One of famous policy in China will be ‘One Child Policy’. Which basically means Chinese can not have more than one child in order to control that population and economic growth. (Although these days you can have more than one, if you pay or have some unique cases, but still it is possible for only rich people)

I heard about this policy before, but now that I am in China, I get to see the reality of the policy as well as its consequences. Any Chinese that I meet, when I ask if they have any sibling most of them answer that they are the only child. In the metro, I haven’t seen any family that has more than one child until now.

China is so huge and crowded that in some way, I can understand their government one child policy decision. However, it seems this policy would be most difficult one to keep among the people since it is fighting against natural human instinct.

Racial instinct is the one of  strong instinct that human (also animal) have. It is so natural that even if government try to stop it, people always find way to get around it, especially in Asian society where male is considered more important than female in order to carry on thier family name.

It is not new to hear that in china province, people either kill their baby girl or hide them in their house never allowing them to come out of the house ever. (otherwise they need to pay fine which they can never afford) So there are many Chinese girls living in China without their identification which caused difficult for Chinese government to calculate exact number of population in China.

However, this is old story that everybody already knows. Now there are new methods. Recently one guy put up his niece in the Chinese online auction site (taobao) claiming that he is looking for person who will adapt this baby girl. The motive behind this action was because his family needed someone to carry on their family name but baby girl was born instead. Since they can not have more than one child, they decided to give away their baby girl. How sad for both parents and baby.

Another case is, Lots of Chinese pregnant women are heading to Hongkong to give birth. This is because If their baby is born in Hongkong, they will get Hongkong resident permit which will allow them to get education in Hongkong as well as can avoid one child policy. Due to this fact, Hongkong is targeted for Chinese single mothers as well. There was report that because of this movement whole Hongkong hospital is fully booked until next year April and that result actual Hongkong people are having difficulty to find hospital for their birth delivery. Therefore HongKong government took strong act that they ordered all the Hongkong hospital not to allow any reservation for Chinese pregnant woman.

As Chinese economic grows fast, Chinese people’s awareness on human right and intelligent on get away from policy is increasing. I can not blame them. After all.. this is human instinct. I think it is a matter of time, Chinese government need to find another way to balance between human right as well as controlling their economic growth & population.

Recently I felt that Facebook is becoming like Twitter that there is no use of accessing Twitter anymore. Then one night it changed my mind again. A Canadian friend who was my ex-roomate in Sweden contacted me through Facebook saying she is coming to Shanghai in few days. And just like that  I meet her in Shanghai and spend really exotic Chinese night. (we found local Chinese hotpot restaurant and ate for 2 hours

“Who would have imagined that I would met Korean friend that I met in Sweden in Shanghai!!”

Actually this is my second time this suprising event have happened.

Last June, while I was having one month vacation in The Netherlands, I got Facebook message from my high school friend from Kenya.

“Oh! Suna! Are you in The Netherlands? Me too!! We have to meet!!”

And Just like that I had reunion with a friend that I haven’t meet for 7 years.

The night we meet, we talked and talked until we see the dawn.

People are everwhere thesedays. Yes, Of course we can contact them through E-mail and phone but let’s be honest. We do not contact everyone every other day. Yet we all go to Facebook at least once a day (at least I am) and check what other people are up to. So I think it is the facebook that keeps everyone connected. It truly fulfilling purpose of social net-working.

One day, If I get to meet Mark Zuckerberg, I would really like to thank him, for real!

Now, I am waiting for next surprising event. Who will be my thrid suprise contact?

While I was watching Chinese Parade 2009 on their national day (1^st of October), I was shuddered at the sight. Everyone knows that the purpose of the parade is to let their people to feel proud to be Chinese as well as show off their power to the others but still the ceremony was jaw dropping outward show.

Now that China has rival expectation due to Beijing Olympic, expecting Shanghai Expo in 2010 and became 2^nd largest economy in the world, ceremony of their 60^th anniversary had to be too perfect and organized. And here I am amazed with thier ‘behind story’.

