Well, I made it home from China

[liberal N proud]

As you may or may not recall, I left 3 weeks ago for a business trip to China.

What an eye opening experience. Most of the people in China have little or nothing and little knowledge of the outside world. I worked closely with a couple dozen locals who work for our company in Tianjin, just south of Beijing.

The company provided a driver for us who took us to and from the office and on the weekends did take us to see some sights.

I had a few pictures on my PC of things like the Grand Canyon, New York City and Washington DC, they were like sponges and wanted to know everything about those pictures and those places. They were amazed that anyone outside of China knew of the places we visited.

I tried to log on DU a couple of times to get some campaign updates, I could open the front page but that was as far as I could go. Much of my email did not download until the second leg of my trip to Singapore, some 150 messages were blocked in China over the 2 1/2 weeks I was in country.
I was able to log on in Singapore and replied on a few threads.

You couldn't pay me to drive in that country, there is no rules on the road. I was shocked and amazed at the same time.

I was instructed by my manager to take the people I was working with out to dinner several times as they never get the opportunity. The food, I must say, was very good.

Anyway, its good to be back and now we must fight the good fight and regain the house in 2012 while holding the Senate and White House. Lets get started because we know the teabaggers and their republican friends are not slowing down.

[spanone]

1. welcome back...i can hardly imaging the cultural differences you encountered

[liberal N proud]

4. The cultural differences are interesting

I enjoyed seeing the differences in culture. It is the overall mentality of the Chinese that blows ones mind. They have no concept of standing in a line to wait for something, that means getting tickets to get into one of the many historic sights to getting on or off the plane or driving down the highway. The roads are unbelievable, gridlock everywhere in Beijing, the Ring Roads are mostly 3 lanes each direction but they Chinese drive 4 or 5 cars wide down the road and merging traffic is lunacy, there will be a 2 lines exiting the highway for a one lane exit. Then some driver pulls past all the cars lined up and squeezes in right at the exit.

Hopefully this is a once in a lifetime trip and I will not have to go back.

[madmax]

11. What you describe sounds like South America to me

Venezuela in particular. The roads and crazy drivers, but then again I lived in NJ most of my life so what's different ;)

[liberal N proud]

15. New Jersey drivers are tame in comparison

[madmax]

25. Sure doesn't make me want to go there.

One thing I bet they don't do is flip ya the bird for any real or perceived driving infraction - in their mind. It's incredible. If I didn't get one flip a day I'd be nervous that my driving wasn't up to par.

People are so angry up north. Such a difference here in NC. When my kid came down for a visit the first time he was in shock. In the shopping mall parking area drivers let pedestrians walk first, they don't freak over parking spaces, they drive slow, put carts in cart stalls. Whoa, nice people we aren't used to that in NJ.

[madmax]

2. Welcome home - have you been keeping up

with the latest?

[liberal N proud]

5. Saw the Olbmerman stuff and was able to catch up with the election in Singapore

What else did I miss.

[madmax]

7. You're caught up ;-) KO rules the day.

And the week. After the elections were over and Keith was 'suspended' that's pretty much what we're all ablaze about.

Do you travel to China often?

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. Welcome home!

China is an enormously fascinating country, and I know what you mean about the driving. Course, being a pedestrian -- especially in Beijing -- is also taking your life in your hands. The traffic lights there are just a suggestion.

[liberal N proud]

6. No kidding

I was reading about taking a walk in the city, it said to remember that you were the lowest item on the food chain.

[madmax]

8. Is that true?

I've never had a strong desire to visit China - how long does it take to get there? How many layovers or transfers.

Would like to go to Rome/Venice/Florence next year. Have to save up.

[liberal N proud]

13. China was 14 hours from Newark, direct flight to Beijing

I had to take a 2 hour flight before that to Newark.

6 1/2 hours from Beijing to Singapore then 19 hours from Singapore to Chicago with a fuel stop in Hong Kong.

Europe is about 10 hours.

