To a dearest friend of mine...

Today, is the set up day of my first official show in Chicago.

I did everything by myself, alone, in the wet, cold, snowy day, everything, from finding and carrying each piece of equipment, to designing, organizing, decorating the entire booth... I didn't mind it at all, and in fact, felt quite happy with the end result like the typical me...

Not until I came back home, something suddenly hit me. I remember how much fun it was when you're there with me during my first show in Paris... Oh, those darling memories... We laughed together a lot, got so excited when we found another new idea, or another piece of usable home furniture for the show... We were so proud of our work, together!... Had so much fun!!

I miss you, so much, terribly, suddenly...

I can't help crying, and bury my face in a big tissue ball... sobbing.

What does it mean to me even if I had all the accomplishment in the world , if they're not shared?! Christopher Johnson McCandless spent almost 2 years living in an extreme life in the wild trying to escape from something and search for something else. By the end of his young life, he wrote down one conclusion on his book "Happiness only exists when shared."

Too many times in life, I am torn apart by the emotional attachment to my place, to my friends etc and something else, an invisible force propelling me moving, keep moving, forward, regardless... I questioned myself million times: Why God put such stubbornness in a body of an incredibly sensitive woman like me??!... It's so painful! Too many times! Leave behind, only tears...

My dearest friend, did you ever expect those "little ordinary" things you did would make someone so moved that she remembered long after?... How would you feel if you know that it's ME who miss you SO much!... The moments we had shared somehow embedded deeply somewhere in me, only waiting for the right times and places to bloom...

Love kills.

Even if it's friendship, it's a kind with the most love, kindness, and gentleness inside!

Now, I'm crying... Wish so much you're here... with me, for my show, for our show! I know you will be very proud of me, and we will have so much fun again...

Socks Part 2

I learned a new pattern of socks. I enthusiastically wanted to try to make one for experiment, of course for my own benefit. After three days and three nights hard working, the sock came out too big for my foot. So, I kindly offered it to my dear dad with a cheeky smile, “Big dad, it’s quite cold in the winter time. Look at how nice I am, made a woolen sock for you. Isn’t it cute?” I dangled it in front of him, knowing the heel part of the sock is honestly a little messed up, but green is his favorite color. With this in mind, I’m confident that he would like it—he loves anything green!
“Oh, thank you. Put it there.” He pointed at the table where he always put his computer at.
But after a few days, I didn’t see him wearing it. I wondered, “Dad, how come you don’t wear my gift sock?”
“Well, I have two feet you know, and they could both get cold … but you only gave me one sock. I don’t know which foot to put it on? Left or right ... ?”
I love to see him confused by me, and laughed!

But I don’t let him get away with it. I like to see people wearing my works. So, whenever I am at home, I always check to see if he has my sock on. If not, I would put it on him. He helplessly smiles at those moments and tolerates warming one foot at a time.

It’s true that I love to learn new things and to create, but hate to repeat. After I knew how this pattern worked, I no longer have the desire to reproduce another one just like it—how boring. Thus, I ended up making one of a kind single socks in various styles. Maybe when I knitted enough single socks, my dad could possibly find another one similar enough to wear both at a time.

Garbage Beauty

I was in the shower. “Mom!”
“Yes.” Dad replied outside of the bathroom.
“Mom!” I raised my voice.
“Yes!” Dad raised his voice too.
“I was calling for MOM!” I said.
“It’s the same,” Dad replied calmly. “What’s the matter? How can I help you?”
“Well, I was wondering what I should wear” [for a New Year dinner].
“Aiya! Mother, your grown daughter doesn’t know what to wear! She wants you to tell her what to put on!” Dad immediately reported to Mom as if my question was the stupidest, most unheard-of thing to ask.
“Of course I had to ask! I didn’t know what people normally wear here for this kind of party, and mom never likes my clothes.”
“You should wear summer-dancing clothes. What kind of question is that!?” Dad used his usual sarcasm, and still couldn’t get over the fact I dare even to ask such a question.
“Anything warm! Not like your usual crazy ones!” Mom ran down and shouted outside the bathroom door, eagerly trying to get her message clearly through the door.

They don’t really appreciate my style, and never tried to hide the fact that they dislike almost all of my clothes. It just so happens that there is a clearly mentally ill woman who wraps herself with all kinds of different colored textiles and walks around our district from time to time. I am often fascinated by her sense of color and silhouette. But her way of dressing is a big no-no for others in the district. My mom refers her as “Laji Xishi” (“trash beauty”). “Are you trying to dress like the Laji Xishi downstairs?” she sometimes asks me. I understand her implication. But to be honest, I don’t necessarily think this Laji Xishi has a bad sense of style. On the contrary, I take it as a compliment.

One day, I found an XL man’s sweater in my dad’s closet. I was thrilled to discover this 100 percent wool material with square shaped patterns in front. I cut one piece open right below the front neck line, and flipped to the back of the neck. Then, cut off the two sleeves. I like its convenient style so much that as a big special offer, I told my dad that he can feel free to try it on during my absence in the cold season. “It’s big enough to be put on the top of any clothes—very easy to wear.”
Dad replies unhappily, “I wouldn’t wear it even if you sewed it back!”

--- Wrote during my business trip to Chengdu, to support Chengdoo Magazine "Relationships" issue. Published in Oct 07 (??).

Vogue

I was born into a family of an academicians. Fashion is the least of their concerns. My poor dad has no idea why his daughter would buy a fashion magazine with the hard-to-pronounce title of “Vogue” every month.
Out of curiosity, he secretly opened the first few issues by himself—because my mom wouldn’t be so happy to see her husband looking at almost-naked female models in magazines. He then shared his confusion with my uncle who apparently showed him empathy and support. My dad was shocked by the outrageous prices of some of the luxury products.

