The Beijing Olympics homestay experience - 7 Aug 08

[ephesus]

Why does it sound like this guy is yelling into the mic?

[CanadianTuBaoZi]

My experiences in China have also been similar.

And that condo looks pretty sweet, not bad for a couple of government workers.

[onegoodman66]

Casey Kaufman AGAIN? This American guy can speak English, Chinese, Spanish and French??...I came across him in almost every AlJazeera video..

[itsanthonyhere]

That mom is the shit..everyone there seems to have so much niceness and positive energy. I am thinking about going over there for a homestay just to teach English...free rent and that much happiness flowing around? Works for me.

[danpt2000]

I think people are misunderstanding you when you say "This Mom is the Shit..." Probably why you got 4 negative ratings.

[itsanthonyhere]

People ALWAYS misunderstand me. I'm used to it.

[superseal2004]

amazing how nice is the chinese people with us, i just came back from beijing, and nobody cares there about nacionalities i am from a thrid world country and im used to racism when i travel but olympics were amazing there ,besides the competitions, we were one world with one dream

[miniskirt04]

free of charge?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[001bebeting]

Thanks for sharing your video. What a wonderful experience and insight you have. Your host Mom is such a typical Chinese Mom - how she was feeding you and treating you like her son, making you go to sleep, telling you to turn off your camera.

[laceylingerie]

the point is, americans are just scared that china will kick their asses, because the whole world knows china's immense potential. so quit being whiny bitches, america, and stop your dirty tricks!

[frank3193]

Lol.. i see a lotta quirrelling going on here.. would everybody just calm down. Isn't freedom, peace and love what we all strive for?

[mart897]

lol....the guy who lived there didnt had much of a brain...the govt gave em all and just wanna show u how awesome the life there is..

[xileila1986]

actually,NO!!!goverment didn't give them anything...they are volunteers....

[sexyfob23]

pauloGviera DON'T BE LIKE THIS...GOD BLESS YOU

[elinluke8584]

PauloGVieira

happy to see how great you care about chinese people and how much you hate the government, may I ask why? FLG member?

currently you don't believe anyone who says chinese gov is good, and that makes you so untrustable with your arguments, be fair!

[poppoya]

Wow, glad the experience was good for you. :)

[wendyhohoho]

western people are brainwashed by their biased media. When i was growing up in china, i felt i was free. Also keep in mind that chinese people come to north america not becuase there is freedom here, we come here becuase there is less competition.

[micsc50]

They eat dog in China. the Chinese gov. has lifted dog from the menu in restaurants because westerners don't eat dog and they don't want to offend us. How about a rack of beagle ribs?

[shijieheping123]

We respect westerners' dietary habits, but really, what's wrong with eating dogs? You guys eat pigs and cows and sheep and chickens and ducks and fish, so what's so different about a dog? They're all just animals, after all.

[micsc50]

You don't eat pigs, chicken, cows, sheep, fish and ducks? Why do you have to eat Rover? Are you not civilized?

[shijieheping123]

We do eat pigs, chicken, cows, sheep, fish, ducks, and dogs. YOU eat pigs, chicken, cows, sheep, fish, ducks, but not dogs. Why?

[micsc50]

We eat hot dogs not our pets. Because we are civilized we don't eat our best friends. You must be a Barack Obama fan ?

[shijieheping123]

People don't eat pet dogs. People eat dogs specially prepared for food. When you eat fish, do you eat someone's pet fish? If you eat lamb, do you eat someone's pet lamb? I thought everyone's smart enough to know that...

[extringele]

As in the words of Kishore Mahbubani - in the West during the Industrial Revolution when there was the most significant increase in the standard of living in a lifetime was that of 50%, in China the increase in one lifetime is not 100%, not 200% but 10,000% and still rising.

[Munra30]

Does anyone now what channel is doing a LIVE broadcast here in the USA (Florida)?

[WorldTravelTV]

hahaha "mom"

[shijieheping123]

GO CHINA!

[liu192223]

nice granny

[PauloGVieira]

Good boy Al Jazeerra, maybe China will give you a bone now after this story.

[MementoExpose]

praise the commies !

[queensam08]

cool

[PepperoniFlavored]

this is nice,the family is super nice

[lovedecker]

Awesome experience for you

[pyromania152]

The Chinese have such a great culture. I hope their government does continue to improve.

