by Scot Walker
Letters from Mo Bin
Story Notes: Correspondence from China
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Rated for Teen and Up Audiences |
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Letters from Mo Bin by Scot Walker Letters from Mo Bin Story Notes: Correspondence from China
Proudly presented by You can translate this page. Choose your language. |
I met Mo Bin in a gay chatroom in 1999 and we became instant friends but then after two years of daily communications, he disappeared and my heart still aches wondering why. What caused Mo Bin's disappearance and what happened when he got drunk. Please give me your feed-back, thoughts, opinions, and theories on what you think may have happened. I have two theories but let me hear yours first and then perhaps we can figure this out together.
In the struggle,
Scot Walker
Introduction
I met Mo Bin on the Internet on December 24, 1999 when he was a confused 20-year old gay Chinese man living in Communist China. We chatted almost daily for two years, discussing the culture of China, his daily life and the rural village he so adored. Mostly, though, I listened, mentoring a young man as he struggled with his sexual identity, his desire to write English and his hopes for the future.
Mo is a beautiful man. I wish I could include one of his many pictures, but because of the current political situation, I'm not willing to put him or his career in jeopardy. Physically, Bin is 5'4" tall (164 cm) and weighs about 102 pounds (49 kilos). He has long black hair, dark eyes, and small hands and feet. When we met, he was a student in Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton).
THE END
DECEMBER 8, 2001
Hello Scot,
It is very nice to hear from you again. How are you there? It is raining here and I just want stay in home. I did receive the history book that you sent to me and I had chance to look at them. I think they are great books!
I spent my weekend drinking for the first time in my life and got drunk last night. My friend brought me home and helped me get to bed. He treated me very strangely and didn't talk to me today. I think he's mad at me but I don't know why. We have been friends since we were boys. Maybe he's not feeling good. I don't know. All I know is that I hope things are the same with us as they used to be. I don't like having my friends leave me.
My mom had come back to Wuzhou and I will take care of myself here. I will go back to school tomorrow and it would be very happy to see my teachers and classmates again!
How did you spend your weekend there and I hope you did enjoy your time!
Well, that's all for now and talk to you again soon.
All my best!
Bin
On December 8, 2001, Mo Bin, my young gay Chinese cyber friend, disappeared from my keyboard and my life forever. These are the email letters we shared from December 24, 1999 until that last moment on line together.
Dear Scot,
My name is Mo Bin and I'm a 20 year old college student in Guangzhou. I am studying engineering but hope someday to be a writer. I also love to read and my parents joke with me that I will spend all my money and all my life buying and reading books. My favorite books are the classics. I have read some western books. I also love to go to the movies and I like American movies the best. I dress in casual style clothes and am just an average guy looking for friends. Now, please tell me about you.
Bin
Dear Bin,
It is a pleasure to know you. I am a GWM. Do you know what that means? I'm 55 years old but most people think I look a lot younger. I am a big man. I stand 191 centimeters (6 feet 3 inches) and weigh about 83 kilos (175 pounds). How about you? How tall are you and what do you weigh? I am glad to see that you write in English and I must tell you write very well. I taught English for fourteen years. I am currently an editor and I am in the process of writing short stories and poetry. Do you like short stories? What type of reading do you like most? Tell me more about you in your next letter.
Your friend,
Scot
Dear Scot,
I do not know what is a GWM. What does it mean? I am 20 years old and I am very small. I stand 164 centimeters (5'4") and weigh 49 kilos (102 pounds). I have black hair and dark eyes. Now I am a student in Guangzhou and will be an engineer when I graduate. I like old men and young men, it does not matter to me, mostly I want a friend who is intelligent and likes to chat with me. I like to read all kind books but mostly novels. I do not read much poetry.
Bin
Dear Bin
You are a very happy person and it is good to know you. A GWM is a gay white male. You are a GAM-can you figure that one out.
Remember, I taught English for many years and I want to be very honest with you, your English is very good. How long have you studied?
I love people and I love to travel. I have been around the world six times and visited seventy-five countries. My favorite countries are Brazil, Egypt, England, Spain, Costa Rica, Peru and China, but I really think I think I love all the places I have visited. I love to meet new people, eat new food and try new things. Have you been to any other countries?
I also love jokes and humor and at one time I thought about becoming a comedian-do you have many comedians in China?
When I was your age, I wanted to play the piano and organ and I studied in high school and college. I don't have an "ear" for music however so I have to read all the notes. Do you play any instruments? Do you like music? Since I don't have an ear for music (we call it perfect pitch in America), I settled on writing, editing and teaching-it's a more stable profession because as a performer, you never know if you will make enough money to pay your bills.
I love nature and gardens and have grown plants since I was ten years old. My first garden consisted of strawberries. Have you ever grown strawberries? They multiple so rapidly that I filled up half the back yard within a few years. I started with five or six plants. The next year, I had 30 plants and the following year I had over 100 plants. By the time the fourth year rolled around, I had nearly 500 strawberry plants. Does anything grow that rapidly in China? I also love flowers, shrubs and fruit trees. My favorite fruit tree is the flowering cherry tree. My city, Washington DC, is famous for its cherry trees. Sometime soon I'll send you a picture of them. I don't think there is anything more beautiful in the entire world than the sight of the cherry trees when they're in full bloom.
I also love animals. When I was a boy, I had a dog named Lassie. My mother got her for me when I was five and she lived until I was seventeen. I was so heartbroken when she died that I wrote this poem about her.
Here is the poem about my dog, Lassie:
For most of my adult life I've had cats. I like cats better than dogs because they're easier to take care of. You don't have to walk a cat. Cats can stay inside without causing a mess and they are much more intelligent than dogs-at least in my opinion. Which do you like best, cats or dogs?
I also really love adventure of all kinds. I've climbed the Pyramids in Egypt, Guatemala and Mexico. I've also been as close to the North and South Poles as an average tourist can go: Point Barrow, Alaska on the Arctic Ocean and Ushuaia at the tip of South America. Friends have a hard time keeping up with me because I travel so often. One moment I am in London and another moment I'm in Hong Kong. I am a free soul, and love to roam the world and go anywhere I like.
Your friend,
Scot
Dear Scot,
I guess that GAM means gay Asian man. Am I correct? If so then certainly I am a gay Asian man.
Thank you for say that my English is very good. I do not think it is good but I study every day. We have two ways to study English here. One way is the American accent and the other way is the British accent. I speak with the American accent. Which you think is better?
I have only travel in China since I am still very young and just a student. Someday I hope to travel to many places. Mostly I want to travel to Europe.
I never met anyone who travel as much you. You must be very rich and you must love it very much. How do you have so much time to do that?
I do not play the instrument. I sing. I like to sing very much and my friend say I have a good voice.
I love flowers and plants and all animals but I like the monkey and dog the best. The monkey is very funny and I see it when I go to the zoo.
I know what are cherry trees and strawberries. I do not have a favorite tree.
Bin
Dear Bin,
I like monkeys too and when I was very small they were my favorite animal. I think my favorite animal now is the elephant. I rode elephants in Asia, America and Africa.
I never asked you about your family. I have one sister and no brothers. We learned that Chinese families are limited to one child. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
JANUARY 1, 2000 MORNING
Hello Scot;
Nice to see you. Thank you very much for your email! I have no brothers or sisters. I am an only child. My parents and my grandmother live with me in the house, there are fruit tree in front of my house, it is a persimmon tree, there were more fruit on the tree last year, I like them very much.
Let me tell you about my travels last year. I traveled with my friends to Yangshu where more foreigners like to visit. My friends didn't like Yangshu, because English is spoken everywhere. Even the old people can speak a little English, but they can't speak Mandarin well, so my friends were very angry.
One day, we were go down a street when we came to a market, and this time more and more foreigner in here. We wanted to bring some things, but the people said, "Move a little, I must sell my souvenirs to the foreigners. Don't bother me."
Oh, my God! My friend was very very angry. I know why, because the man can get more money to sell his souvenirs to foreigners.
The second day, we went to Guilin. We also came to a town named Zhiyua, it's very beautiful and the people were very kind, we had a good time there. In here we took a boat and floated on the torrent, it is very funny and happy. And we climbed a mountain, it is very beautiful too. Well, I want tell you two jokes!
Do they interesting for you. I think I am very lucky and happy to know you! I don't think I am lonely now, I hope we can be good friends. Please tell my more about you and you can ask me some question! OK, that's all for now, hope to hear from you soon! All my best wishes to you!
HAPPY 2000!
Bin
Dear Bin,
It's very cold here today-zero centigrade (30 degrees Fahrenheit), but I had a chance to jog for ten blocks. Do people in your area jog or is that just an American fixation? I worked on a travelogue about Alaska. Yesterday I watched the worldwide fireworks. Did you have a chance to see any of them? I thought the ones in Paris were beautiful. I also love the displays in London, Athens, Egypt, Rome, Portugal, Rome, Rio, DC and NYC.
Hello Scot,
Happy 2000!
It is a new century, everyone is very happy to celebrate the New Year. I have a question. What is comedian? Do you visit China one day? I want tell you about me in these day. We knew that we would have three vacation days for the New Year. On Wednesday night, we had a party to celebrate the New Year in my college. Most of student joined it and play together. I didn't live in campus, so I didn't join it and stay in home. I was watching TV program and the time was 8:30 p.m. Suddenly some one knock at the door. I ran there and there stood my desk mate! It was very strange to see my friend and I don't know why he come to here. He told me that we would began our vacation day from tomorrow, because there was something wrong with the water and electricity supply. We had finished every subjects and we began to review them. So every day we have time for individual study. That was great to review the subjects in home and get anything ready for the New Year. But I didn't take some study books back from my college, so I have to came back there tomorrow. My uncle's student came to our house with his cousin. But my uncle didn't stay here. Last week, he played on my uncle's computer and make some trouble with it. He told me that he didn't delete any program and he didn't know why the computer can not contact with the Internet and the computer often show many wrong message and there were not any sound. So tonight he asked his cousin came here and mend the computer. After half an hour the sound appear and my uncle's computer can contact with the internet again. Then they began install many software. My uncles said to me that he wand (wanted to) play on internet and decide to use my computer, then he turn on the button of my computer by himself. My computer didn't work, he forgot to turn on the power supply. Now he forgot to turn off the button first and turn on the power supply at once. Then we heard a little sound of bomb and see the light of fire was appear from the computer.
Oh, my god! After 10 minutes, we tried to turn on the computer. The first time, it could work. I was very happy. But finally, it could not work anymore. This was the end of my computer. I thought about that how to solve the Y2K problem with my computer before, but now I didn't trouble my head about that. His cousin could not help me. I was unhappy, but I was OK and told them that didn't worry and I can solve it. So the next morning, I came back to my college with my desk mate and take back my books. And then I went to the computer centre. There were all kinds of computer and I visit many computer shop and told them what's wrong with my computer. They asked me bringing the computer here and they would help me to check it and find what's wrong with it. I went to a shop and a girl talk to us warmly and smilingly. Introduce their company, the prestige, skill and quality and they would help us the solve the problem. The third day, I move my computer there with my friend. Now we knew that the system board was broken and I must change a new one. I agree! But I didn't bring enough money with me. Because every bank was close for the Y2K at that day. So I told them that I would take my computer back tomorrow. They would close their shop although tomorrow was the holiday. I knew there would be a lot of people come to here and visit the computer tomorrow. I was very unhappy because I can not get and send any message on the internet. All the night, I sat in front of the TV screen. I had a good time and enjoy the program very much and celebrate 2000 with them. 3, 2, 1-2000!
On the first day of 2000 everyone was very happy and it was busy and crown everywhere. I was very happy to take back my computer from the computer shop. But there were still something wrong with my computer. I could not play on internet. Because I had changed a new system board and I must install the new software for the modem. Suddenly my keyboard could not work and I heard the sound of alarm and could not control the keyboard. I knew the keyboard was end at all! I would be crazy. I made the phone to the computer centre and I need a new keyboard and hope they can help me to install the new software for my modem and make anything ok with my computer. They said they would help me. So I move my computer to there again. The compute centre was very busy now. Many customer gather around it and the clerk was introduce about the computer; CD-Rom; modem and act. They said they would help me to solve the problem, but I must wait, because it was very crowd here now and they were helping another customer to check their computer! Not problem and I want go to the bookstore with my friend. And I would come back here after one and half hour.
I book a book at that bookstore. But the owner told me that there were not new books for this week. It was not a good message for me. I wend to the computer shop at the third time and they told me everything was ok with my computer. I was delight! Now I use my new keyboard and turn on my computer. But there was not any picture but a lot of strange light on the computer screen. Oh, my God!
I tried many times but the same things happen. Now, I had to call to the computer shop again and told us what's the wrong with the screen. They told me how to solve the problem and everything was ok with my computer here now. I was very very happy and learn the new knowledge of the computer.
Well, that's my story in these day. Now I feel very well and happy! Because everything is ok with me! This all for now, hope to hear from you! Hope good luck and happy company with your forever!
All my best wishes to you! Happy 2000
Yours Bin
Dear Bin,
Today was really excited! The temperature was 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 22 degrees Centigrade, extremely high for Washington at this time of year. I jogged 10 blocks and walked for about an hour. I really hate the cold temperature and wonder why I live in Washington. Someday, I hope to retire to a warmer climate-like Florida or Brazil. I made the final arrangements to go back to Brazil for a 3-week vacation! I have been to Brazil five times and love it. My favorite place is Rio de Janeiro, but this time I will spend one week in the Amazon River basin-in the middle of the jungle. Then I will spend one week in Salvador Bahia, and finally I'll spend a week on Copacabana Beach in Rio. Best wishes to you,
Love and hugs,
Scot
Hello Scot;
Thank you for your letter! I am glad to know you!
Do you want come to my country again? I have never been to the other countries; it is very difficult to the other country in China. But I can travel in China. China is very beautiful and interesting.
I want tell you about my boyhood, I like my boyhood.
In spring, some of my friends and I always climbed up to the top of the hills to see the budding beautiful flowers. In summer, we spent most of time in the forests, picking wild flowers and fruits to eat.
Autumn was the kite flying season. I liked to go to the grass with my friends to fly a kite during that season. In winter, though the weather was cold, we seldom stayed at home. We always looked forward to a big snowfall, so that we could start a snow fight or make snow figures which would offer us a lot of fun. But this is only a vainly hope, because no snow in my city!
As time passes on rapidly, those childish habits or pastimes are no longer with me. But they will remain a happy memory all my life.
When I was a student in my middle-school. This time, I was sad and suffering. And this time I find out I was gay and I think it is leave nothing to be desired. I was a student in my middle school, I was very small and like quiet. So some student like make fun of me, bully and humiliate. One time a classmate gave me a kiss, it is very good feeling for me and I like it very much, so this time I know I don't like girls. But he was not a gay man, he only play a joke on of me. Before I finished my middle school, my study is not better, because I was ill and I could not go to school. But my father and my teacher often scold me. One night, my father finished his drink and came back home, he just like a drunken man, he said nothing when he saw me and give me a good beating, I don't know why! I ran into my room and sit down on the ground, I was very afraid and very tired and suffering and sad, nobody know my secret and my feeling, I need a friend to help me. I want cry and want call in loud. So I don't like my father from I was a little boy until now.
How'd you find out you are a gay man, how'd you think of it? That's all for now, I hope to hear from you soon, I am glad to know you!
Thank you for your help. All my best wishes to you! Take care
Bin
Dear Bin,
I am here to help you in anything you need. Always look upon me as your friend-or even as your older brother Whatever questions you have, ask me and I'll be happy to try to answer them. If you have any problems you want to talk about, let me know and I'll try to help you, as well.
I had many problems when I was young because it I didn't know about any other gay boys my age. In the 1950's in the United States, being gay was very secretive. In short, I felt totally alone. I wrote a story about that and will include it as an attachment at the end of this email.
When I was 45 years old, I admitted to my parents that I was gay. My father is a very masculine guy. He has been married three times and usually has a few girl friends on the side. He loves women. He was very understanding, however, when I told him that I was gay. He accepted me and we became even closer friends. My mother, on the other hand, did not accept the fact that I was gay. She thought it was a decision I made. She thought that I wanted to be gay and didn't want to be straight. She also was a Christian and told me I'd die and go to hell because I chose to become gay. She was difficult to talk to and difficult to visit. We were never close after I talked to her.
Be careful if and when you tell your parents and friends that you are gay. Sometimes people don't understand homosexuality. They think you can decide what you want to be. When people ask me why I am gay I turn the question around and say to them
Hello Scot;
HAPPY 2000!
How are you!
Thank you for those thing you said about being gay. it is hard to be gay in China now and I do not have anyone to talk about it. I know I am gay and know this for a long time but do not tell my parents and my friends.
I am very sorry that you can not receive my picture on your computer. I don't know if I can change my picture to jpg. Can you explain about that means?
I want go to the countryside to visit my grandparents. I had a good time there last time. I went together with my mother to my grandparents' house. They live in countryside. It was summer day. Obviously, life in the county is very different from that in the city. People who have lived long in the city often wish for that calm, pure, beautiful rural life. The sun shone brightly and the breeze was gentle. Large rice fields spread out before our eyes. Trees along each side of the road were decorated with beautiful and lovely flowers and leaves. The birds sang sweetly on the trees, and the fragrance of flowers was sent by the gentle wind into our nostrils. In the countryside. Early morning I took a stroll along the field side. The air was fresh and pure. With a dog following, then I ran a race in the meadows, which were covered with tall grass. And I climbed up the hill to see the sun rising slowly from the eastern horizon. The birds also seemed to have waked up from their dreams, twittering restlessly among the bushes. I fixed my eyes upon the smooth, clear, and bright surface of the murmuring steam, to see the fish swimming. In order to appreciate the quietness of the country, I gave up myself entirely to nature, with a light heart and a happy mind. I want to visit it again when I have time. Today, I read two joke, they are very interesting, let me tell you.
Are they interesting for you, I like reading very much, and often buy some books.
Well, that's all now, talk to you soon. All my best wishes to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
My cat, Hurry, is so funny. I spent almost all day yesterday reading and working on a book I am writing. I hardly had time to feed Hurry, let alone to play with her. Well…this went on all day and I concentrated on my work and ignored her. About four or five hours passed like that and then I looked down at the floor. Hurry was sitting in front of me with all her toys. She had brought them from all over the house and sat there waiting for me to finish my work so that she could play with me. Is she a sweet cat?
I bought a new house recently. It's a lot smaller than my old house but it has a big yard and a beautiful stream. The stream is low and it has a small waterfall. I love to sit there in the good weather. I also have seen several interesting animals near the stream. I've seen a beaver, a fox, mallard ducks, an opossum, squirrels, chipmunks and a deer. I've also seen many different birds. I love my new house because even though it's only eight miles from downtown Washington, it's almost like living in the country.
My new house also has a gazebo. Do you know what a gazebo is? It's a covered pavilion-like a small house without walls. They are wonderful in the summer because they provide a lot of shade and fresh air.
I always like your jokes. Here is a riddle for you:
A man was locked in a room with nothing but a mattress and a calendar. He was given no food and yet he ate. How did he do this? I will tell you the answer at the end of this email.
I never asked you about your sexuality-I know you said you are gay, but have you ever had sex with a woman? Do you want to sleep with a woman? I have know that I was gay since I was about 13 years of age. I have no desire to sleep with a woman-even looking at one would make me sick.
Okay, Bin. Here is the answer to the riddle I told you. The man ate the "dates" off the calendar and drank water from the bed "springs". Do you understand this riddle?
Your friend,
Scot
Hello Scot,
How are you now?
Yes, I like the riddle and I think I understand it but I have to read it many times. I have a question. Can you send your picture to me if you can? I like cat very much and I like your cat Hurry. I had 8 cats before, but now only one with me! It is black! It is very naughty, just a moment, it look at your letter and often jump up on my computer and now it asleep on my thigh. Last night, it know how to turn on the light, because my light has a string. I like jokes too, I often read the books and newspaper and I like them very much. So now my room just like a little library! My father don't like that, he say that I always spent my money on my books! But I like! A friends told me a joke; she had a classmate, they studied together in middle school! After they finish school, she continue to study but her classmate give up study and come back to her countryside! After 5 years, my friend came to countryside to visit her classmate; she was very surprise when she saw her classmate. Her classmate's elder daughter can help his parents to buy something, the second daughter was playing on the field, the third daughter in her arms and she was still pregnant! She and her husband want get a son!
I want ask you some interesting question! Want give you three joke!
About your question. I am 19 and I am gay! Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you! All my best wishes to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
I liked your jokes. Here is another joke for you:
Do you understand this joke? I'll give you a clue at the end of this email.
You have told me so much about animals and your pets. Now let me tell you about my dog. I had a dog when I was a child. Here is the story:
When I was a young boy --about 5 or 6 or so, my parents bought me a puppy. There was a famous TV show airing at the time about a dog named Lassie, so we named our puppy Lassie and she was the joy of my life. At first, when she was very young, she was unable to climb even one step. I remember her sitting at our back door foyer. It was about 3 feet long by 3 feet wide-but there was a step of about 8 inches leading down to it-just one step-that was all. But, poor Lassie, try as she might, was unable to jump, hop, climb or figure out a way to get up that one step. I remember her whimpering as I giggled in glee. It was so much fun to see my baby puppy and know that I could find her anytime I wanted her Well, it didn't take long for her to grow-and she became a beautiful white long haired dog. She had black spots around her eyes and after about 6 months or so, she learned how to jump fences. Then my life really got interesting. I had to chase her up and down the street. I remember calling her name and running, running, running, trying to find my dog. All the neighbors joined in. Each of the kids had their own dogs and their dogs frequently escaped, as well. Luckily none of our dogs was ever struck by a car, but I'm that all the kids in the neighborhood developed good strong legs and lots of muscles as we chased our dogs.
My dog was my companion from 1st grade, the first year I went to school until my last year in public school. I don't know how you name grades in China. In the USA, we begin going to school at age 6 and enter the first grade. We graduate 12 years later, in the 12th grade when we are about 18.
Each night, I would play with my dog and toss her bones. Sometimes in the summer, my sister and I would run around our house and jump on top of our dad's cars and Lassie would bark and hurry after us, pretending that she was on a wild chase. We would scream and carry on so much that my mother got worried. Lassie barked and woofed at us as we sat on the car and screamed and screamed. Then we got off the car and ran around the house again and again. Our dog loved the exercise. My sister and I loved the excitement. My mother hated it all!
I also remember taking Lassie for long walks. In America, you had to have a lease when you walked your dog. Dogs were not supposed to run free. It was the law. I guess some dogs had bitten people so laws were passed to protect people from dogs. At any rate, I put the lease on Lassie and took her for walks, unfortunately, Lassie never learned how to walk on a lease and I didn't know how to control her. She always wanted to run. Can you picture me as an 8 or 10 year old boy being pulled by a dog? It was hilarious then. It still is now. My mother often walked Lassie, as well. And Lassie dragged and pulled my mother just as fast as she pulled me. We didn't trust my sister with Lassie. We figured my sister was so tiny that our dog would pull her all the way to China! (When I was a boy, we thought often of China-that it was as far away from the US as any place could be-and we also thought that if we dug a hole deep enough, we would come out standing on our heads in China. Did you think the same when you were young? Did you think that if you dug a hole you would come out in the USA?)
As I got older, unfortunately, my parents got meaner and meaner to each other, but they didn't divorce for a long time and the fighting got worse and worse. My mother had no job skills and she wanted to stay together to protect her children. In retrospect, that was a mistake, because my parents fought almost all the time and it hurt me and my sister a lot. You said that your father yells at you, so I know what that's all about. My father was very mean to me when I was growing up, but years later we got along very well. I guess we both changed as I became an adult.
The really sad thing, however, was that when I was in 12th grade, my parents got divorced and sold our house. We sold most of our furniture. We had to move to an apartment. We couldn't find an apartment that would allow us to have a dog. We couldn't find anyone to take Lassie since she was now an old dog. My mother made the decision that we'd have to have Lassie put to sleep (this is a term that means you take your dog to the vet and he kills her). Lassie was healthy, and probably would have lived for another 3 or 4 more years-maybe longer, but my mother was vehement. Lassie had to be put to sleep. I was 17 years old. Lassie was my dog. I asked a neighbor to drive me and Lassie to the vet. My mother stayed home. The vet shaved Lassie's leg and Lassie was very frightened. Her eyes became very large. I will remember this until the day I die! She whimpered and looked at me with her big brown eyes as if she was asking me why I was doing this to her. Then the vet injected Lassie's leg with a needle. Lassie looked at me. I held her. She died a few seconds after the doctor gave her the shot. I cried. The vet put my dog into a cardboard box and I buried her. The date was March 26th. Every year, on March 26th, I think of my dog, Lassie and of the good times we had and of her horrible sad death. I wrote a poem about her and sent it to you earlier. Now you know the story of Lassie. I still have trouble telling this story because it makes me sad. I hope that you never have to take one of your pets to the vet and have it put to sleep.
Bin, here is the clue to the answer of the joke. In America many women save the letters their boyfriends send to them. They often tie them up in red ribbons. Now do you get the joke?
