Sunday Shanghai Purchase
I was out and about this morning riding my bike. I thought about the possibilites of anything negative happening here in this small town regarding the Japanese protests. So far it has been contained to only major cities. Nothing massive here yet. I don't believe it will last much longer. Maybe another week. The chinese have short attention spans. ;-) Just kidding. If it happens much longer I think the government will take it as a sign of things going a little out of control and they will crackdown and stop it...that is, if they aren't organizing it. Who knows. I had a little conversation with my Taiwanese-Canadian friend, who is into diplomatic relations and what not. I thought it would be interesting to post online. It gives some interesting thoughts and worries that are out there. And of course, not all chinese hate the japanese. I think the smart people in this country know whats going on. But there are so many that are brainwashed here, a small fraction in this country is still a large number of people. Its nuts. Here it is:
S8: how are you?
ME: a little worried about these protests in major cities in China.
ME: i am not worried so much for myself as I am for my girlfriend, who is japanese, and for the protestors...I believe its entirely possible that another Tiannamen could happen.
S8: oh oh....it's not reported here
S8: they down play the situation
ME: whats not reported?
ME: read CNN.com
ME: thats where I am getting most of the news, and Google.
S8: I follow Canadian News...don't reall like CNN
ME: but I know from the Japanese and what has been said.
S8: is your gf teaching in China as well?
ME: yes. teaching Japanese.
ME: she was warned by her school last week to be careful.
ME: A japanese boss head, here in Xiaolan...who is really kool talked to us yesterday and he said he asked the Xiaolan government for protection.
S8: what was the response?
ME: the response...the government said "Yes." but I have come to not trust anything the chinese say.
ME: I haven't heard of any protests or seen any in this city. but there have been some in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Also, Yumi's school, they have access to the school emails system and one of the chinese teachers who is nice to Yumi and the other Mayu, sent out a really negative email in support of the protesting and the hating of the japanese. Now, the headmaster has suspended use of the school email to Yumi and Mayu so they don't see the bad emails that are still being sent around.
irmenudo@yahoo.com: the protests in all the big cities that have been going on are obviously backed by the government, if not directly organized by it.
S8: how does she feel about it?
ME: she is slightly worried but not really at all.
S8: Then, she should fly back to Japan to be with her family
ME: she feels safe that Hirano-san said that the governemtn will protect her. But i asked her last nite, does she really believe that?
S8: I wouldn't trust the Chinese either
S8: doubt it
S8: it's CHINA
S8: they don't honour anything
S8: people disappear without a trace in China *
ME: Well, so far...only 2 japanese people were slightly injured. I don't believe that it wil get to the scale of straight out violence to people.
S8: I'm not living there, so I don't know what the situation is like. But if she fears for her safety, then she should definitely leave. It's not worth it. China is a communist regime. Can't trust anything they tell you.
ME: i am waiting for the protests to turn against China with people protesting corruption and social reforms...then the government will go ape shit. and do something.
ME: well, she feels safe. and I feel safe in Xiaolan as well...surprisingly. I have talked to her about it, but it isn't that widespread. And for right now, there is no immediate danger.
S8: doubt it...happened years ago...look where it got China
ME: I think by next week or the next, it will be calmed down.
ME: well, the new generation could do it, and the chinese don't learn very easily.
S8: don't think the US will interfere, George has other plans. Besides, the US would not do anything to harm business relations
S8: Not all of them are like that..it's the entire system. Starting from the newspaper...to the text books...everything gets filtered
ME: The US could, I mean, if it has the ability to damage both ties (Japan and China) then I think we could do something to help but nothing more than holding conferences on improving relations n stuff like that.
ME: I am aware of what its like over here.  So much is held from them...
S8: I am Taiwanese-Canadian
S8: people in Taiwan tease me and tell me I don't fit in
ME: LOL!
ME: canadian...giggle.
