2.      Can you tell us more about opening your company?
It was like going to college all over again. I had to learn business book keeping, inventory control, US Government billing procedures and many more things.  I had to design my own business cards, my logo, my billing forms, and hire capable people.  All of these things I had never done before.  I worked harder the first four years then I had every worked before.  Many nights I did not get more than three hours of sleep.  Because I did not have anyone to help me, I had to do everything myself.  It was worth every moment.  I learned that if one worked hard enough on something, it would succeed.

3.      Why do you choose Chengdu to work?
Several years ago I met a new friend.  His name is Luke and he is a native of Chengdu.  I always have treated Luke as if he was my own son, and he has always been a good and loyal friend to me.  When it came time for me to retire, I was not ready to stop working and do nothing.  Luke and I discussed the idea of me coming to China to help him start up his new business.  It seemed like the right thing to do, so I came to help Luke and to be “Uncle Jim” to his 4 year old son Star.  I am still trying to develop a web site for Luke to sell his products on the Internet.  I am busy with other things when I am not here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

4.      What’s the most important thing you learned as a soldier?
I guess it would be that when one becomes lonely from being alone and far away from home, a person can always find joy with something around them.  I have always been a student, so when I was a soldier, I continued my college classes at night, studied on my break time during the day, and always tried to be a happy and pleasant person to those around me.

5.      Can you show us some photos of your family?
Yes, these photos are of my son, his wife, and their new son, Eli.

6.      Do like Chinese food?
Yes

7.      Which is your favorite?
I am still discovering Sichuan food, so most of my experience is GuangDong food.

8.      Do you think Taiwan is part of China?
I do not discuss politics.  I think it is fortunate that so many Taiwanese factories have now moved their companies to GuangDong.  In time, I think the economics will solve this issue.

9.      What is your opinion about a woman President in America?
You know, this is a very interesting question.  I think there have been many great women in the world who have been the larders of their countries.  In principle, there is literally no reason a woman could not be president of America.  I just do not think Hilary Clinton is the right kind of woman to be America’s first president…but it is not up to me.  It will be up to the American people to decide this question.  I just hope America doesn’t get another bad president; two in a row is difficult for me to imagine.

10.      The purpose of coming to Chengdu?
To start some new companies, to learn to speak some Chinese, to do some traveling and writing about the old people of China for American magazines, these are some of my reasons.  I am discovering that my reasons are changing every month.

11      What is your attitude towards Life?
To live each day with passion and joy, and to forgive others and myself for the mistakes that have been made.  Mistakes are always present with the acquisition of knowledge and experience, so mistakes are a necessary process of learning.

12.      Please tell me and my classmates about your experiences in Taiwan as a young boy.
I was a very strange person for the Chinese people when I arrived in Taiwan.  Most of the people had never seen a foreigner before.  Never had anyone seen an American blond haired boy!  They used to crowd around me in large numbers to pull the hair on my arms and laugh at my long legs and big nose, and most always the children were amazed at my two colored eyes.  It the beginning it was frightening to me.  I quickly learned some Taiwanese words and began to speak back to them.  Everything began to get better when I started my first business at 13.  I smoked fish, and sold them to the Chinese families who worked for my father.  This meant that I could ride my bike out into the village to deliver the fish to my customers.  It was at this time I started my training with Taiwan’s champion judo master.  I began to make friends, finally.

13      Can you speak Chinese?
No, actually.  I am just beginning to learn.  I used to speak Taiwanese fairly well, but have long forgotten most of my vocabulary.  Sometimes when I am trying to speak Mandarin, I suddenly say something in Taiwanese; it is confusing to understand me.

14.      Where is the most beautiful place in China that you have visited?
Sanya on Hainan Island.  I lived there for one month in January 2003

15      What do you do with your leisure time in Chengdu?
I have started a garden, and I will soon begin to make pottery.  Also, I am beginning to work with a new acquaintance who owns a web design company. I have some web sites I want to design.  Additionally, I have a 2.5 year old Chinese boy student who will soon speak his ABCs perfectly.  With just 20 hours he is able to speak about 70 words.  So far, he is my best student!!  I hope some of you will catch up to little Dong Dong.

16      Which work, in your past, do your feel the most pride in having accomplished?
Making my companies is close, but I think being self-employed for twenty years is overall my best feeling.  I have made enough money with just my ideas and talents to keep me from wanting to get a job with a company.  I have learned to do many things over my computer with my art, photography, writing, and business assistants to many companies.  Now teaching at the university, I am beginning to think about other courses I would like to teach.  I would like to teach marketing through Business Web Design.  I think the Internet is going to become the new world community.

17      Why do you come to China?
Why not come to China, everything that is going to happen in the next 10 years through business and international commerce is going to happen here.  This is the place to be for opportunities in business. I only wish I could speak Chinese!

18      Is your family here with you?
No, I am here on my own. I will fly home for holidays and my Grandson’s birthday.   I am here to discover new directions in my life.  It is a time for me to learn and a time for me to take myself out on an adventure.  There aren’t many people who are willing to consider what I decided to do.  Move to China for five years.  You are meeting either a very wise person or maybe a very foolish person, either way, we both will learn something from this experience.

19      Can you speak louder in class to make yourself heard?
Absolutely, I am not used to people not hearing me.  Usually, I am the biggest and loudest person in a room.  I would appreciate you letting me know that you can not hear me.

20      What is your teaching plan?
To complete the teaching plan of your departed teacher, FIRST!  I will add some materials of my own, and I will share with you some of my many business experiences.  I intend that you will have a complete booklet of hand outs that will serve you well when you apply for your first international position of employment.  It will be then that you will discover the value of this course.  We will be working on cover letters and resumes before too long.  These will be absolutely essential before you can even begin to look for an employment opportunity.

