Growing up poor in China and what does it do to you

[@MichaelZhuang]

When I was a little kid, my parents gave me colored boiled egg for my birthday as well. I was delighted I didn't feel sad at all.

[@happyhappy6735]

Indeed. It is Chinese customs for kids to have red coloured boiled eggs on their birthdays! Rich people and poor people in China all do that!

[@faustinuskaryadi6610]

@@happyhappy6735 Yes, even Oversea Chinese in South East Asia like my family still do that regardless poor or rich

[@tommysong8463]

I growth up in an up scale family. I remember my neighbor used to live on 10RMB per month, and they have four kids. The second son often sneak into our house and steal my pocket money and even food. My father always turn a blind eye and pretend nothing happen. As a kid then, I am very angry. But now I understand, the kids next door is just really hungry.

[@michelearthur]

Don't forget the age difference between Gweilo and Serpentza. This gap can cause difference perspective. Even Chinese people from two generations have completely opinions on some basic stuffs. Also the wives. Gweilo's wife came from what he called poor family, which was an average Chinese family in that period time in my mind. So Gweilo knows the huge change happened to average Chinese people. He can understand and appreciate what China is. Serpentza will also claim he knows everything. But Gweilo experienced it "himself" through his wife and her family. Serpentza has a born superiority as caucasians that he can't hide all the times. Remember his attitude towards the luxury cars he constantly sees on Shenzhen's streets. It is pure anger and sour. This kind of attitude is common among western world. Even though envy is human nature, but as a Chinese, I am kind of enjoy to see that kind of bitterness from foreigners. Gweilo has done much better. His attitude toward his friend's Porsche was positive and healthy. He didn't forget mention how she can afford it and how she sacrifice for the family. He kept mention how Chinese people working hard to achieve these and they deserve it. I watch both channels and appreciate both efforts to show the world what real China is from different perspectives. As you two, my feeling is that: Gweilo can become a "real" Chinese someday, Serpentza will be a "foreigner" for a very long time. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing bad to be a foreigner for ever. It only show the viewers what you really are and your ability/motivation to adapt the new environments.

[@Numira]

I deeply think serpentza had not a beautiful childhood or somthing happened during his childhood. I mean he does not have a good opinion about his homecountry and for goodreason. Southafrica is no easy place for white farmers and dangerous too, rly dangerous now they are planning a apartheid on the whites. Other topic. He does not like the young people in shenzhen who brag about how much money they have, drive a luxurious car and treat other people with less money like thrash and call them lazy when they themselfs never had done anything. They got all their money from their allready rich parents (maybe with luck, maybe selfmade, whatever) and claim it as their own achievement. He even sais he does not like these types in generel if it it a spoiled brat in china or in the usa.... I rly have mixed opinions on serpentza, laoway thats why i watch other small channels but i rly do realize that a lot of haters dont understand the message what they say. I dont know if they dont want to or they dont understand the language enough or if they are nitpicking. They did not brag about the freedrinks they said it a nice benefit and also a nice gesture from chinese. Dont matter if they want caucasian bonus or simply beeing nice but even then, they also explained in enough videos that beeing caucasian is token that can be used.

[@xieli8152]

nice comment.

[@raydateline]

Eric Cartman r

[@raydateline]

Eric Cartman pl

[@上古野人]

Eric Cartman Exactly. And as an Chinese, I love both channels, cause they said what they thought.

[@0t726]

You have a good heart to tell the story rather than criticising every thing in China from the perspective of the West. Proverty is the main problem of China over the past 100 years.

[@olo8448]

ck tsim then have you ever thought about why China was in poverty over the past 100 years until very recently.

[@0t726]

Jane Ren Of course, it would be a long story to talk about it, and it will be subject to a lot of endless arguments. Just we know, and if you know, that is OK.

[@longyunlyd]

Jane Ren it all started from around 1840. Of course poverty is relative tho.

[@0t726]

purger Yes. You get it！ One of the events of that long story is the 「Loss a lot of Silver」.

[@danieltan4284]

this sounds so sad now but it actually reminds my youth time when we had similar life and way of life, it is so vivid. my mom buys me a chicken drumstick every month when she getw salary, my parents won't eat but watching me eat it, as the monthly treat. this country, like it or not, is progressing and improving lives, I am proud of it

[@namelesswarrior4760]

There is nothing to be ashamed of being poor! It's not by choice! In fact it will make you more appreciative of the things you have in life!

