Finally

Finally...

I have a few minutes to breathe and update my blog
I got better medicine for my spreading bumps
I am leaving for southern China in a week

It's so funny-- the few times I've been here where it's been raining,
the Chinese people react like someone announced a nuclear explosion.
Chinese people must think that they are made of sugar and will dissolve
into dust when touched by the elements. When we were at the Bird's Nest
everyone screamed "XIA YUUUUUUU" (=rain) and grabbed their families,
running like it was the 100m dash. Try finding a cab (usually they're
ubiquitous in Beijing). On that particular day I managed to follow some
strange instincts I had that a Jenny Lou's was 20 minutes walking in the
other direction, in the rain. After all of these bumps and scratching I
was really craving some western food--trustworthy, packaged and not
soaked in oil. Miraculously-- through the rain--I found a landmark and
finally Expat heaven. Miraculously. Anyway, we've actually had some
pretty interesting lessons in class the past week weeks that have armed
us with the vocabulary to discuss slightly more intellectually complex
issues like politics and international development. Dahlia and I have
been talking to our teachers during one on one about some of these
topics-- even some of our teachers (educated young people, right?) seem
complacent about their government. One even told Dahlia she believed the
Chinese government was indeed helping build schools in Sudan to improve
the quality of life. Cough. Cough. Wow. Other teachers have explained to
us (keep in mind this is all in Chinese) that China has had a history of
people that have pretty much followed their leaders without question or
criticism. As long as they had their little patch of land to farm they
didn't care about "politics." I think this may be endemic in the Eastern
countries with such long histories. I remember back in my Extemper days
reading an article in Foreign Affairs that stated over 1/4 (maybe even
more impressive I can't remember) of Russians today would vote for
Stalin in the next election if he was a candidate because they think he
made Russia a great power, forget the human rights abuses. Pssh. China
is caught in the weird phase right now where it admires the US because
of its renown geopolitical power, has an inferiority complex/possibly
dangerous insecurity and finally, wants to become the next US. I
remember my Chinese roommate at Yale telling me that when she was little
she wanted to become not the next Mao but next American President. I
think that summarizes China's present growing pains.

On another note, I've really adjusted to life here. There are a lot of
Chinese people that I like and believe are good people. We've even been
out on the weekends with our young teachers. I can't fathom the pressure
at this age in China-- to be successful. You don't have time to help
silly foreign students figure out how to use the washing machines
because you have four grandparents and two parents putting all of their
resources and energy into your success. Grandparents seem much more
involved in Chinese culture-- many even live with the families
(Confucian idea of caring for elders) and take care of the child while
the parents focus on their careers. However, this "only child policy"
hasn't only produced stress. Because all the focus is on that one child,
many Chinese children end up being pretty spoiled. Lots of little
princes and princesses. :)

See you all soon

Love,
Ge Ying

On my four hours to transfer between JFK and La Gaurdia on my way back
from Japan I am really tempted to stop by the Times Square Jamba Juice.
Hmm. An original Berry Fulfilling anyone? Mom, when you pick me up can
you have a whole mess of grapes?? Or "a whole slew of 'em" as an old
Latin teacher used to say.... K, thanks. :) D & I (Oh, you can call her
gongbaojiding now) are excited to hit Shanghai and Hainan.