Transition

Juan finally arrived a week ago (though 3 weeks late) -due to problems buying tickets to get here (damn World Cup). He is teaching me lots about Costa Rica (only 3 million people -about the same as our appartment building!) and we are sharing lots of ideas about the future of learning networks in China and how all our students (and others) can learn about Corporate Responsibility and then follow their passion in specific issues further.

Before he got here I was taking it easy for a few days then realised how much I had not done and had to rush to finish some things-which are still not done yet, so I'm staying on a week or so more to finish up. So far we have spent 4 days having between 4-6 meetings a day, which keeps us busy running around town in taxis, getting wet (yay!), and praying that Juan and the other new guys don't get too lost trying to meet us oldies! A couple of British AIESECers are here too for a month helping me out on some projects (our Impact Report and the presentation/training/facilitation event to a bunch of other NGOs). Thankfully some of the local students are finishing their exams, and can start pitching in for this and other projects.

Exam season is not the best -Reminds me of the nightmares of 3 years ago... but it was 3 years ago, and not I can just forget all about it. Though I am shocked to hear that there are a couple of suicides each year in EACH University in China. yikes. I hope that is just at the top Universities. There is also free counselling for students -which I suppose is a good thing. How many would there be without it? Just shows how much pressure students are under (and I belive it is much more intense before University -once you are in the top universities, you are one of the lucky few!)

Returning to work me Juan has been asking me all kinds of questions, and I thought you readers might be interested in some general answers:
-What is the biggest issue and problem in China?
*um, they are all big: water, energy, poverty, education, governance, health, population, migration, urbanisation...
-So which ones should we focus on creating opportunities for the aiesec students to learn more about?
*what are the criteria?
-Internal demand of the students, exernal demand of the market and possible partners
*There are possible partners for absolutely everything: think tanks, universities, businesses, international organisations, NGOs... from all over the world there is someone doing something in China. They have to -as the saying goes: "There can not be a sustainable World without a sustainable China"
Students in China are keen to learn about everything, but (like all students around the World) don't know that they are keen! -But once you open their eyes to something, they are quick to realise its relevance and interest
The market doesn't seem to care right now! But lets try to change that!
-Who are the key people I should know about?
*Well I have this spreadsheet...
-There are over 400 people listed on it!
*Uh, yeah
-Well who are the important ones?
*Most of them... you need to be able to access all kinds of resources from all kinds of places to do this job. You also have to travel to all the universities, go to loads of conferences, create or support an average of 1 event each week, manage a team of over 15 people, create at least 5 new projects...

Anyway, a few insights. What is exciting though are some of the ideas we have been having.. of using the money we are receiving from the British Government and from other companies who are sponsoring our CSR programme. Stay tuned for the output, if you are an aiesec member, and if you are not, then just wait and see if i start complaining about Juan not being up to the job!

Actually I am very impressed with his knowledge and how he has jumped in at the deep end. I realise how many networks I have made in almost 2 years, how much I have learned, and how good I have got at certain things.. its hard to transition this to Juan. The hardest thing though.. is having so many ideas, and not being able to do ALL of them. But, by doing some, Juan will be able to really drive things forward and carry on making a difference. Good luck!