(by Wing Yan Man, Twente University)

8 lane roads, crossing the Pudong River day and night and a perfect lit Shanghai skyline, it all seems a long time ago since we went there with 15 Dutch students to become a student ambassador for water studies. Our purpose was to let China and the world know that water is important to life and that it should be studied. Together with the Chinese students of all prominent universities in China we have created solutions for projects which are valuable for present and future.
The organization of this all made it possible to show our bilingual projects at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. For this big event, we have formed mixed groups combining Chinese and Dutch water expertise to gain synergy in the solutions for present global projects. These included the increasing sedimentation around river areas, stabilizing ground water levels in urban areas and area development with levees. For these problems, we have put our minds together to create unanimous solutions, which are reasonable in time and budget.
Before the big trip to Shanghai, we have corresponded with the students in China with all thinkable ways of communications. We have started our own consultancy firm, which exchanged information through email, skype, dropbox, and other forms of social media. By clear communication we have brainstormed on creative thoughts and adapted our cultures to each other’s. Hearing different kinds of working methods and ideas of the Chinese students made us to think beyond our Dutch scope. With this thought, we were ready to take the plane and meet our Chinese friends.
Being in Shanghai and putting the names to the unknown faces, we shortly felt comfortable around each other. By teambuilding we could mingle easily and get to know each other as a student. We have learned some interesting things in their student’s life which are imaginable in our Dutch life. Having the lights shut off at 11, you won’t see that on our campus?
Despite the cultural difference we have worked hard to create a poster which made us both happy. The cultural differences has worked in our advance and broadened our perspectives. In the end we, as a multicultural consultancy firm, presented our beautiful posters and pitches to an audience of experts to show that internationalization is our future. Different perspectives give us more ideas and more valuable solutions.
As to answer if this student’s project should continue, I would definitely say YES! We have seen how valuable it is to have creative ideas from the other side of the world. Water problems are not country related, they are global, international problems and they will urge us from all over the world to come together. So why shouldn’t we, as future experts, already start to put our minds together?

(By Darja Tretjakova, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences)

After waking up at five o’clock in the morning we loaded ourselves onto the bus and started off in the direction of the Great Wall of China. I was pretty excited about the trip, as the Wall was on top of my “to see” list. I believe we were getting close to Jinsangling when we decided to have breakfast. After about a quarter of an hour of mime and Chinglish at a local restaurant we got some decent food (and a share of shock after seeing the rural toilets) and continued our journey to the Wall.
No matter how many pictures of the wall one has seen, not a single one beats the experience of actually standing on the real thing, embracing the ancient scent, imagining the effort that went into this immense structure that mostly failed to perform its function.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Ours was only twelve kilometers and it began with an attempt to get rid of the Mongolian vendors who tried to sell you everything from water and t-shirts to cola and books. The effort was unsuccessful; every tower housed one or two vendors who practically jumped right at you with iced water in their hands.
Parts of the wall have recently been renovated; some are still crumbling under your feet. The renovations have made life easier for tourists, yet have killed some of the walls authenticity. This particular part of the wall which we visited is divided between two provinces, both trying to make some money off it. You have to pay to get on the wall, but after about eleven kilometers up the longest wall in the world, Chinese man blocks your way, demanding to pay him to go further. So you think that was it, when you arrive to a point where the wall is dissected by a river. Here, another Chinese man insists on paying him to walk over the bridge, or otherwise swim your way to the other side.
Finally, sweaty, tired, (bankrupt) and satisfied we enjoyed a beer at the foot of the Great Wall of China.

(By Margot Leicher, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences)

After visiting Wuhan we went to Beijing. Here we had just a few days before we were going back home. It was a beautiful last day and we went to the silk market to buy the last souvenirs and of course: Dutch football shirts! After a few hours at the silk market I became crazy of all the people who tried to sell me garbage. So I was glad when I was done and ready for the evening!

It was our last evening in China and the first match for the Netherlands at the start of the world cup 2010. We watched the game at rooftop of a bar, together with a lot of other Dutch people. We all know how we Dutch people are watching football, noisy and with a lot of enthusiasm. It was a nice experience to be so far from the Netherlands and still feel at home surrounded by orange. Werner (see photo) was even interviewed by the national Chinese television, so that was the second time our program reached the television. I actually did not see that much of the match, but I had a great time. Of course we won, so the real party started. The night ended with the typical Dutch polonaise.

