Me Ol' China, 1 week AB (After Beijing)

My first week in Europe or, better say away from China, is ongoing. I have been catapulted in the Western society, especially the Italian one. What do the Italians talk about? Nothing. Italians do not talk, Italians complain! From Alitalia, to the Euro to the cost of living to the politicians to the neighbours to the global warming, Italians do it better, where IT is "moaning".

You try, as a foreigner to talk to an Italian about some internal issues and you will see the reaction you will get from him or her. Example.

Italian 1: This country is becoming impossible to manage but the fault is mainly due to our political class that does nothing but look after their own returns.
Italian 2: Indeed. They are all alike. I really wonder if we deserve a political class like that. Living here is becoming impossible. Life is too expensive and there is nothing in exchange to the tax we pay. It would be nice to pay but knowing that you get something back...
Italian 1: Absolutely. In any other Democratic country this would never happen. Just because we Italians have a short memory they can do whatever they want...
(...)

Same conversation with a foreigner:

Italian 1: This country is becoming impossible to manage but the fault is mainly due to our political class that does nothing but look after their own returns.
Foreigner: Well, I think that people got the governments they deserve as they are a direct expression of the vote. As foreigner resident here I always wonder what makes Italians choose between a politician and the other.
Italian 1: I think that this is the same situation everywhere with the difference that in Italy we always go public with our problems and in other countries they keep quiet.
Foreigner: I do not think so because the problems you have in Italy are pretty unique and linked to the honesty and the abuse of the public trust, power and goodwill
Italian 1: why do you think that in your country is different? At least over here we have nice weather and food ...
(...)

and so on...

Italians love moaning but do not support their point of view to eagerly because they do not like to be absolutely right. They like that someone from overseas tells them that it is not as bad as...

If you want to know what an Italian really think, try to make him feel better telling the opposite of what he or she says.

We are strange animals.

Next week I will be in the UK... My God, even further from my China. Not in terms of mileage but in terms of mentality and lifestyle but it will be only a week before coming back to Italy.

Guys, I really got not too much to report this week except for the emails and messages I keep getting from friends from China. Some are very touching and some are really sweet. I feel I left part of my being over there and I got this feeling that it is not over and that I will go back over there. I am planning to go back by 2010, when I will have finished my Brazilian experience. I am not counting the days because I would not enjoy my life between now and then but, for sure, I am keeping this hope in my heart so that I feel less sad about the distance. 2009 is going to be another year full of events for me and big changes. My family is leaving Italy and as at today it is still unknown where my wife will be settling, but, for sure, away from Italy. I am pretty cool about it because this country hasn't got much to offer to young people and my daughter in 10 years will have to look for a way ahead. I favour Germany and Belgium with greater preference for Germany but, frankly, my opinion never matches my wife's so it will be up to her to decide where and when to move. My daughter would like to go to China but my wife is not keen on that and I can certainly say that there are less chances they go to China than go on Mars... Sorry for my daughter... Anyhow guys, got not much more to report from this end except that I am enjoying the food and I am not going up in weight. Coooooool!

Some of you have asked me what I think about the Economic situation, globally, and especially about China. Frankly guys, I got enough on my plate to be busy with and I haven't got a clear idea but one thought, yes, I got one thought: I am so damn happy that this paper castle is starting collapsing! All the best Me ol' China and next week I will report my thoughts from London.