I came to China almost five years ago not knowing what to expect.  A little cautious from what I was told throughout my life growing up about this "Communist Country" and its ties to the "Evil Empire" that Russia was once touted as by some famous people, before the "Iron Curtain" fell.  

I must say most of what I was told I have discovered for myself, is absolutely, flat out untrue.  Perhaps just "PROPAGANDA", to bolster someone else's agenda much more powerful than I; but none of it seems to have mattered, nor has it kept China from it's break neck double digit year on year growth the Country and its Citizen's have been enjoying over the last 30 years. I sure wish as an American I could have seen something in our recent history akin to what's going on in China to compare.

China is nothing short of an AMAZING and MAGICAL place!  I still feel like a kid in a candy store here. In my opinion, there has never been more opportunities in the history of our world than there are right now!  And China is a land filled with opportunities as well.  

China is a peaceful Country. A Country that has every major religion represented here, and all 1.3 billion people peacefully living together for the most part. Any Country that can make it through its revolutionary war, and keep the peace for so long afterwards is an admirable and worthwhile Country to study and learn from what we can by the many good examples it has set in motion.  And none of it has been easy as one can only imagine within a Country whose Culture and history dates back almost 6,000 years. But thank goodness for China's Anti-War peaceful perspectives in the last 60 years.  It shows a maturity that has no doubt enabled the County to prosper like at no other time in History.

As a result, the Chinese people are some of the most humble, non-arrogant, non-fault finding, non-negative, hard working and truly friendly and caring people I've ever met on the planet.  Most are excited to engage with Westerners, meet people from around the world and make new friends. 

All that said, some will say it isn't yet the Utopia that Chairman Mao, Deng Xiaoping and other leaders of the great nation of China have tried their best to create through its reforms. But like Ernest Hemingway said of some places he visited here, and later wrote about in his book ShangriLa, I think we both willingly with an open mind and proper perspective have come to see for ourselves the many good things going on in China that make it one seem as close to a Utopia as we've ever known.  Keep up the Good Work CHINA!!!!  Let's share and learn more from each other so we can all rightfully and peacefully prosper together.