[tommytommy01]

The chinese government will continue to improve, changes dont come over night like some people thinks.

[liu192223]

oh yea? then wait...

[PauloGVieira]

The Chinese people are great, its a shame about a dictatorial government that they did not choose.

[shijieheping123]

Chinese people are happy with the government, believe it or not. Hu Jintao is more popular than Bush.

[Renegen1]

Bush has like a 30% approval rating, that's not hard to do..

[extringele]

True.

"A recent survey found 86% of Chinese happy with the direction that the country [(China)] is taking - the highest score of any country surveyed" posted by BBC.

[PauloGVieira]

LOL are you seriously using this figure to justify your argument? You do realise that the government completely controls the media and internet and only allows positive media reinforcement to filter through to the people.

[extringele]

To PauloGVieira, most if not all the people in China realize the media is not free. China is not as controlled as you think, China is more open now than any other given time in history - but they still agree with the government. Why is this you may ask? Because the Chinese people experienced a increase in standard of living of 10,000% in one life time and that is far greater than any given western country. True China has a lot of changes but slowly (Russia, Balkans, etc.) Study some history!

[PauloGVieira]

"China is not as controlled as you think" - You're right! What the hell was I thinking! China is free! Except you have no say over your government, no access to independent media, no respectable court justice system, no affirmed human rights! Geez Im an idiot - how could I not think China was free!

"Chinese people experienced an increase in standard of living" - Its a shame their democratic and human rights credentials have also also followed such a leap.

[extringele]

I'm not trying to make any harsh arguments here. I'm Canadian, home in a country that I believe is almost perfect expect for its complete tolerance of American policy. Obviously China is not free, I don't know how you can take a simple "China is not as controlled as you think" and turn it into "China is a free country". But let me give you a poll rating.

% People who think Chinese people are suppressed in China:

Britian 65%

USA 65%

Countries which are closer:

India 40%

South Korea 43%

-BBC

[PauloGVieira]

"China is not as controlled as you think" and turn it into "China is a free country" - You North Americans never understood sarcasm. The opposite state of control is freedom so why is it such a stretch? When you discuss dictatorship you discuss democracy so when discussing control in China why cant we discuss freedom.

Oh I find it hilarious when people quote polls to prove a point! You Americans like to do this. Cant you make the argument rather than in irrelevant sample size?

[extringele]

PauloGVieira: it was obvious you were being sarcastic and in my face mocking my comments. Please PM to continue this debate. As to your "Oh I find it hilarious when people quote polls to prove a point! You Americans like to do this. Cant you make the argument rather than in irrelevant sample size?" statement. The polls represent a great number of people and that immensely outnumbers your opinion. Couple million if not billion to your one opinion is a fair statement to be made.

[PauloGVieira]

I wont be PM'ing you, you are obviously another Chinese propagandist-activist on the internet. Are you really from Canada? At the very least you have a Chinese background so if China is so great why dont you live there? Why did your ancestors leave in the first place?

What poll? Give me the link! I want to know the sample size! I doubt the BBC surveyed a "couple million if not billion" people to get the results you suggest they did.

[extringele]

I'm not going to continue this convo if your going to resort to such degrading language. I really am from Canada Vancity BC. All my kinder-12 edu is from Van expect two years in Portland. THE LINK IS /2/hi/asia-pacific/7540871.stm news bbc

[PauloGVieira]

Just as I thought, there is no information from the sample size used. Did you just make it up that they surveyed "a couple million if not billion"?

Yes id back out of this conversation too as you dont have much to stand on.

[jessicang6]

Studying in China isn't as easy you think.

The people are there are ever so hardworking. They would sacrifice anything for learning. They're so devoted to it! They're way too good.

Therefore, some people may think it's too competitive. Going to other countries gives them a bigger chance of being the top ones.

[PauloGVieira]

"Majority of the Chinese people are very content with the government"??? How did you work this out? There is no freedom of speech, media or democracy!

Name me one internationally recognised "democratic" country that is essentially a one-party state! Russia? Zimbabwe? Egypt? What excellent company you keep!

You're not really from the USA? Why dont you admit where you are really from? Why did you leave China in the first place? I rest my case!

