...Here it comes...the commentary...
Counselor got me thinking, and I know my brain is only now beginning to process the events of the last month, so here comes part of the beginning of the end...
Jim mentioned that SF was a great city, but 'dingy, and crowded'. As an American, I would agree, but with a recent China trip under my belt, I digress. Jim would haaaate Shanghai.
America is blessed with abundant space and modern cities. We have so much more capacity for people and agriculture than the rest of the world and we have not had to encounter the difficulty of rebuilding a city that is already established. Shanghai was a wonderful city full of energy and promise. And people, and pollution, and more people. China made us reconsider our gestures and hand movements. Our conception of personal space was changed for the duration of our trip (and probably beyond). There are simply so many people in such little space in China that what you can truly call your own extends barely an inch beyond your body.
Shanghai has also existed in one form or another since the 1200's, much longer than San Francisco has. San Fran has the 'old world' feel to it because it is one of the oldest 'American' cities on the west coast. As Harms pointed out, it was founded by "Northeasterners", but this was back when ALL Americans in the west were from the Northeast. Texan cities are relative newcomers by comparison, with most modern buildings having been built on newly staked ground in the last century.
Spacious and Clean cities are a welcome blessing we have been able to encounter in the US. They're a combination of two factors: Founding and construction in new areas, and wealth.
Overall, I am happy to grow up in them, and hopefully I will not take them for granted in the future as I have in the past.
Jim mentioned that SF was a great city, but 'dingy, and crowded'. As an American, I would agree, but with a recent China trip under my belt, I digress. Jim would haaaate Shanghai.
America is blessed with abundant space and modern cities. We have so much more capacity for people and agriculture than the rest of the world and we have not had to encounter the difficulty of rebuilding a city that is already established. Shanghai was a wonderful city full of energy and promise. And people, and pollution, and more people. China made us reconsider our gestures and hand movements. Our conception of personal space was changed for the duration of our trip (and probably beyond). There are simply so many people in such little space in China that what you can truly call your own extends barely an inch beyond your body.
Shanghai has also existed in one form or another since the 1200's, much longer than San Francisco has. San Fran has the 'old world' feel to it because it is one of the oldest 'American' cities on the west coast. As Harms pointed out, it was founded by "Northeasterners", but this was back when ALL Americans in the west were from the Northeast. Texan cities are relative newcomers by comparison, with most modern buildings having been built on newly staked ground in the last century.
Spacious and Clean cities are a welcome blessing we have been able to encounter in the US. They're a combination of two factors: Founding and construction in new areas, and wealth.
Overall, I am happy to grow up in them, and hopefully I will not take them for granted in the future as I have in the past.
posted by DLoyd76 at 9/07/2004 01:10:00 PM
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