Your friend,
Scot
JANUARY 6, 2000
Hi Scot,
Feeling good today! I hope you have same too! Thank you for your joke. I hope now I can go for an outing again. There is an island in the river in my city. It is a beautiful island and some people like to go there for picnicking and roast and play kite fly or games! It is a beautiful island, there are sandy beach, small hill, a small building and statue! In the winter, there is a nature ice bridge appear before your eyes and you can walk across to the opposite land, but you must be careful. The old men said this island would not flood for ever because there were two ducks under the island who carried the island on their backs. But the old man also said that now that there was only one duck under the river and you could see that it was slanting because a man stole one duck in the past time. This island is very strange and now we call it Chicken Coop Island because the people who live there are so afraid the other duck will be stole that they called it as chicken, not duck. They think this trick will fool the robbers. Opposite the beach, there is a beautiful place named Dragon Boat Gully. It has a clean small river and green beautiful hills. In the past it was the end of a match (contest) for the Dragon boat race in my city! The old men said this place was one of very important place for the Wuzhou's people, the gully was a dragon and the river was the saliva of the dragon, it made the people rich and happy, so don't destroy this place! But last two year, a new road was built and the gully turn to two half, the nature and the environment were destroyed, it can not be a good park for the Wuzhou people any more! After that, we often hear about some message; more and more people lose their job, high price, corruption and degeneration and etc. Wuzhou people believe it is a bad thing to change nature but we are not able to keep it from happening.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you! All my best wishes to you!
Bin
JANUARY 8, 2000
Dear Bin,
Today was warm enough for me to sit on my roof deck and drink a cup of coffee. I am going to guess that you like to drink tea a lot. Have you ever drunk coffee? Do you like it at all? We drink both tea and coffee in the United States-and most people enjoy coffee a lot!
After a while I decided to read a book and was so engrossed in the words that I forgot what was happening around me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my cat playing on the roof far to my right hand side. She doesn't know how to climb the ladder to the deck and I couldn't figure out how she could up on the roof with me. I watched her out of the corner of my eye for a few moments, wondering if I really saw her or not and then realized that she was racing toward the edge of the roof. There's a huge oak tree next to my house and she jumped into the branches. I screamed and ran to the edge of the roof trying to figure out what happened to my cat. I looked straight ahead and realized that I had seen a squirrel-not my cat. The squirrel had run past me and jumped into the tree. My heart was beating so rapidly that I went down stairs to check my cat. She was okay.
Now here is a story about me:
From the ages of six to seventeen, I lived in a working class neighborhood just outside Washington, DC. I lived in a small Cape Cod style house. A Cape Cod has two stories, but the second story has a very steep roof and dormer windows, so you can only walk around in part of the upper level.
I remember our kitchen, my bedroom, the living room and the recreation room the most. Today, I will tell you about our kitchen. It was very small, but contained the basics: a refrigerator, sink, gas stove, several large cabinets and enough counter space to prepare an averaged sized meal. The disadvantage to the kitchen was that it had 3 doors-one leading to the living room, one leading to the basement and the final one leading outside to the backyard. This often meant that the kitchen was used as a hallway as much as a real room. In addition, the kitchen had 2 windows, so my mother was always able to see what my sister and I were up to as we played in the backyard.
My fondest memories of the kitchen involved our oval yellow table, which was about two meters long by a meter wide. My parents sat at each end and my mom sat closest to the stove, so she could hop back and forth to get more food for our family. My mother always decorated the table-it was a part of her English-Irish tradition. First, she'd put an oilcloth on it. Second, she'd put out a small vase of flowers. Third, she'd display her favorite salt and pepper shakers and since she had about 30 different sets, we had a different set almost every night. Some of the salt and pepper shakers were in the form of flowers and some were made to resemble people, but most were shaped like animals. The dogs were my favorites because their eyes moved and when you lifted them up the cat said MEOW and the dog said WOOF. Fourth, she would carefully arrange the tin plates for me and my young sister-mother decided that we were too careless to eat off the crockery plates reserved for the adults. Fifth, she'd lay out our cutlery, which she had purchased at the local Five and Ten Cent store. A Five and Dime or Five and Ten Cent Store is the modern equivalent of a department store. In those days, many small items cost five or ten cents and a dime is another name for ten cents. Finally, she'd put all the food down by my father's side of the table. My father was in charge of loading up the plates. He put the salt, pepper, butter, ketchup, mustard-or anything else he felt we needed-on our food. He even cut up our meat for us with the big carving knife. We used to joke that he did everything for us except chew our food.
My dad weighed 240 pounds (110 kilos) and stood 6 feet tall (180 centimeters) so he literally filled up one end of the table. Obviously, he loved to eat! The good news was that my mother loved to cook so they made an excellent couple. Even though we were extremely poor when I was a child (my father was a laborer) we always had food on the table. Often, my mother would prepare homemade stews or soups. Other times she would fix large hams or turkeys.
Now that I am an adult, I think back to those wondrous times. There is such a difference now. When I was a boy, my mother was a housekeeper. She cleaned the house, did the laundry, prepared the meals, drove us children to the doctor or school events, went shopping, made some of our clothes, mowed the lawn, gardened, and took care of the house and family. Today, many American men and women work all day and leave their young children in day care facilities. By the time they have picked up their children and arrived home, there is little time to prepare a home-cooked meal. Therefore, parents cut corners; they prepare frozen dinners, microwave dinners, go to fast food restaurants like McDonald's or make quick dinners. Gone are the days when most Americans could sit down to a homemade dinner or lunch and enjoy the taste, aroma and presentation of a fine meal.
Things are different in your country, I know, because I have been there. I just wonder how many years it will take before China forgets the old ways and moves fully into the new age? How long will it be before the taste of good food is forgotten? How long will it be before mothers prepare meals for their children and husbands? What do you think? Will this happen in your lifetime or in your children's lifetime?
Also do you think you will marry? Do you think you will have children? Personally, the thought of having sex with a woman to me is disgusting. I could never do it and don't think I would even be able to try. How do you feel? Do you think you'd be able to have sex with a woman?
Is it necessary for all men to marry in China? When I was your age, it was necessary for men and women to get married. Otherwise people would think you were not "normal". In those days, a man had to marry to prove to the world that he was a man. This is changing now in America, although there is still much prejudice and hatred, we are beginning to have some rights.
What is happening in China? Must all men marry?
Do gays have any rights?
Warmly,
Scot
JANUARY 8, 2000
Hi Scot;
I am fine! What do you do today? I hope I can see your picture!
Do you want visit China one day? I am not very like drink coffee. I like drink water. I don't know about marry but probably I will. I do not like women I only like men. I do not think our ways will change they have not change in a long time.
Last night, a lot of people had meal in my home, it was very busy and everyone was very happy, the children play everywhere! They were naughty but also very funny! Two boys snatch toy, a boy broken a plate, a girl played with the dog and cat! One was laugh and other was cry. Their parents scolded them and worry about them, even play with them!
In 1996, it was my first time to seashore. There is much enjoyment in strolling along the seashore. I think many people who live far away from the sea envy those who live near it so they sometimes take pleasant trips there to spend their holidays. To gaze upon a calm sea and watch the ships as they glide steadily and quietly through the water is very pleasant. This was summer season. The air was warm and the sky is blue, the sea too. I don't know if they were sea or sky. It is pleasanter to walk on the shore and collect pebbles, shells, and seaweed, which often abound. I swam in the sea and want knew (wanted to know the) smell of water, it is salted and now I knew the water of sea was salted indeed. My friend was very surprise when he found out the sand was white, so she take a bottle to collect them and decide take them came back to home! I found out a small crab and a boy want caught it, but the crab went under sand, but the boy didn't give up and dig the sand. In the end, the pincers of crab caught his finger! But the boy was happy, because he caught it! The water near our foot just a moment, but now the water was leave here so far away! I was afraid shark when I swam and thought (about) the film of shark (Jaws). Some people's skin was yellow and white before, but after some time, it turn to a little black. A young man sleep near the beach and his friend made a fool of him. He shear a paper of tortoise and put it on his belly. After a little time, a tortoise will appear clearly! More than being simply a pleasure, the sea breezes are highly beneficial.
Do you like go to the seashore? My name "Bin" is (means) seashore!
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
JANUARY 9, 2000 (MORNING)
Dear Bin,
I hope you are well. I visited China in 1991 and went to many cities. I saw the Great Wall and cruised down the Grand Canal. I also saw the terra cotta warriors at Xian and sailed down the Li River. I spent three weeks visiting your country and hope to come back again soon.
I am enclosing pictures of me at the Great Wall, sailing through the Grand Canal, in Guilin and in Hong Kong. Let me know what you think about them.
I really enjoyed reading your story about the shore. I really love spending time near the ocean. I have been to several good beaches here in the United States-but I love going to Rio de Janeiro the best.
Here is a poem I wrote about Rio. I hope that it gives you the impression of a fantastic city.
Well, I hope this lets you know a little bit about Rio-the city I love the best.
Take care, with love and hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 9, 2000
Hello Scot;
It is nice to hear from you! I am fine.
I have a question; didn't you got my picture on the internet or you want me send the picture to you by post?
I hope you can come to China again and hope we can meet. I have never been to Beijing! So I have a dream that visit Beijing one day!
In the past time in China, money was not important! If you wanted buy the rice that you need the ticket of rice. Bought meat that you need the ticket of meat. In that time you could found out the ticket of lard; bike; watch; cloth etc. If you want bought a bike or a watch that you must wait the ticket in a long time! When I was 5 years old, my friend's mother took me to bought the sugar in the store. There was a rule; everyone could only buy 1 kilogram sugar, so his mother have to need my help, even she called my other friend to help her! When my father was a student in high school. At that time, they needn't go to school, because the people was fighting each other and they thought that go to school is not great future! Then, the student may travel everywhere in China. They needn't pay any money for their travel and life. My father didn't tell me about his past time, my friends did. My old work mate tell me that she went to Guangzhou by ship when she needn't go to school. She visited every park in Guangzhou and have meal and sleep in the hotel. Not only she needn't pay any money, but also she could got the money from the hotel! She was ill that time and the man of hotel help her to found the doctor! When she was all right that she traveled another city, she also needn't pay any money in her way! Oh, my God!
My neighborhood's granddaughter is very naughty. One time, her grandfather came to my home to made a phone. We were having our supper. My grandmother was laugh when she saw the back of grandfather. I was very surprise! I was very laught when I saw the back too. I could hardly sit still and the rice gushed from my mouth and I feel suffer from abdominal. My father had to laugh also! Can you guess what we had seen? A butterfly bow hang up his back and some flower paper that his grand daughter put there!
Another time the little girl raise a lot of chicks in her courtyard. One day, a fat lady visit her grandmother, but her grandmother was not at home now. The lady found out a chair in the courtyard, and she have not seen clearly on the chair and she decided to sit down. The girl found out a chicken droppings on the chair, she want tell her, but the lady had sat down on the chair. Oh, her trousers was wet and very smelly. She call in loud and very angry! But the girl is very well-behaved when she came to my home! She afraid my father!
Well, that's all for now, hope you have good time every day!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 9, 2000 (EVENING)
Dear Bin
My trip to Beijing was fantastic. I spent 3 days in the area and visited all the famous sites. The best, of course, was a trip to the Great Wall. I walked along it for a while but was shocked to realize that it wasn't a wall as I had expected. I had expected that I would be able to walk along the top of it-instead I discovered that it was steps, a long series of steps. Steps up the mountain. Steps down the mountain. It seemed for a moment that I was a mountain goat-climbing, climbing, climbing. I have never seen such a feat of engineering in my entire life! To be honest with you, Bin, I had wanted to walk along the great wall since I was a small boy. It was a dream fulfilled!
While in Beijing, I also visited the Imperial Palace, the Summer Palace. I was fortunate to visit the Summer Palace in the summer-I know, that sounds silly. But I'm sure that there are thousands of tourists who visit it in the winter when it is dark and drab. The lake was beautiful. The flowers and shrubs overflowed with color. When you go there, be sure to go in the summer.
You mentioned tickets in your last email. They sound very much like ratio coupons that Americans used during the Second World War. My mother, for example, would have to collect enough coupons to purchase butter, eggs, flour and other cooking items. Then she would take the ration coupons to the store, find the item, pay for it, and take it home. My mother told me several stories about her life during the Second World War. She was only 18 years old when it started and she had already been married for 3 months. My dad served in America during the war. Many men were deemed unfit for service abroad-in my father's case, he had horrible vision and men with really bad vision were stationed in the United States. He worked on a military bases in Mississippi and Texas and my mother remained in Washington, DC. My mother did visit my father in Texas for a few months, however and…guess what? Nine months later, I was born! I don't know if that makes me a native to Washington, DC where I was born or to Texas where I was conceived. What do you think?
In your email you also talked about how easy it was for students to travel. It's always been that case here in the USA, although students don't exactly travel free. They can hitch-hike, which means they ask for a ride with a stranger. They often also get reduced prices on buses, trains and planes. Living accommodations can also be inexpensive for students. They can stay at the YMCA or youth hostels or they can camp out. Many younger Americans take advantage of some or all of those programs and it's a great way to see the country at the same time. I traveled a lot when I was a teenager-and I still love to travel, perhaps that's why.
My college years were very exciting-and very rough. I worked as a janitor 20 hours a week, cleaning windows, mopping floors, scrubbing toilets, and doing anything else that was necessary to keep the building clean. I also had a summer job, a student loan and a scholarship. College costs were very low in the early 1960s so I was lucky. When I graduated I only owed $3,200 on my low cost student loan and half of that was forgiven by the government because I was a school teacher and had a special break. The government decreed that certain occupants were vital to national interests and forgave a large part of the debt. That really helped me a lot. Today's college students often spend over $30,000 a year for their education. I don't know how they can afford to pay for it. If costs had been that high in 1962, I would never have been able to have gone to college. How about you? Do you have to pay for your education or does the government provide your education for you?
Well, I can't think of anything else to say for now.
I'm including a few more picture attachments. Let me know if you like them.
Your friend with love forever,
Scot
JANUARY 10, 2000
Hello Scot;
Thank you for your letter and nice picture. When did you take those picture? My neighbor has a nice and naughty cat. Today, he told me one thing about it on this morning he put a bowl of tasty soup on the table and cover it with a newspaper. Then he sat down on the chair and watching the TV. His cat jumped up onto the table, then it try to move the paper, but it was fail. How clever it was! It knock the soup over with its paw. It knew that it could drink the soup easily. Now the table with full of soup, even on the ground. The cat was very happy and it would have a good meal. But now the mother came out from the kitchen and found it. She was very angry and the cat run away!
I want visit Yunnan Province. My neighbor's mother came back from her trip two days ago. She spent a good time there. She told me something about landscape of the Yunnan Province and show me her guide book. I copied some message from that book, which introduce about the Stone Forest!
In Kunming, (the capital of Yunnan) the Stone Forest is a "must on any Kunming itinerary." It is located about 96 kilometers southwest of the city and its total area of about 27000 hectares. You can see different Stone Forest. Here an extraordinary panorama of unusually shaped rock formations enchants the visitor. In ancient times, the Stone Forest was submerged below water. Today you can see the beautiful and interesting caverns, pools, and pagodas. Climb up into the highest pagoda, you will see the thrilling view of the sun setting over the Stone Forest.
I have two joke and I want tell you about that!
Well, that's all for now, talk to you soon.
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
JANUARY 10, 2000
Dear Bin,
I took the pictures when I was in the Amazon rainforest. I stayed there for two weeks. The best part of the trip was when I lived in a hotel that floated on the river; it was built on huge balsa logs that must have been at least five feet across. The hotel consisted of twelve bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large dining area, and a conversation area. The bedrooms were tiny-perhaps 8 feet by 6 feet (2.9 by 1.9 meters) and contained only a cot, a sink and a shelf to lay clothes on. One bathroom had a shower and a sink. The other two bathrooms had a toilet and a sink. The dining room was on the second floor over the conversation area and it gave us a great view of the Amazon River. Dinner was always buffet-and each night we ate fish from the river, vegetables, potatoes, and beef. Since different people came and left the camp each day, there was a constant change in languages. So…each night when we gathered together in the conversation area, we'd choose the lingua franca, the common language. On many evenings, we spoke English. On two nights we spoke German (my second language), on three nights we spoke Portuguese (my third language), on one night we spoke Spanish (my fourth language), on one night we spoke Italian and since I don't speak any Italian, someone was kind enough to translate it into Portuguese for me. On anther night, we spoke French and again, since I don't speak French, someone translated it for me. One of the best nights of my life was the night I translated Portuguese into German-you would not believe how much got lost in that translation! I remember trying to explain a geographic fact about Germany and Denmark. There is an isthmus on the Baltic Sea and one of our party wanted to know if it belonged to Germany or Denmark. Luckily, I had taught history for many years and knew the answer. I drew a picture and explained that Germany now owned the isthmus
We also went on side trips-and I sent you a picture of the jungle. We saw monkeys, aguini and many birds. The aguini was a very special small animal with teeth sharp enough to bite through the husk of the Brazil nut shell.
I have a naughty cat. Her name is Hurry. Can you guess why we call her "Hurry"?
I have a joke for you. What's black and white and red all over? The answer is "the newspaper". It is a piece of white paper with black ink and it is "read" all over. Do you like this joke?
Now tell me a little bit more about you. What is it like being gay in China? Are you frightened? Is there a problem being gay? Are you open about your sexuality? Will you have trouble finding a job? What will happen if the government finds out about you? What type of clothes do you like? What type of food? What type of music? What do you like to do in your spare time? How many relatives do you have?
Your friend,
Scot
JANUARY 11, 2000
Dear Scot;
Nice to see you again! How are you? Do you have a good time? I am a student now. I learn my English again in 1998. I don't plan my future now. It is difficult to be gay in China. You can not tell your secret to your friends. Else you will very trouble. You will lose your job; your friends even go to the jail. I like soft; warm cloth. I like eat chicken; vegetable; rice and meat.
I like Western music very much!
Most of family has TV in China.
I like read; write; talk.
I don't know how many uncles and aunties I have. My grandfather have 3 son and 3 daughter and he have 11th brother and 7th sister. I don't know how many sons and daughters my grandfather's grandfather have! In the past time, the people have a lot of children. Especially is in the countryside. So my parents and my grandmother always were invited to join the wedding by the relatives of countryside.
My auntie and her husband will get marry these day, but they won't in the temple, they will invite their relatives and friends to join their wedding in the hotel and restaurant. My auntie will wear modern dress to welcome us, but she will wear traditional dress when we leave, the dress is red with a big headgear. His (her) husband will wear modern dress all the time! You will see the Chinese character of "Double happiness", a dragon and phoenix put on the wall.
There was an interesting story;
In my home town, I company (accompany) with my friend (and) go around the city. One day I bought a toy of sound-activated. My grandmother was very surprise that the toy was moved when I clap my hands. She said that it was very interesting and very strange, she said that may be a boy in the toy! Ha! Ha!
Today is warm and most of people seem very happy.
Do you call your cat hurry because she is always a hurry cat? I like that. It is a good name for a hurry cat.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you. All my best wishes and love to you, hope you have good luck every day!
Bin
JANUARY 11, 2000
Dear Bin,
Yes Bin, I call my cat Hurry because she is always running everywhere. She loves to run at night and usually starts acting crazy-running all around-at about 10:30 every night. Do your cats act like that?
American families used to be very large. My grandmother had 11 brothers and sisters and each of her children had at least 5 children. Now most Americans have only 1, 2 or 3 children since it is very expensive to raise children, put them through college, clothe them, etc.
We have a device called a "clapper" that we use for lights and the TV. I bet it is similar to the item you described. It's sound activated and if you lug it into a light and you clap your hands together two times, the light goes on or off. You can also plug your TV into it. The problem with it, however, is that the ringing telephone also activates it because it functions when 2 short quick sounds are made-sounds like "ring, ring". I had 2 clappers, but you can imagine my surprise when one night the phone rang while I was sleeping and both the TV and the lights went on. I sat straight up in my bed-scared to death. When I thought about it later, however, it was really funny. I wish you had been there to see the expression on my face when I woke up.
Do you believe in God? Are you religions?
Will you watch the Olympics?
I miss you. I have not seen you in the chat room for a while. Where have you been?
Your friend forever,
Scot
JANUARY 12, 2000
Dear Scot;
Today is fine and the sun is bright.
I am sorry, I have never go to the chat room. Because I have not more time to there. I think maybe there is a God.
I like Olympic Game very much. I hope my country may do very well. I like see the Olympics very much. I like watch swimming; diving; gymnastics; table tennis; football; volleyball and etc. And you? I have a question. Is there a Gay Olympic Game in the world? My aunty's wedding will begin tomorrow and a lot of relatives will go and wish her!
It was very funny (fun) when I study in Post school in the other city. There was a big market not far from our school and there were a lot of different school in this part. In the summer, I company with (accompanied) my classmate to bought some fruit to eat. I like watermelon very much. Here was very cheap to buy them. We didn't cut them to eat, we just sat under the trees and eat them with the spoon. We laugh and chatting! We fought two girls who ate watermelon while they were walking on the street. They were going back to their school. Oh, my god! They were very rude and happy when they ate them. They cut the melon by their hands and quickly grasp the melon into their mouth. Their face was red and wet by the melon. They didn't care and quickly grasp another piece of the melon. We were laughing, but they didn't know what was the matter! One girl knew what's the happen now and tell her friend that did not ate the melon like that, but the girl was still continue to do that and said, "good, good melon!"
One night, I company with my friend to bought something. The road which was repairing in front of my school and the road was piled with earth as small hill. The rain was stop about an hour and we must across the road to buy something. My friend was very naughty and didn't wanted to go another passageway. So he walk on the small hill and he would arrive the top of the small hill, but the earth was wet and slippery that he was fail. He slipped and fall down on the puddle. His cloth was wet and dirty with water and earth. He said nothing, but two girl watched him and laughing. His face turn red and run in hurry, but he step on another puddle, now his boots was wet and dirty too, He was bad luck in these day.
The same thing had happed in front of our room two days ago. But he was all right soon, good luck was coming with him. Lucky!
Well, that's all for now, talk to you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 13, 2000
Dear Bin,
I am very excited about the Olympics. I love swimming, gymnastic events and diving. I also love to watch the ice skaters.
Like you, I love cold watermelon. We eat a lot of it here in the late summer. My grandfather always seemed to have it at his house when I visited him as a boy. I remember that my cousins and I would go outside and eat it. One time the watermelon wasn't cold and my grandfather bought a big bucket of dry ice. Do you know what dry ice is? It lowers the temperature of something very quickly-but it can really burn you if you touch it. Of course my grandfather warned both my cousin and me, but we didn't pay any attention. We just reached our hands into the dry ice. It was quite an experience-we both "burned" our hands on the freezing liquid and it hurt so much that we weren't able to eat any of the watermelon. My sister and girl cousins, who obeyed my grandfather, ate all the melon.
I also remember being so embarrassed as a boy. It seemed like I was always blushing and turning red in the face. I always felt guilty about everything, I guess. I'm not sure. One time my mother asked me to go to the store and buy a quart of milk. Here is a true story of what happened. JANUARY 13, 2000
Hello Scot;
Hello, how are you?
I like cold water melon too. It is very cool and tasty and sweet. I study English in the college. I hope I can learn more language in my future.
I hope you can send me a picture of you. I will send my picture to you and hope you will like it. My height is 163 centimeters (5'4") and my weight is 48 kilograms (101 pounds). Last two day in the classroom. We had not class in the afternoon and there were not any homework. So we talking about our boyhood.
When I was a young boy. One time I company with my friends to pick up the fruit at a large courtyard . Many trees were full of the fruit and grow very well. These little fruit was black and pink. We didn't know its name, but we just knew that it was tasty! Some of them (the boys) climb to the tree and throw the fruit down on the ground. One boy was very greedy and want to get more. So he climbed up the roof and pick up the big and nice fruit. He just like the hero! Our pockets were full of fruit and we didn't want more, so we decide to leave. He didn't want to do that and said "later"! He had been attract by another big and nice fruit . So, we leave. No sooner had we gone down the staircase, we found out my friend appear before our eyes. We were surprise! Was he a super-man? He was very dirty and his head was wound.
He want to got those biggest and nice fruit very much. So he move to another side of the roof. The roof was not new and one side need mend. He didn't take care, so finally. He fell down from the roof and make a big hole. With a smile, He said "I am all right." But soon many people who work in here came to here and show him to see the roof, there was a big hole! Fortunately, the people did not punish him and let him go, he said that he was a lucky man (boy)! Give you joke, I think you will like them!
Bin
JANUARY 16, 2000
Dear Bin,
I loved your story about your boyhood. You write very well. When I was a boy, I was both mischievous and naughty. Here are two stories about me.
When I was about ten years old, my cousin, Butch, came to my house and told me that he had discovered several cherry trees about a mile from our houses. We gathered together several pails and biked down to the trees. Within a few minutes we had climbed the trees and were eating and picking the cherries. They were ripe and fresh and delicious. My cousin was exciting because he was always the explorer-he loved to search for frogs and turtles and he was always discovering streams and interesting things in the nearby woods. I had gotten to trust him and we always had fun together. We started to giggle and laugh while picking the cherries when suddenly we heard a voice, "Are you birds up there in my trees?" I looked down and saw a farmer standing below me. He was carrying a shotgun and I was so scared I didn't know what to do. My cousin did the talking and said that we were picking the cherries. My cousin was so fearless, open and honest that I immediately agreed. "We just picking cherries," I said. "Did anyone tell you that these are my trees?" the man with the shotgun asked. What do you intend to do about this. You are stealing my cherries. Well, I had never stolen anything in my life but I knew that if the man called my dad I would be in serious trouble. I waited while the man talked. "I'll tell you what I'll do," he said. "You pick the cherries and give me half and we'll call it even." Butch and I continued to pick the cherries but stopped a few minutes later. We climbed down the trees and split the cherries with the man. As we rode back home on our bicycles, we both said that the man was very mean. Then we wondered if he really owned the cherry trees. The trees were growing in an open place and Butch assumed that they were available for anyone who wanted to pick cherries. Butch told me that we'd go back the next day and pick all the damned cherries we wanted and that we wouldn't let that crazy man bother us. But we never went back again.