Before I realised it I was sitting in the plane back home. I really enjoyed this experience and made a lot of good friends. I hope to see both my Dutch and Chinese friends again very soon.

Watching the game together was the best way to end our trip!

(by Shen Tian, student at the Wuhan University)

On June 10th, after my Dutch friends finished their visit for the Three Gorges, they went back to Wuhan to visit my university, Wuhan University. I met them at the Mingzhuyuan Hotel on campus, finally. Actually, it was just yesterday when we said goodbye at Wuchang Trailway Station, but it seemed a long day for me.
After a short refreshing and dinner, they were invited to our graduation party. It was a party for both students and teachers, a occasion to closer the relationship between them. There were also many professors there. All of my teachers and classmates were excited about the arrival of my Dutch friends. The party was held at a dancing hall, we could also sing Karaoke there. My Dutch friends really like singing Karaoke, cuz I learnt that there were not so many KTV Bars in Holland. We sang, we danced, everyone enjoyed it. Johan also sang a Chinese song, named Toast to the old days.
When we sang the last song together, it was a song about everlasting friendship; everyone was hand in hand, and waving their hands. Suddenly, Tom and Werner held their hands together and let me sit on their arms and began swinging. It was so exciting. I had never done this kind of thing before, cuz I don’t think there are Chinese boys could be strong enough to lift me up like this.
After the party, some of my classmates and my Dutch friends went to a KTV bar, cuz we wanted to have more fun. The more, the better. Besides singing and dancing, we also played a Dutch beer game there. It was really very funny.
At 9 o’clock on June 11th, Rick gave a lecture about Rotterdam climate proof and water issues to our Chinese students and teachers. And then Johan gave a lecture about our project, to let them know more about this project. Then there came the time for students. Erwin, Werner and Harold gave the pitches of their own group. As for me, wow, I was bit nervous actually. I didn’t prepare very well, I think.
After that, we walked around on my campus. It is said that Wuhan University is one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. We didn’t have enough time, so we just visited a small part of my campus. It was a pity, I thought. Cuz I really wanted to show more of my campus to my Dutch friends.
Then we rushed back to the hotel and had our lunch there. In the afternoon, a school bus picked us up and drove us to the Yellow Crane Tower. It is a famous and historic tower and is considered one of the China. Then we went to the riverside of Yangtze River. It is considered the bund of Wuhan. But the driver drove us to a wrong place. It is a newly built park and I don’t think it’s a perfect place for sightseeing of the river. Another pity. Anyway, we still had a good time there.
At about half past five, we had to leave for the railway station. Actually, on the first two days after I arrived in Shanghaiing felt a little bit homesick. But on the last day we could spend together, I was missing my Dutch friends. Even though we were still stay together, I knew that the departure time was drawing near and there was no time left for us, for me. I wanted to spend more time with my Dutch friends. So I just let the school bus drive away and we went to a McDonald’s to have our dinner. The train would leave at nine o’clock, that was the last several hours we could spent together. The last moment arrived finally. I just couldn’t help to cry. But I’m not a girl who likes crying. I tried to hold my tears back and I wanted my friends to remember my smiling face. We hugged again and again, saying goodbye again and again.

I believe I will remember our days spent together forever. Tom, Margot, Werner, Harold, Erwin, Dasha, Vera, Ricks, Johan, I am missing you guys already. Hope we’ll meet again.

(by Carina van Weelden, Zeeland University of Applied Sciences)

Today should become a very special day for all of us, not only because we should see the Expo and present our results to a jury of experts, but also because it was our last evening together as a group.

Early in the morning, we reached the Expo area and found our way through what seemed to be hundreds of people. We had heard before that the Expo was crowded, and a lot of people would go and visit, but waiting times of 5 and even 9 hours in the queues before different pavilions already at 10 am was beyond my expectation.

Luckily, we first had the chance to enjoy the water show of the Rotterdam pavilion, which was especially for our group temporally closed off for the public. While water was falling down from the roof, letters and characters wandered across the created waterfall explaining an innovative water storage system in an urban environment.