Dad: It’s crazy: A handbag almost the same price as a car!?
Me: It’s a luxury good. It represents a dream for some people.
Dad: OK. But to make a car requires a lot of work, a lot of parts, and a lot of mechanical designs … He can talk a lot about a car, being an engineer.
Me: OK. To make a luxury bag too, requires a lot of technical work on special materials …
Dad: In any case, I don’t understand why you have to buy 12 issues every year. Each issue looks the same to me. Maybe you could just buy one, it’s enough.

--- Wrote during my business trip in Chengdu, to support Chengdoo Magazine "Relationships" Issue, published in Oct 07 (??)

Socks

My designs often appear “somehow-strange” to my parents and often cause laughter. During my time in Chengdu, my creations have occasionally landed in my parents’ hands at home. Each time this happens, they start a little conversation to guess what they are, where they come from, and where they should go.

Dad: What’s this? [Picks it up and turns it around to view it from all directions.]
Mom: Socks?
Dad: It’s too huge to be socks.
Mom: Hmm, we’d better not to touch it.
Dad: You’re right. It’s probably one of those weird samples Ping made.

In the evening, I cannot find my hat.
Me: Dad, have you seen my hat?
Dad: We dare not touch anything of yours. So no.

He’s afraid that I will blame him for anything I can’t find. Later, I find my hat’s twin, and I dangle it in front of his face. “Look, a piece like this. I made it from a sleeve.”

Dad: "Hahaha! Your mom and I tried for a long time to figure out what that was! Now I see—it’s a sleeve! Here it is.”

I’m so glad that my parents haven’t given me any torn, dirty rags thinking they must be my artwork. So far.

Toilet Paper

I caught cold a few days ago. Ever since then, our family toilet tissue rolls were “mysteriously” disappearing one by one on a daily basis. Partially, because I always left them somewhere else but inside my bag… Of course, my poor parents have no idea that I found an alternative use of their toilet tissue. So, here’s their private conversation happened to enter my ears:

Dad: “Ping uses toilet tissue like crazy these days. Small butt requires that much paper?”

Mom: “She must have a terrible diarrhea.”

One day, they heard me blowing my nose in front of them. Following that blow, I heard my dad’s self whisper with a wring on his face: “What a heart-breaking, nerve wracking noise!” Another end, came my mom’s voice: “I told her she had a big nose!”

Finally, he couldn’t hold any longer, and asked me directly: “why do you use so much our toilet paper for your nose? There’re plenty of facial tissues out there.”

Me: “Because it works. It’s soft, big quantity in small volume.”

Dad: “But it’s the best quality of toilet paper we bought.” He hinted it’s a waste of their high quality tissue for such an improper use.

Me: “But it’s the best quality nose I have too!”

Dad's Complaints

I am used to work late at the night till early morning. Dad said that my “awkward working schedule had seriously affected” his “body and soul”.

“If I only lived to my 70’s, I would scream out loud for the un-justice of your criminal act in the heaven.”

“If I lived to my 80’s, I would publicly announce your crime on the hospital bed.”

“If I lived to my 90’s, I would complain on the sofa at home.”

“If I live to 100 years old, I … would --- celebrate it with --- an egg.” Then he giggled. I guess he is happy with a sweet dream he waves himself into.

Ceiling Pipes

In my new condo, there are several rooms. But my favorite one is the storage room because I love the exposed pipes in the ceiling. During my recent conversation with my dad, I expressed my love for this tiny room, and called it “a room full of character because of these pipes, reminds me of a loft.”

Clearly, dad didn’t like those ugly pipes, and would like me to use it as a storage room as it was supposed to.

But I still didn’t want to ignore its original favor, “I’ve been thinking of how to use this room to its best to take advantage of the pipes on the ceiling.”

“After you go bankrupt, everyone can hang himself on the top of it.” Dad replied.

--- Dad is always very hypercritical of my little fashion business.

Food & Life

Sleep, sex, and our desire for food are controlled by the same part of the brain: When you lack one, you are wired to compensate with others. 

“Food.” My mind is immediately enlightened. Many ideas burst out with excitement. 

Years ago, upon a return trip to Chengdu, I could not find certain foods I had tasted the year prior. “Oh, it’s because duck tongue is no longer popular. This year, we are into eating goose intestine,” people explained. 

Chinese cuisines in China keep up with changing times, culture, and modernity. But outside of China, Chinese restaurants remain unchanged for generations. Partly, it’s because the Chinese overseas are nostalgic, and they prefer old ways of cooking to bring back memories. 

But there’s a more practical reason: Chinese cuisine was exported as early as the late 19th century. At that time, opening restaurants was a way for these immigrants—many of whom came from Guangdong and Fujian provinces with no skills or education—to simply make a living. None were trained as professional chefs. That’s why you’ll never find “chop suey” (a term derived from the Cantonese for “mixed vegetables”) anywhere in China. But thanks to this exotic looking invention, many hardworking Chinese were able to survive and proliferate despite a lack of updated menus.

How excited I was upon my first arrival in America, seeing so many different types of cuisines from different countries! With such a diversity of cultures co-existing, I thought it must be a very interesting place to be, offering tremendous freedom to choose! 

Yet I made the conscious decision to continue eating my own country’s food on a near-daily basis as a way to remind myself of my heritage. 

Nowadays, in the meat sections of American supermarkets, you see more and more organs and body parts of animals due to the ever-growing number of immigrants. One day, I saw a package with two peculiar pieces of meat inside. I couldn’t figure out what it was from the label. Out of curiosity, I asked an employee. “It’s pig testicles,” he said. 

”What!? Who would eat them?” I asked. The guy shrugged his shoulders and walked away. While I was still in shock, an African American man walked by and grabbed them on his way to the cashier. 

Food, for sure, gives you a taste of culture, reflecting history and people. “Spicy girls,” for instance, is a phrase often used to describe Sichuan’s women. The phrase has a triple meaning: the spicy characteristic of our Sichuan cuisine; Sichuan girls’ renowned appearance; and their work ethic, which is said to match that of their beauty. 

Food not only reflects a culture’s past; it also reflects how people view their lives. French and Italians view their culinary culture as an art, an expression of joy. They take time to select quality materials, pay attention to their cooking, and really enjoy the food. When they are dealing with people, they are also the same way: taking time to know a person. 

