half-life happiness

The concept of half-life (radioactive) , if could be applied to soft sciences e.g. happiness, can go on to infinity.

In today’s term, it’s called austerity: scaled-down cars, DVD nights, and local trips.

During the Clinton years, we had a good run. The Japanese had theirs in the 80’s.

Now, it’s the Pacific Century.

Chinese students are enrolling in the States. As of this edit, President Obama and President Xi are having a summit.

(US News and World Reports should be of great resource to these folks who love to shop for brand-name degrees).

I am sure foreign students on American campuses will see all sorts of eye-popping scenes, such as at football games, or frat parties.

Had they been here during the late 60’s, they would have seen much more.

Then, comes senior-panic when recruiters are on campus to whisk away promising young stars (Google remains the number-one choice. For Chinese students who wish to return home after graduation, it’s Baidu).

In their tool bags, I hope these foreign students hone their debating skills, presentation skills and personal-branding skills.

I enjoy reading (in English) novels by mainland Chinese authors. But they are far and few in between.

And for now, I understood the Yale wisdom of long-term investing in foreign language departments, among them Vietnamese.

Who would have thought a major or minor in Chinese studies comes in very handy these days. (The mayor of Chicago saw this).

The MIT Sloan Chinese faculty was consulted on PBS News Hour, at panel discussion etc… In short, he is in demand

to navigate through the complexity of currency pecking, labor and political unrest, and income inequality which pervade today’s China.

And if the Chinese are to loosen their purses, Western style of advertising (Madison Avenue) will set up shop there to blast Pavlovian messages. Buy this, buy that, then you will  be happy.  Drink this, drink that, then you will be happy.

Consumerism just looks and finds new converts across the Pacific ocean, leaving behind its early “adopters” with half-life happiness (adjusted American Dream). American will shop less and save more. Chinese the opposite. Trade imbalance dealt with. Half-life happiness sure beats hopelessness . In crisis, opportunity (for the Chinese Dream to rise, then fall).