MARC: You having been in Asia as a child, now you’re here alone how is it for you?
JON: I love it because in the United States I’m kind of the average. In China I’m exceptional or different at the very least and I get to create my own kind of role here. That can change dramatically from one weekend to the next and can be totally different. It’s completely up to me. Where in the United States I’d spend time with my friends and it was accepted to watch a movie or go to a restaurant or bar, here in China it’s different. If you want to go to another province or sightseeing or stay home and study Chinese, it’s really up to your own creativity.
MARC: And friendships and relationships here are they the same. Do you treat them the same, are you treated the same way?
BERNICE: I’ve met a lot of local people but language can be a huge problem. My Chinese is not good enough to have a further conversation than a basic conversation will people. Or it’s all completely in English and I’d really like to practise more of my Chinese. Relationships and friendships are something I’ll be working on while I’m here.
JON: There’s such a range of characters in my life that I can usually find what I’m looking for on any given day. There is transience to life here in a sense that people are moving so fast. People like me move between cities and between countries pretty quickly so some relationships can be short and quick. But I hope that is the exception to the rule. Some Chinese can be unwilling of seeing foreigners as equals. It’s either an expert or an outsider, there’s a duel role. I try to act as if I am though, no better no worse.
MARC: It’s China’s Golden Week holiday and it’s upon us starting tomorrow how will you be spending your time this week?
JON: A friend of mine and I are going to the Great Wall. We’re spending a couple of days there in a very remote section of the Wall at a small farm so tomorrow is preparations for that. Travel plans are difficult because there are so many people who do travel. Hopefully we’ll miss the bulk by leaving on Tuesday
BERNICE: I’m going to be part of that mad rush tomorrow morning and heading off to Hong Kong. I have family there and some friends I used to work with. Going back to my old stomping ground for a couple of days.
MARC: How do you see China in the future, what challenges will it face?
BERNICE: The country is just so huge, the population is so large. All the problems are just exponential, in terms of the environment, the economy and social issues. The government has to find solutions to these problems, which are immediate and imminent. They must be dealt with one way or another. It will be interesting to see how they do that.
JON: A series of books have been written about this. 20 years of sustained economic growth that’s a record and some people argue the Chinese government has successfully pulled off the greatest human rights improvement in history bringing so many people out of poverty. The question is will that economic growth be sustained, many suggest in the next five to 10 years it will begin to slow down and there will be considerable problems. There’s also the growing inequality, the environment and problems with neighbouring countries. With the Olympics coming up ultimately China’s in the position of strength and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has had an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
