The New China Etiquette

About Us

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The Chinese American Etiquette Association was established in August 2005 as a non-profit organization in San Francisco. Its mission is to explore the differences in manners and customs between Chinese and American cultures in today’s technological enviroment. We are concerned with how cultural adaptation occurs. For example, how do today’s personal and participatory media (i.e. email, blog, SMS, Podcasts) impact us in identifying and adopting the protocol and etiquette necessary to thrive in either world?

The old saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans” is not sufficient for bridging the communication gap and cultural differences between China and the US. The world operates in the climate of globalization with a constant need for cross-cultural communication. CAEA explores how interractions occur during a process of cultural adaptation between these two countries and cultures.

I think one needs to understand the culture in the country you are in but still stay true to your own values and beliefs. You do need to understand the things "not to do" so that you won't offend others but then stay true to your own beliefs.

- Linda Pei
President of Women’s Equity Fund

"Etiquette is a strong indicator of character and background."

- Terry Johnson
A Silicon Valley HR Veteran at Cisco Systems and CAEA Guest Speaker

We add value to our community by issuing unique, proprietary newsletters, organizing events and providing trainings on a broad range of topics, such as executive visits, cross border conferences, fine dining, wine tasting, dress codes, cocktail networking and public speaking, to name a few. We are also in the unique position to help expand the image of Chinese abroad and improve the civility at home.

Through its focus on personal and business protocol and etiquette, CAEA seeks to help the new generation of corporate settlers in the US and in China achieve eloquence and excellence, and excel both in personal and professional life in a cross culture setting.

What Makes Us Unique?

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The Focus
We focus on exploring the differences in manners and customs between Chinese and American cultures in today’s technological enviroment.

We deliver our newsletter, events and trainings with a series of narratives drawing from the real life experiences for today’s fast paced technological and cross-cultural environment.

The Community
We are building a community of Chinese contemporary professionals and Western friends who are actively learning about China and its engagement with the West.

The Open Platform
While we serve our members with our own staff, we work with outside protocol and etiquette consultants and advisors on various programs. CAEA is an open resource center for its members.

The Experiences
Surround yourself with the experience of a group of Chinese Americans who understand what it means to be in two different cultures. We have lived in a cross culture environment from the time we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night; from changing diapers to sending children to college; from wrapping Christmas presents to handing out a red envelope at the Chinese New Year . . . we just have the real experiences to share with you.

What Do We Offer?

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Our Newsletter
The monthly e-publication “The New China Etiquette” is our unique flagship product with a focus on cross culture topics. It has garnered strong interest among a community of Chinese contemporary professionals and Western friends who are actively learning about China and its engagement with the West.

“The New China Etiquette” is the only publication of its kind exploring personal and business protocol and etiquette between Chinese and American cultures. We have developed a series of narratives drawing from the real life experiences for our readers in today’s fast paced technological and cross-cultural environment.

Our Events
Packed with dynamic networking activities and hands-on cross culture content, our events deliver you a set of solid and practical skills which benefits both your personal and professional life. You’ll feel more confident and more knowledgeable when you walk out of our events.

Our Training
Menus Don’t Scare Me – this is a member-only program and designed for Chinese professionals who are traveling to the US for business and study, or who are actually living in the US.

The Native English Corner – this is a member-only program and designed for those who are bound for the US and want to have a crash course to practice their spoken English with the natives in both China and the US.

It’s not about how many vocabulary words you know; it’s about how you speak and what you say! Build up your content and speak in the right context with our selected staff and advisors.

Customized training - CAEA provides both individual and group training sessions for the following programs:
1. Executive visit planning and traveling abroad
2. Cross border conferences
3. The Executive at the table
4. Executive Stationery
5. Executive Wardrobe: dress for business and business functions and parties
6. Public speaking and presentation
7. Fine dinning and wine tasting
8. Cocktail networking

The Letters
To comment on our stories or share with us about your views, please contact letters@chinaetiquette.net

The Team

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The Management Team
Vida Zhang Fargis – President
Bing Wei Edwards – President, US Operation
Pearl Lin Ulrich – Vice President
Xiaohua Song – Treasurer
Crystal Lu – Fund Raiser/Grant Writer
Dong Ling Li – Web Master
Boying Hao – China Program Coordinator

The Contributors
Helen Wang - Founder and CEO of e-Mobilizer
Jackie You Kazmerzak – Co-founder of CAEA
Laurent Guinand - President and Founder of GiraMondo Associates LLC
Lisa Spivey – Director at a cross – culture training and consulting company
Liwei Huang– Director of Marketing at an Aviation Financing Company
Paul Fargis – Former President of The Stonesong Press in New York

The Advisory Committee
Carlo Schmed - General Manager of Crowne Plaza International, based in Jinan, Shandong, China.
Beth Fargis-Lancaster - Executive Producer of Vassar College and New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater, based in New York.
Laurent Guinand - President and Founder of GiraMondo Associates LLC, based in Washington, Laurent, a native of France, developed innovative tools derived from strategy consulting to enhance the wine tasting experience and is currently writing a book on the economics of wine.
Linda C.Y. Pei - President and Founder of Women's Equity Fund, the only women's equity fund in the world, based in San Francisco
Lisa Spivey –Cross-cultural training coach fluent in Mandarin. Lisa conducts training for executives of American corporations of Chinese etiquettes/culture for their China operations, and is based in San Francisco.
Pamela Yatsko - author of New Shanghai (published by John Wiley & Sons in 2000). Pamela was the Bureau Chief of the Far Eastern Economic Review, and stationed in Shanghai in the late 1990s. She is currently a full-time freelance writer based in San Francisco.