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English Version 46
Saturday 17.05.08
Maoxian
The day starts with weak quakes. Last night there was a signal on the
mobile but even a lot of attempts didn`t bring an6y connection. This
morning I suddenly see a girl speaking in her mobile. After a few
attempts I get Christian at the embassy, because I want to know more
exact about the consul in Sichuan, who might be able to take me out by
car. We agree that I stay a few more days and that it`s Chengdu that
shall be the destination. I havn`t had breakfast when a representative
from the local government arrives telling that I can be taken out by
helicopter. I cannot bring my stuff so my first thought is that I`d
better wait a few more days to see about the road and maybe the consul.
There might also be more important tasks for the helicopter. She`s on
her way back again after exchange of telephone numbers but I insist on
knowing how to find her again if the telephone doesn`t work. She lives
just behind the school!
When we get there I`m convinced I`d NEVER found her if I needed to. It`s
on a farm following a narrow path through fields of fruit trees.
For the first time I`m in a Chinese home. And even on a farm. Now you
know what follows: I`m offered the best chair, cigarettes and tea, while
Sherry, as she wants me to call her, makes breakfast for me. A bowl of
scrambled eggs with some kind of onions. We`re sitting in the courtyard.
The family is a confusing bunch of people. Father and mother and two
daughters of which Sherry is the youngest and the other has at least 3
children and a husband. Besides some uncles and "brothers". The brothers
are the uncles (no.2 and no.5) suns. All together around 20. I don`t see
them all. The living room with a TV is partly damaged. Some of the roof
has come down and a wall is destroyed. The father sleeps there so it was
good it didn`t happen at night.
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| Traditional entrance | The farmyard | and the entire family - almost |
Afterwards we walk to the local authorities, so I know where 5that is
too. They thank me for not taking place up in the helicopter. I go back
with a police car.
Wanted to wait phoning Denmark till morning there. As a result the
mobile net is too crowded, impossible to get through, not even a SMS.
I talk all afternoon with different people, one is an English teacher
with whom I`d talked before but who`s a little hard to understand. To
one of his questions about what I think of the Chinese government and
their handling of this case I can`t help telling me my view on the dead
parachute soldier, One soldier sacrificed by the regime to make
themselves more visible to the people. I try to explain for a long time.
I am VERY clear about what I mean, I think. He doesn`t understand and I
can only see it as a missing ability to question the governments aims.
HE doesn`t say but one of the students finds that the dead soldier is a
hero. That he most likely volunteered doesn`t change matter I think.
Late in the afternoon new supplies are dropped by parachutes. 4 of them
fall on school area. 2 on the roofs and the last 2 on the playground
where we all live. Luckily no one is hit and I see the use of the
generator and the loudspeakers. There are always teachers up on the
"stage" where there is a microphone too which now can be used for
warning the students.
One of the girls from class 4 has been reunioned with her father. He had
gone to Nanxin that morning and she hadn`t heard from him since.
Actually he was in Wenchuan when it happened, but he was outside waiting
for a bus. Now he`s walked all the way from Wenchuan to Nanxin from
where he got by car. He has been just as worried as she. It`s so nice to
see them together.
Later I decide that the beer, I should drink once I would come to
Chengdu, I`ll share with Xia Wei who I`m beginning regarding as my
Chinese "brother".