2009 is nearly gone, 2010 is at the door and we are in the midst of the crazy holiday period.
Time to wish our friends and readers of the this blog Happy Holidays and a Great 2010. Pity the people who were supposed to read here are not and vice versa.

The year 2009 will leave a mixed legacy. After the hoopla around 2008 with the Beijing Olympics, I thought this year would be a bit more quiet, giving me time to work on my book. The initial target was to finish the draft this month. Well, it did not work out that way. I did amass an unexpected amount of data and input but the writing was boycotted by new and unexpected business, stress, disappointments and even frustration.
Some of my friends say, well, work less, look for counseling. Right, if it were that easy.
One has to make a living. Being on TV and in the media every month, even DVD being sold about me does not bring in the money to afford my extravagant life of karaoke, massage, partying and dining. And there is something called “retirement” one has to plan for.
Personal issues are nice themes for conversation but can be tough to handle.
Some people, blinded by myopic views still look at me with suspicion, as I am associated with that regime called the PRC. Worse, I was part of that “military parade” on 1 October. And of course on CCTV, BTV etc. Can’t do much about that. Too bad for those.
Certainly there were some good sides of 2009.
First of all, I decided to really concentrate on improving my (poor) Chinese. I just finished lesson 89 out of 90 – so my target of finishing the 90 lessons from February to December will achieved, thanks to the excellent service of VIPMandarin (and his great teachers). Next year, way to go to improve my level.
While I did not write that much for my book, I did get a clearer picture of how to structure the book and got impressive data. At the same time I realize how complex Chinese contemporary society is. It remains a passionate subject.
Valerie has now an exciting new job and has being doing well too in her financial studies and exams.
The Rotary Club of Beijing has kept me (too) busy. I decided to abandon my job as webmaster, for a variety of reasons. We will see how I can cope – or not – as being the incoming President.
China continues to make us excited, confident. But also upsets us here by the darker side of this country growing – in barely 30 years – from a backwards communist country into a developed country that I define rather as a “authoritarian capitalist country with Chinese characteristics”. Now people talk about the new “G2”, being the USA and China. A bit premature, maybe, but China cannot be put aside anymore. It has emerged as a world power but still often fails to take up its role a s responsible international power, and one can think of the word “arrogance” at times.
Yes, many ‘foreigners” don’t understand the country and blindly criticize. But China does face a growing challenge with the underlying corruption, income disparity, the new rich, pollution, ageing population, etc.
Better governance is needed and the increasing clampdowns on the Internet and media seem like a losing battle to rein in complains from the population. Some bureaucrats don’t get it and try to shut down any controversy, neglecting the well-being of its own citizens.
A lot has been written these days about the environment. A fact is, Beijing has now 4 million vehicles, growing at 10,000 a week. Despite all the propaganda, pollution remains BAD. Fortunately the building of new metro lines goes on unabated. I still refuse to have a car and drive.
I am not an optimist for the world economy. That will have its impact on China. But the government, while attacking other countries like USA and EU continues to erect trade barriers and makes market access difficult for foreign companies. Chinese companies go abroad and do projects and investments that would never be possible in China. That’s unfair and one day China will have a backlash. African and Asian countries start grumbling. It’s not going to get better.
So, we will try to forget the minus points and concentrate on the plus. Like eating and drinking a lot. And trying to figure out how we can do things better next year.

Unhappy? Stressed? Have a good drink and a wild Christmas!
Cheers!