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Your pictures reminds me the subtle
notion of Northerner Vs the Southerner, the
ways of life, shaped by the weather.
Yes, this was a big issue in ffice:smarttags" />America history. In fact,
The American civil war was largely divided along
the line of interests between its Northerner vs.
its Southerners. In the present day America, there is
still the subtle notion that Northerners are more intellectual,
more wealthy, more industrious, more advanced. After all,
both the political, and financial power in America, are
geographically located at the North. There is a sense of
arrogance or superiority in the Northerner’s spirit in America,
Southerners are regarded as more folksy, more lay-back,
easy going, working class, less educated…
China has its Northerner vs. the Southerner issue also. In my
graduate school in America, my classmates from Northern China
(elite Chinese universities graduate), often they express their distrusts
to Chinese Southerners, especially to the
people from our region, like Canton, Taishan. Some how,
Chinese Northerners think its Southerners are not very honest to
do business with…they felt being cheated, one too many times.
That’s the main observation that I come across on the Chinese
version of its Northerner, vs. Southerner issue. I never really come
across that Chinese Northerners take pride as superior, more intelligent,
or more wealthy etc. Though, in China, from my view, its
political, and financial power are also geographically located at the North.
Well, I can go on elaborate more on the subject endlessly. But going back to
your snow discussion. What I can say, I lived in the Northeast for 7 years
(Boston, Amherst, NY State, Philadelphia). Then, I found myself steadily
moving Southward. Actually it is more like South, and West ward. Yes, I still
love the sunny days over the white snow horizons in the North. But those days are
rare. I don’t like those cold days, with gloomy weather for weeks. May be
it is because this factor, that the Northerners are perhaps more industrious, focus,
driven???
In America, the notion of the West, seems to have the balancing factor in its North
Vs. South issue. Californians don’t have much the concept of North vs. South. They
Have more the notion of East Coast vs. the West Coast. In the
American West, vacation means going hiking, camping, fishing in a reclusive National
Park. In the American East Coast, vacation means going to visit a museum, the Statue
of Liberty, or a Casino. Do you get my point?
Oh well, there is no right or wrong on this. I have lived in the American Southwest for
20 years now. BigPaul, you can say that I am a “red-neck”, and perhaps I call you a
“damm Yankee”. I don’t know how to relate in Chinese now.
Snow? Bring it on to me by the west wind…
