Shakin up the family! Part One
Hey everyone!
Last time I updated, I mentioned how my dad is in Sichuan doing earthquake relief work. He's been gone for almost three weeks, but he did come home once so that he could pack up his bags and then head out again the next morning. It was nice to see him for almost 24 hrs. He showed us a couple videos and pictures he took while being there, and it was truly devastating. :( Buildings didn't just collapse in the earthquake, but they crumbled. The death toll is rising, and there are so many missing people. I can't even begin to imagine how many people feel hopeless and how many have completely broken hearts.
My dad has had the opportunity to get water filtration systems into relief camps,and they're still working on more.
The earthquake really "shook up" our family and because of that we decided to move. Yes, we're moving. You might be wondering, "Where?" Well, we're going to be moving right into the earthquake zone! I really can't believe it, but it's happening! We'll be there for two months. So far, June seventh (Saturday) is the departure date. We will pack up most of our things , but we will still return to the TC (where we live now and have lived for over two years) after the two months so we can get all of our things and say one last good- bye before we return to the states. Hy (one of my best friends) and her family will be going with us. Hy is our family's close friend and language teacher, and she will continue to teach us once we all get settled in. Also, one of my other best friends, CX, already lives there! I'm excited that I i will have so many close friends there. It will make the move so much easier!
It will be hard to leave the place where we live now. I feel like I've grown up here. It's my home! It will be difficult to shut the door on this segment of my life. People try to comfort me and tell me that we'll be back,but it won't ever be the same. I have to close out a huge part of my life and that's never easy. At first, I thought that this was great because we can leave this place gradually so that way it won't be so hard. But we will have to come back to the TC to get our things before returning to the US and it will be hard telling myself that we're not coming home and that we're just getting our things. Here are just a few of the things I will miss about the place where I live now... friends, leaving memories, the TC!!, mountains, independence, our house, friendly and hospitable people, and just about everything! :( I was also planning on my best friend, Kristi, coming out to the TC in July. I was looking forward to it more than anything, but since we're going I won't be able to see her. That's one sacrifice I've had to make.Marshall has had to sacrifice all of his summer projects like building things. Marshall is really going to miss all the mountains and open area. I won't even go into all the sacrifices my mom and dad have had to make. I love my parents, and they never cease to amaze me. Little KB is even subconsciously making sacrifices in order to go.
But, I am still pumped and excited about moving to the earthquake zone. First of all, the city we're moving to is going to be exciting. They have a Subway (restaurant), seven Starbucks, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Huts, Wal-Mart, and more! It will be so great to explore a new place for a change! I've begun to be bored with where we live now, and it'll be fun to live somewhere new. I'm mostly excited about the possibility of helping with relief work! That would be awesome! One scary thing is aftershocks. I'm a little nervous about those. I bet we will be just fine though. My dad didn't even feel a 5.8 aftershock when he was there! Let's just hope we live on the first or second floor! :)
It's time to also say good-bye to our dog, Yi Bei Cha. So many good-byes! I don't know how I'm going to handle this. Yi Bei Cha has been an ideal pet, and we all love her. We wanted to send her home to the States with Jessica, but we found out we can't. So, we have to sell her. Even doing this is hard. :( The house is getting packed up. It's very sad for me to pack up my room. I'm finiding it to be an extremely difficult task for me. I feel like that room is mine, and I don't want to move out. It will never be the same room again, and other people will be using it! NO!!! My room is where numerous memories have been made. It's just hard. But what's even harder is thinking about how I'm going to express my thankfulness to my friends before I leave. My friends here have meant the world to me, and I don't know how to express that to them, but I'm going to try. Seriously, they are the closest people to me next to my family, and they've helped make me into a better person. I will try to keep y'all updated as we move forward in this.This is a story that I read in a newspaper about an earthquake survivor. It just make me cry and laugh when I read it... these are the people I love. I love their sense of humor sometimes. This sory is just really cute. I'm excited that I get to go help people who have been affected like this person. I encourage y'all to take the time to read it....
