Post China Trip wrap-up: What does it all mean?

It's been a few weeks since we've been home, but I really needed some time to process all that we did (if anything) on this last trip. On the surface, it almost felt like we just went there for vacation more then a work trip. We were wined and dined and treated like kings the whole time, got to tour around and see some really special places over there, but when it comes right down to it..... did we really reach any tangible objectives? Immediately upon our return home, if asked I might have said "not really"....... After a few weeks of reflection though, it has finally dawned on me that this trip was probably more successful then I ever could have imagined.

Building guanxi, Phil and Zou

Classic Chinese scenery.

Before leaving for my first trip, and a few times since, I googled and researched Chinese culture and etiquette so that I did not make a fool of myself while there. During my research, I kept coming across a term called "Guanxi". Very simply, guanxi is a basic concept that describes the depth of personal relationship. It's kinda like the glue that holds a friendship, or business relationships together. Being a westerner, I'm not sure I ever had a full grasp of it's importance until this trip. The concept of it is literally the underpinning of the Chinese business society. Once you fully understand it, it becomes very easy to explain how our trip unfolded and we reached the levels we did.

Building major guanxi, The two guys next to me

are two of the most powerful sports guys

in all of China.

On deck with the best. Coach Wei Wei and Bai

(both developed Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen

from Childhood).

During this trip, we ended up having dinner with the Heads of two Provincial Sport Development Programs (each one having been responsibly for developing multiple Olympic Gold Medalist's), several of China's most prominent Swim Coaches, plus the heads of several Universities. We were also "allowed" to have access to China's most prominent swimming athletes Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen. While that may not seem like a big deal here in the US, it is a hugely symbolic gesture for them. No other westerners have been able to meet with them in the 2 months since they both set world records at the Olympics. They were both allowed to autograph caps for us, something that in China would be worth more then $30,000 on their open market. Truly an incredibly great honor, one that would have never been possible without a sizable amount of "quanxi" built up over the last several trips.

Xiongdi: Brothers - Wei Wei, Dan, Tim, Phil & Jiang.

I certainly met and came into contact with some important people the last time I was there, but this time, it was to a whole "nother" level. All of it in the shadow of some very public and UGLY times between US/China swimming relations that were born out of the -Last Olympic Games-. Even in the midst of this ugliness, the people directly involved in this exchange (from the Chinese side - i.e. their coaches and swimmers), opened their arms and welcomed us with open arms. The only reason for this is the guanxi build up in the last 2 trips between myself, coach Phil and two of their prominent coaches and managers (Wei Wei and Jiang). In essence, when we arrived, they "vouched" for us, and let others know that we were "sincere" and trustworthy.

More guanxi: Dan, Coach Bai, Yang Ye (2004-2008 

Olympic Silver Medalist), Phil and Tim.

So what does all this mean? Well, for starters, I have been invited to bring 15-25 American athletes between the ages of 13-17 to China for an 8-day "cultural exchange/training trip" in the Spring of 2013. We are the ONLY Americans ever to have been extended this opportunity. Our tentative plans are that we will fly from Western NY to Shanghai and spend 4 days training in Wuxi, which the Wuxi Sports School, and then travel to Hangzhou to train for an additional 4 days, several of which will be with the Zhejiang Provincial Team (which produces 50% of the Olympians for China). My Chinese friends agreed to sponsor the trip so that the ONLY expense for the athletes chosen will be the cost of transportation to and from China. For the cost of airfare, 15-20 lucky swimmers will get the opportunity of lifetime to experience something that few americans get the opportunity to do, experience life in mainland China.

Dan, Tim, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 

World Record Holder Ye Shiwen and Phil.

In addition to that, Coach Phil and I have a few other projects we will be working on with our friends, but suffice it to say that the quanxi built up will last for many years to come. In that way, this trip was a phenomenal success for not only me (and Phil) personally, but for our club in general. It's clear that the Chinese are very interested in opening up to the west, and we are at the very forefront doing just that. There is much that we can learn from each other if we just take a step back and open our minds to the possibilities.

In the meantime, both Phil and I have moved beyond simple quanxi with our contacts in China Jiang and Wei Wei. After this trip, we have become Xiongdi, which simply means "brothers". I'm excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for all of us.