New Year Company Kick Off

OK – bear with me, this is a bit long, but some background is required…

In the west we always reference “Chinese New Year”. The fact is this new year celebration is not limited to the Chinese, but rather to any people who follow the Lunar Calendar. Without giving all the details (trust me there are MANY), the lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon (thus the name). Based on very intricate dates and phases, etc., a “year” on the lunar calendar will not have the same number of days every year. Accordingly, the celebration of significant dates will change from year to year when compared to the western calendar.  This year “Chinese New Year” will fall on February 3 as calculated in the Western calendar.  Follow me so far?

OK – I knew it was a big deal. I just didn’t know HOW big. New Year’s here is approximately the same as combining Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving all together.  The build up to the holiday is exactly the same as we experience prior to Christmas. Decorating, cleaning, cooking, and buying gifts. You will see red lanterns and banners for sale everywhere. On the Chinese  stations that I watch only cause we haven’t gotten English cable yet, I’ve notice a marked increase in ads for REALLY expensive whiskey, gin, and sake – all traditional gifts that older men would receive. Also, because it actually IS a celebration of a new year, that tradition is similar to the west too, but with TONS of fireworks. And EVERYONE (it seems) travels to their “ancestral home” to visit or pay homage to the mom and dad, or grandma and grandpa.  They don’t eat turkey (actually Monique observed you can’t even FIND turkey here), but they eat all sorts of other favorites made by mom – like boiled chicken claw, mmm mmmm mmmmmmm MMM!  Nothin like mom’s home cookin’ !!!   This holiday is celebrated over a week’s period and is so gi-normous that the country literally almost comes to a standstill.  Better hope you don’t have any plumbing problems during that week – there will be no one to call.  I’ve been told I must take those days off – no one, including the guards, will be here.

Above all, a new year is an opportunity to start fresh. Based on certain superstitions, a new year can hold very good tidings, or maybe not so much. Because of this, in every phase of life the Chinese try to usher in the new year to ensure prosperity and good fortune – this extends to their businesses as well.  Now enter in the REAL subject of this message….

I already know that no amount of writing or explanation will possibly communicate the extraordinary experience we had on Sunday night  – but let me try.  On Sunday, January 9 Monique and I attended my company’s New Year kick-off event. The theme was “Red Hot Friday” because Fridays are the nights when most Chinese kick up their heels (and simultaneously use their credit cards – which is what we want them to do – we want them to have a Red Hot Friday).  The kick-off was, of course, held a bit early to ensure as many could attend as possible. Virtually everyone in the entire company – all ~5,000 were asked to attend. This includes the many employees from the 51 offices throughout China where we do business. Each employee (including Jay and Monique) was issued a red zipper hoodie with the phrase “Red Hot Friday” emblazoned on the front. Be patient – access to pictures is included below, but you have to work through the setup to get the real flavor.

So imagine this – You’re minding your own business on a normally quiet Sunday evening in the downtown financial district of Shanghai. All of a sudden thousands of people start pouring out of the subway station exits. Most are between 20-25 and almost all are wearing their red hoodies.  The phrase “Red Army” takes on a new meaning. Despite the massive number of people, things go smoothly. It seems the Chinese have dealt with large numbers of people for so long, they just KNOW how to handle lots of people. 

The event was held at Shanghai’s largest and most prestigious event center. We were in the very room where recently the Asia Pacific (APAC – similar to NATO or something) Leaders gathered, and the same room where Asia’s “Fortune 500” companies gather for important events. Extremely opulent and HUGE.  Only one of my attempts to capture the huge-ness even came close – the room was literally a sea of young Chinese men and women wearing similar clothes. They are proud of their company (and rightly so), and they are well-groomed, well-mannered, and PUMPED. Lights flashing, music pounding, the center decorated to the hilt. Mo and I were speechless. Words cannot describe the feeling. This was no “company new year kickoff”, this was a highly programmed, high tech multimedia experience worthy of any major rock band. But through it all, there was such a positive vibe in the air and EVERYONE was sooo kind and polite to us. 

I hadn’t thought about it ahead of time, but we were the only Caucasians in the building (I keep using “Caucasians” so as to differentiate between “white folks” and “foreigners” – there are lots of foreigners here, but they are from places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea.)  Back to the story - We were like celebrities!!!  Everyone stared at us as we walked in, probably murmuring “who are THEY?!?!”  My assistant who walked in with us shared that she felt like a rock star.  If you know me at all, you’ll know I felt a bit self-conscious.  Of the ~600 tables, we were seated on the front row of tables, two over from the big VIP tables and just to the left of the big stage. I was shocked at how well we were being treated, and had  NO IDEA what was in store for us for the rest of the program.

