Journal: Urbanised

I knew that there were plans in the pipeline for SDA to open an office in the provincial capital, Xining, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. Mr Zhu has decided that I will come with him to stay in Xining, while Jin Baoyan and Yang Ying will stay in Guanting. I'm very disappointed, because I liked the way things were. Guanting belongs to the other half of China, the rural half (actually, in terms of population it is much more than half of China). In the last two weeks, I've been given a tantalising taste of this world: farmers bringing in the harvest, shepherds watching over sheep, the commotion of market day (and that's all within a few minutes walk of our office). There is some awesome mountain scenery too. Xining, on the other hand, is just an average chinese city.

It's not just the countryside that I'll miss. I liked our cosy little group. My tutoring of Jin Baoyan's English has been interrupted after only two lessons, and now I won't have a chance to learn from his fabulous cooking. I had only just recruited Yang Ying's help in correcting my chinese compositions (which I post on my chinese blog), but now I'm back to square one again.

I'm already here at the Xining "office" (which is in fact a large ground-floor apartment). I'm not even sure why we need this expensive Xining base, half a day's drive from where most of our projects are located. It will be interesting to see how Mr Zhu, who is used to hands-on involvement in all our work, will adapt to the new situation. He will either have to give more responsibility to our Guanting staff (certainly not a bad thing), or else spend a fortune on petrol.

Oh, there is one reason for the move that I understand. Internet access is expensive, slow, and unreliable in Guanting. SDA needs the internet to keep in contact with international donors, look for new funding opportunities, and keep up-to-date with development news. Yet another advantage that the urban population enjoys.

P.S. If anyone cares, I got over my diarrhoea. But then the hay-making triggered my asthma, and then I came down with a cold which made it even worse. But now that's on the mend too. It seems that country living doesn't suit my constitution.

Not-So-Average Chinese Cities If we could count the number of times that different chinese cities are mentioned in casual conversation, I'm sure that the two most frequent would be Beijing and Shanghai. But their reputations are very different, and most people fall into one of two categories: either those who prefer Beijing with its long history on one hand and its modern position as a centre of culture, power, and academia on the other hand; or those who prefer Shanghai, the paragon of development and internationalisation where money and opportunity flow freely. Most people have their favourite, even if they have never visited either of the cities. It's not unlike the Sydney vs Melbourne phenomenon in Australia.

Glad to hear that you seem to be coming around to your new situation. Maybe with the better internet access you will have the opportunity to make more to these great posts. Lovely picture of the rice (?). Don't inagine that they would do this to hay. I remember when I first saw this thrashing method used in Indonesia. I tried to drive around the soybeans and the locals looked disappointed. Go back and forth a few times and they were most thankful.

Wally 18.08.2004 , 09:46

Hi Todd, Small world. I haven't been keeping up to date with your posts, but just read that you are working with Mr. Zhu. It is almost certainly the same Mr. Zhu I worked with when I was there (tell him 'Hello' and wish him well for me).

Andrew Webb [homepage] 06.09.2004 , 15:40

hi,Todd i often come here and do some reading on your journal,it`s good and interesting. there`s one sentence i dont underestand clearly is :It's not unlike the Sydney vs Melbourne phenomenon in Australia. what does it mean? is it a comparison of something?

Elly 01.05.2006 , 00:51

Elly, thanks for your comment. "Not unlike" is a double negative, it basically just means "like". I'm saying that the way some people prefer Shanghai while others prefer Beijing is similar to the way that some people like Sydney and other people like Melbourne.

Todd 01.05.2006 , 14:41

Todd,thank you for your explanation of this sentence.now i know this is a issue about different people having different choices.right? hehe. and it also depends on different conditons which people are in. and here comes out my another question that is, why you mentioned about Sydney and Melbourne,while not Perth? i know that it`s a very beautiful place as well :) ps. happy labor day!

Elly 02.05.2006 , 01:12

Elly, although some people (especially Chinese) love describing cities as "beautiful", I don't think this is the only criteria for judging a city. Indeed, if I wanted to live in a beautiful place, I wouldn't live in a city at all, since I don't think any city is as beautiful as even the most barren natural landscape. Sydney and Melbourne are the two biggest and best-known cities in Australia. Furthermore, Australians often compare the two. If you ask me why I like Melbourne, I might say that the pace of life is not as busy as in Sydney, or that there is more art and culture than Sydney. Every reason I give for liking Melbourne is a reason for *not* liking Sydney! I think that the situation with Beijing and Shanghai is similar. So, which is your favourite, Beijing or Shanghai?

Todd 02.05.2006 , 12:08

Todd,well,the word "beautiful" which i used in my comment is a very big word for me to describe cities.it also could be read as :nice,friendly,modern,fashion,convenient and so on...in most condition,i take them as the feelings that i could have for cities which i ever have been to. and i do know to judge whether a city is a good one will be not only by how the city itself is,but also in which how people are. so i really could underestand why you choose Melbourne while not Sydney..hehe. as to the question that which is my favourite city--Beijing or Shanghi...well,i`ll say it next time. because i must go now... so, to be continued. :)

Elly 03.05.2006 , 13:21

well,i prefer shanghai.although it is too fast to live ,too fasion to feel,too diverse to fit...i still like it. evertime when i go to shanghi,there`s one thing i will do is go to the Wai Tan by bus and take a seat there watching the Huangpu River.do you think it`s silly? hehe Beijing,believe or not,i havent been there yet so far...but i have heard a lot of things about it.i will go to see and feel it one day.

Elly 04.05.2006 , 15:53

Comments disabled. Sorry for any inconvenience.