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Virtual China - Interviews by Xi'an Group #1

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Virtual China - Interviews by Xi'an Group #1
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From: "HKIS Middle School (General Account #1)" 
Author: Jeff Murphy
Date: March 18, 1996.
Location: Scholar Street, X'ian, China
Activity: Interview with a sword seller

I am here in X'ian and we've been walking along the big walls that surround
the city. Now, we're going to Scholar Street. I can see an old woman with
her cart. I walked up to the old woman and with Mrs. Manville's help, I
started a conversation. First, I asked her occupation. She didn't
understand English so Mrs. Manville translated for me. She said she sold
swords from the cart. Then, I asked her name. It is Pu Hei Ying. Then I
asked her age. She said she was 58. I asked if she had any children, and
she said she had a 30-year old boy. By this time we were finished, there
were many people crowded around us. She was very happy to be interviewed,
but she hesitated when I asked to take her picture. Then Mrs. Manville
explained and persuaded her to say yes. I took her picture and left. Later,
she came running back to me and gave me a tear shaped pendant made of red
jade with a red string.

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Author: Evelyn Chan
Date: March 18, 1996
Location: Lan Tong Elementary School
Activity: Interview with Elementary Principal of Lan Tong School

        We are standing here at Lan Tong School to find out what really
happened inside these brick walls.
        Oh!  wait wait... here comes the principle.  He seems to be
wearing a purple checkered jacket and a pair of cotton long pants.
        "Excuse me, Mr. Principal, but I was wondering...  When was this
school opened?  Do you think you can tell me?"
        "Well, this school has bee here since 1976."
        "Also, about how many kids are in your school?"
        "There are about 400 kids."
        "How many kids do you have?"
        "Hmm, I have a few kids but all groan up.  My youngest one is
about 13 years old."
        "How long have you been a principal here?"
        "I've been a principal here for six years and going onto my proud
seventh years."
        "What were you before you were a principal?"
        "I was a teacher here for quite a long time."
        "How did you become principal?  Did you have to do anything
special to become principal?"
        "Well, I became principal because the old one retired and I had
been here longer than anyone of the other teachers.  I didn't have
anything special to do to become principal."
        "Well, just how many teachers are there in the school?"
        "There are 16 teachers in this school.  Excluding me."
        "About how many kids are there in a class?"
        "Over 40 children are in one class, but all behave very well."
        "Thank you very much, Mr. Principal.  Thank you for watching the
HKIS evening news.  Bye."

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Author: Vicky Chung
Date: March 18, 1996.
Location: None given.
Activity: Interview with Chop Maker

Today, our group arrived at Scholar's Street at approximately 4:30.  We
walked through the street looking for interesting things.  We saw many
necklaces made out of rocks and stones.  Also, they had lots and lots of
books and pens.  Chinese brushes used for calligraphy (Mao Bi) were also
in plenty.  However, we were most attracted by a chop maker.  There is a
couple working there.  Because it was so interesting, I decided to
interview the woman who worked there.  The lady is very nice and gladly
accepted the interview.  First of all, her name is Wang Xian Yiu.  She
had been working Scholar's Street for around 5 years.  She is married and
has a husband that now works in the shop with her.  She has a 3 year old
boy that is in kindergarten.  She is 28 years old and her husband is 29
years old.  She was born in Xi'an herself and hasn't been away to any
places aside from China.  She lives in a place in the city of Xi'an.  She
is very lucky because she is the middle child of the family and has an
older brother, an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister.
Her favorite hobby is making Chinese Stamps.  She learned how to make
Chinese stamps when she was 18 years old.  Because she didn't get good
enough grades to go to college.  That's why she needs to go out to work.
Her birthday is on August 30, 1968.  And yes, she is definitely a Xi'an girl!
        I guess I really made her day because she gladly accepted my
interview and insisted to give me a 50% discount off when I wanted to buy
Chinese stamps.
        Even though I have been in Xi'an for only 1 day, it gave me a
super impression.  And I know that I will never in my life forget today
and this trip.  I admit that everything was super except for the terrible
lunch we had.
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Author: Timothy Chen
Date: March 18, '96
Location: West Wall of the Xian Wall and South Wall
Activity: Interview with Lian Yuo at Xian - South Wall

        I'm Lian Yuo, and I'm 30 years old, and I am on the South Wall
looking out to nowhere.  The sky is yellow, the wind blows dust all
around my face.  I ride my bicycle all around the wall.  Suddenly, I met
a boy called Timothy.  He ask many questions.  I answered all his questions.

