5/30/2002
I'm glad you enjoy the missives. Feel free to pass them on.

Re: Shumpeter's theories. It seems as though you were reading
that a year ago. (I know it would take me that long - too heavy!)
I discussed some of your ideas with Ns. Jin Wie, the Secretary
General for YMCA China who happens to be in this building. (I
got her name from Pete Bower before I left. She has had quite
a bit of contact with Bob Masuda, both here and in the USA.
The YMCA is a leading player in facilitating the transitions
to a market economy (retraining workers, English instruction,
etc. as they are one of the largest NGOs in China (there are
no large church groups as you have in the US.) Anyways, she
don't see the self destruction. China has a very long history
(2,000 years+ (some say 5,000) and has a tremendous amount of
esprit de cour. While there has been some division, it was mostly
into 2 or 3 blocks, i.e., North vs. South. The people seem very
accepting of central authority. Also, much of the factionalism
in Europe (and other places) have their roots in religion which
is not a factor. Nationhood is their religion.
I also believe the world is a totally different place with global
travel, communications, business, etc. expanding exponentially.
I question whether Schumpeter's theories (and economic models)
really are applicable today.
Too heavy - I have a hard time thinking and typing. We can talk
about it when i get back.

Lenny

Lenny:

I'm just demonstrating this as a comment on your trip 'blog'.

How would you compare, the school facilities to those public school facilities in Hawaii? The reason that I ask is because I spent about two hours today at Kalani H.S. and was shocked at the poor maintenance condition of the school facilities and grounds. Ironically the reason for the meeting was to coordinate the judging criteria on a 1.2M$ grant to buy telecom equipment for schools (a very restricted grant that cannot be used for repair and maintenance). Moreover, the meeting area was 'chock-full' of unopened boxes containing electronic equipment. Talk about a system that is out of kilter!

Aloha -- Fred

5/30/2002
Schools

Today I noted that it was boy/girl at every desk (2/desk on a
bench) so I asked the teacher how the students are seated. Yes,
it was structured that way because of the one child/family law.
This way, students learn how to get along with the opposite sex.
Also cuts down on the boys disruptive behavior. The students
are seated smallest in the front to the tallest in the back.
(It takes some digging but it seems that everything has a logical
reason once you understand it.)

Thwice a day the childern do a 5 minute "eye exercise". The
childern massage their temples, eyes and parts of their head
to music on the PA system. The teachers claim that it helps
vision. Yesterday, they also did 5 minutes of physical exercise
at there desks at a different time.

Women teachers for the lower grades, mostly men in the upper.
Women teachers retire at 55, men at 60.

Homes

Early i said the "average" home, i.e., flat, was about 1,000
sf. I've learned that is for the newer apartments being built
as the city expands outward. The older, inner city apartments
are about 500 sf (about the size of a small one bedroom apartment
in the US). Development is by a government orginization. The
newer ones are selling for about $30/sf. They can be bought
and sold as in the US.

TV

The English movies (mostly American) on TV are the worst I have
ever seen. Have to be class C! Heavy on stereotypes, sexual
innuendo, sophmoric (8th grade?) humor.

Elevators (here at the YMCA hotel)

About 3'x 4' and the sign says "Limit 10' people". Certainly
not 10 Americans!

Aloha

Lenny

5/29/2002
Raining again (drizzle) this morning. 3 days last week and it
started again yesterday afternoon. This is the rainy season.

More on the Volunteers

- I found out the two girls are Juniors in college. (the "backpacker"
analogy was right on the money.)
- Haven't figured out the gay male nurse. Seems to resort to
sarcasimm to mask his insecurities. (Generally over everybody's
head, especially the locals). Continually talks about quiting
and going home but I saw him this morning. He and the two college
girls are about as mature as my 6th grade students!
- Michael (my roommate) just out of DC college. Mommy's boy,
has called home a half dozen times. Definitely never had a roommate
(adult?)
- All of the above seem "disappointed" in Shanghai. They say
they want to see the "real" China - obsessed with get out of
the city (Thats like getting out of LA times 2!). I believe
they're looking for traditional buildings, men with pigtails,
rice fields, conical hats. All are going out tomorrow (Childern's
Day, an International holiday, schools for the lower grades are
closed.)
- All have struggled with Chinese food, claiming it's "too greasy"
(and then they go to Pizza Hut here for dinner!). The older
(in her 30's) lady, Beth, is a vegetarian, the rest lean that
way, often commenting about how Americans each too much meat.
It'll be interesting to see how they fare in their village excursions.
- The college "kids" also seem to be very much opposed to visiting
the more popular tourist (sightseeing) spots here, yet they congregate
in yuppie hangouts.
Am I an old fart???

