I've been keeping this story to myself for over 3 months... but now it is official: I am the International Office Lady. So, what exactly is the International Office Lady?
Rayli: Her Style is a Chinese Women's Fashion Magazine that is considered the China Vogue or China Elle. In 2006, they reported 9 million subscribers, and in 2007, they began offering a mobile device media delivery subscription, and they now have over 1.2 million subscribers receiving articles & fashion tips via their China Mobile. See more at: http://www.rayli.com.cn/. Even though the website is in Chinese, its a fun and interesting site to visit.
Every month, Rayli: Her Style publishes a one page profile on an international lady who is currently working in China. And... I was selected to be the August Lady! (I keep using the word "lady" because they always used the word "lady" with me and I found it very funny.)
The picture attached is what the page layout will look like. The magazine won't hit newsstands until August 5. Click on the photo to see the enlarged photo and article.
How did this happen?
My second weekend in Shanghai (mid-April), I went to an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony at a friend of a friend's house. At first I thought it was an eclectic group of people, but then I realized that mostly everyone there was connected to the media in some way... writers for newspapers, magazines, etc. (The friend who invited me is a freelance writer). Turns out that the owner of the house owns a Japanese restaurant in one of the trendy areas of Shanghai (Taikang Lu) and was building his Guanxi (In Chinese that means "relationships") with the media to boost the popularity of his restaurant. Aside: I ate some of the most delicious sushi that night.
While there, I was approached by Faye, a young woman who is a writer for Rayli. She asked me if I would be interested in having an article written about my experience working in China (including a photo) in one of Rayli's summer issues. Looking back, she was quite articulate about her request. But I was in such disbelief that she would be asking me to pose in a magazine that I assumed I misunderstood her.
We exchanged business cards and the next week she emailed me to set up a date for my photo shoot.
What was it like?
We did the photo shoot in the J&J offices. It was scheduled for Aaron's 3rd day in Shanghai which was very fun because he was able to come and watch. There were 6 people who came from the magazine. A make-up artist (despite him speaking no English, I knew he was the first gay Chinese man I'd met). A hair-stylist (you'll see from the photo, he's no Herve). Faye. Her Editor. The Photographer (who they said is some famous guy). And a photographer's assistant.
Picture this: The J&J Offices are pretty formal. Corporate. Shiny. New. Chinese employees everywhere, especially because there was some Finance conference happening on the main floor. The J&J employees at work at more serious than not. Then, I show up with 6 people (An International Office Lady must have her entourage!) & my husband and we take over an entire conference room with curling irons, hair spray, a large suitcase of make-up, mirrors, lights, cameras, one of those shiny umbrellas that are used to reflect light, etc. And there I am, trying on different outfits and posing for "my people". This necklace? These shoes?
"Wait, who's that white girl in our office? Is she even supposed to be here? And what are all of those people doing with her? This can't be right... but let's all stare at her anyway. "
The photo shoot took about an hour and the interview took about 30 minutes. I wanted to be very careful with what I said during the interview as I knew that I was not only representing J&J, but also the USA. They asked me questions that were difficult to answer in a PC manner such as, Have you ever had a conflict with a Chinese colleague? How are Chinese people different from Americans? How is China different from the USA? (I know these questions seem like they aren't difficult, but as you've read from my previous blogs, I have some strong opinions about how China is different than the US and I wanted to be careful not to portray the US as better or worse, or portray China negatively. You'll see from the translation of the article below how they interpreted my responses. )
What does the article actually say? (some of the responses are more or less what I actually said, other responses got lost somewhere in translation... either at the time of the interview they misunderstood what I said, or the Chinese friend of mine who translated it for me missed the mark... )
1, Your profile, Your title; Your responsibilities:
To find out talents, make career plan for them, make them work happily.
2, The most difficult thing when you just came to Shanghai:
Miss your husband and family, but your colleague is very nice, who will tell you where to rent the house, and took you to Xintiandi and TaiKang Rd.
3, How do you feel about Shanghai?
Shanghai is very like NewYork, where people can eat food from all over the world. But the competition here is more fierce, people is more pressured. meanwhile they develop faster.
4, Is there any difference of working way between China and US?
In US, people are more independent. Here there is more team work, which let you make more and more friends.
5, Any similarity?
Many. J&J emphasize on care and love, which Chinese colleague and US share with. And company cares much about employees.
6, How about your lunch here?
Go out for lunch with my colleague, there are many nice restaurants near the company.
7, How did you communicate with your colleague in US?
In US, we will talk or send email. In shanghai, people won't be that direct, they will ask for other's suggestion first, then talk with me.
So now what?
So now, I'm trying to find a balance between signing autographs, working out my modeling schedule with my agent, and continuing my success at J&J as THE International Office Lady (at least for August).
