July 18, 2008: Chinese People Have Bad Manners

Today I went to an Anti-Monopoly Law meeting with Zhan Hao (my boss). He was giving a speech about antimonopoly law in China and its affects on possible FDI by China into Austrailia (more about that later). It was pretty boring just because I don't really understand that many technical terms (or everyday practical terms for that matter) in Chinese. There were a bunch of presentations, one of which was in English, and the man who was speaking, a 60yr old Austrailian, was possibly the slowest speaker I've ever heard in my 22 years.

What WAS interesting, though, was the drive over there with Dr. Zhan. He was talking about China, and its people, the whole time. For example, when we were driving, and people were beeping horns, and yelling, and ignoring traffic rules like it was their job, he simply looked over at me and said "Chinese people have Bad Manners." It was almost as if it worried him. Then someone beeped their horn for about a minute straight and he just shook his head, pointed at them and said "see? bad manners". It was interesting to me, just because of the contrast: he is very very highly educated, drives a nice SUV, is a partner in a law firm, has traveled extensively in the EU and the US -- almost, to me, part of the group of people that is forcibly bringing China out of the realm of 'bad manners'.

But he's right. They have TERRIBLE manners. And its not just the transportation system, although that is one of the best examples of it. (Touching the ribcage, breaking out of lines, pushing, shoving, scratching, punching....) In the meeting we were in, I saw at least 10-15 people fall asleep. Blatantly, full on, asleep. Someone's phone rang every 5 minutes and every time, they answered it and talked. It was nuts. So much for respect and 'giving face'.

We drove past the headquarters of CNOOC and that was pretty sweet, given how much its been in the news lately. I'm very much the type of person who has to see something like that to really feel like I'm in the city -- just like I really loved walking by Parliament everyday. Seeing CNOOC really reminded me of where I am and what I'm doing here and also why China is so important, particularly to the United States. I mentioned CNOOC to Dr. Zhan and he said that he knew what I was talking about and commented that my government had shut down their bid for that oil pipeline/drilling rights/whatever.

We talked about Xinjiang and he said that it has many problems, because of the ethnic tensions, and also because many people follow Islam. I don't think he meant it that way, I think it was actually lost in translation, but I wanted to ask more -- what he thought about terrorism and the chances of terrorism coming out of Xinjiang but it really didn't seem like the time. And, I was about to be eating Xinjiang food later that day (and was it good!).

He was talking more about investment in China and China's investment in other places and said "China is NOT socialist. They like to say it is, but it is capitalist (in everything but name)." I'm glad somebody admits it. :) He said that maybe people fear China because "what your country did in maybe 100 years, China has done in 20. Maybe it is too fast. But it is happening." And its true. The law firm we were in was plush and a good example of the way China takes everything to the max. Now we have money, and we have to show it to everyone. Not in a tacky nouveau riche way (although sometimes this is very evident) but more in a see? we can do it too! lets be friends!

At the parking structure, we drove in, he had to roll down his window and ask someone for a ticket. They pushed a button and it came out. Then someone was there to direct us into a parking spot. As we left, there was someone to collect the ticket and someone ELSE to determine how much money was owed and collect it. Dr. Zhan turns to me and says "China has too much manpower. In your country, how many people would be working a parking structure?"
Me: "Zero, everything is automated."
Zhan Hao: "exactly. It took 3 people to get in and out. Too much manpower"
And he wasn't even counting the people directing us to a spot.

Then the symposium happened and I didn't understand much. But I did notice that the use of business cards here is rather alarming. Everyone has one, its like instead of introduce myself, maybe I'll just give you a business card. I've never had more in my life but I think I have managed to lose the ones Abroad China gave me. Its a serious thing here though, and in my opinion, bordering on American Psycho levels.

Either way, at the actual meeting I didn't do much besides write down this whole post in my notebook and covertly do my Chinese homework.