At various times over the past four years as I have published stories from China, I have received negative or down right abusive letters from Politically Correct Morons who, while never shy to complain that China is a totalitarian country, nonetheless demand that everyone in the world 'bow the knee, conform to and obey' their own Political Correctness dictates, irrespective of any reality or truth.
Sometimes their subconscious arrogance, ("subconscious" because I think that they have some 19th Century image of Chinese people) makes me wonder exactly what is it that they imagine Chinese people to be like. So today I bring you this photographic exhibition of Children in China, with commentary to perhaps enlighten those who do not know what life in China is really like for kids.
For Starters, in China June 1st is Children's day, and one can usually find a host of celebrations to honor children.
June 1st Children's day in Hong Hu.
With something like a 70% Rural Population, many kids grow up in the countryside, in tiny little villages, or larger but still small towns. They run, play, fish and swim in the nearby fields and streams. Probably most don't have running water in their homes, and certainly not bathrooms. The outhouse is literally the outhouse, and the waste will run off into some fish pond or similar.
Most will have their own or use the neighbours television, and a variety of relatives and friends will at various times throughout the day wander in and out through the open doors of the house.
While mother, father, uncles and aunts work in the field or go off to some other place to work, the little ones will be in the care of their grandparents.
In a tiny one street village whose name I have forgotten - near Hong Hu.
It's not until you compare those at the top end of the economic scale with those at the bottom, that one can begin to see the difference in the extreme lifestyles of children in China.
Opposite ends of the financial spectrum in China.
It would be fair to say (I imagine) that the larger percentage of Rural kids grow up in city centres. Of course, what you might envisage of a Western City Center is not necessarily what a Chinese one might look like, especially from the backside.
Daishi, a small town in Hong Hu.
Of course life can be very scenic when you live a little way out from the town center. Transport isn't necessarily what it is in the West. There are always little rivers and creeks to cross to get to the main road where one might want to catch a bus.
Scenic views and tranquil transport.
Catching a bus between big towns and cities is not all that it could be yet. One often sees people on the roadside wildly signaling for passing buses to stop. Intercity buses have designated pick up points, and with a crackdown by police ensuring obedience to transport laws and regulations, it is a waste of time hailing these types of buses.
Of course there are the smaller buses that pick up and drop of just about anywhere, which can make for an interesting journey. One cannot usually predict with accuracy the time it will take to travel between two locations.
Within the larger towns of course there are the local buses with set routes and stops that will get you to school or work as the case may be. But of course there are other transport alternatives in towns no more than 6 or 7 streets wide and long.
Don't worry! It doesn't Matter! Families that stick together!
The most popular mode of transport in China is naturally the Bicycle which serves a multitude of purposes. It gets you to school or work, or when adapted, serves as water, gas or lumber carrier. In Chengdu I was amazed to see young food delivery drivers navigating vehicular and pedestrian traffic using one hand, whilst holding aloft on another, a tray carrying an assortment of 'takeaways'.
But for young kids of course, bicycles provide a means to meet up with friends and escape to explore the universe.
In the really big cities there are other more useless forms of transport.
Even within towns like Xindi (Administrative center of Hong Hu City), there are plenty of open spots for kids to go exploring and one could not be blamed at times (if upon seeing a photo of a school sports ground), for thinking that the photo was taken somewhere out in the sticks.
Farmland off the main road and sports ground in school.
Kids of all ages everywhere in every country like to get together and play games, fool around, or otherwise congregate. It's no different in China. More I think than their Western Counterparts, kids in China spend a lot of times out of doors.
Left: Xian Tao uni students dancing in the square Right: Hong Yi Zhong Students playing Pingpong
Left: Out side Long Keduo Supermarket Right: Lotus Square fun night for kids.
But just because they are Chinese, does not mean that kids in China know nothing of the outside world. Should you be thinking that they are all very prim and proper, conforming to some imagined stereotype of what someone in a Communist Country is like, Chinese kids dress in a variety of styles, dance hip hop, rap and rock 'n roll and do weird and wonderful things to their hair.
In the groove in more ways than one.
Kids in China definitely love performing. Karaoke spots are quite popular in China, and no school party is complete without them. And, in case you didn't know, kids love Christmas. I've asked many of the university students why they like Christmas, and they tell me it is because it gives them an excuse to party, have fun and go shopping.
Partying and Performing in China
Another favourite pastime of Chinese kids who get the opportunity, is to spend time with foreigners. They will come knocking on your door at all hours of the day and night just to visit you. I had one little tyke in Hong Hu who was 8 years old, who came to my home every night at 8pm, and for 10 minutes would wander around my home taking photos of anything and everything using my digital camera, and then say, 'Bye Bye' and leave.
Spot the foreigner? Mmm? Which one is She?
A word of warning! Once you begin inviting Chinese kids into your home, you begin to put yourself in a position of having to follow Chinese Social customs. One Chinese custom is that when people make themselves at home, they really make themselves at home.
Left: 'I want to have my birthday party here!' Right: 'We want to watch TV!'
While being a foreigner has it's drawbacks in China, a foreigner could never complain of going 'unnoticed'. From people who point you out in crowds; to those who shout at the top of their voices that there is a foreigner approaching; to little kids who burst into tears; to beggars grabbing your clothes and hanging on for dear life; to parents shoving their kids into your face so that they can see what a foreigner looks like; to those who merely want to talk to you, a foreigner never need feel lonely, bored or unnoticed.
Oh My God! F-o-r-e-i-g-n-e-r!!!
Because of the one child policy, many kids are growing up feeling that they are the center of the world. They can be pampered and spoiled, or ill fed and harshly treated, or end up somewhere in between. It just depends on their family circumstances. And this quite separate to the issue of abandoned female babies.
Supermarkets to Shacks.
Nevertheless, children do learn some forms of discipline whether they like it or not, whilst others with a more spiritual inclination, choose their own forms of discipline. I've met young people who have decided to follow the Buddhist or Christian path, and then of course there are the Muslim kids. For many Chinese, spirituality of one kind or another is either a family tradition or a self chosen path.
Same age - different discipline. Those are my students on the right - I was giving them the drill!
And of course Chinese kids like all kids, love to eat. Some kids are lucky enough to be able to go from home to school everyday, and so can eat Grandma's home cooking. Others board at school and eat everyday in the canteen. And all of course love Coke / Pepsi, snacks and fast food.
Food glorious food!
When you strip away the question of family finances, kids in China are pretty much like kids everywhere else. Although I must say, the tactile closeness of Chinese kids, whilst disconcerting at first, is truly an amazing thing to behold. They express their love and closeness very openly, and will as per custom do anything to help their friends when they are in need.
Whilst in the West Parents tend to express love for their kids in a very open way, this is not so obvious in China. Nevertheless, the kids are not lacking in love.
The rich in every country are rich and privileged, whilst the poor in every country are underprivileged. Those in the middle get to taste the best of both worlds.
I hope this article has enriched your knowledge of and appreciation for life in China.
Left: Look at the foreigner on that broken down bus! Right: Look at that foreigner taking a photo of our bare bums in YiChang (3 Gorges) (This was the youngest group of bare bums. The eldest were in the 20's. On the River beside the scenic walkway)
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
