Tianjin etiquette
What comes to mind when you hear Downton Abbey (a recent popular British series set in the early 1900’s depicting proper English life.)? Perhaps it is the prim and proper way in which the nobles of old went about their daily life. That lifestyle of yesteryears when compared with the modern world of instant gratification may reveal etiquette is something we can all stand to brush up on a bit. Etiquette varies based on location and situation. Therefore let’s discuss how expats etiquette should adapt when doing business, handling academic affairs, interacting with family and sharing a meal in Tianjin. cotton drawstring bag
Business is one of the major reasons expats may consider coming to Tianjin. Be it opening your own company or working for a firm, expats will come in contact with Tianjiners on a daily basis. While the rules of the road as it relates to business etiquette back home may be deeply engrained, keep in mind these may need to be readjusted upon arrival in Tianjin. cotton drawstring bag
What are the basics of Tianjin business etiquette? Tianjin business etiquette can be summed up in three words: "respect, professionalism, preparation". These three aspects are both unique in themselves and interrelated. Tianjin expats should be aware that above all else, "respect" is king when interacting with Tianjin executives. Respect in what sense? cotton drawstring bag
Tianjin business owners must feel as though "you" (the expat) respect "them" (the local boss). This makes sense in application of the golden rule for human interaction. Namely doing unto others as you hope they do unto you. We as expats certainly hope to be "respected", so we should begin by "respecting" others. cotton drawstring bag
The "respect" Tianjin bosses are especially looking for is that of feeling as though you view them, their business, their product and Tianjin as "worthy"; worthy that is of your time, effort, and respect. Don’t overly stress how "great" your home country, company, product or service is. Do convey a confidence in what you represent. cotton drawstring bag
There is a Chinese phrase which literally translates to: worship west fain foreign. This phrase carries a negative connation, such as in describing a person who seems to "worship" anything and everything that is from the "west". Here the "west" represents anyplace outside of China. This "fain" for "foreign" is simply because the product, person, or thing isn’t "Chinese", not necessarily because it is actually of higher quality or character. Expats need to be especially cautious so as to not give the feeling that they and their goods are more advanced, developed, and modern simply because they are foreign, or are representing an overseas company, product or service. cotton drawstring bag
A few steps Tianjin expats can take to make sure Tianjin professionals feel respected is to display true professionalism when interacting with them. Professionalism is the second key to Tianjin business etiquette. This professionalism should be seen, heard and felt via the dress, grooming, speech and actions of expats in Tianjin. cotton drawstring bag
Business attire should make the packing list for expats coming to Tianjin with career aspirations. Yes, that means a suit and tie for men. Skirts, dresses, business slacks and blouses for women. This should be teamed up with a nice pair of dress shoes. Don’t show up to business occasions overly casual. Don’t wear jeans and a t-shirt because you think you are in “China” and things are different here. Tianjin expats often are seen in very casual clothing. This is tragic if you are going to an interview or conducting business of some sort. Bottom line, this is a lack of professionalism and respect. cotton drawstring bag
Tianjin bosses will also view expats as "professional" if you have business cards, some relative flyers or company material and or a website. Business cards are a minimum for expats wanting to do business in Tianjin as they are used extensively. Tianjin business etiquette requires a business card to be given to all those being met. This means bring more than a few cards to that next business function. Often Tianjin bosses may attend with a secretary or other staff as support. A card should first be given to the boss, then to the other members of their staff. cotton drawstring bag
Business flyers are quite inexpensive yet will go a long way in letting the boss know you are serious about working together. Note, don’t pass out these flyers immediately upon meeting. Rather, a typical first meeting might go as follows: first, initial greetings and exchange of business cards; second, a brief personal and business introduction; third, express interest and respect for the Tianjin boss you are meeting with, asking for the opportunity to learn more about them. At this point, the Tianjin manager will begin introducing his business. Don’t talk too much about you or your business. Do politely and patiently listen to the Tianjin executive.
