I was not so surprised when I heard the news that I was going to work at project site a few days later because I had been expecting it for almost half a year. I wished that I could work at site so I could learn some technical things and get a clearer concept of road construction. Possibly, I could meet some news friends and live a different life compared with present. And at least I needn't face so many leaders every day.

But when I heard the real news, I was really shocked. Every coin has two sides. Working at site means that I can no more drive a NISSAN going here and there around the city; means that I cannot buy fruit and titbits as I like; means that I can get little information about the local market outside world and even I cannot use my mobile phone.

As a soldier, he must obey the order given by his senior. A worker must obey any decision given by the leader in the same way. Not to mention that this is a decision made by myself.

It has been more than ten days since I came back from Ethiopia. Frankly speaking, I came back quite incidentally. It took only 23 hours from the moment I had made the decision to come back until I arrived in Beijing International Airport.

As soon as I arrived home, I found every thing remained the same as I left except my grandmother. I have been shuttling between hospital and home these days which made me clearly understood the meaning of life. I went to bed very late these days and sometimes had nightmare. All these had never happened to me before. I once doubted whether this was the painful process of growing up and getting mature. If tragedy is the only way to get older, I'd rather never grow up.

Now I have gradually got used to my former life again: living with my parents and relatives, chatting and joking with my friends, surfing the Internet, eating spicy food and unboundedly sleeping. But I felt quite curious about changes from outside world.

Of course something does have changed.

I have to say that China keeps on developing at a very high rate, covering all aspects of the social and economic life. We can simply distinguish the changes made by technogical and scientific development. However, it is a little bit difficult for us to find out the changes in people's mindset and conception: people now are becoming more and more realistic and selfish; emotions--affection, friendship, love are getting less important compared with economic benefit; more and more people just live an indifferent and meaningless life. On one hand, some ingenious, industrious and lucky people become rich overnight and elevated to the higher class; on the other hand, a large number of poor or middle-class people--especially the teenagers--are wandering at the edge of society.

One of my friends is now working in a state-owned electric machinery plant. He works rather hard but the salary he gets is even not enough for the food and clothing of his family. The price is hardening, and his life is hardening as well. Fortunately, he bears an optimistic attitude and bears ideal hope for the future. 

Are they the victims of the developing economy?