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October 2002
Inside this edition:
Weekend Excursion: "Summer Palace"
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September 15th, a sunny Fall day in Beijing, the students visited the Summer Palace for their weekend excursion. This magnificent Palace and its grounds were built specially for the Empress Dowager as a birthday gift. The Summer Palace is a popular place of relaxation for local Beijingers and a popular attraction to throngs of visitors throughout the year from within and outside of China. Enjoying the nice sunshine and cool breeze, World Link students strolled around the Palace grounds and visited Lake Kunming, the Long Corridor and the Buddha Temple.
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Inspired by the surrounding tranquility and beauty of the Palace, Martial Arts student Vigo started practicing his Gong Fu pose.
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Chantal, Meilin and Dwi getting together for a picture with the ancient incense burner.
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A snap of Francois under the willow tree.
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A beautiful view of Lake Kunming.
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Weekend Excursion: "Ba Daling Great Wall"
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We could not have asked for better weather to be visiting the Great Wall on October 13th! Clear, bright blue skies overhead?excited WLE students received a much anticipated dose of ancient history when they visited Badaling, a section of the Great Wall in the outskirts of Beijing. It is the most thoroughly renovated section of the Great Wall, and the most frequently visited due to its close proximity to Beijing as compared with the other sections of the Wall. The gorgeous weather brought in hundreds of tourists and local Chinese, eager to climb this part of the Great Wall?
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The Wall with its throngs of tourists/visitors.
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The view looking out the "window" of part of the Wall .
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The view of the surrounding mountain ranges.
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Orientation Day
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The September Chinese Language & China Business students were given their comprehensive Orientation on September 1st.
WLE staff members led the students on a brief tour around the WLE Center and then, on a more extensive walking tour of the neighborhood and around the school campus. The day ended with the students meeting their language exchange partners for the first time.
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Students being briefed on the essentials of life in Beijing.
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CCB1s student Oyvind chatting with his language partner
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CL1S student, Terri Reynolds chats happily with her language partner.
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CCB1S student Kevin Lee with his language partner.
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Birthdays in September
Meanwhile, as we were welcoming the newly arrived September students, we were also celebrating their birthdays with them! Here are the birthday boys and gals?
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Beautiful swan birthday cake
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Tony cutting his cake
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Marshall and Lucas' birthday were both on September 17th!...and don't they both look happy!
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Tanya's birthday on Sept 29th.
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World Link Activity: "Bowling Night"
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On September 9th, the new World Link students got to partake in their first sporting activity: Bowling in Xijiao Hotel! Bowling has also become a popular sporting activity with local Beijingers. The students formed into 5 teams and competed against each other. Most were highly skilled bowlers ……but there was only one who outdid the rest!…our one year student Julian, whose unbeatable bowling skills won him the prize - a bottle of liquor. Lucky team members of the winner got to enjoy their team prize of pizza at the nearby Pizza Hut!
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Tony all set to go and show his stuff!
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World Link staff Cindy giving her best shot...
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Give me a five! Julian just scored a strike...
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China Business Joint Venture Field Trip: "Visit to Ericsson"
World Link business students started their 5 week China Business program on October 21st. The first joint venture business trip was to Ericsson, where students enjoyed an informative presentation by Ericsson's Marketing Manager and visited their workshop.
Ericsson is a world-leading telecommunication supplier with a history of 108 years. It has provided practical and effective telecommunication products and solutions for all kinds of enterprise users of China. Up to now, Ericsson has become one of the largest suppliers in China's PBX market; its business cordless telephone system DCT 1800 GAP is the first one to pass the test of the China Radio Telecommunication Committee, and all the indicators exceeded the requirements of the TBR6 standard.
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Ian "checking" the machine out.
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Visiting the show room.
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Business students, Digby and Kevin visiting the 'assembly line' in the workshop.
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Business student, Benjamin chatting with a Technician from Ericsson.
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Interview: "William Schnabel, CCBTP5w"
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Name: William Schnabel, CCTP 5w
Country of residence: USA
Citizenship: USA
Profession: I.T. Consulting
Educational background: B.A. Physics, Grinnell College, USA, M.S. Industrial Engineering, University of Minnesota, USA
Brief work history: 11 years, Accenture, Management Consulting
Languages spoken: English
Hobbies: Travel, Art Collecting, Basketball, Jogging.
