Christmas 2010

To say the least this will be a different Christmas for me.  I'll miss seeing my kids even if I would have only seen some of them.  Most years I don't get to see them anyway.  Some how over the years my first ex co-oped both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I suppose in many ways it was easier for me to deal with the loneliness than it would have been for her.

Went to our School Christmas Party last night at the Sheraton here in Wuxi.  I was told it would be Western cuisine but trust me when I say nothing in China is exactly "western."  I suppose that would be no different for a Chinese being in the USA and eating Chinese food - there would be a difference.  I don't care how many years I were to spend in China I think I would always prefer the taste of American Chinese food.  And besides, since when is "chicken feet" Western cuisine.  Ha!  Yep, they had a plate piled high with chicken feet.  Yum yum!!  NOT!

Christmas is somewhat surreal here in China.  In case you aren't aware, China is a secular state, meaning there is not a religious underpinning in its creation.  In fact quite the opposite in that they outlawed religion for many years.  That has been very relaxed in recent years having also turned to a "free market economy" in order to play catch-up with the rest of the world.  Hey, in some ways it might even be "freer" than the USA.  Boy have we falling far?

But back to Christmas; you can't go anywhere with someone calling out "Marry Christmas" to you.  Nope, didn't misspell it, that's the way it is spelled much around here.  lol  And even though they greet you so, you definitely get the feeling they have no idea what Christmas is all about.  It is very much the "commercialized" version as opposed to the religious belief in Christ that is motivator.  Hand it to the Free Market Economists, even in a completely secular state they don't miss a beat.

In fact there is a ritual in China that when ever you are at dinner, and it doesn't have to be a special dinner, they like to go around to other tables and offer up toasts.  What for?  Who cares as long as you offer up and drink.  I think it really is an excuse to drink more than one should.  They laugh at me because more than not I am always returning the toasts with an empty glass or water.  But the toasts, not unlike Christmas, seem so very artificial to me.  I don't think people realize it very much, and I certainly didn't, but religion in ones life teaches you compassion and empathy for those around you. That is what is sorely missing in this society, at least from my perspective.  There is a reason for doing everything and it just seems the reasons here are all so very superficial and robotic with no real meaning behind the acts.  Could be my mistaken perception but like the saying goes "Perception is Reality."

Merry Christmas!!!