This blog is my thoughts on many things and about my adventures of living and traveling in China.
Name: Carole Morris
Living in China for more than 6 years, I have had the chance to travel far and see much. I love to share what I have seen and experienced as well as every day life in China as an expat, with all those who wish to read my blog.
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I read in the news this morning about a teacher in China that was arrested and thrown in prision for putting pictures of the earthquake victims on the internet without the government's permission(http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/4838184). Liu Shaokun has been sentenced to a year of re-education in a labor camp because he posted pictures of fallen schools. He is accused of inciting subversion. He showed that China does not always have such a "harmonious society" after all. When all the news was focused on China's reaction to the parents of the school children, I, among other foreigners, had our doubts as to the sincerity of the government to find fault among the leaders. And this shows exactly what China's government does. If one has any power or guanxi (relationship) in China, one can literally get away with murder. Government leaders talk out of both sides of their mouths. It can never been counted to do what is right for the little people. Parents of those slain children are now being forced to accept money and no answers. Access to the crumbled schools has been cut off, as well. The lawyer representing the parents has been thrown in jail, too. So they will never get the answers they deserve.
On the other side of the coin, I enjoy living in everyday China. I love my Chinese friends. I like practicing my fledging Chinese language speaking ability with shop vendors. I think being able to walk into the past is wonderful. I think being in villages that are full of people living such simple lives is an experience we should all have. They are incredible people who have had to deal with burdens, we, in the west cannot even imagine. I have felt humbled by students that tell me how I have made them realize things that changed their lives. Now, I must decide if I want to go back and work in a country whose government exploits its people so blatantly. Will I be able to close my eyes to such things? I dont know. I have a few months to decide. Till next time.
Not long after writing my previous post, I received an email from a former collegue. His news is not the kind of news one wants to receive. While we were teaching at a college in Guangzhou, he was diagnosed with TB. He went through the treatements. There were days when we (the other teachers and I ) wondered if he was going to make it. Medicines given to him caused some very severe reactions. Days of no appetite, high fevers and everything else, never dampened his incredible spirit or love of teaching. He is one of those who never has forgot how to play and he does, often. His rapport with the students is legendary. I, for one, loved hearing his stories about Scotland and England... as well as his former job in Sichuan Province. I told him when I left the school, that I expected to keep hearing his stories even when miles separated us.
It seems as though he not only fought TB, but lung cancer got its hold on him. His email today said that the cancer had attacked the lining of his lungs. He, maybe, has 6 months to a year and a half to live. Of course, he may just beat the disease, too. With his determination, I would not be surprised at all. He begins chemotherapy in a couple weeks. Here's to his responding well to the treatments. Please send good thoughts and wishes to Stephen Gillingham of Derby, England. May his stories never end... till next time.
I have been stateside for a couple of weeks now. I think since I have been here, it has rained everyday but 2 or 3. Alaska has wonderful long days in the summertime. However, when it is raining every day those long summer days do not feel so good when all you see is gray skies. The up side is the forest fire danger is almost non exisitent. This morning as I look out the window, I can actually see blue sky... so maybe today, it will be sunny. We sure need to see the sun.
I look everyday at the weather in my places of interest in China, such as Wuhan or Xiangfan. I heard from my American friend in Xiangfan that has been raining there to the point the Han River has been flooding parts of the city. He lives in the Fancheng side, and he said they were even without power because of the floods. I have always managed to be gone when floods happen there. I read that a typhoon hit Taiwan and was headed for the southern part of China. So maybe, it wouldn't matter if I had stayed in China. I would have experienced rain there, too.
Being home in Alaska is nice. However, I do miss China. I want to go eat noodles from a street shop for breakfast. I want to travel to places and not have to spend my whole vacation fund just for transportation. I miss doing tai chi in the park with strangers that become instant friends. I want to see my Chinese friends. Till next time.
