China

I took a vacation to China about three weeks ago, and I have just returned. I cannot immediately describe all the thoughts and revelations that I had while in the country. However, I can share, perhaps, an overview.

China on the outside looked like an overpopulated, polluted, and disorganized world. As the country that gave birth to me, and as a country I had learned to fear through American politics, China evoked mixed feelings within me. I felt love and resentment, happiness and discontentment, pride and humility all at once. And because I had been gone for so long from it, the place felt both familiar and foreign. Yet, as I traveled through China and marveled at its rich culture, its different people, and its sense of direction, my views on it changed.

I love my homeland.

I cannot say that I love every part of it. The sanitation could definitely be more improved, there could be more orderliness to the country, and of course, the government of the country could allow for more freedoms (like facebook...), but it feels like the government is trying its best under the extraordinary circumstance of its immense population. China has 1.3 billion people in its country. Comparatively, America has 300 million. If we took all the problems America has and multiplied it by a factor of four, I wonder how we would compare?

In fact, it was precisely this type of thinking that had made me appreciate China to such a degree. As a whole, it felt like China ran everything much smoother. They have better public transportation, very efficient customs which even included screening for foreign diseases (a moot point, but one I like because of the incredible hassle American customs put me through, like losing a luggage of mine, and they didn't screen for foreign diseases), China's food was much more healthy and better tasting, they provide ample things to do for all ages (most of them free) and their services had much more understandable hours. Whereas everything in America closes at 8 or 9, except for bars (which seems like the only place one can hang out after a long day of work) China has many many things to do and places to eat especially after work hours, for all ages.

Of course, as Americans, we associate night life with bars and other adult entertainment, but for China night life meant a time where neighbors can come out and socialize, people can eat, and everyone can relax. I have seen the night time for three major cities of China, and Hong Kong, every time I felt relaxed, safe, and happy. The city government had provided wonderful, spacious places for people to gather and play badminton, hackey sack, learn to sing, learn tai chi, and other social activities. In every city we went, the city had even provided a scenic walkway for couples to be. It usually was a very spacious walk along a major river or along a near by hill. Sometimes music will play along these places. Much more of a romantic setting than I have ever found in America.

These are just a few of the thoughts that struck me as I traveled China. Some other thoughts were verbally said by friends. Like: "Almost everyone in China looks fit and slim. When I come back to America, sometimes whole groups of obese people would walk by me." Or: "There is so much to DO in China, if I lived here, I might be on the computer or vegetating in front of the TV ALOT less!"

Through all of this trip, I had always said one line: "I do not understand! America is supposed to be the best country in the world."

A part of me just could not comprehend it. We judge other countries so very critically. We adopt a very patronizing tone when talking about other countries. I had really believed that we were just better than everyone in the world. It really did not compute for me.

I do not say this to demean America. It's mostly my dear wish and want for America to do some things like China.

America, in many ways is almost the inverse of China. On the outside it has a wonderful incredible image. It's streets are orderly, it believes in freedoms and prosperity, and seem wholly superior to other countries in terms of morals and honor. Yet, when we experience America and live in it, we quickly see some incredible details that shouldn't exist so much in such a wonderful country. Depression, divorce, discontentment, crime, low education levels. I stay away from political or economic troubles because I cannot say, at this moment in time, what country does not have its share of those troubles.

Yet, on a wholly social level, America has many issues that seems to point to a larger feeling of unrest. Is the reason simply a lack of state sponsored, sustainable places for people of all ages to gather? Or is it something deeper within America? Is it because we are just now starting to develop a culture as a country, and as a country so young, we have metaphorically entered our teenage years, full of doubt and questions?

I wonder about this country I call home, and think about the country that gave birth to me. It seems each time I visit my mother country, a larger piece of me wants to call it home.