With my head in the Google cloud[s] this past week it was nice to be brought back down to Earth China with a friend’s visit from Xinjiang and another’s return from overseas. One of my girlfriend’s hometown friends passed through from Xinjiang, where he works as a doctor, and another friend returned from 2 years studying in the UK and by the sounds of it some much enjoyed travels around Europe. Their visits and the beginning of my holiday meant this was a good week.
Secretary Clinton’s speech on “Internet Freedom” did, however, give me a slight sense of foreboding, while the somewhat ironic same day announcement by The New York Times that they are going to start charging for access to online content was certainly food for thought. It was not simply the issues surrounding direct political censorship of information that came sharply into view this week but that indirect censorship may increasingly be part of our western world, due to the cost of access being too much for many. The last few weeks and months seem to have thrown up issues and focused minds on the perspectives and attitudes that are going to define this century and what exists of our world at the end of it. After spending the first ten years of this decade warming up, lines now seem to be beginning to be drawn. Let’s hope ongoing dialogue and the essence of “realistic idealism” can keep these relationships and lines fluid and pervious.
A picture of Nice from securecomm.org
On a lighter note, it was great to hear my friend’s stories of life in England and travels across Europe, especially as 2 years ago I had helped her a little with her IELTS exam, though with my still rather shaky knowledge of English grammar and her seemingly inborn diligence I can’t claim to have had much influence. In my younger days I was always the one travelling about, moving and working here and there and then regaling others with my experiences and exploits- for their sins. It was strange but rather pleasant this time to be the one who had remained in the same place while she had visited the Great British cities of Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Manchester and London and had so enjoyed the freedom of traveling alone through some of Europe’s most renowned destinations: Nice, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence as well as a Greek island retreat. We do all seem to move on in our own different ways but it is always great sometimes to just sit down and catch up. She did, however, find coins being thrown by the British youth at Chinese students hard to take, as well as finding the constant presence of alcohol in all social contexts in Britain rather disconcerting. Oh, the Chinese!
Raisin production from depts.washington.edu/
Later that day, after all that catching up, a big lunch and because of late night/ early morning China news reading, I was feeling a bit weary when on my way to meet my girlfriend’s hometown friend. However, when he bounded around the corner from the bus station full of smiles and homewardbound happiness (he has a wife and young child waiting for him at home) and when I discovered he had stood for 29 of his 31 hours’ train journey, I felt considerably less tired! He was pleasantly upbeat about all things Xinjiang, enjoying his work and life there. But, with still no Internet in Xinjiang and with my laptop sitting momentarily dormant on the table, I asked whether he fancied watching a film- Avatar was the response.
He left for home the following morning, leaving us with a group bear hug, a bag of tasty Xinjiang pu2 tao2 gan1 (葡萄干-raisins) and the information that my girlfriend was beautiful and clever and should be cherished, and that in China working hard, earning as much money as you can, buying a house and getting married are all good. I couldn’t help but agree, some information you just can’t put a price on. Last night my girlfriend made cinnamon raison bread with a bread maker from England, a Chinese interpretation of an American recipe, flour from the home village and Xinjiang raisins. All is well.
Tags: Hillary Clinton
西安