On another occasion, my cousin Butch and I broke into a haunted house. The house wasn't really haunted-it was abandoned. It was an old farm house and my cousin had broken into several days before he took me there. That made him an expert about the inside of the house. Butch was a major story-teller and told me story after story about the inhabitants of the house. Butch even showed me the dungeon room where the wicked father beat his son every night. Butch showed me where the ghost spent his nights and when I asked Butch about it, he told me that he had spent a night in the house and had seen the ghost. Well, it didn't take much to get me out of that house. I left quickly and was scared for several days. After a while, Peggy Ann, Butch's sister told me the truth. The house wasn't haunted. Butch just wanted to impress everyone with his ability to tell stories! I didn't laugh when Peggy Ann told me, but at least I didn't have any nightmares after that.
Bin, I'm sending you another picture of me. I'm a 50-year old white man, 6'3" (190 centimeters) and weigh about 180 pounds (88 kilos). Let me know if you like my picture.
Dr. King's birthday is today and we celebrate his birthday as a national holiday so I don't have to go to work. Have you ever heard about Dr. King?
JANUARY 16, 2000
Dear Scot;
How are you? Do you have a good time? Thank you for your nice picture. I like it very much! I really like your story about the cherry and the haunted house. I never did a thing like that here.
I like hiking and go camping! I don't know Dr. King. I read some books about the finger of cat, which can bring lucky and happy and money. Now In Chinese store, you can find out the mascot of cat, it put up its hands and wear beautiful cloth! We call them Bring money cat! Tell (Let me tell) you another interesting things about my boyhood.
When I studied in children school! I had a classmate who like to tease his friend. He often wanted to ride on my back. One day, he found out me on the playground. He ran up me and ride on my back, I was very angry and say stop and break away from him. Then I move a little. He want continue to do that. But it was very strange! He did not came up to me. He caught my another classmate and ride on her back, he thought that person was me and fell very happy! My hair was short and I wear a white cloth! But my another classmate's hair was longer than me and wear a green cloth! She was very angry and turn around! Oh, now, he found out that she was a girl! I laugh and said this was retribution to him! Don't do that anymore!
Have you every heard about interesting and strange things? Do you believe the ghost in the world? I heard a strange things in the Post office! One night, a lady finished her job and leave her work place, but she found that she forgot to take her bag. Then she came back her work place! At that time, none was in here (there), and it was dark every where. She turned on the light and found out her bag then she was going to leave again. As soon as she turned off the light and lock the door, she found out a light from window and it was shining to the other room, she saw a person sat down on the chair! She was very surprise and thought who was staying here now! It was very late now! The person began to turn around his head. Now she didn't want think anything and ran quickly!
The second day, she told her work mate what's the happen last night. They said maybe she met the ghost last night. Then they told something about the past to her. In the past, a man found out that the parcel can move. No one in the elevator, but it can move! She was very afraid and after that, she leave her work place with the other people and don't came back after finish job! But now, nobody heard about these strange things in that work place!
Do you believe that?
I want (to) tell you two joke!
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 18, 2000
Dear Bin,
Tell me more about your school. What is it like?
I attended school for 18 years. The first six years are called elementary school. The next 3 years are called junior high school and the 3 years after that are called high school. Almost everyone in America goes to school for those 12 y ears. At the end of that time, a student receives a high school diploma. A high school diploma, however, is not good enough to get most jobs so most students go on to college. College lasts another four years and at the time of graduation, a student receives either a Bachelor's of Arts Degree (B.A.) or a Bachelor's of Science Degree (B.S.) Most students receive a B.A.-it is more general and includes such fields as business, foreign languages, philosophy, psychology, computer science, etc.
If you want to go another year, you receive a Master's Degree. I have my master's degree in Education because I taught school for many years and education was my field. A person can receive a Masters in Science (M.S.), the Arts (M.A.) or Education (M. Ed.).
After that a person can work toward a Ph.D. or Ed.D. These terms stand for doctorate-a Ph.D. is a doctor of philosophy and an Ed. D. has his doctorate in education. I started my Ed. D. but didn't finish, so I have 19 years of formal education.
Yes, I believe in ghosts. Here is another true story for you. I saw my grandmother's ghost exactly one week after she died.
JANUARY 20, 2000
Dear Scot;
How are you? Do you have a good time? Thank you for your nice card and your story. I have a question. Do you want come to China again? I still miss my study life in the Post school. It was very happy and interesting there.
There were 22 students in our post school, it was the smallest class in the post school. And there were only 8 boy students. One time, a basketball match was hold at our school. The girls in our class have to join it. Because our teacher want us to form a close tie with the other classes. But this was the first time for them to play basketball. Finally they were beaten, but the girls still were welcome by the viewer.
When we finish study there the leader in charge of the school invite us having a meal together. The leader didn't allow any student to drink any alcoholic at the school time. But tonight, the leader held a glass of alcoholic drink and came to us. Pass the glass to everyone, saying that we must drink the alcoholic, because we had graduated and we would leave there. Some girls drank a little of them and then turn around and vomit out of the drink. I had to drink a little of them too! Oh, it was very difficult to drink! I don't like to drink alcoholic!
Do you like eat the fry food. You can eat them easily when you go around the street, most of people like eat the fry food very much here. They always go to the shop and stall or the market to enjoy these food. There are always very busy and crowd in the holiday. Not sooner had they finished the food then they would go to the stall to drink the herb medical tea. It was very good to help your health, but it is not tasty. I was afraid to drink the herb medical tea when I was boy. So at that time I liked to drink the sweet tea, but my father didn't allow that. He said that I must drink the bitter tea. Oh, it was too difficult to drink, the smell was not good and the tasty was too bad.
Now everything is OK and I like drink the bitter tea. Because I know it is very good for my body and health.
Well, it is very nice to talk to you, see you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 21, 2000
Dear Bin,
Of all the classes I took, I remember my senior year in high school the most. I was 17 years old then and the year was 1962 but many of those moments are as fresh in my mind as if they had happened yesterday.
Edison J. Drake was my history teacher. We used to joke that his middle name was Judas. Do you know who Judas was? He is the man in the Christian Bible who betrayed Jesus. Mr. Drake was my teacher in both my junior year (11th grade) and my senior year (12th grade). He was a fantastic teacher and I learned a lot from him. In my junior year, he taught me U.S. history and I made straight A's. In my senior year, he taught me Russian history and Far Eastern/Pan American history. He was very exuberant-a veteran of World War II-and would often scream HUSH at the top of his lungs when there was too much talking going on. Occasionally he'd point at someone and say GET OUT. Luckily he never threw me out of his room, I don't know what I would have done if he had done that. I'm not sure what the boys did when they were thrown out. I guess they were supposed to go to the office. I would probably hidden in the bathroom until the bell rang announcing that it was time for the next class.
Another of my favorite teachers was Viola A. Koonce. We called her Kooncie for short and she was so much fun. She taught Latin 2nd year when I was a sophomore (10th grade) and I enjoyed her and her class so much that I studied Latin 3 and Latin 4 on my own in my junior and senior years-she helped me with the hard parts. Kooncie used to have Latin banquets, Latin song fests, Latin games, and Latin club elections. I was decided to run for Latin club secretary and wore my toga to school every day for a week. Do you know what a toga is? A toga is the garment the ancient Romans wore-I used a bed sheet and draped it over me. I was so hot!
Another one of my teachers was Mrs. Petrone. Mrs. Petrone had red hair-actually she had gray hair and she died it. We could always tell when it was fresh die and sometimes we'd very innocently raise our hands and ask a question, "When was the last time you died your hair?" As students, we thought it was so funny. She never got upset, but looking back now I realize how very rude that was.
Another teacher was named Mr. Van Norman. Mr. Van Norman taught me English in my senior year and he was a very easy teacher. I made straight A's in his class. The only thing he taught me that I remember to this day was "the secret when using the dictionary." He'd say "if a word begins with M, open the dictionary to the middle-don't flip through the entire dictionary." That makes so much sense to me now-and I've been following his direction for 40 years. I wonder how many people start at the beginning of a dictionary each time they look up a new word. What do you think?
The name of my high school was Wheaton High School and it was named Wheaton because it was located in Wheaton, Maryland. Many schools in America are named after the places in which they are located. Some schools are named after famous people and other schools have numbers. How are your schools named? I had many fantastic experiences at Wheaton and I did very well in my studies, but most of the time I was involved in extracurricular activities. Do you know what that term means? Extracurricular activities are done after school-and you don't get a grade for doing them. My parents were going through a horrible divorce when I was in high school and it was very difficult for me to stay at home while they fought and screamed at each other. Therefore, I went to school at about 6:00 in the morning and often didn't leave until after 10:00 p.m. In those days it was easy to get in and out of school and since I had worked in the cafeteria washing dishes, I could always find a janitor who would let me in or out. I joined just about every club and organization that I could. I was a member of the senior banquet committee even though I didn't go to the banquet. I was a member of the senior prom committee-and again I didn't go to that event either. I was also in the drama club, the chorus, the history club, the German club, and about 20 other clubs. I even was track manager-I wanted to win my high school letter (a prestigious item for a high school kid) and the only way to get it was to be on a sport's team. I won my letter during my final semester at high school-and I still have it.
Anyway, I hope you like my stories about my education. Education is so important-without it no one would ever be able to communicate or share experiences. I'm so glad that you take your education seriously and that you are doing well in school.
Take care and write soon,
With love and hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 21, 2000
Scot,
Nice to talk to you, it is very warm today and I am very well.
Post School is the name of the school. I hope you can visit China again. I will show you to my hometown.
I will go to countryside to visit my grandfather soon. My aunty said my grandfather was a kind and work hard people 20 years ago, but now he has a little mad (Bin learned British English-"mad" may mean mentally insane. The following sentence may support my theory). He often said to himself and scold the man and don't like live with his son. My uncle had a new house, but my grandfather didn't like that, he only live in his dirty, muddy and earth house. He had some tool, he said this tool can know about the past and future. At the night, he often played the bamboo flute. One lady said three ghost went into his body and control his body. My elder uncle don't believe that and show (took) him to his city to see the doctor, but he always didn't eat the medicine and shout that (he wanted to) come back to home. My uncle had to let him go back to countryside. My father didn't like him, but they are very much alike, he just like the young of my grandfather. My aunty said; "My grandfather fight with his brother 20 years ago and his head was struck by the stone when he was throw down. My grandmother was very sad, my grandfather don't like her anymore and live alone, but he still work hard and very kind sometimes. I like my grandfather. I company with him when I was a little boy. My parents have not time to look after me and all the China was very confusion at that time. Most of family had to put their children stay in countryside. I was very little and I didn't know what's happen and I like stay with grandparents, my sister and brother also came up there from Nanning City (capital of Guangxi). I was very happy, I had friend. They help my grandparents to do some job, but they couldn't to do, they were only child, but they liked to do. There were many mountain and small river in this countryside and I like that. My grandfather often carry me on his back to visit the mountain and woods, my sister and brother will follow us, I was very lucky and proud, my grandfather carry me on his back. I liked the flowers and the wide fruit and often pick them, my grandfather will help me.
When we had a rest and sat down on the ground, sometimes he would tell me a story but he often said to himself. I didn't know what he said, but I felt he was very happy. I will played with my sister and brother.
Until know (now), my grandfather is still like that, I think he is very happy to live in his world and I am still think he is kind and work hard man. My grandmother is also happy, her children like her and look after her very much!
Well, that's all for now. How about you today? I feel good!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 22, 2000
Dear Bin,
I love your stories about your family. Here is another true story about my family. I hope to get it published sometime soon. Tell me what you think about it.
TUG
Nanny, my father's mother, was a simple country woman with less than four years of schooling, who was unable to write much more than a squiggly line representing her signature. Because of this, Nanny was looked down upon by my mother and my mother's side of the family. I remember my mother spraying the house with disinfectant every time Nanny left. "Your grandmother has an assy smell," she told us kids. "She doesn't bathe, you know. That's why she smells so bad." My sister and I, of course, never noticed if grandma smelled bad or not as we climbed into her Mt. Rushmore lap and rested our heads against her sagging breasts. Afterwards, our mother would give us a long hot scalding bath to remove the Nanny smell, but the humiliation and the scrubbing were worth the fun of sitting in grandma's lap, so we never complained.
Nanny reared five children, losing Jane Marie when she was three months old and her son Grover when he was forty-two. She recovered, but her children-alive or dead-were a part of her until the day she died.
The father of Nanny's five children, my grandfather, was an abusive alcoholic, who beat Nanny every Saturday night whether she needed it or not. He was the man of the house, God damn it-that was part of his job! To my grandfather, my grandmother represented nothing more than his personal servant, a vehicle to deliver his babies and satisfy his sexual appetites. Unfortunately, my grandmother's expectations of marriage were formed at the end of the Nineteenth Century, when women were taught to obey their husbands without question. So Nanny, our beloved grandmother, served as her husband's beast of burden and his baby-making sex machine as she willingly accepted his weekly bashings.
In her final incontinent years, my grandma lived with my dad in his apartment barely five miles from my house, so I had the opportunity to visit both of them frequently. It was at this point in her fading days that Nanny shared her childhood memories with my dad and me!
"You know," my grandma said, "your grandfather was the bestest man in the whole world. He always treated me like I was his special honey pie from the very first time we met, way back in 1908."
"Honey pie!" I thought, as my mind raced back to the images of the grandparents I remembered as a child. I saw the black and blue marks, the chipped teeth, the cuts, the bruises, and the shot gun holes through the walls and ceiling. I knew my grandfather, whom I called Poppy, had savagely punched, kicked, slapped and beaten Nanny night after night for their forty-eight years of marriage. I also knew he had fallen down dead drunk and puked all over the carpets, leaving his vomit for his loving wife to clean up. I knew Poppy used nothing but vile and demeaning words to describe my grandmother. I pictured him as the epitome of the ubiquitous abusive husband.
Slowly I realized that time had mellowed Nanny's memory of those harsh days. The same memory that makes us forget the evils of our McCarthys, Nixons, Agnews and Clintons makes us forget the evils of those much closer to us. Perhaps our souls have enough hate and evil to contend with-or perhaps it's just an easier way for man to purge the anger from our memories.
"Land o' gracious," Nanny said, "your grandfather was the bestest man I ever did know."
"How was that, Nanny?" I asked as innocently as possible.
"Well, your grandfather would always bring me pretty things, you know-like flowers and all-and he always treated me like a queen, exactly like a husband should treat his wife."
Nanny was from the old school-the very old school-that believed it was one hundred per cent proper to beat, kick and denigrate one's propertywife twenty-four hours a day. "Keep 'em barefoot in the summer and pregnant in the winter," must have been my granddaddy's motto.
Obviously time had dimmed Nanny's memory of my grandfather and in subsequent conversations, barely weeks before she died, I wondered if all her bad memories had dimmed, as well.
But if Nanny made a major mistake by believing Poppy never abused her, my major mistake was in not holding detailed conversations with her during the last few weeks of her life. God knew I had the opportunity! But for some strange reason-interference from my dad and his girlfriend, inability to articulate the proper questions, desire to ignore the premise that my grandmother was losing her mind-call it what you may, I didn't pursue the matter as much as I should have.
Let me explain. Nanny, at age 83, was in her osteoporosis years, in those bone-disintegrating days when her mind was in a race with her body to see which could disintegrate the fastest. All her life-or at least all the time I could remember her in my 50-odd years-Nanny had enjoyed excellent health. But now, within the last year, she had had her gall bladder removed, diabetes diagnosed and she had suffered a mild heart attack.
To make matters worse, Nanny's mind, which had always been clear-albeit slow by today's standards-was clearly in another place, because she had spent most of her waking hours for the past several weeks, talking to her sisters. Unfortunately, her sisters were long since dead!
"They're tugging at her," my dad said.
"Tugging at her?" I asked.
"Yep, tugging her out of here to go there."
"Oh," I said.
So for those last weeks before her death, my grandmother had running conversations with her five dead sisters as my dad and I watched. All of Nanny's sisters lived into their 80's and all Nanny's brothers lived into their 70's and 80's. I hoped that with such longevity in my family, I'd have nothing to worry about until I reached my eighties.
"Mostly, she talks to Gladys and Mildred," my dad whispered, as Nanny started to wake up.
"Why do you think she's spending so much time with them?" I asked.
"Got me," Dad replied.
"Nanny," I asked, "who do you talk to the most?"
"Oh, Gladys and Mildred," she said without blinking an eye.
"And have you talked to Libby much?"
"No, just a little."
"And how about Aunt Helen? Do you talk to her?"
"No!" Nanny replied. "I saw her once, but she didn't say nothing. She just sat away far off."
"I think I figured it out," I whispered to my dad. "Gladys and Mildred died recently."
"Yep, Gladys die in May and Mildred died last August."
"And Aunt Libby died about ten years ago?"
"Right, but what's your point, son?"
"My point is that Nanny is primarily talking to those who may still be lingering, to those who just died. Helen died twenty years ago and she hasn't said a word to Nanny. Libby died ten years ago and she just talks a little bit. The two who talk the most, died most recently."
"I still don't get your point, son."
"Their spirits may still be lingering here and they may be lonely. If Nanny's dying, maybe she can see them. Maybe they need each other!"
"Then, they would be tugging her, son, just like I said."
"Yes, Dad," I said, "tugging her."
Unfortunately, Nanny's mind faltered more and more each day-at least by my standards. Most of the time, she sat in my dad's overstuffed black leather recliner in front of my dad's wide screen TV. Often, we all sang the old songs that Dad had taught us.
Every so often, Nanny drifted off when she went somewhere to talk to her dead sisters. When she woke up, she'd tell us what Mary or Mildred had just said. Each time Nanny returned to us, she was more at peace. It was obvious that her autumnal days were approaching the permanent cold of winter.
I began to question her more and more about her early life, wondering where and how she had acquired the strength to put up with my grandfather-wondering how she had learned to survive as a Nineteenth Century woman in the Twentieth Century. Most importantly, I wondered if I'd be as strong when my time came.
My ultimate but unasked questions should have been, "What made you strong enough to withstand my grandfather's abuse? How did you cope with the deaths of five brothers, five sisters, and two children? What stresses and strains gave you the stamina to live so long?" But, of course, I didn't ask any meaningful questions. I danced around them by skirting the issues, and that was-perhaps-the biggest mistake of my life.
Day after day in that dreary October, Nanny, my dad and I sat in my dad's living room, singing:
Little man you're crying,
I know why you're blue,
Someone stole your kiddy car away,
Better go to sleep now,
Little boy, you've had a busy day.
I had no idea why this was our family song. All I know is that my dad used to drive me insane by singing it to me and my sister on long car trips. I guessed that he had driven his aged mother crazy with it as well.
"Let's sing again," my dad said as he started up with the Army Air Force song: "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sky-"
Even though my Dad's rich baritone was a pleasure to listen to, his repertoire consisted of just these two songs and Nanny loved them both. After all, my dad was the oldest, he had survived the Second World War and he was Nanny's favorite son-just as I was her favorite grandson. Indeed, it was a joyous time for my grandmother, on that dark dismal October day as we talked, ate our steak sandwiches, munched our BBQ flavored potato chips, drank our diet Pepsis and sang.
Nanny's mind drifted off again shortly after we stopped singing. I guessed she had gone off somewhere to talk to her sisters. I could only think about the Jewish custom of Shiva, when the spirits of the dead wander the earth before sailing forth into the unknown. I wondered if Mary and Frances were somehow stuck here. I wondered if Mary and Mildred were waiting for Nanny or if Mary and Mildred had come to collect her. Perhaps they were the figures in white that would wait for my grandma on the other side of the tunnel.
I didn't keep a running tab on their conversations, but I learned that Gladys and Nanny talked daily about almost everything.
"What was it like growing up with five sisters and six brothers?" I asked one day.
"Crowded," Nanny giggled. "There wasn't no indoor toilet and we only had three bedrooms, so the boys, they all slept together and us girls slept together, too."
Nanny's mind drifted off again. When she came back, I asked, "Where were you Nanny? Were you talking to your sisters again?"
"Yep, they reminded me about Jimmy. He'd come downstairs stripped stark-naked every morning, carrying his clothes in his hands and then he'd warm each piece in front of the fire before getting dressed." Nanny giggled and I guessed that she wondered if Jimmy still warmed his clothes in front of the fire.
"Jimmy passed away nearly ten years ago," I reminded her and crossed myself as I thought of Jimmy performing that same ritual in front of the Lord on the other side.
"Jimmy passed away-that's right," Nanny replied laconically.
"What else were you talking about?"
"Mary says everything is so nice where she is now and that Mamma's there and everyone misses me and they all want me to be with them."
"Where exactly are they?"
"Together," Nanny sighed. "They're happy and together and it's pleasant and nobody's sad," she said.
"Is God there?" I asked. "Do you talk to the angels?"
"I don't know about no angels," Nanny giggled. "All I know is I talk to my sisters and they tell me they want me to be with them."
"Are they nearby?" I asked.
"No," she said, "they come and go. They were just here, but they left. They kept telling me to hurry."
"And did you tell them you're going to be with them soon?"
"I told them I want to go, but I don't know how to get there," Nanny replied uneasily.
I eased up for a moment. Things were getting far too heavy for me to handle so I starting singing the Army Air Force song and Dad and Nanny quickly joined in.
Nanny disappeared again, shortly afterwards and my dad and I talked quietly waiting for her to come back.
"Have you talked to your mother and father?" I asked when Nanny awoke.
"No, I haven't seen them, but Mary tells me they're waiting for me."
"Your brothers?"
"No."
I was dumbstruck again. Why hadn't Nanny talked with her brothers? Five of them were dead, yet she was only talking to her dead sisters. It seemed to substantiate my theory that the two who died most recently were giving Nanny the greatest tug. Then again, perhaps girls were just closer to their sisters than they were to their brothers.
The fact that Nanny's mother had died at the age of eighty-three (Nanny's age, at the moment) and that her mother had died, been resuscitated, lost part of her mind, lived for several years with Nanny and ultimately died in St. Elizabeth's Hospital (Washington's only government-sponsored mental facility at the time, and coincidentally, the place where John Hinckley Jr. is incarcerated) had little to do with Nanny's state of mind-unless it was the fact that both Nanny and her mother had entirely different remembrances of Jimmy. Nanny remembered Jimmy with fondness and love. Her mother, my great-grandmother, after being brought back to life, couldn't even remember Jimmy's name.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Can you name all twelve of your children? great-grandma," we children used to ask her when she stayed at my grandma's house.
Great-grandmother would rattle off the names of eleven of her children, "Patrick, Mark, Ally, Libby, Rose (my grandmother), Richard, Gladys, Mary, Helen, Frances and Theodore," she'd say proudly.
"But great-grandma," we'd all scream, "You forgot Jimmy."
"Oh, yes-and-Jimmy," great-grandma would reply with a sigh.
We'd let three or four minutes pass before bugging our great-grandma again. "Great-grandmother," we'd ask, "can you name all twelve of your children?"
Again, she'd race through the list. Again she'd omit Jimmy's name, and again we'd all fall on the floor rolling in laughter.
Nanny was convinced that her mother lost her mind when she died on the operating table. "Part of mamma's mind died when they brought her back to life," Nanny would tell us kids. "When you die, the doctors should let you go. But when they brought mamma back, the part of her mind that remembered Jimmy died." Of course, all us grandchildren agreed and prayed that the part of our minds that remembered our brothers and sisters would stay with us until the day we died.
It was the doctor's fault that great-grandmother had lost her mind. Nanny, dad and I were all convinced of that-and no one in our family wanted that to happen to my grandmother. "When you're dead, you're dead," was our family motto and no matter what happened, we'd never let Nanny end up playing the Jimmy game.
"Land o' gracious, I don't want that to happen to me," Nanny said on countless occasions. "When I die, bury me, don't bring me back to life. Don't make me play those 'Jimmy games', like you done played with mamma."
I wondered if Nanny was upset with me for prodding her so much about talking to her sisters.
Nanny disappeared for a few moments, obviously in deep conversation with someone who hadn't revealed himself to my dad and me. "Do you miss them a lot?" I asked, when she returned.
"Yes," Nanny signed. "They keep telling me how nice it is and that they want me to be with them."
"Are you going soon?" I asked, knowing as soon as the words had left my lips that I shouldn't have asked.
"Soon," she replied, "soon."
I took her hand and we both stared off in space for a few minutes, she with her memories and me with mine. I wondered for a moment if Nanny thought about how happy her mother was, now that she could see Jimmy and remember his name.
It seemed that part of Nanny's brain was dying now-or at least it seemed that part of her brain was being usurped by her constant conversations with her sisters. It was getting more and more difficult for my dad or me to get through to her. My questions, more often than not, went totally unanswered. And I wondered what she kept saying to Mildred and Mary.
"What else do you talk about, Nanny?" I asked on one of those days when she was able to make the journey from here to there and back again and still retain her coherency. I knew I was running out of time, so my questions were much more insidious than they seemed. I was over fifty and my concerns were twofold: Had Nanny actually lost her mind, and if she had, would I be in any danger of losing mine? In other words, did senility run in families?
Nanny came back for a few moments.
"What were you talking about?" I asked.
"We talked about how much fun we had at home on Emory Street," Nanny replied. "We talked about the parties and the boys we met and the things we done."
"What kinds of things did you do?" I asked, not expecting the answer I was about to receive.
"Oh, I dated," Nanny replied. "I dated a lot!"
