Category: China

action, adventure, China, holiday

Inspired: What The Year of the Horse Means for You

Christa Avampato
This beautiful image is from storynory.com
This beautiful image is from storynory.com

The year of the horse began Friday night as the world ushered in the Lunar New Year. What’s in it for you? Fasten your seatbelt – it’s going to be exciting and fast-paced for everyone!

International Business Times offers this prediction:

“For those born on the year of the horse, they will encounter the Year of Birth (Benming Nian). It is believed they will offend Taisui, the god in charge of fortune, so their finances may fluctuate. In terms of career, it is advised to keep the peace between colleagues.

For those not born on a horse year, the year ahead will bring health and prosperity. It is said to be an excellent time to travel, as the next 12 months will bring good luck. You are advised to mingle with the locals, savour authentic cuisine and discover somewhere you have never been before.”

Luck, travel, good health, prosperity, and authenticity. Sounds good to me!

Beijing, China, good fortune, luck

Beginning: 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. It’s My Year, Literally.

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/vondelpark/

I was born in 1976, a year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. As much as I am a Pisces, I am a Dragon: persistent, creative, loyal, decisive, generous, compassionate, active, and fiercely independent. My friend, Allan, is from Beijing and describes Dragons in one word: Conquerors. And I think that also suits me, in my own way.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling ridiculously excited about 2012 and so it was with just a hint of synchronicity that I welcomed the news that 2012 is the year of the Dragon. The Water Dragon, to be exact – a time of great benevolence and grace. (And in yet another turn of synchronicity, my sign of Pisces is a water symbol.)

This is especially poignant for me because of all I’m planning for 2012. I’ll reveal more about my plans when I begin my new living and writing adventure on January 1st. Suffice it to say that it will be a year of tremendous change for me, a year when I will make a very large leap of faith, perhaps the biggest leap I’ve ever made. Fear will have no choice but to stand aside. It’s going to be my year.

And it’s going to be your year, too. The good luck that characterizes the Dragon extends to all people in the year of the Dragon. So make some plans. Be bold. Go after exactly what you want with everything you’ve got. Double down on all your efforts and watch the rewards flow in. If you’ve got dreams, 2012 is the year to act on them!

The Chinese new year happens on January 23, 2012.

China, commitment, friendship, teaching, writing, yoga

Beginning: Commitment Gives Rise to Capability

Christa Avampato

“Capable people carry two brushes.” ~ Chinese Proverb

My friend, Allan, recently asked me to review an email he was sending off to an alumni contact regarding his job search. Allan had a lot of wonderful content in the email and I just brushed up the grammar and phrasing a bit. Allan’s response: “Brush is important. In Chinese, we call capable people someone with two brushes.” I’m guessing that this proverb must come from Chinese art in relation to calligraphy or oil painting. I love the elegance and power that it packs in a few simple words. All of Allan’s communications are like that – he is a product of his culture.

Work ethic
Allan is job searching after recently completing his second masters degree. I think of myself as productive, though his diligence and work ethic put mine to shame. I’ve never seen someone be able to sit and study for such a long stretch of time. He literally boggles my mind. I’m certain he is someone who always carries two brushes, and perhaps a third, just to be on the safe side.

Beijing to Charlottesville
Allan landed in scenic Charlottesville, VA directly from Beijing, China in 2005 when he started business school with me at the Darden School at the University of Virginia. He’d been to the U.S. for a few days once before (Chicago, if memory serves), and beyond that had never lived in an English-speaking country. His bravery to leave behind everything he knew to pursue his education and career aspirations (in a foreign language, which he speaks better than many Americans I know!) is a constant reminder to me of the power and magic that is born from commitment. We were in the same section at Darden so he was one of the very first people I met in Charlottesville. We were fast friends and remain so 6 years later despite hectic careers and lives.

