Two random observations about China so far.
1. Appearances are not as important in China as in the USA. Function is more important than form. This applies to the people and the structures. You don't see people with fancy clothes, expensive shoes, etc. trying to look like the people they see on TV. It is typically pants, a plain shirt and basic shoes. I don't think this is an income issue. Plenty of my own American university students don't have much money but they are more into fashion because that seems to be the way things are in America. As for the buildings, many of them look much more run down than a similar function building in America. The two dorms that my university is tearing down because they are "old" and "worn out" look better than most of the faculty and student housing I have seen here. That is, of course, because the housing is still functional so why take it down.
2. Businesses have significantly more employees than similar places in America. Admittedly, this observation is based primarily on two places. We'll see if it generalizes. I had dinner at the campus restaurant near where I am staying. There was always a waitress within a few feet of our table, sometimes two or three. And, the local superstore, a store similar to Wal Mart called Vanguard, has employees all over the place. You are never more than two aisles from an employee.
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