I have a friend in Portland, Oregon, who would (when I was in China) and still does share some of the things he experienced when he worked for Northwest Airlines in Japan. In fact, there were times when I would mention the news from Air Belgium or other world press news organizations and many of my readers would tell me not to believe the "Chinese Press" or they just didnt believe the story. My friend, Skip, would write to me that other friends of his, living in other places in the world would tell him the same things. Or he would tell me a story of a similar happening when he lived in Japan. He was the one person I could count on to get the straight story...and never biased. Skip and I do not look at politics the same way, so I really appreciated the fact that he told both sides to whatever story. When I go back to China, he gets to keep that job. Recently, I lamented that the return to the USA wasnt so easy. He wrote back to me..."Don't fight the adjustment to the old country. Treat it like a trip to Disneyland. With all of its damned warts, stupid politicos, silly populace, foolish preferences, the U.S.A. has a lot of favorable things going." I think that is probably the truest statement going and the best advice.
On the Seattle to Anchorage leg to my trip, I sat next to a lady traveling with her grandchildren. We struck up a conversation. She is a long time Alaskan resident. We compared memories of the old road to the Matanuska Valley, Palmer, and Wasilla along with the old days in Alaska, before oil. She asked me where I started from. I told her Wuhan, Hubei, China. She then told me she was a travel agent and proudly bragged about how she helps her traveling church members get Bibles into China. I told her that wasnt exactly legal. I, also, told her that it made it bad for the ones of us who were there honestly as teachers. We werent covering up missionary work. She came back with somebody had to do it. I told her, no they don't. I said the Chinese are fine the way they are. They are not damaged property that needed fixed. She immediately stopped all conversation with me. Which was fine with me. I just wonder, do these same people embrace foreigners who come into the United States with the express purpose of breaking the law while they are here? What gives any religious group the right to break China's law? Does the God of their hearts or their religion condone breaking another country's law for the sake of a church? I have real trouble with that concept. Till next time.
I have been back in the USA for a week now. I must say a few things surprised me upon returning. First, I must say, I am astounded at the number of HUGE people, I see here. I am not a small person. I stand 5'6" tall, and weigh in more than I should. I could stand to lose a few pounds. However, I see people here that are absolutely huge...no other word fits. Some of these people make me look tiny. Chinese people are by and large, small people. Yao Ming is a tall man, but his bone structure isnt all that big. Even the "big" Chinese people are slight of build. Collectively, I would say that the west should go on a diet.
Another thing that surprises me, the amount of choices...just plain, the amount of choices. I went into Walmart here at home and actually felt overwhelmed. My goodness, do we really need all these choices in say, canned goods? How is Hunts tomatoes all that different than Libby's? The "old competition keeps prices down" doesnt seem to fit at all. I did not find prices all that low. For example, a small lamp used to light the area where you are reading is more than $10 in the Walmart store. In China, the same lamp is 7 remenbi...or in US terms, $1.00. In Walmart's, I saw so many things that I walked out of there feeling a little on the confused side. Maybe, China's simplicity is better.
Supermarket vegies do not even come close to the freshness of the early morning vegie markets in China. Buying directly from the farmer beats the grocery store version anytime. And a whole lot more fun.
In China, we have McDonald's, KFC, and Subway. In Anchorage as with most US cities, there is the three mentioned, plus Arby's, Dariqueen, Carl Jr's...plus many more hamburger shops. No noodle shops for breakfast. Supermarkets seem to have an Oriental food section, even ready to eat, hot food... but I dont know which country the food supposedly comes from. I tried the Sichuan chicken and it wasnt even spicy. I mentioned that Sichuan cuisine was very spicy... the manager told me that wouldn't sell in the United States.
It is good to see my family. Sure, the towns have grown some, but the changes are not as drastic as I thought they would be. It is good to breathe air that isnt full of the black stuff so prevalent in China. I can walk up to a faucet and get a drink of water. Public potties actually have doors. I am glad to be home to see everyone and to go fishing. Alaska has some of the best fishing in the world. My family took me down to the Kenai peninsula for dip netting red salmon. Scenery was gorgeous. Trash along side the road and in campgrounds was non existent. China could take a lesson on that respect. Kenai, Russian and Kasilof Rivers were so clean and clear plus very cold because they come off of ice fields. After the looking at the Yangtze, it was a treat to see them. And wild life here is more than the locals on baijiao. We saw 3 moose inside of an hour. We also, saw a bear along the river bank, and a grey fox. Water in the lake at the campground where we camped was so clear that we could take a picture of the bottom. Water was about 1 and 1/2 meters deep. However, we could see to the bottom clearly.
