SARA POOLEY (photography) writes:
I have grown up traveling. My father is from England, so we went there almost every year until I was a teenager.
Even after that, my family and I traveled throughout much of Europe. It was always a big part of who I was and I felt like I had a different perspective on life and more specifically, life in the United States, because of it.
I remember being eight years old on a playground in Whitehaven, England. A girl several years older than me came up and asked me if I was from America. I said yes and she simply replied, “Lucky bitch,” and walked away. I always remembered that, but didn’t know what to make of it at the time, being so young. Things are a little different this time around, though. The biggest thing America is associated with now is our moronic president.
One Chinese student said that “people in China think he has brain damage,” to which you can only laugh and agree. It seems like people in China know that our president is not supported by the people either, though. They know that making fun of the president doesn’t mean they are making fun of all Americans. But I must admit, I feel like a dumb American. I don’t remember ever feeling so aware of being so obviously American in all my life or in all my travels.
On the Shanghai underground I looked up to see my reflection in the window. There I was, a blonde-haired, light-eyed American girl in a sea of dark hair and eyes. I stood out like a sore thumb!
Ironically, it’s kind of easy to continue being so obviously American on this trip. For all the elements of traditional China we’ve encountered, there’s another equally prevalent Western element. China is a strange place in that way. You’ll be walking down the street and find a McDonald's next to a street market where they sell live eels and whole chickens. At the Jade Buddha Temple I saw a monk in mostly traditional garb wearing Nike socks, and a woman wearing designer clothing praying to a Buddhist god. We’ve exported our corporate culture all over the world and it’s infiltrated even the most sacred traditions.
While I find that kind of sad, I also found that BigMac to be the tastiest thing in the world after a week of nothing but Chinese food. I don’t even eat fast food at home, either! Although this place is so different and strange in some ways, it’s totally familiar in others.
Sara Pooley is a photography/art history major.
I love reading your articles. I randomly found them on the intrenet one day, and I really enjoyed reading them! They brought a new light on China. Thanks!
Posted by: May at February 25, 2008 9:17 PMI loved reading this! I was searching for art history subjects throughout the Columbia website. I plan on attending there next year as an Art History major and Photography minor. This sounds like such an exciting trip, I hope I get to take one like it!
Would you mind e-mailing me and telling me how you like the programs and classes? I'd really appreciate it!
caseychampion@comcast.net
Thanks!
-Casey
Love the blog...one thing you have to remember, though, is that it's not an export, not really. The corporations are exported, but many of the products are made in China. If we want to discuss a product we're exporting from the USA, it's big business--usually a large percent of the negatives and few of the positives.
For the monks wearing Nike socks, they are available --often quite cheap--from wholesalers who acquire and sell the goods withing the country.
Our unfortunate choices to send a majority of our labor-intensive positions overseas where we spend pennies on the dollar for workers is a large portion of the visible American consumerism you're seeing. It's good that you're able to look at it with both a love of the United States and a full awareness of what's being done. Very admirable!
Posted by: Elle at March 11, 2008 6:16 PM