[@tengkp]

My parents were poor and they told me these stories too. It's good to share them so that we could reflect back and be grateful how fortunate we are today.

[@snakesmartunderstanding7231]

You had a great idea to do these videos as an older person. I like Serpentza's videos also but you bring a realistic calm and down to earth perspective to them. As an older person, I hope to see more of your videos.

[@pegefounder]

I am from Austria. Until 1968, my parents lived in Vienna in an old house, 50 m² apartment, no water, no toilet, for the whole flour only one public toilet and 2 water pipes. 1968 we moved in a new apartment, 75 m², hot water and heating with gas, but an extreme bad construction without thermal insulation.

[@beecoz7494]

Growing up a little poor is good. It will humble you and makes you see the real world. Materialistic world is useless.

[@thechameleon2636]

Bee Coz *Great. It’s awesome that to be able to buy whatever you want!

[@spicyroads]

Yeah people in the ghetto don’t care about name brand clothes, things, or cars

[@tonyxu7808]

You do see a different world than a rich. It is good but also bad. Standing on the lower ground limits you a lot. It's not about education.

[@nwsoulman]

I think growing u p a little poor is not a bad thing... but far not to be good. Start with a poor life seriously limited the capability to face challenges.

[@happyhappy6735]

AGREE!

[@jimmetan7031]

Hi Gweilo 60, as regarding the red egg your wife got for her birthday from her mother is a trivial matter. I am a 73 years young man now and many years more than you, young man. I do not remember getting anything for my birthday when I was young. OMG, Gweili 60, you are an angel for helping your father-in-law and your brother-in-law so very very much. I feel very sad when you narrated how your wife had lived during her younger days. I am glad China is so much better now. Thank you for your video. bye

[@micahaugust372]

Much much better... I mean it.

[@hsunny5043]

It is very kind of you to help your Chinese relatives.

[@_cherly5097]

My mom was born in a rural place too. Didn't have so much money but not so hard because they eat stuff from the field but not so much resources. Things got better after she got to the university or graduated from it. Until now our family has millions real estates in Beijing and other cities, paying me to study in the US while our family still saving any water from the washing machine, any water from the sink when washing hands, don't take taxi, compare the prices for anything, and so on you name it. I think it's not so uncommon for last generations unless you were from the top back in the days. I think it's pretty good if not over do it. I still feel pretty good when saving the water.

[@_cherly5097]

Oh just checked it. By millions I meant worth millions not millions of number of it. That will be insane(but good you know lol).

[@_cherly5097]

+_ Cherly While US is wasting too much. They waste everything more than anything else except the food on your plate. They advertise themselves as concerning people to the poor only by eating all the food on their own plate while throwing stuff that's still eatable to many people in the kitchen. I think this applies to many things in the US.

[@_cherly5097]

+_ Cherly more than anyone else* on their plates*

[@alfredchen4579]

lol this English.....

[@_cherly5097]

I'm not ashamed. It's just one stage in history.

[@wenshen3166]

Sometimes living through hardship will leave a vivid memory for the rest of you life. The most enduring memory is how your parent take good care of you while in poverty with their whole heart. You always remember the bitter sweet moment. The best noodle I have was a simple plain noodle soup that I have during a code winter while waiting for train to come home. My father bought me the noodle soup but he just stand there and watch me to eat. He just resisted the hungry and tried to save the money.

[@lepolhart9623]

I feel so sorry for what the Chinese people of that era had to go through. You can understand why they are very frugal when life was that hard not too long ago.

[@WanneSomeSoup]

My parents are just like, collecting everything, keeping buckets in the toilet. My family is considered as "middle class" in China. My grandparents, both side, are very well educated and were engineers and high school teachers. But still, when my parents were young, the living standard was extremely low. My mom told me that when she was a child, the whole family could only afford one mooncake for the mid-autumn festival and they sliced into pieces so everyone could get a bite. That's just how poor China was, rich or poor, not that different.

[@codetan861]

刘琦宇 everyone is equal, same poor, at that time. so we understand, a poor country has only poor. getting out of poor is the thing to do. Democracy? not edible.