1. Manipulate weather

It is not new, since China already did it during the Beijing Olympic, but once again China manipulated weather for National day to have clear blue sky as background. In order not to rain on 1st October, they used “artificial rain reduction” (thanks to that Shanghai rained all day long on 1^st October), 24 machines was set on the land on national day to suck up all the smog.

2. So many banned action

• Tourists spots, hotel, restaurants in Beijing was closed and armed police was located at many intersections as well as metal detectors in the subway to scan the bags of passengers from few weeks before the parade.
• People who live on parade route were told not to open their window and not allowed to come out of thier balcony to see the parade.
• Few weeks before the parade, knives and soaps (it can be used for bomb) were banned to sell in every store (even Wall Mart) in  Beijing.
• Flying kites and BIRDS were banned on 1^st of October.

3. Military parade

Total 52 types of weapon that were all MAID IN CHINA were displayed in the parade including nuclear weapon. 14 blocks, each comprising 352 soldiers, marched past the country’s leaders everyone in same height, shape and posture. When president of China, Hu Jintao, passed through soldiers, all the faces of soldeir moved exactly same direction on same pace.

“Parades have always been considered the best way to display national strength and military might. It is also a good chance to educate people about national defense” Luo said. (Luo Yuan, a military expert with the with the Academy of Military Sciences) But I think it was also educational purpose to the other country sending message that ‘DO NOT MESS WITH CHINA!’

Plus showing the image of military weapons, at the same time broadcast  emphasizing that China is seeking and supporting peace was very contradiction.

4.  Crowds controlling

Total people participated in parade were 200,000 people. Among these numbers, 80.000 were children and they signed the contract in advance that they would not talk with any media until the parade is over. I wonder what that reason was, just hoping that children were not abused.

Moreover, I heard from Chinese that for one day performance they had to practice the parade since JANUARY, sacrificing their summer holidays. Although they get paid 50RMB per day, there is no option to say ‘No’ to participating the parade. It’s an ORDER. Some Chinese even feel that it is honor to be part of the parade and most of Chinese who are in the other cities sat at home and actually watched the whole parade. (Well I can understand since both day and night parade were entertaining and huge that it draws attention)

The 60^th anniversary parade certainly draws the world attention and  surely gave big impression to the people both Chinese and rest of the world. (Especially seeing the reaction on the Twitter was very interesting) Many Chinese felt that their nation is now strong and no other country would never look down on them.

Western media were generally assumed critical attitudes. They criticize on 80,000 children that were in the parade, the parades means rise of communist party in China, sees it as old-fashioned parade with new weapons. (More detailed information in source 3)

No one can deny that China is giant tiger that grows super fast. Some say China is becoming more and more capitalistic, but after this ceremony it feels like they are going back to Communism. I wonder when China becomes largest economy in the world, would history be repeated.

Sources:

1. http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=7445&sec=1
2. http://www.3news.co.nz/China-clears-central-Beijing-for-anniversary-party/tabid/417/articleID/123339/Default.aspx?ArticleID=123339
3. http://shanghaiist.com/2009/10/05/what_western_media_had_to_say_about.php
4. http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?sec=1&id=7915
5. http://english.chinamil.com.cn/site2/news-channels/2009-01/21/content_1627155.htm

Today I went to local market where you can buy antiques. And I was suprised with thier negotiating skill on prices.

Trick is this, instead of merchant give you the price, they ask you to give them a price. How clever is this, most of times travelers do not know the local price. With this negotiating skill, they would never have loss, in fact more likely to have profit most of times.

This is how it worked.

Suna: (Looking at lantern) how much is this?

Chinese Merchant (CM): 128 RMB

Suna: What? So expensive!!

CM: Ok, ok then give me the price that you want (giving Suna calculator so that she can pick the price)

Suna: I want it 20 RMB

CM: No! that’s not possible, how about 98RMB?

