There's no place like home

I just got home from a trip to China and it was great! Beijing, aside from the smog, is a beautiful city and China is a beautiful country. I know we have stereotypes that come to mind when we think of China, but you have to experience it yourself to understand it. The people were so friendly and many had never seen Westerners before. They would stop to take pictures and video of our group as we traveled.

Like here, the is you want good food, it surrounds you and if you want something unique, you can find it. There are community park all around Beijing and you can find a crowd at any of them through out the day. People will gather to play ping pong or a version of hackey sack, exercise or just talk.

I think we can be too quick to criticize "China" because of its government and industrial development. While I do not agree with its government on many things, I think the West has responsibility when it comes to the growing industry. While walking on the Great Wall, I heard someone say the a news anchor had commented on the Chinese love for money and as it was said, a local English speaking person just shook their head, obviously not liking what was said. That got me thinking about the whole concept of China.

It is foreign industry that started the boom that has padded the economy and polluted the sky. It is our businesses that want cheaper labor so they can make more money on what we buy. But enough of the geopolitical aspect of it all. When it comes down to it, there is no place like home.

I am not simply talking about the accents that draw attention, but the entire aspect of life in the Southeast that make it so special. The landscape, the cleanliness, the hospitality all work together to make South Carolina and beyond a special place to live. I was reminded on the journey home that there are many incorrect stereotypes about the South that still exist.

While catching our flight from L.A., there was a rather rude man that associated the accents of some of our group with a lack of intelligence and ignorance. I guess he would be surprised to know we have indoor plumbing. I know our corner of the world is not perfect by any means, but it comes close and I am thankful that I call it home. I can't wait for where to check out where my next adventure takes me.