After this fascinating event, we could spend the time till the presentations in the evening on our own. Together with a Chinese friend, Wen Bo, I strolled through different joined pavilions, learned about Chinese artists as well as Brazilian city design and even found an environmental campaign of the city of Freiburg in Germany, where I used to live. It is amazing, how many different subjects are discussed in the exhibition and each of them has some interactive and innovative element!

To get from the west to the east side of the Huangpu River, we had to take the ferry, which meant one hour waiting in the queue.  Wen Bo was bravely holding up the umbrella against the sun for both of us, otherwise I would probably have melted right on the spot.

As soon as we arrived on the other side of the river,  I saw only people standing, sitting and walking everywhere, and I felt like I wanted to go back across the water, which actually wasn’t an option because the queues grew to at least 2 hours of waiting. So we fought our way through the mass. But after seeing a few of these great buildings from the outside, we decided to rather relax a bit in the Expo garden at the riverside.

Sitting on the grass patches in-between the expo wetland that was especially created to treat the waste water on the area, we two girls ate grapes and discussed the differences between western and Chinese family and education issues.

Relaxed and equipped with new energy, we finally made way to the Dutch pavilion, through the happy street all the way up to the golden crown: the VIP lounge! I was rather nervous when the show started, and that our group was unexpectedly chosen to be the first to pitch, didn’t help very much. But having my group members at my side did help a lot, so I could do my best to present the advantages of our integrated eco-park in front of the southern coast of Shanghai with the motivation of seven. Thank you guys!

While the other groups presented, I realised again, what a great job everybody did and that both posters and pitches were more than adequate to represent Dutch (and Chinese) water education. When you looked around, everybody said they enjoyed the program and learned from each other. It was an excited atmosphere in the room until the winners of the challenges were announced: To my big surprise, our group even made second place in the student challenge and won the public award! With beaming faces and big books in our hands, we shot some last pictures and started off to enjoy the hours we still had together. A là Chinese, we sat down in a 24-hours noodle-bar, toasted with warm soya-milk instead of beer or Champaign and shared noodle soup.  Although this was maybe not the most elegant way to celebrate, I feel that it was exactly the right thing to do at the right time, remembering my newly won friends as they are.

In German, we have a saying: “You always see each other twice in life.” So everything left for me to do, is to keep my eyes open till one day I will sit with them at one table again…

(by Werner Weeink, Twente University)

The 7^th of June was the most important for the wetskill.com project teams during the Holland Water Week at the World Expo in Shanghai. During the day we wandered about at the expo terrain and visited a number of pavilions. Despite the fact of creativity of some of the architects and the impressive expo terrain, we all were the most excited about the evening program in Happy Street’s –the Dutch pavilion- VIP room.

After a short introduction by Jeroen van der Sommen, director of the Netherlands Water Partnership, it was our time to present our solutions for complex water problems during a 2-minutes-pitch to an international public. Later on there was time for the public and the jury to judge the pitches and the posters, were the solutions were presented in more detail.

The “Live, Love, Levee” concept was the big and justified winner of the evening with a multifunctional levee as their solution to the problems related to flood protection and integrand developments in urban areas. Despite the fact that our solution –a multifunctional pipeline system for Jakarta to solve the sediment and water supply problem in this city- it was an amazing and impressive evening, even more supported by the fact the water professionals familiar with Jakarta’s problem voted unanimous for our solution. 

This evening was a nice ending of our collaboration with the Chinese students; during the project we were not improving our wet skills only, as important was the fact that we learned a lot from working in a project team with intercultural differences.

(By Emma Aalbers, Delft University of Technology)

The ‘official’ program of this Saturday started at 2 o’clock, consisting of a visit to the office of DHV Engineering and Consultancy Shanghai Co.,Ltd. and a typical Chinese evening. In the morning the pitch presentations, to be given at the World Expo on Monday, were finalized and rehearsed for the general repetition at Shanghai DHV in the afternoon. After an 80 Yuan taxi drive away from the city centre (as an indication of the distance) we arrived at the DHV office, the 25^th floor of a rather nice building in the Caohejing HI-TECH Park. Just like everywhere in the city, also here skyscrapers shaped the skyline.