        Oh, I forgot to tell you something: I'm married, and I have a
son.  I don't have a job, but I lost it last month.  That's why Timothy
asked me why I am here when everyone is working.  I'm just wandering
around to see if anything will happen or pick up any money.  I was
wearing a red jacket, with black trousers.  I'm very upset because I lost
my job.  Luckily, my wife has a job, so we don't have to be beggars.  But
after a month, I won't be that upset, for I'm getting a new job.  I can
earn some money again, and not have only my wife earning it.  It will
make our lives easier.

        I left after answering all his questions.  Carrying the bike down
the stairs.  After going down, I knew that Timothy was after me.  I met
my son who is 3 years old with my wife, and we went back home without
stopping, and Timothy didn't follow us.
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Author: Kenneth Koh
Date: Mar. 19, 1996
Location: Moslem community Street
Activity: Interview with So Kei Young, Store Keeper, Along Moslem Street

         Today as I was walking down the Moslem Street in Xi'an.  I met a
shopkeeper his mane was So Kei Young.  He did not enclose his age but I
think he is in  his 30's. b He and his wife work in the same store.  His
store was called "Qin Chen To Ting Shu Ai"

        He has been living in Xi'an ever since he was born.  All of his
ancestors have been living in Xi'an   He said that one of his family
stories was that one of their ancestors came from Mongolia.  He was
married when he was 28 years old.  He has  no children.

        Everyday he opens his shop at eight o' clock  and he works until
8 at night.  He has been a shopkeeper for almost six year.  His store is
made up of bricks and wood.  It sells lots of things including
compasses.  He started helping his father once he graduated from high
school and he eventually took over the store.

        He celebrates only a few festivals.  He celebrates Chinese New
Year and Ramadan.  He was a Muslim and he followed what a typical Muslim
might do.  He also fast when he needed to during the Ramadan period.

        He was sort of a rich person.  He learned English for two years!
The classes are all at night.  He went to Beijing, Tianjing, Shanghai,
and some other places in China.  When he is free or maybe at week-ends,
he goes to the movies with his wife.  He might also go to the Karaoke
places in Xi'an.

        He has heard of Hong Kong.  Even though he has not been there, he
knows a few things about it.  He knows what will happen in 1997, but
politically he has no comments.

        This person was a very nice guy, even though he was sort of
grumpy when I asked him how old he was.  I'd say that he had a good life
compared to the people in Xi'an.  He had enough education, and money to
live a peaceful life.
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Author: Mikako Mikko
Date: 3/19/96
Location: Big Goose Pagoda
Subject: Interview with Sheng Yin Shi

        here I am standing in the rain.  My bag on the outside is wet but
the inside is fine.  We had walked all the way from the museum to the Big
Goose Pagoda.  We had to interview someone so we had interviewed a female
monk.  She was selling incense.  her name is Sheng Yin Shi.  She has been
a monk for over 10 years.  She has a family.  Sheng Yin Shi has 3 sons, 1
daughter, and a husband.  Sheng Yin Shi does sweeping, cleans the
surroundings of the temple.  In the temple she eats noodles, rice, and
vegetables.  They eat no meat because they are vegetarians.  She had said
that being a monk is not difficult.  The monks wear brown and grey
clothes.  She said that the youngest monks are teens and the oldest are
50 to 60 years old.  Guess what her favorite place is?  Of course, it is
the temple.  Sheng Yin Shi is 36 years old.  She told us that there is
more than 30 monks in the temple.   She also told us that she came to the
temple under her own choice.
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Author: Natalli Kwong
Date: March 20, '96
Location: Huaqing Hot Springs
Activity: Interview with Chang Yuan Chao - A driver who is 42 years old

