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An Aggie in China: Surprised by the cell phones, Backstreet Boys and Western flair By
Leon D'souza
Editor's note: USU journalism student Leon D'souza sends this epistle via the internet.
A lakeside view of downtown Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. The city is home to 3.5 million people. Kunming is famed for its mild climate yearround. Its name is a reference to this reputation, meaning South of the Clouds. The streets are vibrant with shoppers, karaoke stalls, peddlers, and street performers. GUANGZHOU, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA -- When I first arrived here in the land of the Great Wall, I expected to encounter a rather backward nation. China is, after all, one of the world's last surviving communist bastions. And communism, most Western scholars will have you believe, is the most baneful and regressive political system the world has ever known. In addition to this political pitfall, with more than 1.2 billion people, China is the world's most populous country -- a titanic stumbling block on the path to prosperity. Thus, I imagined a country that closely resembled the depictions of the Communist Block in the Reaganite flicks of the 1980s -- an oppressed people in a backward and underdeveloped society crying out for liberalization. Shortly after I emerged from the bustle of Guangzhou Airport, my port of entry, and onto the sidewalk outside the terminal, I realized how uninformed and patently ridiculous my vision of China had been. Development and Commerce My first glimpses of modern China amazed me. High-risers loomed over the city, snazzy automobiles zoomed past me on the road adjacent to the terminal, and scores of merchants lined the sidewalks touting their wares. As I walked the streets of Guangzhou later that day, I recognized the same aggressive, Western-style capitalism I have known all my life. The Chinese are effervescent and persuasive salespeople with an uncanny ability to entice even the most cautious shopper. Virtually every commodity has a market here -- from traditional handicrafts to absurd food items. Money and Technology Money and worldly success are of prime importance to the Chinese, particularly the younger generation. Many students attend English classes offered by sundry private institutions in the hope of learning enough of the Queen's language to make application to and attend world-renowned academic institutions, usually in the United States. Competition is intense, and being the best is almost imperative. Like most Asians, the people love technology, and unlike several other developing countries, China seems to have managed to bring technology to the common man and woman. Everyone -- from bus drivers to businessmen -- enjoys the benefits of modern communication devices like cellular phones and pagers. Internet cafes abound in big cities facilitating access to the world's information powerhouse. An hour of Internet time in some of these cafes is as inexpensive as 2 Renminbi Yuan, or 25 cents. The low-access price is certain to help China alleviate the emerging problem of information poverty that afflicts many nations in the developing world. Copying the West Like many developing countries in an increasingly global society, modern China has embraced many aspects of Western culture. The average Chinese struts about in suit and necktie. Women are always elegantly dressed, most of the time in Western attire. The Backstreet Boys are definitely with it, and McDonald's is everyones favorite hangout. The late Chairman Mao would undoubtedly be appalled at the present state of affairs. The China of the "Cultural Revolution" has given way to a more western China- - a country with immense potential. A Bright Future Each day in this erstwhile "Middle Kingdom" is an edifying experience. I am continually amazed by the rapid pace of development. Change is no longer taboo. China is endeavoring to transform herself into a vital economic engine, and the statistics are impressive. The Chinese economy expanded by 57 percent between 1991 and 1995. Gross domestic product during the first half of 1997 was up 9.5 percent over the same period the year before. I am bullish about China's future in the fast evolving global economy. The 21st century is likely to see the emergence of a new world order, and modern China seems poised to take the lead.
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