Chinese immigrants who apply to immigrate to Canada through the "Skilled Workers" category are elites from their country. They may be business elites, academic elites, professional elites, cultural elites, and elites from many different walks of life and fields of expertise. Canadians should feel privileged that these elites are choosing Canada as their future homes. But it is also true that they are not necessarily sure about the benefits of immigrating to Canada. Here in China, they have been enjoying tremendous career and life success, thanks to both their own hard work and the rapid development of China. The two combined to propel these elites into leading positions in society. What exactly is Canada offering to them?
In light of the continuing challenges faced by these immigrant professionals in re-establishing their careers in Canada, one begs the question of why they should be choosing Canada. I think it's time that our government deals with this reality honestly and seriously reviews its whole approach to supporting immigrants, which up to this point is still only taking a piecemeal and bandage approach. It's about time that Canada wakes up to the fact that our country is becoming less attractive day by day, as the rest of the world awakens.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Off-Site Delivery in Shanghai and Beijing
Since CIIP has only one office location in Guangzhou, there is the need to deliver off-site workshops and individual client sessions in Shanghai and Beijing to cater for clients who cannot come to Guangzhou. At this point, such outreach service is done at least once a month separately in these two cities. Clients come from Shanghai and Beijing proper, as well as from neighboring cities.The workshops and individual sessions are done over the weekend, to make the best use of our time and clients' time. So needless to say, it's a very packed weekend. But it's fun! I felt energized in both occasions, and the clients were committed to the learning and counselling opportunities with us. Both times, I felt we have accomplished a lot just in two days. (By the way, the Guangzhou sessions are also delivered on the weekends.)
On a personal note, it was my first time visiting Shanghai. What a city! I was totally blown off by its rapid development, and was running around taking photos whenever I had the opportunity. Here are a few shots for your enjoyment.
To see more, go to http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1452259/
Many of you may know that there is (has always been) a contest between Shanghai and Beijing. I did not stay long enough to actually talk to people to understand their thoughts, but by simply looking at the cityscape, I can imagine how intense the rivalry has been. Buildings in Shanghai go high up, while buildings in Beijing go wide and big. The national capital of China, Beijing is simply gigantic in scale. Often, I felt cheated by the map when I thought that it was possible to walk from one place to another - but I was totally wrong. Whereas in Shanghai, the traveller can explore more of the city core on foot.
It was my second time to Beijing, so I picked really special places to go. And speaking of which, how can one miss the Beijing National Stadium (nicknamed Bird's Nest), whose futuristic architecture creates interesting mix with traditional Chinese architecture found everywhere in the city. See for yourself.
To see more, go to http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1478058/
There is a lot to see in Shanghai and Beijing. I don't know when I may return, but when I do, I am sure I will be surprised again by their new changes.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Video Conference with Ontario Employers
On April 23, a group of our clients had the opportuity to speak with employers and other organizations from Ontario - in a long-distance video conference organized by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and our office in Guangzhou. The Ontario panel is composed of representatives from two consulting engineering firms (Bantrel, Waydrop), the Professional Engineers Society of Ontario, Bank of Montreal, Centre for Information and Community Services (an immigrant serving organization in Toronto), and a Chinese engineer who himself was an immigrant. Our clients really enjoyed the occasion, as they were able to hear directly from Canadian employers what their needs and expectations were, as well as how they recruited new employees. This opportunity complemented what they have learned from CIIP during the LMI workshop and individual counselling session.
Our clients behaved professionally and asked very relevant questions. The conference ended with an optimism that hopefully would inspire our clients in their immigration journey. We all hope that there will be another chance for such an event, because it is very useful for the immigrants.
Our clients behaved professionally and asked very relevant questions. The conference ended with an optimism that hopefully would inspire our clients in their immigration journey. We all hope that there will be another chance for such an event, because it is very useful for the immigrants.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Potential Changes to the LMI Workshop
It's been a month since I started in the Guangzhou office. Time flies indeed, as there is only 2/3 of my time left here. By now, I have had a pretty good understanding of the service process. After two learning sessions and many conversations with the team, I am ready to suggest some changes to the model. Since the LMI workshop is the core component of the model, that is the best starting point. Together with the client counsellors, we will create a modified workshop and seek approval from CIIP headquarters for a trial.
