To the Editor:

When you purchase those cheap commodities at Wal-mart do you ever wonder how the people making them live?

I have a friend in Guangxi Province, China who lives an average Chinese life. This person works 7 days a week, 10 hours a day for about $1.06 an hour all straight time.

The person signs a contract yearly to perform the job they have. If they leave the job (quit) they must repay the remainder of the contract. Pay is received in cash once a month.

The person lives in a one-room apartment with a single bed and no refrigerator. No air conditioner – only one ceiling fan and one window in an area of China where summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cloths are washed by hand in a wash tub and meals are bought daily at the market due to the absence of a refrigerator.

This person possesses a TV, cell phone and has access to a laptop computer that they carry to and from work daily. Transportation to and from work is by bus, bicycle or walking. The person does not own a car and does not have a driver’s license.

Meals of rice, noodles, pork and fish are the main sources of protein. A soup made from carp is sometimes served with meals. Fast food is available from Kentucky Fried Chicken and two or three other American fast food restaurants.

Chinese restaurants are preferred and meals start at about $1.50. Most restaurants are open air – they appear very clean and modern even decorated with water gardens and parasols over dining tables.

The amazing thing about this meager existence, they are very happy. They appear fiercely proud to be Chinese stating often they are kind, honest people. Western clothing is worn by most and is very inexpensive.

If you know one of them well enough they will, after prodding, give you an opinion of Westerners or people from the United States. The kindness they profess is placed on the shelf for a minute and the honesty comes forth.

When provoked just a little, this person offered their opinion of Westerners. They said, westerners are liars.

Joe Stark

Norfolk