Two days later, will comes my 40th anniversary of going to the countryside to be a farmer. I was one of the so called "Intelligent Youth" for 2 years. For tracing the old memory, we old classmate in the middle school went to Jining city in a weekend of December. Here, I put some photos for remember of that trip.
When I got the old village, I found it changed totally. I could not find any impression I got in 1968 to 1970. Of course it is changed totally. I had to ask local people to find some old farmers there
Finally I found Guichen who was one of my best friend then but she could not know me. Even when I told her who I was, she replied:"Yes, I can know your voice, but can never recognize you when we met at a street.."
Guizhen is one year older than me and she bacam a grandma several years ago. We took photos for memory for ever!
Time really flies! I don't want say anything about that cray time during so called "Cultural Revolution". However, youth is so nice and growing up needs hardship. I never regret that I could once be a farmer and lived in the country with the real farmers. That benefits all my life!
Thank you for sharing this Lisa. It is hard for foreigners to understand the feelings of people who went through that period. It obviously carries nostalgic feelings for many and yet the country treats it as a period not to be discussed publicly. I hope to talk to you futher about your life experiences. Best to you Lisa on this anniversary.
My parents were also suffering from that period too.
It's a little painful to look back upon those days...
I wish all the people at my age, who suffered from that period can live well now and enjoy their late lives!
Thanks Elliott!
Life was not easy for people at my age. However that is life. You can not know what you will meet or what it would happen in your whole life. What we can do is holding on an easy mood and to face anything by self confidence.....
The Chinese community in Malaysia could only looked on in disbelief at what went on during the 'Cultural Revolution'. The activities of the Red Guards were widely reported in the Malaysian papers too, especially the Chinese press. Most Malaysians have relatives in China including many young men who left the country to return to China to avoid being recruited into the army by the British authorities ruling the country then.
Today, inspite of everything, the Chinese people in China has taken their rightful place in the modern world. The progress of China has been breath-taking, to say the least! I hope Lisa is among those who are enjoying the fruits of their labour, figuratively speaking of course!
You are right that we should leave the past as a mirror only but keep going ahead.
I believe that I did what I should do and I kept what I can hold on, since people can not control matters what God manages on. So, I am still fine now and enjoy the fruits I have had in hand....lol
i think i will have the same memories as yours when i leave here
知青啊。OK.you are so rich in life..
Yes, I am quite proud of once being so called "intelligent Youth"! That was a meaningful time in my life....
Most youngsters seem to have no knowledge about Cultural Revolution. Anyway,Your story bring us back to that particular period in modern China. Nothing could remain unchanged in face of time, but the experience of being a farmer in the village will, for sure, haunt you with bitter-sweet memories.