[jessicang6]

Well, at least Chinese are more content about their government than the Americans.

At least it really cares about its people, and it doesn't get greedy and start wars. They keep "peace" as much as they could. Friends with everyone, that is what the government wants to do. They're even helping America. But vice-versa doesn't apply.

[PauloGVieira]

Well how can we substantiate this when the people of China are not allowed to say otherwise.

I think the tens of millions of Chinese people that have fled the country and adopted another citizenship is more telling of the reality in China.

[pinwanger]

ur wrong, the party was chosen over 60 yrs ago by the people and one party system is not the same as dictatorship

[PauloGVieira]

LOL what drug were you on when you wrote this!

So the party was chosen over 60 years ago! You do realise then that the majority of people that "chose" this party are now dead!

"One party system is not the same as dictatorship" - Yes that is what Robert Mugabe and Saddam Hussein said too.

[shijieheping123]

Chinese don't flee their country. It's called immigrating. Go talk to some overseas Chinese, most love and miss China very much.

[PauloGVieira]

Well certainly when you make the choice to immigrate it is because the conditions elsewhere are more favourable than at home. I do not doubt the Chinese diaspora miss their country and people but I am confident they dont miss their repressive government.

[extringele]

yeah i know many many ppl are planning to go back after receiving edu in the west.

[PauloGVieira]

LOL! Idiot studying abroad is not the same as immigration. Why dont you go back too and do Canada a favour?

[shijieheping123]

If you think you know so much about China, why don't you come to China yourself and see how much of what you "know" is true? Seeing is believing.

[PauloGVieira]

I went to China last year for a holiday - beautiful country and the Chinese people are great and deserve so much better than their current government.

[shijieheping123]

What did they say about the government?

[PauloGVieira]

CORRUPTION CORRUPTION CORRUPTiON is what they said. This is the problem when you dont have democracy, it is not about accountability but how much money you have.

Oh and dont spin me your bullshit about the Government's efforts to crackdown on corruption. It only cracks down on the cases of corruption that is convenient for them.

[shijieheping123]

There's corruption in every country. Did they say they want to overthrow the government? Did they complain that China is not a democracy?

[PauloGVieira]

LOL "there is corruption in every country"!! Is this your argument? Well in my country I cannot buy myself out of court proceedings! In my country I do not have to bribe someone to set up a business! In my country environmental standards are not waived when the price is right!

As I said they complained about corruption and lack of accountability. Only one way to strengthen accountability and that is through democracy.

[shijieheping123]

Look at Taiwan. They are democracy, no? All of the corruption you describe happens in Taiwan. Look at ex-president Chen Shui-bian. He was an elected leader, but ask anyone from Taiwan and they will tell how corrupt he is. When he was president, he bought himself out of court proceedings. Asian democracy does not equal Western democracy. Never will.

[PauloGVieira]

Are you stupid? I know corruption is a problem in Taiwan as it is in other countries but it is not as prevalent as it is in China! PERIOD! THIS IS NOT DEBATABLE!

You're an idiot, dont think your shit in China doesnt smell too.

[shijieheping123]

PauloGVieira, are you frustrated? Calm down sheesh... "THIS IS NOT DEBATABLE!" Where's the freedom of speech you promote so much??

[jessicang6]

China deserves a good government. It's also why they have that. The government helps the people, at least it acted fast to the earthquake. They take up their responsibility and actually work.

[pinwanger]

try not to talk like you know what the fuck is going on, the people you said that "fled" china all went back the invested their knowledge into the nation...and there are ton of so call "Democratic" nations out there have only one dominate party. Majority of the Chinese people are very content with the government so stfu and go complain about your own country.

[Hazaraid]

Nice.

[maple2000new]

Why offer it for free? Those who are being ignorant and attack China relentlessly on the wester medias or over the Internet will continue to do so regardless how good you treat them. Those who likes/loves China and Chinese people will continue to love China regardless it is free or not.

[Trailers911]

haha nice..

[banzaidawan]

About half of the city folks in China are middle class these days. These are all middle class accomodations used for this Olympics Homestay Program.

[johnjohn0701]

nice parents though..good for u

[Mohiy2]

Quite funny, though!!! Chinese parents!!