Wow this is unbelievably interesting. The whole idea of starting a business not to make a bunch of money, but specifically to contribute to the social sustainability of a community. So inspiring and moving.
Communication is key. Once people can understand each other they discover how much more alike each other they are than they are different. Most just want to live peaceful, productive lives with their families. What an amazing period to be living in China and what a great contribution to his community Jim Spear has made.
I was totally captivated by Jim's experiences in China! What I find particularly impressive was the village chief who only has a primary education but who has the vision the wisom the Imagination the audacity n the trust in Jim to come up with such an extraordinary request while the politicians in the West who are all at least university graduated are managing their countries with such tragic results! Thank you Jim! Enjoy your life n your success in China!
Awesome! I am from NYC arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in 1988. Totally awed coming back every year till 1995 when I moved here full time with my wife and where we remain. We will all remember the thermoses used to hold drinking water used in China and Vietnam those days. Peace through understanding!
Jim is so right and wise, this is the best time to be born in China. Both my parents came from China to S.E.Asia. I remember in the 70’s and 80’s where we get lots of requests to send bicycles, and other goods to our relatives in China. I have seen such great development over 50 years and it is unimaginable.
What an interesting and fulfilling life. Humanity at it best. Thank you for sharing. I have learned from Jim what humility is all about, respect and accept others for who they are and wishing the best for everyone.
A thousand years ago when China was more advanced and richer than Europe it was the Chinese who taught the Europeans how to improve and develop Europe, but many centuries later the Europeans used what the Chinese had taught them to invade and destroy China, looting it and turning China from a rich nation into a very poor one. Japan did the same thing to China too.
Hi Jim, I read your story before, it was reported by Chinese media agency. It was very impressive back then, today , hearing your talk, sharing your wisdom, you sound and look 10 feet tall, thank you for being you. You have done more than many diplomats. You have done more than many CEOs. You have my outer most respect and please give my warmest regards to your wife. She is equally incredible if not more.😂 all the best to you your family and all the people you care about.
The algorithm sent me this, and what an absolutely amazing story. Great format, great interviewer, and fabulously entertaining guest. I will watch more episodes
What an interesting man! He lives a full, happy life in China! It’s interesting that the interviewer asked Jim about his teapot collection and they touched on the subject of the different types of metal alloys that were used to make teapots, pans, woks, bowls, and other cookware in ancient China. A lot of people don’t know that China is one of the earliest places that metallurgy took root in. Steel-making and brass-making was invented in China many hundreds of years ago going as far back in time as before the birth of Christ.
This is a wonderful and impressive interview! A big contrast with what we hear today about China, we would need Jim's vision and approach to "reprogram" the US and almost all Western countries foreign ministers, who consider and views China as "the big enemy". Wishing Jim all the best and lot of success in his Chinese endeavor. Greeting from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Oh wow, this could have been me : ) I hit China in 1988. But I was already set up and running in Korea so I didn't stay in China. Jim is the right guy for this. He seems to really understand people and was able to adjust to a place further away than mars.
Thank you. Jim is fortunate to have such an open heart. By the by, if there were not foolish people in the world, there would not be smart humble people like Jim.😊
What a life experience! Indeed, more people should travel the world and share learn from all humanity. Stop the divisive politics that lead us to conflicts and war. We all want Peace.
TQ Jim for sharing such a fascinating life journey with us and the first hand insights into life in a village nestled within the vicinity of the Great Wall... how cool is that for a meaningful existence!? Your relaxed and unhurried demeanor speaks volumes for you as a decent and knowledgeable person. You are indeed Life History personified and I enjoyed the discouse immensely!❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I lived in China for about 15 years myself and I always relied on the Chinese principle to be fair and harmonious in all affairs. It isn't always working well, and working with ccp institutions is not always easy, but their bureaucracy is always straightforward. The people themselves are mostly supportive, and they like to gossip. Their free speech hides there. One of the most amazing things is how economic progression also progressed problems
Did the Mutianyu section of the wall twice when I lived in Beijing around the turn of the century. Hope I get the chance again to find Jim’s place…. Tai bang le vlog Jim.
