my far eastern family
Thanks to SARS, none of my family members will visit me in China this year. Good thing my students at Shanghai University are doing their best to make me feel like I’ve got a family here, too. Here are excerpts from a couple student e-mails I’ve received over the past 24 hours:
“By the way,I once saw you having bread during the break of the class by hands.Well ,it’s not ok to do so because of the fact that SARS has spread in Shanghai now.You’d better wash your hands very very carefully before you have bread or something else.Wish you stay healthy in Shanghai.”
“By the way, what’up with you? You are easy to catch colds,aren’t you? In my opinion, you’d better dress carefully especially in spring cause the weather is very changeable. :)”
And finally, another one. Just so you know I’m doing my part to improve America’s image in the rest of the world:
“i am one of ur student. i have had a plan to write to u for some information or advise or anything else about America or outside world since u gave us ur e-mail. but i am that kind of person who like to put off matters(i know it is not a good habit). however, just now i went to ur website and now i felt i can’t help writing sth for u bring me such a big surprise and joy. to tell u the truth, the first time i saw u, i thought u might be a typical american who can do what u want to do, likes and good at acting, come to china just for curiosity(or some troubles u got in america) furthermore when u mentioned u appreciated the persons who can speak 2 languages, i guess u r not a hard-working person, which match the image of America in my mind. but ,but , but after i read some articles on ur website,i find i am totally wrong. i should have thought of the reason u can not speak 2 language is that u concentrate on one and that is enough. i feel sorry for the wrong judgement, but glad i can correct it from now on. … last thing: i really appreciate ur life style and strongly believe in ur decision to come to china is correct.”
So, let’s get this straight. Americans are lazy people who do whatever the hell they want, are good at acting and don’t visit foreign countries unless they have “some troubles” back in the States. C’mon! We’re not all like President Bush.
04.19.2003, 7:37 PM · School
6 Comments
dan,
sars is always far from us! don’t too nervous about it !and the loneliness from your distant family member will melt away if you are willing to be a part of us !i am your student.god bless you!!
man still u gonna watch out for SARS, nobody knew how SARS was spreading in beijing just 2 weeks ago, but look now, 2 high ranking officials just got sacked…
hope shanghai is relatively safe…stay away from where the HKers go though, like xin tian di
dan, we all ‘appreciate ur lifestyle’ — but, but, but — wasn’t that what got you in all those ‘troubles u got in america?’ and i could have sworn i saw a ‘little dan’ running down the street the other day… poor thing!
HI , i just get to know you from shanghai shanghai! web . am surprising to see you post your journal here . i also have a web of journal , but its too personal , and i was wondering shall i also put it here let more people read it ? lol , its terrible , if i ever do so , it make me feel like naked in front of public . lol…
i wanna upload my pics…
What the Chinese guy said about Americans coming to China because of troubles … is … if stereotypical, actually the same observation I’ve made myself.
Sometimes, the way foreigners act around here, is embarrassing. I often times remark outloud that “I can’t believe the people I meet here!”
Good website.