Thanksgiving 2008 - What I am Thankful For

We discussed Thanksgiving in my English classes this week. I listed my 5 things that I was thankful, which were very predicable: Family, Friends, Health, Being in China and My Pension.

I required the students to do the same thing. List 5 things – The approximately 200 students lists I received started out very predictably with FAMILY (but generally their grandparents were listed before their parents – remember child care is usually the job of the grandparents) and FRIENDS. After the first two the list really diverge from what we might predict that an American college student would list.

Third most often listed blessing was: TEACHERS – many specific middle school and high school teachers were mentioned having the a large impact on their lives
4th blessing – were BOOKS or a variation of acquiring knowledge
5th – Being able to ATTEND COLLEGE
6th - CHINA, which included a few mentions of hometowns, the Chinese government and even a thanks for their President Hu JinTao
7th – variations of COMPUTER, INTERNET AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (yes even some computer games were mentioned such as War Craft)
8th –DELICIOUS FOOD (as how it was stated most often) – rice, bread, all the fruits and just one that even was thankful for KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut. There were a couple that mentioned a good harvest and one that said “all the animals who are eaten by me”
9th – most often listed “blessing?” was one that really surprised me – HARDSHIPS – here are a couple of ways this blessing was listed by my Chinese students. Sometimes I have to remind myself often that English is NOT their first language because their answers can be so poetic.
“The natural disasters because they let me know we should cherish our lives better”
“Difficulties that give me perseverance”
“The bad/terrible period of my life which makes me feel content with what I have.”

Some of the REST….
God
Cell Phones
Sports
CCTV (the different TV channels that are put out by the Chinese Government)
Pretty clothes
Shoes
Good weather
A smart and sensible mother
Policemen
Workers that make a contribution to the country
Rivalry opponents
Enough money
Environment such as the library, trees, water, and food
Being a gal
Being 172 cm tall
Blues and Jazz music

I have come to the conclusion that one of the biggest differences between China’s youth and America’s youth is that China’s youth EXPECT their life and future to be hard and have many difficulties whereas a large majority of America’s youth EXPECT life to be easy. Sort of makes you wonder what type of adult & work ethic develops from their different expectations.