Cola Boy gets his wish - and plenty of good wishes
2008-05-28 06:40:49.0
Cola Boy gets his wish - and plenty of good
(China Daily)Updated: 2008-05-28 06:40
Xue Xiao, a quake survivor, is better known to most Chinese by another name - Cola Boy.
When the 17-year-old student was pulled out of his school building's rubble after more than 80 hours, he cried out to his two rescuers: "Uncle, I want to have cola, I want an iced one."
The scene was broadcast live by CCTV on May 15 - and grief-stricken Chinese couldn't help breaking into smiles, touched by the spontaneity of the teenager.
The two rescuers give a bottle of cola each to Xue Xiao in a hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan province May 25, 2008, fulfilling their promise. [File photo]Xue recalled being in chemistry class on May 12 in Dongqi Middle School of Hanwan township, Mianzhu city, when the earth began to shake and mountains swayed.
Xue, with many other students, was buried in the debris of the collapsed building. Some were killed immediately and most others under the ruins died one after another.
But Xue held on in the firm belief that "someone will come to save us".
The next day, he could hear rescuers but couldn't see them and, a little scared, he shouted: "You won't leave me here, will you?"
We promise we will save you, Zhang Jianqiang and He Hongwei told Xue; and comforted him by talking to him.
Through a straw, they fed him glucose water for more than two days; and when they asked him what he liked most, Xue told them it was cola and pineapple.
"Xue Xiao is such a lovely boy. We promised him we'd give him cola once he is out," said Zhang. And a deal was made - rescuers would give him cola, and Xue would buy them ice cream.
The rescue operation lasted 48 hours before Xue was pulled out at 10 pm on May 15 - and that's when many heard his famous pronouncement in a clear voice: "Uncle, I want to have a cola."
"I was distraught and extremely thirsty after being buried for 80 hours, and I just wished to have an iced drink at that moment. I usually have a cola after sports," said Xue, who plays basketball.
He was taken to Huaxi Hospital in Chengdu and told his right arm had to be amputated.
Xue, who lost touch with his parents in the quake, had no relatives around and made the decision himself - he used his left arm to make a thumbprint on the operation consent letter.
His mother, who found out from TV that her son was alive, went to the hospital on May 17 and saw him with only one hand.
He consoled her: "Mother, don't be sad. I knew I would lose my right hand if were saved."
Soon visitors would come cola in hand, including Zhang and He, who saved him.
"We brought you cola, you see, as we promised", they said the moment they saw Xue.
Xue, hearing the familiar voices that accompanied him for 48 hours, did not say much, but pulled their hands and murmured: "Let me see you."
The minute he was pulled out of the rubble, he was blindfolded to protect him against light; and it was the first time Xue was seeing his saviors.
When his mother asked Xue to thank them, Zhang said: "No need to say thanks between friends."
The duo said it is they who should thank Xue for providing a silver lining amid death and destruction.
"We'll wait for you to recover and buy us ice creams," Zhang said as he left.
Xue is receiving further treatment, and is full of hope.
"My next wish is to watch Yao Ming play basketball at the Olympics.
"And I will learn to use my left hand to continue with life. I love mathematics. I want to be a scientist."
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/28/content_6715838.htm
(China Daily)Updated: 2008-05-28 06:40
Xue Xiao, a quake survivor, is better known to most Chinese by another name - Cola Boy.
When the 17-year-old student was pulled out of his school building's rubble after more than 80 hours, he cried out to his two rescuers: "Uncle, I want to have cola, I want an iced one."
The scene was broadcast live by CCTV on May 15 - and grief-stricken Chinese couldn't help breaking into smiles, touched by the spontaneity of the teenager.
The two rescuers give a bottle of cola each to Xue Xiao in a hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan province May 25, 2008, fulfilling their promise. [File photo]Xue recalled being in chemistry class on May 12 in Dongqi Middle School of Hanwan township, Mianzhu city, when the earth began to shake and mountains swayed.