How I started writing every day
I’ve actually never given Allan the full credit he deserves in my writing life. 3 years ago we went to dinner and Allan pulled out a copy of an excel chart that he had created that tracked the productivity of my writing on this blog as a percentage. During my first year of blogging, I posted often but not every day. Allan was really excited to see my productivity consistently around 90%; I was not. If I could be at 90%, then why couldn’t I be at 100%? Seeing those numbers in black and white spurred me to commit to writing and publishing every day for a year, just to see if I could do it. I’ve been writing every day for the past 3 years and now I couldn’t imagine not writing every day.

Embracing commitment
This was a poignant example in my own life of the power and magic of commitment. Practice made me a stronger, more confident writer. I used to think of being committed as being tied down, as being unable to change and grow. I was worried that if I committed, I’d regret the choices I made and then be trapped with a life I didn’t want. Now, I realize just how freeing and joyful thoughtful commitment can be.

Once I saw how much I gained from being a committed writer, I started to make other commitments in my life that have yielded amazing transformations. I committed to my yoga practice, which led to the creation of Compass Yoga. My relationships became more profound. New York City became my home. I adopted my rescue pup, Phineas. All of these changes gave me more happiness and they all found their roots in commitment. Doubling down on what mattered and letting go of what didn’t serve brought so much joy to my life that my only regret is that I didn’t learn this lesson sooner. It took me a long time to be ready for this truth: the right commitment breeds happiness.

I guess it is really true that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. My thanks to Allan and to commitment itself for serving as 2 of my greatest teachers.

China, holiday

Beginning: My Favorite Description of the Year of the Rabbit

Christa Avampato

I’m on an e-newsletter mailing list for the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. Last week they sent out an email that gave a beautiful and inspiring description on the year of the Golden Rabbit, which we entered on February 3rd. While I grew a lot last year, the year of the Tiger, I am more than happy to usher in a new year that promises more peace, tranquility, and reflection. And according to TCM, that’s what we’re in for in the year of the Golden Rabbit. Read on for the description and some specific instructions on how to make this a glorious year.

What the year of the Golden Rabbit signifies:
February 3rd is the beginning of the New Year according to the Lunar calendar. This year, the year of the Golden Rabbit, is considered to be a lucky year for all. It offers a time of reflection and renewal. It’s a good opportunity to examine beliefs and their effects in our lives. It’s a special time to sweep out those old patterns and plant new healing thoughts in our minds, take better care of our body, and nurture our spirit. Above all, it’s an ideal beginning for making a commitment to retrain your mind to associate yourself with good and recognize that everything that happens, happens for good. So set your intentions, believe in yourself and let the energy of this year support you in your personal journey. Welcome to the year of the Golden Rabbit!

The Rabbit, the myth, the legend:
According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar based on the cycles of the moon, this New Year falls on February 3. A complete cycle of the Lunar Calendar takes 60 years to complete and consists of five cycles of 12 years each. Each of the 12 years is named after an animal. Legend says Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to him before he departed from Earth. Only 12 came to say farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. (How cool is that?!) The Chinese Zodiac consists of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig or Boar. The Chinese believe the animal who rules the year in which a person was born has a profound influence on his or her personality. (For the record, I’m a Dragon – surprise, surprise!)

The Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun. Together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, and represent the Yin and Yang of life. It is said that anyone making supplications for wishes to be fulfilled are certain to get what they want … and in the Year of the Rabbit, the wish-granting aspect of the Sun and the Moon combined is multiplied. The Moon is YIN and this is the Yin of Heaven, signifying magic.

A monthly ritual to make sure you get your fair share of Golden Rabbit magic:
So, on each of the Full Moon nights in the Year of the Golden Rabbit, go out into your garden to gaze up at the Full Moon and visualize plenty of Moon dust and Moon glow flowing into you, filling your whole body with bright white light and granting you fearlessness, love and courage. This will not only strengthen your inner “Qi” energy, but will also bring wisdom into your life.

What all Rabbits have in common:
People born in the Year of the Rabbit share certain characteristics; they are: Keen, wise, fragile, tranquil, serene, considerate, fashionable, and kind. Generally, they are quite calm, do not exhibit aggressive behavior, and will avoid confrontation at all costs. When angry about something, they will approach it calmly and considerately, hardly ever raising their voice. They are quite keen and pay close attention to the situations developing around them. They are intelligent and quick, and can talk themselves in or out of most situations with no problem. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted. They are friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends, are good communicators, counselors and teachers, but also need their own space.

