Journal Excerpt: Helene Sajer

During my first visit to China, I have been shocked, awed, and occasionally concerned upon seeing how quickly this country has developed in recent years.  Just looking out the window while driving around Beijing or Shanghai, the rapid growth and changes that have taken place in the last several years are truly astounding.  Entire schools with multiple buildings and facilities have evolved from just one building in no time.  Fifty story apartment buildings are slammed up against their predecessors, two story apartments in a small community.  In Shanghai, it takes forty five minutes to get from the outer limits of the city to our destination.  These parts of the city haven't even developed yet, rather are set as the boundaries on a city that anticipates being home to 100 million.  Despite the fact that this growth may be unsustainable and that China will soon face several serious problems such as pollution, water and electricty shortages, and extreme social stratification as a result of this growth, I still feel that it is truly impossible for any society to compete with the Chinese.  The tenacity, determination, hard work, and dedication it takes to survive and be successful in China, especially in the larger cities, has evidently shaped its culture and people.  When the Chinese speak of the future or demonstrate the technologies they hope to incorporate into their society, they are talking about the next one or two years before the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai rather than the next twenty.  The Chinese are certain that they will become the world's next superpower in the very near future.  It is not a question of whether, rather how soon.  Even more interesting is how deeply rooted this sentiment is in Chinese culture and society.  Chinese students go to school from 7:30 AM to 5:20 PM with almost no break.  When we asked our EFZ partners why they always made the "peace sign" in photos, they responded with "no, that means "v" for "victory"".  With every cultural demonstration we see, another piece of the Chinese mindset becomes clear to me, all of which show me that the Chinese have been preparing to become the "middle kingdom" and the number one in the world throughout their history.  China is taking off, and I am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to see it now as it develops and to have this small glimpse of the future.  There is so much more that we could not have seen in such a short time, and it is clear that I must return.  I can only hope that i am fortunate enough to come again, to learn more about the Chinese culture, and to improve my language skills enough to become a part of the spectacular society that is China.  Anyone who has had the opportunity to witness this country and society evolve, if even for a short time, cannot help but realize that we must join with China if we are to succeed or even to keep up.

[Editor's Note: The picture depicts Helene showing off a painting she's just purchased from the artist who invited us into his home during our hutong tour in Beijing.]