After a welcome and coffee we performed a STAR analysis on the Dutch-Chinese communication and collaboration in the project in the last weeks, which was discussed afterwards. I think I summarize well as I say that the main problems were related to the communication in English and differences in approaching a problem. These problems were not insurmountable though. At least it has not hampered the groups to successfully find and present solutions to the cases, as would appear a few days later at the World Expo.

In a short presentation of Dick Kevelam, one of the (if I’m not mistaken) two Dutch employees at the Shanghai office, we were informed about the activities and developments of DHV in China and Shanghai more specifically. China has been and still is a fast developing market for all civil fields. Walking through Shanghai this is visible by all the building sites of another skyscraper you pass. The Shanghai office is mainly active the field of industrial buildings, ports and waterways and coastal development, an interesting company for some students. The possibilities of internships at one of the DHV offices throughout the world were discussed for both Chinese and Dutch students, just remember the name Dick Kevelam..

Then finally the floor was given to the ‘pitchers’. All groups in turn gave their short presentation, which was timed and provided with commends. The commends however were sparse: an indication of the quality?

Pitch group 1

Feierabend, time to leave the office. Sooner or later everybody arrived at the restaurant, where we had a delicious Chinese meal together and where the whistles were wetted for the continuation of the evening: Karaoke. I’m not sure why it’s so popular in China, or why it isn’t in Holland, after having experienced it here. The Karaoke box soon was filled with people, beer, more and less pure voices accompanying the empty orchestras (Karaoke is a portmanteau of the Japanese kara = empty and ōkesutora =orchestra, FYI) ranging from the Beatles, Lady Gaga to romantic Chinese songs, according to a more or less clear system.. What else to say than it was another interesting day..

(by Rick Heikoop, lecturer Water Management, Rotterdam municipality)

June 7 was the climax of the two weeks program. The day started with a group visit to the Rotterdam pavilion at the World Expo 2010. The Rotterdam municipality provided the group not only with the delta case studies, where the students have worked on during the last three months, but also with free entrance tickets to the World Expo. The group was very eager to see in reality, what has so often been written about the Rotterdam pavilion in the press.

Rotterdam is represented at the world exhibition in Shanghai on the invitation of the World Expo organization. Being the delta metropolis at Europe’s lowest point below sea level, this Dutch port city has explicit ambitions in the area of climate adaptation. Rotterdam is unique in the world in terms of the vast number of projects that are being developed and implemented with respect to climate change.

Mr. Arnoud Molenaar, Programme Manager of Rotterdam Climate Proof, provided an in-depth explanation at the Rotterdam pavilion about the different strategies that are currently being implemented by the city of Rotterdam, to make Rotterdam a climate proof city by the year 2025. the Rotterdam Pavilion was even closed for visitors during this explanation. For both the Dutch and the Chinese students, it was impressive to learn more about these different strategies. The visit to the Rotterdam pavilion was especially innovative as there was a spectacular demonstration with rainfall and a thunderstorm at the so-called ‘Watersquare’. Rotterdam will soon start with the realization of these watersquares, so that densely populated urban areas will be able to cope with periods of excessive rainfall.

As a lecturer I found the Rotterdam pavilion very informative for the Water Management students and one of the best city pavilions of the Expo. It was amazing to see that the trained staff of the Rotterdam Pavilion gave a show and a presentation to the Chinese audience every five minutes from the early morning until the late evening in a never ending flow of visitors. A very good example of a city marketing strategy!

Indeed, the city of Rotterdam has put herself again in the spotlights of an international audience.

(by Guofang Liu, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou)

荷兰阿姆斯特丹国际水处理展中国展感想

刘国防 浙江大学

2010年6月4号，我们参观了该展，这里聚集了中外很多著名水处理公司。他们向我们展示了精良的设备和传达了先进的水处理理念。这对于平日偏重理论学习的我们，是一次很好的开阔视野的机会。

出于专业原因，我主要关注了具有特殊用途的泵和MBR工艺中的膜材料。一个清水泵，还没有550mL矿泉水瓶大，特别吸引眼球，据工作人员介绍，这个小泵扬程为500-600米，流量为1-10吨每天。噪声小，功率大，并且在地面以上工作，从而便于检修。另一个大个头泵，也不含糊，德国生产，可以输送粘稠性液体及腐蚀性液体，扬程在150米左右。该泵在地面以上工作，便于检修，很适合于污泥输送等。对于MBR所用的膜材料，很多公司给出了答案。这些膜材料可以使用3-5年。一段时间后，需要水洗、酸洗及碱洗等。其中一个公司为了延长使用时间，添加了物理悬浮球，该悬浮球可以在全池上下循环浮动。该过程中，可以冲刷膜材料，进而减少了膜污染和膜堵塞。