[@ziyuma9080]

Hi Gweilo 60, thanks for your video. The story you told about your wife is very similar to the experience of my parents when they were kids. They told me many stories about their poor childhood and how rare they can have meat and eggs... Though we are richer now and I even got the opportunity to study abroad, I never forgot the things they experienced. Indeed, we are the lucky generation compare with our parents.

[@谭蜜丝]

thanks for understanding.

[@robertbessler5513]

Thank you for sharing this real look at life... it is refreshing to see and be able talk about real challenges facing people today in all societues around the world.

[@Kylo_Ren_2033]

My family was also poor when I was poor. But things changed a lot now.

[@Laggie74]

My parents grew up in that era. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. Sometimes I yell at my Mom for being too cheap, but I do realize and appreciate what she has gone through. And I'm very glad she's able to enjoy her life in her golden years.

[@hopscada]

When I first came to the US for graduate school from China, I live in extreme poverty. On a three day gray hound bus trip, I only had two fast food meals. Four Chinese students shared a two bedroom apt and slept on mattresses we picked up from the dumps, We tried not to turn on the heat in the winter so mold grew on the wall. We biked to different supermarkets to get the cheapest chicken legs, I ate so much chicken those years and chicken tasted like chicken shit eventually. My living standard was far lower compared to When I lived in China, That was over 30 years ago and is still having an impact on me today, good or bad.

[@robertprovenzano4382]

I have to tell you my friend, my girlfriends parents grew up very wealthy - only to lose everything during the cultural revolution. Despite this, they both rose to rather powerful positions - over time. My girlfriend started out poor - 14 people living in an apartment with their grandmother until she was 10, to her and her brother moved to living with their parents, a Nanny, Driver, Secretary, etc from 10 until she emigrated to Canada at 35. Since then she still lives as if she was a child in China. I can see my breath inside her apartment here in the winter - because it costs money to heat it. She won't enjoy life because she may need money when she retires. And anything she doesn't absolutely need to spend goes into savings. That strikes me as ironic considering she had it pretty good from 10 on. The other irony is that her parents have been retired for 30 years - and still have a Driver, Secretary, Nanny, and live in a compound with armed guards, and want to give her all the money they can - but she won't accept any of it. So there may really be something about growing up poor - especially at a young age.

[@MegaSuehan]

I love your videos, always focusing on the positive.

[@CamelToesHunter]

Ha-ha! :) On the spur of this very moment, I just like to say this anyway without the intention to. You said, "You don't get no food..." that is wrong, grammatically speaking. It should be "You don't get any food." I don't mean to be critical of your English grammar; but honestly, I am not very good either at Grammar myself. However, I like you very much because I am sure you are a great Canadian man! You have been saying everything like it is, which I deeply appreciate. You have been informing me about China and Chinese people and whatnot, and I am learning a lot from you. :) Thanks a million!

[@delinyang3842]

Thanks for sharing. it is a very realistic story. I respect for you. Thanks for understanding the different cultures and the impact of the poor situation. Even I born in the 90s but I still deeply feel that impact and went through from that before. So I can understand now some friends even they own like a huge huge farm in Vancouver island but they still trying to save every penny.

[@albertkam6785]

You are a Gweilo with humanity

[@vandamme6379]

luke skywalker Old Jedi!😁

[@mocyfei5531]

Just like to share some horrible memory to young people. Try 24 lb rice a month, a family half lb sugar, egg, meat no matter how many siberings. Some Women without work sale their blood to hosital for a little money. I learnt they drunk salty water to thin the blood before go to hospital. One day, my neighbor a worker husband and father of two passed out because of hungry, I heard his head hit the floor, fortunately, old house with wood board floor. In order to keep all family members alive, we each have two cups of steamed rice a day for lunch and supper. However, many times, we could not keep one for supper. Then my parents pawned or sold anything available for food. They both were dangerously weak they ate less than kids. Their body swelled, one push on skin could make a recess stay a while. I studied hard because those memories scares me, but now I know whoes body still be reserved is the one should be hold account for the nationwide fermin starved tens of millions to death.

