The China Teaching Web

On a recent flight into southern China, I found myself sitting next to a middle aged couple who were obviously flying for their very first time. Throughout the flight, I tried to move my head out of the way as they both continually leaned over to look out the window. When the stewardess served dinner, the man and woman did not at first accept the food, apparently believing that they would have to pay for it.  A little while later later, after the food cart was already 6 rows behind us, the man loudly asked to be served. Just two minutes before the airplane touched the runway, the man unbuckled his seat belt, stood up, opened up the baggage compartment, and began removing luggage. I started to say something to the man but I never got the chance as a very annoyed stewardess appeared out of nowhere and almost pushed the man back into his seat. He and his wife did not move a muscle until the plane was taxiing to the terminal.

While all of this was understandably slightly amusing to me, it caused me to think about China’s rapid development. Just 15 years ago – my Chinese friends tell me – flying in China was a luxury reserved for the rich and famous. The average Chinese person could only dream of stepping foot in an airplane. Now, with an expanding middle class in China, air travel has become possible for millions of people who just a few years ago were poor farmers or other types of workers.

Of course, with airline prices in China that are comparable to prices in Western countries, flying is still much too expensive for the vast majority of people here. Many of my Chinese teaching colleagues will be returning home by train during the fast approaching Spring Festival.

“Did you get a sleeper?” I asked a fellow teacher yesterday who had just returned from the train station.

“No. There are no more sleepers. I will probably be standing for 15 hours.” I felt sorry for him having had that experience more than a few times myself in China as well as in other parts of the world.

“It’s ok,” he comforted me. “I am used to it and if I’m lucky, maybe I will have a chance to sit on the floor.” Sitting on the floor did not sound much better, I thought, but at least it was better than having to stand for hours on end.

Other friends of mine – who could not manage to even locate a train ticket – will have to endure a long bus ride back to their hometowns.

No matter what method of transportation the millions of Chinese people who are returning to their hometowns this month will be employing, there is more hope now for the future than ever before. Social mobility is becoming easier as China continues to open up within and also to the international community. It is truly an exciting time to be living in China and have the chance to see people’s lives being transformed through hard work and a strong faith that their dreams can come true in a country that is on the path to stability and prosperity. A 30-hour ride on a train this year could very well be a 4-hour ride on an airplane next year for many here whose fortunes are rapidly improving.