After nearly 6 years in Shanghai, I have become very accustomed to many of the issues many expats complain about as I learned to “pick my battles” while living here. But I recently took a two week trip home to work on my family responsibilities, I began to realize just how much I actually missed about living back at home in what is known to many inn the world as Silicon Valley.
The first thing I noticed was of course the weather. It was a bit nippy in the morning but the sunshine and blue skies certainly helped my daily mood while I was back. The mild weather 17-27 the entire time I was back, was quite welcoming. There was almost no rain and wen it did, it happened mostly in the evenings or over night.
“Bless you!” A funny observation when I sneezed at the neighborhood Starbucks… several people answered with “Bless you”. Just an example of how nice some people can be and such a contrast from many of our experiences here in Shanghai. Of course this has a lot to do with Shanghai being Urban and Silicon Valley being suburban as well as the American to Chinese culture differences. Nonetheless, it was refreshing.
I miss driving. As environmentally friendly it is to take public transport, I thoroughly enjoyed the nearly 2000 miles (3218 km) I logged while back. Gas prices rather sucked at between $3.59 and 3.79 a gallon, setting me back some $300 and change. But nonetheless, I found the driving most therapeutic, especially compared to being on the road in China.
Along the same lines, people are driving slower and much more aware now about fuel consumption. I am glad the recent spike in oil and gasoline prices have finally waken up the American public to become more aware and even responsible for their gasoline consumption . There are thousands of Hybrid cars all across the roads in the Bay Area and a noticeable move towards trying to get more fuel efficient automobiles. It is about time. Unfortunately for American car companies, they have been caught short with their recent push to bigger SUV’s now stopped in their tracks, only Ford seems to have enough inventory or compact and subcompact fuel efficient cars to keep selling them. The rest of the sales are likely going to Japanese and Korean nameplate cars.
24-hour supermarkets. Wow, do I miss those. Especially one’s where the staff and shoppers are nice. It was good to be able to get things after a long day, say at 11pm or later. Shanghai needs a couple of these, though admittedly there are so many C-stores around so I guess, some of those midnight needs can be met easily. Still, there is nothinglike doing one’s grocery shopping in the near-empty aisles of a Safeway after a long day.
Along the lines of food, it was nice to get my dose of good Guacamole, chips and Chevys, good cheap burritos , and great Phô! And Zachary’s pizza…ahhhhh! I think I am hungry…
Customer service, and I emphasize service with a smile! It is nice to go places and not have to meet up with frowning faces of old Shanghainese Ayis and others with that same demeanor. My local Starbucks, restaurants, department stores, Target, Trader Joes and even book store…all staffed with professionals who understand customer service. SO refreshing!
But before everything it sounds like all is so great here, I noticed many other things about what is happening back in Silicon Valley…and in the States in general that truly sadden me.
The unemployment rates are rising and rising and do not look to have an end in sight as the ripple effects of the banking and finance crashes affect how much money people have and spend. With people so over leveraged, any speed-bump can cause thousands to experience financial distress. This is especially true in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area in general as the mean home price is well over $600,000 even after the recent drops by nearly 20%.
Despite drops in economy, the cost of goods is still so high. Housing in the bay area is not the only thing expensive. A basic meal out per person is costing what it nearly what it runs me for a meal at a western restaurant here in Shanghai, though certainly there is much better selection there.
Most Americans are still so sheltered, with no idea why some others in the world hate America. This Naiveté is part of the charm and also a big weakness in America. Much like Chinese cannot see the outside perspective at times, many Americans cannot understand the international perspective either. To see this as I consider what it would be like to repatriate is somewhat disturbing but I suppose having been able to adjust to life in Shanghai wit its cultural and social quirks, going back to “ignorance is bliss” may not be THAT hard. But maybe I would need to try and make an effort to change things there too.
All said, there are some definite appeals to living back in a “developed country” rather than living with the risks of developing along with a developing country.
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