start a new life, a new life

This entry was intended to be in Chinese; however, as there is a greater pertinence to address the issue to my foreign friends or any foreign readers, I decided to give my primitive English a try.

It has been quite sometime that the issue of Tibet occupied the headlines of most major newspapers. I am fortunate and/or unfortunate to live in Paris - one of the most hostile cities - and to witness how news and, more tragically, people’s innocent minds, are being manipulated, by both Western and Chinese media.

All along, I have been trying to be deadly quite, not to get involved in any heated discussion. In fact, towards the last two years in Singapore, I have already made up my mind not to discuss too much politics. My past experience of talking about Taiwan issue pissed me off and a few quite close friendships with some Japanese made me think twice whenever I had the urge to discuss Sino-Japan relationship.

More importantly, in light of the ever increasing power of China, I as well as any other Chinese with decent education and social status must be responsible for our words. Any threat of genocide or massacre made out of adrenaline rush could send chill down others’ spinal cords.

So I kept quite. I laughed at how western media likened Beijing Olympic to that of Berlin. Equally, news from Sina and Sohu made me sad.

So I kept quite. And I sincerely prayed that the rest of the ignorant, like me who can do nothing but follow or being manipulated by the media, can keep quite. “If you are not part of the fucking solution, you might be part of the fucking problem”.

Obviously, some people chose otherwise. Some, who tried to correct me to pronounce Pekin et Shanghaï, had the courage to equate China to France 50 years ago. Some, who could not even speak English well, let along Chinese, proposed a debate on the French participation in Beijing Olympic. Some, who dared not even, appeared he himself, sent a group of innocent school boys to street in support of Tibet independence.  

What is even sadder is that: all these fools rushed to street, had the luck to watch a farce staged by the Tibetans. I was very happy to hear from my friends who actually went there that Tibetans failed to incite any fights with the Chinese scholars. It is already a shame that a protest or riot of such nature broke out in China. It is even worse that some losers brought it to foreigners’ eyes. They did not earn sympathy, but only others’ despise of China.

One final word, France, Britain and USA took part in Berlin Olympics. And now, they threaten not to go to Beijing.

A whole day without uttering a single word – thanks to the fever two days ago… I guess, therefore, it is high time to jog down something about New York.

Moving, that is the word that strikes to me everyday. Yes, I vividly feel that the city is moving. And for years, I have not felt that, neither in Singapore, nor in Paris. The two cities were just too orderly. When it is too orderly, then you choked off the room for development. I could not really tell which I prefer. In fact, sometimes I think like the latter two than dynamic New York or China.

 About 100 years ago, New York was re-planned modeled after Paris’ restructuring in the period of Napoleon 3. Up till now, traces of traditional building can still be found in the forest of modern skyscrapers. However, they did not carry the same historical sentiments as those in Paris. They do not drag you back into the past. Even as you stare at the buildings attached to giant names such as Rockfeller and J Morgan, you look forward, instead of indulging in their glorious past. This is certainly not the case if you stroll in the galleries of Louvre.

Parisians treasure their past and they cannot be more proud of it, but the American are always ready to discard the past and move on. In terms of development, New York seems to be superior but frankly speaking, I am positive of the stance taken by Paris. I dread the way people destroy the history in China, or anywhere in the world.

There is no point of lamenting on the filthy streets and the messy tube system and so on of New York since comparing any other cities I have been with Singapore will always lead me to the same conclusion. But to complain a little, the food in New York is really beyond anyone’s imagination. I even think that the food could be one reason for the workaholic phenomenon in New York. You really do not need to spend too much time on appreciating the food. It is for enhancing your working performance, rather than your living standard.

As result, I am more and more certain that Paris is not for the young: places like New York are.

All right, enough of faked profundity. Some recommendations to my friends who are or will be planning trips to New York: you will need no more than 4 days for the city – provided that you have a tour guide as Excellent as Chen Xiao. Except for the Statue of the Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and UN, nothing in New York arouse my interest. If you are a girl crazy of shopping and have adjusted to spending in Euros, New York might be of some more appeals to you.

Two days at West Point are great; especially we have got the privilege to live with the cadets. Though I did not manage to find the legendary statute of Lei Feng, I was pleased that the American cadets actually took great pain to search and ask around. Maybe, they are not so arrogant and blah blah as some others I have known. (Intended readers will know things omitted.) Though much younger than I am, they demonstrated some great maturity: the way they organized things; the way they treat others; the way they view the disciplines etc. “If you are not part of the fucking solution, you might be part of the fucking problem.” That is sentence shouted by an officer at a freshman. But the truth, the freshman was just trying to us to arrange a bus! He has no rank, consequently, authority. So the officer actually yelled at him and asked him to fuck off. Holy shit!!!!

Well, well, guess that is about all on my 7 days’ virgin trip to USA. Less impressive as I have expected as it might be, it still worthies the time.

P.S. (chronological ordering)

Sincere apology to Victor Na for screwing up your trip with us.

Thanks to Zhao Qun for persuading me to come for the trip.

Big thanks to Song Yahui for accompanying us the whole day and especially the steamboat dinner!

Big big thanks to our dearest tour guide Chen Xiao for the well organized trip and money-saving financial advices - if only the whole voyage section were organized by you.