The Flow of Information

Did you know in China you are not always required to pass down information?

The example I will recount today regards factory holidays. I asked our contact at our regular supplier to tell me the dates they were going to get off for the National Day, about a week before the day. She told me the holidays were'nt set yet, but would be for one or two days starting on 2nd.

She was sure there wouldn't be a longer holiday though. So, unimpressed with the answer I press on, to ask the production manager a day later. He's higher in the food chain, so I assumed he would know. Same answer, not a long holiday.

So I call on the first to get one last paper done before they go on the holiday. The answer? "Sorry, we're on the National Day holiday and it'll be for three more days. Nobody's at the factory." So here I am, sitting here after the holiday and the subsequent weekend still waiting.

The factory boss was traveling in Japan, and didn't deem it necessary to let anyone else know how long or starting when would they have holidays. He then comes back from his trip a day before the holiday starts and declares it three days. Hardly a coincidence.

I won't even bother to ask when the next holiday is.

OP out.