Interesting Conversation

Our Family decided to hike up the mountain behind our house today. Saturdays are usually very crowded, and today was no exception. We usually get a lot of looks from people as we go by. They think the kids are cute and aren't used to seeing western kids. The other common fact of life of being here and going out is that many people like to practice their English. Usually they ask a few questions and move on. Today it didn't quite go that way. We were taking a break and a small group of college students started talking to us, well just one of them was willing to give it a try. Everyone one else was looking. He asked if we were American. He asked if we lived in Shenzhen. Then he asked how I liked Shenzhen. This is usually where the conversation ends. After I answered I liked Shenzhen he replied, "When Chinese people ask a question we can tell the truth then work on fixing the problem." I wasn't quite sure how to respond. Shenzhen isn't a particularly beautiful city. The polution is pretty bad, and it has a reputation of being a very greedy city. I didn't really want to tell him that. I told him the people I had met were very good to me and then he changed the subject and asked if I had been to Shanghai. I told him I have. He said "That is a beautiful city." Well now I know where he is from... I said, "Well, I love the mountains, and there aren't mountains in Shanghai." He told me to go to the beautiful island in Shanghai. I let him know I would do that the next time I'm in Shanghai. Then I had to go.