Shanghai

- Typical Asian city changing at an exponential rate.
- Streets are extremely noisy. When traffic crawls (often),
everyone lays on the horn. Shops play music (Chinese & Western)
over speakers for the neighborhood.
- It gets light at 5 am. (No daylight savings time.) Construction
jackhammers and construction start at dawn and go on 7 days a
week. Night work is not unusual.
- Pedestrians and bicycles largely ignore stoplights and traffic
control. Taxi rides (the common method of transport if you can
afford it ($1.25 for 1st mile, about $0.20/mile thereafter))
can be quite exciting, especially when there is "open" road.
- Lots of buses, generally quite crowded. They have 2 subway
lines that are quite good (again, generally crowded) but they
have a long way to go to get a complete network. I have no doubt
it will happen.
- They do have an daily English paper. About 8 pages, mostly
national news (HQ in Beijing). I do have access to the Internet
(very popular here, even 6th grade students use it) so I can
get American news if I want more detail on events. About 30
TV stations available in my room, several have quite a bit of
English programming. One sports channel, although generally
slighty delayed. (I watched most of the Indy 500, the Monaco
Formula 1 race and the Memorial golf tournament. I had read the
results in the morning paper before I watched.)
- World Cup Fever starting tomorrow. This is the first year
China has qualified for the 2nd round so everyone is very excited.
- Water looks clean but even most of the educated locals (and
students) don't drink from the tap. Bottled water generally
available everywhere.

Family visit (Last Sunday)

Each of us went to a family's home. The majority (?) live in
4 - 25 storey apartments, many only recently constructed. (Many
(remember, there are 14 million people in the city proper) also
live in older 2 storey shophouses. Many of these are being bulldozed
for high rises.) Usually 3 generations. With the one child
policy, childern are often spoiled (rotten?) but are generally
well behaved. My family's daughter had a large bedroom all to
herself with many toys, dolls, a desk, etc. Much like you would
expect in an American only child's bedroom. (Ironically, she
slept with her parents as she was "scared" to sleep by herself!)
The rest of the house was very much like a typical upscale condo
apartment. Large rooms (except for the kitchen), 2 Western style
bathrooms, a large living and dining area, a bedroom for the
grandparents and a large master bedroom. Tastefully furnished.
Floors marble (common in Asia0 and hardwood. 3 TVs, one over
50"!
I'm not sure how "typical" this is as the wife was a doctor,
the husband worked for the government. (Luckily, their college
educated niece was there as they struggled with spoken English.
Many people understand written words, though.) Literally thousands
of similar buildings, though, so the size and layout are the
same, especially in the newer areas (= miles of development)

Other quick takes
- Kleenex serves as napkins (if you are lucky to get anything!)
- Toilet paper is at a premium (maybe 10' in a roll? I think
my roomate is eating the stuff as I find 2-3 cardboards in the
wastebasket daily!) You have to bring your own to school or
if you need it outside the hotel. Toilets are the trough type
or a bowl in the foor (I have Western style in the hotel). The
troughs are partitioned for the women witha common trough. EVERYTHING
flows to the low side (SLOWLY). Very easy to identify (unique
(distinctive?) smell!)

Too much like school - more later.

Aloha

Lenny

5/29/2002
Heavy stuff. Remember, I'm teaching 6th graders! I was thinking
about that today. I'd probably struggle to carry on a conversation
with 6th graders in an American school, none the less for 15
days!

Let me think about you wrote.

Later

Lenny

>--- Original Message ---
>From: Frederick Lins
>To: 'Lenny Kamp'
>Date: 5/28/02 3:43:34 PM
>

>Speaking of government impact/influence, I am reading Schumpeter's
>"Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy" concerning the dynamic
conflict>between economic and social philosophies. This ready and you
comments makes>me wonder why the Chinese/Asians in general seem to be flocking
to American>Management Schools. Is it because, we Americans have the better
solutions or>is it merely that to best your competitor you need to understand
his 'game'?
>Schumpeter, of course, is best known for coining the term 'creative
>destruction' referring to his belief that capitalism contained
the 'seeds'>of its own demise,, specifically, propensisity for the wealthy
to 'go>liberal, then social, thereby endangering the development of
future>capitalists. The Chinese and most Asians are approaching from
the opposite>direction, communist/socialist => capitalist or is this just
an aberration>over the last 50-80 years?
>>My concern is that large seemingly monolithic societies like
China, may>self-destruct into tribes, like that process that we see in
Eastern Europe.
>Comments?
>
>Aloha -- Fred

5/28/2002
All childern have one class/day in English starting with 3rd
grade. Many of the high schoolers have a very comprehension of
the language. (I don't get to work with them much as they are
very wrapped in preparing for year end exams. Good grades will
have a major impact on whether they go on to higher levels.)


Most learning is by rote with heavy emphasis on reading and writing.
They get little chance to practise spoken English other than
to recite words/phrases en masse. The teacher's, especially the
older ones, spoken English is generally quite week. Shanghai
is hell bent to establish itself as the economic and finacial
center of Asia.

English seems to be the big push right now. I have not heard
of other languages although I am sure it is available.

It rained (drizzled) the 1st three days but it has been fairly
pleasent since although it has been very smoggy and humid in
the daytime. The temperature was about 90 yesterday. Air pollution
is commented on by everyone and apparently the government is
trying very hard to do something about it. Good luck.

