Category: The Duke CCMBA Program has 2 spinal courses, one of which is CCL – Cultures, Civilizations and Leadership. One of the requirements for the CCL class is to write about a “Cultural Disconnect” that you’ve experienced over the course of the residency.
We’ve already been to 3 residencies (London, Dubai and Delhi), and the experiences at each location were all seen through freshman eyes. Yes, everything was new – the sights, the sounds, the smells. I’m sure that everyone approached the whole traveling for school thing with different expectations, and each student had his/her learning curve.
As expected, most of the Cultural Disconnects handed in had a certain flavor, a dash of wide-eyed wonder, an extra layer of what I can only describe as “underdeveloped worldliness”.
“Ooh! Cars moving down the other side of the street!
“Ooh! Camels aren’t roaming the streets!”
“Ooh! Cows are roaming the streets!”
For the 4th residency, however, the general mood of all the Cultural Disconnects has started to focus on some of the more subtle qualities of society – in this case, that of Shanghai.
First, though, remind yourself that Shanghai is not representative of the country. Not by a Croatian mile (which as everyone knows is 11 kilometers – go figure!).
A number of the Cultural Disconnects run from the funny (Chinglish), to the irritating (Cab-driver Cartels), to the mundane (Chinese people don’t smile), all the way to the realm of WTF!?!? (Customer Service, or the complete lack of it).
While enjoying the short reads on everyone’s little mis-adventures, I noticed that all these little quaint observations about the country had this underlying tone of “3rd World-liness”.
Sure on the outside, everything’s amazingly efficient, especially for China. But peel back that new coat of white-wash and you’ll notice that people are still complaining about old ladies queue-jumping, old ladies talking too loud, or old ladies being too aggressive in trying to sell you that obviously original Rolex for “only 150RMB!”
Oh, and did I mention old ladies talking TOO LOUD?!?!
Mulling over these, what comes to mind now is this well thought out, but thoroughly tasteless archetype of what a 22nd century Chinese city should be. Sure, the architecture of those new skyscrapers sure is nice, and just like the emerging culture in this city, the resulting cityscape would seem modern. But look deeper and it’s scarily devoid of soul and character. Just like the office buildings – empty.
Case in point, Randy’s previous posting on Chivas Regal. Truth be told, I actually like the taste of whiskey with green tea, but I’d only ever use bad filth – like that cheap 2 year old blend they sell at my local alco-alcove. My problem here, however, is two-fold.
First, it’s with the sell outs at Pernod Ricard (Jane, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry, you’re not evil – it’s just your job). They’ve basically bent over backwards for The Man, just so that they could sell more. I understand, it’s a business, you’re here to make money, not to educate, and besides, it all tastes the same at 4:30 in the morning anyway. But where does it stop?
Second, my problem is with the Chinese nouveau riche who just don’t seem to understand the value of money. Or probably they do, which is why they let their children go on ostentatious displays of extravagance buying luxury cars with cash-money, drive up to the nearest Chinese night club, book 8 tables and order 8 cases of Chivas along with as much “face” that comes with it. Again, where does it stop?
This city has stopped becoming a showcase of what China can become, and started on this path to becoming a bad copy of Western society – or at least the distorted ideals of Western consumerism, as processed through the Chinese mind.
Bad fashion and horrible music? If the French can have it, by Mao, so can they!
Bad approximation of Western food? Even bread here doesn’t taste like it’s been made right.
Bad imitation of just about everything else? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Town
Oh hell yeah!
So, where does it stop? It doesn’t.
See, there’s no accounting for bad taste. There’s no debit on tackiness nor credit for gaudiness. If there’s anything that CCL has taught us, it’s that each culture has its own way of doing things and as long as you make money, that way is just about as right as “your” way.
Maybe bread should be available in as oily, and sweet, and with BOTH raisins and corn kernels.
Maybe nightclubs really should have well-to-do 16-year-olds dead drunk on the floor, drowning in a pool of their own vomit because that’s how dad drinks as well.
Maybe women should be allowed to wear fish net stockings, hot pink fuck-me pants, and sequined tops that say “ready for action” – for the office.
Maybe I should stop complaining. After all, my Argentinean mates also have a bizarre affinity for Red Wine mixed with Coca Cola. Americans are notorious for liking bad Chinese food. And the French – yeah, as mentioned, who in their right mind would wear very light blue, skintight jeans, a black dress shirt and a tri-colour beanie?
Besides which, money talks! I’m a Fuqua MBA damn it! If it came down to the wire, I’d have had Pernod Ricard do it all exactly the same way.
As a general rule of thumb I don't trust guys that wear tight jeans, never have and probably never will.
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