Thoughts on China...

Here I am early in the morning...usually I am up by 530 or 6am...trying to sort out my thoughts on China. We have had the merest of glimpses into this very complex society. It would be very arrogant of me to pass judgement. I can tell you what I think. The people are shy of foreigners and curious about what we think of them. They don't have the confidence we do. The apartment we live in is large and fully serviced but it is only 5 years old and looks 25 because it simply isn't maintained. You can have a shower no problem but you must keep your mouth closed and never brush your teeth with tap water. You will get sick! They open the windows but there is no fresh air really. They will run you over or come within inches of it. They will shove past you and no one ever lines up for anything. Spitting is ok, even in a restaurant. So is picking your nose and smoking. Dinner for 6 with beer was $18 the other night. Everything is cheap including life. Still if no
one taught you that this was not acceptable wouldn't we be the same? Are the educated different here? I am sure they are and I wish I could see it from their side. We are living in a very middle class area of Xi'an but are spending our days with nannies who come in from the countryside every day and work 8am to 8pm six days a week for more money than the average workers gets in China at around $25 dollars a month.....plus one big meal a day. There are 21 children at Starfish. Did I mention that the orphanage had 600 kids plus or minus? And that it is one of thousands of orphanages. I am not to offend the Chinese government so am limited in what I can say. We are trying to find out where the Catholic Church is here ,but anything with Catholic is blocked on the internet and there are no yellow pages, and I am sure I don't know how anyone finds anything here because if you ask they say "I don't know". We are glad we came and are having a fascinating
time. Everyday is a real adventure. I am glad Isabel blogs...she sees things differently than I. I would not like anyone to base their opinions on the people of China or the country on my thoughts. I am after all a guest here.

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