Travel Broadens Horizons

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.) While she had heard it would be impossible to find a job, coming from a 2nd-tier university, she thought she'd test the waters during a holiday break. Through persistence, she found a position promoting VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure salon. (See post five.) While her colleagues were quick to judge customers and decide whether/not to engage, Mengping helped everyone. One impoverished-looking woman turned out to be quite wealthy and connected, and offered Mengping a job in an electronics company. Mengping turned this down.(See post six.) However, a year later, when she was graduating, she managed to snag a job with GE Healthcare, something this woman was also connected with. (See post seven.)

Mengping not only started her new job with G.E. Healthcare, but she applied for her first passport and began to travel—inside China as well as abroad. In order to afford her trips, she started “couch surfing,” meaning that she went on the web and looked for places where she could sleep on someone’s couch for a night or two or three.  She warned against just going to anyone’s place—“When I used it, I always found families. I travelled alone for 2 weeks (in Taiwan) by myself.”

She also found SERVAS, an international club, which specializes in this kind of couch-surfing idea. All members need to be recommended, so there is less chance of chicanery.

“I traveled a lot of places. I did hitchhiking to one of the Tibetan areas. I lived in the Tibetan people’s house. They are Buddhist. They are very kind. I saw their pure eyes. “ She participated in a Sky Burial (where they throw the body to the eagles, hoping the birds will take the spirit closer to heaven.) Every chance, she travelled.

“It was a kind of education. To cherish my life. Now in China a lot of people are focused on their materials and their reputation. In China it’s all about responsibility. You have to work hard to support your parents, to have a family. You have to get married before you’re 25 or you’re left over (because Chinese men they like younger girls. They like ladies to worship them.) I cannot follow this.
“People have so many limits. They make those limits for themselves. All this traveling experience kind of teach me. “  

(To be continued. Next: Stepping Outside Farmer Mindset.)

One Connection Makes the Difference

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.) While she had heard it would be impossible to find a job, coming from a 2nd-tier university, she thought she'd test the waters during a holiday break. Through persistence, she found a position promoting VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure salon. (See post five.) While her colleagues were quick to judge customers and decide whether/not to engage, Mengping helped everyone. One impoverished-looking woman turned out to be quite wealthy and connected, and offered Mengping a job in an electronics company. Mengping turned this down.(See post six.)

Her senior year, she visited her best friend at the first-tier Sichuan University (about two hours away), and saw GE Healthcare advertising for employees.

“At that time, I had no idea what GE is. I just saw Healthcare. My personality characteristic is perfect for customer service.  Another good thing is you don’t need to do the online test. (And thus input school information that might automatically disqualify you.) You just pass the listening to the boss.”

Mengping did well on her first interview. And when she arrived home to her campus late that evening, she received a text to return the next morning by 8 am.  So off she went the two hours to Sichuan University the next day. The second interview was a group interview, and Mengping passed that. She was invited to a third interview. “I was so nervous. But I kept smiling.”

Then she was sent to HR. And this is where that connection she had made in the manicure shop--that dear woman with her cheap-looking bag-- came back around. 

“The HR woman said, ‘Oh, you used to work in Shekou?’

I shared the story about working and taking good care of this woman who came into the shop but didn’t have the right bag. 

“‘Hmm, “the H.R. woman paused. “The lady you mentioned. I knew her. She was my former colleague.’ “

To Mengping, this was a sign from the Gods that she was on the right path.
“I was so happy.”
(To Be Continued. Next: Travel Broadens Horizons)

Your Horizons Define Your Mindset

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.) While she had heard it would be impossible to find a job, coming from a 2nd-tier university, she thought she'd test the waters during a holiday break. Through persistence, she found a position promoting VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure salon. (See post five.) 

Most of the customers in the shop were either foreigners or rich Chinese women—managers and such from big companies. For the twenty days she worked there (the length of the spring festival holiday), Mengping worked and was given free housing, “in the slum of the Shekou district.”

“But for me it was good…I lived with two other girls who were also working in that shop.  We have one room and there’s a toilet inside the room.“ Mengping remembered her childhood apartment where she needed to walk down the hall to use a common facility. In the winter, that walk was cold.

