Grateful........ Part 2

Today, as we drove down the local street to the children's school. I thought about the differences of the world, and how lucky we are to experience a variety of  cultures.

If I were to pass by a house which had a pool table in front of it at home, I would be annoyed that they would have something that belonged indoors........ outdoors, like when I see living room furniture on someone's porch. But this morning, I thought it quite charming that a local Chinese gentleman was enjoying a game of pool, outside, on a beautiful day. In all likelihood, I am sure that pool table would not have fit in his tiny house, but he wanted to play, so outdoors is where it stood.  

In Shanghai, card and board games, singing, dancing, sleeping, and eating is often done outdoors. They love to be out in nature, and I admire the time that they spend enjoying the beauty of the day. There are parks everywhere here, and they are always full of people. They are flying kites, doing Tai Chi, playing Badminton, walking with babies. Activities that cost nothing, but reap great rewards for the body and spirit. Although I know, that most people in the States enjoy parks as well, I have noticed that the activities that take place in parks in China, are much more diverse. Most Americans, would not feel comfortable singing, or dancing, in the park, and we could never compete with the Chinese on kite-flying abilities. 

In China, there are rules, but they are not always followed. The main roads are immaculately manicured, swept, and washed. But, it is not uncommon to see a trash heap gathering next to a small local road, like the one near the school. The rich and the poor areas of town, are intermingled all over the city. The grandiose and the dilapidated, are steps away from one another.  The people are much more vocal, and many do not have a sense of personal space. The traffic is chaotic.

In March, while we were in Japan, we experienced some time with the Japanese culture. Although, we were not there very long, we noticed that they are much more rule-oriented than China, and they make sure that the rules are followed. The locals are much more subdued and quiet, and are always polite. Service personnel want to please, and are stressed if they cannot. In stores, once something is bought, it is wrapped, like a present. There is much attention to detail. Everything, is clean and organized. The cities are more consistent in appearance. The traffic is orderly.

Last summer, we visited Hong Kong. While it looks similar in some ways to mainland China, it is much more westernized. There are many more people who speak English, and there are more western stores. The taxis were clean and friendly, much like in Japan. The traffic was, again, more orderly than in mainland China. Shopping experiences, and stores, were set up and run, the same as in Shanghai. Courtesy and manners were similar.

I enjoy living outside of my own culture, at least for a while, and I am glad that my children have this opportunity. Reading books, and learning about other places in the world is a wonderful thing, but living it is something entirely different........ it is absolutely amazing.