"When did you start seeing boys?" I asked
"When I was eleven. By the time I was twelve, I'd go out with two or three different boys each night. One boy would pick me up at my house, take me down to the drug store and buy me a soda, we'd sit and talk and then we'd walk home together, holding hands and kissing. When I got home, another boy would call and take me to the movies. We'd neck and-land o' gracious-I don't even think I saw half the movies the boys took me to. Then the boy would bring me home and we'd kiss on the porch for a while and I'd come in. After a while, real late at night, I'd sneak out the window, climb down the trellis and meet another boy and we'd kiss and neck until it was almost light."
Good God, I thought this was my grandmother! Kissing and necking at the age of twelve and telling these stories to her grandson as if it was a normal rite of passage. I was no prude, but even I didn't have that kind of experience. My grandmother was born in 1894, at the end of the Victorian Era, which made me wonder if I'd missed something when I studied history. Were all boys and girls as sexually active as my grandmother, I wondered? Was that the secret of her strength and stability? Was she a kind and loving person because of these experiences or was she just born that way? Nanny's mind faded again as she spent less and less time with me and my dad, but when she came back, she answered my questions with even more vivid images of her past.
What on earth was she telling her sisters now, I thought, as she slipped deeper and deeper into her own blissful world. I knew her stories were getting very personal, but something urged me to keep on asking. It was almost like I was back with my great-grandmother and asking, "Grandma can you name all twelve of your children?" I knew it was wrong to question my grandmother like this, but for some inexplicable reason I was unable to stop.
"What else do you talk about with your sisters?" I asked.
"Well it depends," Nanny said. "Sometimes we all talk about our husbands. You know your grandfather was so good to me; my only regret was that we never celebrated our Golden Anniversary like all the rest of my sisters."
"You were together forty-eight years," I said, "that's a long time,"
"Yes, but fifty would have been better," Nanny said.
"Did you talk about anything else just now?" I asked.
"Yes, we talked about the good times we had at the beach house. Me and your grandpa used to play gin rummy half the night, you know. And he beat me every time-until the night he died. That was the onliest night he ever let me keep score. After he died, I went through his scorecards and discovered he added wrong. I should of won a lot of them games!"
Nanny slipped away again.
"Who were you talking to just now?" I asked as soon as my grandmother returned to reality.
"Mary just left," Nanny said, "we were talking about the clothes we used to make and fight over when we was girls. She reminded me of the pink satin material mamma done give us. She had to work three weekends to pay for it-and me and Mary-well, we done promised we'd make two pretty dresses out of it and take care of them. But, Mary and me, we got in a big fight and I took the material over to Aunt Edna's house and made the prettiest dress you ever did seen, so I could impress Bill, your granddaddy. Mary got mad and didn't talk to me for a whole month, because she wanted to make her own. And my dress, well it was fit for a princess to wear to a real fancy party, but I wasn't invited to no real fancy parties," Nanny giggled and we joined in, "so the dress just sat in the closet until one day mamma, she came in and took it all apart and made clothes for the new baby. Mary and I screamed and carried on for days and days, about how unfair mamma was, but today, Mary and me just laughed. I wish we would of done that then."
"Did Poppy ever see the dress?" I asked.
"Nope, he never seen it, but he always said I was the most beautifulest woman he ever did see. He said that right from the first time I done seen him and he kept on saying it 'til the day he died."
"Your grandfather was the goodest man in the whole world," Nanny said, "land o' gracious, I was just sorry we never did celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary like the rest of my sisters," she reiterated.
"Yes, that's a shame, "I said, realizing that it was time for me to back off. If I lived to be as old as Nanny, I wouldn't want a smart ass to play the Jimmy game with me.
"So what else do you talk about, Nanny?" I asked.
"We talked about games we used to play-with jump ropes and hoops and we talked about the first horse wagon we rode in. It was 1897, I had just turned three and I was scared at first, but when Gladys and Mary jumped right in, I climbed in, too. Then we drove around the block. It was the most exciting thing I ever did do."
"What else?" I urged.
"Well, yesterday me and Mildred talked about the animals."
"What animals?" I asked.
"All the animals!" Nanny said incredulously. "Animals was everywhere!" There was horses and donkeys and ponies pulling the carts and streetcars and carriages and then there were the markets with the live chickens and ducks. Mamma used to take us girls to the market with her every day when we was little. We'd buy a chicken, take it home, wring its neck and us girls would pull out its feathers. Later, Mamma used the feathers to stuff pillows and beds."
"Was that a fun time, grandma?" I asked.
Nanny didn't say a word, but the twinkle in her eye told me everything I needed to know.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nanny died at 6:30 a.m. the following day-in Dad's arms. Although Dad and I didn't find out about it until late the next day, Theodore, Nanny's baby brother who lived in New Orleans, died fifteen minutes before Nanny.
"I can almost imagine Unk giving one last tug when he passed over," Dad said.
"Yes," I said, "I bet Uncle Theodore gave Nanny one last tug on his way to the other side."
JANUARY 23, 2000
Dear Scot;
Hello, I am fine. Today is very warm and I needn't to wear more clothes. It is very good!
I like your story about your grandmother.
I hope I can go some place for travel with you. And you?
When I was nine. One time, my father's sister would married in the countryside, so I company with my parents went to countryside to visit her. I found out no electricity in the home. My grandmother told me that my little younger brother was very naughty, he found out a charcoal, it had been made to wet by the water. So, my brother wanted to play it, so it put it into the haystack. The charcoal hadn't fully died out. After a while, the haystack was on fire. My brother want put out the fire, but he couldn't. The fire is very big and even burn the equipment of electricity, my brother had to say help. So no electricity tonight.
After a lunch, my brother took a bottle of wine to me and said; "His father like to drink it very much and he felt it was tasty and sweet. I was very curious and want to drink it. So we began to drink this wine together. I felt that it was very difficult to drink, although it had a little sweet, but it wasn't fruit juice. But my brother wants me to drink more. No sooner, I felt my head was very heavy and I found out two brother was before my eyes. I came up to the haystack and throw myself over it. I heard my brother shout out; "Good, good! The wine was very good! "Then I heard his father scolded him and grasp the bottle and shout that my god, he had drunk all the wine. My dad knew I was sleep on the haystack, he was very angry, he took a rod and came up to me. He wanted me stand up. But I couldn't and my body was very heavy and I feel I was hit by the rod, but I have not felt pain. Soon, my dad pulled me to the home and my mother and another old grandfather help me and made me well. I was surprise when I woke up, my young brother was all right, he tell me that that's not matter for him! He also knew smoking. He said most of the children in the countryside had knew how to smoking! Oh, my god!
How'd you think of my boyhood? I like go to the countryside of my mother's parents. I met many interesting thing and I feel there was a beautiful and funny (fun) place and I miss it very much! I will tell you about soon!
Sometimes I will company with my friend to have a lunch or go around the street. I always to visit the bookstore!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
I told you that I was a naughty boy when I was young but I never told you about the times I caught things on fire. I hope you never did that, but I did.
The first time I set a fire I was about 8 years old and my mother and father were away from the house. They left me with my little sister. I found the matches and lit several and dropped them into the trash can. Well, the next thing you know, the trash caught on fire and I picked up the trash can and hurried outside with it. Luckily I dumped the burning papers into the snow and the fire went out. The scary thing is that I could have burned down the house, killed my sister and or been killed myself. Each year hundreds of boys and girls set fires in America-often they die.
The second time I set a fire was outside. I didn't actually start the fire, however. My mother asked me to check on a fire that she had left burning at their campsite. I had to walk a long distance to get the campsite and I was angry and frustrated when I got there. I remember looking at the embers. I took a stick and stirred them up. Then I tossed them away from the fire pit into the forest. I was happy with my work and went back to the beach house with a smile on my face. After about an hour or so, my mother and father drove up to their campsite. They came back covered in soot and ashes and said there was a horrible fire and that they had to beat it out with branches. They asked me if I saw any evidence of a fire and of course, I lied and said no. I don't know if my mother believed me or not, but she never sent me on that type of errant ever again.
Write soon,
Love and hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 25, 2000
Dear Scot;
Hello, how are you? Do you have a good time?
I like your stories about your childhood. I study Chinese history in my school. I like study World history and World geography very much.
I am studying English now.
I want tell you a story from my hometown.
One night, I had to go to school between 19:30-21.00 (7:30 to 9:00 p.m.) at night. My grandmother came back to her home and visit my grandfather. My parents traveled for business. So no one in the home at that night. But fortunately our neighbor helped us to keep watch on our home.
Do you know, every one must maintain sharp vigilance in here. Because there were many thief and robber in these day. Last year, a thief stole into my home when every one was asleep. Suddenly, a phone call from our neighbor. He told my father that he found a man stay in our balcony. Maybe he was a thief. Be careful! My father got up quickly running to the balcony. He want trying to catch the thief, but he jump down from the balcony when he heard the sound of telephone. He was very brave, was he a bat man? This was the second time of the thief stole into our home.
Last time was happen in 1994, the thief stole some money and a camera, my father found him when the thief near his bed, the thief ran way in hurry and jump down from the balcony too. They were very "brave" indeed. The policeman came up our home when we make the phone to them, but they can not find the men who steal the money until now.
Next day, we heard that another house was stolen money last night. Oh, my god! I had a neighbor, she was a nurse in the hospital, one night she met the robber when she came back to home. The robber wanted got her money and her bag, then he hug (grabbed) her and took up a knife. She was very angry! She turn around and caught his knife and gave him a good beating, the robber ran away in hurry. She said to us; "I don't afraid the robber, if they encroach on me, he would know what is my power and his bad luck will coming.
Well, here is a joke!
Do you like the joke? I hope they make yourself laughing.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
I have a joke for you.
Let me know if you like this joke.
We had a major snowstorm here with over a foot of snow and we're all digging out from under it. I haven't gone to work in 3 days and the city is basically paralyzed. I live in a very strange city. Most of the time we don't get much snow, but ever ten years or so we get a major blizzard and the city closes down completely. Today is one of those days. I'm going to enjoy my fireplace, however, and stay warm and read and watch some TV-so at least I don't have to go out into the cold bitter snow!
Write soon,
Your friend with love forever,
Scot
Dear Scot,
How are you? Today is very warm here. It does not snow where I am and I have not seen the snow. I wonder what it looks like.
Scot. I am very lucky and happy to know you. I am very proud that I can know you in the world.
I am sorry, I am not very understand the joke. [I sent him the joke about the man who went to the psychiatrist and complained about his wife because she thought she was a refrigerator]. Can you explain about it? I know there is a hard snowfall in your country! Is everything ok?
I study in Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) now. The city has congested traffic. Traffic surges around 7 in the morning. Sometimes, confronted with the lines of traffic worming along, a lot of drivers filled with fury. The air is impure and muggy. The environment was not very well. I had a friend, he went to school in a new white coat. He told me that his coat was very interesting, it turn to yellow when he came back to home. The roads were still not finished construction yet.
I like my hometown-Wuzhou. It is a beautiful and interesting city. Have you ever drank the soy-bean milk? I like drank it very much. The soy-bean milk is very famous in my hometown. One time, I and my parents; relatives went to drank the soy-bean in a restaurant at the foot of the White Cloudy Mountain. The soy-bean milk made of the yellow bean and the spring from the White Cloudy Mountain. So the milk is very tasty and good to keep your health. Of course you could also ate the bean curd; dried bean curd; jellied bean curd and cake . Now the restaurant is still open every day and it is very crowd every morning. After a good breakfast, then some would climb the White Cloudy Mountain, which is the highest mountain in Wuzhou! When you arrival to the peak of mountain, a pavilion is there. You can sit down and appreciate the whole landscape of the city. The air is very fresh and pure, this is beneficial to health. Doctors often advise us to have a change of air. Now travel means constant changes of air.
Seeing the black monkey (a rare monkey); Playing kite fly; Picnicking or eating the tasty food in the restaurant on the peak of the mountain. Some don't want spend their time on the mountain, they will visit the Western Bamboo temple, there is a Buddhist temple. Some people would prostrate themselves before the image of Buddha, pray for a good life. You can also visit the Sun Yat-sen's Park. There is the first Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall in China. And you can visit the zoo and plant park.
Do you afraid the snake? Not far from there. There is a snake park and you can see different snake. The services would told us that there are different kinds of snakes in the world. Some of them are quite harmless, but some are very poisonous.
Do you like my hometown? Hope you can visit here one day!
That's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 27, 2000
Dear Bin,
I traveled to China in 1991. Here are the entries from my diary that tell about my adventures:
June 18 Tuesday. In Transit. I left home at 3:15 AM. My friend, Lee, drove me to Dulles Airport. On my first leg I flew to Denver. On my second leg I flew to San Francisco and almost missed my connecting link to Tokyo because the terminals were so far apart. As I ran, huffing and puffing to the boarding gate, the stewardess said, "You came from Flight 823. No one has ever made that flight before. Congratulations." On my third leg I flew across the Pacific.
June 19 Wednesday. In Transit-Beijing. I landed in Tokyo and was under the false impression that I was going to spend the entire day there, even though there were no hotels listed on my itinerary. I had forgotten that I crossed the International Date Line and lost a day. Luckily, I realized my mistake, stayed in the airport and made my connection. The flight took off to China within 2 hours and I arrived in Beijing at 8:00 PM. I reached the hotel at 10:00. What an extraordinarily long day! I don't think I've slept in over 48 hours. I stayed at the Tiaping Lee Garden Hotel, at No 2 Jianguomennan Avenue, Beijing and met my travel companions.
June 20 Thursday. Beijing. I saw Tien An Men Square, Mao Tse-Tung's Tomb, the Forbidden City with its 2,000 acres of palaces and courtyards, which was formerly the residence of the Imperial Court. I also saw the thousand year old Summer Palace which was a retreat for the Royal families, the Temple of Heaven, an architectural masterpiece, and the pandas at the Beijing Zoo. We had Beijing duck for dinner and after dinner and in the evening, several friends and I walked to the Friendship Store.
June 21 Friday. Beijing. I walked along the Great Wall of China for one of the most memorable experiences of my life! The weather was hot, but clear. I really strained to get to the top, but it was something I had to do! I bought a small panda rug and then went to the Animal Park, which consisted of statues lining the way to the Ming Tombs, the burial place of 13 Ming Emperors.
June 22 Saturday. Beijing-Xian. We went to the Temple of Heaven, and then we visited the subway system where I bought a souvenir ticket for 10 cents. Then we flew to Xian, where I stayed at the Sheridan Xian Hotel.
June 23 Sunday. Xian. We saw the terra-cotta warriors that have been guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi for 2,000 years. I bought 2 water color paintings and a quilt. Then we visited the Wild Goose Pagoda, Hua Quiq Hot Springs and the City Gate Tower. .97.
June 24 Monday. Xian-Shanghai. We rose early and flew to Shanghai, where we had a great lunch and then walked along the Bund and Nanking Road and later saw the Yu Yuan Gardens and the Jade Buddha Temple, which was carved from one piece of white jade. I stayed at the Yangtze New World Hotel at 2099 Yan An Xi Road in Shanghai.
June 25 Tuesday. Shanghai. I took the day off! Boy did I need a rest! My room is on the corner, real cute with wrap around windows and like my room in Xian and Beijing, I can see for miles. Again, I stayed at the Yangtze New World Hotel in Shanghai.
June 26 Wednesday. Shanghai-Suzhow. We got up at 5:30 a.m. to ride the train to Suzhow. In the morning we visited a silk factory and saw another pagoda. In the afternoon I went for a great 3 hour walk in old Suzhow on my own. Several people looked at me as if they had never seen a foreigner before, but I didn't care-I've done this so many times before in so many countries, that it's old hat by now. We stayed at the Namkin Hotel in Suzhow, China.
June 27 Thursday. Suzhow-Grand Canal-Hangchow. What a great day! We took the bus from Suzchow to the Grand Canal, which was built in the 7th century A.D. during the reign of Yang Di. We cruised for five hours on our own private boat. We landed in Jiaxing and toured the city seeing the new communist museum and the boat where communism began in China. We then rode to Hangchow for dinner and lodging. We spent the night at the Dragon Hotel on Shuguang Road in Hangzhou, China. The hotel had the most spectacular interior I've ever seen with a lovely inner court filled with bridges and water and pathways.
June 28 Friday. Hangzhou. We cruised West Lake and visited the Six Harmonies Buddhist Pagoda built in 970 A.D. We had lunch and visited the Linngyin Temple. Later we went shopping downtown. We spent a second night at the spectacular Dragon Hotel in Hangzhou.
June 29 Saturday. Hangzhou-Guilin. We toured the highly mechanized silk factory. Then we went to the West Lake People's Commune, where tea is harvested and processed. Finally we saw big carp and lionheads in a fish pond. Next we flew to Guilin, a nice town of about 500,000.
June 30 Sunday. Guilin. Today we cruised the Li River for 5 hours where we saw many interesting rock formations. Then we went to Fubo Hill for a panoramic view of the city. I'm really looking forward to Hong Kong! I haven't been there in years.
July 1 Monday. Guilin-Canton (Guangzhou)-Hong Kong. What a crazy day! We left Guilin early and flew to Canton (Guangzhou), arriving at 10:00 AM and our guide felt duty-pressed to keep us occupied until 7 PM. So he showed us the temple and the ceramic factory. Then we visited the market that sold live food, including little kittens, cats and dogs. We had our last meal in China before taking the train to Hong Kong. I was exhausted when I finally arrived at the Holiday Inn, Harbor View (70 Moody Road, Kowloon; 7215161). The hotel was right on the harbor and gave the most spectacular views of the harbor I've ever seen!
July 2 Tuesday. Hong Kong. What a busy day! First, I ate breakfast at the hotel's Cafe Rendezvous, sitting in the window, feeling like I was in the harbor, then I took the hydrofoil to Hong Kong Island (all together I took 4 ferries today and caught 3 of them at the last minute almost jumping onto the last one from Hong Kong to Kowloon.) Then I took a cab to the base of Peak Victoria and a funicular to the top. I bought a coke in the Coffee Shop and stayed there for 30 minutes admiring the best views in the world. I tipped the waiter $2 and he thanked me so much, I swear he'll remember me the next time! Then I took the funicular to the bottom and a cab to Macau ferry pier. Since there were no cheap tickets left, I had to buy a first class ticket, which almost wiped out my cash supply. The ride took an hour & I slept some. When I got there I was too poor to catch a cab and I had no Macau money. In fact, I had spent most of my cash on the boat trip, so I walked everywhere, which was probably the best way to see the place! I ate lunch in a large Chinese restaurant-and everyone stopped eating the moment I walked in. I had the feeling I was the first white face they had ever seen. I looked around at the food on other tables and pointed since the menu was in Chinese and I didn't read a word of the language. After a few moments, the waiter returned with one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned her-go to places where the locals eat and if you don't speak the language, don't worry about it-just point. While eating lunch, I got all my photos developed at a cheap price (using my visa card), then walked to the casino at Hotel Lisbon and watched the gamblers. I got very tired at 5:00 PM and decided to call it a day. I walked back to the pier and traded my first class 6:45 ticket for an economy 5:00 PM. It seems that you must buy a round trip ticket when you go to Macau and many people go there to gamble. Well…they understate the time they want to spend there and decide they need to stay longer to win back the money they've lost. The casino hires people who help them. These people take their tickets and wait at the pier-trying to trade them off with tourists who want to return earlier. I guess no one loses, I don't know. I'm very honest and walked to the second class section, although I know from past experience that it's pretty much an honor system and that a white person probably wouldn't have been challenged. I could have gone to the first class section, but I didn't and when I got to the second class section, I found that the seats were very cramped. Somehow or another, however, I got a window seat and was home early enough to catch the Star Ferry. I saw the ferry to Hung Hom port, ran and jumped on the ferry and just barely made it. I was so happy until I realized that the ferry was heading away from my hotel into a stretch of Kowloon that I was unfamiliar with. When I finally docked, I had to take a cab to my hotel. I ate at McDonalds across from my hotel, having my usual Big Mac, fries and chocolate shake. Again, I stayed at the Holiday Inn.
July 3 Wednesday. Hong Kong. I started the day with a great view of the harbor as I ate breakfast at the hotel's Cafe Rendezvous, then I wandered on my own without a plan! First I walked to Nathan Road where I bought 2 ties and several t-shirts. I discovered the subway, which wasn't here the last time I visited, and rode it under Hong Kong Bay. It's a neat system; all the cars are linked together and open so you feel like you're riding inside an accordion! Then I took a cab to Star Ferry and sailed across the bay to Kowloon. I ate at Mickey D's and took a cab to my hotel since it had started to rain. Later I went back out to the Peninsula Hotel, where the rain had interrupted my journey and walked/shopped my way back to the hotel. What a great day!
July 4 Thursday. Hong Kong - Home. What a long ride home. I ate breakfast at the Cafe Rendezvous as I overlooked the harbor, then left the hotel at 10:00. On the first leg of my trip from Hong Kong to Seattle, I flew with a man named Mark and a college professor. We had great discussions for the 13 hour trip home. I got tired as I reached Seattle, but called Ben and Jean, two of the folks I met on the trip, from the airport and talked for about an hour. My driver picked me up at the airport and we drove down Route 66 to the 14th Street Bridge to 395, where we saw the fireworks celebrating the Fourth of July! They were so spectacular from this vantage point and since I wasn't driving I really got to enjoy them all!
JANUARY 27, 2000
Subject; Mountain Date
Dear Scot;
How are you? I am fine and feel very well. I like you too! I think of you ever day and I am very happy when I get your message.
Last night, I got a phone (call) from my old friends in my hometown. They want climb the White Cloud Mountain with me again when I come back. To be frank, I have never climb this mountain in a long time. I remember that in my city last year. Spring comes eventually after dull winter. Just walk around and you will find that spring has come to the city. Everywhere you see green leaves and full blossoms.
One holiday, I company with (accompanied) my friends to climb the mountain. How great the sight is! We felt as if we has entered another world, full of beauty, peacefulness and loveliness. We climbed up vigorously and breathed the fresh air greedily. Before lunch time, we reached the peak of the highest mountain. We had brought a lot of food with us, so we can have a good meal there. Fruit; cake; biscuit and etc. We could see most part of our city and the Mandarin Duck River and the Dragon Island. The island had contact with one side of the shore as the peninsula. We could see a lot of people were over there. We found out an old man was playing the kite fly over there. One lady was very surprise that she saw a hawk was flying on the sky. Her friend tell her the truth-a kite fly (it was really just a kite)! There were a lot of pine tree on the mountain. My friend pick up a lot of pine nut and he want find the kernel, but it was very disappointed. No kernel! The peach blossoms put forth their pretty faces, and all kinds of flowers were in full bloom. The green willow trees wave about with the wind and look smiling. It was pity, we didn't brought the camera. It was very good for me to relax myself there. My friend said that he could break in five lion now! But, I don't think so! Two old man were playing the game of Chinese chess, a man and his dog was watching to them. Some family go picnicking there, they are gathering together on this holiday and have a good time. I like picnic very much, especially when I was a young boy. I remember that I could hardly sleep when I know I would go to picnic the next morning. Over there. A mother was very angry. Because his son didn't finish his lunch and went to visit the Monkey Park with his food. The monkey was very free in that park, some of them needn't live in the cage. They always enjoy their life. Play all day and all night. They would stretch out their hands for the food when they saw the people. So the boy gave all his food to the monkey. Do you like picnic?
I knew a friend who work in bank want invited me for a travel. In 1998, we went to Guiling to see the green hills; clean water and went to swim in the hot spring in Longsheng town. He want invite us to see his hometown. It is a small town and not far from my city. There is a beautiful mountain cave. They give it a name "Heaven Cave" There is an interesting story about this Heaven Cave, do you want me tell you next time?
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 28, 2000
Dear Bin,
Please tell me the story about Heaven Cave. As I mentioned in my email, I went on several river cruises when I was in China and enjoyed them a lot.
Your English is very good. Did you know that I taught English for fourteen years? I taught reading, creative writing and literature.
Bin, can you tell me more about you and your personal life? Do you have your own bedroom? What type of clothes do you like to wear? What do you wear when you go to bed? I hope my questions are not too personal, I would just like to know more about you, but if you feel that they are personal, please do not answer them. I will not be offended if you don't.
Your friend with love and hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 28, 2000
Dear Scot;
It is a nice day today, I feel very good. It is not cold in this morning. You can ask me any question you want! I sleep only underwear! I sleep alone! I have my own room!
I am studying English in college! I think I will graduate after 3 years. I don't know what city I will work in.
I woke up early this morning. I was wake up by my neighbor's cat. I didn't know how'd it come to my home. Maybe from the window. I thought it was very hungry and want come back to its home. It miss its way I thought! The cat left quickly when I open the door. My neighbor was making zongzi. Every Cantonese like eat it very much. Now I felt hungry!
The zongzi is a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or green reed leaves. The stuffing are some meat and bean. The taste is very good, and you can smell the fresh and sweet-smelling from the bamboo. I always helped my grandmother and my mother to cook the zongzi when I was young boy. Every time they would put a big pot in the courtyard and cook them. I would be waiting there, because I like eat them very much. I got the Heaven Cave story from my mother. And she got it from her grandmother. It was a fairy tale!
I like this story very much!
Last night, I watch and heard the lullaby from TV, the song and Music came from different countries. They were very nice. For example; "One child was born" from USA. "Bright Moon" from China and etc. I thought it would be very good to help you if you want sleep.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
Please forgive me if I can not write to you tomorrow, because I will visit my relatives. I will write you back. Ok?