        I saw this very interesting man walking around while my friends
and I were eating a box lunch provided by the Bell Tower Hotel.  Since I
was doing Virtual China tonight, I decided to interview him.  His name is
Chang Yuan Chao.  42 years of age.  HE is married, and has a son who is 3
years old.  His height is 1.56 meters.  He works as a taxi driver for 7 -
8 hours ad day, and averages about $1000 a month.  He leads a good life,
having food to eat, and clothes to wear.  He is the only person that
supports his family.  His wife is a house maker, and takes care of their
son.  He likes to eat everything, but his favorite is lamb, and his least
favorite is spicy foods.  He is a very friendly person.  Luckily, he
understood what I was saying, and I understood what he was answering.  I
asked a friend to take a polaroid of him.  He was so shocked when the
picture slid out.  He loved the picture!  He was grinning as he was
starring at it.  Well, I ran out of time, and that was where my interview
ended.
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Author: Janice Ma
Date: March 20,1996
Location: Hua Qing Hot Springs
Interviewing Cheung Li

        Hi!  Today I interviewed an old man at the Hua Qing Hot Springs.
We should be interviewing people at the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum.  We
couldn't because I was going to interview one of those worker working on
the warriors,  but they were busy!  So I went to the Hua Qing Hot
Springs,  after lunch,  we had a lot of left over and we gave it to an
old man.  He was rally happy and so I decided to interview him.

        First I was kind of shy and forgot how to say "interview" in
Chinese.  After I remembered ho to,  I started.  Let me tell you
something about him=
        His name is Cheung Li,  he wore a blue hat and has a long gray
beard.  He is sixty two years old (but he looks much younger than he
really is)  I was like "Wa",  cause I thought he was like fifty years
old.  I think he's happy about it.  He takes care of the Hua Qing Hot
Springs,  it a pretty place,  he likes it too and he loves his job.  I
think taking care of the Hua Qing Hot Springs is kind of nice for one or
two days but not for more than 10 years.

        Cheung is a happy man.  He has a wife and four children and they
all lived in the little house by the hot springs.  After that he went to
take the food we gave him.  I hadn't finished,  but I don't feel like
bothering him.  He enjoyed collecting all the food from us.

        He answered a lot of questions and he makes us feel really
"homey" and he greeted us when we came.  It is really nice to interview
him,  and we just met and I knew something about him.  It's a pity that I
haven't got the time to introduce myself.
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Author: Jules Theil
Date: March 20,1996
Location: Hua Qing Hot Springs
Interview with Mr. Cheng Jia Ju

        My original plans for the day were to interview a person at the
Terra Cotta warriors museum.  I would have preferably chosen to interview
an archeologists,  however,  the archeologists were busy unearthing the
remaining sections of this historic wonder.  But at the time we had mass
loads of worksheets to complete in the shortest amount of time due to the
fact that we were running behind schedule.  So as I was filling out the
worksheets thought that the best thing to do was to wait for peace and
quiet to get a good solid interview.

        When the ever so annoying worksheets were completed,  I journeyed
outside of the museum to the market place where swarms of hawkers were
selling this and that and what not.  You know,  it's actually quite
amazing and it awe struck me the first day I was in Xi'an,  when the
hawkers were actually speaking broken English,  and learning on the job,
for they were eager people and disparate to make a profit.  Moreover,
they were extremely aggressive in selling their goods and were so
persistent that they couldn't accept the fact that we really had no need
for their goods no matter how low the price was.

        After a while it was really getting to be annoying (they started
pulling on our arms for attention).  And it was probably night time we
headed over to the Hua Qing Hot Springs.

        When we arrived,  I was determined to hold an interview,  so I
first attempted the regular ni hao and the woman giggled at me and walked
away.  I guess she was shy.   Well,  I met an eager person by the name of
Cheng Jia Ju.  He really liked the spotlight and attention.  He said he
was 62 years of age and his current occupation was being the caretaker of
the hot spring.  He was born in Xi'an and has never been outside of the
city his entire life.  Mr. Cheng is married and has a son who is also
married and have a son of their own.  He loved having his picture taken
and was truly fascinated with the Polaroid cameras.

