Suzhou people are genuinely nice

They like me -- they really like me!

Today was a great day in Suzhou, a city an hour away from Shanghai. We saw some beautiful gardens at the Lingering Gardens (we were too rushed to linger) and China'a answer to the Tower at Piza, the Tiger Gardens Pagoda, which is about the same height and which also visibly tilts. We also went through some fascinating tours of how they make silk and some enchantingly beautiful Chinese Embroidery -- true works of art (one of which will soon be displayed in my conference room).

But the highlight of the day was a boat ride along the primary and tributary canals of Suzhou. Like Venice and Amsterdam, Suzhou has a network of canals running through the city. We disembarked in a poor part of town that housed a multi-block marketplace in streets and alleys not more than 12 feet wide. There were countless stalls, carts, and little stores selling fruit, meats, shoes, household goods... everything. A man with a portable microphone was in an intersection the size of a big living room demonstrating and selling steam irons. This was no tourist place -- no hawkers selling souvenirs, just locals selling to other locals. There were countless prepared foods for sale, only about half of which we could identify. One place the size of a typical American bedroom (not even a master) had 4 little tables inside and a steam table out front holding 10 pans of different hot foods. It was like Panda Mini-Express -- they even had something that resembles Orange Chicken. My son would feel at home here.

It is actually striking how nice everyone is to us. They all smile back when we smile, they wave for our movie camera, they laugh with us when we each make hand signs to communicate. They get their cute-as-a-button bundled-up toddlers to wave for the cameras... and they're not looking for a tip. No one scowls at us, no one seems to resent our traipsing through their local market. They are almost universally deferential. Hearing fairly constantly that Americans are unpopular internationally, I am a bit surprised at this generous welcoming... but it is genuine, and it makes me even more hopeful about our ability to work together in the world... for business, and for peace.

Bob Wacker