Suna: No way!  I am not interested. Bye!

CM: Ok then than 60 RMB! (Grabing Suna’s arm)

Suna: No!

CM: ok give me last price

Suna: I want it 20 RMB, I told you.

CM: Ok 25RMB, Last price

(This is the point you can decide whether you want to buy it or not, because usuallly they would never go lower than your lowest offer price)

It is funny that they make client to decide the price. Which I find it really clever but not fair to tourist. So I learnt some lesson today.

1. Never let merchant notice that you need to buy stuff desperately

2. Always ask for 20% of the price they offer

3. Be ready to walk away when they do not offer the reasonable price. (Don’t worry, you will find same stuff next store )

With above technique, I bought those (see below)

Funny, first price they offered was 380RMB. I end up bought them for 80RMB. I could manage to discount 300 RMB but i still wonder what was the ‘Real’ price.

Few hours ago, I just went to gym in Shanghai and ran 5km on running machine while watching Korean traditional sop drama called ‘Lee San’ (이산). Except that I have to train for the marathon, the only reason I like to go to gym is because I do not feel homesick in the gym. It might sound weird but I would say, ‘Physical’ gym in Shanghai is built for Korean. So many Korean music is played across the hall starting from ‘Nobody’ by Wondergirls to ‘Candy’ of HOT. (This song was big hit when I was 12!!-well I am 23 now…) So many Korean songs are played that it is even rare to hear Chinese song in that gym. For that reason I stopped carrying my personal MP3.

(2pm)-I think….

(Super Junior-Sorry Sorry)

Thanks to the Hanrye (한류-Korea Trend), I feel less homesick in this big city, Shanghai. Also I feel how Korea is influencing their neighboring countries which lead to their economic growth due to its success. When Chinese find out that I am Korean, they have so many questions about Korea sop drama. (Sometimes I don’t even know which drama they are talking about-Chinese really watch Korean drama A LOT!!)

Whenever I hear Korean music on the street, seeing Korean actor posted on metro station in Shanghai, I cannot help feeling proud of being Korean. Go Korea!

Recently I got to know about website called whatdoestheinternetthink.net. This website let you find out what people think of search terms. Of course, I got curious and tried to see how people think of Korea.

First I typed “South Korea”

Was I too proud of my country or can it be serious? The result was really shocking. It said, 87.8% think South Korea negative, 12.1% positive and 0% do not care.

I thought this is because many of people do not know the difference between South Korea and North Korea. So I tried “North Korea” which  gave me second shock!

Only 0.2% negative, 0.6% positive and 99.2% were don’t care.

With term “Korea”, 1% negative, 19.2% positive and 79.8% don’t care.
This is better result than “South Korea”, but still it represent that Korea generally do not have positive reputation. Plus compare to other neighbouring countires, Korea is definately low on positive side.

It is so heartbreaking to see all these result, however, we can learn from the painful result.

Even if, negative reputation could be cause of ‘North Korea’ it is clear that  still a lot of people do not know or don’t bother to know about Korea.

It was also irritating for me to serach 3 times to find out about my country yet other countries needed to be typed only one starndard name, which is pretty normal.

Well Korea!! We gotta show the world how good pleasant and positive Korea can be and hopefully in near future, I can search Korea with one name not seperated.

I am staying in a suburb of Holland, where there are about 30 sheep around. One day, the owner of sheep told me that she would be separating sheep between mom and child for a year.
“Isn’t that cruel? Why would you separate them intentionally?” I asked her.
Then she replied that child needs to learn to live on their own, stop relying on their mother.
The day she separated them, the whole day both mom and child cried between the fence. However once, they learned that they would not be united again mom stops to cry then child eventually.

Observing this, I realized that most of European child move out when they reach their age of 18. Most of European friends I know told me that, by moving out they get to learn to survive on their own. How to clean, cook, socialize, find a mate and organize own financial administration. Surprisingly it is not only child who wants to move out when they reach certain age but also parents start recommending them to move out.

