Where I’ll be going…
Sep 23rd, 2007 by scott
Well, here’s where I’ll be going…Google definitely has a lot of cool tools. By clicking on the button labeled KML in the upper right of the map (next to the print link), you can open the route in Google Earth, if you have that installed.
I did this in July, but just updated the post so that it would come up top, now that the trip is near.
Hi, Scott! I’m Lily from Beijing Zhongguancun TM! I’m really surprised by your deep understanding of Chinese culture. In fact, I’m also a big fan of our culture, cause it practically saved my life! However, many Chinese youngsters are crazy about globalization while they are really ignorant of our own culture, which is really dangerous. I’m desperate to share my thoughts on Chinese culture with someone, like you. Can you recommend some English website introducing Chinese culture to me, so that I can find the right word to explain it.
BTW, can I link your blog to mine and to our clubs blog?
Hi, Lily! Thanks for visiting my blog. Of course you can link to my blog! I’m really looking forward to meeting you and the other Toastmasters in Beijing. I’ve told my club in Tallahassee about my planned visit, so they are looking forward to hearing about it, too.
As far as English websites that discuss Chinese culture, I’ll do another blog post this weekend about that.
I certainly hope that the young people in China will learn about their own history first, before learning about globalization. The more I learn about China, the more fascinated I become. As the economy grows and China returns to prominence, I think America and the West should take the time to gain more than a superficial understanding of Chinese culture.
As a matter of fact, most Americans know very little about China. The news and information our average citizens get about China is extremely misleading. In fact, the misinformation seriously damages their ability to understand what is really going on.
Our American history is so short that we look to the ancient, but dead, civilizations of Greece and Rome as the foundations of Western thought. By contrast, the culture of China is continuous, which makes it extremely rich. It is as if the Greek or Roman culture did not die, but continued to this day.
There’s a saying here that “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. In other words, people are never satisfied with what they have, but see others as having what they really want. But, if they actually get what they were admiring, something else becomes the object of their desire and they don’t appreciate what they now have. I hope China’s young people do not abandon their history and traditions to go after the foreign grass that may seem greener to them right now.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Chinese culture. I hope we can find the time to discuss it while I’m there. Sorry this response is so long!
Scott,
Hope you are having a great time! Have fun!
Dennis