[@CuriousSoulSimpleMind]

I am very sorry to hear the sad stories told by Gweilo about his wife’s poor experience. But I am happy that some of those poor Chinese now can enjoy better living standard. Hopefully more poor Chinese ( but do not get me wrong, I know there are some percentage of rich people and huge wealth inequality in China) can get better life and the Chinese government no matter local or central government should do something more to make people can enjoy “air-conditioned” accommodation ( I mean the home they live everyday)

[@3nien]

I think poverty is not unique to any specific country or race. Gertrude Stein said poverty is poverty is poverty.

[@snkparty1]

This is a story of the old generation. I am above 35 and i do not see any one do this when I grow up. My father grow up in a small village only 280 kilometers away from Shanghai. How long did it take to go from shanghai to that village? More than a whole day in 1980s. He first saw car when he was 15....Only after he entered college did he see apple for the first time. My mother also do not allow my father to use air conditioner even when it is really really hot. He is complaining about this every summer and winter.... Are they poor that they can not afford this? No, not at all. But this is the effect on people if they grow up poor. So if we travel to some where, i usually run ahead of them to some ticket office and buy tickets and tell them a very cheap price. Or buy some food and just tell them these food are cheap.

[@gangshan]

HK young men should live in a poor condition, so they wouldn't destroy other people's effort and hard work. Not good to spoil young men.

[@付宽-x2q]

most Chinese share the similar backgrounds, 30 years ago the overwhelming majority of Chinese population lived in rural areas, and most of these rural areas are very backward by the western standards (imagine that about 20 to 30 years ago, my grand parents and their fellow villager folks had to use manpower waterwheel to channel water into the paddy fields by hiking on the waterwheel under the fiery sun for hours during summer time) . Now more than half of the population live in cities. My grandparents are all peasants, and my parents grew up in the village then went to college and had a job in a 4th-tier city. Though I don't consider myself grew up in a poor family, maybe poor by the western standards, when I was a child there were very few choices in various aspects in life, material or spiritual. Snacks were cheap but we can only afford if we buy every a few days, and every time my mom bought me a snack it was like a treat. The first TV of my family is monochrome and I still remember it because we still used it until mid 1990s then we switched to a colored TV. Gaming console was out of consideration, my first console is a cheap copy-cat Chinese version of nintendo FC and we didn't bought it, it was given to me as a gift from a richer relative. I didn't know much about video game and computer or much about the world outside that small city until I went to university. It was a very ordinary, seemingly boring, plain, silent life in a small, ordinary, backwater Chinese city when I was a child, but most of my happy memories are from those times. It is a complicated question that what makes a happy life, and and I bet most of the richer ones don't know better than me about it.

[@kongchai2525]

Gweilo 60 at least you understand the hardship of being poor.

[@lawsonconnell]

Hard to believe this but up to the mid 1960s and early 70s in Scotland, UK a great many people lived in slums and tenements, the living room was the kitchen and the toilet was at the basement and served 8 families. It was not until the storms of 1967 that the council started to make changes. Rel terrible poverty.

[@lawsonconnell]

Hoots mon, Doon roond the Broon's with Our William, yeh ken?

[@sammil5478]

Just saw serpentza commenting below. I watched serpentza, laowhy86, and gweilo's videos, but I prefer Gewilo's even though the other two do better job on editing. I think Gweilo is more informative and seems more genuine. I feel like serpentza and laowhy86 can only see what's going on in Guangdong and many of the content (for good or bad) can't really represent the entire country. I often feel I am being represented wrongly. Gweilo is older and has more life experience, that's why his content can show more deeper analysis and critical thinking. If you want to see light-hearted content, you can go to where's poppy. I like her content too.

[@wzzw7463]

I agree with you Sammi, i had watched Serpentza, laowhy86, and gweilo videos too and same here I prefer Gewilo's videos.

[@deanlee3537]

May parents, and my wife's parents do the same in terms of saving money. They generation have gone through some very struggling life we can never imagine.

[@monadi1000]

You exploring mostly only at Naning city....but the stories and the videos never end

[@messiahking1710]

Gweilo 60 keep it up！My heart is with you！Nice Talkshow！😄

[@pchu2904]

Growing up poor in anywhere is a blessing in the skies!

