Ha…check out the PBR thrown in the mix.

Now I definitely have to go to China…at least if I want to become as smart as Will! I love these kinds of stories…I really really do! I have not traveled out of the country much (I WILL!!), but I think it is so amazing to visit places in order to understand other cultures as well as to learn to appreciate mine. The bottom line is that…EVERY culture has good and bad and if you are an open person who gives people the chance to show you which one they are, you will probably have a good time and learn a lot no matter where you go. Kim Dingman is in China right now so maybe she will share some fun stuff with us when she returns! Anyone else out there have a China story for me…..just go ahead and send it on over!! As I said….I love it. Now where is my PBR? -Julia

Notes From The Field – China Memories

Reading the recent piece about China caused me to reminisce about my own experiences there – I traveled to and from many times and it was always an eye opening (and sometimes hair raising) experience…both from a business perspective, as well as a personal one.

From the business perspective, it taught me to never again look at a shoe with disdain, contempt, or lack of appreciation for the technological marvel that it is, and the unbelievable craftsmanship that goes into it.  Until you’ve actually spent time on a factory floor, you simply cannot appreciate the details and skill that are required to go from hide to shoebox.

It gave me an overwhelming appreciation for the lifestyle I had enjoyed (and enjoy), and the kind of lifestyle the average factory worker endures.  This is not the start of a human-rights rant; the factories I dealt with did not seem (to me) to be abusing/overworking anyone, and conditions were clean, humane and conducive to producing quality products.  I now understand, however, the concept of someone growing up dirt-poor in a rural area and going to live in a factory dormitory, spending each day stitching together shoes for the U.S.  What seems to me to be a heinous existence is actually a ticket out of poverty to many; perspective seems to shift when getting food on the table for your family is the most important thing.

I could continue rhapsodizing about the philosophical and sociological aspects of being a Westerner in a Chinese shoe factory – what he sees, thinks and feels – but that’s probably overkill at this point, given what we all know about global commerce.  Rest assured many things you think occur/exist in fact do, and many things do not…just like anything else.

Aside from the above, one of the most important outgrowths of my China travels is my newfound appreciation for the design and manufacturing process, and just how HARD it is.  Prior to this, I had sat in countless design meetings where I had told designers “just move this eyelet here, just change this counter there” and other – seemingly – minor cosmetic changes to patterns, lasts and molds.  Little did I know just what each of those teeny adjustments actually represented on the factory floor!  I wish I could take back each cutting remark and condescending comment I have made to shoe designers when samples came back without any of the changes I requested; and, now I know that when I was making those suggestions, they were thinking, “yeah, right – not gonna happen.”

But, none of this is really important.  Let’s talk about food and drink (Mr. Normart apparently agrees that this is key, based on his article!).

My first night of my first trip, the factory owners (and the woman who translated for us) went out to one of the family style restaurants that are the norm; each of these places has numerous attendants who serve you, but most importantly make sure that beer glasses are never less than 99% full.

My kind of place.

Midway through this meal, the factory dudes start chattering and laughing, pointing at me.  I ask the translator what they were saying; she replied “they say you are good at drinking beer.”  I have very few talents, but I must admit that they did indeed hit on my main one.  Beer thus became the focal point of the majority of my trips there; on one occasion they proudly brought out bottles of Pabst Blue Ribbon as a special treat – I didn’t have the heart to tell them….

My last ever meal in China was lunch on the day I was to depart; we hit the restaurant around 1pm and sure enough out come the beer bottles.  As time passed, it became clear to me that only one other person and I were drinking; the other guy was sort of the silent type and I hadn’t have much interaction with him.  At the end of the meal, I was quietly marveling at the fact that I was rolling drunk in the middle of the day; I thought to myself “he’s gotta be as drunk as I am” and I glanced over in his direction…and he gave me – what I now know is common all over the world – the universal “yeah, dude!” high sign with a quick, toothless smile.  We’re bros forever!

Food in China is actually outstanding; while I was not as adventurous as our friend from Zappos (dude – “pig face”?  hoo-fah…) I definitely branched out (the beer certainly helped).  We were in a seafood restaurant one time where you walked through what was essentially a huge aquarium and picked what you wanted, and it would be killed, skinned and prepped right there to be cooked immediately.  Certainly fresh, but not for the faint of heart.   During our walk-through, I noticed a vat of squirming worms; through my dry-heaves I thought my displeasure was clear, but sure enough a plate of them showed up in front of me about 30 minutes later.  You know what?  Tasted like chicken.

Personally, I came away with one very meaningful realization, and one that I try to instill in my day to day life – and into my children.  Mealtime in China is a sacred time, one where the business of the day gets left behind – as well as normal social/class boundaries. We had a driver who ferried us around from place to place, and at each meal he joined us.  He was, away from the table, functioning in a servant capacity – at mealtime, however, we were all one and we shared communally.  When he was done eating, he merely got up and left; “thank-you” was unnecessary and meaningless.  That to me spoke volumes about the Chinese mentality – regardless of station, we are all people, and just because you serve others does not mean you are a lesser person.

There’s a lesson in that for all of us!

Best regards,

William Weiss

National Director of Sales

Hush Puppies USA

william.weiss@wwwinc.com

203 746 3620

203 746 3815 fax