We decided we needed a fun post! Sooo,
we compiled some of our stories from our research and have provided
them here for your entertainment. Enjoy.
-After weeks and numerous conversations
with the same contact about their company's location and setting up a
meeting, someone else answered the phone, cursed out Kyla in Chinese
and hung up. I guess persistence does not always pay off :)
-In the middle of an interview, the
contact sees the word “Chinese” on our interview form, entirely
shuts down and tells us he needs to leave immediately. He then gets
in his car, from which he emerges and returns inside the moment we
leave. We'd like to know what he thought we were talking about the 30
minutes BEFORE his eye caught the word “Chinese”!
-Numerous times, we've shown up at a
factory unannounced and received VIP treatment, full tours, and
meals. Sweet deal!
-One of the sites had amazing coffee.
Mollie doesn't drink coffee but drank three cups. We went back to the
site twice just to get more :)
-We drove up to an unmarked building
that the locals claimed was the right place only to see all the
employees being patted down and searched while exiting the building
for lunch. That's not intimidating!
-We watched a television manufacturing
company put the televisions together with hot glue guns. Yes, your TV
is held together by the same thing as my sixth grade Halloween
costume.
-At one place, the products they were
assembling were sourced from a Chinese company, made in Kenya, and
had the tagline “Japan Quality” on the front.
-Chinese women all wear crazy outfits
to work. Examples include big pouffy prom-like dresses with tennis
shoes, neon men's t-shirts with skinny jeans and high heels with
rhinestones, purple track-suit with lime green shirt, and a bedazzled
Minnie Mouse T-shirt. Yes, these are your working professionals here
in Kenya.
-One evening we had a lengthy
discussion on infidelity with Kenyan business men. Apparently it's
still ok for men to cheat. In fact, it is a surprise if someone
doesn't. But women can't cheat because who would they cheat with?
Though entertaining, we did not maintain a culturally sensitive
composure for long in that conversation.
-Getting hung up on is a way of life.
If they answer the phone in Chinese and you respond in English,
click. If they answer in Swahili and you respond in English, screech
and click. If they answer in English and you respond in English,
often click. Kyla's patience on the phone is admirable.
-Most of the time, even if you know
where something is supposed to be, you cannot find it. Maps have few
street names and streets have even fewer listed. Buildings,
particularly Chinese ones, have no signs or indication that they are
a company at all. We spend a lot of time going in circles. No wonder
we are called mzungus :) [mzungu is the term for white foreigners,
but derives from the word kisunguzungu, meaning to go in circles/be
dizzy.]
-Trying to get into contact with people
a SECOND time, after you've talked to them once and they told you to
call back, is a test of will. Nine times out of ten they get a new
SIM card and their phone magically is no longer in service.
-Being misled several times about the
location of company headquarters is fun. Though we feel silly when we
show up and no one knows what we are talking about, we're onto you.
And we will find you.
-We wear the same clothes every day. We
only brought one set of formal business attire. So, in every
interview, even if we meet more than once, we look exactly the same.
Don't worry, we air-out our clothes in the shower at night before
putting them back on in the morning!
-We are not likely targets for theft,
despite carrying around a computer, because our bags are all held
together by dental floss and gorilla tape. But we do look bad-ass!
-The excitement one feels when the
phone suddenly picks up after weeks of ringing out or being busy or
powered off is equivalent to winning the lottery. Perhaps an
exaggeration, but not by much!
-A typical phone conversation follows
this pattern on our side: “We are students,” “From the London
School of Economics,” “We are in Nairobi,” “Yes, doing
research” “No, we're not in London. We're in Nairobi,” “We go
to school in London.” “No, we are American. We go to school in
London.” “We are researching Chinese companies in Kenya.” “Yes,
Chinese companies.” “No, this is for academic purposes only. We
are students.” “Yes, we are in Nairobi and we would like to set
up a meeting with someone about our research” “Yes, is there a
person we could meet? Maybe in PR or marketing? Or sales? Or
administration?” “We are looking at basic economic data, such as
current projects, number of employees, and that sort of thing”
“Would it be possible to arrange a meeting?” “Oh yes, you are
very busy. We will be very fast.” “We are just students, it will
not take much time.” “Yes, we can call back tomorrow when the
boss is in. What time should we call?” “Ok, who should we ask
for?” “Thank you XXX, we will talk to you tomorrow.”
Or with non-English speakers: “Hello?
(In Chinese) Hello? Yes, do you speak English? (About
3 times out of 5 there is a hang up right here, requiring call back,
sometimes a day or two later as they won't answer our number) No?
No problem. We are students, from London. We are doing research,
can we talk to your company? Yes, its ok, if they don't speak
English. Yes, its ok if they are Kenyan. Yes, I can call tomorrow.
Yes, I can email you. Yes, I can call your Kenyan staff. What is
their number?” Then the
conversation above ensues on the second phone call.
Or the
time Kyla got someone who only spoke Swahili, panicked, hung up the
phone and now won't take our calls. Mollie is going to try that
number again in a few days.
-One time after telling someone on the
phone we were doing research, they responded with “So you want a
job?” Yes, if you are offering, I'll take a job AND my research
information!
-We talk to almost every Asian person
we meet on the street, 30% of which turn out to be very nice Koreans.
We have more invites to Korean restaurants than we know what to do
with!
-Chinese corporate email addresses are
fun: coolguns@XXX, 25639573840@XXXX, kin4628465@XXX,
patnditch2002@XXX, chengyesno@XXX...
-All-time favorite email address is the
Chinese Embassy in Kenya: chinaembassykenya@gmail.com. Yes, the
Chinese embassy uses gmail, too! Interesting since gmail is blocked
in China...
______________________________________________________________
Alright, that's enough fun for one
evening. I'm sure we will have more stories as the weeks progress.
Hope you aren't too bored with our play-by-play of factory visits!
Thanks for reading!
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