Then the key VIP’s were introduced, which included the CEO of Bank of Communications (BOCOM) – China’s largest and our parent company, one of the key VP’s for HSBC bank, another partner in our Joint Venture, the President of the Joint Venture I work for (which, for the record, is Pacific Credit Card Center – or PCCC), the CEO, and my boss the COO.  Also present, in full military regalia was another senior member of the board who is the designated liaison between PCCC and the Chinese Communist Party.  Oh yes, despite the excitement, for a moment I am reminded of where we are.  As the VIP’s are awash in flood lights and faux fog (faux faug?) the Head of BOCOM catches a glimpse of Monique, then sees me and I can see him utter to the CEO “Who are the foreigners?” – and quickly the CEO leans over to explain what we’re doing there.  Might have been a good idea to warn him ahead of time – or maybe not, I don’t really know how these things are handled here.

Well, I could go on and on (apparently I AM going on and on – grin). There are about 10 different levels of awards announced, and between each set there is some form of entertainment provided by various departments. Now when I say entertainment, you just had to see it to believe it. Every one of the programs was HIGHLY professional. Although every one of the performers was an actual PCCC employee and the music was original scores with actual singers, you’da thought they hired some of the best from NYC. When you get to it below, check out the link to Pictures. Sorry I’m not much of a photographer – I got too caught up in the party to remember to take pics – but you may get a feel for this thing.  Every participant was beautifully costumed, highly practiced and amazingly competent at their role. Even Director and VP levels were involved and were very serious about all of this.  You would NEVER see this in the US, which is unfortunate – the level of pride and self-confidence was palpable.

After the programs came the self-congratulatory toasts. Every table was toasting themselves.  I quickly recognized what was about to happen, the VIPs where going to start making the rounds to key players to offer toasts. I huddled with my colleague Bryan to get a quick lesson on how these things work. I found you ALWAYS toast with wine, and you NEVER toast with soda. All there was on the table was wine and soda, and I won’t drink wine. Bryan said, “oh I’m sure you could toast with wine just for tonight”. After some quick discussion he could see I was serious and was quickly convinced to get the servers to rustle up a bottle of water. Fortunately they found one quickly. I was “just” about to head over to the VIP table to get to them first (a true sign of confidence and class) when I found them starting to head my direction.  This whole process is somehow innately understood by the Chinese, and there is a certain rhythm and pattern to it, but I kept having to ask Bryan what to do next, before someone got to me and I embarrassed myself.  Well, the VIPs were on their way over. I was ready with water (which is considered very respectful if you truly abstain from alcohol), and Monique had reminded me of some things we had learned while in China 2 years ago to attend the CREF Board Meeting – so I felt ready. Keep the rim of your glass lower than your boss, hold the bottom stem with your left hand and the glass with your right hand, say nice things about being healthy and prosperous in the new year, empty your glass then hold it in two hands in front of you while quickly bobbing your head almost as if bowing.  Now this is all done in a party environment – raucous and loud, not quietly respectful. Back slapping is encouraged.

Well this whole thing went on for about an HOUR – people running up to one another and offering a toast to the new year. I could have stayed there all night.  Unfortunately Monique couldn’t as she was, by this time, runnin’ on fumes, fighting off a mean dose of Jet Lag. So we tactfully grabbed our stuff and snuck out and went home. Few people even noticed our departure as everyone was busy toasting one another.

Well, sorry this was so long. As stated before, you needed to hear the setup to even get a glimpse of what this was all about. Another experience for the books (they are coming in quick succession now-a-days).  I sorta doubt too many folks would have THIS kind of experience, and we count ourselves extremely fortunate to see all of this first hand and so close-at-hand.

To see some of the (really poor) photos, click below:

http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x406/jtlarkin/Red%20Hot%20Friday/

Note this upcoming year is the year of the rabbit – you’ll see it in some photos. As my boss Hobart (yes, that is the English name he chose for himself) said to me as he toasted with me – “Rabbits are smart and agile. They are fast and get what they want. With your help we will emulate the rabbit this year in our business efforts”.  No pressure there.

Bye for now.

Jay and Monique.