        Interviewing can be a very rewarding job,  in fact,  I didn't
really fancy getting the job of interviewer,  but it turned out that is
wasn't so bad after all.
---------------------------------------------
Name: Taizo Haruno
Date: March 20, 1996
Location: Huaqing Hot Springs
Activity: Interview with Chen Zhi Ku

        Chen Zhi Ku sells only souvenirs.  He is 29 years old and is
married and has one daughter who is four years old.  He started selling
souvenirs at Huaqing Hot Springs on march 13, 1996.
        He normally starts the store at 10:00 AM and finishes at 6:00 PM,
but during the tourist season, which is from April to June and September
to November, he opens the store longer.
        Chen Zhi Ku's local visa is in Xi'an. He gets his souvenirs from
the wholesaler.  He gets about$10-20 a day and about $60 a month for housing.
        Chen Zhi Ku pays $300 for his license a month.  The souvenir she
sells are necklaces and some rings.
        He is a really nice guy.  I was going to buy a pendant necklace
and the price was about 50 RMB(Xi'an money).  I told Chen Zhi Ku that it
was too expensive and the guy said that he would give it to me for 30
RMB.  I still said it was too expensive and I wanted it for 15 RMB.  Then
he said, "okay." I was really happy.
        Chen Zhi Ku has glasses and is a really tall man.  It was quite
hard for me to interview him because I didn't know how to speak
Mandarin.  So if you ever come to Xi'an try to practice Mandarin before
you come.
----------------------------------------------------
Author: Carmen Fong
Date: March 20, 1996.
Location: Scholar's Street
Activity: Interview with Li Fu Xian

Walking along Scholar's Street looking at all the beautiful jade jewelry,
I got the chance to meet a wonderful lady called Li Fu Xian.  As my
mandarin isn't very good, it was difficult to communicate at first, but
we soon got the hang of it using hand gestures and bits of the dialect.

Mrs. Li was born in X'ian, right on Scholar's Street, in a building
called Liu Bao Zhen, across from her small stall.  She's been living
there all 47 years of her life.  When asked what her occupation is, she
said that she worked for charity. The money she made selling jade
pendants and other knickknacks went to needy neighbors.

Mrs. Li has two grown children, making a total of four people in her
family, including her husband.  She doesn't have any grandchildren yet.
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Author: Justin Archie
Date: March 21, 1996
Location: Tong-Ren Middle School
Activity: Interview with Students, ages 11-13

Taking a bus ride from the restaurant, I thought of our next destination.
Our destination would have lots of people and children. I wondered if they
were my age.
The thoughts went through my head. Pulling into a nearby street, I noticed
a group of people in front of this building. They were waiting for
something. As I walked out the door of the bus, I then knew they were
waiting for us. As we walked towards them, we started waving at them, they
smiled and waved back. They seemed that they already knew us. We did too.
We all walked to this small auditorium where teachers and the headmaster
greeted us. When walking into the auditorium, there was this long table
where our school's ambassadors (students) sat down.
When all the students settled down, we got a wonderful introduction. The
students of Tong-Ren Middle School (located in Xi'an) showed us their
talents. We showed ours by singing the school song for HKIS Middle School.
After that we had a mini-tour of the school - no different than any other I
have seen.
We all gathered in a small courtyard of the school, where we danced with
them. FUN!!
Then we introduced ourselves to the students. Coming to a group of students
they said "Hello" and I said "Ni hao" (which is Chinese for Hello). I asked
them how they were and they said, "Fine". They spoke good English. I was
surprised. Using my Mandarin I interviewed/asked questions about them.
The first I asked "What is your name?"
She replied "Li Meng". I then asked her age. Her answer was 13. I asked her
grade. Li Meng answered "Class 1, Grade 1" (They have a different grading
system).
The second I asked her name, she replied "Liu Juan". Her age was 13. She
was also in Class 1, Grade 1
Then we talked for awhile and I took their picture. I think they enjoyed it
as much as I did. I said "Zai Jian" and that was the end.
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