I read this book in 1981 , the same year I visited China for 3 months. I had studied business and finance at university, and when I returned I told everyone who spoke to me " China is going to rule the world " it was so obvious to me in 1981
@@monkeyking-self-proclaimed7050 I arrived in Beijing in early September 1981. The first tour groups did not arrive until 2 months later - and then they went on chaperoned tours to a few locations - mostly Beijing and Xian. As a foreigner worker I could go around on my own, unescorted. There were no guest houses, no tourist hotels and no souvenir shops selling cheap tat. One of the first places I visited was Dunhuang. On the train, a 60 hour journey, all the locals kept walking past our cabin to have a look at the foreign devils. When I left China in Oct 1982, they were flying small tour groups into the newly built airport at Dunhuang. It was on the tour circuit and the population outside of Beijing were getting accustomed to seeing Westerners. By 1986, when Jim arrived, the Chinese were used to seeing foreigners. When I got there, one of my colleagues was being followed by a soldier with a rifle whenever he went out - not to threaten him, but to disuade the locals from approaching him.
@@beatricewan9958 Hi, I'm not sure I contributed much. I went as a gopher - my manager in London had been sent to setup a data processing centre and I was his assistant. We were one of the first US companies going into China after the thaw - the contract was signed in 1979. It was a flagship operation and the company picked the best people from it's worldwide operations to ensure it was a success. It was a great place to work. The best of the best and I enjoyed it immensely. I learned a lot, and saw a lot, and that included learning how good the Chinese were. I told the people I worked with that the Chinese were, in technical terms, better than us - they just didn't have the equipment. As for China itelf, in Sept 1981, when I arrived, there were no tourists - the first tour groups started around Nov. I worked near Dunhuang, where they have the Buddhist caves. In Sept 1981 it took 3 days to travel by train from Beijing, or you could fly to Lanzhou or Urumchi and then catch the train - same amount of time. A year later Dunhuang had become popular enough for the government to build an airport for the tourists and it took around 6 hours to fly to Beijing via Lanzhou. The old China also disappeared very quickly in social terms. It took less than a year to go from the Chinese looking at me on the train, in awe as a foreign devil, to them being familiar enough with foreigners to ignore us. I just wish I'd seen more of the country before it got 'tainted' by the west. As an example of what I mean by tainted, taxi drivers in Beijing took offence if you offered a tip. A tip meant you thought they had done more than they should have, but they were employed to do their best. You even got a receipt.
Jim, I enjoyed this interview. Kudos to you and all that you’ve done in China. So interesting, so unusual for an American. If only the US politicians have half your IQ/EQ and respect for others.
Wow, had I known of his hotel/accommodation at Mutianyu I'd most certainly have made a reservation when I visited in spring earlier this year. Maybe next time ...... What's his website?
Wow, what a legend! I have never heard of Jim. I wish US politicians could have a conversation with him so that they would have a much better understanding of China and Chinese people. The two countries would have a much amicable relationship and it would be good for both countries and the world. But I realize that’s wishful thinking.
American politicians who come to China shld pay close attention to how Jim navigated himself during his successful stay in China. Pls learn to b fair, negotiate on a win2 basis,l n not lording or condescending towards Chinese esp while being a guest.
First chinese immigration to the US was back in 1800's and many also define as first start of asian immigration to US, and it started bringing workers to build america rail road infastructure and chinatown all across america started forming. There's valid arguments that china first contact with north america was in the 1300's by archeology evidence found couple decades ago, but even if this was 100% true america will never let this become credible because that means the columbus narrative would be not true. However, the reason why I am bringing this up is because chinese people have been a part of america growth and fall and everything in between and not much people understand this.Jim really reminds you when people goes to another country they just want to be accepted and as he said, once you can communicate with any foreigners you come to realize we are all the same. Stereotypes and racism are not natural for any human beings. It's a bad behavior people learn. There were a time in the past when it was an achievement to be able to travel to a foreign land and to respect and learn another culture and to bring back that knowledge to educate the future. So much changed today, but people such as jim gives us all hope we lost.
