Dail Lessons from Life 27-28 March 2013 - Friends

Have a good assignment out in the USA and heading to another place to meet up with long time friends. Friends I made from working in Beijing and Shanghai, PRC almost a decade ago! They have made good here and are fine young folks. I always make it a point to keep in touch with fine young folks I met and am glad that they are also keen to keep in touch. China is a fascinating country but also, acknowledged by many, a country facing a tremendous challenge keeping the culture, tradition in tact while charging ahead into unprecedented economic riches in record space though at a lower rate that most developed and advance nations still envied or stared in disbelief. These young folks recognize the challenges there and wish the best for their motherland. The recently 'elected' leader, Mr Xi, has done quite a bit of reforms since taking the leadership role. Many are welcome by these young folks and many who still harbour hope that the deepcorruptionurrption and the blind focused on getting rich at all costs can be properly resolved before it brings the nation to its kneels when chaos break out as the 'have-nots' may no longer able to accept and tolerate the 'haves' for too much longer. A lot of the waste and extravagance can be saved and the same resources be channeled into projects with lasting and sustainable success like REAL education, 'teaching the poors and disadvantaged how to fish', getting people in vocations and professions that demand integrity and humility to truly embrace and 'walk the talk', etc. Many said it will not be easy as the incumbents who have gone astrayed and amassed tremendous wealth, material wise, will not let go easily. The entitlement mentality once developed is very haOften timel! Oftentime when the incumbents could not do it themselves, someone else will do it for them. Someone with no baggages and not past burdens. When that happened, it often will bring chaos and pains in the short term, while in the longer term, hopefully, things will become better and better. The next battle to fight is then, keeping true to the ultimate goal and preventing the 'old bad mindset of entitlement' from taking seeds and grow in the 'new ruling class and elites'! I am thankful for the friendship, the warmth and the generosity showered on me on this trip. I count my blessing indeed.