It's no surprise that Web sites get blocked here, but this must be the most extensive one that I've seen with a certain 20th anniversary coming up. Blogger/Blogspots, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Hotmail, and Windows Live (seem strange?) have been reported blocked by domestic servers. (There are ways to get around it though.) It's not only Web sites either. BBC and CNN broadcasts have been suddently blacked out. Newspapers have been shredded or not delivered if they have a special section on the event.
With 20 years gone by, it seems like the majority of those in their 20s don't really understand the significance of the day. It's a combination of what they've been taught (or not taught, I should say) and the overall economic success of the country. There's a sense of contentment among those who have gone to universities and now live a more Chinese middle class lifestyle. In general, those in the working class just look to get by. No need to create any problems or think outside the box.
With this said, there's still enough here and out there to create concern for 'them,' and the coverage continues around the world...Here are some links:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/chinas-great-firewall-blocks-twitter/?hp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/02/twitter-china
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thinking about privacy and personal space again...
Privacy in China is mental rather than physical. You make yourself unaware of who’s right next to you, whether it’s someone shelling beans or having an argument or brushing his teeth in his underwear....This insightful comment was made by Emily Prager, a longtime New York resident who decided to make Shanghai her new home. Her first person account of the move was featured in the New York Times in July 2007. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/garden/19shanghai.html?ex=1185508800&en=9b279bb67f43bb8b&ei=5070&emc=eta1) It was just about the time that Josh and I found out about the possibility of our upcoming move.
I recently revisited the article after finding it in my e-mail inbox. The quote explains many things that I've seen here. Whether it was the man urinating in the bush in a busy neighborhood, and along the same lines, the numerous children using floors in supermarkets or trash bins to do their thing, the way people pick their nose and clean their ears in public with their long pinky nails (mostly men), or conduct themselves in gym locker room. (I'll save those details for a feature post in the works.)
The same goes for personal space. It's all inside your head. That's why there aren't any excuse me's or apologies if someone bumps into you - even if it could have been avoided. It's why I practically got pushed over going through a clothing rack because the women next to me was going at a faster pace.
It's truly an ingenious coping mechanism - a way to make daily life more tolerable -when you live in such close quarters and deal with what appears to be an endless sea of people. From an outsider's perspective, these things can be puzzling and frustatrating at times.
These observations are more than a simple case of bad manners though. They represent a stark reality that exists for residents. Many say years of poverty and isolation created these behaviors. Bottom line is that it's important to understand why people act the way they do. Unfortunately, it doesn't always make it easier to deal with. More importantly, you hope that the conditions that people live in here will improve...and then perhaps, their manners.
I recently revisited the article after finding it in my e-mail inbox. The quote explains many things that I've seen here. Whether it was the man urinating in the bush in a busy neighborhood, and along the same lines, the numerous children using floors in supermarkets or trash bins to do their thing, the way people pick their nose and clean their ears in public with their long pinky nails (mostly men), or conduct themselves in gym locker room. (I'll save those details for a feature post in the works.)
The same goes for personal space. It's all inside your head. That's why there aren't any excuse me's or apologies if someone bumps into you - even if it could have been avoided. It's why I practically got pushed over going through a clothing rack because the women next to me was going at a faster pace.
It's truly an ingenious coping mechanism - a way to make daily life more tolerable -when you live in such close quarters and deal with what appears to be an endless sea of people. From an outsider's perspective, these things can be puzzling and frustatrating at times.
These observations are more than a simple case of bad manners though. They represent a stark reality that exists for residents. Many say years of poverty and isolation created these behaviors. Bottom line is that it's important to understand why people act the way they do. Unfortunately, it doesn't always make it easier to deal with. More importantly, you hope that the conditions that people live in here will improve...and then perhaps, their manners.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Yes, I am...an American!
We did good America! President Barack Obama. It feels really good to be able to say it. This election meant many different things to Americans. Most of us are able to take away something by his victory. As President Obama said:"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
I'm glad we have an intelligent (and Democratic) voice back in the White House. Most importantly, America overcame a racial barrier to elect its first black president. It's about time!
Living abroad, I really got the sense of how low our reputation had become in the eyes of the world. There was a sense of disappointment and maybe even anger: Bush, Cheney, their policies, treatment of detainees, the war in Iraq, etc. I also saw how closely many non-Americans followed our presidential race. Our friends watched the debates and wanted to discuss them! CNN US political coverage can get to be too much, but thank goodness they kept us in the loop here.To celebrate the anticipated Obama victory, I went to an election event on Wednesday morning sponsored the American Chamber of Commerce - Shanghai, U.S. Consulate and American Women's Club at the Hilton. As you can imagine, it was an overwhelming pro-Obama crowd. Who wants to come out to drown in defeat? Hee, hee...(An American pub nearby had sponsored an Obama event...something tells me that had more fun. Oh well!) A group of us with our Obama buttons and gear eagerly watched the results come in on a big screen. Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, etc...
