The End

Sunday June 20, 2010

So I thought I would close up shop here and try to summarize 2 weeks of immersion in a very different place.

Best thing:

The people, their strong family structure, friendliness and naive trust in people was what I enjoyed the most. Seeing grandparents playing with their grandkids in the parks, grown children holding hands with their aging parents and old folks dancing in the parks at night left me feeling warm and fuzzy. Everyone had a smile and offered “hello” to us out of towners and we felt welcome there. The woman on the train who left her pocketbook and cellphone in the seat next to me while she went to the bistro car to get hot water was my first introduction of how trusting people are of each other, and strangers (which historically has gotten them into trouble). The way the cars, bikes, scooters and pedestrians watch out for "us" and not "me" and the tolerance for each other is be a trait we Americans could use more of. For some reason, the males here are not the macho jerks you see back home. Women seem to be treated more as people than as women by men.

Worst thing:

The air pollution never went away in the whole 2 weeks we got there and I am guessing it is from all the coal they use for generating electricity, cooking and heating. And yet you don't notice it after you are there for a day or 2. I only really noticed the smell on the day we came back from the Great Wall in the mountains.

Economy:

They are growing like crazy and they know it and they are a little worried about where it is going. Cranes were building 40 story apartment buildings, factories and office towers everywhere we traveled, condensing older, less dense housing and sucking people from country life into urban life. The effect is the standard of living is rising in China and people feel like this is their time.

Transportation:

I am a bit embarrassed to say that if the U.S. ever wants to get serious about efficiently moving people and goods around, we should contact the Chinese and have them build a train and bus system for us. They are good at it, it is cheap, and it is used by all of it's people daily. Local people and goods transportation is still pedal bikes and electric bikes and they are cheap, easy to move around in and provide daily exercise for young and old. Cars are appearing because they are a status symbols being marketed to them, not because they make much sense.

History:

As an outsider, I think of the century old history of China, but the Chinese think of their history as starting in 1949 with Mao.

Government:

While the government is central, day to day life seems to be local. There are police here and there, but with very little crime, there does not seem to need to be a big presence of police. People are careful to not talk about the government too much. Everybody there thinks Obama is great, but if asked about Bush, they say nothing. They do not criticize our government or their own. Beijing is the home base for government and you can see the grand government buildings everywhere. If they want to build a railway, it just happens. I suppose if you are in the way, you have to get out of the way. There are no drugs here, drug dealers are executed, period.

What things cost:

If you stay away from any place outsiders may go, then you can get a nice meal for $2.00. Food is cheap and I assume energy is cheap given all the air conditioners we see in every shop and hotel. Gasoline is $4.00 per gallon, more than here. Like many countries, if you live simply, you can live cheaply, but if you want to go to a western chain restaurant, the price is 8 to 10 times higher.

Pet peeve:

The culture is to throw things on the ground. That nice new train has garbage all over the floor at the end of the trip. People throw stuff on the sidewalk. There are lots of city workers picking things up to offset this, but there it is still there.

Sanitation:

While perfectly safe if a little common sense is used, you have to watch it a bit. They cook most everything, they only serve hot water, not cold. Public toilets are very smelly and you have to learn to squat if you are going to use them. Kids pee (and worst I suppose) on the sidewalk which probably saves a lot of diapers. Facilities near places where westerners go are pretty normal.

The influence of the outside world:

It is sort of sad to see all the western marketing being set up in China. Skinny models in skimpy clothes with too much makeup, ads showing model families showing off their new car, cool young people drinking Red Bull. I hope marketers are not successful in convincing the people that their lives suck without all these products, like they have been here. I hope the Chinese hang onto those strong family ties they have. Quality of life does not require makeup.

For me traveling is a chance to prove that Vermont is the most beautiful place to live on earth. It is good to be home.