She was just one small young woman in an enormous crowd a dozen years ago when she, a foreign student pursuing an MBA degree in the US, first experienced the excitement of an "Apple Countdown" as the New Year began in New York's Times Square.
And on the eve of the coming New Year as tens of thousands of Shanghainese stream into Shanghai's Times Square to enjoy splendid performances by pop stars and to share heart-felt feelings with their loved ones, while screaming at the top of their lungs at the New Year's surprises created by the sponsors, they should spare a moment to express their gratitude to the creative, passionate individual who has organized the celebration.
She is Cathy Hau, promotions and advertising manager of Wharf Estates China Limited, and the woman who is the behind-the-scenes general and designer of the grand event.
Year-end efforts
As early as six months ago, Cathy began the preparations for the New Year "Apple Countdown" event. She flew from
Shanghai to
Hong Kong and back several times to purchase bags of cute festival decorations unknown in the mainland market. She sent promising staff members to
Hong Kong for special training.
This year will be the third time that Cathy has been in charge of organizing the year-end carnival and she seems more calm and unhurried in dealing with the piles of minute but essential preparations than ever before.
But recalling the days when she was first entrusted to be responsible for preparing the event in
Shanghai in October, 2001, Cathy says matter of factly: "I felt nervous about this task. Time was rushing onwards and everything was in a mess."
What made Cathy more depressed was the conversation she had with her boss before she was sent to Shanghai. Her boss told Cathy that the company was worried about the chaos that occurred during the 2000
Shanghai "Apple Countdown" carnival due to inefficient crowd control and was considering ending its sponsorship of the event in
Shanghai unless Cathy succeeded in reversing the situation in 2001. Cathy didn't disappoint her boss, or the millions of
Shanghai party animals.
The lobby of Shanghai's Times Square on New Year's Eve was extremely beautifully decorated giving the area a holiday atmosphere with a mist of shining lights and a lovely choir setting off a festive mood. Young people felt the exhilaration and excitement that can only be generated by a live television broadcast.
When 10 "apple lights" glittered one by one as the last 10 seconds of the year arrived, people counted them down together to welcome the new year. When the clock struck midnight and hundreds of balloons floated down from the roof, the crowd cheered through their tears, hugged and kissed and the square became a sea of happiness. Cathy herself could no longer hold back her tears.
"I did it!" Cathy said with emotions. "Shanghai finally has its own 'Times Square Apple Countdown'."
Since that year, the Apple Countdown carnival in Shanghai's Times Square has become an annual ritual celebration and fashion event for
Shanghai residents. Anyone who was a part of the grandest countdown in town was the envy of others.
Being responsible
For Cathy now, organizing the splendid year-end gala is not only part of her job but also a way of showing her commitment to local citizens.
Cathy describes herself as "a responsible person", saying that "people come all the way here in the hope that the Times Square party will initiate the most romantic way to celebrate the most important moment of the new year, so we should not let them down."
Because of her sense of responsibility, she plans to sell 500 sets of limited-edition 2004 first day envelopes at the party and donate all the proceeds to support students in need.
Also because of her sense of responsibility, she is active in funding and co-sponsoring international events, such as football and tennis matches, in Shanghai.
"My motivation is simple: I hope more foreigners can come and experience the dramatic changes happening in China," Cathy said. "Sometimes my friends call me a 'patriot'." It is obvious to everybody that she likes the description.
This year Cathy was nominated as one of the 10 most outstanding youth in the Luwan District.
Living in diversity
Cathy attributes her success to luck - that she is lucky enough to have a group of helpful friends, considerate parents and supportive staff. But one fact Cathy should not forget is her years of marketing experience in the IT and sports industries.
Cathy was appointed marketing director of China.com, one of China's most prestigious dotcoms, in 1999 when the IT industry was entering its heyday in China.
Cathy has always been passionate about what she does, which in turn helps her produce an inspirational performance. In just two years, Cathy has become one of the image representatives of China's dotcom industry.
Previously, Cathy worked for Mission Hill Group in Shenzhen, one of the biggest golf groups in Asia, where she initiated a program to stimulate interest in golf by first promoting the local travel industry.
Thanks to her efforts and initiative, Mission Hill became China's No. 1 in terms of sales.
When asked why she is always so energetic and innovative, Cathy talks about her hobbies: painting, traveling, reading, sports, music and making friends.
"You can never separate your hobbies from your job," Cathy says. "Sometimes when I find myself in a tight corner, I can calm down and relax. Then, amazingly, I find myself being inspired."
