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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-06-04, Page 17• Entertainment ® Features • Religion • Family • More The wonders of China explored Goderich globetrotters span the world on nine-month adventure BY MIKE FERGUSON The Goderich globetrotting pair of Harold Kloeze and Linda Hoffmeyer have just returned from a nine month excursion span- ning the world. �� Labelling it an "incredible adventure, Kloeze and Hoffmeyer's destinations includ- ed Europe, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and China. Kloeze, a veterinarian, and Hoffmeyer, a , nurse, both planned the trip well in advance and were aware of the places they wanted to visit. They relay some interesting thoughts and perceptions about their trip, especially to China, the communist giant of one billion people. The trend to Westernization is- very ap- parent in the larger cities, says Kloeze, with pockets of free enterprise. Many mile long "farmer's markets" exist selling a huge variety of fruits and vegetables. "The amount of consumerism really sur- prised us," offers Kloeze, adding he saw stores with a large number of television sets. In fact, all the stores were "well - stocked", not something they expected originally after seeing the usual , news reports of line-ups in communist countries. The main streets of China were teeming with people, often making it "impossible to walk down them." A small city in China has a population of one million, so "there's not a large area for shopping," says Kloeze. In addition, the word "unemployment" isn't in the Chinese vocabulary, as the government staggers thework day. For ex- ample, Kloeze says many workers have Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off, creating unusual shopping circumstances. "It's a Christmas shopping frenzy every day," says Hoffmeyer. Bicycles rule the road as there are very few cars, says Kloeze, with some people even carting small washing machines on their backs. Travelling mostly by train in China, the Goderich residents stopped over in hotels which are classified in three ways; one for Westerners, overseas Chinese. (like Thailand, and Indonesia), ' and native Chinese. Expensive by Asian standards, China can be seen on about $35 a day. They stayed in the larger hotels in the major cities, ensur- ing a higher quality of accommodation. Also, the price structure of rooms vary widely from city to city. "Even in the same hotels, the same room will have a different price depending on who wants it," reveals Kloeze, adding a Westerner can expect to, pay up to 70 percent moreefor a room than a Chinese citizen. There is absolutely no /comparison to Canada when it comes to the service in- dustry, says Kloeze. "Often we had to fight to get a room," says Hoffmeyer. "They say it's full when it's not." Particularly in the government - 'owned hotels, the employee's job is guaranteed, so "they don't care if you stay' or not. We stood for an hour at one place waiting to get in." Retail stores are another problem. "Get- , ting a box for a gift is a major ordeal," in- dicates Hoffmeyer. Childrenin countryside outside of Xian "There is a tremendous contrast between that and the people on the street," says Hoff- meyer. "They're so friendly and outgoing. Every day someone will come up to you and ask how you're doing:" Many Chinese. are also learning English and want someone to practice on, she adds. _ The drinking water problems of some communities in Southwestern Ontario . are well-known. Kloeze says it is common prac- tice now for the Chinese to boil their water before drinking it, so "it's not a real problem." "The food was great," says Hoffmeyer, adding the fresh fruits and vegetables from the street markets were very tasty. China's massive population has gained in- creased attention from the government. The one -child family is now practically con- sidered law.. "It's very rare to see two children with their parents," says Hoffmeyer. If a couple has One child, the education of the offspring is free, and the parents are eligible for bet- ter promotions as well. "Couples with more than one child have questionable political status at work. They are looked at as people who are unwilling to comply with the government," Hoffmeyer adds. Turn to page 2 • Longmen Grattos in Luoyang POSTSCRIPT Susan Hundertmark Chinese Family posing at Longmen Grattos oot of 70 in tall Great Buddha in Leshua Young are the cutting edge of change It's very rare, says feminist Gloria Steinem, to find a young woman who's in- terested in working towards equality bet- ween the sexes. That's because most young women are still young enough to believe they're in- vinsible. And, because they're still naive enough to believe that maintaining their beauty is more important than doing their math homework, many young women still buy the fairy tale that their beauty will snare them a Prince Charm- ing who'll take care of them for the rest of their lives. You won't find them among the divorce, battered wife, rape, po v city or unemployment statistics. That stuff hap- pens to other women! . Ah, youth! The time for fairy tales! But, these days, there's a hopeful, even happy ending. More and more women, when they begin to experience discrimination, have begun to fight back. Age and experience radicalizes women and the end result is often a group of sad- der but wiser and stronger feminists. So, as Steinem says, the move towards greater equality for women is made possible, not by high school or even university women but by mature women who've grown stronger with each life experience. However, over the weekend, I met a group of' young women who .proved to me once again that there is ark. exception to every rule. A handful of 17 -year-old women in Exeter organized a conference for young women throughout the county called "Pulling Our Own Strings." Though attendance was disappointing to the organizers, the 30 who attended were challenged and encouraged by speakers and workshops covering topics such as sexuality, assertiveness trainifig, friendship, preparing for employment, pornography, violence against women and women and the law. • The 30 who attended were courageous. They dared to break through the walls of peer pressure •and face reality headmen. The organizers 'braved ostracism from girlfriends who just weren't interested in any alternative life choices than mar- riage and motherhood and from other classmates who called them "bra - burning lesbians." One teacher, I we.% told, even delighted in belittling their work by hanging the poster advertising the conference upside down in his classroom. A fine reward for the young women's hard work and in- itiative. But, I suppose he was doing them a favor by preparing them for sex- ism in the adult world. Sitting in the cafeteria by themselves fur nine months, the organizers hung in there through the cancelling of govern- ment funding during the federal spen- ding freeze, the postponement of the con- ference after one of Huron County's notorious flash snowstorms in March and the reorganizing of the conference at a second date in May. Seasoned organizers have given up for less reason! It becomes more evident why so few young women are feminists. It's hard work! The young women who attended the conference were not concerned with labels. Whether or pot they were feminists by anyone's definition, their main objective was self-analysis and per- sonal growth. ' The conference meant celebrating themselves and their unlimited potential as women. It meant identifying with each other's problems and lending understan- ding and support. It meant questioning the self-imposed and society -imposed limits on their futures. And, it meant for- ming new friendships and meeting with alternative role models from those in Huron County. Pulling Our Own Strings was the first conference organized by and for young women aged 15 to 24 ever in Huron Coun- ty and possibly in Canada. By broadening their perspectives' and preparing theknselves for future challenges, these are the young women who are less likely to wind up among the statistics of women burned by our male - dominated society. That's because they're listening to the facts about reality. They know that only 16 per cent of all Canadian families are comprised of a working husband and a wife that stays at home fulltime with the children. They're aware that many women are only a man away from poverty. They're listening to University of Western Ontario law professor Kathy De Jong and Radio 96 broadcaster Anne Hut- chinson who tell them to shoot high when they decide what they want and then to go after their goals with determination. From both speakers, they're learning they'll have to fight harder to end the ine- quities between men's and women's wages. And, during that fight, they're learning not to lose their sense of humor or their faith in men who are also struggl- ing to achieve the same goals of equality between the sexes. As Kathy De Jong (a graduate of South Huron high school in Exeter) said, these young women are on the cutting edge of social change. $y taking control of their lives, they're living the equality that feminists are fighting for.