Lives in China vs. U.S

I read many of the discussion on the living standards between the U.S. and China and find out an interesting thing. The living standard of ordinary Americans is regarded high living standard in China and is the goal for most of the “successful personages” in China.
Here is my comparisons: (It is just my personal view)

1. Housing: Many ordinary Americans live in single family houses with yard. Few HaiGuis claim that they live in single family houses. Most HaiGuis actually bought two or three bedroom apartments. Of course, you could say that this is a living style. Yes, for many people here, you could say that because people could choose to live in apartments or condos, or single family houses. However, if you have no choice, it is not called living style. I will call it destiny, fate or lot. Still some people tried hard to compare the quality of houses based on materials. Then we find out many discussions about the concrete vs. wood structures. I would leave this topic to professionals. But, do you agree that when we compare two houses, the most important factors are the functionalities of the houses. In terms of functionalities such as keeping us warm in winter and keeping us cool in summer, which house is better?
2. Cars: Few people challenge this one. Owning a car is regarded one of the successful emblems in China. Here, few people show other people their cars and prove how successful they are. Many wealthy people in my neighborhoods choose to drive Ford Taurus, Subaru, Toyota, and Honda. They live extremely in low profile. You don’t see scenarios like people in Mercedes yell at Audi, and Audi yells at Passat, Passat yells at Santana, Santana yells at Getta, Getta yells at QQ, and people on bicycle have no one to yell at.
3. Food: Many HaiGuis claim that this is one of the major reasons why they want to haigui. They have a Chinese stomach and can not live a quality life without Chinese food. I can enjoy some good Chinese food here. Of course, people will say “your Chinese food can not compare with the real Chinese food in China”. I have been to China and ate in many restaurants in Shanghai. Ironically, many successful HaiGuis take delight in talking about Starbucks, Japanese Sushi, Steaks, and other foreign food.
4. Daily life: Most HaiGuis say that they have more fun. They can go to the bars, paly Mahjong, talk to friends, and etc. Am I missing anything important? Sounds like fun. However, many of my friends (HaiGui or no HaiGui) are too busy to enjoy all these. Some people have to go to bars or eat in restaurants because these are part of their job. They are creating relationships in the restaurants or other places like hotels, foot-washing, bars, and God knows what other places they could be. Dear friends, when you go to restaurants to talk business, do you enjoy the food? I don’t! Here, I eat out with my family and friends.
5. Other living costs: Most of the imported products are about the same prices as in the U.S. or even more expensive. Actually, most of the “imported products” are just foreign brand and they are actually made in China. Still they are expensive. The only cheap products are the products with domestic brands or fake one. I bought a fake LV bag and it cost me $100. Cheap?

The only really really cheap things are all labor related: House cleaning, nanny, and you name it. My daughter enjoyed the riding on a tricycle, it is manpowered transportation. The cost? 5 RMBs for three kilometers. Do you enjoy this? I don’t!

所有跟帖： 

• when u talk no one listen in usa no matter how big -shanghai_r- ♂ (239 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 08:05:33

• That's why I talk here to people who live ... -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (145 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 08:12:30

• for utimate happiness, chinese should live in china -shanghai_r- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 08:38:06

• 回复：for utimate happiness, chinese should live in china -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (408 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 09:14:02

• 回复：回复：for utimate happiness, chinese should live in china -static- ♂ (152 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 10:19:47

• 回复：回复：回复：for utimate happiness, chinese should live in -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (714 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 10:58:56

• How about your parents? -111- ♀ (232 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 14:15:39

• 回复：How about your parents? -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (1350 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 14:43:21

• Sorry! I shoud say you are a -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (30 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 14:47:15

• It is lucky that you have siblings -111- ♀ (59 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 18:05:00

• 回复：Sorry! I shoud say you are a -111- ♀ (149 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 18:12:35

• 回复：回复：Sorry! I shoud say you are a -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (441 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 18:30:12

• we are so different -111- ♀ (145 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 18:36:44

• you should stay -svdocumentedlabor- ♂ (1104 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 12:18:23

• That is because you do not speak out! -mknc- ♂ (1597 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 09:16:18

• come on! most of the time, u can only listen. -ShangHai_R- ♂ (20 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 09:52:10

• Yes, "U" can only listen, but "WE" can talk as well. There is a -mknc- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 11:03:13

• 回复：come on! most of the time, u can only listen. -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (224 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 11:05:05

• 对啊，就是这样简单的道理。基础是自由。 -mknc- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 11:09:46

• 不愿意回国您请一边玩儿去, 老在这唠叨烦不烦啊 -kev121- ♂ (174 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 16:56:02

• 烦, 一边玩儿去 and don't click my post! -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (224 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 17:18:54

• please, don't litter the 回国发展 board -kev121- ♂ (114 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 17:21:45

• Are you our Party leader or net cop? Who defines... -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (118 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 17:57:59

• we like reading ideas posted by different people, as long as the -奥斯托洛夫斯基- ♂ (85 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 18:00:54

• I like old Bolsheviks "Большеви́к", Wula! -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 09:02:58

• BostanGuy,你在美国打开TV主要频道，能看到中国脸吗？ -网恋无罪- ♂ (386 bytes) () 04/02/2006 postreply 23:10:17

• 回复：BostanGuy,你在美国打开TV主要频道，能看到中国脸吗？ -aChineseBostonian- ♂ (1337 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 06:22:10

• The following are THE two items that HaiGuis can -pieq314- ♀ (478 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 05:54:04

• 这没一个人是客观的。 -revolverocelot- ♂ (499 bytes) () 04/03/2006 postreply 17:07:25

• 说得实在， 说得好！ -mknc- ♂ (56 bytes) () 04/04/2006 postreply 06:52:04