Yesterday, we had a nice visitor from China at InterFace. A German manager I am friends with is currently staying in China for a program sponsored by the EU and China, where she is also enthusiastically learning Chinese. We went to have lunch with her in Unterhaching’s “small Italian” restaurant and there she told us many interesting stories.
Among other things, we heard that much looks great and promising in China at first sight, but usually falls far short at close inspection. It starts with accommodations and continues practically through all products. It is all one huge sham.
Then I thought: what is it like at home? I am afraid we are not much better, either.
Having bought the UTMS flat rate for Europe, I then have to pay horrendous sums because I cannot find the right providers in the countries I visit.
I eat a cinnamon fast-food grain cereal and then read that it does not contain cinnamon, but only the respective “flavour”.
I accept the extra expense of buying fresh milk and then the package tells me that it is best before (a minimum!) of three weeks from now.
I shop for a car or a house that is on offer for a certain price, and then I must learn that even the minimum of fixtures costs an extra 20 %.
In the coloured magazines, I see beautiful bodies and a life style that allegedly should make me happy. Miraculous diets and the perfect way to invest money are advertised.
Insurance companies want to be my guardian angels and see to it that I will be free from worries in old age. Everybody wants to sell me happiness on earth – and as soon as I take a close look, I discover that nothing is quite like it seems.
And all the time the sentence is true for at home, as well:
“What You See is NOT what you get (WYSInWYG)!”
Our guest from China has made a huge impression on me with what she told us. She will soon go back and because I found her report so interesting, I asked her to give us short accounts of her experiences on a regular basis through a blog or at least through twitter. It would be nice to share her experiences.
Well, she said she would love to do that. But “blogging” or “twittering” is not possible in China, except if you have a VPN access to servers outside China. However, her first attempt was not a success. Besides, it is not a practice the hosts look kindly upon.
Now that really gives me pause. I get scared of Chinese circumstances, also at home. That is something that must not happen!
Consequently, I am in favour of basic democracy, freedom of opinions and free access to all information!
RMD
(Translated by EG)
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