An Inspiring Expat: Camille Pipkin2009-10-09
This month, we chat with Camille Pipkin, an expat who has reshaped her career to use her passions to help people- and animals- feel their best!
Erin: When, from where and why did you move to Beijing?
Camille: I am from Washington State, USA but moved to China from Arizona. My fiance Ruben was already planning to move to China when I met him and a few months prior to his move he asked if I would like to move to China with him. We had originally planned on coming to China to study at the Beijing Sports University for one year, and as time passed we fell in love with Beijing and decided to stay. We've been here about 2 years now.
Erin: How would you describe your first 6 months in China? Honeymoon period, acute culture shock or a combination?
Camille: Total culture shock! My first 6 months was a total adjustment period. Of course it was fun to see the world in a new light. I enjoy photography and exploring so there was ample opportunity to get my fix daily. Traveling around was another experience .. I was used to driving everywhere in Arizona and turning in the car for a bike took some getting used to. Don't get me wrong I love biking and consider myself pretty athletic but dodging cars, oncoming bikes, and motorcycles is more of a challenge here in Beijing than in the quiet desert of Arizona.
I started to feel more at home around the 6th month mark when I started building friendships and learning that you can buy "normal clothes" and that you don't have to cook apple pie in a rice cooker, but those challenges made for great memories and I am thankful for every step that has lead to my life here. There are probably more story-worthy experiences in my first 6 months than I can count.
Erin: What was your main professional identity prior to moving to China?
Camille: I was the manager of the woman's athletic department at Nordstrom, a large department store chain in the USA. Most of my off-time was spent outside doing something active or at the gym. The store was my job, the gym was my passion.
Erin: How have you reshaped your career while living in China?
Camille: Yes, I took my excitement for staying in shape and being a gym junkie in the US and became certified to teach those around me how to get in shape and to do it in a way that is fun and exciting! Recently, I have taken a huge business step, and opened a high quality functional fitness studio in Beijing called Human in Motion.
Erin: What is the most challenging/ interesting/ rewarding thing about having your own business in China?
Camille: Business in general is "interesting" in China, but what I do is extremely rewarding, and that makes up for it. I get to help people get in shape and feel great about themselves. It doesn't matter if my client is a mother who just gave birth 4 months prior to starting and wants to lose a few pounds or a active man who wants to get ready to run a marathon, everyone has a goal. I get to be their guide to achieving that goal, and when they do, it is an incredible feeling to see the energy behind their smile. We both know they have accomplished something amazing!
Erin: How have your perspectives about China changed? What cross-cultural challenges do you still face?
Camille: My perspective of China has changed. Living in another country really allows you to see the culture for what it is. Before moving to China, I was told it was dirty, unsanitary and I need to be careful. After my first day in China my perspective was totally changed, I suddenly felt safe and welcomed and everyone was extremely helpful. People would go out of their way to help me find mine and that is not something you see everyday in the States. Of course the challenge for me is the language; I suffer daily for not knowing more Mandarin but I know that with a little more studying I will be on the path to eliminating that barrier.
Erin: Outside of your business, how do you stay involved with your community?
Camille: I love to help whenever I can, and I am a crazy animal lady- that's my other passion. I like to stay involved in the community through BHAEEC Beijing's local animal shelter. I go up to the shelter weekly with an amazing group of woman who want to do their part in helping out in any way they can. It is dirty and a lot of work and these ladies really put heart and their time into cleaning and caring for the animals. The shelter has so many beautiful animals that need a home so going up there gives me the pleasure of spreading a little love to the ones that haven't found their special family yet.
Erin: Is this all in line with long-term goals?
Camille: My fiance and I want to expand Human in Motion into a company that produces top quality fitness training, exercise equipment, seminars, and functional training certifications that are made available worldwide. And I will always be an animal lady; it may be through continuing to help out at my local shelter or opening an animal sanctuary of my own some day.
Thank you, Camille, for inspiring us through using your passion to reshape your career!