I must admit, I do still miss China and especially my Chinese friends. Till next time.
After five days of traveling and visiting, I finally made it back to my hometown, Anchorage. Alaska is as beautiful as when I left her. Exception might be made for the many new buildings that interfere with the views of mountains. However, while it is good to be back in the USA, I can honestly say that I miss China and my friends there.
I took the fast train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Now, ladies and gentlemen, that is the way to go from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Get on the train, go through customs in Guangzhou to exit China. Go through customs on disembarking the train entering Hong Kong. It took just a little over an hour to make the trip. By bus, the same trip is over 3 hours.
I think the Olympics are coming sooner than advertised...the taxi drivers charged me five Hong Kong dollars for each of my bags over and above the fare. I told the drivers that they were rip offs. I dont think they appreciated that, but I didnt appreciate the charge. When I left to go to the airport , it was raining...2 tall cows rain. What irked me was the driver sat comfortably dry in his car while I struggled, putting my bags in his trunk. Then he wanted to charge me for my bags. I told him I wasnt paying it since he did not help me with my bags. I can just imagine what the Olympic visitors will go through in China. They will be ripped off every way you can imagine. Inflated hotel prices, inflated food prices and 5 dollar extra charge for each bag. My friend, Brian, had a taxi driver in Beijing, ask him to help him learn two phrases... "the meter is broken" and "where's my tip?". The Olympics might show the worst side of China. Anyway, knowing her black side, I still miss her. Till next time.
I am in transit....I am sitting in the airport in Tokyo, Japan....waiting for the flight to Seattle. I have so many mixed emotions going on... I feel a little "turbulent". The weather is even fitting my mood. The flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo was a bit bumpy. We bounced along the sky highway in a Boeing 400. Quite a huge plane. I still have about 12 hours or more ahead of me. I am anxious to see my friends and family, but I really didnt want to leave China. Anyway, time is short so this will be, too. Till next time..
In a few hours, I will board a plane to go to the US for a visit. I have every intention of coming back so I am not sure why I feel so bad about leaving. I had planned to spend the summer in Xiangfan and surrounding area. Then a few things happened that caused me to change my mind. None of which are going to be discussed here, now. I think I have mentioned them before. I know I am going to miss many things and people while I am gone. However, I won't miss being stared at. I won't miss the incredibly super wet summer weather when one spends part of every hour in the shower to get rid of the sticky feeling. I will not miss the rubbish that is everywhere.I will not miss the crowds of people all trying to get on the bus at the same time, while they all are trying to crowd into front of the line. I will not miss the horrific traffic jams that occur because there are no traffic laws (or seem to be no laws). I will not miss the lack of common courtesy of many people. I will not miss being unable to see blue sky...because of the humidity, the skies seem white. I will not miss being unable to take clear pictures because of the haziness in the air from the humidity. I will not miss the pollution. I will not miss having the internet censored. I definately will miss my friends. I will miss being able to train taiji with an incredible teacher. I will miss not being able to explore an ancient place or different cultured people such as the Miao. If, I didnt mention it, I will miss my friends. Yes, there are many things that I will miss... as well as not miss. On the flip side, I will get to see my family. I am sure they all have grown older, as have I. I will get to eat fresh wild salmon and halibut. I will be able to drink water from the tap, and not worry about what might be in it. I will look at Alaska's mountains through clean air and see real blue sky. I will be able to read the signs and a newspaper. I might even get to see somewhat orderly traffic. I will probably understand the language that is being spoken...you think? Till next time.
Happy Independence Day to us USA'ns. Of course, it is almost past, but better late than forgetting it altogether.