I clearly remember the moment. CNN was announcing results, but then it flashed to a screen that said President Elect Barack Obama. We screamed with excitement. People rose up around the room to clap. Pure eurphora. Loved it! It was moving to see Obama speak in front of the thousands in Chicago after the victory. (John McCain also gave an eloquent concession speech.)
One of my friends here who is Argentinean (but spent most of her life in Brazil) wrote to me to say that she was so proud of America and Americans. She even got emotional with Barack's victory.
In some ways, we've partially redeemed ourselves by electing Obama. Now for the real test. Time to get to work. Time to try to rescue the economy. Figure out how to end the war in Iraq. Rebuild America. I definitely feel comfortable and optimistic with Obama leading the way.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Got (melamine free) milk?
I cannot even begin to fathom who would think adding melamine -- an industiral chemical -- to baby formula wouldn't get babies sick or kill them.
Melamine commonly is used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. This is the same chemical from China last year that sickened and killed thousands of pets in the U.S. The chemical can make milk seem like it has a higher protein level.
Now we have over 50,000 sick babies and four that have died from the contamination. The company then tried to cover up complaints as early as Dec. 2007, the New York Times reported. This scheme has bankrupted the company. Plus, China's entire dairy industry will suffer. For what? So a company could make a little extra profit.
In Shanghai, there is hardly any milk left in aisles once full of numerious brands. I checked three grocery stores this week. The tainted milk has been pulled and then everyone rushed out to buy the imported milk. (It's not recommended to buy fresh milk here because they add too many hormones.) I only have one spare half gallon of my imported milk from New Zealand. Hopefully, they'll restock the shelves with 'good' milk soon. In the meantime, I bought some Australian soy milk.
The milk scandal in China has ramafications throughout the world with products being pulled from the shelves containing potentially tainted milk powder: cookies, pastries, and chocolate. www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/world/asia/26melamine.html?hp. One of the largest Chinese product recalls is White Rabbit, a popular milky tootsie roll-like candy. I've had the candy before and now wonder if it had melamine in it. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/26/china.milk/index.html. These products aren't as dangerous as the powdered milk formula because of the lower content of milk in them. The babies in China relied on the milk as their main source of nourishment.
Let's just hope the government understands that it needs to step up its inspections. It's a problem all over the world, people don't care about others when they start getting too greedy. This time, the consequences are devastating for babies and their families in China.
Melamine commonly is used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. This is the same chemical from China last year that sickened and killed thousands of pets in the U.S. The chemical can make milk seem like it has a higher protein level.
Now we have over 50,000 sick babies and four that have died from the contamination. The company then tried to cover up complaints as early as Dec. 2007, the New York Times reported. This scheme has bankrupted the company. Plus, China's entire dairy industry will suffer. For what? So a company could make a little extra profit.
In Shanghai, there is hardly any milk left in aisles once full of numerious brands. I checked three grocery stores this week. The tainted milk has been pulled and then everyone rushed out to buy the imported milk. (It's not recommended to buy fresh milk here because they add too many hormones.) I only have one spare half gallon of my imported milk from New Zealand. Hopefully, they'll restock the shelves with 'good' milk soon. In the meantime, I bought some Australian soy milk.
The milk scandal in China has ramafications throughout the world with products being pulled from the shelves containing potentially tainted milk powder: cookies, pastries, and chocolate. www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/world/asia/26melamine.html?hp. One of the largest Chinese product recalls is White Rabbit, a popular milky tootsie roll-like candy. I've had the candy before and now wonder if it had melamine in it. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/26/china.milk/index.html. These products aren't as dangerous as the powdered milk formula because of the lower content of milk in them. The babies in China relied on the milk as their main source of nourishment.
Let's just hope the government understands that it needs to step up its inspections. It's a problem all over the world, people don't care about others when they start getting too greedy. This time, the consequences are devastating for babies and their families in China.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Did I really see...
a two year old infant pooping over a garbage in a subway station? It was during the weekend rush, too. The mother held up the infant while she did her thing. Then shook the child to finish off the job if you can imagine. I turned away pretty quickly once I realized what was going on. Yikes!
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