An Enriched Framework for the LMI Workshop
We will be adapting Starting Points (see former posting entitled "First Team Learning Session") in framing the LMI workshop. Starting Points is based on the concept of employability dimensions - career exploration, skills enhancement, job search enhancement, job maintenance / growth. Since the CIIP clients are only at the stage of preparation, we will have to adapt these dimensions to suit their situation while keeping the overall principles. The idea is to use the "trip planner" metaphor to create a pre-departure preparation roadmap for the clients. This roadmap will help them research and process the information that can help them better plan for career transition after arrival in Canada. This roadmap will guide the client counsellors in "re-organizing" the existing content and perhaps adding new content of the PowerPoint presentation used in the group session. The end result is for the clients to see the preparation stage from the perspective of "employment readiness".
Managing Change and Transition
Another change to consider is to add a discussion of "managing change and transition". We believe that this addition will help clients process the labour market information in a meaningful manner. This discussion will precede the introduction of the "roadmap" metaphor, so that the clients will have the opportunity of grounding themselves in the process of change brought about by immigration. They will get to review their own values and belief systems, which will affect how they interpret and select the information they will collect.
Envisioning Success
In the end, information becomes more valuable if it helps one in the course of achieving success. We would like to add to the very beginning of the workshop a small component of "envisioning success". Doing an exercise of envisioning success grounds the workshop in a positive context, and helps the clients see challenges and barriers in a positive perspective. This optimistic approach should work well with the last component of the workshop - action planning.
An Enriched Framework for the LMI Workshop
We will be adapting Starting Points (see former posting entitled "First Team Learning Session") in framing the LMI workshop. Starting Points is based on the concept of employability dimensions - career exploration, skills enhancement, job search enhancement, job maintenance / growth. Since the CIIP clients are only at the stage of preparation, we will have to adapt these dimensions to suit their situation while keeping the overall principles. The idea is to use the "trip planner" metaphor to create a pre-departure preparation roadmap for the clients. This roadmap will help them research and process the information that can help them better plan for career transition after arrival in Canada. This roadmap will guide the client counsellors in "re-organizing" the existing content and perhaps adding new content of the PowerPoint presentation used in the group session. The end result is for the clients to see the preparation stage from the perspective of "employment readiness".
Managing Change and Transition
Another change to consider is to add a discussion of "managing change and transition". We believe that this addition will help clients process the labour market information in a meaningful manner. This discussion will precede the introduction of the "roadmap" metaphor, so that the clients will have the opportunity of grounding themselves in the process of change brought about by immigration. They will get to review their own values and belief systems, which will affect how they interpret and select the information they will collect.
Envisioning Success
In the end, information becomes more valuable if it helps one in the course of achieving success. We would like to add to the very beginning of the workshop a small component of "envisioning success". Doing an exercise of envisioning success grounds the workshop in a positive context, and helps the clients see challenges and barriers in a positive perspective. This optimistic approach should work well with the last component of the workshop - action planning.
Second Learning Session for CIIP Team (April 9, 2008)
In the 2nd learning session, I focused on two topics, just like in the first session.
I used the BC labour market to illustrate the value of doing sector analysis as a way to help the CIIP clients in seeing more career options based on a broad understanding of sectors. The word "industries" and "sectors" are interchangeably used these days in various publications. "Industries" is the more conventional term (especially in terms of NAICS), but "sectors" have also become popular (particularly due to the Sector Councils). Regardless of which term is used, the idea is that by understanding an industry or sector better, the job seeker will be able to identify a broader range of career or occupational options within the industry. At the same time, knowing more about the industry or sector helps the job seeker appreciate the employer needs from a business development perpsective, instead of simply viewing career options from the job seeker's perspective.
Under the context of sector analysis, I introduced the use of mind mapping to help clients "brainstorm" career or occupational options by freely moving between sectors and occupations. Most immigrants are facing career change or transition challenges, and need to be able to envision their future. Combing the tool of mind mapping with a solid understanding of indsutries/sectors, the immigrants will be opened to many more options than they may think.
Building Work Skills Profile / Inventory
The next level of consideration, once the CIIP client is able to envision more career and occupational options, is about "skills" - a self-understanding of their own skills that may be transferrable from one occupation to another, or from one industry to another. We can encourage the clients to start developing their own "skills inventory", which may include both soft and hard skills.
