Sunday 25 November 2007

32 Chinese Blog

The blog is published under: blog.sina.com.cn/dayangschouten

31 heat wave in Beijing. My car key. Chinese blog

The latest news from Beijing: after the severe cold in every household as a result of the Policy of the Ministry of In-House temperature a new problem seems to arise.

On november 15, I sent congratulation telegrammes to my Beijing acquaintances. On that day the Ministry opened the heating system and ended the coldness( inside= outside=3 degrees C).
One of my readers remarked that now in all those apparments a new problem seems to arise: in many houses now it is uncontrolable hot nowadays!

On november 14 more than 80% of the inhabitants (including me) were sitting in their homes in their double pullovers and winter coats, or sleeping at 2100 in their beds under double blanckets.
November 16 there were sweating in 30+ degrees in tiny T shirts with their noses as close to the open windows as possible.


But the kind person who told me this does not complain. No Chinese will complain. The cold and also the cold in my heart I wont tell you about forced me to return to Holland. And when I tell this to my Beloved Chinese Friends, they smile at me and interrupt me or call me a spoiled dutch brat. And maybe I am. I dont care.

Last evening I had my own personal heatwave in Holland. At the gasstation. I parked my car at The Essostation. Took the key of the car. Filled the tank. Walked 20 meter to the desk and payed. Then I went back, opened the door...but where was the key of my car?
I checked all my pockets, walked back and forth scrutinizing the ground like a hunting dog. No key. Then in the car. No key. Then on my knees to look below the car. No key.
I asked a friend who passed by to also do some detective work...no key.
There I stood, with my unmovible car (automatic gear), unlocked, the gorgeous Italian M. in front of one of the 10 gaspumps.
So in the end I phoned the company in the village nearby that normally removes wrecked cars from the highway to pick up the M.
'Did you look well enough?'
The driver was called Derk Jan.
'Ýes,'I said.
"Do you mind if I look? Thats cheaper than drag that car to my parking place.'
Of course I did not mind.
The very kind man came back with a mining lamp on his forehead and some metal wires. And Yes. Of course I had looked everywhere. But did I look good enough?
The key was hidden in a very lousy spot, nearly not detactable. And he found it.
Silly. Driving along happily I opened the window to cool my warm body. Where are my spare keys? I really wouldnt know.

Why so absent minded? And why bothering about the China cold or heat?
Arent there more important subjects? Yes, there are, or rather: is and that is Argentina. I see myself drifting slowly from its shores. Its time to fetch the oars and start paddling again. But how does Argentina look like? Thats for the next time.

Saturday 10 November 2007

30 riddle

"I have no duty to others, only to myself"

Who said that?
Mao, when 24.

This according to Jung Chang and Jon Halliday in Mao, The unknown story, 2005.
Of course the gracious Jung Chang is not a friend of Mao and his friends (read her Wild Swans). But this book is well documented, so Mao'statement might be true.

But what does his philosophy mean? Theory without practice is rubbish. So : Did the then 24 odd year old Mao put these words into practice or not? And how?

I will and can not answer this question. But maybe my life would be more easy if I had more Mao in me..and maybe life would have been better for many Chinese if Mao had had more Jan Schouten in his soul.

Sunday 4 November 2007

29 exit slipperslane and a riddle

The person I rented my appartment from sold it. Wow, after 4 months. Legally she was entitled to do so. Bad contract. She kicked me out with two months rent for cash. But I did not move, until a new place was found. "Was found"..not by me.
"You have to move."
"I won't."
"You have to."
"Yes."
"So?"
"I won't move."

Slipperslane was more to me than just a dwelling. It embodied a lot of hopes.
Now I got a new flat. Good contract. But not my place. So a couple days ago I left China somewhat earlier than expexted. Out of the cold. Like 80 percent of Beijing houses mine also is on city heating. But that collective good starts only to work november 15. So quite democratically temperature inside every home is the same as outside. (6 Celsius). I left for this cold. But also for the shivering that always follows success, when the warm sweat is no longer needed.
SchoutenChina had a good presentation on october 24. My old book on assertiveness translated in Chinese and presented to the Ambassador and by him to alle kinds of Chinese people in the Educational field, had a fair reception. Chris Jiang started as CEO. Structure and Bupla are
in the minds. I now can retreat for the real champions: Tonio, Gonnie, Tineke, the Chinese Colleages. I Can retreat to my usual position: outside.

I was thinking of Beijing: Just offices and places to be offices. If you dont work in one of the cublicles: very boring. Holland is better. Maybe bring China to Holland.

Riddle: who said this (): "

" To be morally good it is not required to act in such a way that it benefits others. Morality does not need a social definition....People like me()want to satisfy fully their own hearts and doing so we follw automatically the highest moral codes. Of course there are people and things things in the world, but they are there only for my use...I have no duty to others...only to my self...."

No it is not Ayn Rand or any other Gurus of US capitalism

I am looking out over the lake. Its warm in my room. The air is clear.I am thinking of Beijing: Sunday, cold sunday. Yes, better to bring China to Holland.