Ginny Tonkin

Global + Mobile: Why you should attend the Global Mobile Internet Conference

So I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. When I heard that there was an entire conference devoted to the mobile Internet industry, I knew I had to make it there. Special bonus? Its annually held in Beijing, China, conveniently, the city to where I’d just moved.

Fantastic, the chance to prove the utility of my social media addiction.

I had a fun, productive time at the Great Mobile Internet Conference, Asia’s largest mobile internet conference. I had the pleasure of blogging for the organizer, the Great Wall Club, on its blog, MobiSights. I loved getting to chat with industry professionals, startup hopefuls, and tech followers, all engaged in the dynamic mobile marketplace, in the largest internet marketplace in the world.

Mobile is big; China is the ever-present giant.

Here’s what I learned, and why I think you should keep an eye on this event:

1) Mobile is where the growth is…

Mobile internet usage will overtake desktop usage by 2014; 50% of local searches are made via mobile (via DigitalBuzz).
GDP in developing countries has a high correlation with mobile phone penetration, a 10% increase in mobile phones relates to a 0.8% in GDP (via ubuni.org).

2) … but understanding the (Chinese) arena is key.

Big screens at GMIC streaming the latest updates from Tencent QQ and Weibo reminded this Dorothy she wasn’t in the land of Facebook anymore. The social media market in Asia is dominated by domestic sites; however, developing markets have the most potential growth when it comes to the internet usage.

China has a higher internet population than the USA has people: China has 500 million internet users vs the USA’s total population of about 400 million (via zpryme).
1 in 5 internet users are Chinese (via Mashable via Statista).

So what do you do when the largest internet market in the world censored by a strong, central government? You go to those industry leaders who understand it best:

3) The Great Mobile Internet Conference is a great networking event, and it’s getting bigger.

GMIC has got it all: industry leaders from Tencent, Sina Weibo, ChinaMobile; getting insider insight is invaluable. Although conferences often have the self-promotional feel of a PR campaign, these conference are more important for the ability to meet with experienced and/or passionate individuals.

I enjoyed getting to hear big-name speakers on the main stages; however, it was the little conversations and interactions that I took the most away from.

What did I learn? Beijing: a hot spot for tech startups. The city has the right ingredients for a startup culture: 1) Investment capital, 2) Lots of universities and educational centers, 3) A relatively low cost of living.

More than one developer mentioned one of the major reasons they’ve developed and thrived in Beijing is due to the talent pool: great, available engineering talent. What’s significant about this talent, as well, is that Chinese engineers are used to working with large number volumes (China, and it’s population are huge).

What’s also significant is that being based out of Beijing, the company/startup can offer a higher return on investment to potential vc’s or angel investors.

4) GMIC is coming to San Fransisco.

GMIC SV (Silicon Valley) will be held in October, allowing developers, entrepreneurs, and investors from two hot tech hubs to connect.

Enjoyed GMIC 2012, and I’m looking forward to keeping tabs on what’s to come.

Surviving 48 hours in Beijing

Try something new: crispy tofu.

“I locked myself in my room for three days.”

“I hated it for a week…”

Honestly? Comforting words of wisdom from experienced Beijing expats. Jet-lagged and hyper-aware, international travel can leave you suddenly doubtful feeling about months’ worth of planning global jaunts. For me, I left a fun job and family to chase a dream I felt worthy, if not crucial, considering the shifting poles of global influence and power: learning Mandarin Chinese and gaining Chinese work experience by moving to Beijing.

Thankfully, the next words from these transplanted Beijingers’ was:

“After a year and a half, it’s my home. It’s safe, has good opportunities, nightlife, and great, cheap food. My life is here.”

“…before loving it. I have a fun job at a university, and I get to travel all over the country.”

The first few days can and will be a whirlwind; here are some tips on keeping your sanity intact.

1) Try to learn some Mandarin before you go

Having a “survival” Mandarin skill set can help you navigate a city where you can’t read or write the script. WikiTravel has a great Mandarin phrase book, which can help you get your barrings on the language. Copy some useful words and phrases, and stick them in your pack. Beijing is an international city, and signs in English and Mandarin are common, but there’s no guarantee a shop keeper will care to hear anything you say in English.

I tutored with eChineseLearning.com, an easy flexible way to gain Mandarin skills via Skype before moving. Explain your situation, and make sure to practice “survival” vocabulary. Despite any nagging hesitance once you’ve landed, use your fledgling Mandarin skills. Any practice moves you closer to understanding.

2) Write it down.

When you arrive at the hotel, make sure you pick up the business card at the front desk. This will help you navigate and work with taxi drivers when all you want to do is feel your head on your hotel pillow.

3) You will lose luggage.

Bring a carry-on with all the essentials you may need for at least one night and day. A change of clothes, essential toiletries, electronics, and papers in a rolling suitcase or knapsack will go a long way when checked luggage never makes its way to the baggage claim.

I lost my big checked bag, apparently in the switch from United Airlines to Air China. This story was comically common among my coworkers from multiple countries, among various airlines. However, United was a repeat offender. One guy even said United Airlines lost his bags five times. No joke. Five.

4) Get some one to show you how to use public transportation.

The subway is an easy, fast way to get around the city, while getting your barrings on the lay of the land. Buses are a great option for outer areas where the subway lines don’t reach (yet).