Third on our list of Tianjin business etiquette is preparation. Things to prepare include your wardrobe, business cards, flyers and website. While at current a website is not mandatory, they are becoming more popular in the Tianjin business community. In addition, prepare a local cell phone number, local email address, and WeChat account for communications. You should also consider preparing a small but meaningful gift to be used for business purposes. Note, this is not to be confused with a bribe nor does it need to be overly expensive. Before coming to Tianjin, expats should prepare a collection of items to be given to bosses upon the initial meeting or after the relationship has progressed to the point of doing business together. Particularly items that reflect a bit of your home country or culture and that are not available for purchase locally will be appreciated. Each time expats go home to visit, you should have your "list" of bosses to get a little gift for. Again, don’t confuse this with bribing them or giving something ridiculously expensive. Instead, the goal is to convey "respect, professionalism, and preparation"; the three keys to Tianjin business etiquette. cotton drawstring bag
Respect not only helps adults adapt to new work conditions, but can also help kids ease into a new school, whether it’s local or international. So can working hard, adjusting to floating schedules, and rolling with cultural expectations. cotton drawstring bag
At local schools, respect for the teacher, from both students and their parents, is vital. Some schools actually have rules stating parents must always side with the teacher. This can be challenging for expats. Though every expat we spoke to with kids enrolled in local schools was married to a Chinese citizen and had long-term plans to live in China, there were still a wide gap between what they and their children’s teachers viewed as proper communication. cotton drawstring bag
Charlotte Edwards, a former American international schoolteacher, has a six year old son attending a Chinese first grade class of 46 students. Parent-teacher communication takes place through an online platform called QQ, China’s ragingly popular instant messaging service. The teacher communicates with parents about scheduling, homework assignments and individual student performance. Both children and parents can be praised or criticized. cotton drawstring bag
If a parent gets angry over a comment about child and fires back online, it’s problematic. Edwards recommends parents not disagree with the teacher directly or publically but instead tackle issues by making contact in person. While many Western and international schools have parent-teacher interviews and more formalized means of communication, "it’s easier for parents to talk to teachers in a (Chinese) school", says a Chinese teacher at an international school in Tianjin. Parents can simply have their child pass on a request for an informal parent-teacher chit-chat. cotton drawstring bag
To fit in, students need to work hard, and be perceived as being hardworking by their teachers. Model students become examples that are held up by the teacher and by the parents of other students. Teachers have good reason to be invested in successful students; their financial and career success may depend on them. Edwards says that when students are successful on tests, teachers may receive higher salaries and bonuses, while teachers without high-achieving pupils may be moved to less desirable locations. To ensure as many students as possible do well on exams, teachers often assign several hours of homework each night and lecture students about the importance of studying hard. Sometimes, parents lavish gifts on teachers to attract extra attention to their child. Edwards has heard of Chinese teachers on occasion being given gifts such as MacBooks and dinners out. cotton drawstring bag
While many Western countries are moving away from tests as the sole measure of student success, China focuses on test-driven education. Students who learn to ace tests are considered successful. Children can secure or threaten their entire future–and the future of their parents–with the grade 12 national test. The Chinese international teacher in Tianjin said it is a student's "one chance" get into a good university and secure their career and can be loosely compared to diploma exams in other countries or the SAT in the United States. He remembers a childhood spent preparing to write the Chinese national test, finishing school at 4:00 pm, having two hours of additional self-study, and then going home at 6:00 pm to complete homework. Study time was all-important, even if it meant making up for missed school days on the weekend. cotton drawstring bag
Accepting that sometimes school runs on the weekend and learning to roll with a loose schedule can help make family life less stressful and help students be more like their peers. At local schools, and some international ones, the schedule is not chiseled into stone and printed out one year in advance the way it is in other countries. Days can be lengthened and weeks extended. Edwards says that her son’s school finishes around 3:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. However, teachers can keep children later and Edwards’ son is sometimes in class until after 5:00 p.m. He is also attending school on Saturdays until November to make up for 10 days that were missed when construction delayed the school opening. Some international preschools and elementary schools ran classes for seven days prior to the national holiday in October. While expat parents and international teachers objected, the schools remained open and classes were well attended. After the holiday, certain expat parents and children who chose not to attend school on the weekend were scolded. cotton drawstring bag
One of the most important ways parents can help their kids better fit in at local or international schools in China is to "remind children where they are," said the Chinese Tianjin international teacher. That means adhering to school rules, adapting to Chinese culture, and respecting the background of students from diverse backgrounds. International schools in Tianjin can have students from more than 25 countries. There may be just one single student from a country or a significant population. cotton drawstring bag
A Canadian international high school teacher in Tianjin recommends parents and international school students learn a little about how they and their country are viewed by others. Being prepared for positive or negative impressions can help insulate students from stereotypes. As expats, many people have experienced delightfully positive and less than warm and fuzzy receptions from people of other countries. Students may find their peers in an alternate reality when it comes to history, geography and facts or they may have never heard of each other’s countries. cotton drawstring bag
The same Tianjin teacher recommends that parents and students avoid trying to guess where another student is from, but rather ask open-ended questions and have an open mind to new people. He actually finds that it can be much easier for students to stay more flexible than their parents, so perhaps it’s worth listening to lessons learned on the playground. cotton drawstring bag
While fitting into a new school can be challenging at home, it can be an even bigger adjustment in a new country facing language and cultural barriers. With a little effort, understanding, time and experience, students can end up fitting in faster than their parents. cotton drawstring bag
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