The Rabbit is a symbol of mercy, elegance, and worship of beauty. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind, loving persons, and dislike any hostile act. They give others an impression of being frail-looking because of their gentle appearance. But, in fact they are strong-minded and have strong wills. They pursue their ideals all their lives in a precise and orderly way. They do things slowly and deliberately because of their cautious characters. They make great teachers and counselors because they are so diplomatic and well-organized.

May this year bring you untold opportunity and untold possibility.

The image above is my latest doodle on my Wacom. It’s how I feel when I’m writing late into the night.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

China, communication, culture

Step 47: Chicken Talks to Duck

Christa Avampato

I recently took a spin through Chinatown with my friend, Michael. He and his lovely wife, Min, have been schooling me on Chinese culture. My friend, Allan, is grateful for the help. Being from Beijing, Allan has been showing me the ways of the Chinese for almost 5 years now. With my endless questions, Allan can use all the reinforcements he can get!

Allan, Min, and Michael have shown me so many incredible aspects of Chinese culture, a culture we so sadly know precious little about in the U.S. P.F. Chang’s and electronics do not a culture make. Chinese manufacturing is largely responsible for our lifestyle in this country, and yet we have not taken to their literature or philosophy as readily as we should. It’s a shame, really. Their wisdom has so much to offer us as we make our way down the road to enlightenment.

One aspect of Chinese culture that I adore are the proverbs. In a handful of words, they encompass so much learning. Michael hit me with one the other day that’s been on my mind ever since. “Ji tong ya jiang” – in English it literally translates to “chicken talks to duck.” Both birds, found in the same geographies, and no matter what, they can’t understand each other. How many times a day do we have this same conundrum with others? You say something to me, I say something back, sometimes in the same language, and neither of us have a clue what the other said.

So how do we get beyond chicken talks to duck? In other words, can we learn empathy and understanding? Yes, I believe we can. It’s not easy, and if we aren’t born with an innate sense of empathy, I think it always remains a challenge. Not impossible, but indeed challenging.

Here are 6 ways to get some empathy and gain a better sense of understanding of others:
1.) Volunteer – spending time on a project with others, and particularly helping others who are struggling, instills us with a remarkable sense of understanding. It forces us to walk in another’s shoes.

2.) Travel and seek out the locals. I can’t stand resorts and fancy digs on vacation. They create such an unnatural barrier between tourists and locals. They impede understanding. So whenever I’m traveling, I get out, way out, of my comfort zone.

3.) Read literature, listen to music, eat food, and see art that’s entirely foreign to you. A peoples’ culture comes alive in their art. It tells their history, their trials and tribulations. Give it a whirl and you’ll discover things about others and about yourself that you never even imagined.

4.) Learn a new language. Inexpensive language classes and conversation groups exist in almost every major U.S. city. You really want to understand another culture? Literally try to speak with their words and you’ll learn and earn their hearts.

5.) Take up the sport, exercise, or meditation of another culture. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, karate, cricket. A nation’s pastime is an enjoyable way to more deeply understand their culture.

6.) Stop in at the church, synagogue, temple, ashram, or mosque of another culture. I’m not saying you have to believe in what’s being preached. Just listen. Culture the world over is deeply rooted in religions. Learn how a culture prays, where they turn to when times are tough, and understanding their daily lives becomes easier.

The image above is not my own. It can be found here.

China, dreams, economy, entrepreneurship, future, money, social entrepreneurship

My Year of Hopefulness – A $7 lunch and off-balance sheet assets

Christa Avampato

I’m working on some new product ideas especially for the Chinese consumer market and for some perspective I turned to my close friend, Allan, who was born and raised in Beijing. With his drive and intricate understanding of the markets, I am eventually handing all of my money over to him to manage, and if I ever need a board member, my first call is to him. Allan never agrees with me right off the bat about anything – he doesn’t give me an inch of wiggle room. Allan, in his characteristically curious way, questions me incessantly on detail after detail. And I am deeply grateful for that.