To me, Americans view food as medicine. In an international supermarket, if you see people checking labels for a product’s nutrition information, most likely, they’re American. American celebrities regularly announce their newest diet discoveries. It seems to have become an eternal topic on the TV alongside news of “the war on terrorism.” 

But does all this education, research, and advertising stop our poor eating habits? One image pops into mind—an image I’ve observed at every office and clinic I’ve worked at: My American colleagues coming back to grab more candy or chocolate from the desk, always guiltily saying to themselves (just loud enough to be heard), “Oh, I know, I know, I shouldn’t do it.” 

From time to time, I hear Chinese women saying the same thing: “How I wish to eat it, but I can’t put more into my ‘fat’ body.” And then they truly don’t touch the food. 

What would I do? More like an American, or a Chinese? I guess it would depend on how good the food is. 

Food is often associated with many happy memories. It reaches deep in our emotions. Growing up in a busy Chinese family, dinnertime was always sacred as it might be the only time we spent as a whole family each day. My mom is an excellent Sichuan-style cook. Every Saturday dinner was the time for the entire family to get together at Grandma’s house—the happiest moment of the week. Cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents … so much fun, such good food. I learned so much growing up just from listening to the adults talk. 

As I never ate alone before I started to live on my own, the loneliness and the silence during meal time when I first went to the U.S. was unbearable. For years, I ate out almost every lunch and dinner, just to be among people—even if they were strangers—until I got so sick just from the smell of restaurant products miles away. 

God, I miss my grandma’s cooking! “Why didn’t we ever write down Grandma’s recipes?” I used to say to myself. But now, I understand: It’s not only about the food. It’s the taste of a happy family. Even if I did write down Grandma’s recipes, the Saturday-night dinners wouldn’t be the same. 

Have you ever asked yourself: How do you usually serve food? And eat food? Do you give the best to your guests, to your loved ones, or to yourself? Do you eat the best food first or save the best for last? The answers may reveal how you relate to others, and your attitude toward life.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Chinese farmer bent over in the field, facing sun and rain day after day, or a fisher on the Dutch coast catching king crabs on dangerous stormy nights: “谁知盘中餐，粒粒皆辛苦*” (Do you know on a plate of rice/Every grain is yielded by toil?). I am not religious, but I am very touched every time I see my religious friends give thanks for the food before eating. What a great attitude to have for something we could easily take for granted!

Food is a universal language shared across the boundaries of nationality. It brings us closer. If “above all nations is humanity,” then, I would say “Behind humanity, there has to be food.” 

Food goes beyond ingredients: it brings our culture, history, people, memories, and attitude toward life in general back to us, and mixes them all in a compact visual form. Life is beautiful anyway. With good food, it is even better.

*Shéi zhī pánzhōngcān, lìlì jiē xīnkǔ is a line from Tang Dynasty poet Li Shen’s (李绅) “Empathy for the Farmer” (“悯农”).

--- Wrote to support Chengdoo Magazine "Eat & Drink" issue. Published in Nov 07 (??).

Ping's Report (5) Before Beijing Olympics

My dear friends,

It's been a long time since my last report. I feel sorry that I couldn't write another report like before to update the progress after the earthquake in China in a timely manner as I wished. 

I have been trying everything I can to beat the deadline for delivery of products and at the same time keep the quality standards regardless of our circumstances and obstacles here in Chengdu, China. Because of my overbooked schedule and travels, I hardly have had a lot of time for media n

ews and newspapers; I could hardly say I have enou

gh time for sleep even. But when you're far away from one thing, you're closer to another. I found myself still found opportunities squeezed in some time participated more into the disaster relief effort. In this sense, I guess I'm further from the media but closer to a real life.

At first, I was chosen to be one of three verbal interpreters for an American humanitarian group, called "Mercy Corp" for their training sessions. In the end, I was the only one, and quite frankly (:-) )the most favorable one chosen to stay. They even offered me a long term project manager position to stay working for them. When they realized I had a very demanding job which I felt most passionate for, they created me an "open-ended" job position in their organization whenever I come back... I'm very very flattered by their generous offer. But you know and I know that I have to remain focused on growing my little fashion business. Between 4 of my "jobs" in 4 different fields, I have to remin

d myself which drives me the most. I can't use only 50% or less of my time and energy to compete well in one of the toughest field like fashion business despite of the fact I'm not doing so bad so far.

Wow, it's been a while, so where shall I even start?...

Let's first talk about this Mercy Corp program. Obviously, I would never choose something for no reason. Started from the beginning, I noticed there're a lot of organized donations from all over the world after earthquake flood in, and distributed through Chinese government's channels. But for a much longer term help for children and many adults after such hugely scaled psychological trauma, it's quite messy if it's

 covered. It's less visible work and more difficult to measure, yet has huge impact and needs on the stability of our future society and also at personal development at individual level after disaster. 

There're many psychosocial teams and volunteers (quite diverse background) came from all over China to the earthquake affected areas, with many different approaches and methodologies... Some works, but many are questionable, as experts from national level to provincial and city level all addressed their concerns through TV programs at one point of time.

Mercy Corp, however, brought with them a team of psychosocial experts from America, including 3 expert on methodology, 2 on psychiatry and psychology and a bunch of Ame

rican and Chinese supporting staffs. Along with their team of people, they brought a user friendly methodology and a set of tools to provide long term guided psychosocial r

elief help, targeted specifically to Children from age 0 to 18, even good for adults. Thus differentiate this method from all the other commonly seen methods in the earthquake affected areas. 

1. User friendly: The methodology and the tools were designed for non-professional caregivers. As the result, it can provide a very fast coverage in huge geographic areas -- excellent for relief effort after huge natural disasters which requires both speed and scale of coverage.

2. Also broad AGE coverage: Anyone can use (especially good for children), and anyone (children and adults) can benefit from it.

