From our GM:
"All,
Ahead of tomorrow’s management call I thought I’d share with you a deck we’ve just pitched to [a client] this afternoon... [W]e wanted a more creative way of presenting than the usual ppt or flash boards. Attached is the end result using a software program called Prezi. We’ve been trying to mix things up a bit this year with our pitch presentations and we’re going to be using this format a lot more. We got a lot of compliments during and after the presentation for the way we’d put it together so it definitely creates impact.
Our next step is to turn our master credentials into this format... We did a “how to” workshop with the whole team on Prezi last week – it’s very simple. I’ll share the Prezi creds deck with you all when it’s complete."
On top of that, I have now been put to the task of creating a Chinese version as well. Looks like I'm making a lasting impression on my company afterall.
Now that I'm finally getting into the swing of things and finding my place in the company, I feel more confident asking for bigger (more challenging) projects and producing better results. I still have 17 working days left and believe it will only improve from here.
I have to admit, in the beginning, I was slightly discouraged about my role and how my internship was going to play out by keeping me busy and continually learning for 8 weeks. Now I am content and happy to be a part of this team. Everyone around me works extremely hard, and they usually stay hours after I complete my tasks and leave for the night. Different cultures, I'm aware.
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Considering since my last post I have only been at work for two days (one I was in Beijing, the other a local holiday), I've decided to take this time to describe my experience in mainland China. "One country, two systems" is not only a common saying, but it is extremely accurate. I didn't realize how much so until this past weekend in Beijing -- A Communist land. As sufficient as Hong Kongers are, Beijingers are not. The queues are not orderly, the street vendors hassle more aggressively, and I must admit, the smog is even worse. That being said, the food was delictable! I tried everything from frog's legs to pigeon to chicken's blood to Peking Duck. It's definitely a new world out there apart from the rice and noodles. In addition to the cuisine, I continued to learn a great deal about Chinese culture in general; even more so than living in Hong Kong. My fellow international interns taught me a few sayings in Mandarin, I learned extensive Chinese history and about Mao's legacy in the national museum, Tiananmen Square is huge and touching, and the Forbidden City is even bigger. Being surrounded by all of this culture and history, I couldn't help but stop and think about my homeland. The United States is so young. We don't have these artifacts and history dating back centuries upon centuries. And what a perfect time to reflect considering it is July 4th afterall. God Bless America!
Working on my independence day is definitely a new phenomenon. It puts everything into perspective that I'm "not in Kansas" anymore. I'm in a foregin country where no one cares about fireworks, BBQs, hot dogs, or Budweisers on a random Wednesday in July. But of course I do.
On the bright side, I'm working hard this week, creating presentations for client pitches, impressing my bosses, and proving myself time and again that I am capable and willing to take on even the hardest of tasks. If I can conquer living in Mong Kok, overcome the smelly tofu stench, and train my body not to sweat too much in the 90% humidity, then I can do anything and live anywhere.
To paraphrase a wise man: "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey".
All I know, is that this has been one hell of a journey. And it ain't over yet...
And for those of you interested in learning more about Communism in Beijing, here's an interesting article with tips on how to take full advantage of experiencing the party's history when you visit China: 8 Ways to Experience Communism in Beijing
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