Send Your Children to China to be Good Commies

[anygunanywhere]

My employer was going to send me to Commie China. That is why I stopped traveling. I refuse to go. Their food sucks. Pollution is worse than anywhere in USA. No Catholic churches. No guns.

Why go?

Anygunanywhere

To broaden horizons, learn about another culture, see how the "other side" lives, and all that goes along with it. I'd jump at an opportunity to go to China (inland China, not just HKG). If you refused to go, how do you know their food "sucks"? Surely you are not basing it on the "Wok on Wheels" (or other local Chinese food places) menu?

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

You do of course know who General Chiang Kai-shek was?

My dad married Genral Shek's WW2 chief deputy's daughter. Free Chinese Royalty. I was his best man.

She was the wicked witch of the East.

All she served was genuine chinese food. When we went out with them we were served the chicken feet and raw stuff that still squirmed.

Thanks. I have had enough. I don't need to go there to experience China. I have had my fill.

Anygunanywhere

[pbwalker]

Well, if you want to base an entire country off of one person, that's fine.

[anygunanywhere]

Well, if you want to base an entire country off of one person, that's fine.

Well, I guess I am guilty of that. Too bad.

I still am never going to China.

Anygunanywhere

[RoyGBiv]

You do of course know who General Chiang Kai-shek was?

My dad married Genral Shek's WW2 chief deputy's daughter. Free Chinese Royalty. I was his best man.

She was the wicked witch of the East.

All she served was genuine chinese food. When we went out with them we were served the chicken feet and raw stuff that still squirmed.

Thanks. I have had enough. I don't need to go there to experience China. I have had my fill.

Anygunanywhere

I'd really like to hear that story in detail... Sounds interesting.
CKS was the less-bad dictator, but still not a guy to be trifled with.
THE best museum I've ever been to is the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
You want to put me to sleep, send me to the Louvre or the Orsay (Tower of London was pretty close second, not exactly a "museum")
I've spent a lot of time in Taiwan and mainland China. The changes over the past 15 years are nothing short of amazing.

Doesn't change the fact that they're still communists, unfortunately. But, give it time. They are all Capitalists at heart.

Genuine Chinese food is THE GOOD STUFF. What's served in the typical "Chinese Restaurant" in the States a real Chinese person would never eat. We'll have to agree to disagree on the food issue. I subscribe to the "no parts wasted" diet, except for organ meat.

[suthdj]

Not sure what a royal Emperor is thinking on this.


I spent a few years in China, so a couple of notes on what others have said.

Catholic Mass- available is almost every major city in both English and Mandarin/Cantonese

One Baby Rule- If you are in the country side and have no money to pay off an official this MIGHT apply to you. For everyone else this law is largely ignored. Most of the girls I knew that were of a lower middle class (in China standards) had 2 kids.

Money- You will see more Range Rovers, Lambos, Bentleys, etc. in one week in a major city in China than you will see in a year in a major city in the US. China is still an improvised nation. There is a great disparity in wealth, but there are lots of folks with lots of money. The local Chinese people are now heading to Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan in droves to shop and spend money.

Internet- Varies from hotel to hotel, city to city, and factory to factory. Some areas are no blocked websites, but sadly the majority do. Strangely enough this forum is NOT blocked.

Guns- never seen one there, not even on a policeman.

Food- different. I personally like it, but this is really more of a personal taste issue

Beliefs- the people here are crazy about lucky numbers, dates, which way a desk faces, running water, how one sits a purse down, etc. etc.

Never lived there but went 4 times over a 2 year period to visit my then GF now wife. She is from Chongqing. I was raised with the same misconception as most in this country all my preconceived ideas were wrong. Funny story- it took me almost 2 years to get my wife here somewhere in the middle of that my mother commented to the likes of the commies were holding things up. Well to me that was funny she was silent when I told her "no it was the US Gov't stalling things" the commies could careless who left.Honestly forget anything you heard about China until you have been there.

[RoyGBiv]

Guns- never seen one there, not even on a policeman.

I've seen a few guns... The police on the street don't have guns, but the border guards used to. I remember the days arriving into Shanghai (or worse, taking the boat from HK to the mainland) and being greeted by a gaggle of border guards toting AK-47's. They've dialed back the overt presence quite a lot, but I'm sure they're still there behind the glass.

Really the one major concern when I'm traveling there is privacy. Who's listening to my calls? Internet? Am I being watched in my hotel room? Kind of like the NSA here, without the video.