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 29, 2000
Dear Bin,
I liked your story and I also like the information about the Chinese dish. America also has many different cuisines and different types of food-in that sense China and America are a lot a like because foods are very regional. In the north, you might eat brown bread, beans, stews, soups, etc. In New Orleans, you might eat Cajun style food. In San Francisco you might have Sourdough bread and Ruben Sandwiches. The South is famous for friend chicken. But since so many Americans move around and travel so much, you can find almost every type of food everywhere. We are also familiar with several regional styles of Chinese cooking-my favorite is Sichuan. My second favorite is Hunan. I like these styles because they are hot and spicy.
You know I also love cats very much. I've had cats as pets for over 30 years. My favorite cat was named Intrepid. Intrepid means "fearless" and she was very brave. When I first adopted her as a little kitten, I brought her home and soon found that I had to vacuum my house. Well, most cats are afraid of vacuum cleaners. I warned her that the machine was going to make a lot of noise. "You had better run away," I said. "This machine is going to make a lot of noise." Then I plugged it in. "Do you see this plug?" I said. "I'm going to start the machine. You had better run. This machine is going to hurt your ears." Well, then I pointed to the start button and warned her one more time. "As soon as I push this button, you are going to hear a loud noise. This is your last chance. Run!" She stayed where she was and when I turned on the machine she didn't run away. That's why I called her intrepid-because she was so brave and fearless.
I hope to meet you someday soon-and who knows? Maybe we can become boyfriends-or even closer friends. We seem to have a lot in common-we both love animals and we both love to read and write. I think we also love jokes and humor and enjoying life. I think I could fall in love with you! Anyway, no matter what happens, I hope that we can remain close friends forever, if not lovers then perhaps "brothers".
Write soon,
Love and hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 29, 2000
Happy Day
Dear Scot;
It is cloudy today, but also very warm here. Scot, I hope I have your address that I can send my picture to you by post when I come back to my hometown. Do you want have my telephone's number?
Scot. I was move deeply when I read your letter. But now we live so far away. I am in China and you are in USA. I must tell you, I am not a rich man and I can not go to USA.
Last night was my cousin's birthday. I company with (accompanied) my relatives to join his party. My cousin was singing and dancing when we arrival his home, he was very happy and interesting. He pay the greeting call to every elder and they gave him the red envelope (red envelopes contain money and are distributed at festive events, birthdays and during the New Year) and wish him happy birthday!
It was very busy last night and it seem that everyone was very happy. Maybe they forget today was my cousin's birthday and thought this was a gathering for the relatives. After dinner, I played a game with my two cousin. I taught them to learn English, Chinese character and geography. They could learn them very quickly and I gave them a toy of medal. It was time for my cousin to cut the cake and gave himself a wish. So we turn off the light and let him to die out the candle. Then his father help him to gave the cakes to each one. Now, he began to singing, he sang the song of birthday with another cousin to every one.
My cousin's father was drunk three days before. Today was his son's birthday, he was very happy. He decide had a good time with us tonight. So he took some alcoholic out from the counter. I didn't like drink and I have some homework to do in my home, so I said good bye to everyone and came back to home at 9 o'clock. My uncle came back at 11 o'clock, he told me that my cousin's father was drunk and vomit. He thought that he wouldn't drunk again, because he had eaten the rice and meal before he drank the alcoholic. He was very happy as today is his birthday. He drank more with my relatives. Finally, he was drunk, my cousin was very surprise that his father was sleep so early that night. I want continue to tell you joke story, hope you like them?
I hope the joke will make you laughing. Well, that's all for now, hope good luck and happy company with you forever!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 30, 2000
Dear Bin,
The weather here has been cold and snowy. I hate Washington in the winter-the sun sets early in the evening and it's dark and cloudy and cold. I prefer the sunny climates of the Equator, Florida or Brazil. I also get cold easily and stay cold. Someday soon I hope to move to a warmer climate.
Thank you for your jokes. I liked them all but thought the one about the ghost was the best one. As I said before, I believe in ghost and many Americans do as well. I know that many Britons, Irish and Scots also believe in ghosts. I wonder if there are people in every country who believe in them. What do you think about this theory? And…if there are people in every country who believe in ghost, do you think that means there really are ghosts? I think so. I believe in ghosts.
Exactly one week after my mother's mother died, my mother and I visited each other. I told my mother about a strange dream I had that night. In the dream, I was visiting my mother in her apartment. I sat in the dining room and my mother was in the bedroom and couldn't see me. I looked out the window and saw my grandmother floating up the sidewalk. She walked into my mother's apartment-I think she walked through the door, I'm not sure, but I do know what my mother never left the door open or unlocked. My grandmother looked at me and smiled and then said, "Pat!" which is my mother's name. My grandmother went into the bedroom and talked to my mother. I heard everything they said but my mother didn't see me. My grandmother talked about some serious issues we had had-what to do with her money, where she wanted her jewelry, clocks and watches to go and she also talked about her other daughter and other grandchildren. I woke up and decided I'd tell my mother about the dream. This is where the scary ghost part starts. When my mother was at my house, I started to tell her the dream and my mother's face turned white. She said she had the exact same dream and she told me part of it. Then I told more of the dream, then my mother told more of what she had dreamt. My mother did not see me in her dream because I was in the living room and she did not know that I was in the dream until we talked about it. After that dream, I really believed in ghosts!
Let me know more about what you feel about ghosts.
Your friend forever,
With hugs and kisses and even more hugs,
Scot
JANUARY 30, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you?
Today is very colder than yesterday. I hope it don't rain.
Scot, I hope I can meet you and talk to you in person!
I was move deeply by your words and letter. Thank you!
Yes, I believe in ghosts. Many of my friend believe. That was interesting story you told about the dream about your mother and you.
I will send more picture to you when I come back to my hometown. Please forgive me if I can not write letter to you when I come back to my hometown. But I will try to go to the Internet pub to write the letter to you! I want visit Beijing. My parents and my aunty had gone there. So I hope I can visit it and visit the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City; the Summer Palace and etc. But last time, my friend who lives in Nanning city make a phone to me and hope to travel Yunnan province this year.
I think the best means for getting knowledge is the travel. Only by travel can one see things outside one's own town. One may have heard or read about something, but one can never get an accurate knowledge of it until he sees it.
My friend said that money spent in travel is not wasted. Travel is also beneficial to health. Doctors often advise us to have a change of air. Now travel means constant changes of air. Outside the window, the big rain was falling down. Fortunately, it didn't bring the windy.
The farmers like rain very much now. It was such long time that not rain in here. Now they must sow their seeds. They want the plants to be well watered by the rain, so that they reap a rich harvest in autumn. I hope so! City people also like rain because it makes the city fresh and clean. After a rain, the trees look greener, and the air becomes more pleasant to breathe in. The rain renders a new look to the city as well as the country.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you.
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JANUARY 31, 2000
Dear Bin,
I visited China in 1991 and saw all those things I told you about in a previous email. I really loved visiting the Great Wall-you absolutely must go there! I bought some beautiful souvenirs at the Great Wall and I still have them. I bought a quilt and a small throw rug with panda designs.
I also enjoyed my visit to the Forbidden City and to the Summer Palace. When our group got to the Summer Palace, however, the skies opened and it started to pour down rain. Everyone in my group, however, was very smart. We all carried umbrellas, raincoats or pieces of plastic so we didn't get wet. All in all, I really enjoyed my visit to China and hope to come back again soon. Perhaps at that time we can meet each other physically and who knows, maybe then we can become more than just pen pals. Would you like that? I know I would.
I really agree with you about traveling. I have been around the world three times and visited 75 countries. I always feel so much more alive and refreshed when I travel. I get to meet new people, learn a few new words, eat new food and see new sites. In short, my life changes. Honestly, Bin, I think about traveling almost every day of my life. In America we have an expression that goes, "it's in my blood" that means that it's a part of us, it's a part of our nature. So I could honestly say that travel is in my blood.
Her is an idea for you. It's something I do when I am sad or in pain. I close my eyes and pretend to be in one of my favorite places. Last week I went to the dentist and he gave me a hot of Novocain. Novocain is injected into the gum by way of a long needle and the needle is threatening to look at and it hurts for a while when he jabs your gum. He did that so he would numb my mouth and drill a bad tooth. I hate getting shots and I rally hate getting Novocain but there isn't much of a choice. If you don't get Novocain you have to take the pain of the drill-and that really hurts. So just before he gets ready to give me the shot, I close my eyes and pretend to be in a special place. That time I pretended to be in Rio de Janeiro, lying on the beach, looking at the cute handsome boys playing volleyball, smelling the ocean, soaking in the sun. By the time I opened my eyes, the needled was gone and I barely felt the pain. Try this idea when you are depressed or know you have to face a little bit of pain and let me know if it works for you as well as it works for me.
I have a question for you. Do you know about the US help in World War II? Do you know who fought Japan? Do you know that the US fought in the war? I was in Russia many years ago and a young man approached our group and asked if the United States had participated in the Second World War. He said that he was taught that the US would start the next war because we had not fought in World War Two. He was taught that we didn't know the horrors of war. Can you imagine that?
Anyway, please write again soon,
Your friend,
Scot
FEBRUARY 1, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? We learned about World War II when we were only 9 years old and against Japanese army! I know the US and China were allies during the war!
I went through a horrible dream last night. I want told you about that. I stood up at center of my city. Suddenly, I found out a lot of glass was broken from the building and a lot of people was look very nervous. Soon, I found the UFO. I didn't know if I feel happy or afraid. When I took up my pen to write it out, I could only remember a little.
My friend had a lot of vacation days, so he is going to visit Guiling, Beijing and Shanghai. He showed us his tourist book and he hope us give him some suggestion. I copy some message from his book, which introduce about these three city. I have never been to Beijing and Shanghai, I hope I can visit there one day. My friend will visit Guilin first. The book said that he must be cruise the Lijiang River. Because the scenery along both banks of the Lijiang River is fantastic. Spectacular six-hour, 40-kilometer journey down the winding Lijiang to Yangshu. As one is sailing through rapids and shallows, past valleys; bamboo groves and mist-shrouded crags, one has the sensation of being carried in time through a traditional Chinese painting. Located in northern Guilin, Fubo is one of the city's most interesting hills. There are an enormous cooking pot and a cast-iron bell weighing 2. 5 tons along the steps and walkways leading to its summit. Reed Flute Cave is the most magnificent of all in Guilin. It derives its name from the reeds at its entrance, which were once used to make flutes. The Temple of Heaven (is) in Beijing, each year in China, on the day before winter solstice, the emperor would come to the Temple of Heaven. He would pray for good harvests and perform sacrificial rituals amid burning incense and tinkling bells. The temple of Heaven is very famous in China! The Great Wall at Badaling, 75 kilometers northwest of Beijing, dates from the Ming Dynasty. Most of tourist like go to there to visit the Great Wall. There is a folk adage in China: You are not a hero when you never been to the Great Wall. Located in the heart of Beijing, the Imperial Palace, also know as the Forbidden City. The Summer Palace, about 15 kilometers northwest of Tiananmen Square, covers a total area of 290 hectares. The Ming Tombs are located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing. The underground palace of Ding Ling was an underground construction that was dug up in 1956-1957. My friend will visit all of them. He told us that he would have a good time in these day.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
FEBRUARY 1, 2000
Bin, my love,
It was so good to hear from you. I have been to Guilin and sailed down the Li River. A very exciting thing happened on the boat. Before we left, we were warned that the food would be horrible. I ate a big breakfast and took some snacks with me, but had to eat lunch when they served it. The lunch was the worst food I have ever eaten in my life but I told everyone that it was good. They brought the chef out to take a bow-and he looked so surprised. I bet it was the first time anyone had every said anything nice about him in his entire life. I wonder if it made him a better chef-knowing that someone said something nice about him. I'll never know, but I hope so.
Now, let me tell you a little more about my childhood. From the ages of 12 to about 14, I was in Junior High School (we call these grades 7, 8 and 9). The American system of education is different than the British and Chinese, I am sure. We have 12 grades and then go to college or university. There is not a whole lot of difference between a college and university - except that a university is usually much bigger and generally contains several "colleges". We also have community colleges -- offering courses and degrees at very inexpensive prices. Sometimes students go to a community college (near them in their own community) for 2 years and then transfer to a college or university.
Prices for education in the US can be very expensive -- but we will talk about all this later, let me get back to my description of my junior high school life.
I was a very mischievous child in junior high school. I got into a lot of trouble. I didn't do anything bad -- but was mischievous.
I figured out that I was gay when I was in the 6th grade -- I remember sitting at a table with a classmate. We used to kick off our shoes and run them up and down the other boy's legs. I found this very sexy -- but I was only 11 or 12 at the time. It made me hard, but I did not know why.
When I was in 7th grade, I was hard all the time -- and I cut a hole in my trousers' pocket so that I could stick my hand inside and play with myself all the time. All the other boys and girls knew what I was doing, but I was too stupid to know (or care).
I also started working when I was in 7th grade. First I sold greeting cards. My family was middle class and had very little money. My parents didn't give me any spending money and I always had to bring my lunch to school. It was very embarrassing -- since all my friends had money for books, records, radios, etc. By the way, Bin, my love -- we both love books -- I started collecting a huge library when I was 12. Today I have more than 5,000 books.
When I was 13 I decided I needed to find a way to make money, so I started to work for the richer kids at school. I told the boys I would carry their lunch trays back to the kitchen for $.01 each. Usually I made $.05 or $.07 a day - it was easy money working for the lazy boys and after a little bit of time I could afford to buy a book or go to a movie. Movies at that time cost about $.25 and a paperback book cost anywhere between $.25 and $.50. I also shopped in second hand stores where I could buy used paperback and hard back books for very cheap prices.
I started to read more and more and more -- I especially liked math and foreign languages and mysteries and tales of adventure. One of the books I bought was Richard Halliburton's Marvels of the Ancient World. It was a fantastic book because Richard Halliburton was a young man who traveled all around the world. He climbed the pyramid in Giza, he swam the Panama Canal. He walked along the Great Wall of China. He climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland. He sailed across the Pacific. Well, I was very young and impressionable and thought that everyone did these things. Perhaps that is why I have traveled so far and so much in my life -- because I read that wonderful book. What do you think? Do you think books influence people to do various things?
When I was half way through 7th grade, I became very ill with bronchitis (a lung infection) and had to leave school for several weeks. I stayed with my grandmother because my parents were working and did not want to leave me alone. Plus, I loved my grandmother very much and enjoyed being with her. The medicine took a long time to work, but finally I was well and able to go back to school.
While I stayed at my grandmother's I did my school assignments there. Unfortunately, I was a very stupid child and did not do all my assignments. When I got back to school, I discovered that I had failed English and history for that marking period.
In those days, American schools were on "tracks" -- that is the smartest students were in the top section -- for example grade 7 section 1 and the dumbest children were in the lowest sections, for example 7-14. Well, I had started out in section 7-11 which was for below average students, but I did so badly that when I came back the following year, they put me in the lowest section of all -- I was put into section 8-14.
I hated being in the stupid section-but I did love looking at all the boys in the showers. There was one Chinese boy in my school -- his name was Raymond Moy-and he had about a six inch cock-uncut and he was cute. I had never seen an uncircumcised cock up until that time. In America, most boys are circumcised. In Europe and Asia, most boys are uncircumcised. (It is just a custom). I loved watching the boys come out of the showers and used to dream of being with them-but I never did anything. Being homosexual at that time was very dangerous. You would be beaten up and you would have no friends if people discovered the truth about you.
I did not enjoy the stupid boys and girls in my classes, however. They always played. They were very dumb. The only good news is that I was the smartest boy in the class and 2 of my teachers really liked me. Mr. Rudowski (my math teacher) and Mrs. Tyler (my history teacher) started to give me extra work and show me extra things. Mr. Rudowski showed me how to use a slide rule (computers had not been invented when I was in junior high school). Mrs. Tyler had me do extra things for her. Soon I felt very good about myself and my grades went from C and D to A.
During that year, I worked in the cafeteria -- I washed dishes to earn a free lunch. (Today in America all children who need a free lunch are given a free lunch, but in those days you had to buy lunch, bring it in a bag or work in the kitchen). I worked in the cafeteria for grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12-washing dishes for about 30 minutes each day. That paid for the cost of my lunch. The dish washing was really very easy-because they were all done by a big machine. I scraped off the dirt and put the dishes on a big rack. Then I shoved the racks into the machine. The machine then washed the dishes. The only problem was that the dishes were very hot when they came out of the machine-very hot. I often burned my hand. And, I had to miss a few minutes of class to get early to the cafeteria.
The best thing about 8th grade was that because my 2 teachers really cared about me, I felt very good about myself and my skills really improved. I really loved history and math. AND, the following year I was placed in section 9-1. In other words I left all the stupid children behind -- and was placed with all the smart children from then on. I really liked that!
I will tell you more about grades 9-12 later, my love
Take care,
Scot
FEBRUARY 2, 2000
Dear Scot,
Nice to hear from you. I'm feeling good today. Thank you for your nice picture. The story you told about the chef was very good. I bet it made him happy to know someone care about him. I don't believe the Russians did not know about World War II! I know there were some foreigner come to China and teach in the school. These day is very cold, some people begin to get some things ready for the Chinese New Year! A lot of people go to the shop to buy New Year Cake; biscuit; sweet; the lantern, good luck figures, antithetical couplet, peach flower and etc. Of course, every family will buy the orange tree in the Chinese New Year and put them in the house. My father will also buy one and hang the color lights around the tree and my mother will hang up the red envelope (with money for the children) on the tree. "Orange" pronunciation as same as "Happy and lucky. "So that's why the people like orange so much and hope the happy and lucky will company with them. Happy figures can bring happy and money to you. "
Every Chinese New Year, the people would change the new antithetical couplet on both side of the gate. This is Chinese custom. The new year verse and congratulations will write on the red paper. The people compare the peach flower to the love, so some young people would bring them and go around on the street in the New Year. The people compare the lantern to happy and bright. Every family will make the Tang Yuan in the first day of Chinese New Year. My mother and grandmother will make it for us in that day. The Tang Yuan is stuffed dumplings which made of glutinous rice flour served in soup. The peanut, sesame and sugar are inside it. I like eat them very much. But in North of China, the people like eat dumpling with meat and vegetable stuffing and steamed stuffed bun and noodles in soup during the Chinese New Year. There are different custom in China. Do you think so?
I found out a nest of swallow hang up the eaves of my neighbor. She told me that the bird came to her home last year and make a nest for its family. I hope the swallow would build its home at the eaves of my home too. Most of Chinese like swallow very much, because it would bring happiness!
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you.
All my best wishes and love to you.
Bin
FEBRUARY 3, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email. I still remember my first experience visiting Chinatown here in the USA. When I was 15 years old, I read that Washington DC had its own Chinatown. This surprised me very much because I had never heard about it before. I asked my mother if it was okay for me to take the bus from our house in the suburbs all the way downtown. She said it was okay. I rode 3 different buses before I got there and I was so happy to find it. Chinatown in Washington is only about 2 blocks long by one block wide. It contained several dozen restaurants, a few souvenirs stores and a Chinese department store. I couldn't afford to go to a restaurant but I did have enough money to buy a souvenir. I bought an ivory lion. The salesman said that it was from China and it only cost me $1.00. Bin, I was in Chinatown in 1960 and I still have that ivory elephant!
My second visit to a Chinatown as in New York City. I was in college and was dating a Chinese girl. She and I took a cab, a train and a subway to get to Chinatown. I was delighted to be there then because my friend spoke Chinese. We went into a restaurant and she ordered for both of us. I had never heard anyone speak Chinese in public before and it was interesting to listen to. The food was excellent and it was very cheap. Then we went shopping and I bought another piece of ivory-this time I bought an ivory elephant. By then however, ivory was banned in a large part of the world-we were just realizing that it came from elephants that wicked men killed the elephant for its ivory. I asked the salesman about it and he said that the ivory came for a dead elephant so I bought it. I didn't realize until I got back to school that the elephant was dead because someone killed it. Nevertheless, I still have this piece of ivory. It is very precious to be because I bought it that day my girlfriend and I went to New York City's Chinatown together.
My third visit to a Chinatown was when I visited London in 1976. London's Chinatown is gigantic-it stretches for blocks and blocks and blocks. I was with two close friends that day and we had toured London and we were hungry and tired. When we went into a restaurant we ordered a luncheon special for six people. The waiter said he would not sell it to us because were a group of three people and the food was enough for six. We told him that we were starving to death and that we would pay the price and that we would eat it all. He didn't believe we would eat it all but once he knew that we'd pay for it, he brought it to us. We had 6 steaming plates of chicken, beef, vegetables, and pork in front of us. Within a few moments we had devoured the first dish. Then we ate the second. We proceed through dish number three, four and five quickly. Then we looked at the last dish. We were almost full but still hungry enough to tackle it. Soon, it too was gone. The waiter was so amazed that we had eaten all that food that he could hardly believe his eyes.
My fourth visit to a Chinatown was in San Francisco. That Chinatown is magnificent-huge, with restaurants, shopping areas, souvenir stores, etc. we ate lunch there and we bought several souvenirs. I bought a pair of expensive chop sticks and I still have them today.
My fifth visit to a Chinatown was in Vancouver, Canada. That Chinatown is also huge. We ate lunch and dinner there and did some shopping.
Of all the Chinatowns that I've ever visited, however, my favorite is still my first visit to that one in Washington, DC. That day I became a man. I traveled all the way downtown from my house-and I bought a souvenir that I still have.
Write to me soon, Bin my love.
Yours with love,
Scot
February 3, 2000
Dear Scot,
Nice to hear from you. How are you? I hope I can see more of your picture. I will send my picture to you when I come back to my hometown. Thank you for your story! Every one is very happy now, because the Chinese New Year will come soon. In our country, the lunar New Year is the most important holiday. It is a time for rest and refreshment. Business is suspended for time. Young fellows lay aside their school work and give themselves up to merriment and joy. Each family has its members gathered together. Public places are crowded with all classes of people. (I find it very interesting that my friend, who lives in a classless Communist country, refers to class. I wonder if he minds "kinds of people.") It is indeed a delightful time for the Chinese. It is a very important event for the Chinese families to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Long before it arrives, children look forward to it with great eagerness. On New Year's Day both parents and children wear good clothes and eat good foods. Every family has reunion dinner, when all the members gather together to celebrate the occasion. When you take a walk in the street, you would be much struck at the sight of rich and beautiful decorations. Every family has its new scrolls on the doors. Lanterns are hung in some shops. Every one, you would see, is dressed in his or her best. They call on their friends and relatives. New years visits are paid to relatives and friends, and New Year cards and presents are exchanged. When acquaintances meet, they greet "Happy New Year to you!" to each other. The children are very happy in the Chinese New year, because they will get the red envelope (there is money inside it) from their parents and relatives. The Chinese New Year lasts about several days. It gives sufficient recreation to our countrymen. After that they resume their normal works.
I hope every one will have a good time on Chinese New Year. Well, that's all for bow, hope to hear from you. Hope good luck and happy company with you forever.
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
MARCH 3, 2000
Dear Bin,
How are you? I hope you had a good night and slept well.
How did you spend your day? You know I think about you all the time. You are driving me crazy! (This is an idiom-do you know what idioms are?) Idioms are figures of speech. An easy idiom is "The sun rises". We all know the sun doesn't rise-the earth rotates, but in English we say "the sun rises". When I say you are driving me crazy, I mean that I think about you all the time and I wish I were with you! (We have many verb tenses in English. We can say words in the present, past or future tense. We can also use verbs in the subjunctive tense. Do you know about subjunctive tense? I just used it-I wish I WERE with you. I used the subjunctive tense because it is stronger than the present tense. Have you studied much of the grammar of my language? I am sure it is very different from yours. I taught English for several years, so if you have questions about English, please ask me.
You write very well and I love your stories and from all the emails you wrote me, it sounds as if you had a fantastic childhood.
Let me tell you a little of my childhood. My parents separated several times when I was young. They finally were divorced when I was 17.
I was born in Washington, DC and so were both my parents. My mother and father never got along, however, so they separated several times when I was a boy. I lived with my mother's mother for a while and my sister lived with my father's mother.
When I was six, my parents decided to get back together. They bought a small house in Wheaton, Maryland. (You can probably locate Silver Spring, Maryland on a map-it's just north of Washington, DC and Wheaton is just a few miles north of Silver Spring. When I was a child, the nearest town was over two kilometers away and the town was only two blocks long. It had a bank, library, a drug store, a hardware store and, of all things, a blacksmith shop. Blacksmith shops were highly unusual in the 1950's-and I guess it had must been there for a long time. There were also lots of tobacco and corn farms-Maryland is famous for its tobacco-and I guess that the farmers needed shoes for the horses, etc. So…every time we drove by, I'd see this odd broken-down blacksmith shop on the corner of Georgia Avenue and University Blvd. Today, fifty years later, that corner is one of the most important business sections of the area. Times have really changed!
I walked to my elementary school, Glenmont Elementary School, which was only about two blocks from my house. I went to the same elementary school for the first six years of my life-from age six to age twelve. It's rather unusual for an American to attend the same school that long-or so I am told. Most Americans move around a lot-but we stayed in Maryland, in the same house, for over a dozen years. I received my basic education at Glenmont Elementary School. Our house had two bedrooms and one bathroom, a large attic and a basement. As time went by, my father put two more bedrooms upstairs in the attic. I have one sister-she then had her own bedroom and I had my own bedroom. Up until the time I was about ten, I shared a room with my sister who is three years younger than me. My family was middle class and it was normal for a son and daughter to share the same bedroom when they were this age. Nowadays only very poor people would allow a son and daughter to share the same bedroom. My parents fought all the time and after a while, my mother moved into her own bedroom, so each person in our family had their own room. They everyone still fought all the time.
