A Chinese-American Story of Love (Part V - section 6)

By Douglas Wagganer

In the last part of my story I told everyone of our day at the Yuelu Academy. I forgot to tell you of the additional stop our group made on our way back to the Hotel that lovely afternoon. We made brief, but very scenic stop on a little Island in the middle of the Yellow River. The island is a long a thin stretch of land about two miles long and only wide enough for one road and a continuous row of houses and buildings. The island was heavily populated with the common citizens of the area. It was a poor part of town and needed repair and attention to the many buildings. We were taken to the far side of the island, to the place that earned that little island the name "Orange Island". At that location Orange Trees grew in a large grove of trees. Members of the local population would came each day and pick up fallen Oranges in baskets. For a small fee people living in the City would purchase small amounts of these Oranges; then those people would in turn try to sell them on the streets of Changsha. The beauty of the grove allowed for some nice pictures. The trip to and from that Island gave us all a glimpse at the daily life of common people trying to exist in a crowded city.

All day on Wednesday, we remained on our own. We walked to several Department Stores and a Friendship Store near our Hotel. Shopping was fun and prices were quite reasonable. Jane and I enjoyed the day with our new daughter, and we started buying special things for her. A hand made ceremonial Tea Set was the costliest item. We bought maps, several books, a Mahjongg set, some nice silk embroidery pieces, and just about anything unique that our daughter could some day identify as being for her Province or part of her Chinese heritage.

The most sticking fact I discovered that day of shopping was that all the stores were just like the stores in America. In the United States we are told how bad Communism is and how deprived the people are in China. The reality was that Stores in China were numerous, had lots of quality merchandise, and were doing a flourishing business trade. Workers appeared happy and eager to help everyone with their shopping needs. I walked the streets in the day and after dark. I went to the big stores and to the side street vendors. No matter where I went or who I dealt with, I only received courtesy and respect. Shopping Malls were clean and had lots of name brand stores inside. There were even several big named stores present from all the major European Countries. In some ways Chinese Shopping offered more to an individual than someone might find in a similar type American Mall. The Capitalist way of doing business was present, but missing were the high prices and the poor sales help that American stores all seem to have. 

At no time did I have anyone follow me or try to stop me or my wife from going anywhere we wanted. I took an objective walk and a crazy taxi-cab ride about the City. I saw the good, the bad, the wealthy, and the poor to all be present. The Police Officers in China were trained professionals; each dressed sharply and displayed an image of quiet confidence. The best example I could give was that they had the appearance and personal demeanor of a Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop or a Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol Officer. In short they were sharp individuals. I am sure there were areas that I would have been not allowed to enter, but that in true in every country, including the United States.

The biggest shocks I had was the volume of people concentrated in any given area or building and the pollution levels. Population and Air Pollution are the major problems in China. People are literally everywhere and the air can be cut with a knife on most days.  China is a Country approximately the size of the United States. The resources of China are limited, but China some how feeds, clothes, and provides it's best for 1.4 billion citizens. What I saw was not the 1950's image of "Evil" that the American Government wants everyone to believe. What I saw was a world that might still be slightly behind the America in some ways, but also a world moving forward in a in a positive direction at an accelerated pace. China is not the third world Country. It needed improvement in many areas. Then again China is ahead in a few.