Saturday, January 3, 2009

Coming to China for a second time has made so many things possible. Although it may seem that going on the same tours and seeing the same tourist destinations for a second time may not be as exhilarating as the first time, it has allowed me a significant amount of time for thought. Rather than feeling the need to capture each moment with my camera, seeing everything again gives me time to thoroughly process it. I’ve been able to sit back and watch everyone react to China for their first time.

This morning, during a visit to an old-style Hutong residence, I remembered why I returned to China. We arrived at the home by way of rickshaw and were welcomed by an older woman. We all gathered in a larger room in her home, which was heated by an electric heater—a change from coal heating just two years ago. As she began speaking, our translator spoke: “The lady says, ‘My life is very interesting. I have fish, turtles, and a dog. Oh, and I have a pomegranate tree too. All the seeds mean a plentiful life and one full of many children—more seeds, more children. No wonder there are so many people in China,’” she joked. She went on to explain the significance of a courtyard home. “Here we get energy from the Earth,” she explained.

Our new friend then brought out a ceramic container with a lid on it. She pulled out a chair, bent down, took the lid off, and began shaking it out on the chair. Nothing came out. Picking it up again and squinting, she looked inside, laughing to herself. She shook it more, and grasshopper slowly crawled out. Our translator spoke: “The lady says, ‘Grasshoppers are good luck. They bring happiness, a good health, and wealth.’” She tried to put it back in its ceramic home, but it kept crawling out. Laughing, she tried to blow it in. After a few minutes it crawled back down in its home and she finally got the lid on. Looking at the closed ceramic, she shook her head and laughed.

Although the tourist destinations are incredible, it is the people that make China such a unique nation.

Respectfully submitted by Jake Stortini

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