What is China?

Hi all

After some positive feedback from my previous comments, I am gettinga bit carried away (Will I end up still writing about China in 60years time like Alistair Cook in USA with the BBC, I wonder?). Ifeel like I can continue to let you all know a bit more about Chinamore frequently, and not just what I have been doing.

Briefly, I have done the Shanghai conference, upgraded my hard seatto hard sleeper (thus ensuring I have tried all 4 classes on ChineseTrains), created a CSR Learning Network (oooooh) bought some shirtsfor £2 each (from a proper shop, not a market) and started gettingrid of my (SARS-like) illness. I also heard it is 27 degrees in theplace I am heading to in 3 weeks, yippeee

anyway, back to business! What is China?

This is an interesting question. It struck me (not for the firsttime, but most recently) walking over the footbridge across the roadwhere a poor lady was holding her child, and both were not moving -it was only about 2 degrees. Although this is not a very common site(you will see it several times a day, but I imagine it is worseelsewhere in China and the rest of the World), it reminded me ofChrisi (another AIESECer working with us) who gave 2 RMB to a beggaroutside the train station because she felt like there is no socialnet in China, whereas in Germany, she would not so readily give, asthere is one of the best in the World.

So although not an expert at all in politics, philosophy or history;I think the following deductions can be drawn:

1) China is not democratic as there is no voting generally

2) China is not free, as you are supposed to apply for permission tohold a gathering of anyone more than a very small number of people,like 20! And of course, they censor the media -in regards theinternet, particularly heavily

3) China is pretty autocratic, as what the government says goes, butthere are a lot of 'leaders' -not just 1 'dictator', and stillcontrols things (eg. you have to register when you move location, in(some) hostels they show a list to the police of who are theresidents that night)

4) China is not particularly socialist, as there is no real socialsecurity as far as I know (or can visibly see), yet there is aminimum wage sometimes, but no limits on working hours, or stronglabour law

5) China is very competitive -the average graduate salary has halved(apparently) due to competition for places, China would generallyput its economic wellbeing over its environmental and social, andwill certainly only do what is best for itself.

6) China is very capitalist -the few who make money live very verywell

7) China cannot be communist because it now has pretty much a marketdemand economy

8) China is not religious -religions are certainly not encouraged,and indeed the Vatican still recognises Taiwan as 'China', ratherthan China.

9) China is very friendly and close-knit. All the students put theirparents as their role-models and leaders who they aspire to be, andChinese people are always more than willing to help, even at theirown expense.

10) China is very selfish -pushing and shoving are natural, as wellas are grabbing, and although crime seems rare, I know 3 people whohave been pickpocketed on the bus. The rules of the road arenot 'give way', but 'you give way to me no matter what' leading tomany frequent accidents -I saw a body lying in front of an accident2 weeks ago and although some people were staring (The chinese dostare a lot) traffic was as normal, going around the body, thepolice were just looking, thinking and wondering what to do...

11) Chinese youth are VERY hard working, determined and ambitious.The elderly don't seem (and I don't know them that well at all) likethat -just frequently sit around

12) China is not hygienic with food or bodily functions, yet willcover your jacket when it is on your chair to keep it clean (andstop it getting stolen) or in Shanghai, every taxi has bright whitecovers on its seats

13) China is cheap, but only essential things. Anything electronic(and not copied) or luxurious is expensive -Due to marketing I amsure.

14) China is very proud of its heritage and culture, yet everyonewants to study abroad, marry a rich foreigner and work for a foreignmultinational.

15) There is no transparency in China whatsoever, yet there isdetermined effort to stamp our corruption. The effort may never beenough due to the cultural aspect of guanxi...where does a favourturn into a bribe?

Of course, these are just brief ramblings and personal observations,but if anyone knows what China is, please tell me! In the future Iwill talk more about what China calls itself (politically etc) -eventhough this is mostly rubbish (a taster being the 1 country, 2systems model, despite there (for me anyway) evidently being HK,Mainland and Taiwan equalling 3 at the least)

I mention this, because as you may have noticed, some of the abovewere slightly contradictory and by the time I had finished eachsentence was a paradox in itself. I have touched upon before Chinais the biggest paradox of all, and I remain that way.

Lastly, have a browse of this, that I just found:http://www.asianjoke.com/oneline/50_myths_about_china.htm. Itconfused me greatly!

good morning (its 3am...)

Adam