[@qiujumo8511]

You get the point of this topic, which reminds me of my childhood which was also poor and miserable. I am living a much better life than I was before, and I am sla way amazed by how much our lives have been improved during all of these years

[@明天吃鱼]

I remember my parents had told me that they used to be hungry at 1990s when they went to the city from village，because they were poor.but now though they have their own car,house,anythings else.They also save all the water we used now.thanks for your video.it has touched me

[@peace4future865]

In term of waiting for sale when shopping, my wife is the same. It drives me crazy especially because I am the one who cooks in the house. BTW, it is nice to see your wife at the end of the video. You two looks very happy together. Enjoy your time in Nanning, a city I once visited two decades ago.

[@dontaskwhat]

Thanks for sharing the genuine aspects of living in China

[@blublubaozi7680]

My parents grew up poor, they were born in china in 1970s. My grand parents lived in countries, work as farmer, raised 3 to 4 kids. My mom's university tuition fees was raised by her aunts and uncles.

[@freddyjoe8561]

Poverty is bitter wherever it is and everyone knows that it exists all over the world. What makes it so harsh in China is that there was a revolution which was supposed to give birth to a new kind of society where everyone was equal and no one would be hungry. This is a good video which highlights the frugality of people who have to economise.

[@KarinForEver]

Your wife's story melted my heart. Being minimalistically frugal is actually good for the environment, people like Al Gore should take notice.

[@四川老罗]

改革开放一直到1990年代，中国才用“消费刺激生产”的模式替代了“生产然后消费”的经济模式，进入千禧年，中国加入世贸组织之后经济才开始真正腾飞。所以说，1990年代之前出生的大部分中国人以及一些2000年之前出生的中国人的童年都是在“贫穷”中度过的。2000年到现在才19年而已，中国就即将消除绝对贫困了。回顾历史，我不禁赞叹中国的经济发展是个真正的奇迹。

[@charlescao4337]

I respect you that you respect your wife loving her family.

[@Georgesnon-stop]

That was a touching video... My wife grand father was sent to reeducation 3 times, her grand father uncle did the long march ended up punished for former commitment in nationalist army, her father was a red guard (or I kind of figured out).

[@davidcadman4468]

Worse than growing up on rationing in England, then being translated (immigration) to Canada and living the rationing mentality in amongst the plenty. Feel for her, growing up that way, but it is what it is and she is who she is because of it. A lovely person.

[@rickmao1407]

Like your video. Made from an understanding perspective rather than criticism one.

[@jasperruu9269]

Being born in mid-80s, I had some taste of the very frugal life before my family's economic situation improved significantly during late 90s and early 2000. I guess that still had some effect on me as I have the urge to be really cheap from time to time.

[@sophiazhu8656]

Wish you all good luck in china. You are a friend to Chinese. When me and my family come back to china, we want to get to know you in person if you are ok with it. My husband is white Australian.

[@kezeng296]

You are a kind person.

[@vina5777]

Appreciate your attitude towards our history of poor. Only people like you can understand the efforts we have put to change the situation. Blaming China for not being as advanced as western countries is not going to help us at all. Only hard works can make it happen. And those people who blame Chinese for working hard are even worse.

[@thatkoalabear]

Great video. Growing up poor definitely teaches one to spend money frugally. I used to receive only $2 a day for school back when I was 11 years old.

[@pantserrupsvoertuig]

Great video! I recognize your story very much. My mother in law who lives in China has the same mentality. Very caring about recycling and not using any heating nor airconditioning. Maybe they used to be neighbors, who knows hahahaha. But as I got to know my mother in law and how many (poor) people live in China, it was in fact an eye-opener for me. It should be an eye-opener for more people in this world. We are all so used to have all that luxury around us and throwing stuff away. Allthough heating and airconditioning is needed. It just isn't healthy to let your body melt to the couch because it's warm as hell as it can be in China during the summer.

[@hermosbird6335]

His wife sounds exactly like my parents. Well my parents is like 10 years younger, but they still save every penny! I remember when I was living with them, our bathroom has two barrels there for toilet flushing. But back to that time, they had earned lots of money and had a saving at the bank. I had been curious for a long time until five years ago, they supported me to study aboard. And guess what. I started working this year and have been saving 1k dollars every month. Chinese always learn from their parents.

[@johnwang191]

Love your video.. keep up the good work... proud of you.

[@MsDQL]

i`ve seen a lot video about china.but now from a people who live in my hometown..so funny to see Nanning in your video. thanks a lot

[@zhe8586]

My mom is like that. And my grandparents are even more so. Those two generations of Chinese lived through hardships. Lives now are wayyy better but that ‘life or death’ kinda mentality baked into their mind.