When I looked back in our culture, Korean, I realized that our moving out timing is way too late. Most of times, Korean people move out of their parent’s house when they get married or sometimes never. Even more, now that the average of age getting married in Korea is becoming older, it is even harder for the parents to let their child go.

The culture of Korea is to respect elders and pay the debt to the parents by taking care of them when they grow old. So normally, first son live with their parents even after their marriage. The concept of the ideal is good and reasonable, however personally I feel that it is heading into wrong direction. It is not hard to see 30 years single man/woman live in their parent’s house, getting pocket money from parents (some cases, people give handover their wages to the parents and let parents take care of the finance, in terms of investing and doubling the moneys and it is more often happen to the girls), getting advising on making decisions (most of times you have to take the advice of the parents as to respect them) laundry and cooking is always done by mother.

Therefore when they get on their 30’s, problem occurs. This is because when people get married, while they are immature on surviving themselves , has to learn to cope living with others at the same time.

For the parent’s point of view, living with their child too long, creates too big bonds that depression and loneness they will face is greater than the European parents. Let say if both European and Korean couple get married at the age of 28 and have a child at the age of 30. European parents face depression of ‘empty nest’ in their age of 48 to 50, while Korean parents face it on their age of 58 to 60. While European parents can face that depression much earlier/younger and have energy to find other hobbies or work to handle the depression that by the time they reach age of 60s, they get over with those feelings, settled down and able to enjoy their life. Yet I wonder whether Korean parent’s can handle that huge energy loss of depression on their 60s and be able to enjoy their life before the death.

I think it is late for Koreans for both child and parents. Ideal and practice cannot be same all the time and this is the case. The concept of the ideal is good, but it clearly delaying the development of the child’s independency. I am not saying we also have to move out at the age of 18 right away, but it is time to think of alternatives that would help child to learn to live on their own in early stage.

Today I visited one elementary school in Holland called Jan Harmenshof. Few environment of school has caught my eye.

Traffic light.
I wondered how European kids would get to learn disciplined in the school since corporal punishment is strictly forbidden. It was traffic light of teacher gave me slight idea how children in The Netherlands learn to be discipline. When teacher is busy, he/she put red light in order to indicate to children that he/she is busy. Then children have to wait until teacher turns light into Green. I think this is great way of teaching not to disturb others when they are busy and as well as respect other’s privacy.
I remember when i was young, all the kids including me, kept going to teacher’s desk to ask or complain stuff. It must have been really disturbing for teachers now that i am come to think of since Korean teachers need to do a lot of administrative works. Asian kids are generally well disciplined in the class, but we tend to ignore other’s privacy and time and often think that teachers are suppose to have all the time for children. Of course this is where cultural differences apply where people value different aspect. However I think this is something we can learn to be considereate and more social.

Personal Bag
In the hallway, personal bags were hanged with names. This was not strange but one interesting was children’s coat must be kept inside the bag and has to be closed tight in order to not to spread lice. I am not sure if that is effective because if one child has lice on his/her hair, it can spread quickly in the class. However, still the act of preventing spread of lice was impressive.

Writing Board
I think this should be introduced to all over the Korea for the sake of teacher’s health.
Still lots of Korea elementary school, teacher use black board with chalks. Chalks create lots of dust (as well as unpleasent sounds) that causes occupational disease. Hence in The Netherlands, even in the small village, all the class has beamer and special writing board with touch screen function. Through this device, teacher does not need to worry about their health as well as become convenient. (does not need to write on the board all the time and can save the work as well) I think this small considerate things shows how one country is developed and advanced.

Tools
These dangerous tools were situated in the hallway. It looked very dangerous since such young children (age from 3 to above) are walking around the hallway. Teachers admit that it is dangerous, but they need to learn by look, touch and try. So children can play wood work just like their father does at home, but one thing they must do is to place them back safely after use.

