Today I suddenly had an epiphany about the state of affairs in China. The U.S. was not devastated by any war in its land since the mid1800s. Europe and Japan began reconstruction after WWII, some 70 years ago. But China? China started waking up to an alternative economic model in the late 80s, and by the beginning of the new millennium, soared ahead ruthlessly without regard to repercussion, in an effort to catch up. Catching up to the meticulous engineering minds of the Germans and Japanese is difficult, who are not only technological advanced but whose long term social emphasis do not even come into the conciousness of the short term thinking of the Chinese. And 70 years head start might as well be a thousand years of the traditional ways the Chinese function. So it’s understandable that one of the most twisted, macabre governments in the world leading the most populous demographic in the world, runs up against chaos, inexplicable behaviors, and all kinds of head shaking issues.
Today the cab driver asked where I was going. To Wuyishan, I said, so clean and pleasant unlike other parts of China. To buy tea, I further replied. The cab driver was incredulous. You are going by yourself all the way there to buy tea? Are n’t you afraid of crime? I asked, what sort of crime? He replied, purse snatching! Stealing! Even robbery! I asked, robbery at knife or gunpoint? He says well, either is really rare….. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that in the U.S., we experience mass shootings once a week, daily, maybe hourly random shootings in Oakland alone, and not even for the purposes of robbery. Just random shootings. At least here in China you can be killed for criticizing the government, but being randomly and senselessly killed? Not bloody likely. I felt suddenly Ok with China. Purse snatching? Ha ha ha. They ain’t seen nothing yet.
So off to Wuyi Shan I go, to indulge in some luxurious teas.
Comments are closed.