Settling back into Shanghai My MBA rotation experience so far

This is not my first visit to Shanghai. I was here seven years ago in 2011, during the summer at the end of my second year of university. Chinese Studies and Mandarin were part of my Economics Degree. And, having now spent the last 12 days here, I can finally say that have I settled in again and freely admit that  I would love the opportunity to live here one day! What a place, what a city! So, what makes Shanghai so unique, so dynamic, and so 24 hours? If you have never been here, I would say that it is a must see! From beautiful temples in the heart of an equally beautiful concrete jungle, to parties every night, to amazing street food. Heres the places Ive visited so far: Yu Gardens, Qibao Ancient town, Cloud 9 bar on the 87th floor of the Hyatt Hotel, A boat cruise on the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, Jing-an Temple, People’s Square and Park, Tianzifang, Starbucks Roastery Reserve, Nanjing Road, and of course, the fake markets. Yu Garden (also known as Yuyuan Garden) So, why am I here again?   Before joining Hult, the Global Campus Rotation Program was always a top priority for me. Its an opportunity to study at different campuses as part of my MBA program. What more could I ask for? I always had my heart set on Shanghai for all the reasons I’ve said above. It helped that a large portion of my good friends decided to rotate here, too. But more importantly, this city and this country will continue to have a huge impact on the world, and the chance to learn more about it could not be turned down. This city and this country will continue to have a huge impact on the world, and the chance to learn more about it could not be turned down. Anyway, as there are always a few sides to every story, I thought it might be amusing to point out some of the obstacles and funny situations that myself and my classmates have managed to get ourselves into so far! Scenario 1: Trying to buy a Metro ticket Friend:  Hey Aaron! Can you help me read this? I can’t read Mandarin. Me:  How long have you been staring at this screen? Friend:  About five minutes or so Me:  So you missed the press here for English button right in the middle? Friend:  [Silence] Whoops! In reality, the Metro is super easy to use and you can get around on it just fine with English. Scenario 2: Ordering at a restaurant Ordering food here, on the other hand, is not so simple! Many waiters (æÅ" Ã¥Å  ¡Ã¥â€˜Ëœ) have little to no English knowledge. And if there are no pictures or English on the menulet’s just say it’s a challenge. Recently, we ordered two duck soups and some beef with noodles in our broken Mandarin. (Win!) But once we sat down, the lady behind the counter came over and started chatting away in Mandarin. Unfortunately, none of us had any idea what was going on. And when our food didnt show up, we thought we’d got it all wrong. Eventually, we got out Google translate  (our best friend here!) and she wrote down what she was trying to say. In the meantime, our food finally arrived. Turns out her Google-translated message said: Your food may take some time. Scenario 3: Mystery meat On the topic of getting lost in translation, I often don’t know what Im likely to get when ordering meat. (And sometimes, even when I see it or taste it, I still don’t really know!) Last week in Qibao, an ancient town within Shanghai known for its street food, I ask a food vendor: â€Å"Is this beef?† (è ¿â„¢Ã¦Ëœ ¯Ã§â€°â€ºÃ¨â€šâ€°Ã¥ â€"?) The vendor responds, â€Å"Yes† (Ã¥ ¯ ¹) When the food arrives, I know its definitely not beef it had wings! Scenario 4: Bargains at the fake market At a fake market, you can buy replicas of expensive designer items, from shoes to watches and more. Haggling is key, which doesnt always come easy for an American. Heres a recent exchange I had with someone who purchased a fake handbag: Friend: Ahhh, what a great deal. This was super cheap! Me:  What did you pay for it? Friend: $100! A real one is over $1500, so what a great deal! Me:  So...you paid $100? For a FAKE handbag in China? Sometimes, what seems like a deal really isnt. Scenario 5: Taking out money from an ATM Friend:  Aaron, my PIN number isn’t working. Have you had any bank problems? Me:  Mine has been fine. Let me come and have a look Me:  [After staring for a moment at the screen] Did you notice that numbers are the other way around? A cool thing they do in some places here is the ATMs randomly move the numbers around,  so people can’t copy the shape of your PIN number. Very clever in my opinion. However, PIN numbers are pretty much redundant now anyway, thanks to my tip below. Top tip: WeChat is King Most local people don’t carry cash or even a wallet. WeChat and AliPay are used for everything–from chatting to people, to seeing menus, to paying for things. It really is an all-encompassing ecosystem, which I’m pretty sure would not be allowed in the U.S. or Europe due to competition regulations. However, it is an incredible offering and something you can’t really do without here, especially given the Great firewall blocking other apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp. I have no funny stories about WeChat, other than it’s great! So our trip so far has not been all easy, but it certainly has  been a whole bunch of laughs. Having this opportunity at Hult to study at six different campuses has been an amazing experience. I can’t believe more people have not taken advantage of coming to this phenomenal city.  If you have never been here before, add it to your list! I can’t wait for what the next few weeks here in Shanghai have to offer. I love this city! Having this opportunity at Hult to study at six different campuses has been an amazing experience. I love this city! Curious to find out more about Global Campus Rotation and other exciting opportunities that await you as a Hult student?  Download a brochure. Kickstart your career in the commercial center of Asia by studying at Hults Shanghai business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Students step out of the classroom to explore top Shanghai companies. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .