Thursday, August 16, 2012

Final Thoughts

It's the following morning after returning from China, and all I can say is WOW!

First, it was an incredible gift to be invited along, and I thank Vicky for sharing this with me.  She is one of the truly most generous people I've met in a number of ways, and I'm grateful for her love, wisdom and companionship on this trip.

So how do I summarize this experience?  It was indeed a learning experience and shattered many of my misconceptions about China and the Chinese people.  China isn't a developing nation, it is developed.  Just like in the US, we have people who live relatively rural lives and some who live in huge cities, there are Chinese who live quite rural existences, and also many many Chinese who live in cities that dwarf New York or Chicago.  Urban Chinese have jobs similar to ours, love their family, are sometimes bored with their work, get sick and tired of traffic, sometimes have ambitious plans, other times are content with what they have (be it much or little). So in one key way, my trip confirms what I've long suspected... people around the world are much more alike than we are different.

So the rest of this post is some random thoughts...

One interesting note is that I saw relatively few examples of starvation levels of poverty.  China has a different approach on this and a few guides told me that the vendors and even beggars are permitted because everyone should have the opportunity to earn.   But even then, there were never more than half a dozen at a given location (ship ports, train stations, etc.).  Far more people were trying to sell even the smallest items rather than begging, and none of the beggars seemed to be starving (I'll admit that's my opinion based on body size, muscle mass, etc.).

Traffic in China is a constant game of chicken.  Generally the larger vehicle gets the right of way and roads are shared with all manner of vehicles.  But there's an interesting overlay to the pecking order in that if your vehicle is a banged up POS, you then get right of way over nicer vehicles.  So the one vehicle that always seems to be moving is the hand-pushed (or pulled) garbage cart.  Even at total gridlock, they just keep on walking and it seems the cars find a way to give a little space for that.

China is really gearing up for tourism and the single thing holding that back is air pollution.  I was in locations that I knew had wonderful vistas, but you couldn't see anything but the faintest glimpse of mountains.  I remember over my life time how much grander the view is around New York now than back when I was a kid, and I know that a society can work so that air quality can be improved - and will be once the Chinese party decides its time for that.  I really look forward to being there once they do that.

The amazing opportunities in China are matched by a "eat or be eaten" sort of mindset.  I was amazed several times at how hard a typical Chinese person works to execute in a role that is similar to one I see back home.  If we ever have to compete head-to-head with them, we'll need to step up our game.

So... it was stunning vistas, great times with nice families, heavy traffic, relaxing cruises, exhausting stairs up mountains, crystal clear mountain air, and suffocating city air, and many many other things.

It was China!

Thanks again to Vicky, Tiger & Brandon for sharing the journey.

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