Jamie Doom...

answers his own rhetorical questions.

The China Blog Community

From Adam (AKA Brainysmurf) comes a recent article about the rise of the Asian Blog Community. I especially enjoyed Adam’s comments about the article.

Long before I started writing my own measly weblog (which receives all its traffic--10 hits a day--from David Beckham haters who Google “Beckham + Doom” and accidentally end up here), one of my favorite pastimes here in China was visiting other China Weblogs. I probably spend about thirty minutes to an hour everyday catching up on the news and reading about my fellow expats’ experiences (some of them lead sad, sad lives which, for some reason, gives me much cheer). These blogs are how I keep abreast of China. Western reporting on China is spotty and incomplete, and news originating at the official source is cookie-cutter at best.

The biggest value I derive from these varied links, commentaries, musings and ranting is a sense that I’m not the only one seeing this. Chinese people aren’t surprised at China, but I am. Those people that choose to leave their own country and come to China do it for a million different reasons. For instance, I find myself here because of my almost psychotic love for General Tsao’s Chicken, and--I gotta say--it was worth it. Others come to recover from their failed careers as insurance agents, motivational speakers, and English teachers. It’s exciting to be in China as this point in China’s long history. It’s even more exciting to be able to read about people’s daily observations about it all.

China Bloggers are educating and commiserating with each other and the rest of the world about China. Now a person can not only know “the news” in China, but can also know what other people of similar background, nationality, and food palette think about China. Even more importantly, now Chinese students are blogging in English, so we can know what Chinese people are thinking as well.

I am one of the most junior “members” of this constantly growing community, but already I am enjoying the release of writing about my life using bad humor and even worse photography skills. I have been writing for about a month, and already people who are thinking of coming to China are E-mailing me and asking me questions(yes to sweet and sour pork, no to General Tsao’s chicken). ESL teachers already in China are E-mailing me to share notes and swap stories. Because of my weblog some of the E-mail in my in-box does not say “weight loss”, “free Viagra” or “make money at home” in the subject line. This is good, because while those Viagra people seem nice at first, trying to carry on meaningful correspondence with them over time can be downright frustrating .

Suddenly China is not as unknown anymore. It’s not as foreboding and scary. Real people just like me are living here and having a blast. Sure, it’s a challenge. Those of us who are here maybe need that challenge (or maybe we are insane and nobody in America, Australia, Ireland, Canada, England or New Zealand loves us). It’s frustrating and difficult and wonderful and inspiring. But we don’t have to be quiet about it. We can let people know it’s more than OK to come to China. Just bring lots of deodorant and a healthy supply of humor.

posted by: jmedoom at November 26, 2003 23:55 | link | comments (9) |

Comments:

#1  26 November 2003 - 23:02

 

I am glad that you enjoy being in China.

Anonymous

#2  27 November 2003 - 00:35

 

hahaha.. your blog entry confirmed everything I read a few years back from an article.. the article said that the deodorant and toothpaste business aren't doing well in china mainly because those things aren't a necessity for them.. or at least they weren't taught to use it...

harriene79

#3  27 November 2003 - 07:43

 

I guess it must be WAY back. Sure they need toothpaste, not deodorant though, because they just have less BO. Right, doom?

Anonymous

#4  27 November 2003 - 07:51

 

that's why I like your blog, you are always having fun. Yes, bring humor, we like that. A lot of your expats came to China whining and bitching. Hey, if you can't stand the heat, kitchen usually has a door.

Anonymous

#5  27 November 2003 - 15:47

 

All deodorant brought to China is for my personal use. I can't be expected to paint the pits of 1.4 billion people who have 5,000 years of cultural BO can I? (All references to China as a whole must always include the numbers 1.4 billion and 5,000)--Doom

jmedoom

#6  27 November 2003 - 15:52

 

...and they don't smell as bad as people like me from societies dominated my the evil bourgeoisie ruling class. :-) -- Doom

jmedoom

#7  28 November 2003 - 00:09

 

5000 yrs of cultural BO! You are a genius! Yes, we do smell bad of this odor. Not even cultural revolution can get rid of it. Did you come to find China by following the smell across the pacific? LOL. Good post! Keep it coming. Zhi

Anonymous

#8  28 November 2003 - 08:34

 

Yo, Before submitting your entries, first put them in word pad after doing them in microsoft word. Why? Because you have those lil' Chinese marks throughout your entries. If you do what I suggest, your entries will all be in romanized English without those annoying marks.

http://www. bigfatforeigndick

Anonymous

#9  28 November 2003 - 10:08

 

Thanks, I'll take your advice, but I don't see those marks when viewing them from my web browser. Weird. Thanks though, I only want to be annoying on purpose. -- doom

jmedoom

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