What "American" China is made of...

What a strange and crazy world.

I think I see developed upper-middle class China as a particularly bizarre phenomenon. Somehow it only seems right that if one is closer to the site of impoverished millions that it should be apparent. I am not living with royalty, and there are distinctions for my family that make the possibility of owning a car perfectly unrealistic. Despite this however, my host mother brought me along to purchase some 85 dollars worth of flowers and makes similarly unnecessary purchases on a frequent basis.

My sense of traditional Chinese family is significantly warped. This house seems a far cry from obedience, and studious solemnity. Li Zi spends weekends in front of the TV watching cartoons and week day afternoons alternating between friends houses and computer games. It isn’t that I believe that those who live in China SHOULD have less freedoms or luxuries than we do in America, but it leaves me questioning whether “the West” is all is made out to be. Part of me would be much more at home in the silence of a simple hut in a simple village with rice and several cups of tea. Walking outside only to run into a Wal-Mart, Baskin-Robbins, and Mr. Pizza shouldn’t speak poorly about China, but with a population of tens of millions – I wonder – why? What is it that these people did right that others did not? Why do they get to live in the city, and spend money frivolously? There is almost never a reason to take a taxi instead of a bus, sleep in a fancy hotel, buy expensive imported chocolates – and these are the three things that thrive above all others. It almost hurts to see that the capitalist market, the invisible hand, and free enterprise economics lend themselves to excess, waste, and gluttony.

A quick note on the importance of family. I spent the last day or so wallowing in a medium-deep pool of loneliness, and having re-emerged I have a few lessons of the moment. It is so easy to look at a family and see only the surface and think that everything is well. It seems quite true though, that only in truly getting to know the ins and out of every aspect of life of a family is the picture painted in a fair light. I don’t believe I ever spoke back to my parents, certainly (I hope) never to a point that I turned my back on them or their word. My little brother argues non-stop – but what worries me is that he wins. There isn’t much his mother can (or will) do to get her way on simple things like having him accompany him to the store. I’m extremely glad to have a family that placed such insurmountable importance on respect. I don’t know that I was aware of its presence until meeting its absence in extended form, I think its important and I’m really appreciative to have a family that prioritizes it and has made my life all the more enjoyable because of it. I think it works similarly for friends. Its easy to see two people getting along in the moment, and thinking that they’ve got it good. My friends are awesome, my friendships are unbreakable, I’ve probably upset my friends from time to time – but I love them and doubt that underneath anyone has it better than I do with my crew.

This post may have been uninteresting to some – it is more of a reflection than a story, so to keep those who are in it for the entertainment along for the ride, here are some tidbits worth knowing about China all discovered in my bewildered first week.


• All Americans have blue eyes
• Broccoli is directly translated as “Western orchid”
• In a discussion about Obama’s election my host family’s parents contributed by noting that They “…are interested in the new American President because before he had to be a slave”. They were clear on their belief that this was him – not his people
• My teacher learned from many “reputable” source that the reason that Jewish people do not eat pig is because “Long ago there was a girl in a lot of trouble, and a pig saved her and so now Jews do not eat pigs”
• It is generally known in China that American college students only go to class and go out to parties to have fun. It is expected that Americans don’t participate in any other activities or duties
• A mouse is not heavy enough to press the keys of a keyboard, but can run for more than 50 minutes straight

To all my friends – I really miss you guys, to all who read this – Thanks a ton! I’m enjoying it, I hope you are too.