Chance for healthier economy

Comment on "Monthly exports drop first time in 7 years" (China Daily, Dec 11)

China should increase its domestic consumption and improve products' quality during the financial crisis. The low quality products and services will disappear.

The crisis provides a chance to build a more healthy economy by restructuring economic sectors.

Weibo

on China Daily website

It's just a personal flavor

Comment on "Chinese should refuse Christmas Day: (China Daily website, Dec 11)

In China, many young Chinese people celebrate Western holidays as a fashion.

Last year I also noticed a number of Chinese netizens call for a boycott of Christmas. Their reason is Western holidays gradually challenge our national festivals.

For example, many young lovers look forward to Valentine's Day while totally ignoring Double-Seventh Day. Some enjoy April Fools' Day while turning blind to Dragon Boat Festival.

I think it's a wise decision of the Chinese government to make Tomb-sweeping Day and Dragon Boat Festival legal holidays, which can preserve Chinese traditional culture better.

However, whether to celebrate the Western holidays are a purely personal matter. If you have money, if you would like to, then you can enjoy those days just as the Westerners do.

Take myself for example. I previously worked at a Japanese company. On Christmas Day I only said "Happy Christmas" to my manager in the morning and I also received the same greeting as a gift from other colleagues. However, we had to still work hard as long as that day was not a weekend.

Now I am working in a US company, so this year I have a little expectation of Christmas because we all the staff will have a dinner on Christmas Eve.

Furthermore, I think the most important thing is to enjoy holidays instead of bargaining on the days' meaning. Just like our Spring Festival, my father told me it originated from driving a cruel animal called nian in the ancient times.

So enjoy holidays if you like. If you don't like them, it's really not necessary to strip others of their rights to enjoy them.

Loststar

on China Daily website

Not enough English spoken

We often have Chinese students complaining they don't hear enough English on campus.

Now more and more international students in Australia are from Chinese mainland. Most of them claim they lack chances to speak English on campus.

Meanwhile, after undertaking an online survey last month an Australian university concluded there is little interaction between local and international students.

A Chinese sophomore tells me "most of our classmates are Chinese. It would be awkward if we spoke English with each other", reflecting a common experience among Chinese students in Australia.

Now many students attending the international student service have doubts about the value of coming to Australia for higher education. They are shocked when they first arrived to discover how much Chinese is used on campus.

Many students suggest campuses should organize more social and classroom activities to encourage a better English-speaking environment for international students.

Elva in Australia

on China Daily website

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(China Daily 12/12/2008 page9)