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.
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