Chuck, what's with you???

Your opening reply to Phil is:

"Phil, I'm surprized that after two years in China you were still caught off guard by some of these antics."

After that, you seem to blame PHIL (in rather condescending tones) for the "antics" of other people!?!?! Huh?

He states clearly that he's had previous experience in China, but that this situation near Dongguan was exceptionably bad. I'm able to buy that.

4000RMB for two weeks' worth of 8-hour working days with little or no down time is horrible. That works out to about 35-50RMB per hour. Remember, these summer camps are FOR-PROFIT ventures. Other people are making plenty of yuan off Phil's efforts (and misery).

I LOVE China (mainly because of my wonderful students and friends), and of course, I've find to find my own ways of coping (three years here as of TODAY!), but I can't stand this notion that we (foreigners) should be so forgiving of almost anything that's thrown our way.

In my mind, China seems to want it both ways. They yearn for rapid development, but at the same time, they want to hang to inefficient, unethical, and deceptive business practices. When we question why things are blundered, mismanaged, etc., it's out with the old "China is a developing country" song-and dance! It's just an excuse to sluff off most of the responsibility off on the foreigner who has ventured here often with good will and an open (and vulnerable) heart. (It ain't for the money!)

Chuck, I fear you're falling into what I call the "Kill The Messenger" category of posters.

I choose to believe Phil. I can well imagine that the "managers" at the summer camp would completely fabricate a story of physical abuse in order to justify ridding themselves of someone who was questioning their every decision and next move.

Good luck to you, Phil!