[@bruceb3525]

If the foreigner is tight with his money he best not marry a Chinese lady. My wife is frugal for herself but when it comes to helping family in China she's not, and I'm ok with that. My Chinese family is awesome and we will do anything to make their life better.

[@josephmoy2961]

Your wife grew up poor, so did Dolly Parton. Dolly described in her biography that her family was "dirt poor". Her father paid the doctor who deliver her with a bag of cornmeal. She outlined her family's poverty in her song "Coat of many Colors"......"Although we had no money, I was rich as I could be, in my coat of many colors my Mamma made for me." I hope Wai Fong felt the same when her mom gave her a red egg for her birthday .

[@Jerry-gt7kx]

Another fact is the difference in pension plan and social security. In Canada so many things get waived and free welfare for low income households, but in china people get nothing especially the ones' without an urban Hukou, people have to worry about their living in serious ways. A large amount of people experienced starving in 70s and 80s that time in china

[@yliang1688]

enjoyed your humble story in China.

[@g-alicecheng1287]

Older generations have seen real deprivation, so they practice frugality and economy, which are not bad if they don't carry it to extremes. Children born in the 1990s and after are blessed in a sense, and the Chinese media has noticed that in general they are much more confident about the country and the future.

[@abc6312]

You are a really nice person to accept your wife family

[@zl7113]

Welcome to Nanning, my hometown. Hope you and your family have a good time there. Also, I am interested in your videos and your ideas. I am studying in University of Calgary now. I can provide some idea from other aspect(young generation view) if you want. Good video, keep it up!

[@Gweilo60]

One of my best friends lives in Calgary. He is Chinese also.

[@zl7113]

Gweilo 60 Wow, world is small somehow

[@chfgbp6098]

Do one on social mobility please. That s the most important indicator for the sustainability and health of a society IMHO.

[@ecrush5080]

As indonesian (chinese descent) your story is similar with what my grandad told me, It's a sad and encouraging at the same time... a heartfelt story if i may say. i do believe that we should enjoying our life to the (near :p) fullest, but not to overdoing it :D (especially in financial term).

[@Gweilo60]

Ecrush I appreciate this comment

[@yvettecowley873]

Gweilo can u speak chinese??? You r such a nice person. That reminds me of scottish people. Wish you long life and thank you for your videos

[@sunbin64]

I have a Chinese wife who grew up in similar circumstances. You can take the girl out of poverty but you can't take poverty out of the girl. I respect her frugality and bargaining skills but sometimes the mindset and family (I got all her siblings out of China) can get old. You understand. I'm sure.

[@birdbirdbird1565]

From a little poor village to a 2nd tier city, this is where you put your investment absolutely

[@sstchan924]

When a country has a huge population and limited arable land you learn to adjust you life style, living frugally, reuse things that can be re-used, save for the rainy days and try hard to improve your environment and you self if you were a Chinese. The Chinese are inextricably attached to their ancestral land no matter how unattractive it is. The Chinese saying that “ A tree may be thousand foot tall, it’s leaves always fall back to its roots” is as true now as in the past. For non-Chinese, where you were born is just a happenstance. The Europeans see some places better they move there by emigration or by force. Westerners think ecological conservation is their new idea but China has practiced ecology for thousands of year. Take bamboo for example, it can be eaten. weaved into containers, wrappers for food, shaped into water bottles, bamboo rafts for rivers, and recently floor boards and clothings. On top of these uses, it is also biodegradable. This the basic mindset of the Chinese people. By remembering the past it gives the Chinese a clear vision and direction for the future.

[@theaaronzhu]

4:55 lol that guy cared more about you rather than his vehicle. I guess he wouldn't even notice if someone stole his vehicle at that time

[@mickytruelove]

that motorbike has a reverse gear? at 8:05

[@tigerlee9613]

The term "cheap" is quite harsh. With what little they had, I believe the correct term should be "resourceful".

[@chaunceyliang1938]

Any country has its rich side and poor side,including America.

[@shirely9281]

Yes, a lot of us growing up like what you described in the video. I had to learn to spend money when I grew up. And we just didn't have boyfriends or girlfriends in school. It's not just your wife.

