. *** Psst...If you're planning on staying in the renting game a little longer you might want to check out this post on the most affordable cities to rent in, in the world. Oh, and (shameless self promotion alert) if you haven't voted for Mint Mocha Musings in the 2018 Asian Expat Blog awards, it would be super appreciated by yours truly (Nicole). It's easy, just click the link and vote for me. :mrgreen: … [Read more...]
Gidday, Ni Hao, Kia Ora……Can You Have More Than One Hometown?
What’s the first thing you ask someone you’ve just met? “Where are you from?” Or “Where’s home for you?” Especially if you’re an expat, right. The words literally roll off your tongue, after, “Hi, I’m So and So.” And even if you’re not living overseas, it doesn’t take long for the inevitable question to crop up in conversation, “So, is this your hometown?” I never quite know what to say to that - "Well, I'm from Australia, but I was born in New Zealand....but we've been living in Asia, ummmm." Recently, I went back to my place of birth, New Zealand. It’d been 15 years! Needless to say, I was taken aback when the friendly lady at Customs said “Welcome Home!” And just quietly, it had me feeling a little bit nostalgic. Living overseas, as in not Australia, for a significant chunk of that 15 years, meant it was no longer a hop, skip and a jump across the ditch and well, life just got in the way. This time though, I had my husband, my Small Person and my mum along for the ride. I invited (some may say coerced) them into taking a trip down memory lane with me. We went back to the suburb I grew up in, we did a drive-by past several of my old houses, my primary school - still looking startling familiar after 40 years, and we pulled into the carpark of my old high school… which was also my mum’s! (Oh the memories!) We even, at my insistence, went down to the beach, where I made my first sandcastles and spent hours wiling away the dreamy days of an idyllic childhood with my grandparents, who’ve long passed. The trip back, got me thinking about the importance of place. Psychologist say, memories are cued by the physical environment. When you visit a place you used to live, these cues can cause you to revert back to the person you were when you lived there. The rest of the time, different places are kept largely separated in our minds. (Sorry if I reverted back to that sulky teenager who lived on a diet of potato scallops and milkshakes.) Does our birth place hold a piece of our heart, indefinitely? Growing up spending many a school holiday on my granddad’s boat, I'm definitely at my calmest and happiest when there’s water within my eye’s reach. Obviously, the factors that influence our identities are too numerous and complex to investigate in this single post but just how much or how little our birthplace shapes us, it seems, after doing some research of my own, is still debatable. For me, after 31 years in Australia, give or take a few, I feel more like an Aussie than a Kiwi. There’s little trace left of the former ‘fush n chups’ accent (except when I’m tired or have too many vinos); the sunburnt country long ago captured my heart. But here’s the clincher, I’m still not an Aussie citizen. Gasp! (Luckily, I’m not going into politics!) A couple of reasons have stopped me, mostly I credit laziness to this inability to take the citizenship test! I mean, I’ve covered more Australia Days as a journalist than I’ve had burnt sausages on a barbie. And in those early days, being a Kiwi in Oz, didn’t have much of an impact on those all important things, like free university tuition, etc.. But maybe, just maybe there’s a little bit of guilt or is it reluctance to let go? Does giving up your allegiance to your home country mean you’re saying goodbye to your past? (There was no dual citizenship back then.) I still find myself torn whenever the All Blacks are playing the Wallabies (I mean we all know who’s going to win, don’t we)? ;-) And I get a chill down my spine when the Haka plays - sometimes I have to stop myself from launching into the actions. When I’m called on to recite a song (and this happens more than you might think) I always choose the Maori song, Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, I learned in primary school. And I still miss certain things unique only to the Land of the Long White Cloud. Namely and most importantly my family members who still reside there, and I’m still partial to a Chocolate Thins biscuit, a Snifter or a glass of L & P. People often tell me, the fact that Ava, our small person, was born in Hong Kong and lived in Asia until she was six years old will have a big impact on her. Will it, I wonder? She’s what they call a Third Culture Kid (TCK) - a phrase coined by an American sociologist, referring to a child who’s spent a significant part of their formative years outside their parents culture. (Her Dad's English just to add to the equation.) People who fit the TCK bill have a tendency to mix and merge their birth culture with their adopted culture, creating one of their own: a third culture. Born in Hong Kong to a New Zealand-born mum, an English dad, (both her and him with Aussie citizenship) and three formative years in Xi'an China. Where's home? There’s no denying she’s more at home with chopsticks; and dim sum and rice are her favourite foods. She's more au fait with Chinese New Year than Australia Day, and perhaps it’ll be a favourite Chinese song she remembers in time over an Aussie one. Ask her where she’s from - it's undoubtedly Hong Kong. But Australia's blue skies and endless parks have definitely hit her sweet spot. For me, living in Hong Kong and Xian, my roots became