Today, our conversation flipped from Chinese vs. American culture (a favorite topic of ours) to the state of our jobs to future plans and then to social enterprise. While everyone on the planet is gushing about the promise and bright future of social enterprise, Allan is skeptical. Today he forced me to take him through the concept of social entrepreneurship, step by step. The financials, the motivation, the benefits, the short-comings, the operational challenges.

Allan took all this information in and to wrap up, he got to 1 more very simple question and 1 very simple conclusion. Allan’s last question: “Christa, are you okay with having a $7 lunch for the rest of your life as opposed to a $70 lunch like those guys on Wall Street?” My answer: “Yes, I’d prefer it that way.” Allan’s reply: “Good. Then you are a perfect candidate to be a social entrepreneur.” Allan’s conclusion: “Seems to me that there must be some off-balance sheet assets that must be accounted for.” How true that is!

For the rest of the afternoon, I thought about the role of off-balance sheet assets that we must consider in every aspect of our lives; how we spend our time and with whom, our happiness, the amount we laugh everyday, and our sense of purpose are all assets that are tough to value in dollars. And yet, they are critically important – I would argue far more important than our salaries (provided our salaries cover our basic needs). These “other” assets, the ones we can’t hold in the palm of our hand, are the stuff that make our lives worthwhile.

Allan and I trekked up to the castle that overlooks the Great Lawn in Central Park. I was grinning from ear to ear and Allan asked me, “What does that view mean to you?” I looked out at the people relaxing, smiling, and enjoying the simultaneously simple and complex act of being alive. A small oasis of hope in a city that is seeing its fair share of challenges. This view is off-balance sheet assets personified. And from that view, their value is very easy to see.

The photo is from Pbase.com/mikebny

China, entrepreneurship, Examiner

NY Business Strategies Examiner.com: Advice for Western Entrepreneurs in China

Christa Avampato

Today I read a terrific story about entrepreneurship in Fast Company. The author, Andrew Collins, talks about his experience of being a Australian-born entrepreneur in China. He is the CEO of Mailman China.

To read the full article, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-2901-NY-Business-Strategies-Examiner~y2009m3d2-A-stranger-in-a-strange-land-Western-entrepreneurs-in-China

This photo appears courtesy of Scott Write, Limelight Studio (Shanghai)

China, economy, friendship, Olympics, simplicity

What no one tells us about China

Christa Avampato

Last night, my friend Allan and I had dinner at Barbuto, an Italian place in the West Village that I have been meaning to try for a year. Allan is going away for 6 months – off to Singapore for work. I’m a little jealous of Allan – part of me misses flying off to a new place every week. And then I remind myself that I should be careful what I wish for.


Allan is one of my dearest friends from business school. If you had to 5 people from your life who were cheering for you, you’d want Allan there. His loyalty to his friends is something to be admired. And his work ethic would leave any American student in disbelief. He got an MBA and a half out of Darden; he put the rest of us to shame. Usually Allan and I talk about books and work ad what every crazy little projects that are taking my time these days. But last night turned to the topic of romantic relationships. Allan is confused by women. I smiled. 

Allan explained to me that in China, things are not complicated. Love included. People live a simple and diligent life. In a planned economy, there isn’t all this choice that we have here in the U.S. Nothing is really all that trying. An absence of angst.

And now when I reflect back on those Olympics Games and those inspiring, creative beyond measure, ceremonies that preceded and closed them, I understand how they came to be so precise, so perfect. They were singularly focused, the entire nation. They are unencumbered by a multitude of choices and complications. 

Now, I’m not advocating for a planned economy. I’m saying that we have more to learn from the Chinese people than we ever imagined. Their creativity and their passion is built around simplicity. And the question I’m left with is I wonder if we, as Americans, could get out of our own and get focused. It might be out only hope out of so many problems that are plaguing us.