The Chinese make using ATM cards very difficult, some work and some don’t. I just tried to withdraw some cash using my bankcard her in Longquen and the video screen indicates that I have no money, which I know is not true. This has happened  several times now and I am getting very frustrated.   The Chinese merchants in these small towns will not take any kind of credit card or bank debit cards for anything.  This problem will cause a great deal of trouble if they don’t get it fixed before the Olympics come. Some days I think China is wonderful, but others like today I don’t feel very kindly toward them.  How in the world do they expect the visitors to spend money in China without the ability to use credit or bank cards or functioning ATM machines to obtain spending money from time to time.  Come to think of it how did people handle their cash needs back before there were ATM machines?  I seem to remember my folks talking about something called Traveler’s Checks.  I guess I am just spoiled a bit by modern banking technology. 

We are now told that we have to pay for our own transportation back to Beijing and everyone had to come up with money they had not planned on.  Fortunately, I brought enough cash with me, but have been somewhat over generous helping out my roommate who brought nothing but credit cards.   The Chinese will take nothing but cash -- they are so distrusting of the credit card system.   I cannot wait to get to Bangkok where the banking system using ATM machines works fine based on my prior visits there.  

My primary interest in coming to China this time was to examine current life of the Chinese female and see if Confucianism ideology still exists and if so,  in what ways. I have learned a lot about it from the people that I've spoken to and feel this has been a very successful trip from an academic standpoint.  I have had several interviews about sexuality issues such as, lesbianism, homosexuality, pre-marital sex and cohabitation before marriage and of course, matchmaking and the whole process.  Tradition and respect for parents and the elderly is one of the most important components in China, it drives almost all-human behavior! One of the couples we met who had been introduced by a matchmaker gave me a video of their wedding ceremony.  The process is fascinating and clearly depicts how modern china has changed but only in technology.  For example, in past years, the prospective bride and family would be picked up by her husband to be by a horse or oxen driven cart.  Now, the bride and her party are picked up at their home in a brand new shining car.  The types of gifts have changed over the years -- in the early 50s, it was candy and now they receive air-conditioners, motor scooters and modern appliances.  It is very interesting.   

I was talking to one of the more educated women in Longquan Village yesterday about the issues of equality between women and men and she said that they are all paid the same, and other women’s rights are improving all the time, yet I noticed that the ratio of women to men in the Leaders' offices is about 20 to 1.  So much of what they say is a sanitized version of reality.  Some respect for Anthropologists here is necessary.  They observe rather than ask questions. Sometimes their perspective is more authentic.  The women in the village seem to have developed a great deal of respect for me probably because of my intense interest in how they live and what they think.  Several have said they want me to stay with them in their homes as their new Chinese daughter.  I told them that I had a mother and father who meant very much to me but  "I'm taken." thank you very much.  But  It is nice to feel their friendship.  It seems like everywhere I go, people are so interested in seeing and talking to me, the American visitor.  They come out of their gathering places to greet me and invite me in for tea. All in all, except for the ATM thing, this has been a great experience.   Few people in Longquan village have ever met Americans.