Eat Ze Bugs

[EndtheMadnessNow]

She just described 1950/60's China, up until the 80's, the Government issued you an apartment according to your job or work worthiness.

I grew up in a 3 story concrete apartment building were 15 families shared the Bathroom area and kitchen, this was considered middle class in the 3rd. largest city in China.
We were not allowed to own anything but our clothes, the fist time I seen a Black & White TV was in our common room in 1988 while visiting my parents. I was not allowed to buy a tv for my small apartment.

I've read stories and few docu's on China in the 60s, but hearing it first hand is always shocking to me.

I worked closely with Chinese software engineers back in early 2000s and asked if they would ever go back to live with the same job they had at the time. They all said no way!! I guess once they got westernized and were able to buy their own house with an actual yard that was it, no going back.

I lived in Japan for 2 years and the culture shock was frightening. My girlfriend's apartment was basically a box or cell. Though I was only 20 at the time.