more poignant than ever. So far away from everything I knew, we celebrated ANAC Day and Australia day with more gusto than I ever had on home soil. Even Melbourne Cup pulled on the heart strings. Experts say place does shape us at a fundamental level. We all learn to communicate and understand our world through sharing language, customs, behaviours, beliefs and values. And in all reality, doesn't each town, city, state and country has it’s own local vocabulary, accents, values, ideas, economies, industries, local newspapers and radio stations? In essence, it’s very own unique culture. Heck, in China each province has its own culinary delights. Winston Churchill famously proclaimed that “we shape our buildings, and afterwards, our buildings shape us. I’ve stolen this quote from Cup of Jo’s fabulous blog, by actress Helen Mirren, “Where you grew up becomes a big part of who you are for the rest of your life. You can’t run away from that. Well, sometimes the running away from it is what makes you who you are.” Identity is attached to a sense of belonging, usually through family ties or deep emotional connections and it's pretty evident we all bare some of the cultural and emotional legacies, whether good or bad from our hometowns. Environmental psychologist Susan Clayton says: “For better or worse, the place where we grew up usually retains an iconic status. Is it any wonder memories of finding and eating oysters off the rocks at five years old are forever etched in the bowels of my mind. The iconic Pacific oyster! It might not be home now, but saying “Haere Ra…..” (Goodbye) forever to New Zealand was never really an option And as Henning Mankell says, "You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you and decide where they grow." I like that idea. What do you think? Do you have one home or many? To read more about where home is, check out The Expat Magazine's article Where is Home? here Read, about our repatriation back Down Under here... … [Read more...]
And the Winner is….Bali! Trip Advisor’s Destination of the Year – Here’s Why!
I'll be honest, a holiday in Bali, Indonesia was not on my bucket list. The first time I went, Small Person was seven months old. Enough said, really. I was so sleep deprived I could've been on Mars. Since then, living in Asia, we've ventured to places like Thailand and Malaysia, whenever we were lucky enough to escape on a resort holiday. Down Under though, Bali is the place to go for many an Aussie. Around a six hour flight from the East Coast, it's not super close, but close enough. Over the years, I've heard a lot of sad and distressing stories out of this tropical paradise, from the Schapelle Corby Saga to the Bali Bombings, eery earthquakes and lately the threat of the island's volcano erupting -- so perhaps subconsciously, I was steering clear of this particular holiday hot spot. However, since we've been away, it's become my family's destination of choice for a quick pick me up holiday. So, with that in mind, living back in Australia, I was determined to get on board and see what all the fuss was about. Truth be told, I didn't have high expectations. I'd pictured a place bustling with every Aussie and his Bintang spilling out of bars onto the pavements in search of a cheap sarong. (And yes, there are places like that in Bali, hello Kuta! But it's definitely not the status quo!) We stayed at Legian Beach just north of the nightlife capital at The Stone's Hotel... (one of the Hotelier's of course). We were conveniently just a stone's throw from the family at Legian Beach Resort. (Mind you the first day, when my sister told me to cross over to the beach and walk along until I spotted the red umbrellas, I took her literally and we walked for kilometres along the scorching hot sand in blazing heat searching for the right red umbrellas. So many?) But once I found my bearings, I had the time of my life. What's not to love about shopping and pedicures on the beach! Not unlike Phuket in Thailand, it's got everything you could need on a holiday. In fact I would go so far as to say it has something for everyone. It's a big call, I know. But with it's beautiful beaches, accomodation to suit everyone's budget (just quietly I've got my eye on a villa for next time!), markets - loads of markets in fact (with things you actually want to buy ladies, and won't regret when you get back to normality), lots of culture and a gazillion restaurants and bars with great food -- Bali is pumping with possibilities! Oh and let's not forget the friendly locals. I was well and truly into the swing of things, I even got my hair braided. *Face palm* And do you want to know the best bit? Unlike a lot of island holiday spots, it's cheap as chips! From Nusa Dusa in the South, where five star resorts reign supreme in a picturesque setting, to Kuta and Legian -- Seminyak in the north with it's villas for the whole family - a place filled with upmarket boutiques and delicious day spas -- inland to Ubud with its quaint villages and inspiring galleries to Jimbaran Bay, the place they call the Beverley Hills of Bali and idyllic Lombok in the East -- you can't go wrong. While I just had a snapshot of what Bali had to offer, would I go back again? You betcha! (Just between you and me, I was hoping the island's active volcano might erupt!) And I didn't even get a hint of Bali Belly! (Word of advice, choose wisely.) There's a reason Bali was voted as the world's favourite destination for the first time ever in the TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards 2017. Bali, this time, you had me at hello. … [Read more...]
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