A long note I wrote to my green friends!

Here's a update note I just sent to all my green-hearted friends..

Dear friends,

I thought I would give you an update here on my life in China, and a brief overview about the social and environmental scene here! Much has happened over the month that I've been here.

Just to give you some background. I am a foreign guest teacher at the Beijing Union University where I conduct lectures on a Marketing, Social Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, US Culture and History, and English. The university is hungry for foreign "experts" so I am thrown in different areas at once. I conduct these classes in a smattering of English and Chinese. I teach about 10 hours a week, which translates to about 24 hours of work, because of the preparation I have to do. The university doesn't provide any material, so I am make it up as I go along, drawing from books, magazines and the Internet.

Outside of classes, I am focused to getting my Mandarin up to speed. It's a slow arduous frustrating process. Speaking Mandarin well and fluently is an absolute must to really get plugged in here, whether at a personal level or a business level. There is, what I would call, an "alternate" reality to this..i.e. the expatriate world where English is the main language, its hard to make any real connections the public at large using just English alone.

In terms of opportunities in social enterprise, whether it be charity work, consulting work, or philanthropic work, there is a lot that one can get involved in. Most of them are with foreign NGOs or inter-governmental organizations like the EU. In the few conferences and networking sessions that I've attended, I've have yet to meet anyone from the CCP or any of the local government agencies. Digging deeper, and talking to Chinese friends, I've come to realize that -

1.) Chinese people aren't generally used to social networking events

2.) In terms of social volunteerism and civic society, the government dominates.

The notion of an self-initiated civilian activism, separate from the government, is a relatively foreign concept. Although foreign NGOs and charities have volunteerism events, most of what happens on a large scale is dictated by the central government and its vast network of agencies. I am trying to get closer to that center, to understand what the environmental issues are, and how the government is responding, and how, I might possibly help and learn in the process. This means learning Mandarin as best I can, so that I can plug into the real world, for real. It's a tough climb, and I am discouraged by the snail's pace of my progress, but I am determined to succeed and enjoy the challenge.

On the streets, buses and subways, I don't get a sense that the environment is foremost in people's minds. Too many plastic bags, wooden chopsticks, over-packaging, wasted food, trash, and litter. The natural environment, and climate calamity that the world faces, is unfortunately relegated to the back of most people's minds. Instead, what I have felt acutely here, is a sense of survival, as people try to get by so that they can put food on the table for their one child. It's not an easy city. In a crowded city of 14 million, social graces are occasional miracles. But it's a hopeful, energetic, and driven place, and I heartened by the boundless energy, creativity, curiosity and spiritedness of the university students. They are growing in a more open, more caring society that is changing everyday, and the environment just might have a fighting chance, if these kids hang on to notions of social responsibility, and slivers of naked idealism, before they head off into the "real" world. Outside of school, I have made friends with people who share my concerns over the environment, but as I've mentioned above, this doesn't appear to reflect the sentiments of the majority.

Here's what in the news these days...

1.) 1 year anniversary of the Szechuan Earthquake.

2.) 90th anniversary of May the 4th movement

3.) Yao Ming and Houston Rockets against Lakers.

4.) Global Financial Crisis (a lot is reported about what is being done to address this, but I generally don't "feel" the recession on the streets, mainly because I'm surrounded by students)

Well that's all for now! I hope this email finds you in good health and spirits! Be the change you want to see!

Calvin