Comments on: No Lo Entiendo

By: Hendrik

Hendrik — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:02:30 +0000

Spike wrote: …I’m kicking myself for being so lazy about the language for so many years. But I still have a level of practical experience in multiple countries in the region that few can match…

I believe for several years, Western companies would rather send an expat to certain locations than hire local staff. Mostly because there was still a lot of exploring and building-up to do. Any manager in booming Asia would do well for the company. These expats would spend a lot of energy on getting to know their staff, expose staff to the management, until the management has enough confidence to run the operation without that expat. And the busy successful expat forgot to build-up his own network outside the company. In stead of getting to know customers, suppliers, competitors, the expat was busy traveling in Asia to meet his staff and back and forth to the HQ for numerous alignment meetings. And too arrogant to pick up some Mandarin. Not that this matters. The Asians rather do business their way than the Western way, in any language. Job descriptions mention “Chinese required” to ensure only Asians apply.

By: THE KMB

THE KMB — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:44:59 +0000

Do not get yourself always riddled because you are not speaking Mandarin. For biz you need to be able to read and write also – speaking alone is NOT enough ! Just recently a good friend of mine speaking very good and become very good “friend”with his business partner just had to find out that he got cheated by the good friend. Call me a racist – a little bit of distance is always helpful – and sorry – YOU Chinese want to do business with US (the bad Gweilo) – send me somebody speaking english – because this is the international business language (sorry not Mandarin) and as China want to be the BIG PLAYER you have to learn the part of this game. Did you see the foreign affairs minister of the PRC during his speech at the blah blah Security Meeting in MUnich a few days ago – he was speaking an almost very good english ……even I heard rumours that Wen & Hu can speak proper english (but not officially………)

By: E@L

E@L — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:55:23 +0000

@Whitedusk & @Hendrick – Most definitions, one would be hopeful that all of them, say that *Asia Pacific* includes Australia and New Zealand – by definition in fact. It’s always been held to be a combination of Asia and Oceania. It may not include South Asia (India etc) in many definitions, but it always includes Oz, NZ, and Japan.

South-East Asia however is separate group, not to be confused with A-P; as is South Asia, East (aka North) Asia and Oceania, of course.

For a list of A-P countries, see here.

APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Community includes North and South American countries on the Pacific as well.

By: Hendrik

Hendrik — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:27:13 +0000

“Their definition of the region includes Australia/New Zealand, Japan, India.”
The word “includes” is meant as “among others”.

By: whitedusk

whitedusk — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:42:33 +0000

“US based global company looking for a regional CIO for the Asia Pacific region. Their definition of the region includes Australia/New Zealand, Japan, India.”

Most companies doesn’t consider the 4 countries above as part of Asia Pacific. So if their definition says so, then I think they meant to say its the whole APAC with those 4 countries included.

They can call it regional or they can call it whole global…

By: Spike

Spike — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:30:39 +0000

I know that’s true and I’m kicking myself for being so lazy about the language for so many years. But I still have a level of practical experience in multiple countries in the region that few can match and I’m optimistic that something decent will turn up.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:07:30 +0000

Unfortunately Steve there are a lot of people born in China who went overseas for a high quality western education, gained (by now) significant western work experience and are now returning to work in your region. It is a matter of timing, the mid to late 80s when people could have got out of China (like my wife) are now 20+ years ago, they can compete right in your niche. Mind you, as you say Mandarin is not much use in India. I’d quite like to work in China but without the language skills (written as well) it is not really realistic and I can earn more here in Aus. You will find something good I’m sure – hopefully sometime soon.

By: THE KMB

THE KMB — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:43:52 +0000

Yes Taschen is from Germany – here a must see I just copied it to my blog – BRIAN ENO documentation from BBC4:

http://kowloonmusicbuero.blogspot.com/2010/02/must-see-brian-eno-bbc-documentation.html

Kung Hei Fat Choy !