英语阅读：Christmas wraps up another year of surprises
Can you believe how fast this year has flown? I know there are a few weeksbefore we all tear into another year, but when I start buying Christmas
presents, and posting them back home (as we all must do now), I'm not only
wrapping gifts for my loved ones, I'm also wrapping up another year.
The words of John Lennon come to mind: "So this is Christmas, and what have
you done?"
I have done a lot and what a year it has been for an expat living in
China.
We started 2008 with one of the worst snowstorms in history, followed by
the tragedy of the Sichuan earthquake. The image of a crouching father holding
the hand of his dead son still trapped in the rubble will haunt me forever.
Then we let the Games begin.
Fireworks, 5,000 years of history, and giant whales swimming around the
stadium all set the tone before the Olympians dazzled us with world records and
feats of the fantastic.
The world watched China host the biggest banquet in its history and we
expats were lucky to be here to enjoy the experience.
The Beijing Games helped change a lot of stereotypes about China thanks to
the reports of more than 30,000 members of the foreign media.
These short-stay visitors were important people because their television
reports, feature articles, radio interviews and blogs reached the biggest
worldwide audience in Olympic history.
The world's view of China is already changing, according to a survey
organized by the Communication University of China (CUC) in Beijing. The survey
revealed that foreigners liked China better than before, because they knew
more.
In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics, the world had been becoming more aware
of China, but the average person just didn't have time to delve deeply into
Sinology. The world watched, feasted on all things Chinese, and now better
understands.
But despite my third year in the Middle Kingdom, I realize I still know
only a little and more keeps being revealed.
I was recently asked why most Chinese people are indirect and tend to beat
around the bush.
I was about to say it had to do with their desire to be polite and their
aversion of conflict. I was also about to rattle off the other textbook reasons:
"Saving face, harmonious society, Confucius teachings" and the rest.
But if the Chinese are not so direct, why is it OK for complete strangers
to ask me: "How much money do you make, are you married and why not?"
I really don't know.
When I first arrived in mid 2006, I was like a sponge and after six months
thought I had quickly grabbed a handle on this mysterious land.
I even successfully pitched a China book idea to a major publisher. My book
was later knocked back because of the overload of China-themed books in the
pipeline.
Today, my original book outline, drafted two years ago, makes me feel a
little embarrassed. It was so superficial and just skimmed the surface. It was
just like all the other books out there, repeating the same China clichs.
And how the hell could I write a China book when I couldn't even speak the
language?
I know this hasn't stopped other authors penning their views, but how can
anybody write about a nation when he or she cannot talk to the majority of
people who live there?
They say a visitor to a new country can write a good feature article after
a week, and bash out a book after six months but after a couple of years, things
become fuzzier.
But maybe this is not such a bad thing.
Slowly understanding China's mysteries is just like opening a Christmas
present.
It's often full of nice surprises.
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