Daren
In 1976 the author and his wife came to China (Beijing and then Shanghai) to complete postgrad studies in modern Chinese literature (although they didn't choose this specialty until later). Nine days after arrival, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and leader of the country died, throwing China in a period of unsurety and political turmoil. Perhaps one of the most interesting periods to be a witness to the machinations of China, and likely a rare view from within, Andy Kirkpatrick shares his experiences of Chinese politicking along with his experiences at a university and almost mixing with Chinese people. I say almost, because any member of the public approaching foreign students was immediately taken aside for questioning, and the university system was set up such that they had only limited crossover.
While the author and his wife were not permitted to live together ("students may not marry", "But we re married...", "Students may not marry"), they were flatting with Chinese students, although these roommates were obliged to provide reports on the foreign students each week. Visiting a farming commune was part of the curriculum for all students (so academics are able to learn form the workers), but again, the interactions were controlled and kept to a minimum. They make several trips for a week at a time to various farms or factories.
There are plenty of amusing anecdotes from University life, many disenchanting experiences, but almost as many positive experiences, well maybe. It is clear the author made an effort to try and engage in the culture, joining a football club to try and mix with more Chinese, only to find no player knew any other player's name! He even met Margaret Thatcher who was on a tour of the University, and dobbed in the University for setting up false representations of how open they were (in this case they laid out international newspapers in the library, saying they were always available - of course they were available only when Thatcher was in the building...)
Overall an enjoyable read, a rare view of China in the 1970s immediately after Mao's death.
3.5 stars
In 1976 the author and his wife came to China (Beijing and then Shanghai) to complete postgrad studies in modern Chinese literature (although they didn't choose this specialty until later). Nine days after arrival, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and leader of the country died, throwing China in a period of unsurety and political turmoil. Perhaps one of the most interesting periods to be a witness to the machinations of China, and likely a rare view from within, Andy Kirkpatrick shares his experiences of Chinese politicking along with his experiences at a university and almost mixing with Chinese people. I say almost, because any member of the public approaching foreign students was immediately taken aside for questioning, and the university system was set up such that they had only limited crossover.
While the author and his wife were not permitted to live together ("students may not marry", "But we re married...", "Students may not marry"), they were flatting with Chinese students, although these roommates were obliged to provide reports on the foreign students each week. Visiting a farming commune was part of the curriculum for all students (so academics are able to learn form the workers), but again, the interactions were controlled and kept to a minimum. They make several trips for a week at a time to various farms or factories.
There are plenty of amusing anecdotes from University life, many disenchanting experiences, but almost as many positive experiences, well maybe. It is clear the author made an effort to try and engage in the culture, joining a football club to try and mix with more Chinese, only to find no player knew any other player's name! He even met Margaret Thatcher who was on a tour of the University, and dobbed in the University for setting up false representations of how open they were (in this case they laid out international newspapers in the library, saying they were always available - of course they were available only when Thatcher was in the building...)
Overall an enjoyable read, a rare view of China in the 1970s immediately after Mao's death.
3.5 stars