The tools that CIIP counsellors can refer to include:
(For Soft Skills)
Occupationally-Specific Essential Skills (HRSDC)
Remarks
By introducing the above topics, I am not suggesting that CIIP client counsellors should conduct full "career exploration" with the immigrants. However, it should be useful for the clients to have a glimpse into an approach they can use to start the process of searching for career options. Many of these clients should probably participate in career exploration programs after they have arrived in Canada - before they would even participate in conventional job search programs.
- Understanding the BC Labour Market: Selected Resources and Sector Analysis
- Work Skills Profile / Inventory
I used the BC labour market to illustrate the value of doing sector analysis as a way to help the CIIP clients in seeing more career options based on a broad understanding of sectors. The word "industries" and "sectors" are interchangeably used these days in various publications. "Industries" is the more conventional term (especially in terms of NAICS), but "sectors" have also become popular (particularly due to the Sector Councils). Regardless of which term is used, the idea is that by understanding an industry or sector better, the job seeker will be able to identify a broader range of career or occupational options within the industry. At the same time, knowing more about the industry or sector helps the job seeker appreciate the employer needs from a business development perpsective, instead of simply viewing career options from the job seeker's perspective.
Under the context of sector analysis, I introduced the use of mind mapping to help clients "brainstorm" career or occupational options by freely moving between sectors and occupations. Most immigrants are facing career change or transition challenges, and need to be able to envision their future. Combing the tool of mind mapping with a solid understanding of indsutries/sectors, the immigrants will be opened to many more options than they may think.
Building Work Skills Profile / Inventory
The next level of consideration, once the CIIP client is able to envision more career and occupational options, is about "skills" - a self-understanding of their own skills that may be transferrable from one occupation to another, or from one industry to another. We can encourage the clients to start developing their own "skills inventory", which may include both soft and hard skills.
The tools that CIIP counsellors can refer to include:
(For Soft Skills)
- Employability Skills 2000+ and Innovation Skills Profile (Conference Board of Canada)
- Skills Credentialing Tool (SCT) for Individuals
- General Innovation Skills Aptitude Test (GISAT)
Occupationally-Specific Essential Skills (HRSDC)
Remarks
By introducing the above topics, I am not suggesting that CIIP client counsellors should conduct full "career exploration" with the immigrants. However, it should be useful for the clients to have a glimpse into an approach they can use to start the process of searching for career options. Many of these clients should probably participate in career exploration programs after they have arrived in Canada - before they would even participate in conventional job search programs.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Observing Individual Sessions
This week, I had the honour of being an "observant participant" in two face-to-face counselling sessions. It was wonderful working alongside a CIIP client counsellor and experienced how a typical individual session was conducted. While both sessions were set up to provide useful career information to the clients, it was obvious that the impact on the clients was more than informational. As immigrants, both couples (it is common for a CIIP client counsellor to meet with the key applicant and the spouse together) were unsure of their future, so they were seeking not just information from the counsellor, but also a sense of support, of validation. At the same time, the tremendous amount of information passed on by the client counsellor needs to be processed properly so that the information actually supports future actions by the client.
Emotional validation
After the first session, I made the observation that sometimes as counsellors, we were so eager to help that we spent more time talking instead of listening. In the case of helping immigrants, we tended to believe that the more information they received (and as early as possible), the more successful they would be. Since there is so much information that immigrants needed to know and process, we ended up spending much of our time simply going through information, forgetting that we are actually dealing with human beings with emotional needs.
In both sessions, I realized that the clients were looking for validation of their thoughts and choices. While it is not the role of the counsellor to make any decision on behalf of the client, it is indeed essential that we acknowledge their courage and determination in making a huge transition. It is about building up their confidence and preparing them in facing the future challenges of immigration.
Information processing
The clients - the immigrants - we serve are accomplished professionals, and are clearly intelligent and determined. For them, it's not so much information that is lacking, but someone to assist them in "understanding" the large quantity of information that any immigrant has to process. Simply giving out one piece of information after another may result in the misleading sense of "knowing" everything, only for the client to find out later that the information is still scattered and too much to digest.
Information becomes more meaningful when it is tied to action - action with a purpose and action that fulfills a goal. Information and goal setting, therefore, intercross and interact. On the one hand, the information presented should be framed in such a way that it can be easily processed. On the other hand, the client should have a set of goals that can drive their effort in obtaining and filtering new information. Without goals and an intention to act, information is no more than passing facts and figures.