Several years later, my father built a patio and BBQ in the backyard. He also finished the basement and put in a large recreation room. We still had only one bathroom, however.
This completes my first twelve years of life.
Oh, by the way, Bin my love, can you send me one more picture of you and do you know how to make it smaller. It's so large it's difficult for me to store! If you do not know how to do this I will try to find a way to save it.
Your friend forever
Scot
MARCH 16, 2000
Subject: have a good day!
Dear Scot,
How are you? I am fine! I had a story about me in the countryside. I had a good time there last time, I want tell you about that! Maybe I will go to visit it again in this year. Sunday afternoon, the weather being fine and the breeze gentle. On our way we talked and laughed, too excited to feel tired. Large rice fields spread out before our eyes. Trees along each side of the road were decorated with beautiful and lovely flowers and leaves. Upon entering the village, we saw the houses, standing separately in lines which stretched across the whole village. They were built of yellow bricks and white stones. In the center of the village, there was a small pond with a few geese swimming to and fro on the water. They appeared to be happy. Our relatives was very happy to see us and welcome us in warmly. My uncles was roasted a pig for us to offer sacrifices to ancestors. A sweet smell reached our nostrils. My cousins show me to see my grandfather. He still live alone in the old house and often say to himself. (In previous letters, Bin referred to his grandfather as having a mental illness. Bin said his grandfather often talked to himself and seemed to be in another world). I was very surprise that I found out a lot of tobacco plant was grow well in front of his courtyard. My cousin told me that most of them was grow by tobacco themselves, a lot of seed was fall down into the earth, then they was budding and grow up in time. I don't know why my grandfather was very crazy about the tobacco. I was very happy that my grandfather was all right! Two swallow make the nest under my cousin's eaves. I told my cousin that his good luck will come soon! He agree that! Then my cousins show me to climb the mountain and we spent some time to picking wild flowers and fruit to eat. Do you know, there were a lot of little wild strawberry in the thick growth of grass? They were very lovely and tasty and sweet. All my pocket was full! I think I was very greedy! One child has same thing happen, but we found out his pocket was too heavy. Oh, there were a lot of stone in his pocket. I remember that we found out some stone as the budding bud as the crystal, but they were rock not crystal. So this boy decide to pick them into his pocket and show them came back to his home. A sweet smell reached our nostrils as the mushroom. Look, we found out two straw mushroom. I was very surprise that we could found out them and I was wonder why they grow up on the hills. My cousin told me that a lot of mushroom grow at the hills and they often hidden into the thick growth of grass. They were very tasty and he would took them back to home and let his mother cook for us. It was very good!
It was very bitter, we have not went to visit the stone house and the crocodile stone. Because it was raining. So we have to go back to the home and chatting with our relatives. My uncle gave us a lot of plum to eat, my aunty ready to make a meal for us. All in all, we have a good time in the countryside after study and work of one week.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you! Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Take care!
Bin
MARCH 19, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email. I always enjoy reading about your life, your family and your travels. I have traveled around the world three times and visited 75 countries. My favorite country is Brazil, which I've visited six times. Here is a poem I wrote about Rio de Janeiro the last time I visited:
Rio
Smell the salt as it sprays out of the sensuous South Atlantic. Feel the hot sand as it oozes through your sun-fried toes. Listen to the sound of the waves as they tumblebreakroar along the bone-white beaches.
Stretch your neck up high -- higher, raise it another five and three-eighths degrees until you see the beginnings of the middle of the mountains -- those macho Latino mountains that dwarf all but the mightiest Brobdingnagian. Look to Sugarloaf on your right; see the cable car rising from the shore to the first lump of brown sugar. Watch the tiny people unglue themselves as they peal their way out of the tiny car and wander around the lower of the two peaks. Imagine them peering through telescopes as they smile back at you. Join them as they cram themselves inside a second cable car, rocking with their weight as the car blows gently in the wind and crawls slowly along its steel cable to the second peak.
Now turn left and hold your head up to the sky, squint as the sun shines so seductively. See the Statue of Christ towering above you. Watch the hang gliders as they float and drift aimlessly from the milk white cow shaped clouds to the distant shore. Smell the salt water as it blends with the aromas of fresh baked breads and barbecued beef. Taste the sweet mango, the zesty papaya, the erotic guava.
Smile at the barefoot boys who stroll up and down the beach, renting umbrellas, selling tea, carrying baskets filled with snacks. Watch the young men play a real game of volleyball -- not one of those namby-pamby sissy games you've seen your neighbors play. These are virile young guys lunging for the ball, falling, knees thrust deeply into the wet sand as they slap the ball over the net. Back it goes, over and over -- from side to side. It seems as if the action will never stop. The score is still six to six, six to six, six to six, and six to six. Seven seems impossible for either team.
Let me know if you like my adventure tale. Perhaps someday you and I will be able to travel together. Would you like that?
Take care,
With love and hugs,
Scot
MARCH 26, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? I am glad to hear from you! Excuse me. There is something wrong with my email. Please send it to my new address. (In order to protect Bin's identity, I have omitted all reference to his email addresses).
Thank you!
I have got your story about Brazil. I am reading it. I like story very much! I hope I can go to some places for travel with you! I want continue my story in the Guangzhou. I company with (accompanied) my uncle and my cousin to took a trip to see their friends and relax ourselves at the outskirts. This was a quiet summer morning. The sun has already got high up in the clear sky, but there were still bright dewdrops in the field. From the valley, which is not likely to awake yet, a breeze conveys a fragrant breath. It was still damp and quiet in the wood, where small birds were singing their merry carols for the morning. White smoke can be seen over the country houses. Every thing was coming to life again. Boating is a great pleasure to a lot of people. I went boating with my cousin and the children of my uncle's friend, and we spent a very pleasant afternoon together. We talked and ate as we rowed. Our cat was with us and seemed pleased too. A little girl held it all the time, for fear that in might fall into the water. We found many ducks floating about. Another boy tried to catch one of them, bus he failed. His brother said to him, "They belong to somebody, and you should not catch them. Moreover you might drown yourself in the attempt." We met an old fisherman with both arms bare. He smiled at us and told us how interesting his work was. He also gave us two fish. At the mouth of a small brook we saw a snake. We were all taken aback and rowed away with all our strength. We rowed and rowed without a definite aim. We forgot to return until we saw the sun half sinking in the west. This was my third day in the Guangzhou! I felt very happy! Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Take care!
Bin
MARCH 27, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your story. When I was a boy, my grandparents own a cottage by the sea and I often visited them. We went eeling, fishing, crabbing, and swimming. Sometimes the crabs would bite my toes or I would walk into a jellyfish-that hurt a lot. I had a horrible experience when I was 13, however. I almost drowned. I was on an aquaplane-that's a board with ropes for handles. It's attached to the back of a boat by a long rope. Then you stand on the board and the boat takes off. You then glide over the water. I stood on the board when as my father piloted the boat. When I fell, however, my foot caught in the rope and I was dragged through the water. I took in a lot of water and almost drowned. My father thought it was funny but I was afraid of the water for many years after that.
Bin, you say that you are gay. Can I ask you if you have had any gay experiences? I know it is difficult to be gay in China. Is it safe to be out of the closet? What will happen if you are discovered to be gay?
I remember when I was in high school and had to take a shower in front of the other boys. I was always so embarrassed to be naked in front of so many boys but it made me very hard when I thought at about them that I had to cover myself. How about you? Have many men seen you naked? Do you get embarrassed when the do?
With hugs,
Scot
MARCH 27, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you in these days? I have a question. Do you receive my letter from citiz.net? I think I interested in sex. I like kissing and hugging. Sometimes I can feel my cock become hard. But I will try to think nothing and keep quietly. I just like men!
Nobody seen me naked and I have never seen many man naked. You have told me about you get hard when you saw the naked man in your school when you were taking shower and that happen to me!
I want continue my story in Guangzhou. The fourth day, I got up early today, so I took a walk along the pathway leading northward from the house. It was a very fine and beautiful morning. The blue sky was filled with the brightness of the sunshine. The red apricot flowers were shadowed by the green willows. The farmers in the field were working with their hoes. The country girls chatted by the stream washing their clothes. I walked for about half an hour along my way and then I came to a village which was overshadowed with green woods and surrounded by a narrow stream. Admiring the beautiful scenery, I sat down on the grass by the side of the stream, listening to the singing of the birds on the trees, and looking at the fish swimming in the water. This scenery was the only source of the happiness for a man like me suffering from loneliness. At noon we dared not go out, for the sun was its height. Instead of rice and meat, I and my cousin took much ice cream, watermelon and fruit for ate. It was my cousin to take a nap in some windy, cool places, he might have entirely forgotten the hot weather if it had not been for the clamor of cicadas. At night, the little neighbors always like talked with us and we quite interested in their innocent questions. This was my fourth day in Guangzhou! Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you, all my best wishes and love to you!
Take care!
Bin
MARCH 27, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your exciting email. I love your writing. I especially liked the sentence, "The blue sky was filled with the brightness of the sunshine," which is beautifully written. Congratulations!
I promised to tell you more about my childhood. Well, here goes.
10th and 11th grade were filled with a lot of hard work-and I joined a lot more clubs and organizations. My parents fought all the time-so I found it was best for me to be away from them as often as possible. I joined almost every club and organization I could join. I was in the chorus (I sang tenor), I was the librarian for the chorus, in the library club, planned the school dances, in the science fairs planning department, on the track team (I ran short distances), the track team manager, the German club, history club, the variety show, the school play and several others. I also played piano and sang at my local church. I usually left for school at about 7:00 and went to an organizational meeting. I usually got home at about 11 PM-that's how horrible things were at my house. I could not handle the screaming and yelling of my parents-so I avoided them as much as possible.
Twelfth grade was even busier. I was in almost as many organizations as everyone else in the school put together. . . and all my grades were A's. I was a public speaker, writer, and organizer. And I published several stories in the literary magazine. I also had my first poem published in a national US publication. It is called Circles. Here it is (but remember I wrote this poem when I was only 15 years old).
Also during this time, I had a part-time job at a local restaurant. I was a busboy (do you know what a busboy does?). He carries trays and dishes back to the kitchen. I was paid $.85 an hour for this job and worked 8 hours on Saturdays and 4 hours on Sundays. I also worked in the cafeteria at my high school-washing dishes.
Well, next time I will tell you about my final moments in high school and my first real job-then college
In America, most gay men my age had to marry-because they were living secret lives. Do you think you'll have to marry? Do most men get married? Do gays have boy friends?
I love you,
but you
already
know
that
Scot
MARCH 28, 2000 (MORNING)
Dear Scot,
How are you in these day?
When the husband and child come back, they will wait a while and that they will have dinner together! I don't know if I will marry. I don't know if I have children. I don't want to have sex with a woman. Maybe I will marry with a man. Ha ha!
Most of men need marry in China.
I don't know if the gays have any rights.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you, all my best wishes and
Love to you!
Take care!
Bin
MARCH 28, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your last letter. The US policy toward gays has really changed a lot in the past thirty years. When I was your age it not only was dangerous to be gay, it was illegal. It was difficult to find a place to live. It was difficult to find a job. Many people thought that is was a good thing to beat up gay people-it was the local "sport"-fun for heterosexuals to abuse us and beat us and treat us like dogs. Although some of that still exists, it is okay now to be openly gay. Part of the reason for this involves a bar in New York City. The name of the bar was Stonewall and it is now remembered as the most important place in the early history of gay rights. Stonewall was a gay bar that catered to transvestites, men who dressed as women. Each weekend, hundreds of men, dressed as women, would come to the bar. They drank, talked, smoked cigarettes and had a good time with their friends. One night, however, the New York Police Department raided that bar. The police thought that they would go to the bar, arrest all the "girls" and put them in jail. Brother, were they wrong! Instead of arresting "queers", the homosexuals fought back-they tossed bricks and bottles at the police. They fought them with their hands and fist. They screamed at the police and the cursed the police. The battle lasted for two nights and at the end of the second night the entire Government of the city of New York was involved. Finally, after hours of deliberation, the City of New York decided to leave the homosexuals alone. This was a major victory! From then on it was easier to be gay and more and more homosexuals began to come out of the closet. Perhaps someday something like that will happen in China. What do you think?
Love and hugs,
Scot
MARCH 28, 2000 (EVENING)
Subject: brave duck
Hello Scot,
Thank you for your story about Stonewall. I did not know those things. I did not know that it was so danger to live homosexual in US. It will take long time for gays here to have that kind of strength. Perhaps someday, but not now. My life is good and I do not worry about that things.
How's going? Do you have a good time? What's the weather like in your city? Please tell me more of your story! Scot. I am very luck and happy to know you. It is hard to answer this question. Because we didn't meet in person! Maybe you don't like me when you meet me!
The sky is still gray. A cold front is coming through tonight so we will have the chance for strong thunderstorms later tonight. I think tomorrow to be much for comfortable days. Then the days will be warm and humid again. A pleasant breeze is blowing through my apartment and since the sun didn't come out my apartment did not get hot today. I heard and interesting story today from my grandmother!
My aunty went to my home to had a dinner with us and gave us a duck. My grandmother put it in a coop at the balcony. Its neighbor is three hens. The duck was very naughty and often quarrel with its neighbor. It would gave a loud cry if my grandmother gave the food to the hens before it. Last time my grandmother forgot to close the door of the coop, so the duck ran away and bask in the sun. It felt very hot and thirsty and found out a pot with full water. So it ran up there and drank a lot of water, then it jump down into to pot and had a bathing. The balcony was wet with the water from the pot. My grandmother was very angry when she saw about that. The duck didn't afraid and gave a loud cry to my grandmother. My grandmother was much angry, she ran up to the duck and caught it. The duck was very sly and leave from the pot quickly. Finally, the duck still was not match for my grandmother and was caught by my grandmother. But it was still not gave up and use its mouth to bite my grandmother. It was defeated and it had to stay in the coop again! Do it interesting to you?
Can I ask about your city? Why do you travel so much? What places do you like best? Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you! All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
MARCH 29, 2000
Dearest Bin,
Here are the answers to your questions.
Right now, I live in Washington DC, in the USA. But, I want to move to Asia-either Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia or somewhere in that area. Our weather is very strange in Washington-in the winter it can be as low as 18 Centigrade (zero Fahrenheit) and in the summer it can be 38 Centigrade (100 Fahrenheit). Also, the temperature can change drastically over a short period of time. Now it is the spring and it is the most beautiful season-but our spring only lasts a short time and then it will be very dry and very hot.
I will write more stories for you soon. Do you like me so far now that you know more about me? Also, tell me more about you. I want to know as much as I can. For example, Americans either sleep naked, or in pajamas or in underwear. I sleep in my underwear. How about you? We don't take baths. We take showers-and most Americans take a shower every day. I usually take a shower in the morning and another one in the evening. How about you? Do you have the opportunity to shower every day?
I like you! You do not have to worry about that. I like your picture. I love your stories and I love to chat with you.
We have a saying in American that people need to have a "chemical attraction" toward each other before they fall in love. I see you and like you-because. . . well. . . . there are no reasons. I just like you. I like your face, your humor, your photograph, your statistics, your descriptions and your love of your family. I like the way you use language. I like your kindness, your sweetness, your innocence. These things are hard to say on paper, but I am sure you react the same way in China. When you meet someone for the first time, you either like that person or do not like that person. Sometimes you stay friends for many years because of the things you saw and laughed at when you first met.
I liked you from the first time we wrote-so you are my friend. Do not worry about that!
I am much older than you however. Trust me, however, I can teach you many things about love and hugging and kissing and holding. I can teach you many things about your body that you want to know but have not yet learned. I can teach you how to have pleasure like you have never known before.
I love you as a friend now-perhaps someday our love will become physical and we will love each as boyfriends, but for now, you are my friend forever-don't forget that!
Yours forever
Scot
MARCH 30, 2000
Subject: pets
Dear Scot,
It is very nice to hear from you!
I like you Scot. I don't want lose you! If we can not be lover, but we can be best friends or brother! You are important in my life! I sleep with a underwear. I will clean myself when I take a shower!
The weatherman predicts showers today. I think my neighbors like pets very much. Some people has cat and dogs, some raise ducks and cock. Other keep pet birds and pigeon. I think the pigeon was very free, they fly on the sky and stay at someone's roof to relax. Their owner didn't worry about that if they will fly away. One of my neighborhood has two rabbits which was layed on his balcony and lived in a little hut. The rabbits was very free and lovely. Everywhere in the balcony was their garden and playground. They didn't worry about their food, because their owner have plant some vegetable and plant at the balcony. So they spent much of their time to eat and play. Unfortunately, my neighbor often was not at home and he thought there were more food for the rabbit and he needn't worry about them. But he was wrong. The rabbit ate a lot of vegetable and plant every day. The food become less and less. And sometimes they even climb to the roof to found their food and dug the earth to take the potato out for their food. Even in the raining. Yesterday, I began to throw some vegetable and leave to the rabbit, they were very hungry and eat the food greedily. I knew my neighbor would not came to back home in a long time. Now, I want go some places to relax myself. Early in the morning. The sun has just risen and the dew is yet on the grass and leaves. Breeze are still sleep in the deep and quiet valleys. Rosy light clouds are standing quietly in the sky. Nothing is more enjoyable than a walk along the bank of river with trees at both sides. With fresh air and a sober heart, we can see the universe full of calm and mystery. I will took a stroll along the beautiful meadows of wild flowers. Climb up the hill to see the sun rising slowly from the eastern horizon. Listen to merry songs from the pretty birds. Fixed my eyes upon the smooth, clear and bright surface of the murmuring stream, to see the fish swimming. The fragrance of flowers is scenting by the gentle wind into my nostrils. Seat in the bower surrounded by tall bamboos, either playing chess or reading or chatting. I gave up myself entirely to nature, with a light heart and a happy mind. Too happy to feel tired and sad! That will be very nice. Do you think so? Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you! All my best wishes and love to you!
Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
Bin
MARCH 31, 2000
Dear Bin,
You are such a special person. I love your spirit and your soul. The story about your grandmother's duck is excellent. I do not have much more to say about Stonewall except that it changed American history.
I have a story about chickens. When I was a boy, my aunt lived on a farm. Every time we visited her, she'd go out into the yard, grab a chicken and chop off its head. Then she'd pluck it and prepare it for dinner. She'd also fix a lot of homegrown vegetables. I only ate vegetables when I went to her house because I couldn't think about eating something I had just seen running around the yard. I know this sounds strange to you, but in America we usually buy butchered meat at the grocery store-we don't see it live. I know this is very different from just about every other country in the world-you go to the market and buy a live chicken or a live duck and take it home and butcher it yourself. That's the way it was here in America when my grandmother was a little girl-but things have changed. I wonder if they will change that much in China in the next 40 years? What do you think?
Let me ask you some more questions. When you write in Chinese first and then translate it into English? Do you write most of your stories as class assignments or for me? I am very impressed with your use of language. What was your early childhood like? Did your parents spoil you? Did they yell at you? Did they spank you or beat you? How do Chinese parents discipline their children?
Write soon, Bin my love,
Hugs
Scot
MARCH 31, 2000
Subject: traffic
Dear Scot,
How are you today?
I write the story in English first! I am very happy that you like it! Some story I just write to you! Scot. You are always in my heart. You won't lose me! I think the Chinese fathers still spank and punish their children! I think the same things happen in the other countries. My father hit me on my face and body! We have an Oral English lesson today. Today the teacher gave us a topic to discuss about the environment in Guangzhou. At first he wrote some sentences on the blackboard and teach us how to remember the words and make them out from our mouth. "Don't be afraid and don't worry, try your best, open your mouth and speaking English. "He said. Every one was interested in this topic. Once we started to talk, we forgot about the time. He said he want live in countryside, because many factories are in the city. Laborers are now found everywhere. Chimneys stand high up in the air. The result is that it is scarcely possible to breathe fresh air in the city. Secondly, it is true the means of communication in the city are more convenient than those in the country, but it is also true that traffic often causes accidents in city streets. Thirdly, the population in the city is very dense. Therefore, moral deterioration is found everywhere, with the result that robbery, theft, and many other immoral acts are common. The city of Guangzhou has still congested traffic. Traffic surges from my college to my home. The vehicle was waiting and the people was waiting on the way too. Confronted with the lines of traffic worming along, every drive were filled with fury. The passenger who on the bus was very angry but have not alternative, although they have spent one hour on the bus. Now in Guangzhou, it was reconstruction the building and the road. Although there is subway in Guangzhou, but it can not help for the traffic in here.
I hope everything is fine here!
I got two joke and I want share it with you!
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
I really loved your story and your jokes.
I went to a religious school. It was very small. My high school had a graduation class of 555 students. My entire college had an enrolment of about 350. It was quite a change-but it gave me a chance to make friends for life.
My college was just outside New York City and it was the first time I had gone away from home by myself.
My trip there was almost a nightmare. My mother, sister and grandmother came to the Washington, DC railroad station to bid me farewell. Then I took a slow-moving train to New York City. The trip took over 5 hours. When I arrived in NYC (New York City), I was in the 33rd Street Railroad Station-in order for me to continue my journey, I would have to get to the uptown-42nd Street Railroad Station-it was only 9 blocks away, but I had a heavy sailor's bag filled with clothing and a huge suitcase filled with books. I could barely move. Remember, I only weighed about 120 pounds (60 kilos) at that time - even though I stood 6'3" (91 cm). I laugh now when I think about how thin I was. If a heavy windstorm had come up, I probably would have been blown away! Ha. Ha.
Anyway, I was in NYC and a man came and grabbed my suitcase and bag and said, "Do you want a cab? Follow me." He practically ran through the railroad station and I quickly followed him. He got me a cab and demanded money from me for carrying my bag. I was very stupid. At first, I thought he was the cab driver and he was just taking my bag to the car. I was very poor but had to give him money. Then I got into the cab-I had never seen such traffic in my entire life. It seemed like we would never be able to get uptown to the other railroad station. Up until that time I had never heard anyone swearing and cussing, but the cab driver cursed and cussed about how his former rider had not given him a big tip. I was 18 years old and very scared. I did not have a big tip to give the man. He also smoked a big black cigar and the smoke was choking me, but I was captive in the cab. He had my luggage and I had to get to the other station. Finally, we reached the other station and I paid the man and gave him a tip and dragged my bags through the station for what seemed like a mile. I had to take the train to Ossissing, New York, a small town about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of NYC. I got into the first train I saw and that was a mistake because everyone was smoking and I could barely see inside the car. The ride lasted over an hour and I thought I would die of the smoke. I was too afraid to move. Finally, the train stopped at my station and I got my bags and got out. Then I realized there were 8 cars on the train and I had gotten onto the smoking car-all the rest were non-smoking cars. I felt so stupid, but the next time I rode the train, I always asked which one was the non-smoking car.
I stood on the platform and looked for a cab. In America, all cabs say TAXI or CAB or YELLOW CAB or have phone numbers written in paint on the sides or tops of the car. There were no cabs at the station, but I saw many people running to cars and getting in. I had to call my college and someone came and picked me up. Later I found out that the people in that community were extremely rich and did not want to have any marks on their cabs. Cabs waited at a special place near the train-but they were not marked cab, you just had to know where they were -- and they charged you a flat fee (fixed rate) to take you places. Again, I felt so stupid because I did not know these things.
Then I finally arrived at my college -- although it was only 250 miles (400 kilometers) from my home, it had taken me over 10 hours to get there (including the time I had to wait at the railroad station in NYC.) I was exhausted and I still had to drag my big heavy suitcase (I love to read and took about 30 heavy books with me) and sailor's bag to my room. Unfortunately, I discovered that my room was on the 7th floor of the men's dorm and-there was no elevator. I had to drag/carry my 2 heavy bags up to my room.
Then it got worse, I had to share my bedroom with 2 strangers. I have always been very shy. Up until that time, I was not able to pee when someone watched me. Now I would have to change clothes and be naked in front of 2 strangers. I was very apprehensive!
My roommates had already come and taken the 2 best beds. They left me with the top bunk bed - I had never slept on a bunk bed before. It was a new experience.
Finally I met my new roommates. They were both from the local area. One was short and pudgy (fat) the other was almost as tall as me -- good looking, Italian, but sort of strange. I later found out that he was gay, but more about that in the next letter.
Love and hugs,
Scot
APRIL 2, 2000
Subject: brave duck
Dear Scot,
How's going? Do you have a good time? What's the weather like in your city?
I liked the story about your life. The sky is still gray. A cold front is coming through tonight so we will have the chance for strong thunderstorms later tonight. I think tomorrow to be much for comfortable days. Then the days will be warm and humid again. A pleasant breeze is blowing through my apartment and since the sun didn't come out my apartment did not get hot today. I heard and interesting story today from my grandmother! My aunty went to my home to had a dinner with us and gave us a duck. My grandmother put it in a coop at the balcony. Its neighbor is three hens. The duck was very naughty and often quarrel with its neighbor. It would gave a loud cry if my grandmother gave the food to the hens before it. Last time my grandmother forgot to close the door of the coop, so the duck ran away and bask in the sun. It felt very hot and thirsty and found out a pot with full water. So it ran up there and drank a lot of water, then it jump down into to pot and had a bathing. The balcony was wet with the water from the pot. My grandmother was very angry when she saw about that. The duck didn't afraid and gave a loud cry to my grandmother. My grandmother was much angry, she ran up to the duck and caught it. The duck was very sly and leave from the pot quickly. Finally, the duck still was not match for my grandmother and was caught by my grandmother. But it was still not gave up and use its mouth to bite my grandmother. It was defeated and it had to stay in the coop again! (Bin shared this story with me on March 28th and must have forgotten. I have not deleted it in order to keep the sequence and style of his letters intact.)