“Everyday I was so happy. I was doing something I liked. I was exploring.“

Many of the assistants in the shop had become quick to judge potential customers…by the look of their handbags.

“They (the customers) used luxury brands from LV (Louis Vuitton), all those kinds of things. The price of one bag—200,000 RMB (approx. $30,000) you can buy a small house in the county.”

$34,000 dollar handbag

One Friday night, this woman walked in carrying a humble cloth bag filled with vegetables. The other assistants ignored her, (“She was not rich, so they didn’t show their interest.”) Mengping, however, showed her around the shop. Before the woman left, she passed Mengping her phone number. Mengping texted her. Six months later, the woman offered her an assistant managerial position in her electronics company.

That is how life opens up to Mengping. She is always finding connections.  

At the time that this woman made the offer, though, Mengping refused.  “I was so stupid at that time. She was working in the energy industry and I was in the health industry. So I kind of refused her. It should have been a good opportunity. I realized that your horizons define your mindset and your mindset defines how you make decisions.

At that time, I didn’t know how to make decisions.”
This wasn’t the end of the connection—or the opportunities. This woman would re-appear when Mengping least expected it.

(To be continued. Next: One Connection Makes the Difference.)

Finding a Needle of Possibility in Haystack of Pessimism

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.)

Winter vacation of her Junior year, she headed down to Shenzhen to test the waters and see what opportunities were available for the holidays. Most of the other students were studying for upcoming exams.
“But for me, the final goal is you need a job. Not only pass the exam. So, I was one of three students who was looking for a job at that time.”
But she was one of a gazillion headed for Shenzhen.
“It’s the springtime holiday and it’s really crowded. (On the train) it’s hard to even move to the toilet."

Mengping had a cousin in Shenzhen whom she had met only once when they were infants. Mengping lugged smelly pork in that crowded train as a gift. And when she arrived—although her cousin was pleased with the delicacy—the woman was not very encouraging about employment opportunities.  ‘“It’s impossible for you to find a job at this time.’”

Rather than believe her naysaying cousin, Mengping went to the local job fair. “Most of it was for electronics, because Shenzhen is famous for electronics.”

That wasn’t up Mengping’s alley.

But she figured since she was there, she would do something—she got a job passing out pamphlets for the duration of the fair. Then she headed for the train station and got lunch. She had never tried Cantonese food.  As she was eating, she saw a bus going go Shekou.

“Shekou is the district where most of the foreigners are located in Shenzhen.“ Thinking it would be a good spot to practice English, and she might find a job as a translator, she hopped on that bus. When she arrived, she stopped at every shop in the area. Most of them said they didn’t need help—“It’s spring holiday.” 

But, true to Mengping’s character, she finally found a person she connected with. On her third day of looking, she found a job selling VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure shop where the owner was also from Mengping’s hometown in Sichuan.

(To Be Continued. Next: Your Horizons Define Your Mindset.) 

985 Project Weeds Out Job Applicants from 2nd-Tier Universities

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.)

Initially –after a trip to Shanghai Jiaotung University the fall of her junior year--she was not impressed with the prospect of continuing on to do graduate studies.

“After I observed them (the students), I realized that the Chinese graduate education is not the cake for me.  In China the graduate school-- it’s not purely research--it has to do with your relationship with your mentor. You need to solicit funds from the government to do the research. It’s not just pure do-the-research."

So instead of applying for grad school, she began looking for a job. “I had no confidence to apply to a Fortune Five-hundred company.”

She explained that these companies required online applications/tests, and one way they filtered people was by university.  The government has ranked the universities in a project code-named 985. (“China has a tendency to name national projects by numbers.”)

“If you are ranked in the 985 project, those are the best universities in China." And you have the best chance of getting a job. “If you’re not from this list, it’s difficult."

(To be continued.  Next: Discovering a Needle of Possibility in a Haystack of Pessimism.)

Element of Control Sparks Enthusiasm

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) 

The realization that she could affect her destiny lit a fire in Mengping’s soul. This young woman who had hardly ventured from her doorstep before college began to really explore. She traveled to Sichuan University (a first-tier institution) where she could meet foreigners and practice her English skills. (She has amazing English skills.) 

