Me Ol' China, a thoughtful week.

My family has left Beijing. I cannot describe the feeling of loneliness I have been thrown in. China is not longer the same. I learned to love this place and I taught my family to love it as much as I did and, at least with my daughter, I am sure I succeeded but, with her leaving, seems like she has taken away the enthusiasm I had since I arrived here. It could well be the fact that I see their departure as a milestone preceding the only milestone left in my Chinese experience. I will leave China on September 23rd with an Air China flight. As Peter, my young Australian brother said, seems like I am trying to stretch China all the way. Perhaps is true, perhaps it is just because it's the only airline that flies direct to Rome from the Northern Capital.

Anyway, me ol' China, let's me share some thoughts with you about everything.

this week has been one of the most disappointing here in China under a personal relationship point of view. I had to realise what a bunch of backstabbers the people I work with are. It is sad to admit but I have screwed it up great times. Imagine you go for a trip for a week and at the doorstep you tell your young son that now, he is the man of the house. A week later, when you are back the boy will have developed such a sense of security that he will really believe to be a man and when he will realise that he is still a child, if you leave some guns around, he might even kill you in your sleep. The kids are my colleagues. Defending their work at the eye of the client and the same management and taking on the burden of having to do their job has made them think that they were big boys and could look after mummy... Well, this is something I learned about my colleagues and about Chinese.

If I should find a fault to these people, I would say that they are too sly and they were not tailored to be straight and tell you what they think. While I find this acceptable in every day's life with people I just come across in a restaurant or a bar, I find rather annoying this happening on the workplace or in so-called friendship.

Funny enough a couple of days ago, someone, on a social network posted this question:

What do Chinese people perceived the westerners staying in China? Are they opened to cultural shock brought in by westerners?
I like to hear some feed backs from westerners who stayed in China and welcome their frank comment of what Chinese people think of them......cheers

my answer:

It is difficult to answer to this question as experiences can prove me wrong but in my case I have tried to manage a project basing it on respect, considerations and professionalism but it failed to get through. I think that the attitude of many westerners towards Chinese people is rather arrogant but I have to admit that if I were arrogant I would have obtained better results in my job. This makes very clear that my answer to your question is a No, Chinese people do not find us pleasant in our way of doing business even because they are not keen in straight talking preferring backstabbing and badmouthing to frank comments and relationship. I am pretty sure that this answer to your question will attract some criticism but, as I said, this has been my impression in 9 months of China and despite the love I have developed for this people and this country, when, and not if, when I will come back I will use a different attitude towards locals at work. I do not think that China is ready for the cultural shock, they are light years away from our western culture. It takes time to develop, I am sure.

So, some of you must think... So why are you sad about leaving? The answer is very simple and I answer with a question to you all: Have you ever loved someone that gives you grief, anger, disappoint you? Nevertheless you still love this someone because love goes much deep inside you and touches some spots you do not even realise you had.

My love for China in unconditional.

Do you remember the migrants and the Olympics? well, they are back. The subway system is packed again with people and the streets boost with cyclists. It is nice to see Beijing back to normal. Where were they? Some critics say that they were hidden behind the walls hiding the old and the dirt of Beijing, but the truth is that they were back to their home provinces because the factories were closed.

This coming Monday, September 15th, is public holiday in China, Mid Autumn Festival, introduced this year to spread out the long golden week in May. It is a new tradition that has started. Beijing is flooded with shops and stands selling Moon cakes (search on Wikipedia to see them) and people buying them all over. Even chains like Starbucks have their own moon cakes up for grab and there are a huge variety and size. I think that, so far, this is the richest and sweetest cake I have tasted over here. Deserts in China are normally not sweet and in some case bitter. This one really looks like the odd one. chinese seem loving Festivals and give big importance to all celebrations.

How about Paralympics? As I mentioned in my Comment, I found out that they were not on yet but nobody knew anything about it... Now they are getting some coverage but, in the meantime, factories have re-opened and we can breath again a bit of smog and so the athletes. Thanks for that! Is it so impossible to run Olympic and Paralympics at the same time? Wouldn't it make all athletes feel alike? Probably not...

Now let me talk about this country: the USA... Have you ever heard about Alexis De Tocqueville? If so, you realise that his book doesn't certainly apply to today's America, if not, I recommend to read it as it might have been the reason for which America in Chinese is called Mei Guo, Beautiful country.