S8: what? CANADIANS are neutral...peace loving people
Yumi and I went for lunch again and then we walked around People's Park for a bit. We came back to the house and picked up Amy who went to the travel agency with us. First we went to a small place to see about tickets to Shanghai and hotels, but the small place doesn't do hotels. Great. The only other choice was to go to the China Travel Agency. That vile nest of vipers that screwed me over on my Beijing trip, they better not this trip. I really didn't want to go there. Luckily, we did no business with the actual travel agency. In it there was a seperate place that dealt with plane tickets. Unfortunately, the don't work with hotels on Sunday. Go figure. I could have dealt with the small place. Instead I came here only not to be able to book a hotel. I will do so online. That will be interesting. I got the plane tickets to Shanghai. We will take a 945pm flight on Sunday May 1st from Shenzhen and get to Shanghai at 1145pm. Then we will head to the Hotel. most likely the YMCA in Shanghai that I found while searching online later in the evening. We will leave Shanghai to Guangzhou at 230pm on Saturday May 7th. So we get some good time spent in Shanghai. If any of you out there know of places to visit and things to do in Shanghai, let me know! I know a few things from John and Daisy's Grandpa. It should be a fun time.
While walking back I talked to Coco on the fone and she wants me to come visit her place tomorrow because her nephew, Kevin, who I met in Foshan, will be visiting. I could prolly stop by for a little bit before practice.
Well, time for bed. Later.
Comments
Hey Phil.
This is the first time reading your journal thing.
I haven't been too involved in the Chinese-Japanese protest news, but it is a shame that things have gotten to this point. Wall Street Journal says the government is trying to stop the spread and intensity, but it's definitely a "we'll see" situation.
I visited the Nanjing memorial with a Japanese girl that I had met during my travels. It's all the government, man. Japan should just own up to what they did. Nothing will bring back 300,000 tortured, raped and brutally slaughtered civilians. On the other hand, hen something like this happens there's a real value to a apology, on an international level. I don't know what it is, but there's been some incidents where the Japanese seem to be almost fucking with the Chinese. I don't know what's up with that, but it's always a mistake to fuck with the Chinese. Big Mistake.
The other big thing is that in China, your Chinese identity is the one thing you've got. My impression was that so many people that you'd hang out with on a regular basis (and the Chinese are damn clique-ish)have a virtually identical life experience. Society is so put together on that community/national identity, that a major affront to China's honor (especially in the context of "face") effects them all, very, very deeply.
Plus. . .there's a hell of a lot of tension and anger in China, it's well hidden, but definitely there. I'm also pretty sure that this is at least partially a cathartic release for society. Imagine being Chinese, with little opportunity to success (unless you're well connected), no sexual revolution, little to no democratic freedoms. . .well, you'd be pissed too. . .in a nation where anger isn't a society-approved emotion! I think this is what the real cause of the violence will be. . .do you really thing Rodney King riots were ALL about the principal of the issue? Do you think that soccer riots get to the insane proportions they sometimes do over who won or lost?
I read your email Sunday morning, had a little chat about it with my Pop. Anyway, what's scary about Yumi's situation is the tacit approval of these emails by the staff. In the US, writing emails about how you hate a minority group, especially when a member of that group is on the staff?! That's harassment, pure and simple, and obviously if an employer allowed it to continue, all parties would be in deep shit, and rightly so. What else can the allowance of these emails be than the APPROVAL of these behaviors through the refusal to give punishment? The big, cramped, dirty cities are one thing, but in a relatively affluent place like Xiaolan. . .that shit is scary. Like my dad said,"This is a sign of a totalitarian government, this tacit approval of certain kinds of behavior. It doesn't matter how civilized a place you think you're living is, when the lights are out, the shit will hit the fan."
Shudder. I'm sure that Yumi will be ok. Going to Shanghai is a good choice. I loved it there. It's packed with laowai and places to shop. Looking for a hotel online is also a good idea, but I'd look for one more central. You're probably early enough to get what you want if you do it NOW. The Astor hotel that I stayed at was lovely, right on the Pudong river. I guess going to Nanjing is OUT. What else? Ummm. . .
I recommend Old Places near the ex-bowling alley for western-style food. The porkchop "case" is good. Don't worry--you'll get your lactose groove back on when you get back, where if you're like me, you'll be shocked by all the dairy about. Cottage cheese, hard cheese, yogurt, milk, cream, cream cheese, butter, margarine. . .it's all pretty overwhelming.
Have a good one.
John
Posted by: Johnny I. | April 18, 2005 01:42 AM