Guanxi

It is pronounced "GWAN-she" and means relationship, but it is more than just a relationship, it is being able to reap benefits from what you sow into the connection. Sowing isn't so much about money as it is time, though I suppose gift giving has some merit. And the benefits one hopes to reap can come in many different forms. One example is the performance I took part in this evening for Children's Day.

One of the Peter Hall teenagers knows a teacher in the primary school here at Sias. She got asked to sing a song for their annual celebration of children (which is really a glorified talent show). And the song that they wanted was one that she couldn't find a karaoke version of in her range. So she asked me to play a live acoustic version for her, which ended up being a lot more work than I realized but was still worth doing as a musician. I actually memorized the song, something I rarely do, and I think I drove my nearest and dearest next door neighbor to distraction with the number of times I rehearsed the song today...digressing...back to guanxi.

I did this favor for the teenager because of our relationship, but I have no connection to the teacher connected to the student. So when the teacher asked if I could stay until the end, I pretty much told her I was busy. She asked me to try. I "tried" for about thirty seconds in my head, but there was nothing to keep me. My teenager friend didn't care whether I stayed or left, and I had no one else to be responsible to, so I left. Now, had the teacher taken time to get to know me a little, make sure that the needs I expressed two weeks ago were taken care of (like the cord for the guitar), and even learned my name, I might have stayed. But I didn't even get introduced. And my microphone, for backup vocals, wasn't even turned on (though this truly isn't her fault). And while I know she had plenty to be worried about, learning someone's name takes all of ten seconds.

"So there you go." (Thank you My Big Fat Greek Wedding!) You don't sow, you don't reap. I guess relationships actually work like this everywhere, but I think it is more prevalent here. People get jobs because of guanxi more so than they do because they are actually qualified. I chose students to be possible candidates for a scholarship fund because of guanxi - they're my students. Well, they did qualify on their own merit, but I confess that I did favor them above others because I know them better than all the other faces on the applications. And truly, every student who applied is in need. (See previous post "Scholarship Fund Panel.") It is a way of existence here and is another reason socialism thrives here - people value and depend on relationships and connections with others far more than any other culture I've known.