She began working as an English tutor for primary school students for 100RB/hour (About $15/hour, more than the average person earned in a day.) She earned enough to travel to Shanghai one year, Beijing the next, to see what her peers were doing in those top-tier universities, and if she should apply for graduate school.

A true product of the internet age, Mengping made connections with students through a website called renren

“It’s kind of like Facebook, but target customer is college students. I found people from the same city and asked for help. ‘Can you find me a dormitory? Or, ‘Can I stay with you?’ In the beginning, I was not that pro-active, but I learned from every trip that I can do better.”

(To be continued. Next: China's 985 Project Weeds Out Job Applicants from 2nd-Tier Universities.)

Turning A Second-Tier College Into a First-Tier Experience

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.)
Mengping  was concerned. Although she had passed through Chengdu as a teenager on her way to summer camp, she was nervous about the move.

“In the small county we only have one street, the commercial street so you can buy the things. In the big city it’s so hard to find places. At the very beginning, I was not getting used to it.“
Mengping soon adjusted to her surroundings. But she couldn’t quite get used to the fact it was a "second tier" school. 

“Most of our professors-- they just wanted to become a university teacher to have a stable job. It’s not that they wanted to be teachers.The top tier schools (like Beijing/Qinhua/Shanghai Jiaotung) had better resources. Our resources were quite limited."
Her major was Foreign Languages…but there was no Foreign Language Library at her school. (After she graduated, it came out that the President of her university and the leader of the Communist Party were siphoning off funds, funds that should have gone toward that library.)
But rather than lament, Mengping found solutions. 

1. She identified the professors who were passionate about teaching, and she went to their “office hours.” The office hours were more like small-group sessions. A handful of students would show up at the appointed time, and ask questions.
“At the very beginning I could not ask questions because I was not confident about myself. I’m a student from a small countryside. I just listened."

Li Bai: China's Immortal Poet

2. In addition, Mengping got up at 6:30 a.m. and listened to BBC for two hours, read poetry from Li Bai to offer her some direction in life, and walked around the campus talking to the flowers and the trees.
“People thought I was crazy.”
3. Most importantly, she discovered that her school was located near a first-tier university : The Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.
“I had a high-school classmate who went to that university, and so I could go to that library.“ Mengping read all about Kaifu Lee, one of the most prominent figures in the internet sector, and the founder of Google China. She was inspired. 

She came away thinking, “The most important thing is not which university you pick. It’s how you use the four years to come to independent thinking, to know more about yourself."

(To be continued.  Next: Element of Control Lights a Fire In Her Soul.) 

Sichuan Earthquake Doesn't Stop College Entrance Exams

“I met the most amazing young woman,” my husband said upon returning home from a meeting of the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association. That was my first introduction to Mengping Li.
As my husband suggested, this 20-something woman was full of energy and gratefulness. Just being in her sphere for a moment injected you with a lightness of being. When we met, she was busy “couch-surfing” (a term I’d never heard of,) volunteering, and working. Yet, she gave me the evening to chat. She reminded me a lot of a man I met last year -- Jason Tu--who was also young, optimistic, energetic, brilliant.

Mengping was about to graduate with her MBA from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, and start a job with Microsoft: two events she never envisioned when growing up in a small county of Sichuan Province during one of the most memorable disasters that province has ever experienced.
As a child, Mengping was an avid reader, and participated in something known as the “rocket class” (for intelligent children). Her future appeared brighter then most from her province. Fate intervened the year she was preparing for the college entrance exam.

On May 12, 2008 Sichuan was at the epicenter of an 8.0 earthquake in which at least 69,000 people died, 18,000 people were listed as missing, and 4.5 million people went homeless.
“We were also impacted a little bit by that,” Mengping said in her characteristic understated humility. “Originally the tests, the place where you take the test—they were buried underneath the earthquake. But we didn’t postpone our college entrance exam. They made up another test.”
Whether it was this hastily-put-together exam--or the atmosphere of disaster-- Mengping’s results were not as good as she had hoped. She did however manage to make it into what she termed a “second-tier” college. She studied Foreign Language at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

(To be continued. Next: Turning a Second-Tier College into a First-Tier Experience.)