I’d always heard before arriving in Beijing that in the heydays of the 80’s one only had to catch a ride in a cab to get the up-to-date word around the political traps. Maybe I have been a little timid or haven’t caught enough taxies in my short year at the capital, but I found drivers who either didn’t know directions, didn’t want to talk, or simply didn’t want to take me anywhere. It was only when I caught the cab to the airport, leaving Beijing, that I met the tongue-rolling, straight talking, upbeatedly pessimistic taxi driver who wanted to talk shop on the state of affairs—politics and education.
“This is not a place for people to live. You’re already out, and it’s not worth it to come back. People in 京廣上 (the first tier development cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou) are working in those cities, but looking for housing in cities like Chongqing, Chengdu. Lower population density and better environment are what the current generation of young parents are looking for.”
These words were coming out quite nonchalantly, as if it were common sense. I was quite taken aback when a local native Beijinger would openly admit that his city was no longer suitable to people. He pressed on:
“Locals are getting richer, and their needs are changing. From satisfying basics such as feeding oneself to feeding the family, then to a meat aplenty meal, and now to having a comfortable environment to live in and raise kids.”
That all makes sense, but I wanted to press on about what I had seen first-hand: the Chinese educational system.
“There’s an old saying that was popular in the 70’s and 80’s: better to have a father than smarts,” he paused, “that’s probably still true today.”
“When I was growing up, life as a kid was easy – the system was that you would take over your father’s occupation once he retired. So life was easy and carefree for us kids. We have a few fights and throw a few rocks. There wasn’t a lot to worry about, even though things were tough.”
The journey was beginning to get interesting.
End of PART 1