Weekly Review: Here are six interesting blog posts from the past week that will help you talk with the young ones, sound like an obvious China newbie, reconcile with your expat existence, educate your spawn, argue that the Chinese don’t understand America, and discover things you’ve lost.
Today’s Chinese Youth: New Citizen New Chinese, New Geek, New Entertainment, and New Life
China Youthology has an interesting paper with the self-explanatory title: “China Youth Trends and Business Implications“. It was actually released about a month ago but I only ran across it through a recent review of the report by Rich at All Roads Lead to China. For those of you who complained about me linking to the Cryptohippie.com electronic police state report last week, I hereby disclaim that this report also serves the interests of the people who prepared it, that being China Youthology, a marketing, communications, and product design consultancy.
What kind of trends?
The trends we are talking about are not what fashion magazines want to feature. They are not about hunting the latest style and taste, but exploring the deep-rooted changes in values and lifestyles. These changes we discuss here became noticeable in 2008, and we believe they are going to continue to manifest and grow over the next couple of years.
Why This Should Matter To You:
- Well, it may not matter to you, but if you’re interested in trying to better understand China’s young generation, this report might offer you some insights.
- If you’re in a business that targets Chinese young consumers, you’ll definitely want to look over this report to see if it will help you better access and resonate with those consumers.
American Ambassador and Governor Talks About China
The Huffington Post recently featured a post containing the experiences and thoughts former Vermont governor and American ambassador Madeleine M. Kunin’s gathered from a visit to Beijing. For many who more familiar and experienced with China and the Chinese, it will be incredibly difficult not to scoff at the stereotypical observations, touristy factoids, and canned insights Kunin makes. In fact, despite what appears to be a conscious effort to repress them, her ethnocentric consternation and judgments are also be annoyingly noticeable, with her poignancy seemingly recycled from the mainstream Western media’s popular narratives about China: “guanxi”, pale skin, the Great Wall, Tiananmen, Mao, the preference for sons, the new greed of capitalism, religious oppression, etc.
For those who aren’t familiar with China and the Chinese, however, it might do you well to go ahead and read Kunin’s piece just to get all those superficial observations out of the way. They’re still legitimate experiences and thoughts, but its important to know just how shallow and overplayed they all are. Knowing that brings you one step closer to understanding just how much more there is to China and its people and, if you’re interested, knowing what else to look deeper into.
I asked him what the most important thing was for young people today. Without hesitation he said, “To make money.” At the age of 29, he already is distinguishing himself from the younger generation in their teens.
“They are just interested in going to bars, music, sex, material things. They reject things Chinese and do not even like to eat Chinese food.”
Perhaps that is one explanation for why the Pub bar in our hotel was hopping, the Italian restaurant was crowded, and the Asian fusion restaurant where we ate was almost empty.
Why This Should Matter To You:
- This is about as much and as sophisticated an understanding of China and the Chinese the vast majority of Westerners have.
- If you can laugh at this low level of cross-cultural literacy, consider yourself advantaged, but always remember that your understanding of other countries and societies may be just as superficial and unsophisticated. The world is a big place.
- So be like Kunin, and know when you don’t know enough, when your understanding is only beginning. We all start somewhere.
Tips and Advice on Adjusting to The Fact You’re In China And Not Home
This may not be much of an issue for older, more experienced China hands that have long ago adopted this country and society as home but for the newer expats or short-term visitors to China reading us here at CNR, Glen at the Lost Laowai blog shares six tips on how to deal the expat blues. We often say that how you relate to China is every bit as important as how China relates to you.
Tip #6: Never Forget: You Are Not Alone
China is full of expats, and chances are that they are all either going through similar feelings, or have gone through them in the past. Count on those around you to help you through your tough times, and pay it forward by helping others as best you can.
If you are in an area that is low on expats, or feel like you do not have strong enough connections, there is always the internet. There are several online communities and forums, like this one, where you can share your experiences and hope for feedback. While the internet lacks the personal touch of face-to-face talks, it has the added benefit of anonymity and is not limited by simple things like distance. I think that the best support would come from a mixture of the two, in order to maximize both benefits.
Why This Should Matter To You:
- You or someone you know is going through the same difficulties adjusting to their new life in a very foreign country, culture, and society.