Xue, with many other students, was buried in the debris of the collapsed building. Some were killed immediately and most others under the ruins died one after another.
But Xue held on in the firm belief that "someone will come to save us".
The next day, he could hear rescuers but couldn't see them and, a little scared, he shouted: "You won't leave me here, will you?"
We promise we will save you, Zhang Jianqiang and He Hongwei told Xue; and comforted him by talking to him.
Through a straw, they fed him glucose water for more than two days; and when they asked him what he liked most, Xue told them it was cola and pineapple.
"Xue Xiao is such a lovely boy. We promised him we'd give him cola once he is out," said Zhang. And a deal was made - rescuers would give him cola, and Xue would buy them ice cream.
The rescue operation lasted 48 hours before Xue was pulled out at 10 pm on May 15 - and that's when many heard his famous pronouncement in a clear voice: "Uncle, I want to have a cola."
"I was distraught and extremely thirsty after being buried for 80 hours, and I just wished to have an iced drink at that moment. I usually have a cola after sports," said Xue, who plays basketball.
He was taken to Huaxi Hospital in Chengdu and told his right arm had to be amputated.
Xue, who lost touch with his parents in the quake, had no relatives around and made the decision himself - he used his left arm to make a thumbprint on the operation consent letter.
His mother, who found out from TV that her son was alive, went to the hospital on May 17 and saw him with only one hand.
He consoled her: "Mother, don't be sad. I knew I would lose my right hand if were saved."
Soon visitors would come cola in hand, including Zhang and He, who saved him.
"We brought you cola, you see, as we promised", they said the moment they saw Xue.
Xue, hearing the familiar voices that accompanied him for 48 hours, did not say much, but pulled their hands and murmured: "Let me see you."
The minute he was pulled out of the rubble, he was blindfolded to protect him against light; and it was the first time Xue was seeing his saviors.
When his mother asked Xue to thank them, Zhang said: "No need to say thanks between friends."
The duo said it is they who should thank Xue for providing a silver lining amid death and destruction.
"We'll wait for you to recover and buy us ice creams," Zhang said as he left.
Xue is receiving further treatment, and is full of hope.
"My next wish is to watch Yao Ming play basketball at the Olympics.
"And I will learn to use my left hand to continue with life. I love mathematics. I want to be a scientist."
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/28/content_6715838.htm
Better get packin'!
Love y'all!
Love y'all!
Holli :)
PS: The reason why I said "Part One" is because this story on the move will be continued. :)
Labels: The Move
posted by Far Out East @ 12:26 PM
3 Comments:
Yeah, I got to the comment section today. I can't believe that you do so much work on your blog and get no more comments than appear here but I do know that I talk to several people who look at it but don't comment and maybe there's more like me that just can't connect most of the time. Wow your life is ever changing and we're sure that you're making the most of it. Do you ever get to go to work with Dad? Are you finding any next year clothes at good prices since you have places to shop there? Is there any kind of relief work that you can get into? Paw's outside working on his bee hives(man made ones, of course.) He has made a new instrument and he can't wait for you and Marshall to try it - it's call a strum stick and has only three strings with a small body but a neck as long as a banjo. Can't wait for you all to get here and we'll have a great jam session. We love you "in our hearts" and can't wait to hug you. Give our love to your family and our other friends that are there with ya'll. Hi, Hy Ann, oh-oh on the spelling. Gram & Paw
Hi Holly - I heard you guys were in Sichuan from the Moores. I guess Marshall's glad to see Josh? That's really cool that you're getting to be in the middle of it and hopefully getting to help out a lot. I saw your post on HK and realized we stayed the same flat June 2-7 - too bad we didn't overlap times! When do you go back to the states? I know that till be hard but hopefully good too, to see family and friends back in MP. Love, Michelle
oops, I spelled your name wrong! Sorry! Holli!
Post a Comment
<< Home