Amidst the turbulence, slowly...

What images come to mind when you hear "China"? Given the various news stories we see these days, perhaps negative impressions are more common. So today, I'd like to share some of China's positive aspects as seen through foreign eyes.

First, it teaches you tolerance—you won't get angry over minor things. Unbelievable things happen all the time, really. Maybe it's the grueling work, but I've had taxi drivers dozing off at the wheel twice in the last three months. When I noticed the brakes felt a bit off and looked over, the driver was desperately fighting sleep. Almost rolling his eyes back. You just shrug it off, thinking "Well, these things happen," and instead of getting angry, I smile and offer him one of my favorite super-strong menthol mints. He takes it without hesitation. We just exchange a wry smile.

China has been changing at an incredible pace for the past decade or so. Take the middle class as an example: average income has doubled, prices have risen, stock prices have soared and fallen, everyone has a smartphone, and the percentage of people watching TV shows on their PCs is among the highest in the world. In this turbulent era of China, some things change, and some things don't.

What has changed: With the internet's development, wrongdoings are exposed to the light of day, fostering a shared understanding that they must be corrected. Behaviors that make foreigners frown are increasingly seen in the same light by Chinese people. Collective knowledge is beginning to accumulate. And within individuals, the change is that everyone is growing to like themselves more. Girls constantly take photos of themselves and keep uploading them to Weibo (China's Twitter) and WeChat (China's LINE). Liking yourself, affirming yourself—that's certainly not a bad thing, right?

Unchanging truths. People in this country are kind to those with babies. No restaurant will refuse you, and baby chairs are provided (mostly IKEA-made). While there are various aspects, Chinese people are kind-hearted.

China faces many problems, but just like other nations before it, it's struggling hard, working things out bit by bit, slowly but surely, toward a better society. When you see bad news about this country, I'd be grateful if you could whisper in your heart, "Hang in there, China." Goodbye.

(Supervised by: Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network Business Bureau)

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