- You or someone you know is a migrant worker experience similar difficulties because you’re far away from your hometown where you grew up, struggling in a distant city hoping to make a living and support your family as an outsider…and you read English.
Education and Change in China
The past week has been a big week for posts about education in China, such as a series from James Fallows (10 posts starting from 3 weeks ago), a great old 2007 post on historical exams in Chinese history revisited by Jeremiah at Jottings from the Granite Studio, and an on-going discussion from Chinese English super-blogger Wangjianshuo (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) about the educational options he has for his son, which is quite reminiscent of an old CNR post of a mother asking if she should have her baby in the United States. They all more or less look into the particulars of the education system in China both past and present, its pros and cons, merits and flaws offering perspectives, support, and criticism from people of a variety of backgrounds. While not representative of the discussions taking place, the following excerpt from Wangjianshuo is a good reminder for any situation where people lose perspective and start damning China for never changing in this or that:
Considering the last 30 years, even the last 100-200 years, China changed a lot. However, just because China had closed its door too long, and it is too far away from the international world, today, there are still many things that people don’t understand – some of which, I agree that China should go one step further to join the international community, but most of them, it is the international community who need to accept China.
People have the feeling that China don’t change partly because, China does not change as fast as they want, despite that China already changed a lot.
If you have the time, the comments on Wangjianshuo’s posts are particularly interesting, so don’t miss those.
Why This Should Matter To You:
- You’ve always wondered how the Chinese can put up with how they learn or educate their children.
- You live in China, have a child, that child is going to have to go to school here, and you need to know your options.
How the Chinese Relate to America
Another interesting Huffington Post article looks into how the Chinese learn about, understand, and learn from the United States…and why the United States above other countries.
Many other factors certainly contribute to the increasing success of American studies in China. Roberts observes a “near hypnotic popular obsession with the United States.” In a phone interview, she argued that the United States “far overshadows” other countries in the imagination of young Chinese, regardless of their political beliefs: “Even if they hate it, they are still fascinated by it.”
In an additional respect, she suggests that the Chinese want to “use American Studies” to understand their own situation, which she calls “the impulse to use the United States as a prism through which to view aspects of China itself.” She sees this phenomenon “particularly as a way of exploring issues that are in some way controversial.”
Why This Should Matter To You:
- How the Chinese understand or misunderstand others gives us insight into how we might understand or misunderstand the Chinese.
Bonus! An Updated List Of Ways To Hop The Great Firewall
Not happy that the ban on YouTube still hasn’t been lifted? Geoff Ng at the Shanghaiist has an updated list of free ways to get around the Great Firewall to complement out (probably outdated) lists China Proxy Server Tips: How To Read More Blogs and More China Proxy Server Tips for Isolated Chinese Netizens.
- Find a good proxy page. Coobai and G-Proxy are good for most pages, but if you’re itching to hit up YouTube, give Coolkidsonly or YouTube Proxy a try. Just plug in the address and continue surfing.
- GLadder. ONLY FOR FIREFOX USERS. Install it in your browser and click the little ladder button to turn it on. Works off a customizable site list, so you won’t be redirected through a proxy when you try to reach non-banned sites.
Hit up Shanghaiist for the full list!
Why This Should Matter To You:
- You want to access websites that the Chinese government, for whatever often inexplicable reason, has chosen to prevent you from accessing.
- You want to thumb your nose and shake your fist at China’s Great Firewall, but up until now didn’t know how.
That’s it for this week. Have a link to a blog post that shouldn’t be missed? Be sure to share it with everyone in the comments, and don’t forget to tell us why you recommend it!
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CNR’s Weekly Review highlights some of the most interesting and can’t miss blog posts from the English China blogosphere. This week: June 21-27, 2009.
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CNR’s Weekly Review highlights some of the most interesting and can’t miss blog posts from the English China blogosphere. This week: June 14-20, 2009.
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Several days ago, ESWN posted a translation of a Tianya post titled “What is the reason China’s younger generation is losing confidence in the Western...
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Leave it to Kai Pan to denigrate a U.S. Governor and Ambassador for being
a mouthpiece for the evil Western media and all its anti-China narratives. I wonder how one goes about reaching your supreme level of enlightenment regarding all things China? If only you could share just a smidge of your knowledge with the rest of the worlds inhabitants perhaps all this China ignorance could be erased in one fell swoop.
You may not agree with what she has to say, but keep in mind its all based on her personal experience IN CHINA.
