Teachable Moments

Living in China provides little moments that provide a link to a memory from childhood.  China is still a developing country.  Some things have been faster than others.  My Mandarin teacher mentioned yesterday that electric lighting has only been in available in last 40 years.  As Cody and I are in the over 40 group (not singling myself out on the 40's thing), people our age here may not have grown up with electric lights?  Could that be right?  She said they mostly used candles.  The discussion came up in explaining how the ancient chinese language is trying to describe modern technology today.
for example :
电脑 (diàn năo) electric brain (the word for computer)


While the growing up as a 70's child in the US may not have provided a huge amount of hardship lessons. You know, the "Well I remember walking 40 miles in the snow to get to school." I have found living here has provided a few teachable moments.

 "What is wrong with this fry? EEW!" Our children were so excited to get to visit a McDonalds to have a taste of the USA, to find they each had some fries with imperfections.   Do you remember when you might get one or two McDonalds French Fries that were imperfect?  They might have a brown spot or two, reminding you that they actually did come from a potato.  You might have a hard time find one today in the US, but imperfect fries are here.  It is just an occasional fry, but the kids had never seen an imperfect McDonalds french fry before.  It was a little shocking for them.  We told them when we were growing up we usually had an imperfect fry. "Do not be alarmed", and "No, it won't hurt you to if you ate some of it" 


"What are these?  Carrots?  These carrots are huge!"  Our kids were born in the baby carrot generation.  The only carrots here are the regular large carrots.  They do require more preparation, but the are really good.  The kids were shocked that we did not have baby carrots growing up. 


"There are only 2 English TV channels!" and "Why can't you pause or record this show?"  Well our little lǎowài, when we were growing up we could not pause the TV shows, and the only time kids shows were available were on Saturday mornings.

"We are walking home from school!?"  When we were growing up most kids went to a neighborhood school, and could walk home from school.  (No, it is not 40 miles in the snow.)

"We are riding our bike to church?"  Riding a bike was more than for fun when we were growing up, it actually could get you to a destination.

"What is that your paying with?"  Well, it is cash, little seen by our children, as even their allowance was  a debit card in the US.  Now we carry a bag of cash, for groceries, bills, the doctor's office, you name it, cash is expected. We remember our parents paying cash for groceries, and now we are doing the same.  


In conclusion,  a country's development index along with income per capita, and life expectancy may be correlated to availability of perfect McDonalds fries, baby carrots, and credit cards.