Sofa
Lastly and personally, I liked the sofa in every class. It is for children to relax and to read a book comfortably. Not only the funtion but also the placement of Sofa made classroom very cozy and relaxed. Still in Korea, class room is very disciplined. What I mean is that school is not a place to relax but to be tense with all the competition and learn to be discipline. Perhaps little bit of relax feeling in the classroom would not harm the children.

Sex scandal of Korean entertainment field is now getting hot spotlight. Actress called Jang Ji yon has committed suicide on 7th of March 2009. In the beginning, her suicidal was viewed as caused by depression but later it turned out to be due to sex related business. This scandal busted out when her ex manager, after few days of Ms. Jang’s death, revealed existence of document that is written by Ms. Jang. This document contains her story of being abused sexually and violently included time, place and name of people. Police is now investigating on this issue and ever since 7th of March, this issue is still discussed throughout media.

Involvement of Korean Mafia in entertainment field and sex abuse is an open secret in Korea. In fact it was viewed as custom in this industry that even though there were lots of rumors and small incidents, people hushed up on this issue. Therefore, when people heard this news, many of them including me, felt that ‘it finally bust out!’ rather than shocked.

It makes me feel so sad that Ms. Jang has to take the last option in order to get out of the dark restraint. I wish she would have peace in heaven.

When I was young, many of friends at my age wanted to become generally president, lawyer, doctor and teacher as their ideal job. However, these days many kids in Korea want to become singer, comedian, actor/actress and a star. This means, more and more people (especially teenagers) that have these dreams can face these dark attempts and trap.

I am really disgust with people who would abuse power onto desperate people but I think, victim also has responsibility in this case. I am not saying all the celebrities have gone though these dirty custom (I really hope not) but one cannot deny that these things does not exist.

My question is, ‘IS IT WORTH IT?’
What was so worthy that one has to sell their body and soul? Even if one becomes star after dirty business, what would they get? What are they really trying to chase to have or achieve? Fame? Money? Power? Even if they become successful, will they be happy? I am even afraid that if these people becomes star, they would start to justify themselves that what they did in past was just a process and normal to do for next generation.

Having a dream is very precious and worthy. But one has to consider, how one should achieve their dream step by step. Once ethical values are ignored in order to achieve dream, I wonder whether that dream would be remain as same even if achieved. Some says, sometimes there is situation drives you unavoidable, society make you to do it. I do not think so. If one desire one’s dream desperately enough with right principle and belief, there is always a way. I believe, it is the weak people who does not have faith in their dream and self blaming on situation and environment, throwing their body and soul into dark side of world.

I hope police would deal with this matter well that through this incident, nothing likes this happen again.

“The Naked Ape” By Desmond Morris
(Book Review)

As we are surrounded by heavy media, we feel that world develops according to our development. In other words, we tend to focused seeing human being as main actor/actress in the world. Some could argue against, but that was how I felt that view of seeing human just an animal (lowering ourselves) was very fresh. Human being (naked ape) was well described and analyzed in this book that, it could be encyclopedia of human. It even gave me an impression that book for aliens or much evolved human being in the future for them to study human.

Book contains 8 chapters and each chapter has story to wake you up. all the small things we do in our lives such as putting pictures of family in the office desk, having a pet, why we get marry, why teenage girls like horse, why male teachers does not beat female students buttocks (while they do to male students) and why we kiss e.t.c. This is not because we are so clever that made new culture or habits different from other animals, but because we are an animal. All these habits that we have are directly connected to animal instinct and survival although we may not recognize it, thinking that we are different or superior to other animal.

This book made me to think that we should be humbled towards world. Moreover, I start to observe my habits and behavior to see what is the origin reason for me to do such things. Of course I am not a zoologist that cannot figure out much deeper, but once I know the secret, it is fun to find out or observe how people react in this animal world.