XiaoLi,
With all due respect to former Governor Kunin, who was ambassador to Switzerland, the “ooh ahh” tone of the post shows that a degree of ignorance of China (which of course is a complex country) that someone of her stature should not have. One thing that both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. should be credited with is recognizing that the U.S.-China bilateral relationship will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world in the near future, and the Obama Administration seems to be treating it as such.
Of course, it wasn’t her job to track China. But you would think that watching a little of the Olympics coverage or maybe watching Ted Koppel’s excellent series on China on the Discovery Channel would provide a little bit of context that would inform the post.
From the tone of the comment, I assume you are being sarcastic about Kai’s “supreme level of enlightenment”, right? First of all, I’ll speak for Kai, we both realize (as do you) that China is an immensely complex fabric that takes time to understand. And the more you learn, the more you discover how little you know. China is truly humbling in that respect.
CNReviews is about sharing a “smidge” of our knowledge and hopefully readers will contribute their “smidge” back. Honestly, I’d like to learn from YOU. I’m sure you have something to teach me. How about adding another comment that teaches me something in return?
Look forward to it, and thanks for your comment. I’m sincerely interested in your thoughts. Thanks!
XiaoLi, please finish reading before commenting. I said the exact same thing as you did:
One goes about reaching my “supreme level of enlightenment regarding all things China” by taking the time to read first. I fully recognized what she said to be a product of legitimate experiences and thoughts. Like her building a relevant (if superficial imo) narrative around what she heard and saw in China, I simply built a relevant narrative around what I read from her.
This is about as much and as sophisticated an understanding of China and the Chinese (as) the vast majority of Westerners have.
Translation: “This is the extent of my understanding of westerners’ appreciation of Chinese culture, because to look beyond that level of understanding would mean sacrificing the catchall response ‘foreigners don’t understand China’.”
We both know I’m right.
What is not so clear is why you would seek to perpetuate one of the more persistent and nonsensical common myths. I guess you would say that’s because I don’t understand China. Like I said; ‘catchall’.
No, stuart, I don’t say, much less support, the phrase “foreigners don’t understand China.” Some certainly don’t, but I don’t think all foreigners don’t. You are, again, mistaking me for someone or something else, but you’re welcome to try quoting me (remember to mind the context, because if you don’t, I’ll just tear you a new one) since you think you’re right. However, and on the contrary, I actually think a LOT of foreigners DO understand China, some even better than the vast majority of the Chinese by sheer virtue of their natural intellect. I often go about recommending and linking to their blogs, shaking their hands, engaging in productive discussions with them, learning from them. Just because I don’t consider you one of them doesn’t mean I think all foreigners are like you. That’s rather egotistical of you, don’t you think?
…
On a related note, I think there’s a tendency for non-Chinese to get accused of ‘not understanding China’ simply because they echo the thoughts and feelings of other non-Chinese or because they touch on one of those numerous ’sensitive’ issues – all too often taken as a litmus positive for someone who is ‘not a friend of China’. Thus, for many Chinese, at least among the hundreds of students I’ve had the pleasure to teach at universities in China, the understanding of China by a non-Chinese seemed commensurate with the extent to which they toed the party line.
stuart, I’ve gone ahead and edited out the blatant stupidity in your above comment. Repeatedly claiming to have done something is not a substitute for actually doing it. Don’t kid yourself.
The tendency you cite is definitely prevalent with many Chinese, I agree. At the same time, it cuts both ways. The most obvious example is how guilty you are of it yourself (as evidenced by the sheer inanity of your persistent misrepresentations of me), just in reverse. Surprise surprise.
Honestly Kai Pan, get over yourself. Anyone can be an asshole. Attacking your readers is a sure fire way of ruining your blog. Why don’t you be the bigger man and just walk away? Sure it’s tempting to attack people you disagree with with vehement language, but truth be told it reflects rather poorly on you. You honestly come across as a angry high schooler who cares more about “winning” the argument than actually discovering the truth. Quite ironic given that you consistently rail against western ignorance regarding China.
XiaoLi/Gester19:
I accept your criticism of me as someone who doesn’t back down easily from an argument I have conviction in. I accept that some people will think of my willingness to argue and defend my POV as being an “angry high schooler who cares more about ‘winning.’” However, I’m not sure what makes you think I don’t care about discovering the truth. What is the truth I’m caring not to discover here?
