My China Musings

This blog is my thoughts on many things and about my adventures of living and traveling in China.

December 29, 2007

2007 is quickly coming to an end.   If I started to list all the good things that happened this year, I would not have time for anything else. I have seen good things happen to me and my friends. And I have seen some really sad things happen. I saw people I  hadn't seen in a long time and like a flash they were gone again. I have seen people that I hadn't seen for a long time and thankfully, I still see them.  One of the best thngs about being an expat living outside of my homeland, is I meet people from all over the world. And because we are not at home, we have a chance to become friends. One such person came from Russia. He was here a couple of years and then went home. He visited for a couple of weeks early this year or late last year...anyway about a year ago. He hasnt been heard from since. I miss his exburance...He was the only person I know that could make a big deal out of buying socks. He loved to travel and to take pictures. And he would share his bounty.... believe me, he should have slowed down and put his pictures up for sale. He has some fantastic shots of China's mountains and every day life. When I broke my foot a couple years ago, he was my neighbor. He would go shopping for me and haul out the rubbish...He is a good guy. However, his season in my life has passed. I have fond memories of Sasha. As this year comes to a close, take time to remember those who passed through your life. Think about how much richer your life is because they added flavor. Remember those who have passed from this earth...and how much they gave you. Not the worldly things, but the spirit feeders. I remember how sad I felt at the passing of Carl Sagan....noone could talk about the billions and billions of stars like Carl Sagan. When I was in Yushul, the stars were incredibly bright and I could hear Carl's voice echoing.... Yes, Carl, there are billions and billions of stars out there, too bad most of us dont slow down and see them. Maybe we should all resolve to have a view.  Happy New Year....till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 02:15 | link | comments |
china, living in china

December 24, 2007

For the most part, I like living in China. I like life in the slow lane. I like the differences in this country and mine. There are times, however, I have to remind myself of that.  For example, there are no safety nets such as homeless shelters and the like in China. I saw sitting on the cold sidewalk, a very old lady with palsy, begging. You can be  sure the leaders dont give up their nice warm spaces to help street children, or old people.  The Holiday Season is another time I wish I was somewhere else. If I never hear holiday music ever again, that will be too soon. I have heard White Christmas slaughered, quartered and slaughtered again. Winter Wonderland is sung by people who have no clue what they are talking about. Invarilbly I get asked what are sleigh bells.  Christmas is celebrated here by shopping. Just a couple of examples of the down side of living in China. Maybe if I were in a community where there are lots of expats, it might be different.

The up side of living in China is a endless list. I can go down the street and see vestiages of an ancient culture. Upturned eaves, cobblestone streets, narrow huotongs, and the beautiful Tang dynasty inspired clothing. People are friendly, for the most part. I am trying to start a small art business, It is amazing to me how generous some people are. They are willing to share space, art and whatever to help me get it going.

One man wanted me to come to his shop and drink tea. He is a friend of a friend. When I went there with my friend, the shop was filled with Chinese calligraphy and strange shaped stones of every size imaginable. Right in a conspicuous place was a huge picture of Chairman Mao. Kind of ruined the ambiance of the place. I bet you can guess why.

Happy holidays, whichever holiday you celebrate. Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 02:11 | link | comments |
china, living in china

December 17, 2007

Sorry, to you that come to my blog regularly, I have been on a hiatus….of a sort. I went to Guangzhou to see my “Chinese son” get married. Yes, the groom was very handsome, and the bride very beautiful. I said that twice before when my children got married. However, my American children did not have a wedding quite like this one. This one was full of Chinese traditions. Honoring the ancestors was a part of this ceremony and drinking tea with all the relatives. I wasn’t a relative, so I didn’t get to drink tea with the bride and groom. Breaking into the bride’s home to kidnap her by the groom and his many friends….quite a undertaking…complete th cans upon cans of silly string and young men climbing over the fence to gain entrance…. of course, the bride’s friends mounted a silly string defense. Then the groom had to sing songs of love and read poems stating his deep feelings.  Somehow the groom lost some of his elegance when he was wearing various colors of silly string from his black jacket. It was hard to be taken seriously with blue silly strings dangling from the ears. Red carpets were placed for the bride and groom to walk on. Flowers were everywhere. Parents of the bride presented the couple with gold jewelry as part of the rituals. The dinner party part was attended by more than a thousand people. There was a ceremony around setting up the marriage bed. Children were brought in to jump on the bed so the newly married couple would be sure to have children. Lanterns were hung with candles lit in them. Food was set out for spirits that might be waiting around for the ceremonies to begin. All the guests at the dinner party were toasted, table by table. Three changes of clothes were made by the bride, all meant something different. Of course, she wore the lucky red shoes. Changing his shirt once, the  groom only had one black suit to contend with and no red shoes.  All very exciting, all very fun..  

 

I am now visiting some friends in Wuhan. I haven’t seen them in a while. So it is good to catch up on old news and new happenings too. One of my earliest students is working in Wuhan, and just happened to run into him. Made me feel like I have roots in China, when I know my roots are across the ocean. Wuhan is the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Wu. Somehow, it has lost its ancient flavor. Now, it is a dirty, traffic ridden city….However, it does have stores that carry western goods. So there are the up sides to Wuhan. Have to think about what they are, naw, just kidding. Wuhan is okay to visit. However, I would not want to live here. Hope you all are ready for which ever holiday you celebrate… so Happy Holidays… till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 04:21 | link | comments |
china, living in china

December 1, 2007

Xiangfan is on edge. At least the Xiangyang side of the Han River is uneasy. It seems as though there is a serial killer on the loose. He has slain five women, all wearing red jackets. It is interesting to me to watch the pragmatic Chinese people when the news lets them in on some real happenings. My friend called all her sisters-in-law and told them all not to wear red. She was almost in panic mode. She told me about reading the flyer that is being posted by the police. That has to be a first. In the years I have been in China, I have never seen flyers like that posted. My friend was telling me about the latest lady killed had been out shopping with her friend after dark. When they walked home they noticed that someone was following them.  They split up when they reached the first one's house and then the lone woman hurried home. She was his next victim. I made a comment about that was pretty stupid on her part. My friend looked at me like I had lost all my marbles. I explained that if these ladies knew they were being followed they should have turned around and went back to where there were lots of people.  Both of them would probably still be alive instead of just one. And quite possibly they could have seen who the person was or what the person following them looked like and gone to the police. My friend, then told me that another lady had been followed home by supposedly the same man. He tied this lady up and was getting ready to slit her throat when the lady's son and sister came home. The would be killer managed to slip away without the sister or son seeing him. But that lady was able to give the police a good description and a composite drawing was made.  I looked at my friend and said, again, the lady was foolish for going to home when she knew someone was following her...she should have gone to a neighbors or something. My friend said that she never thought about not going home or turning around and going where there is people. Chinese people would not think about going to their neighbors. That just isnt done. I love my Chinese friends, however, sometimes I don't quite understand their mindset. Wouldnt you think if someone is out there killing  women in red jackets, you would know not to be alone after dark? Wouldnt you quit wearing red jackets? Wouldnt you consider going where there are lots people and lights? Where is common sense here? I think sometimes, that having the government, past and present, completely controlling the populations has taken away the ability of thinking for themselves. Anyway, my friend thought my advice was good and she passed it on to her sisters-in-law...and maybe her friends.  Hopefully, the police will catch the guy soon. Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 00:26 | link | comments |
china, living in china, xiangfan

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