Emotional validation
After the first session, I made the observation that sometimes as counsellors, we were so eager to help that we spent more time talking instead of listening. In the case of helping immigrants, we tended to believe that the more information they received (and as early as possible), the more successful they would be. Since there is so much information that immigrants needed to know and process, we ended up spending much of our time simply going through information, forgetting that we are actually dealing with human beings with emotional needs.
In both sessions, I realized that the clients were looking for validation of their thoughts and choices. While it is not the role of the counsellor to make any decision on behalf of the client, it is indeed essential that we acknowledge their courage and determination in making a huge transition. It is about building up their confidence and preparing them in facing the future challenges of immigration.
Information processing
The clients - the immigrants - we serve are accomplished professionals, and are clearly intelligent and determined. For them, it's not so much information that is lacking, but someone to assist them in "understanding" the large quantity of information that any immigrant has to process. Simply giving out one piece of information after another may result in the misleading sense of "knowing" everything, only for the client to find out later that the information is still scattered and too much to digest.
Information becomes more meaningful when it is tied to action - action with a purpose and action that fulfills a goal. Information and goal setting, therefore, intercross and interact. On the one hand, the information presented should be framed in such a way that it can be easily processed. On the other hand, the client should have a set of goals that can drive their effort in obtaining and filtering new information. Without goals and an intention to act, information is no more than passing facts and figures.
Introducing the CIIP China Team
The CIIP China team is composed of 5 people: Harold Goldin (Field Manager), Bunny Wang, Edwin Liang, Sharon Chen (Client Counsellors), and Didi Li (Administrative Assistant). The team has been together since the service began, so I felt a very strong sense of team work and harmonious working relationship. They warmly welcomed me into their team and gave me all the assistance I needed to learn their method and tools. In only one week, I already felt at home working with them.
It must be stressed that the client counsellors need to research, organize, and deliver tons of information to their clients who have different provinces and cities as their destinations. Being far away from Canada, they constantly need to update their resource and knowledge base, relying on their own diligence as well as support from their headquaters team. Although I have more experinece delivering employment service, I must confess that I do not have nearly the breadth of knowledge as the counsellor team here. There is so much I can learn from them. At the same time, I can likely help them fine tune their method and tools by introducing "depth" to their work. Due to the nature of CIIP's service, there is always the need to maintain a delicate balance of breadth and depth.
I look forward to learning more from the team, and getting to know them personally and developing a long-term friendship.
Please meet the team members below :)
Left to right: Me, Harold, Sharon, Bunny, Edwin
It must be stressed that the client counsellors need to research, organize, and deliver tons of information to their clients who have different provinces and cities as their destinations. Being far away from Canada, they constantly need to update their resource and knowledge base, relying on their own diligence as well as support from their headquaters team. Although I have more experinece delivering employment service, I must confess that I do not have nearly the breadth of knowledge as the counsellor team here. There is so much I can learn from them. At the same time, I can likely help them fine tune their method and tools by introducing "depth" to their work. Due to the nature of CIIP's service, there is always the need to maintain a delicate balance of breadth and depth.
I look forward to learning more from the team, and getting to know them personally and developing a long-term friendship.
Please meet the team members below :)
Left to right: Me, Harold, Sharon, Bunny, Edwin
Saturday, March 29, 2008
First CIIP Team Learning Session (March 28, 2008)
As consultant, I am required to develop a "work plan" for the 3 months I am here with CIIP Guangzhou. Based on my preliminary understanding of the service delivery model and feedback from the client counsellors, I have come up with a list of potential learning topics that will be delivered through a number of sessions. This list is organic and can be modified during my collaboration with the team. In between sessions, learning can be tested in the team's day-to-day service of the clients. We will then decide what works and what does not, and can be addressed in upcoming sessions. This dynamic process of learning and application should inform the CIIP team very well and allows them to create a "learning process" that parallels the "service process".
In the beginning of the first Learning Session, I shared the list of potential topics with the team and got their endorsement. The list will form the backbone of future learning sessions.
1. Starting Points
"Starting Points" is a group assessment tool that can be used to assist clients in identifying their roadblocks(barriers) and stopovers (solutions) during their employment trip. The metaphor of the "journey" should work very well with immigrants, who are embarking on their own journeys of settling in a new country. Besides working on their roadblocks and stopovers, the clients will also review their own assets and take away with an "asset suitcase" (including skills, values, educational background, etc.) In the end, the clients will commit to an action plan that takes into account the identified roadblocks and stopovers.
