Did you know that I lived in China for a year? Did you know that when people talk about things Hecho in China, I picture wrinkled women and a certain little boy without a stitch of clothing? I think about the air, thick with pollution in our city. I think of the layer of dirt that covered everything. I think of the squatties. I think of the river of raw sewage that fertilized a local garden. China was loud and complicated and unbelievably sweet. I don't usually get political in this blog. It's not my style. Lately, though, I have become concerned with the stuff that I see on the news. It's a strange world we live in, where we have become dependent on what would qualify as slave labor in our own country to produce the things that we "need." The year I lived in China, I made just under $300 a month. That wage made me the Donald Trump of the university I worked at. Thankfully, I had better hair. I urge you to take a look at where the things you're buying for your kids are coming from. Not just because of potential dangers to our own kids, but because depending on the third world to produce crappy plastic things for the first world is a bad idea.
Friday, November 16, 2007
china. china. far away.
Did you know that I lived in China for a year? Did you know that when people talk about things Hecho in China, I picture wrinkled women and a certain little boy without a stitch of clothing? I think about the air, thick with pollution in our city. I think of the layer of dirt that covered everything. I think of the squatties. I think of the river of raw sewage that fertilized a local garden. China was loud and complicated and unbelievably sweet. I don't usually get political in this blog. It's not my style. Lately, though, I have become concerned with the stuff that I see on the news. It's a strange world we live in, where we have become dependent on what would qualify as slave labor in our own country to produce the things that we "need." The year I lived in China, I made just under $300 a month. That wage made me the Donald Trump of the university I worked at. Thankfully, I had better hair. I urge you to take a look at where the things you're buying for your kids are coming from. Not just because of potential dangers to our own kids, but because depending on the third world to produce crappy plastic things for the first world is a bad idea.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Great post! I will re-evaluate my x-mas shopping list.
I loved the link. I'll be visiting often. Thank you for the information.
Nice info! See you tomorrow! Mmm, I can taste the rolls already. :)
Hope your little on is feeling better.
My inlaws live in North China right now. Teaching as well. And trying to stay warm ;)
Me again. I sent the link to some family members. Also I love the picture. You know it took me a little while to find you in there, you blend right in.
Are you part Chinese?
Aw, I remember when you lived in China...I filled up the journal you gave me from there! That's a great site, by the way. It's not shared enough what goes in to making so much of our "American" goods.
Thanks Kari, I have shared with family and friends. I would love to hear about your year there sometime. Hope the fam is on the mend.
Tina
Post a Comment