What I find amusing here, if no else has noticed, is that you almost sound like the Chinese monks of old. It sounds like you are bringing their old forgotten philosophy back to them and re-educating them when it was them that educated you, albeit vicariously no doubt.

I dont doubt what you are saying is true. Indeed, having lived in Chinatown in Canada, I really dont see the Chinese any different than Westerners (Im talking about those that just came over from China).

There was this myth started some time ago that Asians are smarter and harder workers. Funny that...as the transistor was invented in America in 1947, the first jet by the Germans, etc, etc. Then you have the myth that they are better students...oh really, as most Nobel prizes have gone to the West ( and most were not Asians in Western labs).

This is not to demean the Chinese but to clarify the point that we are all the same. NO ONE country or race can claim they are better workers or smarter people. Maybe the government is to blame, as they can oppress thought and discourage ideas and free thought.

Maybe it is true that free thought is oppressed in China but the Chinese will change because their economy depends on it. They cant just keep copying things from the West to be economically powerful. Although I bet those $1 bootleg CDs are a great thing to have teaching over there.

I believe you will have to accept that you are just before you time in China. Things will change but you wont change it. So like my experience in the Czech Republic: if you dont like it, pack up and bugger off because there are many more great places to teach.

Best of luck and all