Band on the Run, stated on another thread, that rather than hearing that China is now the world's greatest manufacturer of cars (something, I guess, no red-blooded American wants to hear), that her preference is to hear about:
If you are in China, I would much rather hear about your experiences. How much freedom do Christians have? Does it vary in urban or rural areas? How is Mao treated by the government? Are there KHs in China?
So OK - let's do it!
First, I don't live in China (though, I wouldn't mind living there) but I have visited China on about 12 occasions. I also have a number of Chinese friends, so I thought I'd tell you about the friends I've made and their lives. I won't use their real names, as I've no permission to discuss their lives.
1. My friend Mxx.
I met this girl, when another friend arranged for her to be a guide for me in his city. It was an arrangement made out of friendship and was not commercial.
This attractive and mature young lady works in the office of my friend. She is studying acountancy part time (two nights a week) and hope to qualify as an accountant one day. Her grandfather was an accountant, so she feels there's a sort of family tradition. M lives with her boyfriend of two years, because she so often works back, he cooks the evening meal. They live in a small studio type apartment and a few months ago paid a deposit on a new (under construction) two bedroom apartment in a new part of the city with wide roads and lots of parkland. Her English is quite good, though she says it's difficult to practise, as there is not always the opportunity to meet English speakers. I'd judge she is very happy with being Chinese, but is also outward looking. ** We correspond (maybe an email every month or two).
** Most Chinese I've met are outward looking, interested in learning about life in other countries.
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My friend, XHX.
This is Mxx's boss. I met him in Australia, where he spent near 10 years studying. I helped him through a problem once, and he still shows his gratitude, whenever I visit. He also asked my advice on whether he should (then) attempt to permanently migrate, or to return to China. I told him, that it depended on his personal goals. If he stayed in Aust, he would be living in a mature economy with diminished opportunities. He could have a good life here, but he may have to put his mind to sleep. OTOH, if he felt he was up to the challenge, China had opportunities that Australia could not offer him. His home province has a population of100,000,000 people. His home city has a population of 15,000,000. Sydney has less than 5,000,000, New South Wales state around 7,500,000.
He chose to return home to China and took over a small family business and turned it into a dynamo associated with the construction industry. (Mostly selling imported products). He was later invited to become a member of the city government and is often travelling the world as part of his city trade delegation. Next month he's off to Germany on city government business. He has a special interest in a new city development which is really huge, with wide roads and parks with many trees, and in the centre a huge lake has been constructed. He's rightly proud of his city and his role in its development
I visited recently. He picked me up from a huge modern rail station. On the fast train, we'd travelled the 85 km in just 25 minutes. This time he was in a chauffeur driven, Mercedes S350. He explained, that nearly every night he's out at some official function (which involves drinking toasts) and his family took him to task about his safety - hence the decision to have a chauffeur.
Here's some piks of the new city, where he lives and works.
