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My memory of reform and opening up

By Anne (bbs.chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-11 14:43

The past three decades were crucial for modern China, a time when economic prosperity resulting from the country’s reform and opening up policy. Great changes have taken place in our nation. People’s living standard has greatly improved.

We are so fortunate that living in the new century under the reform policy. If you mention the opening and reform policy, I think everyone has feelings, we all have experienced its benefits really.

I didn't feel the distinct difference before 1990, maybe it's mainly because not all commodities and household appliances had been updated in most of families. But in the following 10 years, the related goods were expanded rapidly. For example, the TV's size becomes bigger and bigger. From 2000, digital goods became  the latest concept, it swept many industries, we came into a information era. People’s concepts changed deeply. We got more knowledge from internet, but our desire also grew with rapid speed. We demanded to know more information, otherwise we would feel emptiness.

Comparing with my childhood memory, our life has totally changed in the following four aspects: clothing, food, shelter and transportation

First, the clothing. In my memory, our clothes' color and style were few before the opening and reform policy. Now, there are various styles of beautiful colors concerning our clothes, even lots of foreign countries have built clothing factory in our country and many clothes are exported to other countries.

Second, our food. I can still remember that when I was a child we could seldom eat meat. But now, it almost appears on our table everyday. Now, People are no longer just paying attention to eat full, but eat well. Delicious Chinese food has long history and great reputation in the world. The opening and reform policy give us lots of good chance to introduce our food. More and more foreign friends come to china to enjoy our profound food culture.

Third, because of the opening and reform policy, we have opportunity to change our living condition, housing quality and hygienic conditions. Although the housing price is so high now, I am sure this phenomena will be changed.

Fourth, for our transportation means, more and more families own cars in our country, I think it is difficult to imagine purchasing private cars before the opening and reform policy. For a long time, bicycle was the most import transportation in our country, but now it is sports equipment to exercise.

In addition, people's intercommunion is changed greatly. In the past, they kept in touch with each other by writing letters which needs long time. But now with the development of technology, we can communicate with each other anytime and anywhere.

But, in my opinion, the most important change for us is that our nation's education system has changed a lot. To be a college student used to be a dream for a lot of young people many years ago when our parents were young. Few people could enjoy life in college campus. Illiteracy was common. Chinese government knew tha education is the most important factor and propeller to the country's development. The first step for them to do is to populize the basic 9 year's education, which can help eliminating illiteracy. We, who are at the age of 20 or 30, are the luckiest people. We can enjoy studying when we were very young. Today, more and more college students are graduating from schools and playing a very important role in this society.

Thanks for the reformation, and I believe that our future will be better and better.