3. Great designs: There're two tools -- One, Workbook (like a private emotional dialog diary with him/herself); Two, Moving Forward (a set of sports and games for children to have fun and at the same time to learn some theories/Principles from, in order to help them rebuild self-esteem, constructive communication, team work etc. The second part especially good for children with high energy...

4. Time and Clinical proved: The same methodology has been used and tested for the last a

 few decades, from earthquake in Peru, to Hurricane Catrina and 911 in U.S.... So, Chinese children are not going to be the first ones to try. 

5. It offered a brand new experience for even the senior doctors from the most prestigious psychiatric institute in China: Open their eyes to a better way to communicate with children and adults -- which is completely conflicting with traditional Chinese ways to treat and educate children. Guess why I "fled" China and came to U.S. at my teenage years, and still fight for the traditional Chinese way of treating and judging children with strong characters? Guess why I so much want to help this training and methodology to spread in Sichuan despite of my busy schedule? It speaks to me at a deep personal level. 

5. All this generosity come for a pure motivation: Mercy Corp is an NGO (non-government organization, not associated with any religions). People came to work for the love of children and for a better world. Plus, the main speaker during the training was one of the key administrators for Peace Corp for a few years. And to join the Peace Corp was the very first job I wanted to apply for freshly graduated from college! I couldn't make it because I wasn't American resident at the time. But how funny the world works to me -- My life is full of those happy circles: Years later, I'm doing similar things after all. 

(It might sound like I'm making a free advertisement for Mercy Corp. :-) But in fact, I'm just talking about how I truly feel. As I really like their methodology, I introduced them to my mom who's the founder/director of Chinese Cochrane Center and chief editor of the journal of Chinese Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). It's a perfect match for both of them. EBM can provide this methodology with scientific studies and analysis and elevate it to an academic and international level. At the same time, a cost effective psychosocial approach after major disaster can provide a good piece of evidence to influence Chinese government's policy making. and become a shared acknowledge among other public health organizations all over the world. And this Journal of Chinese EBM can bring Mercy Corp approach to this International stage. Chinese EBM Journal would open their English 

version starting this coming Oct. Right now, their Chinese website is

http://www.cjebm.org.cn So far, they're very happy about this collaboration.)

So, with the training, we traveled to some earthquake affected areas, talked to many different people, including psychologists, psychiatrists, professors, volunteers, teachers, children etc and visited them in their temporary housing/offices... (I have many photos which can be sent 

to you later). During those days of non-stop working, talking (can you imagine, I'm really their voice filter), I was loosing my voice. But in each seminar, I can't tell you how thankful and moved each and every listener was! They showed their gratitude to their foreign guests/speakers came all the way to help them... And how much they're concerned for their students, clients, neighbours etc... And how much they eager to learn and learn more...

I'm SO proud of Mercy Corp, this American organization and their extremely hard working and devoted American staffs!! At one point, I asked the speaker privately, if U.S and Chin

a had a war, would they still come to China and help Chinese people like what they did now after earthquake. The reply was a fact: they're also helping with Afganitstan children during war with America.

Here's a field journal from Mercy Corp website: http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/china/2297.

Here's also a very moving story which I can't forget long after I read. It's about two youn

g male Israeli students who took responsibility on their own volunteered to go to the earthquake area to rescue two other young female Israeli students whom they didn't even meet before. The entire story was published in Chengdoo Magazine issue 13, May 2008. You can download it at website: www.chengdoo.com. I think it can really be a good movie material. 

We need to be moved from time to time in life, and heros do exist among us. 

As I promised earlier, I just want to touch briefly of some less publicly mentioned points:

1. Soldiers: There're very few information provided about the wounded and dead soldier

s. No one knows the exact number, but many people are quite concerned and worried for them. Because after all, they're still human, particularly, they're very young (many are in their early 20's). 

2. Policy abusers: 

1) As government pays for free medical coverage for every people from disaster affected areas, some people migrated from unaffected areas to the pointed hospital area demanding free surgery coverage for their pre-existing conditions. 

2) As government provide free room and board for everyone from the areas, some

 employees of certain state owned companies at less affected region also claimed they're "refugees" and demanded for more expensive foods despite of the fact their standard meal is really not bad according to average Chinese families. At the same time, they're asking where they could make desposit: Apparently, they hold quite a lot personal cash in their pockets, and wanted to put it in the bank while using government's free offering for daily living.

3. A separated issue: Average Han Chinese in Chengdu are quite afraid of and angry at Tibetans living in their city. 

(But seriously, I don't know when and how this really started at this "average" level! Collected throughout my memories from childhood up, we never had any special things "against" Tibetans. We use to live in peace, co-existing in southwest China. From every aspect, Tibetans heavily rely on Han for economy, for education, for medical coverage etc... They have always been given all kinds of benefits for being a minority in China

, more so than Africans Americans in America. My great grandma was a Tibetan, and some of my relatives married to Tibetans as well. Why couldn't we continue "co-existing" sharing peace under the same sky?...)

1) The gate of our district is locked earlier than normal everyday. Because the gate keeper said some group of Tibetans sometimes sneaked into our district with long Tibetan knives looking for innocent people to kill, like what had happened a few months ago even on the streets in Chengdu. 

2) One of my friends who's a Buddhist said that the ones who provoked the "event" w

ere for sure not real monks, the real monks would never do such a thing. It's against their religion. 

3) I once got into a Taxi without noticing the driver was extremely upsetting and crying. Later, from his repetitive and long list of "bad words", I pieced together the story: A Tibetan medical visiting student grabbed his taxi door and forced into the car when his previous clients were getting off of the taxi. He let the taxi driver drive him into the West China Medical School, parked inside (which means Taxi driver had to pay the entrance fee also), and ran o

ut of the taxi without paying a penny. When the taxi driver followed him and asked for the payment, the Tibetan student not only didn't pay, but also responded with a brutal physical attack hit and kicked the Han Chinese taxi driver, at the same time humiliated him in Han Chinese with "bad words"... 

