Whilst My Code Runs, A Letter of Venting

Dear The West,

I miss you very much and am glad to be returning soon. BUT we need to talk. All I hear from your news about the Olympics is "Pollution, Oh No!" and "Security Measures, Oh No!" Really. I swear, the old people 'patrolling' on the streets are not actually the new "Red Guard." They are the same harmless old people who sit there all the time chatting with each other and relaxing. They're friendly and give good directions, at least in Chinese (though half the time you have to poke them first because they're napping). The only difference between two weeks ago and today is that they're wearing Olympic Volunteer T-shirts because they want to show their support for the Olympics.

Yes, there are problems in China. But Western Media leaps to assume that everything is a problem and that all Chinese must be unhappy and longing for freedom. Yun, an MIT student I stayed with in Hangzhou, recently wrote about her 'most memorable' recommendation letter to college, from her high school counselor. "He painted me as an exemplary student, a wonderful addition to any college campus, and alluded to my family's 'escape' from Communist China so I could attain greater liberties and opportunities in America. Upon reading what my counselor believed to be a brilliant conclusion to his masterpiece, I couldn't refrain from correcting him: my dad went to Sweden to study, not en route an escape to the Land of the Free."

Yes, there are problems in China. But there are more than two! You could at least be a teensy bit creative about the negative stories you write. Write about bus drivers who honk at imaginary obstacles, or the lack of decent running shoes, or how your Cold Stone ice cream tastes funny. Tell me why there are no dryers in China. I'd really like to know.

You know... there are also cool things going on in China. You could try covering those. Some are there for the Olympics, like the shiny new subway lines. But some are very much part of China's identity, like the old people doing TaiChi in the parks and plazas without regard for how they look or who's watching.

No, I won't stay mad at you, The West. But just try to come up with something original, please? You have the whole internet at your disposal. See you in under two weeks.

Kim

It seems I'm not the only one tired with the Western media's unimaginative coverage. I just read a wonderfully refreshing piece called, "Forbidden Clichés: A guide for visiting journalists" in The Beijinger, an expat's monthly 'City Life Magazine.' It's so dead-on, it made me laugh out loud. Read it! Really!

This month's The Beijinger did what I consider to be a great job with their Olympic features. They have profiles on top competitors from lots of countries and the futuristic equipment many are wearing/using to get ahead. They have information about ticketed and non-ticketed events. They have predictions about who will come out ahead in medals. Real Chinese were interviewed about the Olympics. There's even amusing advice for tourists, such as, "You're leaving in a month. We live here! Don't tip, for the love of God! You'll screw up this whole thing we've got going here!"

Mmm... Writing this and reading the Beijinger have largely taken care of my ire, and I'm going to go grab some cheap Chinese food to finish it off. Ttfn!