International Marketing Study Program 2006
Shanghai
7th and 8th January 2006
If there is one thing we’ve learnt in Shanghai it is that we should not waste anything (not ad space, nor food, nor paper, nor anything that has another potential use). In fact we once walked past a restaurant window that kindly translated the Chinese writing and stated that the dumplings were filled with ovaries and digestive parts of a crad (yes it really did miss spell Crab). Funnily enough I don’t think that it would have attracted too many tourists. Nevertheless during our stay some were brave enough to taste the local delicacies such as out of date eggs while others stuck to noodles and rice or even McDonalds.
Our visit to Shanghai began with a half day tour of the city. Our tour guide Robby took us to the famous Jade Buddha Temple, a beautiful Chinese garden in the old part of Shanghai and a quick photo shoot of the Bunt. We soon learnt that in -3°C it was wise to wear as many layers as one could fit and at least 2 pairs of socks and you were often still cold.
Day two was a cultural awakening with a visit to the Fake Market. The really cheap prices and bargain fake brands were enjoyed by most but for the harassment by the store holders and what seemed like hordes of workers. However we did have our secret weapon Mimi who knows Shanghai well and can bargain with the best of them. There is nothing better than having local knowledge good on you Mimi. On the other hand it did encourage us to learn some Chinese such as “Booyao” meaning “No”. The day continued with some indulging in exotic teas that bloomed in the pot right in front of your eyes, and finally ended with a group dinner and karaoke where everyone had a go even if they were not sure they wanted to. It was here that we discovered Australia’s next pop Idol, Man Ho who blew us all away with his solos and the effort and reality he put into his songs. There were also a number of pretty good duets some of which we have photos of on the website. It should also be noted that Ian and Sandra have obviously been practicing for the X-factor but not singing.
After a couple of early morning starts, but great company visits, we enjoyed the best dumplings in Shanghai and on our final night while some chose to indulge in fancy food, cocktails and amazing views from a restaurant overlooking the Bund, others indulged in a full body massage followed by a simple Chinese dinner. What a great way to start the program.
Overall, Shanghai was a great eye-opening experience, after all where else do you see drivers including cyclists trying to run everyone of the road. If any of the other cities are as exciting as Shanghai, we have a lot to look forward to and a lot to be careful of when crossing the road.
By Amiranda and Lauren
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