Sounds like AnyGun has given it a try <respect> and decided it's not for him. Don't let him dissuade you from trying for yourself if you get the chance. Their form of government sucks, but the people are generally fantastic (there's always bad apples) and the history will make you feel small. I was there a few years ago, visiting a place I had been many times and as we drive into town there's a big billboard proclaiming this the year of the citys' 5,000th anniversary. Yes.... 5,000 (obviously they were taking liberties a bit, but...). You can't experience that by staying in your pajamas.

[Purplehood]

I tell you what, I would visit China before I would visit Russia. And yes, I would gladly visit China, I am not being sarcastic.

[Stupid]

I lived in China many years. One thing you need to know is that makority of the Chinese can't care less about religion. They may be superstitious but religion has no place in their daily life. There are of course religious people but most aren't.

I don't fault you for not liking Chinese food. That is a personal preference. I personally think Chinese food is beyond fantastic. Just the variety would blow your mind.

Guns? China has a total ban on firearm. Crime rate is so low that police see no need to carry firearm.

[ryouiki]

I think I can understand Anygun's sentiment....that said:

I have no specific experience with China, but right now I'm not sure I would consider it. I know of people who have spent time there (much like some of the other posters) and on the other side I have been acquainted with people that "escaped" for being labeled one thing or another by the government (they certainly had some frightening stories to tell).

"It was very safe when I lived there... people are friendly... I wasn't afraid" are great... until the stuff hits the fan (for one reason or another). Suddenly all those great things dry up, and as a foreigner you'll find yourself with very few if any friends, and little to no recourse (if you think they normally have few rights... you will have none)... and depending on where in the world you are, being a from the U.S. could very well be to your detriment (particularly if they think you are worth something).

Over the years it seems my biggest determining factor on foreign travel is what you wouldn't normally notice... and what you probably wouldn't want to notice. Things like...when you get off that plane as a tourist/job/etc., you might not see that the guys flying aren't even allowed leave the plane... they'll be lifting off to get out of the country ASAP, as their safety is considered to be in jeopardy.

Then again there are states in the U.S. I am starting to think about avoiding in the currently political climate.

[MeMelYup]

If something were to happen there would be 10,000 hostages.

[RoyGBiv]

I think I can understand Anygun's sentiment....that said:

All good points. You're certainly entitled to make your judgements and act accordingly.
When I'm traveling in foreign countries, I'm a poster boy for good behavior, so, avoiding trouble is pretty easy.

Except in Mexico. I won't be going back there any time soon.
I believe I'd travel to Iran before I'd go to Mexico voluntarily.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I just can't wait for my April work trip to Saudi Arabia </sarcasm>

[RoyGBiv]

I just can't wait for my April work trip to Saudi Arabia </sarcasm>

At least it's April and not August.
Have you been before?

I tried to arrange my last Asia trip to take a connection (plus a 2 day layover) via Dubai. Couldn't pull off the schedule, but, would love to go just to see for myself what it's like over there.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I just can't wait for my April work trip to Saudi Arabia </sarcasm>

At least it's April and not August.
Have you been before?

I tried to arrange my last Asia trip to take a connection (plus a 2 day layover) via Dubai. Couldn't pull off the schedule, but, would love to go just to see for myself what it's like over there.

Haven't been to Saudi, but have been to Doha, Qatar on layovers back and forth between trekking trips to Nepal. There is a non-stop between Houston Bush and Doha which is really cool. Each time it was 110 degrees plus but not a horrible place really. We'll see about Saudi, though.

[Gameover]

I can assure you that china is indeed as bad as things you may read about or in most cases worst. My wife's entire family is from china an the horror story's they tell me are mind blowing. As for the one baby law it's absolutely the real thing unless you have 10's of thousands to pay for the paper work to make the child legal. It's all about money, if you have it you can do whatever you want. If you are caught pregnant with out the correct approval papers they will take you away and take the baby out by any means necessary. I've been told stories about this happening to family members that have had it happen to them personally, imagine being strapped to a table and having your unborn child forced out of you. It sickens me to even think bout this being done but it is a reality for many who live in china.

Things may seem different when one visits China, like everything is fine and dandy but don't be fooled the government enslaves its people, steals there belonging, strips you of any property owned whenever they feel the need to use it, murders children and does little to nothing about crimes that are committed on its people.

For all the members of the family who have been able to get out of that country(never mind the outrageous amount of money you need to pay the government in order to leave) in recent years, I couldn't tell you how happy they are to now be citizens of this great nation of ours and most have said the would like nothing more then to never step foot in china again for the rest of there lives.