July 29, 2009

Someone asked me what the sidewalk water painter in yesterday’s batch of photos was doing--the painting is, I understand, a form of meditation & exercise. I’ve seen three or four men, in various places around town, creating such art. They are writing ancient verses in old style calligraphy--truly beautiful work, and certainly a reminder that things ephemeral can contain a world of meaning.

Which makes me think of Susan, one of my students. After my initial slide show, where I introduced myself and showed pictures of my family, my town and my few little spring plantlings, Susan came to class with her Powerpoint introducing herself. In it she mentioned that she loves to garden--indoors, in pots. A few days later she brought in oh, maybe two dozen pictures of her plants. Each one is so lovingly cared for, each one is treasured. She had taken some macro shots of tiny little delicate white flowers on one of her tiny plants--the whole thing only a few inches high. She glowed with pride as she looked at her beautiful pictures and told me about her garden.

Today’s classes were good, and once again I remember that I do know some things about teaching. In the adult class, we talked about the recession and how it is affecting ordinary Americans. We discussed questions about what has happened to the world economy and what our countries need to do to get us all out of this slump. Lots of interesting viewpoints--that there is a natural ebb & flow and we’re in an ebb, that there are some greedy people who wrecked the market with sub-prime mortgages, that it’s one of the prices we pay in America for a free market. These professors are so well-informed, literate, and serious--it’s a pleasure to teach them. I ended the time with giving them a pretend American family to budget for--total income (two parents working) was $108K, mortgage payments of $1100, twins 12 years old. We discussed braces for teeth, car loans, cable & utility bills, water heaters bursting, clothing needs. Every single one of the class members made putting money into savings the primary goal of the budget. When I threw at them that the family is hit with a 20% loss in income because of the work week being cut to four days, there was discussion about what could be eliminated (not as many new clothes, cut the cable) so the savings could continue.

One of the class members said that we should look at how much healthier the family will be: the parents will be home an extra day, being able to spend more time with the children. They will eat tastier and more nutritious meals at home instead of wasting money going out once or twice a week. And everyone can take long walks in the part together, increasing fitness.

Jasen gave his Powerpoint presentation on his family tree, and it was so beautiful and moving, many of us shed tears. (I asked him for a copy, which I have and will share if you want--just let me know.) He started with his great-grandfather, and noted two older aunts “who married, moved to their husbands’ homes far away, and we never heard from them again.” He talked about his grandfather, born in 1923, who became a Communist and follower of Mao before the New Country began in 1949. Grandfather was an outspoken, quick-tempered man, and perhaps for that reason he was stripped of party membership and exiled for ten years during the Cultural Revolution. He died in 1999 but, after investigation, the Party reinstated him posthumously and his widow was granted a pension. Jasen said how sad the family was that Grandfather did not live to know his Party had welcomed him back.

In the younger students’ class, I asked the kids if they knew any American holidays. In a couple of minutes, they called out ten of them. How many of us can name any Chinese holiday--New Year’s, maybe--but when is it? When I mentioned this incident today at dinner at Ying’s grandparents’ house, her father said, “Developing countries always must know everything about the countries they wish to emulate: African nations look to China, China looks to the United States.”

Yes, tonight is when we were honored with an invitation to eat with Ying’s grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, & cousins. Goodness! There are few words to describe this remarkable evening. The menu alone was amazing. All the sisters-in-law cooked (and I think they had been preparing the meal all day.) Having learned that Kacie likes dumplings, they made hundreds of them--pork and beef. They were so delicious, Kacie ate ten. Duo ate 20, and others boasted that they used to eat 30 or 40, but tonight wouldn’t eat so many. For me they made Kung Pao chicken & they served three green vegetables--green beans, asparagus, and a romaine-like lettuce with a dressing gently poured on it. There was a beef with peppers dish, a kielbasa-like sausage from their home province north of Vladivostock, vegetable balls, steamed pumpkin, chicken wings, chicken legs, and sushi. For dessert, there was honeydew melon, native to Lanzhou, the city from which the family moved 12 years ago when Mr. Liu got his job in Beijing.

Ying’s father, an architect and director of his company, speaks no English but manages to communicate with some translation, lots of gestures, and expressive facial expressions. He was funny and affable, a wonderful host. I again mentioned my thanks that his uncle Liu Laoshi, had given me a private Tai Chi lesson. Everyone asked me to demonstrate what I had learned. Oh dear: I was reluctant to do so, not wishing to embarass myself or dishonor Liu Laoshi by my lack of grace. Finally I did get up and do a few moves, and Mr. Liu jumped up next to me and did the moves, too. (Ying knew her father was a Tai Chi master, but hadn’t seen him do any in years and years.) I stopped my actions but Mr. Liu kept going, ending up being very very funny (while still graceful and oh-so-expressive.) Luckily, cameras were making movies of all of this. When he drove us home, Duo told us that he has never seen his uncle so relaxed and funny!

Ying’s family, over and over again, told us that we now have a home in Beijing. They asked to see pictures of my grandchildren--which of course was no problem--and all four received many compliments. Mr. Liu said to me, “You are the grandmother to many children,” a compliment I received with gratitude. He then asked when I would please bring the older boys to Beijing. I told him I will figure something out...I was blessed with a kiss from the 13-month old Zoe, who also said “Mummu!” (Everyone liked my Finnish grandmother name, and the older women all called me that throughout the eveing!) Zoe waved bye-bye when we left, and the entire clan walked us to the elevator to say goodbye.

We have two more days of teaching--it will be sad to say good-bye to our remarkable first group of students. But we already have plans to go to a couple of tourist sites with them on Saturday and Sunday and supper, lunch, and shopping plans for next week!

Whew. Thanks for reading.