That said, please do not use sock puppets (posting under multiple names). I have the decency to take responsibility for my own words and actions. The least you can do in disagreeing or criticizing me is to NOT fabricate multiple identities to create the facade of support for yourself. I already know many people disagree with me or just don’t like how I come across. It isn’t necessary for you to create a bunch of fake people to convince me of it.
Moreover, given that you and XiaoLi are one and the same, it is ironic and hypocritical that you accuse me of succumbing to the temptation of using “vehement language” to “attack people I disagree with”. I mean, aren’t you doing the same thing with both of your identities?
Now, would you like me to share your IP address and details as proof? Or are you willing to knock it off with this immature nonsense?
Can I be the designated Westerner here? ;-)
I do thing very few Westerners understand China. First, few of us bother to learn the language, which is a huge cultural barrier. How would you understand the U.S.A without speaking English??
And there are so many stereotypes about China! I don’t even know where to start. China has always both scared and fascinated the Westerner world.
Yet, there are still political stereotypes, and yes, China isn’t perfect, but eh, plenty of countries aren’t either and nobody gives a damn about them: Russia, a bunch of African countries etc. also have questionable leadership issues to say the least.
Cultural stereotypes… To a lot of Westerners, China is still incredibly backwards. I started to go to China (for studies) in 1999, and even at the time, so many people warned me that I was either going to be jailed, killed (preferably on Tian An Men square) or die of some rare disease (all these factories, you know…). I went to the Olympics Games last summer, and even there, some asked me if China had running water! Duh… no, of course not, the Watercube was filled with imported U.S water :lol:
I love China. It has its share of problems, but it has a lot of energy. But maybe I was brainwashed by the CCP :lol:
Actually, I think plenty of people give a damn about Russia, a bunch of African countries, etc. I do think, however, that China in our times has been inflated to be the next big super-power that the United States or the West needs to be wary of. The threat isn’t just growing economic power, but also the political power that stems from having economic power, and then the social and ideological power that steps from the previous two. While I think this fear is understandable, I don’t think it is necessary and we have ways to fight our fears.
LoL, nice.
I guess it depends on which country we are talking about, but I rarely hear or read bad comments about Russia, at least from the Europeans. And France among others is notorious for its friendship with quite objectionable regimes such as Libya.
The controversy about the Olympics Games, for example, was quite incredible. I couldn’t open the newspapers without reading bad things about China: when it wasn’t about the age of the athletes, it was about the pollution, when it wasn’t about the Tibet issue, it was about Beijing being destroyed etc. I don’t recall that much controversy about any others major event host by any other major country!
And a lot was ignorance. And once again, I’m not saying China is perfect. But choosing it as a scape goat bothers me.
After all, the Western world has ruled the world for quite a while now. It is bound to decline a bit eventually and give way to others countries… Obviously, we don’t like to think this way but it’s a reality. Resenting and bad-mouthing China won’t help!
But I agree with the rest of your comment!
Zhu, there was a lot of good news about China too at that time; I know, as I was involved with the media prior to and during the Games. The papers were filed with stories about the Sichuan earthquake volunteer efforts, the improvement in traffic, the new construction. Lots of bad news, too, but as always, “no news is good news.” I don’t think China was scapegoated. Unfortunately there was some very bad news, especially with the bad air in the weeks immediately prior to the Games. But all in all, China got remarkable coverage for the Games and its goal to use them as a “coming-out” occasion was definitely a success.
Hey, interesting that you should post about that youthology.com thing. I just posted a blog entry with my very lengthy thoughts about it.
Check it out and let me know what you think
http://www.marcpgoodman.com/2009/05/chinas-80s-youth-and-business/
Hey Marc, thanks for the comment. I generally agree with your thoughts on identity and pride in Chinese identity. What I’m not certain of is the dichotomy you present between the “brand-name” shopping 80s generation and the “unique centered” 90s generation, I think a lot of their “uniqueness” is really just a certain manifestation of rebellion and coming of age. With regards to pride in their Chinese identity, I don’t think its necessary to reference it to their interest or lack of interest in “traditional culture.” They don’t have to learn martial arts or enjoy Beijing opera to be proud of just being, well, Chinese. They are simply what they are, and pride in identity just means accepting and not resenting who or what they are.