Travels in China 2006
The Great Wall and Farmer Chang
The Great Wall of China - of all the temples, grottoes, and monuments I visited in China, this most represented to me the mystery, majesty, and ingenuity of the Chinese people and the centuries of dynastic rule and insularity that epitomizes Chinese history. On the road from Beijing traveling north to the northern headquarters of Golden Courage, located about an hour and a half from the city, I first saw remnants of the wall towering high above us on the mountain tops, almost impossibly built into remote rocky peaks seemingly beyond the reach of even modern technological conveyances. Fragments of the wall still stand in their original glory, though worn by weather and time, telling the tale of a people who have occupied one land mass over centuries of wars and conquests.
The Wall spans 7,350 km (about 6,000 miles) and was built over a period of 2,000 years, between 700 BC and 1,300 AD. It served its purpose well of protecting the Chinese people from invasion through its northern border. When we were given an opportunity to "climb" the wall, I was thoroughly confused as to how we were going to approach this endeavor. In actuality, Dr. Lu and Katarina, Oran and I, accompanied by our trusty companion Dr. Chow, entered the Northern Beijing Portal of the Wall, and walked on a brick cobblestone path that forms the top of the wall. Though it is dangerously steep, there are many Chinese families with small children in tow, out for a walk on this most historic of landmarks. From this high perch, we are greeted by dramatic and sweeping vistas that conjure up distant battles and bygone generations keeping watch over the safety of the country. Dr. Lu assures us that his grandmother had walked this very same path to celebrate her 80th birthday, so I certainly am not going to complain (audibly) about the difficulty of the path. One of the most prized possessions of my trip to China, is the small metal replica of the Great Wall with my Chinese name, Lu Xin Da, etched into its back, with the date of this "climbing adventure."
Very close to the northern headquarters of Golden Courage, and not far from the segment of the Great Wall we had climbed, stands the farming village of West Temple. A farmer, Mr. Chang, lives in this village and often provides delicious, fresh vegetables to Dr. Lu's parents and other nearby families. The next day Farmer Chang and his wife invite our small group to lunch at their home. What a feast we are treated to! Please see the picture of Farmer Chang's wife displaying her culinary treats to appreciate the multitude of dishes she prepares in our honor, and all from their own fields, gardens, and orchards. We are overwhelmed with their generous hospitality, the abundance and variety of fresh, and lovingly prepared local dishes, and the humor and warmth of our hosts, who have the whole family engaged in cooking and serving this culinary delight.
The farmer had been a schoolteacher before the Cultural Revolution and was sent to the countryside with other "intellectuals" during the late 1960s for re-education. He found a new calling in farming and after the Revolution helped to create a new village of people dedicated to the land. One of the Farmer's daughters has adopted a Golden Courage orphan who has become an integral member of the family. This sweet and gentle boy has become the close playmate of his "step" sister. But we are told that no distinctions are made between the two siblings and no mention is made of his different family of origin, so he can feel completely part of the family.
Farmer Chang is very committed to the work of Golden Courage. Not only has he adopted a child into his family, but he has also donated a segment of his land to the nascent Golden Courage Summer Camp program, which will bring children to his farm each summer for a healthy dose of fresh air and invigorating work on the land. In addition, the Summer Camp program will provide an opportunity for Golden Courage children to interact with youth from the US and other countries and help the children speak English to further their educational possibilities. It is amazing to witness the unfolding of this well-conceived vision for the healthy education of these young children who would otherwise have had no hope for their future. Step by step, the programs are developing to form an integrated whole and address the needs of the whole child, body and mind, in summer and winter, in school and on the land. Yet again, I feel honored to be part of this powerful vision of hope for children who are given the opportunity of a new life.
