My day with one cool Chinese guy.

His name is Ben, and he is the smartest goofball I have ever met. 

We sit next to each other in Czech language class, and there is hardly a dull moment.  We are kind of in the same position, as we both got here late and missed the orientation and meeting our classmates. (I was sick and missed a flight, then was too sick to join in the next day) Ben came straight from a 6-month study abroad trip in France, and missed everything as well.  He hasn’t been back to China in sooo long! We each were put in private rooms since we were late, and Ben is just down the hall from me. 

Ben and I at the start of our day journey around Prague.

So when he invited me to join him on a sightseeing adventure this morning, I knew it would be a fun day.  He is such a smart and worldly guy; our conversations were just fantastic all day.  We just kept asking questions about each other’s country.  Here is a little of what I learned:

On human rights in China: Chinese people aren’t allowed to have social networking sights like facebook or twitter.  The media is almost completely censored by the government, and there is a one-baby law for couples in China. 

First off, I apologized to Ben, because I knew the questions I asked would be very American and very naïve.  He laughed and told me to ask anyway.  So I asked if he liked his Communistic government.  (Side note, after Ben graduated high school around 18 or 19, he moved to Singapore to go to college). His eyes got huge!  He said, yes! I like my government very much!  Ben then explained that overall, their government has done more good for Chinese people than bad.  He told me that when he was a boy, nobody had any money.  He said that going to McDonalds was a treat, and only happened once a month maybe.  Now, he goes to McDonalds whenever he wants.  There is so much more money available for the people.  They don’t notice if they aren’t as free as Americans per say.  Obviously Chinese and American values are different.  Americans value their freedoms…of everything!  Right now, Chinese people value not living in poverty, and Communism got China out of poverty.  Ben explained that with governments, you have to take one step at a time.  Human rights and freedoms would be for the next Chinese generation to take on.   

Ben and I are now Facebook friends, so I asked him how he could have Facebook since it is illegal in China.  Again he laughed, and replied that he was in the Czech Republic right now, not China.   When he goes back to China, I will not be able to keep in touch with him, and that bothers me a lot as he has become a great friend so far. But they have their own sort of Facebook just for Chinese people, so Ben said the only thing he would miss would be keeping in touch with his international friends. Plus, he will be finishing up school in Singapore for another year or so. We can still keep in touch.  

I asked Ben how it felt to be (almost) the Number 1 economy in the world.  Again he laughed and said there was no way China would ever surpass America.  This caught my attention, and I explained that the general consensus in the U.S. was that China was a powerhouse, and would surpass the U.S. in almost everything within a decade.  He said oh no no no!  The general consensus in China is that the U.S. is a force that will not ever be overtaken, and especially not by China.  Chinese people seem to be very happy to have spending money, but they don’t consider themselves a major contender yet for the top world economy.

Then we both asked each other if Chinese people liked Americans and vice versa.  The double answer here is intimidation!  Both countries fear the other country (I.e.-Communism and Democracy) and it seems that citizens are weary of the other country.  Although…. it seemed that the Chinese really do dislike Americans.  We all fear what we don't know.  

Ben and I at Prague Castle this evening.  

Ben also told me a common joke in China.  Whenever they see American military aircraft flying in the sky (and surprisingly yes, they do see American aircraft) they laugh and say Look!  We bought that for the Americans!  And now they are using it against us! 

Ben eating at a very nice Chinese Restaurant.
I told him to order, and I would just be a good sport about it and eat whatever
he decided.
Actually....it was the best Chinese food I've ever eaten.
Roast duck (which he teased me about all evening. When we went to the riverside,
there were ducks and he exclaimed - "We just ate their brothers, are you
hungry, Cass?  I can catch it and we can eat again!"
Ha he understood how much it bothers Americans to eat Dogs, or other
animals we consider pets.  Ceaseless teasing!)

Towards the end of our day, I looked at Ben’s very used map.  He had a lot of circles on it, and I asked what they were for.  He replied almost embarrassingly that they were Chinese restaurants he had looked up.  I asked if he wanted to eat there, and he almost thankfully and too quickly said yes!  It had been a long time since he had eaten good Chinese food, since he has been in France studying.  I smiled, and off we went to find some authentic Chinese food.  We got lost, and what should have been a 10 minute journey turned into a 90 minute walk.  But I could see he was determined, so I didn’t give up either.  I couldn’t talk Ben out of paying for the meal (we feasted at a very high-end, classy Chinese restaurant). So I told him I would take him to the most American restaurant I could find on another day.  (They have a Hooters here ;)  Jusssttt kidding, I hope to find something better! 

It was a meal I will never forget.  We talked for hours about each other’s cultures.  I wish I could write out everything he told me, but then this post would take hours to read.  I told him if he ever makes it over to America, let me know, and I would meet him almost anywhere.  He said the same about China.  And now, I really do want to go to China.  It’s a culture I want to experience. 

Best,

Cass