Back in China and back to business!

Last Tuesday I’ve returned to China. I’m happy to be back. I really felt like coming home. I didn’t have any problems to adjust to my new surrounding and hardly any signs of a jetlag. I arrived Tuesday morning in China and directly went to start with my work for De Baak. I’ll be quite busy the coming weeks to get all the projects on the roll. This week I was working on the preparations for the management trip of 20 Dutch managers De Baak will facilitate by the end of March and beginning of April (part of the program The New Manager - http://www.debaak.nl/en/courses/tnm). When I was in Holland I presented the first draft for the program to the project managers of the program in Holland. They discussed it last Wednesday with the group. Everybody really liked it – which maked me very happy. So, now I have to confirm the company visits and deal with the last details for the trip (still will be some work of course). I’m looking forward to the moment when we will finally get to go. It will be exciting!

Next to working on the trip I wrote my reflection story for my colleagues in the Netherlands. I got many friendly responses, so that was very great. Further, I wrote and outline which described all my projects for the coming months until the 1st of June (The-New-Manager-trip, organizing an event, do the acquisition for a big management training program and start the entrepreneurship network in collaboration with the Consulate). The CEO of De Baak will probably also come to China in April to introduce himself to our (potential) clients in China. So I really feel it’s going to be crazy weeks for me the coming months. The good thing about it is that I totally have no problem to motivate myself now to get to work; there is simply no time to waste. I’m not stressed and feel happy and motivated. It’s a great challenge to get these things successfully realized here in China. Happy to have this chance!

When I got back this week I felt my Chinese language had gotten quite bad, but after a few days I started to get better again. Today I did my homework and tomorrow night I will start with my lessons again. Even thought I feel much work pressure I don’t want to stop to invest time in my Chinese, because I think it will be a great assert for the future … and as said before it’s a great language to learn, so rich! Next to my focus on work I had some social activities. I met my friend and guitar-player Eddie directly on Tuesday night. Wednesday I was accompanied by Ad Fernhout (who was here in my house to work with me for a day – very pleasant . Ad will start a cross-cultural training company in China and is extremely interested to collaborate with me and De Baak. There are many chances for collaboration, so I think we can create something worth while. Thursday night I went to Davide Bertolone to record 9 songs I’ve written (just a click-track with guitar and voice). We have plans to make an album – it’s ambitious, but I’m excited. Friday night I had dinner with Isabel and after went to a night of the Dutch community to network. Saturday I rejoined my jazzband and found I have lots of home work to catch up.

So again all is totally dynamic and my days are already filled. I’m looking towards busy weeks. This Tuesday Angie will come from Beijing to Shanghai. She will probably get a job here and will stay with me for a while. I’m very excited and can’t wait to see her again. Let’s hope all turns out to be great.