[@Numira]

Can pls anyone explain me why in china they still use pitlatrines/privys insted of modern toilett seats? I cant get it into my head, there is simply no reason too. its like still using a typewriter insted of a computer or using flintstones insted of a lighter. It has only disadvantages and no advantages and on top it looks cheap. I cant see any way in let a pitlatrine look good. It is crazy that even in hotels they have these....

[@patriciahowellcassity767]

I have known many people who grew poor. Often they will have great deterioration to get out of poor, creating own business. But even after having money, still worry. That's here in USA.

[@foxfox596]

Patricia Howell Cassity ur poverty standard is so far away from China. In USA, if u cannot afford a first class ticket to Paris, u are poor, but u sill go to Bar everyday. Here we have problem to got food. In the past it is about live o die: we manage to survive, u lead a life. That is the difference

[@skj7248]

Absolutely True . Same here as well

[@zhemin]

Too frugal with your money is actually really bad, and is counter productive on becoming wealthy, or just well off. You have to pick your savings, (work out savings per minute of time spent, or if you detrimental to your health etc) For example, if your saving the 3 buckets of waste water form the washing machine, and only save a few RMB a month, is it worth the time you spent (which would otherwise be spent to earn more money) or if it is bad for your health. Hey I can eat top ramen all day and every day, and save myself a tone. But I probably lose 20 years of my life and have to pay shit tones of medical bills.

[@xuterryhuang8394]

In most city of China we don’t use squat toilet now, why you still using it? I know Nanning is a big city and the capital city of Guangxi province as well.

[@knoore]

Thanks for the people’s perspective - the Chinese people have come a long way - May the Heavens rejoice- it’s every ones success

[@文强刘]

which city do you live? weifang?

[@Gweilo60]

Nanning, Guangxi Province

[@youmonxintl]

Being reasonabilly frugal is not a bad thing!

[@jameszang701]

The standards of poverty from IMF and China are drastically different. So the poverty population difference is like dozens of millions. Guang-xi Province is one of the poorest in China even though there are some rich people there...

[@amubi]

Felt guilty not saving water ourself after your story of saving up 3 buckets of water after every wash from washing machine. We take for granted after our society progressed? Thanks.

[@JennyMan2012]

The red egg birthday gift is not really too sad.. I got egg when I was growing up in Hong Kong. Everything you mentioned about life in China was similar in days when Hong Kong was not for her wealth. I did everything you wife did. Please let her know she is perfectly OK and she should be proud of it.

[@Gweilo60]

I've heard this twice now from viewers since this video came out. I thought it was sad as kids in the west get so much (most not all) and to hear my wife had to settle for a coloured egg for her birthday when she was a little girl gave me insight about her childhood.

[@andrewxu4165]

You are a great guy!

[@leonryou9546]

Yeah, true. And this will affect every aspects of life, even for choosing spouse.

[@micahaugust372]

My family (in Mainland China) was not that poor... At least we had TV in the early 1980s and AC in the early 1990s. For sure, private bathroom and kitchen...

[@ghmassagespa]

thanks ,great work

[@lawrencelawrence3920]

The egg as a present must be not uncommon at that time because my friend in Beijing has a similar story.

[@Gweilo60]

Thanks for telling me this. I thought it was a one off thing.

[@C橘子-s5r]

@@Gweilo60 My aunt is 70 years old. She got an egg as a present when she was 10 years old or something. She ate it everything without took away the shell. Because she doesn't know that she should take it away.

[@computersupport9612]

China came a long way, i am so happy with the china is today and tomorrow.

[@zilongzhao3274]

My father told me that when he was a kid, his dream is just to eat eggs everyday, what a change in China.

[@mr523592891]

Im a Chinese just immigrate to Toronto. For somehow I really can't understand you. I live in Shanghai, my apartment there is costs around 280 million CAD，with that even half price, I can purchase a nice house in toronto. My car in Shanghai which I paid 200k CAD for that, in Canada it's only half the price for a same with fully loaded options. I don't need to mention the better environment, food safety/quality and "federal Society". China now is good for business, but life in Canada is more simple and harmony. You said you are already retired, but why made you to do such a choice? May I kindly ask?

[@sfbluestar]

When I was a kid, my house had no internet signal!

[@limark8147]

it's real. i appreciate you do this veido.