You are correct and the history of Chinese migration to the US is fascinating. For this series our aim is to preserve the memories of people who were present for the early period following the re-establishment of relations with the West after 1979 but we sincerely hope to see more about earlier periods as well. I have read some great books on the subject, too.
People are the same all over the world. We can feel happy. Sad.cry.laugh and hate love. God invented the same figures from the Earth. My father also came from china moved to Indonesia. Same story ❤❤❤
Jim probably know, to this day, Chicken is still the most expensive meat in China, compared to pork which is the cheapest and common protein the Chinese will eat.
For comparison, throughout the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s, here in the US (and Canada) employers used to routinely refuse to hire youbg women fir all sorts of positions because "she'll get pregnant in a year or two, and then we'll have to look for someone else to replace her." This was true not only for small businesses and corporations, but also for colleges and universities. Up until the 1940s, schoolboards wouldn't hire married women at all, only single women and spinsters.🎉
1986 a great yr culturally i dont know why this yr sticks out to me all the time.... it was great for movies, music on both sides..... GhostBusters etc.... A Better Tomorrow.... etc etc not yet the 90s which was also sort of good but not as good or as optimistic as the 80s..... sigh.... Also who the heck is the narrator lol is he American or is he Chinese!!??? Hes like the voice over man from the movies lol
41:30--it is a little known fact that those piles of oranges, many of which probably came from Florida, was originally developed through crossbreeding various orange plants by a Chinese immigrant who was an agricultural wizard in Florida. (He also crossbred the grapefruits being used today) Of course, racism in America (this was 100 years ago or so) kept and is still keeping him from receiving proper recognition for this.
It's a pity you consistently use the word peasant in 2024! This is not cool and i can see it's to do with you being an white American (the supreme race) and your reason for using it is simply to show a class difference. It’s important to remember that every person deserves respect, regardless of their background or social status. It's unfortunate that you consistently use "peasant" that is degrading and hurtful in 2024. It's important to be mindful of the impact our words have on others!!.
Wow this is unbelievably interesting. The whole idea of starting a business not to make a bunch of money, but specifically to contribute to the social sustainability of a community. So inspiring and moving.
shame how it all ended up huh
Communication is key. Once people can understand each other they discover how much more alike each other they are than they are different. Most just want to live peaceful, productive lives with their families. What an amazing period to be living in China and what a great contribution to his community Jim Spear has made.
Very interesting. Thank you Jim for sharing your experiences and insight. ….. 1986, thats a long time ago, a very different China😄
Love the story! Great guy; humble, personable, easygoing, and friendly. China is lucky to have you, not a typical American.
Yes, his take on community lead tourism was good.
I was totally captivated by Jim's experiences in China! What I find particularly impressive was the village chief who only has a primary education but who has the vision the wisom the Imagination the audacity n the trust in Jim to come up with such an extraordinary request while the politicians in the West who are all at least university graduated are managing their countries with such tragic results! Thank you Jim! Enjoy your life n your success in China!
Awesome! I am from NYC arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in 1988. Totally awed coming back every year till 1995 when I moved here full time with my wife and where we remain. We will all remember the thermoses used to hold drinking water used in China and Vietnam those days. Peace through understanding!
What an amazing story! In today’s toxic world, we are manipulated to hate each other. We need more people like Jim!
Jim is so right and wise, this is the best time to be born in China. Both my parents came from China to S.E.Asia. I remember in the 70’s and 80’s where we get lots of requests to send bicycles, and other goods to our relatives in China. I have seen such great development over 50 years and it is unimaginable.
Great to hear Jim's experience! I liked his attitude - he was open to learning the language and culture and has thrived in China because of it
I wonder if the lack of political freedom in China bothers him? Must be tough to get used to.
What an interesting and fulfilling life. Humanity at it best. Thank you for sharing. I have learned from Jim what humility is all about, respect and accept others for who they are and wishing the best for everyone.
A thousand years ago when China was more advanced and richer than Europe it was the Chinese who taught the Europeans how to improve and develop Europe, but many centuries later the Europeans used what the Chinese had taught them to invade and destroy China, looting it and turning China from a rich nation into a very poor one. Japan did the same thing to China too.
