The three reasons why I would like to study at the Beijing Foreign Studies are the changing nature of the new Global Economy; further exposure to my Chinese culture; and understand the importance of Guanxi. As China continues to be leader in today's Global Economy, I want to understand and experience the way Chinese culture impacts trade and economic growth. With China growing exponentially in development and global influence, it would be a privilege to learn business from a Chinese perspective, being immersed in authentic Chinese culture. Studying in China will not only allow me to be exposed to authentic chinese culture, but also implement the understanding of its culture within a business perspective. This opportunity could allow me to come to self with a sense of identity, but also understand the concepts of business relationships in China, specifically the concept known as guanxi.

I am a fourth generation American of Chinese descent and wish to genuinely experience Chinese culture from a deeper level perspective. Culture not only defines who we are as a people but it also establishes rules of norm as to how we act in a social and business context. First, I will learn and understand my identity as a Chinese: who I am and where my ancestors came from. Second, this is an important factor when regarding the identity of individuals, highlighting an essence of who he or she is. Being born and raised in Hawaii, exposure towards similar yet different culture is unavoidable as Hawaii is known as being a melting-pot of culture, cultivating and forming even it’s own sub-cultures, the Chinese culture in Hawaii is is an older one, and consequently possess cultural rules dictated norms used back a hundred years ago when the 1st Chinese arrived to work on plantations. Studying in China will not only allow me to be exposed to today’s modern Chinese culture, but also enable me to understand more deeply of its how business is carried, utilizing cultural contexts within a business perspective. This opportunity will allow me to come to a sense of identity, but also understand the concepts of business relationships in China, specifically the concept known as guanxi. Culture and guanxi are both important when understanding and doing business in China. It is said that it’s impossible to do business successfully without guangxi, as positive relationships need to be formed in order to spark development. The idea of guanxi is important to me along with the understanding of actual Chinese culture. Ultimately, this opportunity would not only help me grow as an individual, understanding true Chinese culture.