July 11, 2010 - Beijing, China
Pinyin: Ta gei wo fang gezi
Translation: He/she put the pigeons out on me
Idiom History: Many have pet pigeons that fly around freely, then go home at night
Meaning: I have been stood-up by my date
Under the guise of communism, the government controls all parts of the economy - in reality there are few regulations on product quality, treatment of labor, environmental concerns, etc. However, as China has moved into the global marketplace, the government tacitly encourages individual companies and people to participate in their own economic growth. China calls this, "communism with Chinese characteristics", but really it is "capitalism with Chinese characteristics". This morning, as we drove out of Beijing to the small countryside Chuandixia Village, we passed a suburban recycling center. China might be better at recycling than the United States. Urban and rural people rummage through garbage to pick out all the recyclable materials, then sell the paraphernalia to a recycling truck driver, who then sells a huge load to the recycling center. A perfect example of a free market economy.
There are many humorous phrases used in China.
To show one's ready to marry in the 1980's, a man needed Three Rounds:
1. Bike (wheels)
2. Watch
3. Sewing machine (wheel)
Today there are Four Standards:
- One job
- Two languages
- Three bedroom home
- Four wheels on a car
Restrooms are sometimes called "happy rooms" because they are so rare that when we see one, we are happy! The Chuandixia Village is located two hours out of Beijing. There were no "happy rooms," only "happy bushes" along the way. Viewing the traditional country lifestyle was interesting and what we expected, but the propaganda paintings to Mao, still visible on many walls, was unnerving. Lunch, mostly vegetables since rural Han can't afford meat at every meal, was a welcomed change. But, of course, we ended the day with another huge banquet style dinner at the Huajiayiyuan Restaurant.
Today's headlines state, "Google with Chinese characteristics". Google and China have come to some type of amicable agreement, and Google will resume proving search engine services to the Chinese people. With further research, it appears that China's government hopes that with so many sites blocked under Google, its people will abandon using the site and refer back to the government-run search engine. Even though much information will continue to be blocked, the Google agreement allowing the Chinese people to choose is another step in the right direction.