Hi Jim, I read your story before, it was reported by Chinese media agency. It was very impressive back then, today , hearing your talk, sharing your wisdom, you sound and look 10 feet tall, thank you for being you. You have done more than many diplomats. You have done more than many CEOs. You have my outer most respect and please give my warmest regards to your wife. She is equally incredible if not more.😂 all the best to you your family and all the people you care about.
The algorithm sent me this, and what an absolutely amazing story. Great format, great interviewer, and fabulously entertaining guest. I will watch more episodes
Really appreciate your kind words.
Great story Jim. Thank you for your foresight, hard work and entrepreneur spirit. China welcomes and thank you for your effirts❤❤❤👍👍👍👋👋👋
It was the town leader who forced Jim Spear to contribute something to the town instead of sitting around smoking Dunhill. 😂
Totally fascinating , what a life. I really admire these people who were totally adventures
What an interesting man! He lives a full, happy life in China! It’s interesting that the interviewer asked Jim about his teapot collection and they touched on the subject of the different types of metal alloys that were used to make teapots, pans, woks, bowls, and other cookware in ancient China. A lot of people don’t know that China is one of the earliest places that metallurgy took root in. Steel-making and brass-making was invented in China many hundreds of years ago going as far back in time as before the birth of Christ.
Wise Observation n Wise Words From A Wise 🦉 Traveller. Indeed 👍👍👍
What an awesome insight into the beauty of others and other cultures.
This is a wonderful and impressive interview! A big contrast with what we hear today about China, we would need Jim's vision and approach to "reprogram" the US and almost all Western countries foreign ministers, who consider and views China as "the big enemy". Wishing Jim all the best and lot of success in his Chinese endeavor. Greeting from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Having recently been introduced to the wonders of China and now visited 6 times in the past year, I can only be envious of the journey him has had.
Oh wow, this could have been me : ) I hit China in 1988. But I was already set up and running in Korea so I didn't stay in China.
Jim is the right guy for this. He seems to really understand people and was able to adjust to a place further away than mars.
Very interesting. 1986 - WOW Thanks for sharing.
Amazing dude and crazy story haha. This is the sort of life most people want to live
Thank you. Jim is fortunate to have such an open heart. By the by, if there were not foolish people in the world, there would not be smart humble people like Jim.😊
Wonderful interview! Just recently visited China. Looking forward to going back for another visit.
I love the pewter collection. And, this interview.
What a life experience! Indeed, more people should travel the world and share learn from all humanity. Stop the divisive politics that lead us to conflicts and war. We all want Peace.
TQ Jim for sharing such a fascinating life journey with us and the first hand insights into life in a village nestled within the vicinity of the Great Wall... how cool is that for a meaningful existence!? Your relaxed and unhurried demeanor speaks volumes for you as a decent and knowledgeable person. You are indeed Life History personified and I enjoyed the discouse immensely!❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for sharing....what a great dtory !!!
The host has an incredibly soothing voice
Professionally trained.
I really appreciate you saying that. I feel insecure about how I sound (then again who likes the sound of their own voice?) but I try my best.
@@LivingHistoryChina
I don't like my voice but I know I will love it if I get the same professional voice host training like you did. 😁
@@Anonymous------ ha, I practiced all by myself.
@@LivingHistoryChina
Sure, sure. 😆
Beautiful, deeply interesting and very moving interview, thank you.
Fascinating interview! Many thanks for sharing.
I lived in China for about 15 years myself and I always relied on the Chinese principle to be fair and harmonious in all affairs. It isn't always working well, and working with ccp institutions is not always easy, but their bureaucracy is always straightforward. The people themselves are mostly supportive, and they like to gossip. Their free speech hides there. One of the most amazing things is how economic progression also progressed problems
What an amazing man and what an amazing life story !!! Thank you Jim !!!
Liked your video jim.i as a young country fella from the West of Ireland back packed trough china in 1986 the villages and farmers were the best.
