I Ate no Dog – I Ate no Cat

February 19, 2010

Originally published at Speak Without Interruption on February 9, 2010
By Bob Grant — publisher/editor for Speak Without Interruption

When I first traveled to China, I was warned about the food from many well-meaning people—some who had traveled to China and some who had not.  I was told that I would starve if I did not take food in my suitcase, so I did.  I took trail mix and hard candy nearly overloading my suitcase.  It was just one of the stereotypes of China that I had heard and believed before I experienced true Chinese food for myself.  For that first trip, I ended up throwing away most of the food that I had brought because I did not want to lug it back to the U.S.

I will admit that the food is different from what I normally eat—to be honest, it is definitely healthier.  I found there to be a lot of vegetables, fish, and chicken—I never ate Dog or Cat at least to my knowledge.  I ate at restaurants and I ate in factories.  I ate what was put in front of me, and I stayed in places where my associates stayed.  I had customers who went to China on their own for other products.  They would not stay in anything but “Western Style” hotels and would not eat anything but “Western Style” food, and there are places in the larger cities, which have both.  Some of them would even go as far as to not eat during the day with their hosts—rather waiting until they returned to their hotels for their “Western Style” food.  I always felt that was rather rude to say the least and a bit disrespectful. 

As for the food itself, I found it to be, for the most part, rather tasty.  I took my hosts advice and did not drink the tap water.  I drank bottled water, their very excellent hot tea, and a lot of their extremely appealing Chinese beer.  The food was normally brought out as it was prepared and put on a Lazy Susan.  Everyone turned it until the food they wanted was in front of them and then put it on their plates or ate it over, or on, a bowl of steamed white rice.  We ate a lot in restaurants in private rooms, which I truly enjoyed.  There was no outside noise, and the atmosphere was more personal.  When I ate in factories, it was what the employees ate and in their dining area—each experience was unique and enjoyable.  I learned to use Chopsticks at least enough to get food from the plate to my mouth.  Although people keep bringing me utensils, I stuck with the Chopsticks while in the country.  I “never” got sick from anything that I ate or drank in China, which is more than I can say for my normal diet.

The food is just one of the misconceptions of China and its people.  I believed what I was told until I experienced it myself—not unlike other things in my life that I have been told by others only to be dispelled once I experienced it personally.

If you would like to read other guest posts by Bob Grant, start with They All Look Alike

3 Comments | business, China, Chinese Culture, tourism | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

I Never Met a Communist in China

February 17, 2010

Originally published at Speak Without Interruption on February 6, 2010
By Bob Grant — publisher/editor for Speak Without Interruption

I have been traveling to China since 1998.  I would not consider myself a seasoned traveler to that country—making around twenty-five visits total.  When I traveled there, I usually stayed between one and two weeks. Never during any of my visits did I ever see or meet a “Red” Chinese person.  I saw no one wearing an “I am a Communist” sweatshirt, ball cap, t-shirt, sunglasses, button or anything else physically labeling them a Communist.  I saw no street banners, bumper stickers, storefront displays, mass gatherings or any other public notice that I was among Communists.  What I was among were just people—regular people.

All of my visits were for business purposes.  I met with business people only and traveled to see their factories or offices.  I did not take much time to “sightsee” which was a mistake in retrospect. 

With my business, I tended to visit locations where I was the “only” non-Chinese person within miles.  I never felt threatened or out of place.  No one ever stared at me or pointed—“Look at that non-Communist person.” 

I found “most” of the people with whom I came in contact during both business meetings and other activities to be very pleasant, warm, humble, honorable, respectful and charming.  I will have to admit that I did have some dealings with business people who were other than honest; however, China does not hold a monopoly on those types of business people.  As a rule, I found the Chinese people with whom I had my dealings to be extremely hard working, dedicated and honest.

I had no fear going out on my own in any part of China that I visited day or night.  I was never threatened or accosted in any manner. 

One day I was walking around a city on a Sunday afternoon—alone.  I felt a tug on my shirtsleeve and turned to find two young girls at my side.  One asked me if they could speak with me—in good English.  I did not suspect their reasons for talking with me to be anything other than honorable, so I said “sure.” 