I think that America has been showing the worst of itself in the last 15 to 20 years. All the good things built during the cold war have now joined the bad ones they were developing at the same time. What is meant to be a liberal country is becoming more and more protectionist and while they preach fairness and market rules, they are the biggest communist and protectionist block of states in the world. Of course they are above law and impunity is guaranteed for them.

they can break any WTO rule, they can forget paying their debts to the UN, they can decided whether bomb my apartment or not and get the approval for doing that just shouting "fetch" to some little puppies around them, like the Italian dwarf, that you can admire in all his ignorance and bronze face on the left hand side of this page, and the British Puppy Blair.

The latest action is the nationalisation of Fanny Mae and Freddy. In Europe something like that would never be allowed, but in America, they can. I am outraged by the Alitalia scam that compared to the Fannie Freddy deal is really negligible. What a fucking world we live in!

The liberal America now has introduced the ESTA. Have you heard about it? No? read it... http://www.visitusa.org.uk/visitors/esta.aspx Of course it has all been done for your own sake! Because uncle Sam thinks of you! I still am pissed off at the fact that they breed their terrorists and then they are trying to blame the others for that.

How about Condoleeza Bitch Rice? Cuba was hit by Hurricanes and asked for a temporary removal of the embargo. The Bitch refused. No further comments necessary.

How about the other starlet, VP hopeful Palin? any gay friend out there? Be happy mate, with her prayers you might turn straight and perhaps Republican! I rather have a gay child than an homophobic one. But our fellow human beings with Stars and Stripes have felt galvanised by this woman that is homophobic, in favour of death penalty and in favour of carrying weapons. what a woman! fucking hell...

Or if we want to look at their respect towards non Christians, if Liebermann had become VP at the last election would have he sworn on the Talmud? How about an atheist being elected? Does he swear on Darwin's evolutionary theory book? Isn't it time that America becomes a lay state? I find offensive to all non believers living in the US. I think that swearing on the Constitution would be the most obvious thing to do, as sign of respect...

Alexis de Toqueville's America? ah!

How about Italians. This week we have offered a nice show with the mayor of Rome declaring that fascism was not so bad after-all and the Defense Secretary declaring that those who died defending Mussolini fighting the Liberation forces should be honoured as well as the partisans that were fighting the regime they supported. Bloody nice innit? so proud of my country I am, especially of the political class it has developed.

Anyway guys, this blog has been published, extraordinarily on September 11th because I wanted to dedicate my thoughts of to a dear colleague and person that 7 years ago died in the Twin Towers attack with another few thousand people: Geoff Campbell. My sincere thoughts go to his family and the fact that I am preparing to go to Latin America brings back thoughts of him all the times. I met Geoff, last time, in 1999 in Buenos Aires.

Good bye again Geoff! the world has not improved since you left and the world hasn't stop sucking a moment. And you and the other few thousand people are just numbers now, like all the million people killed every single day by religions, politics and bloody money.

The day people will get rid of religions this world will start changing, seriously.

So long folks!

Ad of the week... How about a nice holiday in Hainan Island?

Seeking single females or males wishing to live or visit us in Beautiful Hainan Island Our ideal person would be between 20 and 29 years of age, very open minded and willing to experiment with new idea meet only, game players and phonies do not waste our time we can spot a fake a mile away.
Write will a detailed letter of your interests, no one lines saying lets meet. Use you imagination when you contact us.
.
Beautiful swimming pool, tropical climate and close to the ocean. We require some good information about since we are inviting you to our home, a phone number and a photo is a must. We are not seeking on line chatting for extended periods of time. Want to meet only.
Best letter answered first

How about this?

Hello everybody.
I will be a little bit picky here )) Because I like to see people who are better than me around.
I'm 22, smart, good-looking, honest, self-confident. Single )) Speak 3 languages, work and study in Beijing.
You are:
foreigner (better not asian)
25-35, single
you like how you look like (it means you are neither ugly nor beautifull)
and you are everything what I said above about myself (intelligent, self-confident, successfull, Honest, and not cinic - better romantic)
----------------------------
As far as you and me are both in Beijing, we both know that it's better not to be alone here. But I mostly expect being friends with you.

I have never heard of someone looking for someone worst than him/herself. So, why should anyone reply to that ad? Hilarious!