Did you know….
That China is the most populated country in the world? 1.3 Billion, yes. Well I’ve been noticing all KINDS of jobs that Chinese citizens do. Besides all the shops, finance, government and construction jobs, they clean most everything. Buildings, subways, streets, alleyways, every night, even street asphalt arrows, so that keeps a number of people in work. There are a lot of people selling their goods, whether that is a couple toys in the subway station, fruit, Chinese flags, socks, candied apples, electronic t shirts. There are a good many jobs in this city of 15 plus million.
As I have been here, I have been talking with the Chinese about their work situations, dreams and goals, and their level of happiness basically. So far my findings are this: The Chinese work very hard. On average, a person who is working in their twenties, will work everyday of the month, be paid monthly and get one day off. If they want another day off in the month, they need to work a double shift, so they’ll work a 16 hour day. Technically their official time may say they worked 8 hours, but this isn’t the case, they work longer than they have to, and they really can’t complain about it, because if you do, you lose your job, and that means no money coming in. And you don’t have much money in the first place, so you’re in a tough position. The solution is to work your ass off, take what you get, and hope for more money. Good luck~
This way of working isn’t a new revelation for me. All over the world, I have seen people working their tails off for peanuts and they have to, because this is what feeds their family.
Coming from the United States, it is good to have a global reality check. This is why I like to travel. I see the world in a holistic perspective, not as just as an American. There is a lot more work freedom and options in the states as opposed to China and many other nations. It’s encouraging to see things in a holistic way, to see things all over the world in one’s thinking, because, the world is coming together faster than it ever has in human history, and as we continue to live together, we will be making more decisions together, communicating more, trading, sharing, thinking, loving more. Well I hope we love more 🙂
So, you can read all the papers and books and watch all the video, but to really get that perspective, you need to go. You need to talk to others about their journey in life. Where they’ve been, how they were brought up, what sort of education one received, and so forth. Talk about your life in return, a relationship has been formed, World Peace is on the way! Just kidding, but understanding each other is a helpful part to avoiding conflicts and hatred.
Right, so what are the Chinese thinking in terms of goals or dreams? Most of what I am hearing is we want to get money, make more money. Yeah, I understand, who wouldn’t want a little extra cash?
I was in the Shanxi History museum last week, and back 4,000 years ago, the locals used seashells as a form of currency. This was because seashells of this type were hard to find, and so people traded with it. Gold was just used as a form of a gift, and I saw these stacks of gold pendants that were previously used. Well, Gold has a different use now than back then. Money has a different value to each person respectively.
As I live here in China, again on the road, already having traveled, I am not as stimulated as I used to get when I was a college student having my eyes opened to this vast world. Now I am a professional seeing things differently. What I am seeing is many similarities. People want to make a living, people want to provide for their family, people want the best for their children, people want love.
Something I noticed again while here, is peoples universal love for children. I was in a market and this family from the Middle East came walking through, and the women were fully covered in their burkas and there was a little baby boy being carried. All these young Chinese women, who were the vendors in this market, were all smiles and talking Chinese baby talk to this little Arab baby, taking photos and touching his hand, all joyful. As I looked at the small eye opening of the burka of the Arab women, I could see their eyes were smiling. And it was lovely.
Well, Thats enough for now. My sis is gone, and I’m off to do some research.
Peace
shawn
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