The girls were students at the university and their English professor had given them an assignment to stop, interview and take a photo with any “Westerner”.  They said they had been looking for hours and I was the only “Westerner” they had seen.  I was happy to answer their questions—one of the girls took my photo with the other girl. They thanked me, and went on their way.  These were just two young students with an assignment, and I felt honored that I was able to help them complete it.

Perhaps I am being a bit naive—I was obviously around Communists during my visits to China, but I never felt that I had really “met” one.  I had been fortunate enough to meet people from another country and culture, and they had accepted me at face value.  I enjoyed each one of my visits to China and care a great deal for China and its people. 

I truly believe if people could meet and work with other people around the world that many of the world’s problems would be solved.  Perhaps this is a bit Pollyanna of me but this is how I see things from my myopic point of view and experiences, with China and its people, and I will stand by them.

If you would like to read other guest posts by Bob Grant, start with They All Look Alike.

Leave a Comment » | America, business, China, Chinese Culture, education, tourism | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Guest Post—They All Look Alike

February 12, 2010

By Bob Grant — publisher/editor for Speak Without Interruption
Originally published at Speak Without Interruption on February 8, 2010

One of our US government officials reportedly made a comment with the word “retarded” in it.  There was also an attempt to make a joke using “Special Olympics” on a TV show in the past.  Why do people say the things they do?  Why have I said some of things I have said?  When I have made comments at the expense of others, I thought either it was funny or it made me feel important in some perverse way.  As I have gotten older, experience has taught me to think before I speak—at least a little more than I did in my younger years.  What someone says as a casual statement—or an attempt to make a joke—can offend others on a multitude of levels.

 There are a little over 1.3 billion people in China from the figures I have seen.  I have had people say to me, “With that many people, how do you tell them apart?  They all look alike.” 

 After having an association with specific Chinese people since 1998, I take great offense when someone says something like this to my face or within earshot.  To me, they do not all look alike.  They may all have similar physical features but I see each person I have met in my business dealings as a singular and unique individual just as I would feel about anyone I met throughout the world.  As you meet people—speak with them—get to know them, I think everyone has personal features, mannerisms, personalities that make them different from other people in the world.

 In terms of my feelings for China, and its people, it is only based on those who I have met personally.  As I view it, there are values that I have found all Chinese possess—the reverence of  family and respect for their elders.  I wish these values were more evident in the US. 

 With 1.3 billion people milling around China, how can they have these values when there are so many of them?  I once worked with a product that was to replace the toxic cleaner Nitric Acid.  In most instances, the shipping tanks in the ocean liners have to be cleaned out after they are emptied. 

 They send “Chinese People” into these tanks to spray them out.  One contact actually said, “There are so many Chinese that when one dies from being exposed to the Nitric Acid there are a million more to take their place.”  It was all I could do to keep my hands from going around his neck or punching his lights out — being older at the time, I felt he was not worth the hassle.

 I believe the respect for family—and elders—in China is not something just confined to my small group of acquaintances there.  I think this is something that is countrywide, and I feel this is a virtue beyond description.  During one of my visits, my friend and primary associate invited me to a party to honor his new young son. 

 We held this event in a large, private room within a very nice restaurant.  There were many people there, and as I have written regarding other situations, I was again the only non-Chinese in the room.  I felt completely at ease and extremely honored he would invite me to such an important “family event”.  The photo above shows me with my associate, his wife, his mother, and his new young son. I did, and still do, feel like part of their family.  To me they remain friends, family and associates, and they “certainly” do not all look alike to me!

See The First of All Virtues

If you want to read previous posts by Bob Grant, please see Love Affair

4 Comments | American culture, business, Chinese Culture, education, parenting | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Guest Post—I have a Love Affair with China and its People

February 12, 2010

By Bob Grant — publisher/editor for Speak Without Interruption
Originally published at Speak Without Interruption on February 6, 2010

I have been traveling to China since 1998 and had a business and personal relationship there since 2003.  I have a business that is based on these relationships built up over the years—they continue today.  I am not a young man—but even at 64, I know that the relationships I have made there are once in a lifetime treasures.  I have found China and its people to be nothing like they are portrayed in the media.  I will—as best I can recall — write about specific experiences and places, I have visited.  Unfortunately, the original computer that I had when I started my China business fried its hard drive, and although I was warned, I never backed up my material so I have lost many excellent photos. However, I have enough remaining pictures to tell a story or two.

See China Law Blog
See Doing Business in China

1 Comment | America, business, China | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

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