Day 5: November 2, 2012 - Friday
Let’s take it outside the classroom. The XCE Boys had a great opportunity today to interact with Mrs. Julie Upton-Wang and the different people from The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu. This local and vibrant community practices a concept called sustainable development. Later in the afternoon, we climbed the Mutianyu side of the Great Wall of China.
The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu is one of the cleaner and unique communities outside the city of Beijing. After an hour and a half drive, we were greeted by the cold and windy air of the province as well as the beautiful landscaping design of the ‘school’. It isn’t a school anymore but rather a restaurant in the heart and center of the community. There, we were able to hear the stories from the barefoot doctor as well as the accountant of this beautiful village.
The story of the barefoot doctor is one filled with perseverance and great fulfillment. A 64-year old woman introduced herself to us as the doctor of the village. She has been serving this community for 37 years, from the time of Chairman Mao to the present. Her dream was to become a teacher but because of the cultural revolution in China, her dream was shattered. In the year 1964, the Chinese government ordered the smartest and the brightest people from every village to be trained to become a doctor, more specifically a field doctor. It was their job to immediately tend to the needs of the villagers because of the absence of hospitals and good infrastructure. That was where the term barefoot doctor came about because they walked from place to place to tend to the different needs of the villagers.
On top of being a doctor, she was forced to work in the fields as a farmer. It had no added benefits. She was paid 70 points or less than one kuai. Although she didn’t enjoy her job, this didn’t stop her from performing her duties and she pushed herself to become a great doctor.
She was responsible for everything in the community from first-aid to delivering babies. She was proud to note that she had a 100% success rate and that she was able to deliver 70+ babies successfully. All of them are now doing well. That was one part of the job she enjoyed the most, that she was able to play a big part in the lives of every person in the village. From the time they leave their mothers’ wombs, she was there helping them in every step of the way. Her job took its tolls on her: barely able to eat, sleep, and always on the move. Her life was difficult but she said something that struck me: “It was a job I HAD to do but HARD to do.”
After a shattered dream, this woman was able to find her purpose in life. She found her niche in society; a way for her to make a difference. She understood the sacrifices she made and the villagers recognize her efforts and reward her for her selflessness and dedication to the community. She has now been elevated to the rank of Village Clinic Doctor and she has no plans of stopping unless she is told to retire.
Great Wall
In scaling the Great Wall, one is given choices on how to do it. You can pay and take the cable car going up or do it the old fashioned way---walking. On the way down, you also have a choice of taking a toboggan, something that is similar to a luge but uses a lever to break and go forward, or again walking.
I took the “cheap” way up, which is to walk up the countless flights of stairs. Walking up not only tests my physical limits but also my mental toughness. How much farther will I endure? Should I push myself to reach the top? I thought that walking seven floors to reach my room on a daily basis is enough to prepare me for this. But more than a thousand steps on a cold afternoon proved to be a real challenge. The journey was difficult but the end result was self-gratifying.
Upon reaching the top, you are captivated by the scenery. You are intrigued by the architectural prowess of the Chinese but also come to realize the amount of punishment taken to build this magnificent wonder of nature. The Great Wall is the largest cemetery known to man. Buried here are the millions of Chinese responsible in making it. Their efforts are seen but never credited.
Taking the toboggan down is one hell of a ride. It is something I highly recommend to every one who visits the wall from the Mutiyanyu side. Exhilarating! The one-word to describe this beautiful invention.
Scaling the Great Wall is just like how we conquer life and its problems. Going up is difficult and we must push ourselves beyond our limits because that’s the only way we can succeed. Arriving at the top allows us to see the fruits of our labor. Going down is something which humbles us and says, our time is up.
This too shall pass... :)
Notes: Getting colder day by day. The same school where we study now is moving to another location by next year. It is a wide property and an architectural masterpiece. There will be a library, indoor swimming pool, indoor basketball court, and an Olympic-size track.
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