I have to apologise again for our lack of blogging, but as you may have read, several websites are now blocked on the Chinese internet: Apart from YouTube (which has been offline for a couple of months), WindowsLive, Yahoo and Google (inlc. all their twitter, vlogspot etc. websites)have been offline now too, just in time for the 4th June 20 years anniversary of the events in the largest square of the world. Only one Chinese newspaper mentioned this date yesterday, but in Hong Kong, Taiwan and outside of China candles were lit in most squares and streets.
For Mark and me it's a bit bizarre to think that by taking off certain websites, this event would just be buried, but apparently young people in China are generally oblivious to politics and this seems to be no exception. With the increasing wealth of Chinese families shopping seems to be more interesting than historic events. Seems strange? Not really I guess when you look at history: Wealth numbs political and social conscience, at least for a while until you feel that you should really share a little bit and start donating or doing voluntary work. Chinese people (more specifically the younger generations) seem to follw the same pattern and who can blame them?
China still amazes us every day and by meeting different people from different parts of the spectrum it just becomes more and mysterious. When Michael and Shelley came to visit us with Shelley's mum a couple of weeks ago, her Mum's greatest experience of Beijing (never having been here in her whole life) was to get up at 5.30 in the morning and wait patiently outside the Mao Mausoleum, just opposite the Forbidden City to see the body of China's modern emperor. I can't see any of Mark's little students do that, Mark is struggling enough to engage them in an overview of the EU.
And then there is Hong Kong.... Formally part of China now, but so different in language, culture and attitude. When we were there last weekend, they were just selling the book of Zhang Ziyang describing the events that happened to him. In mainland China this book is not being sold. So, another piece int eh puzzle of understanding China, maybe.
So, I will try and keep yo uas updated as I can under these circumstances and hope that I can put up some pictures soon again too.
