More About China

Weather
Wow! I have never been to many places that had that much humidity. Shanghai was a bit humid, but nothing bad compared to the south. Granted, Guangxi province is near the tropics, but still, from what I remember, the East Coast isn’t even that bad…or it may be a wee bit similar. All I remember is that it felt like 90% humidity, even if it was only in the 80%s. Granted, we did have a few days here and there when it reached 90 and above – one day it was (supposedly) reported to have reached 100% humidity….then add the heat! The heat was not bad, but at least in Nanning & Guilin, the humidity was what was worst for me. I can stand heat, like in Beijing, but add humidity, I have trouble. It actually was kind of funny ‘cause we (the group) would be sitting in our air-conditioned hotel – in Nanning – and we would walk outside to go to the “bubble tea” place, and within five minutes, we all – didn’t matter who – would pretty much be covered in sweat. The humidity was so great we just would be drenched. This became annoying more so when we went to go visit the schools and the students would take us around the campus. We ended up dabbing our faces with Kleenex.
On the other hand, we did see rain. Rain in China, at least the south, is NOTHING like rain in Oregon. When it rains, it no only pours, but it dumps buckets. The raindrops are huge, the length of the pouring out of water from the heavens above usually lasts about half an hour or so. When walking in this “lovely” act of nature, one would either get pretty well soaked. Hence, we learned fast that when the rain came, it was best to scurry inside to a local business and wait out the rain. Next to nobody would be out in the streets, even with an umbrella, few dared to venture in the rain. On top of that, the winds sometimes picked up, and then we have driving rain. The wind made it worse. The rain was just incredibly thick and there was just SO much. I guess it is just one of those things one has to experience.

Poverty
I have not seen much poverty in the U.S., but I know it exists. People from other places, I feel, fail to realize it, or realize the extent of it. I have heard reports, numbers, and stats regarding this issue, but numbers alone cannot depict how poverty presents itself in our culture/society.
While in China, I saw the poverty. I saw people begging for money. I saw amongst the poor people exchanging smokes and seeing if the others were able to gather money. I have seen women with a baby or young child in their arms walking up to us (whatever group we were in) and trying to show us their child and just begging for money…or something. That is all they know how to try to provide for their child and themselves. What they do with the few Yuan they get here and there, I don’t know. But it broke my heart to see so much poverty, to see these individuals who would probably never have any chance in the Chinese society, to move out of that poverty. Additionally, if one has a limitation (or what some might call a “disability,”) they tend to be in with the poor group, too. I would think being poor with a [physical/mental/emotional] limitation would be the worst living situation in China.
Our group was fortunate enough to visit Tiananmen Square. In one of the underpasses/walkways under the street to get to the Forbidden City, I saw a man with no hands, begging people as they walked by. He had a towel with something on it, but I tried not to be rude and stare – although staring is completely acceptable in China. But it broke my heart to see him there, to not be able to help him (and I know I can’t help ALL of the people in the world, but work with me,) that nobody else cared to give him a second glance…Poverty in China to me was a solemn reminder of the many blessings I have. I don’t feel I truly saw the extreme effects of poverty’s fowl blow, but while traveling, I did see some rice patty fields, and other farming areas, but I did not see first-hand how poverty affected those small areas one could see driving by.
In all of the places I have been, I have yet to see where there is no poverty that is so prevalent. Maybe not everyone can see it at first glance; maybe one cannot see it in the short time that they visit another place, but it still exists and if one looks hard and long enough (not to say that you all should go looking for the poor out in the streets,) one can see it.

Commodities
Again, I am reminded of the many blessings we have here in America. There seems to be, or at least the feel for the need for, in every household, a: computer, washer, dryer, TV (w/cable or other dish service,) more than one car (or at least one car,) microwave, stove/oven, computer w/working internet, refrigerator, and other devices. Don’t get me wrong: I am not saying these are bad, but not everyone has them. In fact, I did not hear of anyone having a dryer. They hang-dry their clothes. They believe that the sun kills the bacteria and does a better job of drying clothing versus a dryer machine.
I did note, though, that it seemed as if there were a TV in every household. Someone who was a missionary in Mexico told me the same. Families would buy a TV on credit and take a year or two (maybe even more) to pay off the TV. It is interesting not only to see how MUCH we have in the average American home, but also to see the differences around the world in regards to what people desire most to have in their homes, whether it is a personal desire, or a culturally/socially influenced decision.
Still, when I think about it, I am just blown away at the ease of access to such commodities and how much we own. I honestly can’t put it to words. Yet again, though, as was in Argentina, I found myself not wanting that which I did not have. Truly, had I not planned to try and “blog” or email updates of my travels, I felt no need to use the internet, nor did I really even want to. I would have been perfectly fine not checking my email nor going online by any means…. unfortunately, though, there were some things that came up that I did, in fact, have to check my email…and I was lucky I did, too, and was able to see what I needed to see in time. I am ever the more thankful for what I have, or rather, those things to which I have access.

The People
As stereotypical as this may sound, the students I visited and spoke with are such talented, young, enthusiastic individuals with such great potential. They all possess a drive and desire to learn and grow. They all want to know so much, to excel to do their best and to just soak in as much as they can. Some may say that these traits and such are forced on them, are ingrained in their minds, but I truly only believe that is just a small part of it. When speaking to the students one-on-one, one can see and tell that they are truly genuine and sincere when they disclose their plans for life, their dreams to enter uni, their desire to learn English better by going to America. (By the way, from what I noticed, if you claimed to be from the United States, many would give you a puzzled look. But if you said you were from America, they would immediately understand.)
Other people, say walking along the street, would stare, use a cloth to cover their face (because they were afraid of catching the swine flu or something,) say what few words they knew in English over and over and over as they passed by, or just did whatever else they wanted to do, showing their displeasure – it was usually displeasure – that we were there. I grew accustomed to the stares, and in fact, if one stared at me, like someone suggested, I stared back! And sure enough, they would look away or stop staring at me. (Hey: if they can do it and it is culturally acceptable, then why can’t I?) ;-P Anywho, it was annoying at first, but then I got used to it. Overall, though, the people were alright. Not super nice, but not mean/mean-spirited either. (I could say more, but that would cause me to have to tell stories.) :o)