I honestly never liked going to China much. It's ok of a place, but it just doesn't feel comfortable to me. Maybe if I spoke the language more it would better, but as it is now, I just find it too alien. And yes, it's a lot different from experiences in Hong Kong.
First of all, China is gray. Actually, it's not gray but more like a khaki color. You know, the kind of brown-greenish color. No matter what time of the day, it just seems depressing. Ok, the nights are a bit better because you can't see so clear what a dump the place is. And I'm not saying this because I'm cruel - I'm saying this because that's how it seems to me.
This is probably a phenomenon in the "developed" parts of China where they are in a hurry of destroying everything in the way of progress, and investing only to the core structures - not cleaning up the mess. Maybe the best description of China is that it looks "unfinished". It's going somewhere but it ain't just there yet.
Second, the fact that the only Gweilo around gets staggering amounts of attention might sound like fun at first, but walking alone in the streets at evening makes you really of aware of the fact, that you're also making about 100 times more money than everyone else around - and you stick out like an albino black bear in a black bear convention. And you're basically inviting all the attention, both good and bad. Not a warm and fuzzy feeling, not feeling like a bear at all.
Going around in a group, of course, is ok. There's power in numbers.
Anyway. I received a good collection of funny memories from China again. It's a place where you never know what you'll get.
I saw three different Chinese men, who all looked and talked like Timo Kahilainen would, if he wanted to do a funny Chinaman character.
I saw a man, wearing a shirt that said "Sell the children for food". I don't know why, but I found that amusing.
I saw a car in the highway that had the Nazi coat of arms and a big black swastika painted at its door. I wanted to take a picture so bad but I was too late with my camera.
I saw many funny Japanese people, and they always do make me smile. Japanese are a completely own race of people, you know, they have a completely different way of going about.
Also, I went to a rather big celebration of a manufacturing company's 10th anniversary of operations. I went there with a few representatives of an partner company of ours who are one of the manufacturer's biggest clients. So, we were one of the honorary guests. That was fun albeit of no real benefit. Anyway, there was a big banquet again, like it is tradition, with lion dancing, singers, traditional dancers, musicians, and all sorts of performances. And a lot of food, of course (including one of my favorites, which is a small complete pork that is roasted and still has its head on and everything. And to make it less gruesome, they put cherry halves to cover its eyes), I really honestly like the banquet food.
I like China. I like a lot of things about. I like the idea of China. I just don't like the reality of China. Hong Kong is better, much better.
For me anyway.
Coming back to Hong Kong is always like coming back home. The streets feel safe, I know where I'm going at every turn, and I know I can survive with English if need be.
Oh, it's already December. I need to do some shopping for Christmas next weekend so I still have time to send the stuff to Finland. I don't yet know what I'll buy, but just walking around should give me good enough ideas. This place is full of stuff you can't get in Finland.
The Christmas-thing is actually quite interesting here. In America the politically correct way to say well-wishes is to wish "Happy holidays" because Christmas is a Christian holiday, and wishing Merry Christmas could offend a non-Christian. Silly, in my opinion. I never really understood the big issue of political correctness.
Anyway, in Hong Kong and also in China Christmas is Christmas. They don't give f*ck about it being a Christian holiday. They just want to spend money and give presents to everyone. They like the decorations, they like the theme of Santa Claus, and they like holiday spirit of Christmas. Of course despite the name, the Chinese don't consider Christmas being the birthday of Jesus our savior Lord. They don't give a rats ass about that either. It's just another shopping spree.
This is for the privileged of China, of course. Try wearing a Santa Claus costume in China countryside and ho-ho-ho! the people into Christmas spirit and you'll probably just get shot for being an annoying asshole.
If you got the money, you can have your spending experience that is called Christmas.
It's actually funny. I think many Chinese don't even understand the meaning of the word Christmas and it will probably end up a synonym for spending - perverting the original Christian idea completely. Ha, that's some anti-Western-culture-influence at works there.
So, let's all get our biggest Christmas socks, shove them up where the sun don't shine, and go out for a shopping spree! Christmas is here once again!
No comments:
Post a Comment