Yesterday, I had to go to Hankou for the second day in a row. It is an hour's bus ride across town. Wuhan, as I have explained before, is made up of three cities. Hankou is the business center of the area. Wuchang is considered the arts and learning center. I am not sure what Hanyang has for its claim to fame. I took a bus to the Hankou side of the Yangtze side of the river and then got a taxi to take me where I needed to go. Unfortunately, I had my first experince in China with a dishonest taxi driver. I have heard about people who have had really rotten experiences with taxi drivers, but until yesterday, in my 6 plus years,I had been spared. I had had my friend put the address into Chinese as a message on my cel/mobile phone so I could show a driver where I needed to go. Driver #1 looked at the message, shook his head, yes, and off we went. Since I know nothing about Hankou, I had no idea if I was close or far from my end destination. A long while later, I got a call from the person I was going to see asking me where I was. I had absolutely no clue. I looked at my watch and realized I had been in this taxi for more than 30 minutes. The driver was alternatively, either yelling into his cel/mobile phone or on the 2 way radio that some taxis now have. He didnt seem to be paying much attention to the driving or where he was. I pointed to my watch and he grunted. We went around a couple more corners and he stopped, pointed at a run down building and said I should get out. This was where I was suppose to be. Wrong! I just knew it was wrong. Of course,the taxi driver had sped off as soon as the car door shut. Not having the slightest idea where I was or where I should be, I felt a little defeated. Some young men came out of a building and I stopped them. I showed them the address on my text message. While they were discussing the whereabouts of the address I needed, a small group of people had started to gather.. A couple of them got into quite a conversation about where I should be. Then, one of the young men stopped me another taxi and told the driver where I needed to go. I got in and in less than 10 minutes, the new driver delivered me right to the correct door. Even though the first driver was not honest it turned out okay. Those people on the street were considerate and very helpful. I find that alot in China. If you are foreign and lost, then usually someone will try to help you. Even if they cannot speak your language and you cannot speak theirs. That group of people was just plain nice and I felt very grateful. The person I went to see, showed me where to catch a bus back across the river to Wuchang. So alls well that ends well. Till next time.
First, let me say belated, Happy Canada Day to my Canadian readers.
I went to Xiangfan for a few days to see my friends before I head for Alaska for a vacation. I found it alot harder to leave than I thought it would be. I like Xiangfan, alot. I always feel like I am home in Xiangfan. My best friend's brother, recently, moved back to his roots from Shenzhen. He and his wife are starting a small convenience store. The space, they rented, is their store and their living quarters. According to tradition, family and friends are invited to eat the first meal in the new space. I am lucky enough to be considered family, so I got invited.
I sat in the evenings with another group of friends and let life pass by in the warm air, drinking cool drinks and chatting with the passerbys. I went to my favorite open air, early morning market just to drink in the sights, smells and sounds. Cold, sterile supermarkets have nothing on the morning markets. Piles of vegetables, clucking chickens, fish flopping in pans of water, and the wonderful smells all blending together. Fresh peaches are so fragrant in the early morning air. Onions smell pungent, as do peppers or chiles. Imagine, the cinnamon and anise stars putting off their spicy aromas. Ahhhhhhhh smells so good. Lots of eggplants and green vegies are everywhere. Fresh pork hangs waiting to be bought. Bean curd products all lined up on tables. Tofu or doufu as it's called in China, sits there all nice and white. Soy milk is freshly made and drinks so good. As you wander on through, you eventually come to the local eating shops...in the mornings you can get hot beef noodles, or ruga mi'an...which is noodles and sesame paste sauce, or you can get a kind of pancake. Bouza are filled dumplings, they smell good in the fresh air and taste the same. Plus,you can listen to people bantering, and bartering over the cost of a cuke or tomato or bunch of greens. You need a crock to slow cook soup...there's a place to buy those, or a spool of thread. You can take a new broom home, if that is what you desire. What ever you want for lunch and dinner, you can get in this melee of sounds and sights.
I went to my favorite hair cutter, and got my hair fixed up... and cut off. I saw old friends and waved to new. I said so long, for awhile through a lot of tears. I will miss Xiangfan this summer. Compared to Wuhan, in my opinion, Xiangfan is much more fun and filled with life. It will be good to go home and see the changes in everyone and places. But rest assured, part of my heart will stay in Xiangfan. Till next time......
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