My Friends in China

My feet were tired from the long, tough journey to Suzhou yesterday, so I stayed in. I did go to Starbucks to hang out with my friend, and the little one. I wish I spoke some Chinese, it would be great to know what he thinks about the world. Our talks are rudimentary and include a lot of sign language. I was befriended by a cargo ship captain yesterday, while waiting for the train back to Shanghai. He spoke a little English. I asked him, "what are people concerned about in China, what do you worry about." I had asked the same thing to the Grandfather last week. Neither one understood the question or didn't really have an answer for me. I wonder if they discuss things like politics or the economy. Maybe they don't waste energy on things they can't change, or maybe it's because I am a foreigner and they are being polite. It seems to me that the older men here are the most engaging. On more then one occasion I'll be sitting on a park bench, writing or drawing something, and the older men will come up and playfully look over my shoulder. I tried to talk to the young man next to me on the train yesterday, and he wanted nothing to do with me. Oh well, his loss, Grandpa likes me.