I asked the taxi driver why he didn't call for police. He said "no chinese policemen would dare to touch Tibetans... Tibetans can do whatever they want. But the police all pretend they didn't see it. Han Chinese would for sure be heavily punished if they did the same... Chinese government is too weak with Tibetans. They're so afraid of foreign power!!..." In fact, these comments I heard over and over from average chinese during my stay in China. They a

ll think Chinese government is too weak and too unfair in treating Tibetans. 

So, I told him if I was there seeing this happened, I for sure will come to help him get the payment from the Tibetan guy. I just can't believe how could any one get away with

 this just because he's more brutal! When I told the story to my family later that day, they immediately responded "OH NO! Don't dare to do it! He can seriously hurt you! Not even Chinese government nor policeman do anything about it, how could you?! First you have to gain some weight yourself!" (My family always think I'm too thin and too physically fragile to even think of such a attempt.)

But then, what's the result? I heard from different Taxi drivers in Chengdu that all Taxi drivers in the city didn't pick up any Tibetans on the streets. "Because they never pay!" "What if they have to go to Medical Emergency Room?" I asked. "Too bad, who asked them to treat us like they do, and never pay?" 

I would say too bad that Chinese government isn't so clever and good at marketing and branding as Dalai lama (with support of foreign government of course) at an international stage. And too bad that there's just too much fear and jealousy over Chinese economy in the western world. All the rest are just covers. (Including "human rights" also been stretched 

out of proportion. I can't tell you how much people enjoy what they have now as comp

are to 10, 20 years ago. Measure Chinese progress proportionally to its own context and history.) -- purely my personal point of view. It's fine if you disagree. Just respect!

Now, I'm back to Chicago, back to another busy schedule of shows...

I want to make the effort to send this report before this Friday when Olympic games starts. 

Back to the days when I was in China helping out after the earthquake, I can't help thinking how wonderful that would be if the Olympic games can go smoothly! This game becomes even more meaningful now to each of us after all the natural and artificial "disasters" going on in China this year... We have to overcome so much to reach to this point. 

Contrasted to President Bush's point of view stated during his recent visit to Beijing, his farther made it clear: "Separate Politics with Games. Don't forget after all, it's about a game." 

Although I have to say for some it's hard. 

We, for sure, would watch the games with our own point of view, emotions and colored glasses. For me, I will absolutely celebrate it! Just like many many many Chinese, and many many many more foreigners all over the world, we love peace more than the fight!

P.s. As I promised earlier, I made the T shirts. This time, only the short sleeves. I heard from many western friends of mine that they prefer my long sleeve design m

ore, becau

se of more Chinese characters on the front. (what a surprising comment to me!) But for now, it's only the map in front. I understand it's 

more common design related to this earthquake, but I think it'll help many people know where it's located.

See attached photos for idea. It comes in white, light blue (like sky blue, pastel), light pink (Gentle Rose pink color, also pastel). I plan to sell for at least $35 each. After deduct from the cost for printing, T shirts, and shipping, I will send all the gain from sells to Mercy Corp. Just because I really saw how they work, and I believe it's a good way to use donations.

Thank you for your patience and tolerance for a typical Pingish point of view. 

Enjoy the Opening ceremony tonight!!

Go Beijing, Go Sichuan, Go China! Go Peace and Love to the world!!

Many kisses and hugs,

Ping's Report (4) photos

My dear friends,

Here're the photos I didn't have time to attach last

night. 

Mian Yang -- Is a city about 110 km away from Chengdu

(the Capital of Sichuan Province). 

An Xian -- is one of the counties in Mian Yang. 

In photo "MianYang 5", on the red banner on the wall,

it's written " Disaster Relief Effort We are

together."

Those poorly build tents are some of the survivors'

homes for now. 

Remember in my report #2, i described a tibetan boy

called "Lang Zhen" -- the saluting boy? He's only 3

yrs old!! After the photo of him saluting to the

soldiers was published, it became a national hit! Many

boys' parents claimed it's their boy who's on the

photo. But they're all denied by the photographer.

Till a few days later, the real boy, Lang Zhen saw his

photo in the hospital. He pointed it to his mom (whose

leg is injured) "It was me." "But I didn't cry, I

really didn't cry." "Look at how many uncle soldiers

came to rescue me, one, two, three,..." He started to

count. According to his mother, the first 3 days after

Lang Zhen was rescued, and found his mother, he kept

saying to himself "I want to talk to my mom, I want to

talk to my mom..." Now, he doesn't allow his mother to

leave him a second. His dad is a local policeman who

only came back to visit him after his surgery one

night. Then, he returned back to the disaster relief

work. I attached some recent photos of happy Lang

Zhen, as shown in photo "LangZhen 1-3".

Photo "Panda" --

During earthquake, our national treasure: Giant Panda

bears were so scared that they climbed up and got all

together...

Photo "saved baby" --

This is another photo of this saved baby with her

mom's will left on the mobile phone.

Photo "9 Year old brother" --

It's an amazing story: Only 9 yr old brother carried

his 3 yr old sister walked by foot for more than 12

hours out of the disaster area -their home, with their

old grand parents. Both of their parents died in the

earthquake.

Photo "Transport Wife" --

A man was carrying his dead wife to funeral home... He

returned her a dignity on the way... 

Some people were surprised at the number of the death

concentrated in such rural area... In fact, Sichuan is

one of the most populated province in China. The

affected areas are very popular tourist region. If

this earthquake came in June to July, there would be

even more death, as every year, Chengdu people always

go there for Summer vacation. (My parent's summer

house was completely destroyed also) The temperature

there is lower than in Chengdu in the summer. 

The sceneries there are amazingly beautiful. Chengdu

people use to be very proud of those close to reach

natural access around their cosmopolitan city which

you can't get by living in Beijing nor in Shanghai.

For example, An Xian is well known for its hot

springs, and thousand-buddha mountain... People who

use to live in those disaster area had a comfortable

life style before because of tourism. Now, many

mountains and roads and their homes were destroyed...

