NOTE: Tension between Canada and China is very real this year. Too bad.
So I thought readers might be interested in our visit to Beijing back in 2013.
EPISODE 338 CHINA SURPRISED ME IN 2013
alan skeoch
May 2021
“Dad, I have booked a flight for all of us to fly to China tomorrow.”
“Awww Kevin, we’re quite happy here in Korea.”
“China will surprise you.”
“To much tension Kevin.”
“Tension?”
“Tension between Canada and China…..different people.”
“Scared, dad?”
‘No need to take risks…not sure the Chinese Would like us.”
“You will be surprised, Dad…pack your bag….I have
booked us all into a small Chinese hotel in Beijing for a few nights.”
“Your mom and I do not speak Chinese, Kevin.”
“You will be surprised to discover that many Chinese speak english.”
“Why would they do that?”
LOTS OF SURPRISES
SURPRISE #1
OUR first surprise was the hat seller. Chinese military hats … fake fur with
a Communist red star. I bought six of them from these street capitalists. WHY?
I have no idea but Thought the price was right.
2) SURPRISE #2
A LOT of Chinese citizens were quite ready to bargain … got to be fun.
SURPRISE #3
THE food for sale on one street in Beijing was really bizarre. We ad read about the Chinese ‘Bug’ market. Sure enough
there were candied bugs…for sale. A special street for foreigners. A bunch of Russian men
were having a great time wolfing down some of these bugs. But this was special for
foreigners. No Chinese customers that I could see.
SURPRISE #4 THE CHINESE WE MET WERE GLAD TO SEE US…MADE US FEEL VERY WELCOME
SO, Marjorie and I went back and bought a couple more hats.
So let me tell you about these surprises. No one was hostile. Granted the hat sellers wanted
to make a buck but they did it in a very friendly way. More stories about China coming