Living without the Hype

Super Bowl Monday - we were able to watch the game via the internet at 7:30am on our Monday morning. It has come and gone without much fanfare in our house. It's amazing how different this was from last year. I didn't feel any need to run out and buy Doritos and Pepsi. Nor did I want to order pizza. The kids wouldn't have known the game was on this morning if we didn't tell them. They didn't beg to stay home to watch it.

So, of course, I had to think...why?? I'm sure it's because we weren't surrounded by the hype regarding "Super Bowl Sunday" - get your friends and family together, buy that new big screen TV, eat lots of junk food. In the US you have all the ads, the displays at the supermarket, the expectation that this is an event that needs to be celebrated.

Same with Valentine's Day. We saw an ad on TV last night for "Romance Week" on National Geographic Channel. I didn't think much about it until Mike said - oh, yeah, it's Valentine's Day on Sunday. We have had NO reminders about this in our day to day life. I'm sure those of you in the US have seen the ads, the boxes of candy, the cards, the diamond commercials...

Oh, how influenced we are by marketing. How much of what we do and what we buy is influenced not by our family culture, but by what smart marketing reps think we should do? I know that they certainly have had a hold on us.

For me, this is one of the most pleasant parts about living in China. Getting away from the hype. Getting away from the ads. Getting away...

Yes, there is marketing in China, but thankfully, I don't understand it! China right now looks like Christmas in America. Chinese New Year appears to be a big buying opportunity. Special baskets of food, decorations, special clothes, etc. But I can just walk right by it. No need to buy for this holiday.

Living without the hype - yup, I love it.
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