Things are always changing

When we live in a country and things are gradually changing around us, we don’t always notice how different things were months or years ago. If we think back 50 years, then we know there have been drastic changes in every aspect of life.

Each year, when we go to China, we see many changes. The first one is electronics. When Ron began going to China in 1998, we didn’t have laptop computers, email, MSN, Skype or cell phones. I had no contact with him for the entirety of his trip. Now, I can chat from China with my daughter every day by one of the means listed above. Although I really don’t like to learn a lot of this stuff, I am grateful that it’s available. Our travels are so much easier now. Ron can text our son in another city to let him know when our flight will arrive. We have contact with all of our workers by cell phone once we arrive in China.

Cell phones and electronics have taken over China just as in the U.S. On every plane, we see Chinese young people with Kindles or some such Ipad.  It is the things that look like a tablet and can do so many things. (You see, I really don’t know much about these expensive electronics that have not become necessary for me to have.) I’m not even sure how many different kinds of things they have but they are watching movies, playing games or reading from these small devices.  Almost every Chinese we see has a cell phone in their hand and they are forever checking text messages. It is almost an obsession with Chinese people just as it is with Americans. Just 10 short years ago, this was not the case.  A couple of days ago I heard that Apple sales affects the stock market either causing it to rise or fall.  Electronics is a major part of our lives now whether we like it or not.

Another very obvious change is the dress. Although most Chinese dress much the same as Americans, many of them have later fashion trends. We used to say the Chinese took their dress styles from Western countries but what we saw this time is not from America.  The greatest change is in ladies fashions. These are among the more wealthy (working) girls. In the airports, on the streets and in shopping centers, many young women tend to dress very immodestly now. Short shorts are popular, so you see them everywhere. Because it was still chilly (or cold in some cities), they wore tights under the shorts. Sometimes, however, they wore regular hose (hose with designs) or no hose at all.  They wore short shorts even if they had to wear a jacket to keep their bodies warm. Very short skirts are equally popular. Many of them are ruffled and made of thin material. One reminded me of the little ruffled panties we used to put on baby girls (6 months old – not 30 year olds!).

Many young women wear outfits we used to call “baby doll” but they were  “baby doll” pajamas. These little fancy tops and skirts look like an outfit a cute little six-year old girl might wear to an Easter egg hunt. They are completed with spike or wedged heeled shoes of every weird shape and design you can imagine. The outfits and shoes are not cheap. They are definitely worn to get attention but most Chinese are now used to it and seem to pay little attention to a woman walking through the airport in such an outfit. I tried not to stare, but it was so unbelievable to me that these girls would dress that way when modesty has been the rule in China for so long.  (We saw little of this in Hong Kong, which surprised me.)  These are working girls who have money to spend now so they want to follow the latest trends. I think these fashions may come from Japan, because I can’t imagine it is a European fashion and I certainly have not seen anything similar to this in the U.S.   I call the little short ruffled skirts a “Bo Peep” outfit. If they had a shepherd’s staff, they could be pictured in a storybook about little Bo Peep.

I was overwhelmed to go to the grocery store (food on one end, cosmetics and household items in sections at the other end). Although Walmart stores are in China, many of the markets are designed in much the same way. It is hard to find items because you must recognize it (pictures) with only Chinese writing. It is difficult to tell shampoo from conditioner.  There are so many kinds of foods now. Chips, cookies, cakes, and snacks of every kind are available. We think we are so blessed to have such a great variety of things in the U.S. but I would imagine that the amount is doubled in China. As a result of the better economy for the working people of China, obesity is beginning to show up. We saw more heavy people on this trip as well as some chubby children. Having KFC and McDonald’s available doesn’t help. There are Starbuck’s, bakeries and ice cream shops everywhere.

Ron has bought his clothes in China in the past years but now he finds them as expensive as in the U.S. Unless you can go to one of the bargain spots where there are booth after booth of things being hawked by the sellers, you can expect to pay almost as much for clothing as we pay in the U.S.  There are many expensive boutiques. The major department stores are as expensive as any Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s. All of the designer stores are in major cities. There will be Versace, Hermes, Coach, Chanel, and other such expensive brands (these are the real thing at a very high price). The bargain stores are the ones with the fakes.

In past years, people stared at us a great deal. There are so many visitors to China from so many countries now no one looks at anyone. While in an airport, you can see people from many countries and you hear different languages being spoken. This was true more so in Hong Kong than in China, of course.

Everyone is traveling in China. Every plane is full. Flying is sometimes just as economical as taking a train so both methods of travel are sometimes difficult to secure.   Soft sleepers on trains are almost always sold out and every plane is full.   It does not matter what time of day or night or which day of the week you travel, it is much the same. 

I'm sure we will continue to see more rapid changes in the years to come. 

The only thing that seems to be constant is poverty among the country people.   There are few changes among the peasants.   They have no way to change their status.  Life for them is the same as it was 50 years ago and it will probably be the same way in 50 years from now.   Our Savior said we will always have the poor with us.   Although we see the rapid growth in the economic sectors of China, our work continues among the poor.   The wealthy are not going to help the poor.   The government is never going to care.  No one is going to reach out to save an orphaned child except those that have a tender heart because of believing in His word.   No one is going to teach these little ones the truth.   Our work is endless and the fields are white for harvest.

Thanks for continuing to remember us and the little children we care for.