Get your hands on a map, and label all your important places: hotel, places of interest and need. Download Beijing and China-centric apps on your smart phone to help you further navigate.

If you want to get a good sense of the city before you leave, lonleyplanet.com offers good advice on navigating for tourists. WikiTravel also has a good description of the city’s 14 districts.

5) Find some digs.

TheBeijinger.com is the city’s go-to English language online listing directory. Craigslist is also a possible, but often lacking option. Finding roommates is also a great way to make connections and new friends in a large, but friendly city.

Be friendly and have a good sense of humor. Things are going to happen, and it won’t be the end of the world.

360˚ tour from the Bitexco Tower

Modified from the original post on June 1, 2011 on Girl Meets World, which chronicled my travels in Vietnam and South East Asia.

Don’t look down.

Look up. 68 stories up. The Bixteco Financial Tower is the tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, and at 861 ft, it ranks 24th in the world.

The impressive view from below the Bixteco Tower

Recently opened to the public, one can visit the city icon’s Skydeck for $10. For any Western tourist, this seems reasonable, but this actually keeps out the majority of locals or domestic tourists. This is a huge sum for locals; just as an indicator, local Vietnamese public school teachers are paid in between $60-$100 a month.

Nevertheless, its seen as an icon of modernization, and I needed to see it for myself. During my last day in Vietnam, I chose to visit the tower, and take in the city that had been my home for the past eight months.

Check out my 360˚ tour of Saigon! Or find the video in the player to the right.

Controversial due to its profitability and rumors about its less-than-perfect building safety standards, it nonetheless strikes an impressive figure on the Saigon profile and provides a spectacular view of the city. The owners have plans to open a restaurant directly above the observation deck, as well as a food court on the 6th floor.

The helipad on the side invites CEOs and other VIPs to meetings via helicopter, though I do believe I am correct in saying it hasn’t been used yet. The tower’s unique shape resembles the lotus, a predominant symbol of Vietnam–though I have friends that have described the tower as a cucumber with a chunk lopped off the side

Camp songs? Great ESL teaching tools

Modified from the original post on May 28, 2011 on Girl Meets World, which chronicled my travels in Vietnam and South East Asia.

Le Ngoc Han third graders excited to have their picture taken.

At the local primary schools, the students are more rambunctious because their parents aren’t paying for them to go take English class. So, at the start of class everyday, we sing a song to burn up some of the kids’ energy. If found that modified camp songs transfer really well to ESL.

On the last day, I filmed my third graders singing “The Penguin Song,” an old camp favorite. The song worked so well because it not only made the silly squirmers stand at attention in between each verse, learn new animal body parts, but also tuckered them out from jumping up and down at the end of the song. “The Banana Song” and the “Hokey Pokey” are also class favorites.

“No–it’s ‘Zombies eat brains.’”

Modified from the original post on May 28, 2011 on Girl Meets World, which chronicled my travels in Vietnam and South East Asia.

Rowdy but adorable third graders at Le Ngoc Han

“‘Zombies eats brains?’ No, it’s ‘Zombies eat brains.’”

I don’t fully register what I’ve said to one of my third graders until I continue circulating the classroom at Le Ngoc Han, one of the local primary schools my center partners with throughout the week. I briefly blink, suddenly realizing what I’ve just said, but swiftly resume monitoring.

“Dream job” books were the project of the day. Practicing vocabulary and conjugation, they picked a series of jobs, correctly identifying the verb for the position.

Asian education, Vietnamese in particular, stresses rote memorization, often ignoring creativity. This can often appear in classroom activities. Time after time in my class, students want to copy exactly what I’ve done for an example, even down to the exact coloring on a worksheet. Since language is a fun subject, encouraging interaction, students definitely like to play around. Creativity is one quality I want to cultivate in my students, and so I try to find ways to bring that out in class.

In games, I give out extra points for creativity, like when a student correctly adds extra phrasing in a speaking activity.

On project day, when my third graders are more interested in zombies and warriors than police and fishermen, I can entertain the idea that today they aspire to be a brain-eating zombie.

It’s what you do to get students engaged in the lesson. Language is something to be lived. Plus, it’s just more fun.

Little Sisters

Modified from the original post on May 27, 2011 on Girl Meets World, which chronicled my travels in Vietnam and South East Asia.

No syrup in Vietnam, so these Little Sister-made pancakes are served with blackberry jam and honey.

It’s pancake time!

My center, Apollo Education, teaming with Saigon Children’s Charity established the Little Sister’s/Little Brother’s scheme, partners teachers with HCMC teens for about an hour every week. I partner with two friends from the center, Hannah and Lizzy, with four fun gals. In addition to helping them practice their English, we play games, make bracelets, watch movies, and most recently, make PANCAKES.

Fluffy pancakes are one thing that this born and bred American misses from being over seas, and I wanted to share some fun cuisine from home. My place in HCMC isn’t too far from the center, so one evening we all walked over and made a feast out of banana pancakes.

After a quick spin of the blender to make the batter, we showed them how to flip the flapjacks. I thought they might be shy working the frying pans, but this crew proved me wrong, pushing me away and manning both burners over my stove.

Feel free to browse pictures to the right in my Picasa gallery.