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May 22, 2006
I Remembered Keith Chao
I remembered the earth stood still. The river snaked around the green valley below. The rice fields stacked like playing cards neatly wrapped around the side of the hills. There was no sound except when my boots touched the wet soil beneath. The air was cool and a bit frosty but my heart and soul were boiling inside of me. It was already late December and I was on a mission. This was my second trip this year to rural China. This has become part of my life, a passion, a unrelenting passion.
I remembered the villages nested alongside the foothill high above the riverbank. The blackened walls of the farmhouses matched the roofs above. The roads alongside the hills were bumpy and muddy created by the early morning rain. The welcome party formed by the local villagers blocked the road as we came close to the school. Their leathery skin marked years of hard life. These are earthly people; they live off the land; the land that wrapped around the hillside since the beginning of the time. The pristine land untouched by the outsiders. They all stood quietly waiting for their visitors to arrive, us. The late December air was close to freezing, but they did not waiver. The welcome ceremony was performed at the roadside. It was a truly a fun and eventful experience. Strangers to this land had to learn the local custom quickly. Rice wine and meat were offered and consumed before we were allowed to proceed. Hand-woven leis with red- dyed eggs were placed around our necks. Children lined along both sides of the path greeted us with a well-rehearsed welcome chant in unison. We were all flattered by the sight and warmth extended by.
I remembered the smell of the freshly cut wood as I approached the school. The newly constructed school appeared pale compared to its darkened surroundings. The villagers stood at a distance watching the proceedings with curiosity. Students sat quietly inside the classrooms. No one said a word as we, the strangers, entered into their world. Silence was quickly broken into laughter when they saw the digital images of themselves from my video camera. Life is so wonderful when one can be satisfied with so little.
I remembered the serenades that the villagers performed to us when it was time to part. The words were foreign to me but the meaning was heartfelt. Their fervent hospitality was memorable as they again block the road for a final good-bye. It was a heart-warming sight as they greeted the visitors with more wine and songs. Children waved to us along hillside. It suddenly dawned on me that there are so many of them that live among the ancient trees. There are so many pairs of eyes that seek for a future. As the images of the school and children slowly faded into the background, I understood the true meaning of love.
I remembered our quick stop alongside the road. A little girl stood silently and waited for us. Her frightful eyes gazed passed the visitors that surrounded her. Her small-framed body was barely visible among the crowd; so fragile and so tender. Hands on her sides, she stood frigidly without saying a word. I wanted to hug her to let her know there is love in this world but somehow I was afraid. I hoped an angel would descent from above at that very moment and comfort this child. She received the scholarship money with both hands and followed with few discernable words of thanks. We parted as quickly as we had arrived. Afterwards, I learned this orphan had to walk 3 hours to reach the road where we met. Life is cruel and unfair. God has blessed me with so much and she has none. On that day, our lives crossed at that intersection for only a few moments; however, it is enough to last for a lifetime. Her image has forever etched inside of my soul.
I remembered a dream that I had once I returned from the trip. In the dream, I stood on the beach and scooped up a hand-full of sand but I could only carry a hand-full no matter how much I had tried. There is still a vast beach of sand left, where we leave the rest neglected. I hope there are more pairs of hands on this beach that can lend me a hand. Life is too short and precious. It is truly a wonderful experience of being an angel for a day. That is how I remembered it.
Posted by dee at May 22, 2006 07:04 AM