Postcards home

Dear Dad,

today I had the opportunity to visit one of the garment factories in the next village over.

As I entered the building’s foyer, the rapid echo of hundreds of sewing machines bounced from the walls, leading me upstairs to the main factory floor.

The workers, the majority of them women, were all very diligent with their tasks. Even with my presence they rarely peered away from their work stations, for a lapse in concentration could spell lost productivity, or worse, injury.

I visited the upper floor to meet the factory manager and his wife. Sitting in a large sparse office we briefly spoke about the factory and the merchandise. I was informed that the jackets were bound for the European market in time for their winter.

Our conversation was interrupted as the manager and his wife turned to watch the stock market fluctuate on their computer screen.

I´m sure you will agree, this is definitely a different China to the one you left behind.