They lost their homes, families, and the mean for

making a living... It significantly impacted Sichuan

tourism... Now, you can see empty Taxi's are

everywhere in the city... Many taxi drivers said they

would probably forced to search other jobs shortly...

Many other business related to tourism are also

significantly affected. I've traveled to many

countries in the world, but never once been to the

beautiful areas so close home. Now, it'll remain my

personal regret forever...

Photo "Me" ---

On my trip to Mian Yang An Xian, as my medical doctor

friend warned me about this scary bacteria, I

"equipped" myself from head to toes with military

uniforms and boots, also with my dad's old T shirt (I

cut off the collar part) completely prepared to throw

away everything upon return.

To my surprise, the driver can't hold himself any

longer in the end I guess. Finally, he made a comment

by the end of the trip, "I've driven for many groups

to the disaster area. But never seen any one who

dressed as stylish as you, you even put on a military

belt!" We all laughed so loud in the jeep. 

I don't know if I should take it as a sincere

compliment or as a sarcastic implication for my

stupidity. I realized how "over-equipped" I was

towards the end too. (I even carried swiss knife,

first Aids, umbrella etc) Especially consider I was

with International Red Cross officers, and I dressed

like a military soldier!? Plus, I seriously followed

the weather forecast which predicted a heavy rain that

day. It turned out to be a sunny day instead. As I was

scared to death by the warning from this MD friend the

night before: "This (scary) bacteria would get into

the water from dead bodies berried underneath the

rubbles... " So, my eye-catching shinny black

military boots made me look even more hilarious, and

give me this clumsy gait! On the top of that, if we

were really got lost in the earthquake, it would be

really dumb to wear a camouflage so that no one would

even see me! Such a stupid yet typical Pingish

mistake!

I will have to stop doing voluntary work for a while

to catch up my own business here. But i will try to

squeeze time to continue my reports to you. 

Thanks for reading.

Ping's Report (4)

My dear friends,

I did experience this biggest aftershock at the scale
of 6.4 yesterday in Chengdu right at home this Sunday.
To me, it's not something scary. But everyone here ran
out of the building rather quickly. By the time my
father and i got downstairs (my mom was in Beijng for
business trip), there're already a lot of people got
out of their buildings and talking loudly about this
scary experience.

Started from a few days ago, Chinese government paired
up provinces with damaged counties, one province match
with one county -- providing one to one disaster
relief assistance, total 21 provinces involved.

On Saturday, there're total 34 artificial lakes which
were formed from huge rocks and soil broken off of
near by mountains. They blocked the normal flow of the
previous rivers and formed those artificial lakes.
They're dangerous to have, because the water level
keeps raising in the lake, and it can break off or
over flowed easily and affect the regions down the
streams.

Last Saturday, Chinese government were discussing how
to solve the problem. There're three possibilities:
1. Release the water, keep the its level low in the
lake. Prevent over flow.
2. Re-enforce the rocks and soil to block the water.
3. Remove people who live down the stream to safe
areas.

Government chose #1 & #3.

But it's not an easy task at all. How to transport
heavy machineries to the area? It's impossible to go
by through land. It left only possibility to get there
by helicopters. To lift 800 ton weight excavator, they
need to use the biggest helicopter in the world --
Russian made M 26. But it's impossible for human to
stand still within certain range close to an operating
helicopter. So, how to untie the cords which are used
to tie the machine?... Plus, it's very difficult to
land on the small area which is formed by broken off
rocks etc... Because it's in the mountain area, the
weather condition changes easily. They need
professional meteorologist to give them accurate
weather condition report to guide the helicopters...

As the water level of artificial lakes keep raising,
and there's another heavy rain in a few days, there're
not many days left for operation. They have to get the
digging & releasing work done before the rain arrives.

Those info was on Sat. But up to today, there're
already 20 excavators sent to the area, and they
expect to finish digging in 10 days. See website below
for photos:


http://news.cdqss.com/html/2008-05/27/content_71347.htm


Also, check those photos as their names stated what
they are.

On this Monday, I went to one of the disaster area
called An Xian (county). Every government official
slept no more than 3 hours every night since disaster
hit. At night, they sleep in the cars, during the day,
they work at the tents -- their temporary offices. If
they want to take a shower, they have to take risk go
back to their previous homes, and quickly run out
after done.

There're some original photos taken in An Xian -- you
can still see some broken houses, and the terrible
tents people built themselves.

Sorry, I will have to attach them tomorrow morning.
The book bar is closing. sorry about it.

Thanks for reading

Ping's Report (3)

I forgot to mention something I thought was amazing:

1. Chinese government sent out money (range from 200 -

300 thousand yuan each) immediately to each hospital

of chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, which is

taking the wounded to cover all of their medical cost.

2. Chinese government will be responsible to provide

free college tuition and living expenses for each

senior high school students who are from the disaster

region and passed their university entrance exams. For

those who don't, and can't go to the universities,

Chinese government will help them placement in

technical schools/institutions to make sure they could

find a work to be independent after graduation. 

3. I heard that Chinese Petroleum Company and another

major Chinese company offers all gas used during

disaster relief for free. -- I need to check their

exact English names. 

4. The government made a rule to the bank and real

estate companies: No push for mortgage payment by the

real estate companies/banks are allowed. No extra

pressure on the payment on the survivors who purchased

condo before the disaster. 

5. Job fair in Shuang Liu city yesterday organized by

local government to help earthquake survivors to make

money and to be self-efficient.

6. Reporters are sent to check out grocery price in

Chengdu. According to their investigation, there's no

price raised and the price of some vegetables are even

lowered. Chengdu citizens are quite satisfied with it.

7. Constipation is a very common problem in the

disaster affected area as their main food source is

cookies, crackers, ramen noodles. Two private

companies have volunteered many times to donate 10

tons of fresh vegetables to police stations after

several hours of driving. To their surprise, the

police station insisted not to accept them, but to

give to the soldiers who have been working in the

frontier. "They need the fresh vegetables much more

than us. We can still carry on with whatever we have

here." The head of the police station stated. 

