A Huge Change, Some Happy News -- Shirley's 94th Friendly Greeting -- Sun, July 1, 2007

Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? Have you had a good week? I do hope that you are well and have had a relaxed weekend.

Today, July 1, is a great day for China because it is the 10th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. It also is a happy day for me too because my son has come back to China for a holiday.

Just 10 year ago, on the same day in 1997, he was one of a group of pupils to welcome and to give a send off to the Chinese Army as it passed through Shenzhen on its way to Hong Kong. I sent him to join his group and I watched at him on the other side of the street. As soon as the Army left, I ran across the street to catch him for worrying that I might lose him in the midnight crowd.

I remember every happy time that he has brought me: how he ate with a spoon for the first time, how he carried a bottle of drink by himself for the first time; how he reminded me to teach him to recite a Tang Poem before going to sleep; how he asked me to allow him to come back home from school alone; how he bought the first bread for me when I was sick; how he massaged me when my head ached, how he wrote his composition, called Both of Mother and Son of the Same Heart, to Decorate Our New Home and how he sent me a gift or made an international telephone call to say happy birthday to me ...

Also I remember the saddest time, when he said to me " Mom, I’ve just looked at all the toys on the counter and I do not want any of them", after I had slapped him on his face the first and last time in whole of our lives. That was in 1988, he was 2 years old, after buying something for him and he wanted a toy chicken that could lay eggs. The chicken was 12 RMB, about 1.5 US dollars, but at that time, it was a too expensive toy for his mother to buy, for my monthly salary was 205 RMB as a college teacher (then, all the Chinese people who held the same position got the same salary) and I was supporting his father who was studying for his masters degree and raising a baby at the same time. He did not want to go away no matter what I said to him so that I carried him away and beat him. I wept for a long time that day and I could not understand why I could not offer my child such a little toy costing so little money when I was a college teacher who had had a good education and worked so hard.

I was lucky enough that in 1991 I came to Shenzhen, the city where the reforms and opening started, as a window and an experimental place in China. After a period of extra hard work and a difficult life road (I worked for 15 hours every day and had only bread and water for my lunch), in 1993 I passed the city examination. Both my son and I qualified as the formal residents of Shenzhen. My monthly salary was raised and was now 4 digits and then in 1998, it was over 5 digits and I entered the high salary level. Right now, I have my own home, a car, a successful career and a comfortable life. My son has started his 6th year as an international student. Meanwhile, inland, people’s lives have had a huge change. My brother has had his own company, cars and house. My niece will be in Korea for her holiday in with a group of middle school students while my son is in China. Meanwhile, my sister's daughter will start her studying for her master’s degree in the bioengineering field in September.

Then, what has changed China and the life of Chinese people so much? It is the policy of reforming and opening in China. To learn something advanced from the developed countries and the other cultures, to correct the weakness in our country and our culture. To push the society forward by improving productivity through hard work and talent is our responsibility, day and night.

I am happy that the education in the Western culture has brought my son some good qualities. He knows how to make a financial plan before moving to a place to live. He stayed at his university during the Christmas holiday to work and study more. Instead of accepting a new laptop or extra money from me, he changed his new computer with the money that he had made in his holiday while he learned 3 new lessons. As a young boy who is only 20, he has made his life plan: to work while continuing to study for his master’s degree after getting his bachelor degree abroad.

I am happy for the lovely change in China. I appreciate my motherland for the benefit that her reforming and opening has brought Chinese people, my son and me. I have confidence in my country and our next generation.

How about you and your family? Has change in your country brought you any benefit?

I am just a learner in art, music, English, French and work on the web site in my free time. Anyway, I would really like to share a little of what I have learned to make this little web site to be An Electronic Bridge Of Cultural Exchange, Friendship and Language Learning. During the process I hope to help others and to improve myself.

I do appreciate your understanding, direction and support. I do hope to get your great help continuously, now and in the future...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcome to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley
Written and Edited on Sun, July 1, 2007