I want to follow in the footsteps of some of my fellow writers in the China blogosphere today. First, I have an admission to make; I am guilty  of constantly focusing on the negative aspects of contemporary life in China. I suppose recently it has been too easy to dwell on the tension and bad feelings generated by the Torch’s arduous journey, Carrefour protests and CNN controversy. Am I going to continue writing about these issues? Absolutely. They are important. However, I am living in China and in reality, when it comes to my day-to-day life, I greatly respect and admire Chinese culture. I may not always agree with the politics or the attitudes that I encounter (in fact I  often do not) but I am grateful for the opportunity to live here and immerse myself in the culture. As I rode my bike to work today, I was thinking about my favorite aspects of Chinese culture. Here a few of my thoughts; feel free to add more.

• China at Nighttime– China comes alive for me at night: the bright neon lights, the melodious sound of people ringing their little bells as they pedal their bicycles home,  the groups of weary people eating noodles and barbecue together on the sidewalks in front of little restaurants, the aroma of barbecued meat floating out into the street, little children holding hands as they find their way home. Whether walking through the streets at night or observing these scenes from high atop my apartment, I never get tired of observing China after dark; it makes me feel warm inside.
• Chinese Holidays — Holidays are extra special in China; the long walks through the rolling countryside, the unforgettably huge and scrumptious meals, the stories and memories of harder times in China, the firecrackers (well ok, maybe I don’t always appreciate these but they can be fun). I love Chinese holidays because they allow me to see a different side of my friend and colleagues. These people, who work so hard during the year, can ‘let their hair down’, ’crack a smile’, and try to temporarily forget about the harsh reality that confronts many of them everyday.
• Chinese Children — I have traveled the world and yet I still submit that children in China are among the most beautiful and intelligent that I have ever encountered. When I look into the eyes of a little Chinese boy or girl, I see a bright future for China.
• Chinese Families — Communism might be fading in China but families in China still stick together like in the old times. Sharing housing, food, and medical expenses amongst extended families is still commonplace in China. In this era, many families are split apart by their lives in the city and the countryside and may only have the chance to see each other once a year. But that reunion is always a joyful one and fun to be apart of.  
• Chinese Hospitality — Many Chinese (especially the older generation) are suspicious of  foreigners. Given the rather hostile history between China and foreigners (not just the West but also Eastern countries like Japan), this ’mistrust’ is understandable. However, I have found that once you can get past that facade of suspicion, the Chinese are extremely hospitable and friendly. Throughout my travel in China, I have received meals, lodging, and other forms of assistance from complete strangers who expected nothing in return. Now that I have lived in China for a longer period of time, I find that my Chinese friends are very loyal and are always willing to help me.
• Chinese Optimism — It has never ceased to amaze me how optimistic the Chinese people are even in the face of great adversity. I recently wrote about this in an article entitled Why Chinese Patriotism is to be Respected and Feared . This optimism that I speak of has fueled the Chinese people desire to work hard and to help bring about the amazing changes that have ocurred in this fast developing country. Rich or poor, the Chinese people believe in China’s future and they are always talking about the greatness that China will achieve one day not long from now.

There are many more aspects of Chinese culture that I could write about: the food, the landscape, the history, etc. Everyday, when I wake up and look out my window at the sprawling city below, I can hardly believe that I am living in China. It is a dream come true and I am thankful that the culture has welcomed me so warmly.

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