Do it interesting to you? Can I ask about your city? Why do you travel so much? What places do you like best?
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
APRIL 4, 2000
Dear Bin,
My first job as a teacher. Brother, my first teaching job was very difficult! I had trained for four years to be a high school history teacher. However, my mother remarried in August 1966 and I suddenly found that I had to find a job at the last minute. All of the good jobs had been taken. I lived just outside Washington, DC at the time and I looked for jobs as far away as 100 kilometers from my house. There were no jobs anywhere. I was rather desperate. Finally, I went to an employment agency. They charged me $1,000 to find me a job and the job only paid $5,200 for the first year. I was so desperate that I took the job. The job had nothing to do with my field. I taught special education to children ranging in age from 15 to 22. I was 21 at the time. The students fell in one of two groups. Either they were mentally retarded or they had criminal records. Both types of students were placed in the same class. It was very difficult to teach the mentally retarded. They were 15 years old to 22 years old and most of them were not able to read and write. Some could read no better than an 8 year old.
The other group was much more difficult, however. They had been arrested. They had served time in jail or in reform school. They were dangerous boys. Often they would bring knives and guns to school. Almost every day they got into fights.
I hated my job, but I did not have a choice. I had signed a contract to teach there for one full year.
My retarded students were very retarded and one of the other teachers and I once joked about how stupid they were. One dirty word in English is fuck -- everyone knows the word. My boys and girls were so stupid that they did not know how to spell it. Someone wrote fuke you on the walls of the school. The other teachers and I laughed and laughed to think that a student could be that stupid!
At the end of the year, I quit my job. My field was history, however, and there were no jobs teaching history anywhere. At that time (and, indeed, even now, history is not an important subject in America!) I could not find a teaching job, so I found a job as a collection manager in a bank.
This job was worse than teaching. I had to go to people's houses and collect money that they owed to the bank. I had to call them on the phone and threaten to sue them. I did not like this job. After 3 months, I was fired! I then found a job teaching again. But this teaching job was even worse than my first teaching job.
I will tell you about my second teaching job next time
APRIL 4, 2000
Dear Scot,
It is very nice to hear from you!
I got the story which you was a teacher in your first job.
The weatherman predicts showers today.
(Again, Bin repeated a story). I think my neighbors like pets very much. Some people has cat and dogs, some raise ducks and cock. Other keep pet birds and pigeon. I think the pigeon was very free, they fly on the sky and stay at someone's roof to relax. Their owner didn't worry about that if they will fly away.
One of my neighbor has two rabbits which was layed on his balcony and lived in a little hut. The rabbits was very free and lovely. Everywhere in the balcony was their garden and playground. They didn't worry about their food, because their owner have plant some vegetable and plant at the balcony. So they spent much of their time to eat and play.
Unfortunately, my neighbor often was not at home and he thought there were more food for the rabbit and he needn't worry about them. But he was wrong. The rabbit ate a lot of vegetable and plant every day. The food become less and less. And sometimes they even climb to the roof to found their food and dug the earth to take the potato out for their food. Even in the raining.
Yesterday, I began to throw some vegetable and leave to the rabbit, they were very hungry and eat the food greedily. I knew my neighbor would not came to back home in a long time. Now, I want go some places to relax myself. Early in the morning. The sun has just risen and the dew is yet on the grass and leaves. Breeze are still sleeping in the deep and quiet valleys. Rosy light clouds are standing quietly in the sky. Nothing is more enjoyable than a walk along the bank of river with trees at both sides. With fresh air and a sober heart, we can see the universe full of calm and mystery.
I will took a stroll along the beautiful meadows of wild flowers. Climb up the hill to see the sun rising slowly from the eastern horizon. Listen to merry songs from the pretty birds. Fixed my eyes upon the smooth, clear and bright surface of the murmuring stream, to see the fish swimming. The fragrance of flowers is scenting by the gentle wind into my nostrils. Seat in the bower surrounded by tall bamboos, either playing chess or reading or chatting. I gave up myself entirely to nature, with a light heart and a happy mind. Too happy to feel tired and sad! That will be very nice. Do you think so?
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
Bin
APRIL 7, 2000
Dear Bin,
I'm worried about you. I haven't heard from you in several days. Are you okay? I also worried about the rabbits. How are they? Who will take care of them while you and the owner are away?
I had a cat named Hurry, did I ever tell you that? Can you guess why I call her Hurry?
Write soon,
With love and hugs,
Scot
APRIL 7, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you today?
I will give more food to the rabbits. Don't worry. How wonderful name the cat get! Why she gave it this name? Wishes and love to you!
Bin
APRIL 12, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email. I named my cat Hurry because she is always in a hurry. You should see her at about 10:00 at night. She runs around the house like the house is on fire-she is so fast! I have to laugh when I see her, but sometimes I'm sleeping and it sounds like there's an earthquake. Do you have a cat? Do you know what they do at midnight when they go crazy?
Take care and write soon,
Love and hugs,
Scot
APRIL 17, 2000
Dear Scot,
I am very happy to hear from you again.
Please forgive me that I can not send you any messages to you in these day. Because my uncle and me moved to a new apartment. We were very busy to fix up and tidy at our new apartment. I could not use the phone line to connect with my computer, so that's why I could not play on internet in these day. Now, I was happy to use it again.
The new apartment is not bigger that the old one. I like the old apartment more than the new one. Because I had used to live there. Most of things were convenient for me. Although the train through in front of our building and make the noisy to us.
The new apartment is not very nice for us. We just moved into there about 2 days, then someone came to our apartment, asked our questions, give us some suggestion that there were some work to do for the apartment or want us pay money for something. My uncle could not put up his motorbike around the building and etc.
It was not convenient here. Not gas stove; no hot water for shower; something wrong with the electricity, etc.
I hope everything will be fine as soon as possible.
It was hard raining and strong wind in Guangzhou. It seem that the cold weather would came back soon.
Well, please forgive me that I cannot write more to you today. Hope to hear from you soon! Hope good luck and happy go with you forever!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
APRIL 23, 2000
Dear Bin,
It is so good to hear from you. I just wrote another gay poem. Please let me know what you think about it.
APRIL 24, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you today?
I like your poem! We do not have gay poem here.
Now for my story and my answer to your questions. When the husband and child come back home the mother have got everything ready for the dinner! I don't want marry with a girl. I don't want have sex with woman. I don't know if I will have children! It is necessary for most of men to marry in China. I will go to Hainan Island for a travel with my friends on April 27 and we will stay there for a week. Please forgive me if I can not send any message to you in these days! We have an oral English lesson today. Today the teacher gave us a topic to discuss about the environment in Guangzhou. At first he wrote some sentences on the blackboard and teach us how to remember the words and make them out from our mouth. "Don't be afraid and don't worry, try your best, open your mouth and speaking English," he said. Every one was interested in this topic. Once we started to talk, we forgot about the time. He said he want live in countryside because many factories are in the city. Laborers are now found everywhere. Chimneys stand high up in the air. The result is that it is scarcely possible to breathe fresh air in the city.
Secondly, it is true the means of communication in the city are more convenient than those in the country, but it is also true that traffic often causes accidents in city streets. Thirdly, the population in the city is very dense. Therefore, moral deterioration is found everywhere, with the result that robbery, theft, and many other immoral acts are common. The city of Guangzhou has still congested traffic. Traffic surges from my college to my home. The vehicle was waiting and the people was waiting on the way too. Confronted with the lines of traffic worming along, every drive were filled with fury. The passenger who on the bus was very angry but have not alternative, although they have spent one hour on the bus. Now in Guangzhou, it was reconstruction the building and the road. Although there is subway in Guangzhou, but it can not help for the traffic in here.
I hope everything is fine there!
I got two joke and I want share it with you!
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
APRIL 28, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email and your jokes.
I have been to many crowded cities: New York, Shanghai, Mexico City, and Cairo, but the worst, I think, is Hong Kong! I have been to Hong Kong three times and I wonder how people can live there-it always seems like there are a million people on the every street. Walking is so hard I feel as if I have to force my way through the crowds. In the United States, we have an expression for that. We say we "are swimming upstream." Do you know what that means? Swimming upstream?
Here is a joke for you. This joke is very old; my mother told it to me when I was a little boy. Most Americans would think that it is in bad taste today because it involves morons. A moron is a very stupid person. Here is the joke:
Here is an explanation of the answer. The riddle is a pun. A pun is a play on words when words mean several different things. In this pun, you need to read the word moron and then reread it as more on. It's a hard pun to understand, let me know if you like this pun.
Your friend,
Scot
APRIL 30, 2000
Dear Scot,
Hello, nice to hear from you again. I enjoy your joke. I think I understand but I do not know that word moron before. Thank you for the joke! I learn about pun in school. The day is fine and the sun is bright here and I am happy here. I got an interesting story about the dog from my friends. Many people like dogs because the dogs try hard to please their owners. But this story is about a dog who wanted his owner to please him. One of my friends has a large German shepherd named Jack. These dog are often very intelligent. Every Sunday afternoon, my friend takes Jack for a walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time, and he talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for its walk, but the visitor didn't leave. Jack became very worried about its walk in the park. He walked around the room several times and then sat down directly in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention. He continued talking. Finally, Jack couldn't stand it any longer. It went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. It sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he held the man's bag in his mouth. Is it an interesting story? I also got three joke and want share them with you!
Hope you would like those joke. Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you! Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
Bin
MAY 1, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email and your jokes. Spring is here now and it's my favorite season of the year
It's springtime again in Washington and each of my five senses is oozing with the scent, feel, beauty, sound and taste. The combination is like opium, strong -- vibrant and alive.
The pallor of winter has passed now and it is spring. New life emerges everyday-from the ground-from the sky-from the stream!
The next 30 days are among the most beautiful in Washington. In its struggle against the harsh decrepit man that many call winter, life slowly returns.
Birds and daffodils seem like messengers from the gods, sent to us to remind us of their love! Daffodils, among my favorite flowers; shoot their strong thick stems from the nearly frozen ground, upward, over a foot from the cold ground, producing yellow cuplike blooms. When daffodils are clustered in groups of hundreds, they dazzle the senses and elate the mind like elves dancing on a pot full of gold at an Irish christening. These friends are the first to force their way up through the snow-to show the world that winter has been slain and that mankind will survive.
Almost at exactly the same time, the birds begin to return to the island lying just behind my house. The come in pairs at first and are relatively quiet. But soon there are scores of them, . ... then hundreds, . . . then what sounds like thousands-all competing for the same insects, the same seeds, the same worms. Each bird finds a mate, copulates, builds a nest, lays eggs and incubates. For several weeks, the birds dart back and forth across my lawn or fly up and down the stream, eating enough to build up their fat reserves for the long struggle ahead. Soon, they will have to feed a nest of screaming crying baby birds, perhaps spending all day and all night searching for enough food to feed their baby chicks.
Washington's spring is also a time of running water. I have a stream with a tiny waterfall that lies just behind my house. The waterfall is only about a meter high, but there is always a constant flow of water going from one level of the stream to the next. It is relaxing and restful to sit outside on my lawn and listen to the birds and watch the stream. Some days, I see beaver and herons (a very large water bird -- about a meter high). One day I saw a deer. On other days, I've seen foxes, opossums and wild turkeys. And of course, there are always dozens of playful squirrels romping around my property. I love to watch them as they scamper from tree to tree, climbing up to the bird feeders, stealing the seed I've tried to hide from them.
Then there are the smells-the fresh smells of spring. These can vary from the smell of fresh cow manure laid on a farmer's field to the pungent scent of a skunk, to the mushy sweet scent of the hyacinths (these red, blue, white flowers have the scent of heavy perfume) to the colorful azaleas. The azaleas are everyone's favorite shrub. Growing at just as few centimeters a year, they are totally covered with flowers. Each bush comes in just one color, but there are thousands of varieties-more than enough to produce a miniature rainbow blanketing my yard!
My other two senses, touch and taste, are a part of my springtime ecstasy as well. First, I love to touch the earth as it warms. I love to dig up the weeds to provide enough room for my flowers. I love to rub the sweet flower blossoms through my fingers.
Finally, I love to taste the fresh sweet honeysuckle-to suck on its honey like flowers. I love to eat the first berries of spring: the early strawberries-luscious red berries with their imperial green crowns!
Sometimes I sit alongside the waterfall and listen to the sounds of nature. I watch her change. I smell her beauty. I taste her fruit. I feel her joy. It is no wonder that the ancient Romans and Greeks worshiped Ceres as a living goddess who came back to visit the earth each springtime.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Do you know the Greek myth about Ceres? Have you studied the Greek and Roman myths? I know very little about the Asian myths. Perhaps we can share ideas.
In Greek mythology, Ceres was the goddess of the earth. She had a daughter named Persephone. The god of the underworld, Pluto wanted to take Persephone, the daughter of Ceres, as his bride, but she didn't even like him and had no desire to marry the god of the dead. Pluto however, kidnapped the young girl and kept her with him in hell. When Ceres went to her brother, Zeus, the chief god, she was told that she could get her daughter back -- as long as her daughter had not eaten anything from the underworld. Of course, Ceres was elated. She hurried to hell to bring her daughter home, but discovered that Persephone had eaten 6 seeds of the pomegranate. Ceres began to cry and, since she was the goddess of the earth, the earth started to freeze and die and darkness blanketed everything. The crops failed. Many people died. Finally, a group of people went to Zeus and begged him for help. The people knew they would die if Ceres withheld her generosity. Zeus relented and decided that since Persephone had only eaten 6 seeds, she would only have to remain in hell six months a year. Zeus, however, ruled that Persephone could spend the other six months on earth with her mother.
Of course, Ceres was delighted. Her daughter was coming home. Immediately the earth started to warm up and crops started to grow. The people were very ecstatic. The bounty continued for six months, but at the end of that time, Pluto returned for his wife and Ceres, again, cried, and the earth started to die.
The ancient peoples of Greece and Rome (who lived about 2,500 years ago) believed in myths like this. It gave them reasons for natural events like the change in seasons. Do you have any similar myths like this in China?
. I also plan to go to Paris soon. Please tell me more about your trip and I'll tell you about Paris when I return.
Write soon,
With love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 3, 2000
Dear Scot,
Hello, see you again! How are you?
I had a good time to travel in Hainan Island in these day for my vacation days. I want share about that with you. Hainan was the third China province I have traveled to. The plane ticket price was as same as it would have been take the bus and boat. So we choose the plane. It was raining in these day in Guangzhou. But I was in high spirit, because I was going to that place for a travel with my friends and I was never in air plane, I would done it soon! At 8:00 pm. The plane was about to land. It had been delayed and we could hardly sit still. Everything was very fresh and interesting for me. The plane was going to take off. I sat by the window and keep looking outside of the window. With increasing swiftness the ground slipped behind us, and soon our plane left the earth and rose gracefully over the roofs of the neighboring building and airport. Now we were rushing through the air at an amazing rate. Looking down I saw that the city was like thousands and thousands stars in the night sky. They became smaller and smaller until they could be see no more. I was taking rest and reading the book. Suddenly I found out that I could not hear anything very well. My friend told me that didn't worry, the air pressure pushed on my eardrum that I could not hear clearly. If I swallow that everything would be fine. Now I got it! The flight took one hour and ten minutes. The plane touched the landing ground with a series of jolts and jumps. We arrived to Sanya City!
Some people had changed their pants and shorts on the plane. It was very hot here, the temperature was climb to 34 degree (92 degrees Fahrenheit). I read the book about the Sanya City, the second largest city of Hainan island. It has the climate of tropical marine monsoon with plenty of sunshine, moderate rainfall and no winter. To be frank, I did not seen any rain during my vacation and I don't think there are plenty of rainfall in here and my uncle agree about that! Our hotel, Cactus Resort, was at Along Bay which is 20k (about 13 miles) southeast of the center of Sanya City. It took us about 25 minutes to arrival there by taxi. All along the way, cocoanut palms doted the landscape and an occasional light giving the effect of fire flys. The hotel was in foot hills, opposite the hotel was a park named butterfly due to the name, there were many cactus planted around the hotel. A very big swimming pool is located on the grounds. And the beach is not far from the hotel. We entered a very nice room, switched on the air-conditioner and TV, then after a showering, we resolved that we deserved a good rest and retired to our selected beds for the night. That was my first day in Hainan Island. Well, I will tell you more about me in those vacation days.
That's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
Bin
MAY 4, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your story about Hainan Island. When I was your age, I was in college and didn't have the opportunity to travel. Here is a story about me in college when I was your age:
When I was 18, I started my freshman year or first year of college. That year was magical and mystical and mysterious! For the first time in my life, I was totally independent of my family! I still had my religious values and pretty-much believed the same things my parents did, but I was free to start exploring a new and different world. Literature started to open up to me. I spent hours in the college library, reading old volumes, classics, and books written in German and Latin.
I also played the piano a lot and I wrote poetry. I even became known as the poet laureate of the school. I loved talking to everyone and spent most evenings enjoying long dinners with friends. Our college served dinner family style all that year, which meant we sat at large round tables holding 10 people. Waiters brought us bowls and patters of food and we shared what we were given. It also taught us to look before we loaded up our plates because a greedy person could easily eat 3 or 4 portions. If there were 10 people with 10 portions, you can imagine what happened to the last person to get the platter! There were no second-helpings so we had to manage on what we were given. My college was very poor and most of the students worked and had scholarships and loans in order to attend, but I'll tell you more about that later. Sometimes, there were less than 10 people at a table, then the fun began because you could eat more! We also had a chance to talk to everyone: Freshmen (first year students), sophomores (second year students), juniors (third year students) and seniors (fourth year students). So we had a chance to learn from those who had gone through the same experiences we were soon going to have.
After dinner, I'd wander up to the large student lounge and talk. On pleasant evenings, I'd walk onto the veranda and watch the sunset or look at the view of the Hudson River. On other evenings, I'd go for a long walk with friends along the lake or into the woods around the college. Later, I'd study, go to a play or musical recital, or practice the piano. It was a hectic, creative, energizing time in my life!
I was very poor as a young man and had to manage on $50 a semester. That money was all I had for snacks, admissions, transportation, clothes, date s, laundry and other incidentals. Luckily, I've always been frugal with my money, so I knew how to create a budge and stick to it.
I applied for a loan and a scholarship and received both. My loan was for $1,000 a year and I received a scholarship of $500 a year. That still was not enough to pay for the cost of my education, so I worked all summer as a typist for the U.S. Government. I also worked part time at school as a janitor. I cleaned toilets, scrubbed floors, emptied trash, washed windows, painted the dormitory, shoveled snow and waxed floors. Basically, I did anything that was needed to keep the college clean.
I knew I was gay while I was in college, but I went to an ultra religious school and it was "against God's plan for anyone to be a homosexual." My life was miserable in that sense because I had to hide my true feelings and live a lie. I wanted to be with guys in a sexual way, but I had to date women to keep up the image that I was straight. In a typical month, I probably dated 4 or 5 different women. In addition, the ratio of women to men was 3 to 1 so, it seemed, the women were always horny and desperate for a boyfriend. Meanwhile, I was desperate to pretend I was straight while trying to avoid kissing, touching or feeling a woman. I longed to be with a man but knew I would be expelled if I was caught. I also suspected that I would die and go to hell-that's because the Christina religion was very prejudiced at the time. The same church believed that Negroes were inferior to whites and that interracial dating was against God's plan. I guess if Christians had spent more time loving and caring for other people, they would have been a greater influence in my life. As it stands now, when I think back, Christians were mean, vicious, cruel, evil people who only loved themselves and those who did exactly as they said.
I joined the choir, and played piano. I also participated in several organizations and clubs-trying to keep busy so my sexual urges didn't overcome me. Unfortunately, nothing worked. My first sexual experience happened at my tiny college. My room mate was Italian -- about 5'10" and 140 pounds. I was 190 cm (6'3"), but only weighed 55 kilos (120 pounds). He was about 175 cm and weighed 65 kilos. He was very dark-skinned (Do you know what Italians look like?) and had a nice uncircumcised cock. I played with him several times. It was very good to know I had a "friend" at school.
Later, I met several other guys who were homosexual as well-but we always had to keep it a secret. If anyone had found out about us, we would have been expelled from the school! Again, it's difficult to believe that so many people were so perverted and sick back then-and I'm not talking about the Dark Ages-I'm talking about America in the early 1960's.
Well, that ends my first year college adventures. Let me know if you like them and I will write more.
Here's a thought for you. Last week a man asked me why I decided to become gay. I told him I'd be happy to answer his question if he'd answer one small question for me. When he agreed, I asked him why he decided to become straight. He was shocked and told me he didn't make that decision that it was normal. I told him that I was normal, as well. He left but I wish people would understand that no body in their right mind would willingly say, "Gosh, wouldn't it be great if I was a faggot? Then my parents would hate me. I might not get a job or find a decent place to live. Wouldn't that be a great choice for my life? Sometimes I think many straight people are either very stupid or very cruel. What do you think?
Anyway, I hope you write soon. Let me know what you think about my college life.
Your friend, with hugs and kisses,
Scot
MAY 6, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? It is sunshine here and everything is fine with me.
Thank you for the story when you were in college. I like it very much. I don't know why people act like that but it is the same way here in China. I did not know that was true in the USA. It surprise me very much.
Now let me tell another part of my story in Hainan, These days will give me happy memorys for the rest of my life. Hainan Island is second only to Taiwan in sizes. Sanya, the second largest city of Hainan province, is a very young tropical seaside tourist city at the end of South China. To be frank, Sanya is smallest than any other city in mainland. The second day in Sanya. We missed our breakfast in the hotel, because we got up so late. Our hotel is so far from the downtown of Sanya. So we went to there by motorcycle taxi. As we rode along the road, the sun shone brightly and the breeze was gentle. Large rice fields spread out before our eyes. Cocoanut palms along each side of the road were decorated with beautiful and lovely flowers and leaves. When we were approaching a village, we saw many new houses arranged regularly in lines. At the end of the village, there even were a few two-storeyed buildings. There was a small pond with a few geese and buffalo swimming to and fro on the water. After lunch, we decided to visit "The Tianya-Haijiao Scenic Area". It is located at the seaside in the southwest part of Sanya City, which means the edge of the sky and the end of the sea. We saw the beautiful natural sceneries and stone carvings there. Some people said that they were unique and famous in the world. The green water and the blue sky here are of one hue together with the magical mists, rolling waves, sailing boats, dancing cocoanut palms and stone forest to form a beautiful poetic picture. There on the beach stand huge rocks on which the Chinese characters of Tianya (the edge of the sky), Haijiao (the corner of the sea), Nantian Yizhu (a pillar stands in the southern sky) was respectively engraved and has become one of the most unique scenic spots in Hainan, many photographer can be seen there. A lot of people try to be first to take picture vie with each other in taking the photos. A wave rolling so fast, I didn't have time to jump out of the way, so my feet got wet. So we took a rest on the rock, to gaze upon a calm sea and watched the ships as they glide steadily and quietly through the water was very pleasant. It was more pleasant to walk on the shore and collect pebbles and shells. A lot of local people followed the tourist and tried to sell the shell; pearl; coral to them. We sat down under an awning and enjoy the cocoanut juice. The hucksters were tired and take a rest in here with us. Their teeth were dark purple, because they often ate areca fruit. They were very friendly to talk with us and help us to take the meat out from the cocoanut. We knew they want sell somethings to us. We stayed this scenic area in the whole afternoon. Spring stays here every season and please come to Tianya-Haijiao to enjoy it. We saw the commercial in here. After dinner we came back to our hotel and we went to swimming at hotel pool. The swimming pool was very big and the water was warm, there was a mushroom fountain at the central of the pool, some people stood there and get the massage by the water. We had a wonderful time and enjoy ourselves here.
That was my second day in my vacation.
That's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
Dear Bin,
I enjoyed reading your travel stories and I bet you will continue to travel a lot in the future. I have been traveling for over forty years and look forward to each trip.
One of my trips was really just an excursion. Do you know what an excursion is? It's a short trip from your hope. Usually, an excursion can be completed in less than one day. Here is an excursion that I took in 1981. It resulted in my purchase of a new house.
In 1981, I visited Washington, DC, the city of my birth. I had lived in Hyattsville, Maryland for over 10 years -- in a small 2 bedroom house with a large yard. My house in Maryland was only about 5 miles from Washington, but I seldom took advantage of the theatre, culture, museums or night life there. Basically, I came home from work and stayed in Hyattsville.
So, on a beautiful day in July, 1981, I went for a walking tour around Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill is a large neighborhood of beautiful old homes that stretches about 2 kilometers around the Capitol Building of the United States of America. I was born on Capitol Hill, as was my father and his father and his father and his father and his father and his father. I was a 7th generation Washingtonian. There are not many of us around because the United States is a very young country (compared to China, for example)
Anyway, I walked and walked and saw the beautiful 100 year old houses. They were Victorian style with 3, 4, 5 or 6 bedrooms and 2, 3 or more bathrooms. All had several fireplaces. I really fell in love with that part of the city!
The next day, I started to look for a house to buy on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Soon I made an offer and bought a huge house with 4 bedrooms, 3 fireplaces, 3 bathrooms and a large yard. The house contained a one bedroom apartment downstairs. I rented out the apartment to help pay the mortgage (loan) of my house.
