IBM Corporate Service Corps China #13 Team: 2nd presentation date at Hebei University

Last Saturday – while the rest of the team went out on a nice trip – Dan and I had to get back to the University for our second presentation. We have been asked to talk about the IBM competencies, IBM Trusted Advisors and Socual Businesses.

Jack – our student host – picked us up at 1:30 pm as we have asked to get the opportunity to visit a students dorm at the university campus. We had the same driver as before and to our astonishment he had returned to a regular chinese driving style!

After we have been dropped off the car close to the gate of the campus we enjoyed a walk among the students on the campus area. We all have been quite relieved that it wasn't as hot as on our first presentation day but we started to sweat again pretty soon.

Dan causes all the girls to have a crush on him – and the compliments dropped in immediately. Even though translated by the boyfriend of the girl: „My girlfriend thinks you are pretty!“ Oh oh.....

Finally we reached the dorm, climbed up to 3^rd floor and room 323 in Building 16.

Ouch! 6 students in one room that seemed to be smaller than our motel room.

And I definitely don't want to get myself in such a accomodation ever – but that is maybe cause I'm somehow spoiled by western cultural life.

We have been offered a piece of melon to our refreshment – chinese people are great hosts always in every situation. And it helped to make the broken conversation not to get stuck any further – language barriers can be so painful sometimes.

After that insight into campus life we had a walk thru the campus to main building where our classroom was waiting. We were up to present this time to a smaller audience of approx 50 people and honestly enjoyed the smaller crowd.

The presentation went well and the Q&A was far more instense and on a higher level than before. All MBA students this time were part-time students that come in for lectures at the wekend and some have or had working experience. One of the guys has been working for IBM as a SW developer before already.

After our 3 hrs session – time just flew by – it was time for the group pictures as well.

We enjoyed another great day at the university and it was a different kind of experience again that I wouldn't want to miss.

After dropping us back at the hotel Dan and I had decided to thank our student dorm hosts with a present that we both hope they have enjoyed! @Jack: Did you?