8. Psychological counseling / therapy sessions are

very much encouraged and provided in a timely manner

to the survivors. There're many children and

parents... became depressed after this disaster... 

9. So far, 3737 Trains full of supplies have gone to

East Train Station in Chengdu. Volunteers from all

over China came here to help with loading. Each truck

drivers also are volunteers to deliver to shuang Liu

City from the train station.

10. 3.30 million tents are urgently needed for the

fact there're more than 5 million people wait to be

placed. ALSO, cleaning vehicles and water sprinkler

vehicles are most urgently needed for sanitary

purpose.

11. 1026 elements, only 6 of them were damaged in

Chengdu. One particular school camera record shows

Jing Sha elementary school teachers evacuated the

entire school students (almost 1000 people) in less

than a minute to the safe ground. 

12. Sichuan provincial hospital: All surgical staffs

work in two shifts keep the department open 24 hours a

day. On the day of earthquake, none of the staffs left

patients alone in operating room. They protected

patients till it's safe to transfer. So far, they had

done total 1488 surgeries since disaster happened. 

13. 200 tons of supplies each day arrive at Du Jiang

Yan, a city where 1/3 of housing were destroyed. 38

million medicines have been donated and they have been

categorized and stored properly according to their

properties. All the rest of buildings in Du Jiang Yan

city are being checked by a group of experts which is

consist of more than 100 scientists from all over

China. So far, in provincial area, total more than 800

experts have checked the safety of affected area for

total more than 1100 million square meters. 

14. Government officials have been discussing to

provid money to each family who has lost their child

in school collapse in Du Jiang Yan city.

15. There're 2384 students in "An county" high school,

not a single student died during the earthquake. In

each class room, every teacher left the building after

making sure all the students ran to the safe area

first. A teacher was hit by a collapsing wall. The

moment before he was hit, he pushed students away to

the safe place... 

16. According to today's Sichuan provincial TV news

this morning: So far, confirmed death 50651, injured

277028, 23803 stayed in the hospital, 22690 discharged

from the hospital. 2873 patients have been transfered

to other cities in China.

Press conference as of May 23rd:

Sichuan University and SouthWest University in Chengdu

would like to admit the children of those who died in

helping with disaster relief effort. How many "heros"

like that have died during this relief effort?

---"Since there're more than 7000 times aftershocks

(specific number is 7182 times). The priority is still

to save lives. Provincial government has to follow

strict identifying procedures in order to verify "hero

status" of those who died during disaster relief."

...

Most of the above info is from direct translation from

TV reports.

Thanks for reading.

Ping's Report (2)

Dear All,

May 22nd, Chengdu

Life really seems to be quite "normal" here in

Chengdu, except from time to time, you can see some

colorful temporary housing / Tents built inside some

gardens / green terrain scattered in

 the university

campus and road side... and much less traffic on the

roads...

As I promised, I attached some photos from Chengdu

News Paper.

For Photo: "Salute" ---

On May 13th, there's a Tibetan boy called "Lang Zhen"

Meaning "Clear, beautiful mountain" saluted to the

soldiers for a long time after he was saved from the

rubbles. His left arm was broken. This salute is in

the style of Young Pioneers (Chinese elementary school

students are called "Young Pioneers", marked with a

red triangle scarf around their neck. This triangle

shaped scarf is considered a corner of national flag.)

My cousin who use to travel to this region told me

that she saw young kids there often saluted in this

way to the tourists. Because they're told by their

teachers that their home town was very poor before.

It's because of tourists that they could have better

life. "So, whenever you see them, you should thank

them" The teacher told them. I am sure despite of the

fact this little boy was crying, deep down inside,

he's very thankful and used this highest ritual he

knows to salute at, and to thank the soldiers who

saved him! 

For Photo Dog1, 2 & 3 --

There're many military dogs were used during the

search process. Many of them are over worked just like

their trainers. You can see the injuries on some of

the dogs' feet after their shoes were take out. 

"One of the dog found total 35 wounded people berried

underneath the ground. 32 of them were saved and 3 of

them passed away after being taken out. 

On May 18th, he got into a small space after he

discovered another victim. But soon, there's another

aftershock, and he's berried under immediately.

According to the military rules, all military-dogs are

the people's dogs, carrying military duties having

their military ID's, just like his training soldier.

They ARE soldiers as well. If they're wounded during

the mission, their trainers must carry him live or

dead. If he's dead, his training also has to burry him

properly afterwards. 

When he's dig out by this trainer, he's very badly

wounded, his internal organs were broken... and his

breathing got weaker and weaker, and died in the end.

The soldier's tears wet his entire face and dropped on

the dog's fur... He held him like holding his baby...

That night, volunteer who documented this story heard

the weeping from the tent of this soldier, like a

father crying for his dead son..." ( From a

volunteer's diary "CCTV")

For Photo "5/13 BeiChuan, and 5/13 Beichuan 2" ---

People's soldiers are seen in all dangerous and most

difficult situations and places. They parachuted from

more than 6700 meter high to bring supplies and send

messages to the heavily damaged area... This

impossible jump under impossible conditions put their

own lives in risk... After the mission, many of them

couldn't get up from the ground because they're

terribly lack of oxygen in this high altitude... 

Lack of machineries, each of them had to carry a bag

full of 40 kg foods on shoulders and held with hands

-- There's no ropes to tie around their bodies. At the

same time climbing up mountains with more than 60

degrees of slope, while searching for the road!! ... 

"One soldier stepped wrong, the bag was falling down.

He quickly grabbed it single handly, and immediately

dislocated that shoulder. But he insisted not to let

the food bag go despite of the unbearable pain...till

his fellow teammates helped him. "Because this bag of

food can save a lot of people's lives. It is just too

precious to get lost", he said." (From "Chengdu Shang

Bao" News Paper)

Those soldiers are digging with their bare hands,

carry heavy poles and lift cements with their own

man-power... So lack of rest... I'm really worried for

their own health...

