Chinese people in the eyes of American educator Michael Murphy

Every day, my interactions with Chinese people prove what I already know to be true about them. 

我和中国人的朝夕相处可以印证我所了解的中国人。

My first impression in coming to China was that people were kind and very welcoming to me as a foreigner. They treated me well and were very generous. I've had a few negative experiences during the past 4 years, but, that's not the majority of people in China. The majority of people are that they are kind, considerate, caring and giving. This is proven to me often.

来到中国后，我对中国人的第一印象就是他们对我这个外国人很友好，为我的到来表示热烈欢迎。他们不但热情款待我而且还很慷慨大方。在过去的四年里，我有过一些负面的经历，但大部分中国人并不是这样的，他们都很友善、善解人意、关爱他人并且乐于助人，我经常都能体会到。

I think of my friends from the English corner like Billy Song, Mr. Luo, the sweet elderly ladies like Amy, Lucy, Nancy, Catherine and so many others. They have treated me with such kindness, care and appreciation in all of my encounters with them. I think of the teachers and administrators that I've worked with like Crystal (the director at our school), Leo, Mr. Zhang, Lily, Christine, Ida, Anny, Anna, Lucy, Stacy, Lynn, Chris, Charles, Kathy and others. Also, I think of the fine people here at China Daily like Victor and others. I think of the friends that I've made here through the blog. Even wonderful foreign friends like Colin Speakman from the U.K. I think of all of them and have nothing but good things to say about such wonderful people.

我想起了我在英语角认识的朋友们，像比利·宋、罗先生以及艾米、露西、南希、凯瑟琳这些可爱的老太太们，还有很多其他人。他们对我非常友善、关爱并且感激我们每一次的相遇。我想起了一起工作的老师和辅导员们，像克里斯托（我们学校的校长）、里奥、 张先生、莉莉、 克莉丝汀、艾达、安妮、安娜、露西、史黛西、林恩、克里斯、查尔斯、凯西等。另外我还想起了中国日报的那些好人，像维克托等。我想起了通过写这个博客交到的朋友。还有一些很棒的外国朋友，如英国的科林·斯皮克曼。我想起了所有这些出色的朋友，他们的好是无法言喻的。

I think about when I first got here, of how impressed I was that people would give up seats on the bus for older people and foreigners (like me) to sit down. How people would invite me to their homes for dinner and sometimes for lunch. How people would bring me gifts, especially parents of my students. I got gifts of tea and mooncake. How so many invited me out to eat at restaurants and insisted on them paying for the meal. How others would invite me to teach English in various places and were always willing to accommodate my schedule and needs.

我刚来中国时，中国人在公交车上给老人和我这样的外国人让座的行为给我留下很深的印象；他们盛情邀请我到他们家共进晚餐，有时是午餐；他们送礼物给我，特别是我学生的家长，有茶叶和月饼；许多人邀请我外出就餐并坚持买单；他们邀请我到不同的地方教英文，并总是愿意迁就我的日程安排和需要。

I'm quite aware that recently there has been a lot of news about rude behavior on airplanes and in other public places by Chinese people. I know that the government has even created a blacklist of Chinese travelers who will be restricted from going anywhere due to their rude behavior. I know that the government warns Chinese tourists about stopping certain behavior that is unacceptable in other countries. They don't want any further embarrassment due to the behavior of their citizens. I've experienced some this very cruel and mean behavior by such people in a few horrible experiences I've had here. I've had some experiences that made me question why I was here.

我十分清楚最近很多新闻报道中国人在飞机上和其他公共场合的粗鲁行为。我知道中国政府甚至将行为粗鲁的中国游客列入黑名单，限制其出行。我知道中国政府警告中国游客停止某些在其他国家被禁止的行为。中国政府不希望这些公民的行为给自己带来更多的尴尬。在我有限的几个可怕的经历当中，我也曾遭遇这类人残酷而卑劣的行为。我的一些经历不禁让我怀疑自己，我当初为什么来这里？

There is the reality of good and bad behavior in every country. It seems that some of the bad behavior of people is a bit more open here in China. But, there is the bright and positive side of Chinese people that keeps me wanting to stay here and invest my time and efforts in making a difference in the lives of Chinese children. When I weigh the good and the bad, the good far outweighs the bad. If it wasn't so, I'd do the easy thing and just go home, back to America. Life there is easy and very comfortable. Plus, my family is there and I could be close to them every day. But, I've chosen to stay here in China. 

每一个国家的人的行为都有好坏之分，这是事实。在中国，人们似乎更明目张胆地做一些不良行为，但是，中国人美好积极的一面让我想留在这，投入时间和精力来改变中国儿童的生活。当我权衡利弊的时候，利远远超出了弊。如果不是这样，那么选择很简单，我会直接回美国。美国的生活安逸而舒适，我的家人也在那，（如果回去的话），每天都离他们很近。但是我选择留在中国。

This week, I will renew my contract with the school I teach at near my home. I made the decision to stay here. It wasn't a hard decision even in consideration of the very bad experiences I've gone through recently. I love China and more importantly, I love the people here. That's how I see it. I hope to build many more wonderful friendships and great memories here in the years to come. I will continue to do all I can to use what skills and knowledge that I have to work to make a difference in China and in the world.

这周，我将和我家附近的我所任教那所学校续签合同。我决定留下，这不是一个艰难的决定，即使我考虑到了最近那些非常坏的经历。我爱中国，更重要的是，我爱这里的人们。这就是我的想法，我希望往后的岁月中建立更多珍贵的友谊，留下更多美好的回忆。我将继续尽我所能，用我的工作技能和知识为中国、为世界的改变做出贡献。