Life and Travel in China

President Komorowski's visit to China does not have much significance in the Middle Kingdom. I even wonder where Polish diplomacy was for 14 years? When China was on top and literally flourishing, the whole world was doing business with it and Poland was the most offended. Now they will sign three contracts, exchange more students and everything will be fine. But what amuses me the most is the fact that Poles are going there to convince the Chinese that Poland is worth investing in! Yes, great timing - global crisis, uncertain exchange rates, unstable economic situation. This is certainly the best time to invest in a small, unknown country like Poland - because that's how the Chinese perceive us. In addition, there was the death of Kim Jong Il and the Chinese are most concerned with this problem. Komorowski's visit is of little importance, small African countries are more important - because there are deposits there, there are no human rights and it is easy for China to sell something without certificates and quality standards. Regarding human rights - it was mentioned again in the Polish media. Why should Poland hold China accountable for respecting human rights? There are no human rights as such there - why ask about them? Only Polish diplomacy can come up with something like this.

This year, Chinese suppliers and representatives of companies in China trading with Europe and Poland were exceptionally active in sending Christmas wishes. As I guess, the crisis is taking its toll - they have less work, fewer orders, less production. Holidays are an opportunity to send a dozen or several dozen emails, e-cards and Christmas wishes to all customers who celebrate Christmas. This is an opportunity to remind yourself about yourself and discreetly recommend your products, maybe ask about new orders. And these new orders will have to wait anyway, because the Chinese New Year is soon. We are starting the Year of the Dragon, he should be happy!

Our Chinese friend, a quite innocent, quiet girl, was invited to a 'Christmas Eve party' with an American in Shenzhen. The problem is that this guy didn't invite her directly. So this Chinese woman who knew the American came and brought two friends. As it turned out, Americans are not very hospitable. He said something like "but why did you bring them to my small apartment, there are already a lot of friends here!" I remember that at the beginning of my stay in China, someone invited a couple of Chinese people who were completely strangers to me for Christmas Eve. I agreed to it and didn't pick on anyone, even though for us Christmas Eve is more personal and family. It was a curiosity for them, and I welcomed them as best I could. This American made my friend feel bad. They sat there for a while and, like a typical American Christmas Eve, they went to a bar. She is not very entertaining and went home after 10 p.m. As she said, maybe she should not comment on the fact that additional friends came and explain it somewhere so that she wouldn't bring anyone with her in the future. These are cultural differences and this is what American hospitality looks like.

It looks like China's population will grow again. Many young couples are already trying to have a child so that it will be born in the happy Year of the Dragon. It will be similar to 2007 - Year of the Pig. Back then, 2006 was the Year of the Dog, a good year for getting married, and I can confirm that. And immediately after the wedding you could try to have a child for the Year of the Pig. Despite everything, even young people are strongly influenced by such beliefs and customs. Interestingly, this applies to both richer and poorer people. It is never the case that a well-to-do family does not attach importance to dates, symbols, names. The year and the choice of a name for a child are very important in the Middle Kingdom. It is believed that this determines the fate of this tiny human from the very day he is born.

A few days ago, something tragic happened in a modern office building in Shenzhen. A man with a can of gasoline entered the floor of a company. As it turned out, the ex-boyfriend of the company owner. He grabbed her and held her next to him, starting the gas. I don't know the details, but there were some casualties and the office was destroyed. The most interesting thing is that there are many security guards in the building, a reception and gates in front of the elevators - strangers have to register, and employees have contactless cards to enter and leave. I am afraid that similar incidents will become more and more common in large cities. Lonely young people, without family or parents, renting apartments or living in workers' hotels, or even rich people who own apartments - when they fail in life, they become dangerous. Loss of job, loss of honor, heartbreak, everyday social injustice - all this increases frustration. Additionally, in big cities you can't rest and calm down, noise and crowds of people (now even in the park) cause some sick aggression. Just add envy, lack of understanding, rejection by a group and you have a tragedy. It was similar with the attacks on kindergartens. I have also witnessed such sudden outbursts of aggression. Generally, the Chinese are calm, friendly and content, but some are like time bombs - just a small thing is enough for their frustration to explode, then such incredible aggression, hatred appears, you can even see some madness in their eyes.