Here are a few odds and ends from this trip to China. The more time you spend riding this dragon the more you find out that many things you assumed were far from true.
Here are some random conversations from Dalian and Beijing with a little context. For those that don't know, Dalian is an industrial port city in North China. It is a boom town - dozens of cranes dotting the skyline.
Dalian - Discussing the number of apartment buildings being built. My first question is whether they are being built by the state or by private enterprise. I am told they are being built by private interests for profit. Dalian has a very mild climate and is on the ocean. It is a very desirable city. New. Full of parks and monuments. China has beautiful parks - amazing. The apartment buildings must be at least 50 stories. They are sky scrapers and they are going up everywhere. I ask if they are selling fast. Knowing there is a severe housing shortage in Dalian - so bad that couples delay marriage because they can't find affordable housing. A sad look. A shaking head. 'Chinese do not like living like that'
Beijing restaurant at dinner - A random conversation with a couple at the next table. This happens a lot in China. I mention an email I received from a friend of mine. After watching the Opening Ceremonies she sent me an IM saying 'someone in London just had a heart attack'. I laugh but the couple looks serious. They say 'We are Communist. We can do these things. But we wonder if it is worth it'
Dalian restaurant at lunch - Another random conversation. I ask a lot of questions in China because I am very curious about the way people live. The woman I am talking to is a professional. I ask her about the job market. She shakes her head. Says it is getting harder for univeristy graduates to find jobs. She says that many people are taking lower level jobs just to make some money.
Beijing hole in the wall I stopped in for a snack - As soon as the owner realizes I am an American she literally drags her teenaged daughter over to the table. The girl protests in Chinese but the mother will not relent. The daughter says that her mother insists on English lessons and wants her to sit and talk to me. So we sit and talk. The girl going through all of the standard school girl English. 'Where are you from?' How old are you?' I pick at my 'mutton exploded the onion' talking to and encouraging her.
Dalian work site - Pulling up pictures of Bush on Wonkette. He looks drunk and the Secret Service is helping out of his chair. I show the picture and mention that he is an embarassment. The team surprises me by mentioning that they have already seen the pictures. They do not disagree.
Beijing airport lounge - conversation with the director of a marketing firm. She keeps saying WHEN China joins the WTO the economy will explode UPDATE: As pointed out in the comments by edtastic - China is already a member of the WTO. I keep thinking that IF China joins the WTO, the US is royally screwed unless we have a back up plan. I mention that I own a consulting company doing work for a client in China. She gives me her card. I think - not for the first time - that this will not be my last job in China.
Dalian bar tonight - The departure of Liu Xiang from the games has been devasting to the Chinese. He is a national hero. Earlier in the week I had the surreal experience of watching about 200 Chinese watching the archery competition on the the big screen TV at the Beijing airport. Every soul hanging on each shot. I mention that it is a real shame. I want every athlete to compete to their absolute potential at the Games. I love that M. Phelps won within fractions of a second. Everyone doing their absolute best. Someone sitting next to me laments that all of the focus in China is on gold medals. He shakes his head. Says that when he looks at the second place winners he can see the defeat in their eyes. And he doesn't think that is right.
What does all this mean? For me it means that China is not what we think it is. The Chinese know the score. And they are questioning their situation. During the primaries I had another surreal experience trying to explain why Obama could win the vote but his nomination could be overturned by the party leaders. I could see them trying to reconcile this with what scattered information they have about Democracy.
Is China going to change overnight because of the Games? No. Are people questioning the rightness of their system? Yes. The Chinese know what is up and they know what is at stake. I know the Games here are controversial. But I also know from talking to people that they are a point of debate. And any time people are talking - and questioning - the potential for change lives. I, for one, am hopeful.