Job Discussion Forums

[janeal]

Allow me to present my perspective of communism.
I've spent a number of years in China as well as a number of other 3rd world countries. In my humble opinion, China is a poor representation of the Marxian ideal. Yes, the central government retains most of the power but that's true in many other, non-communist countries. I've interacted extensively with average (chinese) Joes & they seem to me to have the same hopes & dreams as any westernized capitalist. they operate their shops & markets without interferrence from government structures & go about their business in the same way a German or Brit or mexican would.
Sorry, but the communist ideal (in much of China) has been corrupted by the need/desire for $$$.

However, other 3rd world societies, Philippines, for example, are somewhat closer to what I consider communist structures. Families are much more integrated, sort of tribal in nature. They are expected to (and sometimes willingly) share whatever they have within the family and loyalities within the family are quite strong. True, this communial nature rarely extends beyond the family, but it's certainly representative.

So, perhaps some experience in China will prove to be a real eye-opener. It was for me. good luck.

[SnoopBot]

[Rooster_2006]

I realize that the OP's post is just a joke, and that he's just putting it on here to get a few laughs and test out people's gullibility (something at which he has succeeded very well).

However, supposing someone wanted to experience "real communism," why not WWOOF in China for a few months? WWOOF = Willing Workers On Organic Farms

I mean, face it, the cities in China are capitalist. Why not go to the countryside and volunteer on a farm for room and board and live the same lifestyle that the local peasants live?

If I wanted to experience Chinese communism, that's what I'd do. You're never going to experience the day-to-day life of a Chinese communist laborer in an English classroom in a major city, teaching a bunch of bourgeoisie kids and working for a capitalist boss. Find a rural Chinese family who will give you a cot, some rice, and some tofu for a good day's work!

Here is the link for WWOOF:
http://www.wwoofchina.org/main/index.php

I'm not joking, I really think that would be the best way to experience Mao-era communism firsthand. For the most authentic experience, do it in one of the poorer provinces like Guizhou. It might be a good linguistic experience as well as you'd probably have to communicate with the other peasants in Chinese.

[Greg 09]

I'll have to admit being clueless when it comes to Chinese agriculture. Do the local farmers haul their crop to a common warehouse and take whatever the agri-crat gives him? Are there still collective farms? I'd be surprised.

To be honest, the name Willing Workers on Organic Farms sounds like a "We are the World" type of thing transplanted from California or some such. Nothing wrong with that. Who runs its Rooster?

Edit: ahh ok, its out of the UK, never mind Rooster. Communal spirit outings such as this won't even come close to living in a country run by real Communists, as the OP so tantalizingly opined. But I can see where WWOOF would be a great experience for those with that bent.

Agree with earlier poster, Cuba or N.Korea are your only "hope". Chavez is making a pretty good run in Venezuela. Could the OP be Hugo?

[kukiv]

Where are these organic farms in China - a trip through the countryside with observant eyes will show you that much of agricultural China has now converted to industrial farming practice - near total use of chemicals and genetically engineered plants. With effluent and nutrient spill-offs and destruction of natural habitat, these farm industries are terrible polluters and often the very opposite of being green. As for being communist - well if communism is about equality and sharing - then I suppose its the pig pen cleaners who drive about in the Mercs, while those who make the real profits from the feeding China, officials and the middle men,happily spray poisonous chemicals onto the crops without the slightest trace of protective clothing - but I could be wrong.

Nowadays in the bigger cities you can find produce that's marked up as green - but local expertise, to ensure unwavering quality and standards, within the food industry don't seem to be that high!!!!!

As for 'volunteers" - well the most comical we run into are the volunteer panda keepers at the Panda research center zoos - cuddly animal fans - they pay a fortune to shovel muck and clean Panda pens. At the prices they pay for this honor - it's strange they consider themselves a volunteer - and not a customer!!!!!!

[Greg 09]

[kukiv]

[joey2001]

[JamesD]

[Rooster_2006]

To clarify a few things...

I never said that farms in China are organic. I only said that you could work on a Chinese farm by contacting the organization WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). Many WWOOF farms are not organic, but the name of the organization persists.

Furthermore, while I'm not sure if strict communes are used in the countryside, I do know that the system is more "communist" in many ways in the countryside. For example, the government subsidizes 90% of the bill for someone checking into countryside hospitals, whereas urban hospitals are largely "pay for yourself." Is free medical care not a major part of communism? I heard that in the bigger cities, the government will only take care of 30% of the expenses. Furthermore, due to lower incomes, people in the countryside are more self-sufficient, less reliant on imports, and have less contact with the outside world. Therefore, I stand by my statement that farming in the countryside would be a more authentically "communist" experience than teaching English, especially in a city.

However, the poster who said that Cuba and the DPRK are more realistic bets for experiencing communism is correct, but I'd say Cuba would be the best bet. Good luck on having any sort of "authentic" experience in North Korea. They only issue visas to visit the richest, most artificial "showcase" parts of the country, like Geumgangsan, Kaesong, and Pyongyang, and even then, it is nearly impossible to WORK in North Korea. If, theoretically, you managed to land a job there (a few people have managed to teach English there), it would be a bourgeoisie job like English teacher or scientist, not a proletarian job.

[gnodgnol]

Thanks Rooster and janeal. I've been to Cuba. I found the people a little delusional. They seemed to think that capitalism was the way forward, mistakingly buying into the fiction that they'd be more free with it. You know, the grass is always greener on the other side of the wall. I also thought about the rural/urban thing, and am not surprised to hear that the countryside is where its at. But now, I'm wondering if maybe I should search near the North Korean border area, that way I can "venture" over from time to time. Can you think of any good options (specifics, if known) in that area?

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

I remain unconvinced that "ventures" to a country neighboring China are wise, much less talking/posting about them openly.

Having said that...

I know one teacher who claimed to have lived at a city on the border, and he said that you could see the smugglers communicating [flashlight signals] all night. There are travel packages for sale [at least, there were in Guangzhou], but as you are, um, likely to not blend with the locals here, that may not be an option. Somewhere in wikipedia/wikitravel a year ago I found information about legally sanctioned travel, and the upshot was that it is best to make arrangements through agencies based in Beijing.

While clearly not communist, have you thought about visiting countries famous for taking care of themselves in a positive way, namely Bhutan? Perhaps something like Peace Corps going into areas that have to have communal arrangements just for survival? The good news is that you have traveled to Cuba and seen it, but I think/fear you will be greatly disillusioned by coming to this country for the express reason of seeing communism in a pure state. In all seriousness, have you lived on something communal, such as a food coop dorm, starving artists' colony, etc.? Did you like it? There were rumors of numerous yogic communes in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I didn't meet many who lived in them, and none of them were happy. A zen farm[Green Gulch ?] in the area did well, but had its detractors as well. Perhaps trying something possibly closer to home may be a good way to find out if it's what you really want, while giving you more time to practice language skills [I am not entirely convinced that if you move to a truly poor part of this country that they will speak Mandarin; I think the local dialect will be the way to survive, and good luck preparing yourself for that, but at least you can work on reading characters in terms of directions, paperwork, etc.]

[Miles Smiles]

And while you experience the joy of communism, be sure to visit the glorious "socialist countryside".

selims selim

[Greg 09]

[gnodgnol]

Thanks xiaolong, for the thoughtful reply.

Greg, what exactly are you contributing to this thread?