The Western Bubble of Wuhan is just across the street from the hotel … the local Starbucks store. Stepping into it feels a bit like stepping back into Western culture, suddenly the cacophony of sounds is changing to relative calm with only subtle music in the background. The outside hustle and bustle changes to a relaxed atmosphere, food is Western, desserts are sweet and sugary – and eaten with forks rather than chopsticks.

Entering and leaving the place has somewhat the feeling of crossing an invisible and sudden (cultural) border … from China into the West and vice versa.

For me this Western Bubble feels a bit like a double-edged sword … on the one hand we are here to experience Chinese culture, so spending too much time at Starbucks will not support that experience … on the other hand, it is nice to know there is place nearby, one can go to when one needs a break from China or just some proper afternoon cake.

In any case – we (i.e. the manufacturing sub-team) crossed that border today once more and made it into Starbucks country to discuss how to proceed with our other customers (after the first final presentation yesterday) – and to dig into some good cheese cake.