最后还听取了几个报告，lily向我们讲述了荷兰水质监测机制，对中国的水质监测有很大的借鉴意义。

这次国际水处理展，让我们受益匪浅。我们观摩了先进实用的设备，接受了先进理念，思维开阔了许多，对以后的学习工作有很大的促进作用。我希望，以后能有更多这样的机会。

Feelings after Visiting AQUATECH CHINA 2010

Guofang Liu from Zhejiang University

We visited AQUATECH CHINA 2010 in June 4, 2010. There were many famous water treatment companies and showed excellent equipments and advanced concepts. It was a great opportunity for us, who lay stress on theory ,to open our horizons.

In the view of my major, I put more attention on the pump with special purpose and membrane material used in MBR. Some parameters of the pump are attractive, for example, its lift is up to 500-600meters and flow 1-10 ton per day. Other advantage is of the small volume, low noise, high power and its convenience to overhaul. Used to transport sticky and cossosive liquid, the big pump is made in German and its lift is around 150 meters. It works on the ground for the purpose of convenient overhaul and sludge transportation. Many companies have offered kinds of membrane materials for the MBR. The material could be used for 3 to 5 years and just need washed by water, acid or alkali after some time. One of the companies adds physical suspended balls, which can float in the water to extend its life. In this process, the membrane material is washed to reduce the pollution and blockage of membrane.

Lastly, Lily addressed the mechanism of water monitor in Holland, which is helpful to the water monitor in China.

The AQUATECH China is helpful for us. We visited improved and practical equipments, accepted advanced concepts and broaden our mind, which will facilitate our study and work. I wish there will be more opportunity for us .

(by Mia (Zhe Mi), Zhejiang University of Technology)

Wow, it is 10 days since I arrived in Shanghai on May 28th, starting this amazing trip with the Dutch students. Actually, it is my first time spending so much time with foreigners. So I had been looking forward to it for nearly one month!
Chatting with Dutch students is so much fun. I get to know a lot of things that I do not know before. Wing, Tom, Tim, Bart and Shen Tian are in the same group with me. They are all funny people. Wing is good at organizing our group to move forward and she is so easy to get along with. Tom’s T-shirts are so special and I like the Tom and Jerry one best. Tim really likes beers and making fun. Bart can speak some Chinese which makes the strangeness wears off suddenly. Shen Tian, my roommate, a girl who comes from Wuhan and is a considerable girl.
In the past 10 days, we have went to Hangzhou and visited Xixi Wetland and the West Lake. Watching the fountain show and having a cup of green tea at the bank of West Lake in the candle light drove my tired away and refreshed me up. We also went to Dongtan Wetland in Chongming, Shanghai. Chongming Island is the 3nd largest island in China. There are a lot if reeds growing in the wetland. It is almost a sea of reeds. Walking on the road, listening to the rustle of reeds and feeling the cool wind, seeing different kinds of flowers and trees made this trip so special and cosy. Then on Monday, we started work, making our posters. I think it turned out very smoothly for our group. We finished on Wednesday.
On Friday, in the Aqutech, I saw a lot of purification facilities and pumps. It seemed that we were not very interested in these things. But we had a great time together.
Yesterday, we had really a great time. After visiting DHV, we went to a restaurant which offers country-taste dishes. And after that, we went to the Super Brand Mall and sang in karaoke. For many Dutch students, it is their first time to karaoke. Beers, songs, dancing and laughter made the night fantastic.
Looking back these days, I made a great process in my oral English and got to know much Dutch culture. Huge difference as there are, we still get on quite well with each other. At first I was worrying about whether I will have difficulties communicating with the Dutch students. It turned out to be so well. Now I will even speak English to Chinese students. I also learned our delta design and the different way in which Dutch students and Chinese students handle problems. It is really a pity that we will have to say goodbye soon. I will treasure this memory very much and welcome the Dutch students come to China again!