I should have added this to my list yesterday. Even in rural China, Michael Jackson music lives on! I know we are all sick of hearing about his death. Ironically, a message from my dad complaining about the over-coverage of his funeral in the US made me think this story was worth telling.
I was in Shanghai when MJ’s death was announced. By that afternoon, a mall was playing his music. [On a side note, I was selfishly disappointed because for the first time in a while I had access to CNN International, but all that was broadcast for 2 days were people around the world mourning MJ’s death].
Back in Harbin, over the past two weeks, DVD stores have created shelves displaying his music and videos. University campuses have set up outside kiosks selling MJ T-shirts. It seems to have taken a week or so for the stores to get set up with all the MJ equipment but it is out in full force.
A few days ago, I was walking down the main road of my village in the countryside when I passed a small hole-in-the-wall barbershop. Its doors were open so I could hear the music. They were playing Beat it. I loitered in front of the store for a bit and the next song to come on was Billie Jean. They must have gotten a hold of a Michael Jackson CD.
I won’t say this village is in the middle of nowhere; geographically, it is near a major city in China. But upon entering the village, it feels worlds away from the modern amenities of a city. Yet, the legacy of Michael Jackson has found its way here.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Random
There's so much to write about these days that it takes far greater effort for me to think about everything and process it to a good post. So I am taking the lazy/abbreviated way out by writing a few random things that have been on my mind recently.
1. Xinjiang. This situation makes me sad. Xinjiang is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Beijing is doing what it feels it needs to do to maintain stability, but the power they have and their lack of sympathy in exerting this power is evident. I hope someday they will learn to listen. But I'm not Chinese and I can't possibly imagine their situation, which leads me to the next 2 points.
2. Ethnic Minorities. I work in a primarily Korean minority village. Most of the Koreans are not there throughout the year because they have opportunities in S. Korea or in China's larger cities working for Korean companies. Of the 55 recognized minorities in China, the Koreans are often lauded as the 'model' minority because they help bring foreign money to China, their children are well-educated, etc. Compared with the Xinjiang Uighurs and Tibetans, the Koreans are left alone.
3. Chinese society. The more I talk to people, the more I realize how many problems there are in Chinese society which don't necessarily get addressed. People tend to want to talk about all the great things China is doing, economically, while ignoring many of the social problems. One of the most frustrating parts about doing research in China because I don't feel there is space, in a broader sense, for policy advice. Or any advice, really. Maybe once I write my dissertation things will become more clear, but at this point I feel I am studying Chinese society and food/agriculture and really just learning (which is what I am supposed to be doing, I guess). I see limited channels or opportunities for practical, hands-on projects stemming from my research. In contrast, each time I read about agricultural policy in the US, I want to jump right in with my opinions. If I were an agricultural economist or scientist here in China, people would ask for my advice a lot. But as a social scientist, they want to teach me, not listen to me. And I'm fine with that, but sometimes I wonder what practical, non-theoretical results will come of all this work. Maybe its just getting people to think more about food...
4. Weather is a defining factor in what makes a good research day. Its true. The last month or so has seen a lot of rain. In the countryside, rain means everyone is inside. That means it is more difficult for me to wonder around the dirt roads and fields looking for people to talk with me. Even on non-rainy days that are really hot and sunny, people like to be inside a lot. Inside is pretty much consists of homes. When I am invited, I go into people's homes, but I prefer to approach people outside.
5. Marathon training in China rocks. Most people think I am crazy for voluntarily running a marathon here because of the air quality. But I have some American friends and we are going to run it together. So I've been training here and did the distance of a half marathon this morning). Harbin air in the summer is OK, especially after a good rain (of which we've had plenty). The best part is that massages here are done by doctors and cost about $3 for an hour massage. And if I have extra sore joints, they add some acupuncture in there.
1. Xinjiang. This situation makes me sad. Xinjiang is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Beijing is doing what it feels it needs to do to maintain stability, but the power they have and their lack of sympathy in exerting this power is evident. I hope someday they will learn to listen. But I'm not Chinese and I can't possibly imagine their situation, which leads me to the next 2 points.
2. Ethnic Minorities. I work in a primarily Korean minority village. Most of the Koreans are not there throughout the year because they have opportunities in S. Korea or in China's larger cities working for Korean companies. Of the 55 recognized minorities in China, the Koreans are often lauded as the 'model' minority because they help bring foreign money to China, their children are well-educated, etc. Compared with the Xinjiang Uighurs and Tibetans, the Koreans are left alone.
3. Chinese society. The more I talk to people, the more I realize how many problems there are in Chinese society which don't necessarily get addressed. People tend to want to talk about all the great things China is doing, economically, while ignoring many of the social problems. One of the most frustrating parts about doing research in China because I don't feel there is space, in a broader sense, for policy advice. Or any advice, really. Maybe once I write my dissertation things will become more clear, but at this point I feel I am studying Chinese society and food/agriculture and really just learning (which is what I am supposed to be doing, I guess). I see limited channels or opportunities for practical, hands-on projects stemming from my research. In contrast, each time I read about agricultural policy in the US, I want to jump right in with my opinions. If I were an agricultural economist or scientist here in China, people would ask for my advice a lot. But as a social scientist, they want to teach me, not listen to me. And I'm fine with that, but sometimes I wonder what practical, non-theoretical results will come of all this work. Maybe its just getting people to think more about food...