The CIIP client counsellors were encouraged to consider how Starting Points could help them enhance the LMI group session.
2. Framing Face-to-Face Session
I introduced the concept of "SMART goals" (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time sensitive) and suggested that instead of simply conveying more information during the one-on-one session (on top of the group session), the counsellor could work with the client in determining SMART goals. Such an approach is an appropriate continuation of using Starting Points in the group session, and may enhance the existing practice of creating the IIP with the client.
In conjunction with SMART goals, I also briefly explained the practice of "active engagement", an innovative counselling approach developed by Dr. Norm Amundson (from the University of British Columbia). Goal setting is more meaningful and sustainable when the client is actively engaged in the process, instead of just relying on the counsellor to offer most of the advice. I made the point that if the client could be actively engaged from the very beginning (i.e. before the group session), the whole process could become much more collaborative.
---
References used:
Starting Points: Finding Your Route To Employment, M. Westwood, N. Amundson, W. Borgen, 1994
Bridge to Your Future, Employment Readiness Assessment Tool for Skilled Immigrants, Sheila Wallace and Associates, 2004 (http://comserv.bc.ca/bridges)
Active Engagement and the Influence of Constructivism, N. Amundson, 2004
In the beginning of the first Learning Session, I shared the list of potential topics with the team and got their endorsement. The list will form the backbone of future learning sessions.
- Starting Points: An Employment Trip Planner
- Framing the Face-to-Face Session: Client Engagement, SMART Goal Setting, and Crafting Career Transition
- Understanding the BC Labour Market: Selected Resources and Sector Analysis
- Resource & Information Management
- Skills Profile / Inventory
- Group Presentation and Facilitation
- English upgrading
- Standards and Guidelines for CDPs
1. Starting Points
"Starting Points" is a group assessment tool that can be used to assist clients in identifying their roadblocks(barriers) and stopovers (solutions) during their employment trip. The metaphor of the "journey" should work very well with immigrants, who are embarking on their own journeys of settling in a new country. Besides working on their roadblocks and stopovers, the clients will also review their own assets and take away with an "asset suitcase" (including skills, values, educational background, etc.) In the end, the clients will commit to an action plan that takes into account the identified roadblocks and stopovers.
The CIIP client counsellors were encouraged to consider how Starting Points could help them enhance the LMI group session.
2. Framing Face-to-Face Session
I introduced the concept of "SMART goals" (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time sensitive) and suggested that instead of simply conveying more information during the one-on-one session (on top of the group session), the counsellor could work with the client in determining SMART goals. Such an approach is an appropriate continuation of using Starting Points in the group session, and may enhance the existing practice of creating the IIP with the client.
In conjunction with SMART goals, I also briefly explained the practice of "active engagement", an innovative counselling approach developed by Dr. Norm Amundson (from the University of British Columbia). Goal setting is more meaningful and sustainable when the client is actively engaged in the process, instead of just relying on the counsellor to offer most of the advice. I made the point that if the client could be actively engaged from the very beginning (i.e. before the group session), the whole process could become much more collaborative.
---
References used:
Starting Points: Finding Your Route To Employment, M. Westwood, N. Amundson, W. Borgen, 1994
Bridge to Your Future, Employment Readiness Assessment Tool for Skilled Immigrants, Sheila Wallace and Associates, 2004 (http://comserv.bc.ca/bridges)
Active Engagement and the Influence of Constructivism, N. Amundson, 2004
Friday, March 28, 2008
CIIP China's Service Delivery Model
My first week with CIIP Guangzhou was a fruitful one. By having conversations with the client counsellors, I was able to understand the "service delivery model" of the office. At the core of their service are the full-day LMI group sessions and individual face-to-face sessions (next day) with the clients. There is a lot of individual attention given to the clients during the service process.
The work flow begins with registrations arriving via mail or fax (as client signatures are required to initiate the process). After client registrations are processed, the counsellors contact (by phone) the clients to conduct a preliminary needs assessment - destination, time of departure, career goals, English levels, etc. This basic profile is the basis for the counsellor to compile a customized information package for the client. The information package is used during the individual face-to-face session with the client after the completion of the group session. Its content mainly addresses occupational options, language upgrading, and settlement topics. The package contains a lot of details, compiled from various online information sources, including the Working in Canada portal (an essential tool for the counsellors).