The rest of the photos are taken from web search.

Sorry I forgot the website name. 

So many moving stories... So many!... You can see

everyone's eyes are red, watered when they're telling

you about the stories... and the newspapers are always

wet after being read... 

I saw an interview at the scene from TV report: A

Tibetan nurse from shanghai returned to the disaster

area voluntarily to help (There're many Tibetans

living in those earthquake area). She said "I'm very

touched by so many people from all over China to come

here to help us, help our ethic group (as Tibetans are

one of 56 ethnic groups in China). There's only ONE

group in China, and it's called 'Chinese'!" Then, she

cried... 

(It reminds me: Only a few weeks ago, Tibetan's

protests launched all over the world against Chinese

government... Yet it's the exact same government and

same soldiers they're against sent out help to them

immediately upon natural disaster, taking all the

difficulties and risks on their own. Of course, one of

their religious branch leader Dalai LaMa also didn't

forget them either, he sent out prayers. )

24 hours news, reports, analysis, donations are

playing non stop on TV's. Almost every little worry

you may have would have been thought about by the

government before, and the plans and solutions have

already been carried out way before your worries...

Maybe that's the reason why I haven't sensed any panic

here at all. In fact, all the people I've talked to

are all so united, very positive and moved by the

national reactions and response to this disaster. I

guess we surprised ourselves completely! Our previous

worries for our young generation of 70's and 80's

being not so responsible and very self-centered are

proved to be completely wrong! What a pleasant

surprise.

I translated many parts of the local news in this

email. I will be more attentive on the details such as

where and what date of the newspaper in my future

emails. (See, I need to learn to be a better amateur

"reporter". :-) )

Tomorrow, I had a great opportunity to go to the worst

hit town in this disaster with NPR radio reporters as

a translator. At first, I was very thrilled for this

incredible opportunity!!! But then, I heard from

internal source. I was warned the danger of contagious

disease and the necessary equipment I would have to

need if I go... It's obviously that I am not prepared

at all!! I only have slippers, skirts... And only have

less than 2 hours to prepare (tonight!). So, I had to

let this opportunity go.... I'm sorry that if I let

you miss a first hand experience... But I'm sure you

would much more prefer a healthy Ping back safely. 

... Never feel it's enough written... But

It's almost 4am. I have to go to sleep now - I should

have done that 5 hours ago. Tomorrow, I may be called

as a translator for another group... 

Thanks for reading.

Ping's Report (1)

Dear All, 

I'm certainly not a professional reporter, but I would like to bring 

you to this experience through my own

eyes and my honest words...

Last night, after a long flight from Chicago to

Shanghai, then catch a domestic flight to 

Chengdu, my

home city, also the base for the disaster relief

effort. I finally arrived Chengdu 2 hours later than

the original plan. 

My luggage was total 21 lbs over the weight limit. But

as soon as they heard I was going to Chengdu, they let

me go without saying anything more. 

At Shanghai Pudong Airport, flat TV screens are placed

all over the waiting area. They were all playing 24

hours news coverage of the disaster relief effort.

(Pic: SHairport 1 & SHairport 2 -- The passengers were

all watching.)

As I was waiting for my transfer flight from shanghai,

I got to watch part of the #9 live news conference

held in Chengdu by Sichuan Provincial government

(apparently, they started this TV series since the day

one of disaster). T

he head administrator of each

department within the provincial government answered

questions reporters from all over China. Some of those

questions were: 

1. What's the long term plan of the government for

those bilateral (both) lower extremity amputee

orphans?

2. "What's the single item that's most needed at this

time?"

--- Answer is "Tents"! "Despite of the fact a lot of

Chinese manufactories have already been working over

time day and

 night, they still couldn't match with the

needs. So, the government has already been looking for

buying from foreign countries..."

3. A reporter from Hu Bei Province aske, "when the

wounded could be sent to Hu Bei as they're looking

forward to take care of the patients from disaster

area?"

4. "What's the answer to some private companies and

individual who volunteer to donate their office space

and private homes to accommodate the refugees?"

5. "What's government's thought regarding that some

individuals and companies would like to adopt orphans

left after the disaster?"

--- The related administrator listed the procedure

process and criteria for adoption in China. In the

end, pointed out it's n

ot allowed for any business

entities to adopt orphans. 

6. A reporter asked if the specific reason which

triggered this huge earthquake is because of building

irrigation engineering project in the upper level...

...

From the window, I can see boxes of boxes full of

supplies were carried to our plane as shown on the

photos "SHairport 3, 4, &5". 

When I got on Sichuan 3U airline to Chengdu, I picked

two local Chinese and 1 English newspapers (China

Daily). The ne

ws and stories of earthquake covered

every pa

ge of all three. Tears companied me during the

entire 3 hour-flight after that. The forefront and

last pages of C

hina Daily of May 21st were the entire

photos as in the attachment na

med "China Daily 1&2".

(If I recognized it correctly, the last photo is from

a German Photographer's photo album, called

"Himalaya"...)

May 19-21st: Three day National mourning period.

The flight attendant's initial greeting after all the

passengers sat down has changed to "Let's mourn for

all the victims in WenChuan earthquake..." 

Among the passengers, there're at least 4 volunteers

going for the disaster relief: three for setting up

water purifier equipment, wearing a white band on his

arm (photo "VTCDairport"), 1 for delivering medicines,

some others I wasn't sure.

The first night, I stayed at my parent's place. At the

side of the bed, I saw something "strange", two empty

beer bottles were placed upside down in vertical

line.... ??? What's that?! Later, I was told it's my

father's home-made earthquake alarm system -- see

photo "Homemade". :-) I hope it brings you a little

smile. I kind of doubt if it works properly as it fell

to detect a small aftershock last night. 

Most of today, May 22nd, I spent on watching TV news,

newspapers, and searching on Websites. I found some

very moving stories and photos, which I will send on

Ping's Report (2). 

Thanks for reading.