The Chinese evolutionary explanation as to why we are Black

Few nights ago, as I was sitting at the bus stop, waiting for the bus; a curious Chinese man who noticed me sitting by myself came to take a seat next to me. He, like every other Chinese asked me the usual questions about my background, including my marital status and age. After "testing" my language skills, he then proceeded to a general discussion about life in China and if I like China and Chinese people? Like Duh, what else am I suppose to say? Then he said he especially likes the variety of seasons in china where its cold in the winter, wet in the spring, hot in the summer and breezy in the fall. I nodded in agreement. He then continued by saying "Unlike AFRICA where the only season is summer, and so this is why Africans are black, because they are exposed to too much sun! Simply Hilarious! I just laughed, and again, agreed with him!

I mean, what else am I suppose to say? If so called evolutionary scientists can claim that  human being evolved from Apes, then I guess a less educated Chinese man's explanation as to how black people are black is not so far fetched.

Now, since most Chinese share same/similar views and are exposed to the same quantity and quality of information about the outside world, I can only assume that every other Adult Chinese would have the same "evolutionary" explanation as to why I am black. Kids are exempted of course, a lot of them just think I didn't wash up after playing in the dirt!

Sunny Africa
*source* 

Apparently, based on a quick google search, this curious Chinese man is not the only one with the opinion! I wonder how they explain the skin color of North Africans or the hair texture of BLACK people.

Because there are too many lions and giraffes in Africa? haha!

Study Abroad: For Losers or Winners?

A few weeks back, I was assigned a VIP class with a grade 11 student to prep him for the TOEFL test. After two attempts at the test, the student decided to spend his summer holiday and may be the next school year studying for the test as this is his priority at the moment.

I immediately interrupted him to clarify if he meant he was going to drop out of high school just to study for the TOEFL test or he meant he would study after school during his own time. He replied he would drop out of school to focus on something more important rather than wasting his time in the private international school he goes to.

I then asked him how he would get into university without a high school diploma which is even more important than the TOEFL scores. He smiled and said to me "oh, don't you know you can  pay some people for the diploma? it's not a big deal, it's very common here in China"

Lazying about
*source* 

In a land of fake designer bags and tainted food products, it's no surprise to hear and read about business executives and professionals with fake degrees as well as Chinese students enrolled in foreign universities with fake high school diplomas.

Students who plan to go study abroad will often flunk their way through high school because they know there is no need for them to spend countless hours buried in their books all for the sake of Gao Kao (university entrance exam). Some on the other hand will choose to go study abroad after an undesirable result.  So these cohorts of students are considered to be losers who don't put in the effort required to achieve best results and to be academically successful in their native country. Statistics of Chinese students studying abroad with fake credentials are unknown. With hundreds of thousands of Chinese going abroad to go study every year, it's easy for their credentials to go uncheck. I mean who has the time to verify a high school diploma and TOEFL scores when there's so much money involved. Many schools are mainly after overseas students deep pockets and cares very little about the authenticity of every student's information package. In the end, you can't blame them, especially when a university has a large number of students coming from countries with foreign languages and foreign school systems, which can make background checks nearly impossible. 

So do I think study abroad programs are mainly for students who can't handle the competition in their home countries that they have to take the nearest exit? NO! But I think students who don't put in the required effort to achieve authentic credentials because they know mummy and daddy can pay their way out of high school and into an American/English or Canadian schools are losers. 

What? Nigeria has city buses?

Few weeks ago, on a bus ride home from church with a friend, a bus driver who seemed to be going to work or coming from it took a seat next to us. After a long staring session, he decided to interrupt us so he could "get to know us". He first asked about our nationality, which we answered Nigerian. Immediately, his face lit up as he said "WOW! Nigeria is such a rich country!" I looked at him and thought huh? Then he went on to say that it is rich in oil, so it must be a rich country. I was surprised by his "knowledge" about Nigeria because many Chinese don't think much of Africa. And so I was even more impressed that he didn't have anything negative or ignorant to say about Nigeria or Africa.

*source* 

Anyway, we later carried on with our conversation, only to be interrupted again by the curious bus driver. This time, he asked, "Do they have public buses in Nigeria too?"  I answered, "YES! of course!. He was surprised and said "really? do they look like this one?"  Again, I answered YES! (but with a smile :) and went back to my conversation.

I was a bit confused by this man's set of questions because earlier he mentioned about Nigeria's main rich resource and now he's surprised they have nice and comfortable city buses to take people around town?

So it got me thinking, "was he surprised that Nigeria has city buses because he wouldn't expect anyone to take public transportation since they are all too rich to ride in a bus; and would rather drive their own private cars? Or was he surprised due to his preconception about Africa as a poor continent?
Whatever the case might be, I just look forward to the day when people would stop asking ignorant questions about Africa and may be go out there and see for themselves!.