Post China Learning Journey Gathering
About a month after the China Learning Journey 2012 concluded, the group of 20 Business China Youth Chapter (BCYC) gathered again for a light-hearted yet insightful post-trip sharing session on 26 January, a Saturday afternoon, at the Studio Bar.
This was the first get together since the 10-day winter trip to Beijing and Tianjin concluded last December. The friendship forged during the trip was evident during the gathering, as members exchanged updates of their lives in a close and relaxed atmosphere. Some BCYC members brought their friends along as potential candidates for BCYC enrolment.
A feedback session was conducted to solicit comments from participants about possible future improvements and planning of the learning journey.
One of the participants, Jerbelle Hou from Nanyang Technological University, said: “I benefitted a lot from the trip as each participant had a chance to moderate at least one forum or sharing session, and it had helped to stimulate exchange of thoughts amongst the participants.”
Echoing her sentiment was one of the BCYC pioneers, Neow Ting Feng. Participating in the learning journey for the second time, Ting Feng shared that the BCYC was privileged to be involved in the planning of the trip. They helped to source for contacts and arrange company visits. He was glad that some of the founding members of BCYC had been very helpful during the planning process.
Bennett Chu from Singapore Polytechnic commended the two-day preparatory workshop prior to the winter trip. He said: “The workshops were very helpful as I got to know the other participants and mingle with them even before the 10-day journey.” Louis Lu from the National University of Singapore agreed that the workshops’ lecturers from different industries gave insightful knowledge about China. This invaluable background information helped to prepare members for the interaction with local Beijing students, as well as set the right expectation and direction for the whole learning journey.
After the session ended, members hung around to chat with each other, well engaged in reminiscence of the trip and exchange of views on affairs relating to Singapore and China.
Chinese New Year Gathering cum Closed-Door Sharing Session
On 16 February 2013, some 30 Business China Youth Chapter (BCYC) members came together to celebrate the seventh day of Lunar New Year with Mr Andrew Loo from Singcham, who was back in Singapore for the festive season from Beijing, China.
For the past three consecutive years, Mr Andrew Loo had been invited to share with BCYC China Learning Journey participating students, his experience and anecdotes of seven years of working and living in China. This closed-door session provided yet another opportunity where BCYC members get to interact personally with Mr Loo. Sharing his hopes and aspirations for Singaporean youths, Mr Loo reiterated the importance of upholding Singapore’s reputation and upkeeping Singaporeans’ credibility wherever their life journey may carry them.
The youths who turned up at the sharing session also enjoyed ‘Lo Hei’ together before the Peranakan cuisine was served. Among the participants who turned up were previous batches of BCYC as well as new BCYC members from Junior College, Polytechnics and Universities, who also brought some potential members to celebrate the festivities.