Is this your first time in China?
No, I had visited Beijing one time before, but only spent a few days sight-seeing around the Capital. I have also spent time working and living in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Why did you decide to study Chinese Language and Business ?
Mainly for business purposes. Through my work in Asia Pacific, it was clear that China is, and will continue to be, playing a larger role in regional business opportunities. And understanding the business environment and language are an integral part in handling this business successfully.
How are you finding your studies in China?
Having been away from any formal 'school' for quite some time, I found the studying to be very enjoyable and rewarding. I was only able to spend 5 weeks learning Chinese language, and though I have made more progress than expected, I feel this is much too short a time. There is so much to learn, both inside, and outside, of the classroom. Beijing is a fascinating city, and the more time spent here, the greater the learning available.
Have they been what you expected to be?
I decided to take a one-on-one tutoring approach due the short time I had available. Though this provided me with a much greater opportunity to practice the lessons, I feel I missed out on some of the student interactions within the classroom. As for the business classes, I think they gave a very good, over all picture, of business in China. They also highlighted the historical influences that affect the current environment today.
How do you like Beijing?
Though Beijing isn't quite as cosmopolitan as other cities in the region, it is going through rapid, almost day to day, changes. This makes it a fascinating place to live and study. And as I mentioned, the longer spent here, the more you can uncover the uniqueness of this city. From my time here, I now have a strong desire to return to Beijing to further study, and hopefully work.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
I think the best thing about Beijing is the mix of the old with the new. There is a strong sense of history here, but you can feel and see the economic changes happening all around you. And I also feel fortunate to have been here during the 16th Party Congress. It was impressive to hear about the changes the country is making, and to be here at such a historic time.
Any memorable experiences in Beijing/China? Tell us a few.
The big ones, or course, include visiting the Great Wall, and seeing the skyline of Shanghai. But overall, the things I remember most are the day-to-day interactions with local Beijingers. Everywhere I went, the people were warm, friendly, and willing to put up with my minimal mandarin skills!
How has your experience in China changed you, if it has?
I think the most important thing I learned, was that China doesn't have to be this huge, mysterious place. If you have an open mind, and a willingness to accept differences, there are unlimited opportunities, both professional and personal.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
The food, of course. And the people.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
Definitely. Hopefully to study, but at least in some professional capacity.
What advices/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
If you can afford it, take as much time as possible. The more the better. And remember, the learning is not just in the classroom, but also in the interactions with others, both foreign and locals. It is so true, that the best way to learn Chinese is in China.
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Interview: "Alan Tang, CCB1y"
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Name: Alan Tang, CCB 1y
Country of residence: Western Australia
Citizenship: Australian
Educational background: Bachelor in Marketing and Sales
Brief work history: A chef, a waiter, an account executive, and an English teacher
Languages spoken: English and basic Cantonese
Hobbies: Swimming, squash, well basically that involves sports, Internet, meeting new people.
Is this your first time in China?
Yes if you don't count Hong Kong.
Why did you decide to study Chinese Language and Business ?
Being an Australian Born Chinese and not being able to speak read or write Chinese was kind of weird...so I decided to head off to my ancestral land China... and get in touch with my roots right after I finished my bachelors.
How are you finding your studies in China?
It is definitely AWESOME....
How do you like Beijing?
I like it lots...I really am falling in love with it all...the convenient food shops, the friendly people and the simple lives they lead.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
How you can negotiate something from 100rmb to 20rmb
Any memorable experiences in Beijing/China? Tell us a few.
Everyday in China is really a memorable experience.
How has your experience in China changed you, if it has?
After 8 months of being here.... seeing the things I've seen, going to the places I've been to and meeting the people I've met it really has made me consider living in China for at least a couple more years.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
The people and just everything that makes China…China. So in a way I guess I do sound a little "mao dun" contradictory.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
OH yeah you betcha!
What advices/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Expose yourself as much as possibly to the people and don't be afraid to embarrass yourself...
You will be culturally rocked and shocked and rocked again!!!...But hey the sooner you learn to accept the way things are run here...the faster and easier you'll be able to see that China really is a great place.
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