Today was my first day of work at the internship, we met at a close restaurant at Seafood and Dumplings and were each dropped off at our place of work by minibus with the program coordinators. I would be lying if I said I was dissapointed with the location of my internship, but given its location I will experience real China.
Company Overview
My supervisor is a German-Born women named Ines Brunn who as a championship bicycle trick artist founded the Ines Bike Company Limited based on a passion for cycling. Ines Bike Company Limited is the only Chinese distributor for six world-wide brands that provide products for urban cycling.
What I like most about this company is that unlike most Chinese companies who start up businesses to make quick money, the Ines Bike Company Limited was created to promote cycling and bike culture in the community.
Natooke is a seperate retail branch of Ines Bike Company that is the first shop in China to build custom fixed-gear bicycles. The Natooke brand has become famously known around China but you will suprised to know it also incorporates aspects of juggling. The name Natooke is named after a Ugandan dish ‘Matook’ that means green plantain, hence the banana symbol.
Work Culture
Ines can speak English which is great as all other workers there are Chinese and either have limited English or none at all. The office is pretty small, Ines has her own office and the rest of us sit together in the same room which is pretty lonely since I can’t communicate with them.
Lunch is provided by the company which is great as it will save on food costs, but only on the condition that we all sit and eat lunch together. The problem that they face currently is that some of them are afraid to order from nearby restaurants because of the outbreak of bird flu in Shangha, generally they bring their own lunch and sit with us though. Its a little awkward during lunch time as I can’t involve myself in the conversation as I can’t understand a word that is being said.
Since the only semi-functional website they have is to promote Natooke, my first project is to design the appearance and structure for a website that represents their distribution side and more specifically the Ines Bicycle Company Limited as a whole.
Essentially my working hours are 10am – 7pm but because CRCC hosts events in the evening I am able to leave around 6pm when these are running.
Getting There
The subway ride is on a whole approximately 45 minutes with two changeovers which makes it a little difficult. During rush hour the subway is about 100 times busier than the London underground, so much so that they have people employed to push you onto the train. If you are lucky enough to push your way onto the train then dont expect to be able to move, and try not to get pushed out at each stop.
Overview
Overall, I didn’t enjoy my first day too much and that together with being groped on the train I was definitely welcome to the frozen margaritas at the Mexican restaurant we visited that evening. But given that it was the first day, things can only get better.
