People and New Year
Feb 13, 2010 4:11:17 GMT -5
Post by douglaslam on Feb 13, 2010 4:11:17 GMT -5
blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/02/11/long-journey-home-a-new-year-story/
Let me take this opportunity to wish all our members and visitors a very happy and prosperous New Year. The Lunar New Year means so much to Chinese people everywhere. Everyone wants to be home with family and loved ones on New Year's Eve. It is very moving just observing from afar or at the scene of the huge movement of internal migrant workers in China returning home for the festivities.
In the early years the migrant workers were unflatteringly called blind current. They come in their millions from rural China to work in the factories, building sites and service sectors in the economic zones. They are the unsung heroes of China's economic miracle. Often,they are exploited, abused and worked under appalling conditions for little pay. They have one thing in common, they want to be home for the New Year. For the young single workers, it is a time to see their parents and siblings, to be pampered at home after enduring bullying at work. To parents, it is time to cuddle their children that are in grandparents' care, once more. It is a joyous time for all.
The large crowds at transport terminals seem unruly and disorderly. The logistics is simply staggering. I do not blame them for the state of affair. No transport infrastructure in the world can cope with such a huge movement of humanity without reproach.
I was at a long distance bus terminus in Guangzhou perhaps ten years ago. It wasn't the peak season, yet steady streams of buses ferried young workers to the big city looking for work. They carried their simple possessions of some clothing, bedroll and a wash basin. Not unlike our forebears who ventured to the unknown land looking for gold. It was a very humbling experience for me. I was easily the oldest person around, I stood and watched for a long while, absorbing it all. I felt I belonged with them. I felt no superior to them just because I lived abroad, could afford overseas travel, earned more and had more opportunities. Given an even playing field, most of them would out-perform me.
Let me take this opportunity to wish all our members and visitors a very happy and prosperous New Year. The Lunar New Year means so much to Chinese people everywhere. Everyone wants to be home with family and loved ones on New Year's Eve. It is very moving just observing from afar or at the scene of the huge movement of internal migrant workers in China returning home for the festivities.
In the early years the migrant workers were unflatteringly called blind current. They come in their millions from rural China to work in the factories, building sites and service sectors in the economic zones. They are the unsung heroes of China's economic miracle. Often,they are exploited, abused and worked under appalling conditions for little pay. They have one thing in common, they want to be home for the New Year. For the young single workers, it is a time to see their parents and siblings, to be pampered at home after enduring bullying at work. To parents, it is time to cuddle their children that are in grandparents' care, once more. It is a joyous time for all.
The large crowds at transport terminals seem unruly and disorderly. The logistics is simply staggering. I do not blame them for the state of affair. No transport infrastructure in the world can cope with such a huge movement of humanity without reproach.
I was at a long distance bus terminus in Guangzhou perhaps ten years ago. It wasn't the peak season, yet steady streams of buses ferried young workers to the big city looking for work. They carried their simple possessions of some clothing, bedroll and a wash basin. Not unlike our forebears who ventured to the unknown land looking for gold. It was a very humbling experience for me. I was easily the oldest person around, I stood and watched for a long while, absorbing it all. I felt I belonged with them. I felt no superior to them just because I lived abroad, could afford overseas travel, earned more and had more opportunities. Given an even playing field, most of them would out-perform me.
