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TRAVELS IN CHINA 2002

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This Really Is Different

That evening, we went to Yuening's mother's house (I call her Ama) for supper and, as always, she has cooked everything, as in dozens of dishes, and it is all great. As is her wont, she shovels food at her guests for fear that they might somehow leave her table without enough food to last a week. She looks so miserable and makes such noises of disappointment if we refuse anything, that we ate at least twice what we wanted, which was about the same amount as our hosts eat anyway.

After supper I went to an Internet café but, like many things here, it was not a useful trip. I found that my local mail servers are unavailable here and sent everyone an email telling them to use Hotmail, which is accessible in China with only major difficulty, versus the impossibility of other alternatives. Maybe Wei would have some free time that night to lead me by the hand through the maze of a Chinese operating system on a machine much like the one on which I make my living every day.

Everything seems so different in China that this seems like a good place for a “differences” list. I have said that everything here is different but obviously that cannot be so. People here eat, sleep, work and play, albeit differently than we do in many ways. They pollute the air and water, chase their dreams and have families like us but, again, in different ways. A list of some differences I have noticed follows.

1. If you want it “your way” -- go home.

2. It is not considered impolite to stare at others here, and many people avail themselves of the opportunity to do so, particularly as regards me.

3. If you are in trouble in China, you can safely turn to someone in uniform. He most likely won’t understand you, but will be concerned for your well being, nonetheless.

4. Traffic laws are largely ignored in much of China, but since this is expected, everyone gets along well with the apparent aberration.

5. Most public places, streets and buildings are grimy with coal and exhaust soot--and mud when it rains.

6. It really is crowded here. Like NY at rush hour for about 16 hours a day.

7. What is considered edible has few limits. Chinese people eat almost everything and, for the most part, it’s great.

8. The Chinese have much more time than capital. Labor is cheap and labor-intensive production is cheap.

9. Girls walk arm-in-arm with girls, and men with men, but seldom vice-versa, even with married couples. A few of the teen generation are the exception, along with a few stodgy oldsters like us.

10. You are much less likely to be hassled by police here, either internally or at the borders. On my trips here, I have had to open my bag only once to show the x-ray operator that the liquids in plastic bottles were whiskey. I have never seen a fight or public disturbance, other than the ever present noise that is pervasive most hours of the day.

11. Fast food joints are spotless and tended by helpful and friendly people-enough said.

12. Relatively few people wear jeans in Southern China; they’re too hot and don’t fit tight enough to satisfy the younger women. This is changing rapidly, mainly among girls, and every time I come here Levi’s have a larger following.

13. Bargaining when shopping is expected in all but a few “one-price” stores.

14. The Chinese people still think we bombed their Yugoslavian embassy on purpose, and hold it against us.

15. The Chinese people think Taiwan is a remote province waiting for final reunification at some fast-approaching date.

16. The Chinese government thinks that the “one country, two systems” concept will pan out for them. Globalization and the demise of nationalism is ignored.

17. You can find cats, snakes, eels and other less common things on a menu almost anywhere in China. The Southern (Cantonese) Chinese are more adventurous in their cuisine.

18. People still transport things in baskets joined by bamboo sticks carried over the shoulder. A 3-wheeled bicycle with a platform on back is the F-150 of the people.

19. Time in China means something quite different than in the West. Not always faster nor slower, it is just different.

20. The equivalent of siesta is observed here. This allows a little nap and time with the family at mid-day. Of course, living close t one’s work and fast public transport allow this. We should implement it in the West more.

21. Crazies killing people can happen here too, they first do it with rat poison and knives instead of guns. People really do kill people, not guns.

22. What we call the simple pleasures, like walking, eating out without necessity, shopping without buying, playing cards without chips and talking with each other are common in China. So is reading and spending time that is not electronically enhanced. Small-talk still exists here.

23. Ceremony is part of the culture in China, rather than a habit not yet shed.

24. Daylight savings time is a laughable concept here, and probably should be in the U.S. too.

25. Shoes are removed at the front door to keep floors clean. This is a great idea, and I will start it at home soon. I don’t think I’ll have a choice anyway.

26. China is still a developing nation as regards sanitation and medical care; be careful.

27. Almost nobody speaks much English in China.

28. For the most part, you can walk safely, even in the cities, even at night.

29. Families care about, invest in and are involved with the education of their children more than in the U.S.

30. Chinese friends and hosts are obliging and helpful. They have an almost never-ending capacity to make you feel “at home,” despite any differences noted here between China and “home” wherever that may be.

31. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a Westerner to learn Chinese but I’m working on it anyway. The ability to speak Mandarin will be an increasingly valuable commodity in coming years for anyone interested in international endeavors. I think this is the Century of China.

32. If you will need something while in China, other than food and water, you should bring it with you because if you do not speak Chinese, it will probably be all but impossible to find. Unlike home, wherever that may be, familiar things are either unknown, unavailable or too far away to be had.

33. When people say something unpleasant they probably mean it. When they say something nice, they might mean it.

34. Many restaurants are unsafe and the unsafe ones are sometimes difficult to differentiate from the others. In the U.S. many eateries may not have good food but the consumption of it usually will not send you to the doctor.

35. Impossible means maybe and inconvenient can have meanings that vary from “inconvenient” to “of course, that would mean instant death.” Example #1: "It would be inconvenient to eat there tonight." Example #2: "It would be inconvenient to walk in front of a speeding train." BE CAUTIOUS when you hear the word “inconvenient in Asia.”

CHINA TRIP 2001 TAIWAN TRIP 1999

(1) U.S. TO CANTON (2) CANTON (3) NANNING, REPRISE (4) WEDDING TALK (5) REALLY DIFFERENT (6) ONLY ONE!

(7) CUSTOM CLOTHES (8) HIGH GROUND (9) MUGGED (10) TO GUILIN (11) LI RIVER (12) WEI'S CLASS

(13) THE BIG DAY (14) WEDDING ALBUM (15) HEADING HOME

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