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Rich-poor gap: Poor pays?Posted by Danwei on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 12:25 PM
 Child grows up in north China countryside Ralph Jennings is a journalist and long time resident of China. He currently lives in Taipei. From mid-2000 to 2006, he had an advice column in the 21st Century weekly newspaper in which he answered letters from thousands of students and young professionals. Below is a letter from the archive, with an introduction by Jennings. Student letters to a foreign agony uncleDear Ralph, I'm a freshman at a university in Nanjing. Recently, some of my roommates' parents went to see them with a lot of new clothes and food. They have also invited our whole dormitory to meals. I've attended three such meals. My parents are both (blue-collar) workers, and they hardly have holidays, even during festivals. Besides, my home is not very rich compared to those of my roommates. It would cost a lot for my family to come to my university even once. So I didn't slip even a word to my parents about the meals. But I do feel guilt, and I hope I can invite my roommates out to eat as they have invited me. What can I do? Liu Yan, Jiangsu |
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Comments on Rich-poor gap: Poor pays?
Hmmm... A serious case of keeping up with the Jones's. If they weren't taught how to deal with this by the time they went to college, it is way too late. Actually, whether rich or poor, they should be taught how to deal with these situations in primary, if not preschool.