China, similar to you and me
I'm about mid way through my first trip to China (in Beijing) - first time to the far east for that matter, and I have to say it's a pretty interesting place. I've been all over europe and north america, but what has really struck me is how Beijing is similar to many other major international cities I've been to. Sure it's got it's unique attractions, food, people and activities - but isn't so different that I can't function or don't know how to fit in - in fact quite the opposite.
Now let me preface this by saying I am in the outer section of the city in a tech park, and haven't had time to go into the heart of the city (which I hope to do). But on the 12 hour (!) plane ride over, I had this notion that coming to China would be extremely exotic with very different ways of doing things.
Sure, the Internet access is not the best (i.e Great Firewall, international congestion, etc), food can be...adventurous (chicken neck, frog, snail, turtle, donkey, and others were all on the menu at tonight's restaurant), the weather & pollution aren't the best, politics aren't in line with what I'd vote for, but all in all - it's just a city, and a great one at that. People eat and hang out a lot, get work done in similar fashions and live their lives.
I think the differences in how people work, live, and interact in different cultures is incredibly interesting - hence why I think I am enjoying my time here so much. The trip has really highlighted that while there are a lot of differences in the way we choose to live, we often forget just how similar we all are :-)
More technical (read: nerdy) posts later on the Great Firewall, Internet access, colo's, and more.