4. Weather is a defining factor in what makes a good research day. Its true. The last month or so has seen a lot of rain. In the countryside, rain means everyone is inside. That means it is more difficult for me to wonder around the dirt roads and fields looking for people to talk with me. Even on non-rainy days that are really hot and sunny, people like to be inside a lot. Inside is pretty much consists of homes. When I am invited, I go into people's homes, but I prefer to approach people outside.
5. Marathon training in China rocks. Most people think I am crazy for voluntarily running a marathon here because of the air quality. But I have some American friends and we are going to run it together. So I've been training here and did the distance of a half marathon this morning). Harbin air in the summer is OK, especially after a good rain (of which we've had plenty). The best part is that massages here are done by doctors and cost about $3 for an hour massage. And if I have extra sore joints, they add some acupuncture in there.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Re-enacting Pretty Woman in Harbin
I have a new friend in Harbin. I just met her last week, but we bonded instantly because she spent the past year living near Pittsburgh and teaching Chinese at a rural PA high school. As soon as she found out I was from Pittsburgh she started chanting the Steelers fight song. We bonded instantly (its a 'burgh thing).
Anyway, she has been back in Harbin (her hometown) for a week and is having reverse culture shock at how (in her words) snobby Chinese people are. For example, she and her cousin went shopping last night at an expensive Harbin mall. Coming from the US, her skin is tan because she has not taken all measures Chinese urban women take to keep their skin white. She also knew she was just going shopping so she wore jeans, a T-shirt, and flip flops (not high heels and sparkly clothes like Chinese women). In a nice store, she picked out some clothes to try on. The store keeper who had been hovering over her immediately grabbed the clothes from her and put it back on the rack, telling her she could not try them on.
Why? They thought she was from the countryside (dark skin and casual clothes) and was trying clothes on but not serious about buying them. She left the store in a huff and declared to me at lunch today she is ready to go back to the US (she's returning in August). I told her to watch Pretty Woman because there is a similar scene where Julia Roberts is denied access to a store on Rodeo Drive. She goes back a few days later wearing nice clothes and bags in her hands. She then tells the saleswoman it was a huge mistake to chase her out. I told my friend I would gladly accompany her to the store.
Anyway, this conversation came up when we were translating some of my research material. Once she read a little bit of my questions, it clicked to her that I was trying to look at social status. It was a beautiful moment when she said, 'oh you are studying rice because its something that is so traditional in China, but has undergone so many changes over the last 30 years as China's economy has developed.' She threw the word 'social status' in there somewhere and I wanted to give her a hug. She gets it.
Not many people here understand what I am trying to do by studying rice. Maybe its because they haven't experienced anything besides Chinese society so they don't see it from an outsider's perspective. She talked to me for hours about how materialistic China is. We also talked about this weird position we are both in being 'between' the US and China (the outsider vs. insider perspective). I realize I haven't written much about this aspect of Chinese society so I thought I would share this story.
Anyway, she has been back in Harbin (her hometown) for a week and is having reverse culture shock at how (in her words) snobby Chinese people are. For example, she and her cousin went shopping last night at an expensive Harbin mall. Coming from the US, her skin is tan because she has not taken all measures Chinese urban women take to keep their skin white. She also knew she was just going shopping so she wore jeans, a T-shirt, and flip flops (not high heels and sparkly clothes like Chinese women). In a nice store, she picked out some clothes to try on. The store keeper who had been hovering over her immediately grabbed the clothes from her and put it back on the rack, telling her she could not try them on.
Why? They thought she was from the countryside (dark skin and casual clothes) and was trying clothes on but not serious about buying them. She left the store in a huff and declared to me at lunch today she is ready to go back to the US (she's returning in August). I told her to watch Pretty Woman because there is a similar scene where Julia Roberts is denied access to a store on Rodeo Drive. She goes back a few days later wearing nice clothes and bags in her hands. She then tells the saleswoman it was a huge mistake to chase her out. I told my friend I would gladly accompany her to the store.
Anyway, this conversation came up when we were translating some of my research material. Once she read a little bit of my questions, it clicked to her that I was trying to look at social status. It was a beautiful moment when she said, 'oh you are studying rice because its something that is so traditional in China, but has undergone so many changes over the last 30 years as China's economy has developed.' She threw the word 'social status' in there somewhere and I wanted to give her a hug. She gets it.
Not many people here understand what I am trying to do by studying rice. Maybe its because they haven't experienced anything besides Chinese society so they don't see it from an outsider's perspective. She talked to me for hours about how materialistic China is. We also talked about this weird position we are both in being 'between' the US and China (the outsider vs. insider perspective). I realize I haven't written much about this aspect of Chinese society so I thought I would share this story.
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