Day 10

today is a very short day. Initial timetable was that IS lesson would be from 8am - 12noon and continue from 1pm - 5pm.


This is how the class looks like from the back.


well, kuku Jacob trying to be funny -.-


the ladies of ICT =)


Jacob introducing all sleepy heads.. =P


FIRST TIME EVER! SHENG KIAT MADE A FUNNY FACE!!! ^^

To our surprise, the lesson ended at around 11am or so. It was about China's politics and economic. It is pretty interesting to know more about China as there's many differences in which they implement certain laws.

After lesson, the guys stayed back a little for a short Q&A session with the lecturer, Mr. Tan (not our PM lecturer. the CHINA lecturer. haha!) He was friendly and kind to listen to all our questions and answer all of them. We were more interested in the economic side of China and thus, our questions relate mainly to things like enterprise in China and etc.

Few interesting facts I've learnt today:

1. If one were to lend a friend money and have made an agreement on certain interest rate upon returning, when made public, it is considered ILLEGAL in China!

2. There's about 1million University students in WuChang area, which is considered the "Schooling" area in Wuhan.

3. You cannot buy a land in China unless granted with special permission. You can only rent them. And once the agreed duration is up upon renting, even though you have your housing built on it, the land will be no longer be considered yours.

4. The nearest shopping area from our University is around 25minutes away! =P


haha! okok. the fourth one is random. I was just trying to be funny. haha! anyway, these facts are just so WOW-ing and it really made me open up eyes to see China even more. I wonder how much can I really learn in this 6weeks stay.. Hmm.. Well, hopefully alot. because I don't know to waste this trip and not learn anything!

Here's some picture of us eating lunch outside campus!


their nice eating set that is given to us. so NICE!


sheng kiat and Jacob. I have NO IDEA what the both of them are doing. haha!


Zheng wei's usual facial expression on being an "Ah beng". ^^


Yours Truly. The Handsome One! =D


Jacob;s pose in trying to attempt a group shot. Sorry ah. Not as pro as me, so the result of the picture is of course... FAIL LA! haha! =P

that's more or less what the day is about.


REFLECTION OF DAY 10, WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2008:

Time 10:03pm

Free and relaxing day. One of the days which is more relaxing yet providing more time for me to think through what I have observed the past few days while in China. Before that, we had a lesson for IS on the politics and the economic in China. Certain issues and information serve as a shocking pill to me as it is very different from Singapore’s system.

The most interesting issue that caught my attention was about enterprises in China. After lesson, some of us went to get enquires answered by the lecturer. We talked about laws on getting lands and loans in China. It is surprising to know that land in China are not available for buying unless you have special permission or the land is being granted by the government. Or else, if we want to build housings on a piece of land, we will have to actually rent the land. After the agreed duration for the renting, the land would then no longer be the initial owner who rented the land.

Another thing about China is their loaning “system”. People are only allowed to make loans from the bank which is considered legal in China. If someone were to lend some money to a friend and have made an agreement on returning with certain interest rate, it is considered illegal if made public; be it the interest rate lower or higher than those at bank. Even if without interest rate, once people find out about the loan, it will be considered as illegal as you are somehow “snatching” business with the bank. Therefore, China is very strict about it.

After the Q&A session, we asked about certain shopping areas we could go and the lecturer kindly gave us direction. He is very friendly and was even kind enough to offer a ride if we want to make our way there straight after the session. This makes me feel the warmness of China citizens and I really could feel their hospitality towards us even though there may be some communication barriers.

Throughout the whole day, I feel that China has a very different governing system compared to Singapore which in certain ways, we may not be able to adapt to it that fast. However, different leaders have different view in making their country prosper and their ways of doing it is different as well. So there is no right or wrong way of doing so long the method does not harm their citizens who have put their trust in the leaders. Overall, China is actually is comfortable place to live in if we were to seek better understanding from their culture and how things work in the place.

Learning in progress: Culture of China and their way of doing things