Lenny
>--- Original Message ---
>From: (Florence Kamp)
>To: (Lenny Kamp)
>Date: 5/27/02 2:04:07 PM
>

>I am really enjoying your mail. It sounds like such a wonderful
>experience. I had no idea that they were teaching English in
their
>schools. Do they learn any other languages? How is the climate?
We are
>getting warm weather after the whole month of cold, wet weather....I
>didn' t see it but it actually snowed in some areas.
Terry
>has booked reservations to come at the same time that you will
be here.
>Kathy isn't feeling well and with the new baby, she is letting
Terry do
>the trip, alone. I am so glad that
you can
>keep us informed about your trip. LOVE, Mom

5/28/2002
Government is pervasive in everything but the people seem very
supportive. It is a strange system. Unbridled capitalism coupled
with a socialist philosophy. Detailed long range planning is
evident in almost every sector of their society. I have no doubt
China will be a major world power in the next 5-10 years.

Lenny
>--- Original Message ---
>From: Frederick Lins
>To: 'Lenny Kamp'
>Date: 5/28/02 4:55:18 AM
>

>Your reports offer a very interesting snapshot of life there.
Perhaps the
>Vietnamese do have due cause to be concerned about the competitive
Chinese.
>
>Do you see an obvious 'government hand' at work in the organizing
of daily
>life? Or does everything appear chaotic?
>
>Aloha -- Fred

5/27/2002
Had an interesting experience today. No school (teachers meeting)
so I took a taxi accross the city (10 miles - $2) to the new
Science & Technology Museuem. World class but I saved it for
today as I was advised it was overrun with childern on weekends.
Got there - closed on Mondays! Took a taxi back to the heart
of new development area and have an English oriental lady asked
me how to get to the Hyatt. I had seen the building several times
and new it was one of the highest in the world but didn't that
it was on the record as the highest hotel in the world. There
was an expressway beteen us and the building but the lady could
speak Mandarin so we got there and took the elevator to the 54th
floor checkin. This broad had gotten her shoe broken before
she met me so she goes to the concierge and asks for a roll of
tape. Goes into the restroom and fixes her shoe and then we're
off. She walks around like she owns the hotel and we visit/try
every restaurant, spa and amenity up through the top presidential
suites. She grabs every freebie, bottled water, etc. that she
sees. Everybody bends over backwards helping us!

We take the metro back to the the main Museum and she won't even
let me pay the fare - $0.24. I turns out she is a Filipino who
manages an international restaurant in Taipei. Here on vacation
and was just looking for company.

You don't believe it? I'll show you her business card where
she wrote something about meeting an angel and ...." Really.

I forgot to mention we have one other volunteer. A 30+ year
lady who works a social worker in California. Recently married,
her husband works for Ratheon as an engineer. Much more mature
than the others. We did some of the "must see" sightseeing together
last week.

Aloha

Lenny

5/27/2002
I also wonder wonder about the younger volunteers sometimes.
They are like the backpackers that hit Europe every summer (except
a little more adventurous (or think they are by doing Asia.)
Also, I've learned some are getting college credits and several
got a grant.

Students are very much like American students but take school
a little more seriously because: 1) Pressure from parents because
of China's one child policy and 2) Entire city seems to be determined
to become the preeminent finacial and economic center of Asia.
Everyone starts studying English in 3rd grade. Vocabulary and
understanding quite advanced but speaking and conversational
skills are very poor as they have little oppurtunity to speak
individually. Learning is by rote and emphasis is on written
English.

Almost everyone I've met is generally pro American, maybe because
they see so much American advertising and products. There are
2-3 English (1 all sports) TV channels (out of 43 total).

More on home life later as I have to run.

Aloha

Lenny

5/26/2002 A little bit about the CCS "teaching group":

2 girls fresh out of college. Everything is "awesome". Strong
feelings on what they view as American "exploitation" (KFC, MacDonalds,
dissemination of Western culture and advertising, skyscrapers,
etc.). They want no part of the the most popular visitor attractions
or shopping areas. (What they say and what they do are two different
things!)

1 gay male registered nurse in his 20's. He's having a a real
problem adjusting, complaining or sarcastically commenting about
everything. Everyone in the group is confused, even his name:
Sometimes he identifies to John, othertimes to Kelley (his surname).
Girls seem to like him (or feel sorry for him?) - not sure.

I young Jewish boy fresh out of college - my roommate. Enthusiastic
but naive. Judging by our room, he probably has never had a
roommate and his mommy took care of him. (He spent hours trying
to call him the night of his arrival.)

None of these people has had much experience with Chinese food
and have been eating only a small portion of their meals (prearranged
as part of the package) to eat outside. All seem to crave bread
(not common here). All "badmouth" American fastfood but seem
to be eating quite a bit of it.

Quick observations about Shanghai: Noisy, chaotic (cars (1/2
are taxis), buses, bicycles (everywhere) and mopeds compete for
every opening. If they get open road, they go like hell (60-80
mph) even though there are always pedestrians, bikes jaywalking,
crossing against the light, etc. Basically, cars get the right
of way (and the most daring gets the most!)

Literally thousands of highrises (14 million people). Many new
and world class skyscrapers. Construction everywhere. Fairly
good expressway system.

More later

Lenny