3 March, 2006
This anecdote from Dispatches from a Public Librarian (published by McSweeney’s Internet Tendency) falls into the category of “you can’t make this stuff up”.
Last week, I received a call from an elderly woman wanting me to settle a bet between her and her son. She wanted to know what countries in Europe the Great Wall of China went through and what was the year Reagan tore it down. When I explained that the Great Wall of China was still mostly intact and that she probably meant the Berlin Wall, she replied coolly, “No, hon, you see, the Berlin Wall is just the part of the wall that goes through Berlin.” I put on my best geography-teacher hat to try and explain the Great Wall of China was, in fact, exclusively in Asia. She replied, “I’m pretty sure you’re wrong. What would be so great about tearing down a wall in Germany? It’s not even that big of a country.”
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this is bother laughable and saddening to hear to a Chinese like me.
I am speechless. Communication has long been one way from the West to China. This is due to the backwardness in Chinese economy and its lack of “soft power”. What can I do to improve?
Robert
Phd candiate
Fudan University
Shanghai, China
Comment by Robert — 8 March, 2006 @ 9:17