Shanghai

It’s day two in Shanghai and we continue to be amazed at all of the unbelievable experiences each new day has brought us.

We got a later start today; which gave us the opportunity to recover from the 3am wake-up call yesterday morning while also giving us some time to explore around the hotel. This afternoon we toured Chutex, a garment manufacturing company that works hand in hand making clothing for large retailers such as Gap Inc, JC Penney, and Kohl’s. Chutex employs over 3,000 people and produces an average of 2.5 million pieces each month.

Mike, the owner of the company, began by giving us a detailed presentation about what occurs in the factory and then gave us through the entire facility. The work conditions in the factory were much different than we envisioned. The facility was extremely organized and clean and offered its employees a positive work environment. Mike explained that each employee works no more than an 8 hour shift and is given on site housing and food. Additionally, they are paid at least minimum wage and have the opportunity to earn more based on their level of productivity.

We saw each step of the manufacturing process, from fabric inspection to packaging. Along the way we saw big bolts of fabric being inspected, apparel patterns being printed and cut, clothing detailed and screen printed, sewing, and finally being packed to ship.  The tour provided all of us, regardless of major, a unique and valuable learning experience.

During the evening hours we had free time to further explore some of Shanghai’s sites and downtown areas of interest. A group of students went to a famous shopping district and enjoyed browsing through the local markets, while other students relaxed and stayed closer to the hotel. The students who went shopping also had the opportunity to try some of Shanghai’s unique cuisine. As we continue on our journey, we’ve been finding its better not to ask what exactly we’re eating but rather just branch out and take advantage of the whole experience.

Until tonight, our days have been spent with tour guides, which made it incredibly easy to get around the city, but tonight we split into small groups and took cabs to the market and restaurants. Most of the groups made it to their destinations without any issues. One group however got into a cab with a driver who spoke absolutely no English and found themselves being dropped off in the middle of a street in the wrong location. After two cabs and a lot of pointing, they finally found their way to the restaurant. I think we’ll all be a little more understanding of the challenges brought on by language barriers after this trip!

-Melissa LaBorde, Taylor Kuypers, and Preston Knapp