African's Chinese Dream

Coming back from a trip to China, I can't help noticing increasing number of Africans working and living in Chinese cities.

Every foreigner is called Laowai in Chinese, and Africans, especially sub-Sahara Africans are in particular noticeable due to their dark skin color. During the morning rush hour, you will encounter passing a young black lady who might on her way to work. There are estimated around 200,000 Africans in the Southern city Guangzhou alone, the number could be fluctuate largely due to many of them are staying illegally and underground.

While waiting for a flight in Accra some time last year, I met a Ghanaian who is doing business in the Northeastern city of Xi'an, mainly dealing used PC, the business model is quite sustainable as he has since established himself. He also found a group of countrymen, most of Africans pursuing their Chinese Dreams are men in 30s-40s, they are religious and go to a local church on Sundays, and eat together after the services.

"we are living a separate lives than the Chinese, we don't interact except for business purpose." The middle-aged Ghanaian businessman told me. He added that the money is easier and opportunities are plenty, however, separating from families can easily draw down spirits some time.

I sensed a bitterness in his feelings towards Chinese attitude towards Africans. While we talked, there was another Chinese man in his 20s waiting for a flight going back to his hometown in Shandong province. The Chinese questioned the Ghanaian, bluntly, the authenticity of their worship for God. (The Ghanaian, while answered the question, obviously offended and moved away where the Chinese man sat)

One information looking for animal breeding beds sellers, posted on Xian's public info protal,
requesting no inquiry/response from Africans.

As more and more locals I met in Accra look to China as the New Continent, instead of traditionally U.S. or Europe to realize their dreams for a better life, China will likely see more Africans flowing in. However, unless there is more positive description and real attitude change towards these dark-skinned dream seekers, there will likely more bitterness felt in both groups.

Followup on Guangzhou Medical Team in Ghana

My exclusive report a while ago on a medical team from Guangzhou, China was struggling to get its established in Accra, Ghana has caught much attention. One local Ghanaian has left comment expressing his concern towards the fate of these medical doctors sent by the Chinese government to help out but found themselves "not needed" and "not supported" in a foreign land thousand miles away from home.

How are they doing now? I checked in with neurologist Dr. Song's blog to find some updates.

There are signs of improving. Dr. Song has since got assigned to a particular post with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he is now working along with a Ghanaian medical doctor and attended regular meetings. An avid sports fun, Dr. Song is obviously caught the favor of the World Cup, he was joyful with the Ghana Team's performance and wrote about the day when the Black Stars failed to advance further.

However, there are also signs of frustration, or even agony. The place Dr. Song and his 8 teammates stay are now in the center of a dispute between its landlord and the Ministry of Health, where the team collaborated with. The landlord has restricted the Chinese doctors making necessary repairs, even to water pump which provides water to the team.

The team also found themselves helpless facing bureaucracy and inefficiency, they tried paying money to speed up a procedure in order to purchase a car, but months pass by, the process is still ongoing and no time of getting it in sight.

"I found myself speechless, the upset feeling is almost beyond control!!" Dr. Song wrote, " I hope one day the Ghana Immigration Service will catch us for illegal staying and deport us. It will be a greatest joke!!!"