什么叫大若天下?首先,这个题目表达了作者对中国——作者李莎的新祖国的热爱;其次,中国本身拥有一切可以使自己成为让世人赞赏的贵妇的条件。
中国在半个世纪的时间里取得了非凡的成就,她的发展足以令许多国家羡慕。她取得了对贫困、文盲、疾病、儿童高死亡率现象斗争的胜利。如今,她还需要同自然灾害作斗争,解决城市建设、交通、通讯、能源、饮用水和污染等诸多问题,还要发展教育、科学和技术。
对一个用那么短的时间取得了那么大成就的国家,我们当然充满了乐观。如今,这种乐观是很多发达国家可望而不可即的奢侈品。
本书为《大若天下》英文版。
Introduction / 1
The Daily Life of a Foreign Expert / 4
Housing / 4
Transportation / 6
Privileges / 16
Festivities / 19
Feeling a Little Less Foreign / 28
Identity : Lao Wai / 29
Language and Communication / 32
It was Chinese for Me / 32
Communication / 33
Language and Culture / 34
A Wonderful Experience / 36
Pinyin and Translation / 38
Waiyu = English / 38
Cultural Differences / 41
A Question of Mental Attitude / 41
A New Inter-culture / 44
A Few Words on Politeness / 46
In the Same Basket / 51
Adaptation- What Confusion! / 54
Studies and Work / 56
Education / 56
Education : A Market / 61
Study: A Human Right / 64
Employment / 66
China in Motion / 69
Remarkable Changes / 69
Moral Values / 76
Habits on the Decline / 78
New Concepts / 83
The Holiday Economy / 83
Travelling for Pleasure / 84
Merging May Be a Solution / 88
Bank Loans / 89
Insurance / 90
Olympic Spirit / 92
Law / 94
The Lucky Number / 97
The "New-New" Youth / 98
The Internet Presence / 100
Foreign Celebrations / 100
Stress / 101
Considerable Improvements / 103
Hygiene / 105
But... / 106
Around the Country / 108
"Les voyages forment la jeunesse" (Travelling
Educates the Youth) / 108
Travelling without Leaving / 111
Travelling in Yunnan / 112
A Few Days in Ningbo / 115
Visiting Shanxi / 118
Ningxia, Small and Unknown / 121
The Roof of the World/125
Spring Festival in the Countryside / 130
Shaanbei, Another Planet ? / 134
Opening New Eyes on China / 139
The Meaning of the Word "Propaganda" / 139
Falun Gong, What is That? / 145
The Real Problem / 156
Tibetans Outside of Tibet/158
Variety of Chinese Culture/163
Art of Tea / 163
Pearls : Jewels and Medicines / 168
The Marvellous Arts of Paper / 170
Puppets and Statuettes / 175
Embr6idery and Brocade / 179
Cloisonne / 180
Red Clay and Black Clay / 181
Variety and Richness / 183
Conclusion / 185
A Perfect Country? / 185
What Do Foreigners Say? / 187
Way to Improve / 189
Individualism and Personality / 191
Are the Others Perfect? / 192
My Worry for China / 193
My Wish for China / 195