[madmax]

28. No way I could be in a plane for 14 hours.

Now, I have to check how long to Italy. The most I could do is 8-9 hours. I'd go nuts, I'm a little claustrophobic. Not medically diagnosed, just my own assessment. 14 hours!! Ugh.

[AnArmyVeteran]

9. How much are homes in China? I want to live there.

Any place but redneck America.

[AnArmyVeteran]

10. How much are homes in China? I want to live there.

Any place but redneck America.

[madmax]

12. Costa Rica is the place to go. nt

[liberal N proud]

14. You don't want to live in China

The wages are a fraction of what we make here. Most cannot afford a home and only rent a room, not an apartment but a single room.

[AnArmyVeteran]

18. I get your point, but...

I live in Texas and it's full of hillbilly rednecks. In China I'd be around red commies but they would be better than those damned tea baggers. :)

[madmax]

26. Come to NC it's beautiful and Wake County is

pretty much liberal. Perhaps due to UNC, Duke, University of NC, and a few other colleges. Most of the out of collage age are liberal also. I love it, wish I moved here 20 years ago. I could have transfered. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. I'm here now and that's good.

[proteus_lives]

31. Trying posting what you post in Red China.

"anything would be better"

:eyes:

[leveymg]

16. Welcome back. What would happen in China if there were a full-on US-China trade war?

Would the country act as a one-mind hive or blow apart? I know it's an absurd questions, and you aren't an expert, but what's your gut reaction?

Thanks.

[liberal N proud]

17. If I could have understood Mandarin, maybe I could give an answer

I swear, that everyday when the driver was taking us to the office, the radio was playing some propaganda, but I have no evidence to back that up except the tone of voice of the announcer.

When we were at the Great Wall, there was some Communist Party function taking place and the lady that was escorting us acted fearful.

[leveymg]

19. Sounds to me like it's still a very fearful, unsettled place.

My sister was there right after "the opening" to the west in the late 1970s. It's always been a place that has been been both over and under estimated by westerners.

I would say, at this point their fortunes are very much tied to ours. Which means we either rise or fall together. It all depends upon whether we're tied to them, or they are to us, as to which direction this thing is going.

[Motown_Johnny]

20. meet any missionaries with knowledge of China's plan to take over America?

[liberal N proud]

22. I did meet a Tibetan Monk

He was staying at the hotel where I was. Didn't have much to say, I am sure he had to be very careful with his words.

[Greyhound]

21. And some people wonder why businesses move to China.

Welcome Hone.
:hi:
:kick:

[Recursion]

23. Welcome home

欢迎回家

How much construction was there? I've heard there are places with acres and acres of lots with cranes on them for new developments.

[liberal N proud]

24. I was staying in a hotel in the middle of dozen towers being built at once

There was also much evidence of highway construction.

[madmax]

27. How was the air quality? nt

[liberal N proud]

32. Thick

[cally]

29. Shanghai gave a completely different impression to me

I just got back from Shanghai and I couldn't open any threads. I did get election news from some of the news sites but I had a hard time finding stories I could open.

Shanghai was very modern and wealthy. I think they bulldozed all the tenements and forced poor people out of the city. The buildings are all new, architecturally interesting, and the city feels new and exciting. I think it feels like the US did at the end of the 50s and early 60s when so much construction and 'modernization' was occurring. I heard that there is already durability problems.

The city is filled with western stores with goods more expensive than the US. It took work to find areas with more Chinese goods and cafes.

I felt very comfortable there but I took the subway and rarely hit the roads. I would never ever ride a bike in that city. Drivers are insane.

[madmax]

30. That period of time, 50's and 60's help

build the middle class. Doesn't sound like that will happen to the Chinese who aren't being paid well - hell according to the OP they're being paid peanuts.

At this time it isn't as bad here as it is in China but, really are trying to get there. I know people working 2 and 3 jobs which total anywhere between 63 and 70 hours a week without any benefits at all. It's a disgrace.