China Trip Impressions: The People

There is not much we did in Shanghai that was new or special, so I did't take any pictures of the sites and scenes in the city. Also, it was raining all weekend and so most of our time was spent inside watching TV, visiting the theater, or eating meals in restaurants around town. But, I was thinking that one thing I hadn't really mentioned was my impressions of the Chinese people we met and interacted with during the trip, including my friends.

Each sector of Beijing spawns a different variety of people. Nanjing and Jiangyin felt more consistent across the entire city. My personal sentiments and impressions of the Chinese are described quite completely in an interview with Peter Hessler in the WSJ. He couldn't have described how I feel any better. I am not sure if you need a subscription, but if you are really interested, I can email it to you.

Here is an excerpt:

The Wall Street Journal Online: It seems that everyone you meet is trying to get ahead one way or another. How does this mesh with our ideas of Communism, which at least in the old Soviet Union seemed to curb individual effort?

Peter Hessler: The whole thing has been turned on its head. In the past it was a group-oriented system and the individual wasn't expected to push. But the individual has been unleashed to work for his own benefit. It's amazing how they've responded. We're witnessing the rise of the individual in China. They are self-motivated, taking risks, making decisions for themselves. Each of the people in the book sees themselves more and more as individuals. Their stories matter to them and they realize they can change their own lives.

It's remarkable, and we can be very slow to recognize this. There hasn't been a political change. The Communist party is still in control. As someone living there I've never felt the political system is on the brink of collapse. But all of the individuals I know have changed how they view themselves and how they view themselves in relationship to their country. This is an early stage.

WSJ.com: In one scene, you describe an aspiring teacher bribing a local official in exchange for expediting necessary travel papers, yet many of the young people we meet in your book seem more naïve than their American peers. Is there a contradiction here?

Mr. Hessler: People have different skill sets. China is a very corrupt society and people learn that quickly. It is also a very fast moving society, where you have a Wild West business mentality. In an environment where things move so quickly, corruption is a result. Every character in this book does something that is illegal or immoral.

I care about all of these people and they are very decent, but they did things that were technically wrong. It says something about how it is a pragmatic age in China, one where people have to learn how to get things done. It's impossible to play by the rules as far as paperwork goes. You see individuals struggling with this issue. At what point is this wrong? It's a tough environment for young people.

Returning to Shanghai from a Beijing, Nanjing or Jiangyin is like returning to the United States, or in the least, a Tokyo--especially when my favorite pizza joint--Papa Johns--is available for pick-up or delivery. :-)