Prior to the launch of our new Microwave Journal China magazine and upcoming web site, I had spent some time looking into the state of media coverage on our industry in China. The relative lack of a dedicated web site for microwave industry news, products, events and technical content guided our decision to develop such an outlet. In my search, I must have ended up on someone's mailing list from China, since I now get the occasional e-mail written completely in Chinese. Even though I cannot read simplified Chinese chraracters, it's fairly easy to tell which ones are pure spam (95%) and which ones offer some legitmate information. If I cannot tell immediately by some visual clues, I will occasionally use an online translator to decipher the message. The reliablility of a tool such as Google's Babelfish may be questionable, but the results can be somewhat humorous. Case in point, the following sales recruitment letter (I believe), which was translated with an online translation service. Perhaps the translation is correct, in which case this is one of the most poetic job descriptions I have ever read.

Translated e-mail: Around the immersed leaves mystery to produce the sense of an isolated, desperate. Sales staff to work long hours, no passion towards work always work mentality, how to motivate? Suddenly, her teeth on my tongue bitten one, hands subconsciously Always have a few "thorn" in the team, bad management, how to get along with subordinates? The stern or tolerance? The only weapons of the men to attract women Results of competition on the sales staff seems to have little effect, how to do? How to motivate sales staff? Xinxiang Shenlong Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd. As sales director, never learning management knowledge, do not know how to manage people, from technology to management? Around the immersed leaves mystery to produce the sense of an isolated, desperate. A departure, it took the customer information, how to manage the sale of customer information? Suriko the Chongqing slowly out from the sleeve edged sharp dagger, leisurely, said: Sales management? Sales director to do any work in order to improve performance? Mr. Sun, Xue-Wen Wang, Fang Wen Ti-three of the same thin, fine Bala drank Each set sales targets, sales staff is always too high, unwilling to accept, and how assessment? The above concerns, sales charge of 1 night, 2 days intensive training will be answered!

The language and cultural differences will present many challenges for companies doing business in China. The challenges may be eased somewhat by establishing a local presence and hiring a native workforce to represent the company in country. The Journal itself has partnered with an established technical publishing firm, ACT International from Hong Kong to help publish our magazine and web site, develop localized content and ensure the translation of our English content is accurate content. Our goal is to provide the techical content Chinese engineers are craving for, properly translated and phrased. We are well into producing our second issue (March/April) and would love to cover your China related news and product release information.  Send material to either Dvye@mwjournal.com or directly to our China managing editor, Katie Huang at katieh@actintl.com.hk.