At LOHOGRES, we say: “Great buildings need solid foundations—so do great teams.” This year, we traded blueprints for Chaoshan’s ancient lanes, and came back with more than photos: we brought back a team that feels like family.
“First, have a cup of tea”—Where Culture Meets Camaraderie
“Welcome to Chaoshan! 食茶 (Drink tea) first, talk later!” That first sip of kung fu tea—fragrant, bitter, then sweet—was our introduction to a culture that values patience, precision, and connection.
Wandering Chaozhou’s ancient city wall, we met Master Chen, an 78-year-old woodcarver whose hands still steadied as he carved lotus petals. Suddenly, our own work felt closer—every tile we craft demands that same care.
When Team Building Feels Like Hanging Out
Our days blurred exploration with laughter. At that century-old tea house, Wang from Engineering (who once built a screw-sorting robot) somehow spilled tea everywhere. “Relax, young man—tea’s about sharing, not perfection,” Auntie Lin chuckled. That afternoon, the quiet intern from Design finally opened up, telling stories of her grandma’s tea garden as we passed the teapot around.
On Nan’ao Island, we chased waves at sunrise and built a sandcastle that suspiciously resembled our latest project (complete with a seaweed “LOHOGRES” flag). Later, roasting sweet potatoes on the beach, Jiang from Sales grinned: “Building a team’s like this sandcastle—needs everyone’s hands to stay strong.”
The Kind of Bonding That Happens Over Hotpot
Chaoshan food isn’t just eaten—it’s a team sport. At that Shantou hotpot joint, 10-year-old Kid (the owner’s son) became our “beef coach”: “Triple-layer belly—涮 (dip) 8 seconds exactly!”
By the end, we were sticky with broth and grinning like kids.
Bringing Chaoshan Home
At LOHOGRES, we build materials that shape skylines. But this trip reminded us: the most important structure we’ll ever build is our team. Chaoshan taught us that great things come from patience (like tea), collaboration (like passing teacups), and pride in craft (like Master Chen’s lotus).
Now, when we walk into the office, we don’t just see colleagues—we see 胶己人 (our people). And that? That’s the best foundation of all.
Here’s to more 食茶 breaks, more hotpot debates, and building something stronger than any material: us.