21.      Could you tell us something more about marketing & sales & International Business?
I probably will not be able to keep this information from you.  It is who I am, and through every example I share with you, there will be large portions specifically related to marketing and sales. So the answer is, yes.

22.  Have your every read any Chinese books?
No, I can’t read Chinese. 

23.  Which Chinese book is your favorite?
I am reading a translated version of “Tao Te Ching” by Lao Tzu.  I am curious about ancient Chinese spirituality.

24.  How do you feel about China?
I feel that China is about to awaken the world next year with Her progress and direction.  China is soon to be the world’s largest economic force.  There is much maturity need for this position.

25      What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
There are so many… hummm.  To narrow it down to just one thing seems unfair to all the other things that bring me so much pleasure.  I believe I would say that it is the gift I received as a young boy.  Living along with no playmates in Taiwan for so long, I learned to entertain myself.  In doing this I learned to “LEARN” in a joyful and pleasurable manor.  The gift was learning that I could accomplish anything I wanted to do.  I simply needed to turn my attentions towards the subject, find materials related to my interests and start reading.  Through books I could learn to do anything.  Someone has already done most of the things you can think of trying to do, and that someone has taken the time to write a book about how to do it very well.  Today we have the Internet.  This is a most powerful tool and I use it everyday to find the answers to my most difficult questions.

26      What is the happiest thing your life?
Being a father/grandfather would be very high on my list.  Having good health and energy to begin life again in China.  I am a very fortunate person to be able to move to China for five years.  Most of my friends and family consider this to be most unusual.  I do not consider myself to be old.

27      What is your favorite life?
Strange question!  I would say the life I am living is pretty important to me… I can’t remember any others before this one?

28            What do you like most about Chengdu?
Chengdu is still a new place to me.  I am pleased that it is so near to the mountains.  I enjoy the high country, the snow, and especially the powerful rivers leaving the mountains.  But living in Chengdu is very easy compared to some other places in China to live.  I would like to know more about Chengdu, which is why I purchased a bicycle.  I am learning quickly how to avoid being run over by a taxi.

29            Which of your past jobs did you like best?
I think the one I like the best is the one I created for myself when I decided never to work for another person again.  I realized that I enjoyed computers, photography, and very large and luxurious yachts.  I started an advertising company that photographed the yachts, and placed the photos on the Internet.  The purpose was to sell the yachts with magnificent photos.  It became my “Art Form” and over the last 8 years I have been privileged to photograph some very beautiful yachts.  I am still doing business in this field from Chengdu.  Last month I created several piece of advertising was sent to over 3,000 brokers in America and Europe.

30            Please give reasons why you liked this job?
I have spent many years communicating through memos, emails, resumes, cover letters, invitations to attend special training seminars, and representing my companies to clients all over the world.  Teaching this class, demonstrating through my personal real life experiences make this job fun.  If I can show you how important it is to make the BEST impression possible with your fist communiqué, then I will have prepared you for your first employment adventure.  Hopefully, you will go onto many new opportunities because you learned NOT to devalue yourself with a poorly prepared cover letter or resume.

31           Can you give advice about the problems that we will meet in a foreign company?
You are always going to get lost.  I spent much of my first month in Chengdu, lost. You are going to eat things you thought you would never eat, experience what seem to be ugly disgusting people, and sleep in places that seem unsafe.  These are a few of the experiences you will endure.  You will learn quickly there is no place like home.  You will become a stronger and more versatile person who will hopefully always remain poised and competent.  People who have traveled all of their lives can recognize a seasoned traveling foreign person.  Every obstacle in your traveling experience will soon be recognized as only something temporary.

32           Which of the many Asian countries, in which you have worked, did you like best?
Well China ranks at the top.  I did enjoy Thailand very much and would like to return there for a holiday soon.

33            Say something about the Second World War and give us your own views.
I was just born when it started.  All I know is what I have learned from history books in America and from my father’s teachings.  It was a very terrible time for the world.  It was a particularly bad time for many unfortunate Chinese families.  Many American AND Chinese lives were taken by the Japanese soldiers.  I think it is important to remember, most of the people now living in Japan were not alive during this time.  Nothing we can do will make the terrible tragedy go away.  Nothing can be accomplished if bad feelings prevail.  There is a bright future ahead for China.  Much can be gained from the Japanese technology and economic strength, and the Japanese can benefit from China’s huge natural resources, remember, they have been living on that little island for a long time.  They need China to help them grow and be strong.

34        How long have you been in Chengdu?
I arrived January 29, 2007.

35      WWF, I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but I think you know it.  My question is:  Why so many American crazy in it? 
I think your questions are asking about WWII, which began before I was born.  “Why so many Americans crazy in it”, does not make a clear question in English.  So, if you are wondering why Americans were angry about Pearl Harbor and the many lives lost there ... I can only answer your questions with another question.  Why do Chinese people remember so well the city of NanJing?

36     Can it stand a kind of spirit of America?

37     What is the viewpoint of Taiwan young people towards China?
I can not answer this question.  I left Taiwan in 1961 and have not returned there since.  It is my desire to visit someday, however.  I would like to find some of my old Chinese teachers and wall the streets where I used to live.

38      How do Taiwan students study history?
Again, I can not answer because I do not know.  I have not lived or visited there since 1961.

39     Need all memos to be formal?
I am pleased with your humor, and creativity.  Actually, your point is well taken.  However, we are trying to teach you the business way of doing things, first, it is up to you to show your character once you have mastered the basics.  Thank you, you have made me smile.