Did the Mutianyu section of the wall twice when I lived in Beijing around the turn of the century. Hope I get the chance again to find Jim’s place…. Tai bang le vlog Jim.
Fascinating. Then in the early 1980's I read the book, China: Alive in the Bitter Sea by Fox Butterfield
Fox is still alive. We are trying to get him for a future interview.
I read this book in 1981 , the same year I visited China for 3 months. I had studied business and finance at university, and when I returned I told everyone who spoke to me " China is going to rule the world " it was so obvious to me in 1981
@@LivingHistoryChinaamazing. See my comment about his book
Fascinating life. Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspectives.
I'm British and worked in Qinghai province in 1981/82 - Lenghu. This guy was a latecomer. I have some interesting photos.
How different is it from when you went and for this latecomer?
@@monkeyking-self-proclaimed7050 I arrived in Beijing in early September 1981. The first tour groups did not arrive until 2 months later - and then they went on chaperoned tours to a few locations - mostly Beijing and Xian. As a foreigner worker I could go around on my own, unescorted. There were no guest houses, no tourist hotels and no souvenir shops selling cheap tat. One of the first places I visited was Dunhuang. On the train, a 60 hour journey, all the locals kept walking past our cabin to have a look at the foreign devils. When I left China in Oct 1982, they were flying small tour groups into the newly built airport at Dunhuang. It was on the tour circuit and the population outside of Beijing were getting accustomed to seeing Westerners. By 1986, when Jim arrived, the Chinese were used to seeing foreigners. When I got there, one of my colleagues was being followed by a soldier with a rifle whenever he went out - not to threaten him, but to disuade the locals from approaching him.
Would like to hear your contributions to China!
@@beatricewan9958 Hi, I'm not sure I contributed much. I went as a gopher - my manager in London had been sent to setup a data processing centre and I was his assistant. We were one of the first US companies going into China after the thaw - the contract was signed in 1979. It was a flagship operation and the company picked the best people from it's worldwide operations to ensure it was a success. It was a great place to work. The best of the best and I enjoyed it immensely. I learned a lot, and saw a lot, and that included learning how good the Chinese were. I told the people I worked with that the Chinese were, in technical terms, better than us - they just didn't have the equipment. As for China itelf, in Sept 1981, when I arrived, there were no tourists - the first tour groups started around Nov. I worked near Dunhuang, where they have the Buddhist caves. In Sept 1981 it took 3 days to travel by train from Beijing, or you could fly to Lanzhou or Urumchi and then catch the train - same amount of time. A year later Dunhuang had become popular enough for the government to build an airport for the tourists and it took around 6 hours to fly to Beijing via Lanzhou. The old China also disappeared very quickly in social terms. It took less than a year to go from the Chinese looking at me on the train, in awe as a foreign devil, to them being familiar enough with foreigners to ignore us. I just wish I'd seen more of the country before it got 'tainted' by the west. As an example of what I mean by tainted, taxi drivers in Beijing took offence if you offered a tip. A tip meant you thought they had done more than they should have, but they were employed to do their best. You even got a receipt.
Have you been back to Qinghai where you worked? Like to hear your stories.
what a great story.
Great story! Keep up the good work!
Nice living room
Jim, I enjoyed this interview. Kudos to you and all that you’ve done in China. So interesting, so unusual for an American. If only the US politicians have half your IQ/EQ and respect for others.
Seems like a very decent and interesting human being !
Wow, had I known of his hotel/accommodation at Mutianyu I'd most certainly have made a reservation when I visited in spring earlier this year. Maybe next time ......
What's his website?
It's the Brickyard Hotel in Mutianyu. I think it's on all the usual booking websites.
@@LivingHistoryChina 👍
Wow, what a legend! I have never heard of Jim. I wish US politicians could have a conversation with him so that they would have a much better understanding of China and Chinese people. The two countries would have a much amicable relationship and it would be good for both countries and the world. But I realize that’s wishful thinking.
Amazing story❤
You had me engaged up until the end. London Scool of Economics… London is the origin of all the world’s problems that we are facing with today.