The LMI group session is anchored by a very detailed and informative PowerPoint presentation (currently with over 140 slides) that covers the labour market in Canada (and specific provinces), basic job search techniques, education and training, and other career related topics. There is a lot of information for the clients to absorb.
Not every client attends the LMI session. Some cannot attend because of distance, while others will leave for Canada before the next available session. In those situations, the counsellors will try to arrange for a face-to-face session or at least a phone session. For those who can only do a phone session, the customized information package is emailed to them in advance so that it can be used during the session.
While Guangzhou is the base, the service is also delivered in Beijing and Shanghai at this time. The same model is used, but the client counsellors have to travel to the two cities and use the facility of an employer partner, such as BMO or RBC.
In general, this service delivery model is well designed to balance the client needs and the resources of the Guangzhou office. The individual attention given to the clients - through the initial needs assessment to the information package to the one-on-one meeting - takes up most of the time and effort of the clients, making the service very approachable to the clients. On the other hand, the sustainability of this approach will be tested as the number of clients continues to increase. The service will then have to adjust its focus with a higher client volume.
The work flow begins with registrations arriving via mail or fax (as client signatures are required to initiate the process). After client registrations are processed, the counsellors contact (by phone) the clients to conduct a preliminary needs assessment - destination, time of departure, career goals, English levels, etc. This basic profile is the basis for the counsellor to compile a customized information package for the client. The information package is used during the individual face-to-face session with the client after the completion of the group session. Its content mainly addresses occupational options, language upgrading, and settlement topics. The package contains a lot of details, compiled from various online information sources, including the Working in Canada portal (an essential tool for the counsellors).
The LMI group session is anchored by a very detailed and informative PowerPoint presentation (currently with over 140 slides) that covers the labour market in Canada (and specific provinces), basic job search techniques, education and training, and other career related topics. There is a lot of information for the clients to absorb.
Not every client attends the LMI session. Some cannot attend because of distance, while others will leave for Canada before the next available session. In those situations, the counsellors will try to arrange for a face-to-face session or at least a phone session. For those who can only do a phone session, the customized information package is emailed to them in advance so that it can be used during the session.
While Guangzhou is the base, the service is also delivered in Beijing and Shanghai at this time. The same model is used, but the client counsellors have to travel to the two cities and use the facility of an employer partner, such as BMO or RBC.
In general, this service delivery model is well designed to balance the client needs and the resources of the Guangzhou office. The individual attention given to the clients - through the initial needs assessment to the information package to the one-on-one meeting - takes up most of the time and effort of the clients, making the service very approachable to the clients. On the other hand, the sustainability of this approach will be tested as the number of clients continues to increase. The service will then have to adjust its focus with a higher client volume.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Arriving in Guangzhou
The 13.5-hour flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong was very long, as I was more used to 11 or so hours of air time in the past. And the fact that the Air Canada plane was old and service was below standard added to my agony. The transit in HK was smooth, and I only had to wait for an hour before boarding a Southern China Airplane to fly another 40 minutes to Guangzhou.
Harold Goldin, Manager of CIIP China, picked me up at the airport. In less than an hour, we were sitting in the apartment unit where I would spend the next 3 months of my time here.
The weather is nice at this time of the year. The temperate ranges from 15 to 22, so it's very comfortable. I hope this period will last as long as it can.
CIIP China's office is located in a central commercial area, with many office buildings and major hotels around. It is convenient to shop around for daily necessities, and there is no lack of restaurant choices. I can easily survive the next 3 months without going out of this area. On the other hand, Guangzhou is a huge city with many interesting places to go. I will take time to explore its many attractions.
Harold Goldin, Manager of CIIP China, picked me up at the airport. In less than an hour, we were sitting in the apartment unit where I would spend the next 3 months of my time here.
The weather is nice at this time of the year. The temperate ranges from 15 to 22, so it's very comfortable. I hope this period will last as long as it can.
CIIP China's office is located in a central commercial area, with many office buildings and major hotels around. It is convenient to shop around for daily necessities, and there is no lack of restaurant choices. I can easily survive the next 3 months without going out of this area. On the other hand, Guangzhou is a huge city with many interesting places to go. I will take time to explore its many attractions.
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