Sounds like someone had a rough year in Zhejiang Porvince. From the Chicago Southwest News Herald:
Making our way past the bubbling swamp and ancient, decrepit buildings we pass university professors urinating on the littered, dirt road, all dressed in mismatched suits on their way into campus. Despite the fact the Zhejiang Province is one of China’s most affluent, locals wear a sad, depressed look.
Then there’s this observation:
The concept of a line is completely out of the question. Amazingly, the Chinese have not yet realized it is impossible to enter an elevator until everyone has first exited, and in every city hordes pile in as soon as the door opens.
Now this bit is actually true!
Ken Carroll
pretzellogic on 
Andrew Cockerham on 
Dave on
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
That doesn’t sound inspiring to me. I’m planning on going to southern Zhejiang next year. I’ll hope for the best and plan for the worst…
Will,
I wouldn’t worry too much. This man obviously had a serious case of culture shock. It wouldn’t matter which part of China he was in, it just didn’t suit him.
We should not deny the realities of China, but most people come to accept them and maybe even become better people for the experience! After 12 years I am more acculturated to China than I am to Dublin, so they don’t worry me (too much). You see unpleasant things wherever you go.
For every story like this there are plenty from people who have a positive experience to recount.