American politicians who come to China shld pay close attention to how Jim navigated himself during his successful stay in China. Pls learn to b fair, negotiate on a win2 basis,l n not lording or condescending towards Chinese esp while being a guest.
amazing story!
First chinese immigration to the US was back in 1800's and many also define as first start of asian immigration to US, and it started bringing workers to build america rail road infastructure and chinatown all across america started forming. There's valid arguments that china first contact with north america was in the 1300's by archeology evidence found couple decades ago, but even if this was 100% true america will never let this become credible because that means the columbus narrative would be not true. However, the reason why I am bringing this up is because chinese people have been a part of america growth and fall and everything in between and not much people understand this.Jim really reminds you when people goes to another country they just want to be accepted and as he said, once you can communicate with any foreigners you come to realize we are all the same. Stereotypes and racism are not natural for any human beings. It's a bad behavior people learn. There were a time in the past when it was an achievement to be able to travel to a foreign land and to respect and learn another culture and to bring back that knowledge to educate the future. So much changed today, but people such as jim gives us all hope we lost.
You are correct and the history of Chinese migration to the US is fascinating. For this series our aim is to preserve the memories of people who were present for the early period following the re-establishment of relations with the West after 1979 but we sincerely hope to see more about earlier periods as well. I have read some great books on the subject, too.
When you walk in another man's shoes. You understand his perspective.
That is very true. I wonder if we have spoken at Wudangshan recently? Or are you abroad these days?
Pioneer.... ❤❤❤
1986😁😁. That's my birthyear☺☺
People are the same all over the world. We can feel happy. Sad.cry.laugh and hate love. God invented the same figures from the Earth. My father also came from china moved to Indonesia. Same story ❤❤❤
👍
GREAT TRUE HUMAN STAR CHARACTER 👌👍💚❤️
I would love to stay at this hotel. Is there a website?
Yes, it is the Brickyard Retreat Mutianyu Great Wall - Beijing
@@LivingHistoryChina😊
brilliant
Why aren't there any images of his home and the surrounding area?
Jim probably know, to this day, Chicken is still the most expensive meat in China, compared to pork which is the cheapest and common protein the Chinese will eat.
For comparison, throughout the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s, here in the US (and Canada) employers used to routinely refuse to hire youbg women fir all sorts of positions because "she'll get pregnant in a year or two, and then we'll have to look for someone else to replace her." This was true not only for small businesses and corporations, but also for colleges and universities. Up until the 1940s, schoolboards wouldn't hire married women at all, only single women and spinsters.🎉
China Luxurious Life
1986 a great yr culturally i dont know why this yr sticks out to me all the time.... it was great for movies, music on both sides..... GhostBusters etc.... A Better Tomorrow.... etc etc not yet the 90s which was also sort of good but not as good or as optimistic as the 80s..... sigh....
Also who the heck is the narrator lol is he American or is he Chinese!!??? Hes like the voice over man from the movies lol
I am actually German. But thank you for your kind words.
41:30--it is a little known fact that those piles of oranges, many of which probably came from Florida, was originally developed through crossbreeding various orange plants by a Chinese immigrant who was an agricultural wizard in Florida. (He also crossbred the grapefruits being used today)
Of course, racism in America (this was 100 years ago or so) kept and is still keeping him from receiving proper recognition for this.
A very likeable American. Can you be my friend, Jim?
Interesting!
Nice uncle
The interviewer voice & questions sound artificial.
The transitions are abrupt.
those antiques collection would be worth tens of millions today.
wear small shoes, totally Chinese!
22:15 MAID? How rich are these people???
It is not expensive to have household help in China. We are talking about cleaning the house, cooking, looking after children, a domestic helper.
What about US’ poor in caravans ?
What about them? Poor people exist everywhere.
Intel
It's a pity you consistently use the word peasant in 2024! This is not cool and i can see it's to do with you being an white American (the supreme race) and your reason for using it is simply to show a class difference. It’s important to remember that every person deserves respect, regardless of their background or social status. It's unfortunate that you consistently use "peasant" that is degrading and hurtful in 2024. It's important to be mindful of the impact our words have on others!!.
Now he can show the homeless in USA
Propaganda channel!