chinadave2001

no.

Happy Birthday Mick! Hope you have a great day. CD

I wouldn't joke about this. Soon they'll need a security clearance. CD

Congrats Patrick! Very happy for you now that your long ordeal is finally over. CD

Carl, I was very sad to see the difficulty you are having. I wish you all the best in getting it resolved as quickly as possible. Good Luck, CD

If you have a bachelor's degree then it is accepted. You can go directly to grad school. Other degrees are not treated with as much respect, especially the three year degrees which seem to be similar to our associates' degrees.

I do not think this is a going to be a big deal honestly. It is not is China's best interests to make it difficult for USA tourists and Businessmen to go to China. They have a lot more to lose than we do. Russia has instituted much stricter visa procedures for Americans and has really hurt the tourist industry. CD

Dave, congrats on the birth of your son. Very happy for you. Sorry to hear about your father. You are all in my thoughts and prayers today. CD

HI Skibum, Glad to see everything has worked out so well for you. the pictures are terrific. Yes, time does pass quickly..... Chinadave

Congrats Carl. Happy to see things are moving along for you. CD

Congrats Stats! CD

I think the real contrast is in the way that Germany and Japan have dealt with their past. In Germany, Holocaust Education is an integral part of the curriculum. They accept their role and are doing everything they can to re-define themselves in the future. In contrast, the Japanese refuse to admit their crimes, omit such things from their texts, and largely stick their heads in the sand. I suspect this refusal to "come clean" continues to drive much of the hard feelings that many Chinese still feel.

Congratulations Frank! wish you both lots of happiness. CD

you may not, But I met a lot of Chinese who still harbor very deep feelings of anger towards the Japanese. In the Shan Dong Province, which was controlled by Japan for nearly 40 years, the Japanese committed many atrocities over a long period of time. They have not forgotten.

Congrats to you both. I would love to hear your stories of adjustment to life in the USA from a Chinese male perspective. Du Tell.... CD

Seems to me the biggest problem is that we are spending the money that is supposed to pay for future generations now. That's right, lets suppose that the the government collects X dollars now and only spends Y, which is less than X. The difference is supposed to be held in trust until it is needed but the government cannot help itself and spends it all now. So the money that is supposed to be waiting for these folks when they retire has been long spent, thus creating an even bigger deficit when the current baby- boomer generation retires. The current generation is spneding their children's money. Both parties have done this. It is not a Republican or Democratic problem. PS. I do not pay social security because I pay instead in to a teacher's retiremenet fund. same tax % but it has a cash value which I can always cash out if I choose to. Many government employees do not pay social security taxes. CD

Congrats Rob! Very happy for you! CD

Hi PJ, glad to hear all is going well for you. When do you go back to china? Please let me know if you are aware of any concerns that can arise for those of us doing it a second time.........thanks, Dave

ha. first they charge you then they put you on hold for an hour at the rate of 260 rmb per hour.......sounds like a good fundraiser to me. CD

When I was teaching at an American owned International School in Qingdao I was told that they were required to have a "partnership" with the government in which the governement had 51% share of the school. I do not know if this rule is universally applied through all of China but I suspect it may be and that you have to have a Chinese partner. But the short answer is , Yes, it can be done.[/b CD

Close friends are often called brother or sister. very common. CD

I agree. I find the absolute lack of a single detail about the refusal of the visa strange. CD

Sorry guys, but what is a troll? rat someone who makes up a situation just to provoke a reaction.

100 days? yeah right.

In a word, No. Especially Colin Powell. I must have sent him 20 emails, never got any repsonse of any sort. ever. not even an auto -response. CD