I've been reading some articles recently about Ikea opening some new stores in China. The pictures are coming in of massive crowds both inside and outside the store (see pic above.) This doesn't surprise me at all. I remember the crowd of 20,000 people who showed up at a Costco store opening in Taichung, Taiwan. (you can read my blog entry here: http://kenberglund.blogspot.com/2008/04/costco-opens-in-taichungand-all-hell.html
It seems the Chinese aren't actually buying anything at Ikea, but instead just going there to sleep in the beds (and put their children in cribs to have naps). I mentioned this story to my wife, who replied "What?? I would never sleep in those beds. It's so dirty. You don't know how many different people have been lying in them."
Those are my feelings exactly, and the Chinese never cease to amaze me with their bizarre behavior. Whether it's going completely homicidal apeshit over 10 free eggs at Costco, urinating in public at the Hong Kong Disneyland, or sleeping in beds at furniture stores.
"When we go to Ikea, it feels like we're abroad." said one Chinese shopper at Ikea.
I still don't really understand this total adulation that China and Taiwan have over western culture. Is it the movies and television that have done this to them? Have they watched too many episodes of "Friends" that they think this is what America really is? Is it all the Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock movies?
It's kind of sad to see so much western influence in Asia these days. There was even talk about opening a Starbucks or a McDonalds in the Forbidden City. I'm not sure whether that happened or not, but that's just wrong. Our culture isn't one the Chinese should try to emulate.
I'll probably go back to Taiwan next year, and the last thing I want to see is Taiwan turn into another America. I like all the temples and Buddha statues and duck head stands. If those are gone and replaced with more McDonalds and Costcos and Ikeas, I will be very disappointed.
It seems the Chinese aren't actually buying anything at Ikea, but instead just going there to sleep in the beds (and put their children in cribs to have naps). I mentioned this story to my wife, who replied "What?? I would never sleep in those beds. It's so dirty. You don't know how many different people have been lying in them."
Those are my feelings exactly, and the Chinese never cease to amaze me with their bizarre behavior. Whether it's going completely homicidal apeshit over 10 free eggs at Costco, urinating in public at the Hong Kong Disneyland, or sleeping in beds at furniture stores.
"When we go to Ikea, it feels like we're abroad." said one Chinese shopper at Ikea.
I still don't really understand this total adulation that China and Taiwan have over western culture. Is it the movies and television that have done this to them? Have they watched too many episodes of "Friends" that they think this is what America really is? Is it all the Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock movies?
It's kind of sad to see so much western influence in Asia these days. There was even talk about opening a Starbucks or a McDonalds in the Forbidden City. I'm not sure whether that happened or not, but that's just wrong. Our culture isn't one the Chinese should try to emulate.
I'll probably go back to Taiwan next year, and the last thing I want to see is Taiwan turn into another America. I like all the temples and Buddha statues and duck head stands. If those are gone and replaced with more McDonalds and Costcos and Ikeas, I will be very disappointed.
Have no fear, the wacky Eastern crap is still here.
ReplyDeleteIkea is like Disneyland. It is a maze of exciting and exotic wonders. We have gone to the store here a few times. It is always insanely crowded, yet the check-out lines are always very short. Very few people actually buy anything.
They are building a new Costco in Kaohsiung. I am thinking about going when it opens just to take pictures of the million man march.
There was a Starbucks in the Forbidden City but they closed it after people complained.
I would hope that no one is laying in the beds. Lying in them is much better.
Ken, you have been to Taiwan, and of course, you grew up in America. You should understand very well why the Chinese have such admiration for our culture and lifestyle. Their veneration has to do with the quality of our lives and the clean, wholesome environment we live in as well as the richness of out material lives.
ReplyDeleteIf movies have anything to do with this, it is because they are reading the backdrop of the scenes and stand in awe of space and relatively relaxed convenince we live in. They sense we live in a world of plenty and do not have to strive as hard as they do to get ahead. They see this and aspire to it. Going to Ikea gives them a hands-on taste of this.
Unfortunately, their wish to become a nation with the same quality of life as ours is an impossibility for them because their population is just too large for everyone to get a piece of the action; the wealth is concentrated to a relatively small segment of the population. Even though they are becoming much richer as a country, this prosperity is being enjoyed by the a small portion of the population, i.e., state supported industrialists and entrepeneurs. Party connections go a long way to secure cash needed to begin a start up... mostly in the large, quasi-city states such as Beijing and Shanghai. The rest of the country is slaving to get themselves a piece of the pie and not succeeding as well as our media makes it out. Even in the cities, university graduates are living in pill box apartments and working for peanuts. Some are realizing some success, but if you do some reading on the subject, you'll find that there are just too many of them. It's a employers' market and the wages are patheticly low.
Even if they do succeed, they cannot just move to the "suburbs". The Chinese version of the suburbs is a gated community with armed guards keeping the hordes out. Anyone living in one of these neighborhoods is disproportionally richer than everyone else.
And, these rich Chinese have a "let them eat cake" attitude towards the poorer Chinese. Eventually, this is going to cause some nasty confrontations in their society. It is only a matter of time before the kettle boils over. The only thing keeping the lid on that country right now is the party's inculcation of Chinese nationalism on the population and turning their attention outward to so-called enemies like Japan.
Also, the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to become a world super-power is going to become a push and shove match with the United States over control of the Pacific. As you already know, they are preparing to bring the hammer down on Taiwan too... another flashpoint. They want Taiwan's economy to add the the mainland's bottom line. What a mess that's going to be when it starts.
If I ever have to visit Ikea (in Taipei) i would try to avoid it during the holidays and weekends. If possible I will try to procure what I can online.
ReplyDelete