– Not really interested in politics. What’s the point if you have no say in any decisions? “We can’t even vote like you can in your country”. No one is enthralled with their government, but there is a resigned acceptance of the realities they have to live with.

– Not interested in religion in the conventional sense. “In China the educated believe in nothing, and the uneducated believe in everything!” However, superstitions continue to abound, even among young people, especially in the form of wordplay. For example the number 4 when spoken, sounds like the word death, so 4 is an unlucky number! There are many examples of this kind of thing. Auspicious symbols include bats (luck or prosperity), peaches, pine trees and cranes (longevity), ducks (marital fidelity), bamboo (Confucian virtues), dragons (male power), and phoenixes (female power). Colors too are important, Red, the color of fire, and gold, the color of money, are used extensively for decorations, weddings and festive occasions. White traditionally represents death, although the western style white wedding dress is becoming more popular here as well. Yellow was reserved for Emperors, and is the color of heaven.

Feng Shui is an essential part of Chinese life. Literally meaning wind and water, it is crucial for the balance of energy in any given space. The concept is based on Taoist vision and understanding of nature, namely that the earth is alive and filled with chi – energy.

So obviously, I have learned a lot from my students, but it was good for them to have to express all of the above in English. Mostly they wanted to talk about dating. love and marriage – at least the girls did!  Parental approval for marriage is still very important. If the parents dislike the partner their son/daughter has chosen, it’s the end of the relationship. Girls still feel it’s not their world even if they have an education, and that only men have the opportunity to become leaders. Women in China still have a long way to go!

The other night Howard and I had a lovely encounter with a young boy. We were sitting outside at the French Cafe, when this young lad approached us, and in perfect English asked if he might speak with us, because he needed to practice speaking English. He told us he was from another city, but was in Kunming for piano and singing lessons. We commented on his excellent English skills, and he modestly said it was because he had a very good teacher. He was 10 years old, and had only taken English for one year. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up he said, “I have a dream to go to America. I want to study at Harvard University, and I want to be a famous scientist”. I think this kid will some day be president of Harvard!. He thanked us, and continued  on his way. His father stood in the background, and bowed deeply to us, saying thank you.

The sights and sounds continue to (mostly) enthrall or amaze us! Yesterday walking to the market, one of the restaurant workers was washing raw chicken on the sidewalk, and finished by pouring the dirty bloody water on the sidewalk. Most everything gets poured or dumped on the sidewalk! Then we also observed a lady buying fresh (live!) eels at the market. It was fascinating to watch the vendor bang the eel’s head against a wooden block to stun it, then cut it open and let it hang there, dripping blood for a few minutes before the customer put it into her shopping bag! I’m glad I wasn’t invited to her house for dinner!

Speaking of dinner, Howard is taking me out for a birthday dinner tonight (don’t have time tomorrow) to the wonderful Green Lake Hotel. The food is definitely western (no eels), with  wine and linen tablecloths! I can’t wait!

Till next week,

Maggie

ps Just after I finished writing the above, our dear Olivia (Translator, Howard’s assistant, and most helpful person in so many ways)stopped by with a beautiful birthday cake for me. Having had our passports off and on, she knows our birth dates. I was very moved by her kind gesture, and we had a lovely glass of champagne and cake together.