That house has always been my favorite house (I have owned 3 in my life). I had to move in 1998 because the neighborhood became very dangerous. I cried when I moved.
My house had 4 big bedrooms (the smallest was 3.1 meters by 4 meters and the master bedroom (the largest) was about 7 meters by 3.5 meters. The master bedroom had 2 large windows, 2 large closets, a fireplace and a huge private bathroom. It took up half the 3rd floor of the building.
The front half of the 3rd floor contained a large closet, a long hall, a second bathroom, and 2 large bedrooms. There was also a washing machine and a drier on this floor.
Just below, on the 2nd floor, there was a large living room (about 7 meters by 3.5 meters with a fireplace and a door to the staircase that led directly to the back patio and parking lot (private lot for 2 cars).
Also on the 2nd floor, was a large dining room (about 5.5 meters by 3.5 meters with a fireplace) and a kitchen (about 4 meters by 3.5 meters) with a refrigerator, dish washer, garbage disposal, double sink, lots of storage cabinets and a large counter space. There was also a large pantry just off the kitchen.
Downstairs, on the first floor, there was a large self-contained apartment. By self-contained, I mean that it had 2 private entrances and my house had 2 private entrances.
My house had central air conditioning and I had 3 different telephone lines.
The apartment had a large bedroom in the front. The bedroom was about 5.5 meters by 4 meters. There was a closet about 5.5 meters by .3 meters in next to the room. Outside the door was another large closet and opposite that was a washer and drier (I had my own washer and drier upstairs, which is one of the reasons this type of apartment is called self-contained -- it had everything!). In the back of the apartment was a large living room/dining area approximately 7 meters by 6 meters. There was a fireplace in the living room. There was a small kitchen, about 3 meters by 2 meters - but it had a refrigerator, stove, sink, dishwasher and garbage disposal. It also had its own air conditioning unit and was separately wired for electricity (so the tenant paid her own electric bills). She had her own phone as well.
The house was right across the street from a public tennis court and track. There was a high school nearby. And the subway (in Washington, we call it the Metro) was right next door to my house.
I moved away in November, 1998, but I kept the house. Today it is a rental property and soon it will be paid for. When it is paid for, I will collect all the rents and be able to move to Asia to be with you. I will be very rich (by Asian standards) then -- and should take home about $30,000 income a year! (This is not a lot in America, but will be a lot in Asia.)
I know money is not important to you and it is not important to me either, but I am telling you this to let you know that we will be able to live a very comfortable life in Asia -- together!
I hope you like me when we meet.
Hugs,
Scot
MAY 7, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you?
I get some help from my uncle and books to keep these daily and I learn more from them in these days.
It is a beautiful morning in Guangzhou. The sun has already got high up in the clear sky, but there are still bright dewdrops in the fields.
I want continue my story in my vacation days! The third day in Sanya.
It was intolerably hot every day in Sanya. The stones, the walls, and the roofs all send out heat into the motionless air. They even never cool down at night. We got up early today, because we didn't want miss our breakfast in the hotel. The room key was the ticket for the restaurant in the hotel. The breakfast was the buffet and we must help ourselves, we could choose rice, bread, watermelon, vegetable to eat. But the food was not very good and tasty for us, so my friends said that we didn't miss our breakfast last morning.
We didn't go to downtown today because every one wanted to go swimming today. Our hotel is located at the Along Bay, not far from the seashore. Along Bay is at present a national tourist and holiday resort at the southern end of China. The four seasons are not so distinct with a long summer.
Along Bay faces the sea at its south like a crescent moon and hills stand at its east, north and west. The islets in the sea outside the Along Bay are really attractive.
In the afternoon. It took us about 5 minutes to arrive at the beach. Along Bay was far from the downtown, the beach was not crown, we could see few people stay in here. The seashore was silvery and it was very beautiful and clean and it has natural environment. The beach here descends sharply into the sea and the sea lapped the beach.
We didn't rent folding chairs and a beach umbrella. We found a good spot in the dry sand spread out our blankets and towels. We raced each other into the water, splashing, laughing, kicking up the foam, and squealing about how cold it is. One of my friend took off into the deep water with his swift crawl. Another followed with a beautiful back stroke. They left me far behind. My swimming technique was not much to look at, but it was sure good exercise the way I did it. We like to walk along the shore and look for pretty and unusual seashells. My friend had a large collection of them. If the water was very cold, I prefer to stay on the beach and take a rest in the warm sun or build sand castles. My friend stayed in the water all day!
More than being simply a pleasure, the sea breezes were highly beneficial. And the sound of the waves was very relaxing. One of my friend enjoy to fall asleep for an hour on the beach. After 3 hours, we gathered up our blankets, towels and clothes and head for hotel.
Well, that's was the third day in my vacation. Everyone enjoyed it so much!
That's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
MAY 12, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you so much for your letter. I enjoyed reading about your trip to the beach. When I was a boy, my family took me to several different beaches.
My favorite beach was at my grandparents' house. They owned a small cottage on the Chesapeake Bay. We visited them almost every weekend from June until September. We had a pier and several boats. We went crabbing and eeling. We also went swimming and boating. For many years, my grandparents did not have an indoor toilet in their cabin. We had to use an outhouse. Do you know what an outhouse is? It's a toilet in a small building and it is located outside the main house. I was always afraid to use the outhouse at night because I thought that the snakes would bite me. So my father would have to get a flashlight and take me out to the outhouse.
Anyway, I will write more in my next letter.
Take care,
Scot
MAY 17, 2000
Dear Scot,
After a week's continuous raining, it cleared at last. The weather is agreeable here and it will stay fine.
Scot, didn't you receive my email on May 9th? I didn't get respond from you and I thought maybe you had been very busy in those days.
The fourth day in Sanya, Hainan Island!
We got up late today, because my friends didn't want to eat the breakfast in the hotel and tried to spend more of their time to sleep on the bed. At noon, we decided to visit the butterfly park which opposite our hotel. We needn't pay any money, our room key was the ticket for entry. The hills stand at its east, north and west. The park was not very big, but we could see a lot of butterflies here. How great the sight was! We felt as if we had entered another world, full of beauty, peacefulness and loveliness. We walked along the beautiful meadows of wild flowers. The pretty butterflies spend all their time in the flower's company. Suddenly a beautiful bird files up and sings gaily, followed by two of its companions; numerous kinds of insects flock together and chirrup in the park and the golden sunshine. A fresh breeze comes on, the rays of the sun glittered on the rippling brook. As we seated ourselves in the bower surrounded by tall bamboos and trees, chatting or reading, we might have entirely forgotten the hot weather, had it not been for the clamour of cicadas, which reminded us that it was summer.
We finished to visit this park, we start off to downtown. Instead of rice and meat, we took much ice cream, watermelon, cocoanut and fruit for eat. It was swelteringly hot here. Where there was a breeze, there rised nothing but a dirty and hot puff of air, which contain flying dust. There were very few people in the street, and these few were resting in the shaded places by the roadside.
Night time.
Someone said usually people in tropical area cannot sleep early, we should take this chance enjoy the coast feeling, enjoy the sun and sea, and breeze after twilight, escape from crowd and dusty. It is totally different feeling for city people. In our dinner time, my friend order some dishes and a wine. I didn't want drink alcoholic drink. My friends said: "Don't worry, this is wine, you won't be drunk, it could help you to relax, trust me drink a little!" So we share it together!
Well, I didn't feel drunk and I was still clear-headed. But I could feel my head was heavy and my eyes could not see clearly. I didn't want to try it! We could see a lot of snack market in the downtown. (At first) we didn't want to try to eat the fry food! But the watermelon was very sweet and the cocoanut was very tasty! We love them!
Well, this was the fourth day in Sanya.
Scot, I have a question: can we be good friends or brother?
That's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
MAY 18, 2000
Dear Bin,
I did not receive an email from you on May 9. What was it about? I did receive emails about your trip to Sanya, Hainan on days one, two, three and four. Did you send me any other information since then?
Your friend,
Scot
MAY 18, 2000
Dear Scot,
The weather being fine and the breeze gentle. How are you?
No I did not send you any other information about my trip. Now let me tell you about the fifth day in Sanya, Hainan.
The sun is less welcome in hot seasons. It puts forth so much heat that a lot of people got the sunburn.
We didn't care about that and we decide to visit a park which named Luhuitou. (Turn Round Deer).
The south, east and west sides of Luhuitou Park are surrounded by sea water. The park is not far from Sanya downtown. Standing on the park, you can get a full-view of the Sanya City, and the east and West Island will get into your eyesight.
The name of the park "Luhuitou" comes from an ancient fairy story of Li nationality:
A young hunter of Li nationality was chasing a deer from the Five-Finger Mountains to the seashores of the South China Sea. A vast sea under the cliffs lying in front, the deer had no way to go when the hunter drew his bow and was going to shoot at the deer. Suddenly, flames flashed and fog rose up to the sky, and the deer turned back her head and became a beautiful young girl. Astonished by this, the hunter stopped his shooting and fell in love with her. Then they two formed an affectionate couple and lived on this land, hacking their ways through brambles and thorns; building their thatched cottage; farming and weaving; fishing and hunting and planting coconut trees to make their living. Generation after generation, a mountain village of Li nationality came into being.
According to this folklore, people called the village Luhuitou (Turn-Round Deer) The Luhuitou Park are now perfected. The tourists can have a walk on the paths which among the trees and flowers or take a rest at the wayside pavilions. The servicers in the park said that Luhuitou was a mountain full of emotion, with not only the moving legend, the wonderful statue of "Luhuitou", the beautiful mountain, the attractive sea view, but also the exciting natural sceneries "fairy deer tree", "couple tree", "nine dragons playing in the waves", and etc . After having a tour at Luhuitou, you will find that a kind of deep emotion appear in your heart that you do not want to leave from there. To be frank, the park was not very special and we didn't feel a kind of deep emotion appear in our heart and we didn't want to visit here again.
At the nighttime, after dinner, we went for a walk on the beach of Sanya downtown! We didn't like this beach. It was very dirty and smelly. The rubbish were everywhere. The scrungy river and filthy sewer were pouring into the sea and my friends keep saying:" Be careful, don't step on the "land mine" and "banana".
We hope everything will be change and the people would recognize environmental protection.
When the sun started to go down, soon the beach became dark and cold. This was the fifth day in Sanya, Hainan.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
MAY 29, 2000
Dear Bin,
I hope you are well. Today is my sister's birthday and I'm going to call her when I'm done with this email. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware-that's about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from my house. I have only one sister and I have no brothers.
I would love to come to visit you and I have been to both Hong Kong and Guangzhou. I spent 3 weeks traveling through China at that time. Do you know if there are any tours for Americans to visit both Hong Kong and Guangzhou? Let me know if you find out because I will then be able to visit you.
Take care,
Hugs,
Scot
JUNE 5, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? Do you have a good time?
I hope good luck and happiness go with you forever! Canton is Guangzhou!
I don't know if there are any tours for Americans to visit Hong Kong and Guangzhou! Wow, it is very hot here and I was not very well today. My nose was bleeding when I was taking the lesson in the school. I felt tickle in my nose and I thought maybe I caught a cold, but soon something came out from my nose. I wiped my nose, oh, blood! I thought that maybe it was not very serious, and I don't want stop my lesson and bother the teacher, I want continue to listen the lesson. But soon my hands was full of blood and some blood spill on the book. I had to told my desk mate that something wrong with me. My desk mate was very surprise and give me the paper to stop bleeding. The girl said to me, "go! Go! Go! Go to the toilet, take the water and put on your forehead to stop bleeding and wash your hands and face." Then I had to say, "Excuse me" to teacher and leave class quickly! It is very hot in Guangzhou in these day. The temperature climb to 36.7 degree! [99 degrees Fahrenheit.] Fortunately My uncle's air conditioning working ok. Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 6, 2000
Dear Bin,
I hope you are feeling well. I haven't had a nose bleed in several years and know how disconcerting they can be. First you feel as if you have to blow your nose. Then you feel as if you nose is running, then you feel like you have to blow your nose, then suddenly you are covered with blood and totally frightened. I have no idea what causes them. Sometimes I think it has to do with a change in temperature or air pressure, but I'm not sure. Perhaps you spent most of the day outside and then came into a freezing air conditioned room. Then again, maybe it just happened, I don't know, I'm just guessing.
Today is the anniversary of D-Day and I was very upset with my co-workers. They are all my age and when I told them that today was the anniversary of D-Day the first person said, "What's D-Day" and the second person said, "Oh, wasn't that when we dropped the bomb?" All Americans aren't that ignorant about history-but many are. A survey was made recently about history and geography. Americans were asked to name the country immediately to our north. 60% didn't know the answer.
Is it that bad in China? I suspect it is. I think there are a few people who are concerned about their lives, culture, language or history-and most people don't give a damn. How do you feel? Do you think most people know their own history? Ask a few of your friends about D-Day and see what their response is--let me know.
Your loving brother and friend forever
Scot
JUNE 7, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? The weather is agreeable here.
I think some people would know their own history in here!
We are still missing our trip in Hainan. The sixth day was the last day we stayed in Sanya City. Our hotel was very near the beach. So we could easily to see the landscape of the seashore. At night, some people had a picnic with some of their friends on the beach. Being famous for its enchanting scenery, the bay was always frequented by visitors on Sundays and public holidays. Some people started in a boat when the moon, emerging from the eastern horizon, poured its bright rays upon the wavelets, which formed thousands of sparking mirrors. Smoothly they glided over the placid surface, enjoying the cool air after the glowing heat of the day. Those who could swim left the boat to enjoy themselves in the shining water, while others remained on board, amusing themselves with fishing, singing, and talking. Not until towards evening or at moonrise do the fishermen go back home in their boats. We hadn't realized how much we missed big-city life after being struck out here in the small city for 6 days. It was time for us to come back to Guangzhou! We took the bus from our hotel to the airport in the afternoon, all the way we talked about how a exciting trip we had had in these 6 days. All of us hope to came back here for a travel again if we have chance and time. With increasing swiftness the ground slipped behind us, soon our plane left the earth and rose gracefully over the roof of airport. Now we were rushing through the air at an amazing rate. Looking down we saw that the country was like a colored chessboard, dotted here and there with green and white specks which we knew were fields; woods and houses. The roads resembled dark brown ribbons. Not far away, we could see the gleaming silver of the sea. Our heart gave a leap. Finally we were back at the airport of Guangzhou and touched the landing ground with a series of jolts and jumps. I thoroughly enjoyed my flight, and I hope that I should have another chance. It was still raining entire (pouring) when we left Guangzhou. The heavy rain was violently beating against the windows. The rain had cooled the air and some people shivered. Fortunately, we took the umbrella with us. Back to the apartment. My uncle was very happy to see me again and asking me how I was. Well, that's all of my vacation days and I real had a good time during these days. I am very happy to share this experience with you! Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 7, 2000
Bin,
You have a real gift for writing. I especially liked your phrases:
With increasing swiftness the ground slipped behind us, soon our plane left the earth and rose gracefully over the roof of airport.
Now we were rushing through the air at an amazing rate.
Looking down we saw that the country was like a colored chessboard, dotted here and there with green and white specks which we knew were fields, woods and houses.
The roads resembled dark brown ribbons. Not far away, we could see the gleaming silver of the sea. Our heart gave a leap.
They use color and turn drab writing into a vivid mosaic. Congratulations! I bet you receive top grades. Am I right?
I loved your story-I just wish it was I you were coming home to-and when you got home I would be waiting for you with loving and open arms-and, of course, hundreds of warm kisses.
Washington has been unseasonably cold-in the 50s Fahrenheit (about 10-12 Centigrade)
I have been reading voraciously-President Grant's Autobiography and works by the Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison-both beautifully written. I am also reading a monograph on the life of John Adams, a long (1,800 word) history of the American Civil War, and a play by George Bernard Shaw. I seldom read just one book at a time--I guess it bores me to do that. So, I read 10 or 50 pages of one book and then 5 or 10 or 20 of another and so on-it makes my life interesting, what can I say.
I hope you are feeling better and that you don't have any more nose bleeds for a long long time.
My love to you, my friend-you are more valuable to me than the most priceless treasure.
Yours always,
Scot
JUNE 8, 2000
Dear Bin,
I hope you are fine. It's getting warmer and warmer here. Summer is rapidly approaching. I don't think that you have a change in seasons, but Washington certainly does. We can go from -20 to almost +40. Sometimes the temperature changes drastically in 24-hours or less.
I saw an interesting movie yesterday, but it had a lot of sex and violence in it. When I was your age, we had a censorship board in the USA and they rated movies and cut parts of films because they thought the people weren't wise enough to make their own decisions. Do you have a censor board watching over movies that you are allowed to see?
Well, I can't think of much else to say right now. I hope to hear from you soon.
Hugs,
Scot
JUNE 9, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you?
I was not very well in these days. My nose was bleeding, after one day, I got the fever and then after 2 days, I got the stomachache. I don't know why! Fortunately, everything is better than before! The weather broke after a long sunny period here. We had continuous heavy rain from last night! The rain was violently beating against the window. The arrowy lightening streaked the sky. The sharp claps of thunder pierced the quiet night. This morning, a lot of people staggered along in the blinding rain. The torrential rain deluged some area. And the rain had cooled the air and many people shivered. I don't want leave my home when I come back from school!
We have censorship on movies sometimes! I have to stop typing now, I have some homework to do today! That's all for now, hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 10, 2002
Dear Bin,
How are you? Thank you for your letter. It has been very hectic here lately. You never told me when you planned to graduate? Is it this year? What will you do when you graduate? Will the government help you find a job or must you find one on your own? In the United States, people find their own jobs-some work for private industry, some work for the government, some are in the military. How is it there?
Your friend forever,
Scot
JUNE 9, 2000
Hi Scot,
Thank you for your letter! I will graduate from college on 2002. The government won't help me find a position. I don't know if I choose my own city and company! I don't know where would I like to work! Please forgive me that I can not write you a long letter today. I have to do my homework now. Talk to you soon! All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 10, 2000
Dear Scot,
Hi, thank you for your letter. I have finished my examination today. I thought they were not bad! Now I have a long vacation! I will have my second year in the college next new term! I like World Atlas; geography; history; world affairs; comic books. Is it cheaper to buy a sport shoes in your country? Tomorrow, I will come back to my hometown to visit my parents and my friends. Please forgive me that if I can not write you a letter before.
Maybe I will come back to Guangzhou on 21st July. I will tell you anything about me in my hometown when I come back to Guangzhou. I am getting something ready to go by home, so I can not write you a long letter. I will miss you and I will miss your letter!
Thank you. Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 11, 2000
Dear Bin,
Welcome back! I have been waiting for you. Hope you had a wonderful vacation.
Since I recently won a poetry award, several friends took me to dinner at a restaurant last night. The restaurant is very special-it's called The Rain Forest Restaurant. The restaurant is designed like a real rainforest, but it has fake animals, animal sounds, waterfalls, etc. There is even fake lightening and thunder to make it feel like a rain forest. The food was good and it was nice to relax with my friends. I have been to the real rain forests in Brazil, Latin America and Africa, however, so it's funny to go to a restaurant like this. Since most of my friends had never been to the rain forest, however, I decided it would be fun for them to see what it might be like. The laughed when the heard the artificial thunder and saw the lightening, but they really thought it was funny when it started to rain inside the restaurant.
My friends bought me the next Harry Potter book. Do you know about the Harry Potter books? There are 4 volumes so far. They are written for kids but a lot of adults read the books. Harry Potter is a wizard and the books are fantasies! They are fantastic and if they translate them into Chinese, you may want to buy them. I know how important wizards are to both our cultures.
Love and hugs
Scot
JUNE 15, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you?
I will have my vacation days after July 10th. I will go home to visit my parents and friends. I have no plans for the summer now! The final exams will be held on July 10th. I am not very well today. I wanted sleep last night, but I could hardly sleep in the whole night. I keep coughing and my stomach didn't feel well. I could not go to school in this morning. I went to see the doctor. Fortunately, the doctor told me that it was not very serious with my sick. I got some medicines and I have an injection at my cervical acupoint. This was my first time to get the injection at my cervical acupoint. It was very strange and fresh for me! But I could hardly feel pain! I ate some medicine and I have to go to bed for a rest later. So I have to stop typing now. Talk to you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JUNE 15, 2000
Dear Bin,
It is always so good to hear from you. My cat, Hurry, was very funny today. She has what I call a crazy hour. Each night at about 10 p.m. she runs all around the house like a maniac-she jumps on the furniture and then she jumps on me. She runs very quickly from one room to the other. She wants me to play with her, so I do. I chase her and then I wait behind a wall, very quietly. After a while she walks into the room and then I surprise her and chase her. She likes the game very much. Do you have any animals? Do you like to play with them?
Talk to you later, I have to go now, your friend forever,
Scot
JUNE 16, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? I am very fine now. The sick was gone. But I must still give an injection in the hospital tomorrow. I don't afraid to have a injection! It was fresh when I heard the doctor said that I would be given an injection on my back-neck! The cervical acupoint is at the back-neck near each side of the cervical vertebra. I just didn't go to school about 1 day. We have oral English class today! And it was very pity, my teacher's foreigner friend had no time to come to talk with us. And his friend had came to our class to teach last day and I miss it, because I got the sick! My teacher said that his friend study biology in China and they meet and know accidental in the street. His friend will marry soon and he will come back to England next month!
I like rabbit, cat, dog, panda, etc. My neighbor has a cat! I don't feed him! Well, I have to stop typing now, I must do my homework, talk to you soon! Let me guess and I will tell you next time!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
JULY 7, 2000
Dear Bin,
A man in my neighborhood gave me over a hundred books and I will send you some of the best. I know you are interested in English, history and language and many of the books are about those things. Most of the hundred books were damp with mildew since they had come from a basement, so I'll give most back after looking at them more carefully, the rest I'll send to you.
I hope you are well,
Hugs,
Scot
JULY 31, 2000
Dear Scot,
I am fine. But I am very busy with reviewing my subject. Tomorrow I will attend the examination. Wish me luck! I will get up early tomorrow morning and go to school in time. I don't want miss it! After tomorrow afternoon I will be free and I will have a long summer vacation. I will be write to you back soon. I have to stop typing now. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
AUGUST 11, 2000
Dear Bin,
I packed a box of books for you. They include the following: America, Volume One A New People, A Portrait in History; A Civilization Primer; REA's Handbook of English; and Visiting our Past. I'm also sending you a few gifts: a paper holder with a picture of the new $20 on it; two T-shirts; a map and a six-inch Ruler
I forgot to enclose a postcard of the US Capitol so I stuck it UNDER THE LABEL. Be careful when you open the package-the postcard will be ok.
The post office says it will take 6 to 8 weeks for you to get it.
Let me know if everything arrives and what you think.
There is nothing in the package that will offend you or your parents or anyone-so if you are not there when it arrives and your mom opens it, it will be ok
Love and hugs
Scot
PS-please email me at my new address, my old address is not working.
AUGUST 21, 2000
Subject: came back to my hometown
Hello Walker:
I am very happy to talk with you again.
I want tell you something about me in my vacation. It was a long time that I didn't come back home to visit my parents; my family and my friends in my hometown. They were overjoyed to see me again and keep asking me how I was. My grandmother and mother prepared many dishes for dinner, and all the members of the family were present, which created a holiday atmosphere. I came back to my hometown with my uncle. This was my uncle first time to visit my hometown. My parents were very happy to see him too. My
father and my uncle keep talking and drinking the beer. Fortunately, there were not drunk and my father could not drink more. All in all, we had a good time at that night!
The second day, we took a trip to many places in my hometown. The weather being fine and the breeze gentle. We climbed to the top of the White Cloudy Mountain. From there, we could see the beautiful city of Wuzhou, my hometown! The green and the yellow river reach together, runs on, getting wider and deeper. The steamship and boat comes and go busily on the river. Many new building have sprang up.
Then we visit the monkey park on the mountain. We bought many peanut from the shop that we could feed the monkey. The monkeys were very greedy, all of them trying get more peanut from us, they keep stretching out their hands, some even want jumped up to your body and rob the peanut.
After then, we visit the stone tiger and other landscapes on the mountain. My uncle said that he was very happy to visit this beautiful mountain!
Well, I have to stop typing now. Hope to hear from you soon! Hope good luck and happiness go with you forever!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
AUGUST 21, 2000
Dear Bin,
Thank you for your email. You must be so busy as this time of year.
Do you have a scanner? Can you send me another picture of you? Let me know if you'd like more pictures of me.
I miss you. Do you have ICQ? It will be easy to communicate by ICQ.
Love and hugs and write soon,
Scot
AUGUST 22, 2000
Hello Scot,
Nice to hear from you again! I miss you too!
Thank you the gift you send to me. I will tell you when I get it! Thank you so much!
I am sorry that I have no scanner with me now. So I can not send it on Internet! I still have your pictures you send to me! You can send me another of your pictures!
I will have my new term on 4th Sep.
I have no ICQ now.
Well, I have to stop writing now. Talk to you soon!
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
AUGUST 23, 2000
Dear Bin,
It is so wonderful to hear from you again--I have missed you quite a lot. You know I visited your hometown many years ago on my tour of China. I was in Suchow, Wuzhou, Canton, Hong Kong, Beijing, Xian, Grand Canal, Shanghai and also climbed The Great Wall.
I loved all of it.
I mailed you a gift package to the address you gave me last time. I sent it on August 10th and the post office says it will take about 6 to 8 weeks for you to get it. I hope you like your presents. I sent you 2 special T-shirts. I would love to see your picture in one of them.
I only have one picture of you and I have a new computer now. Can you send me more pictures of you?
Did I send you many pictures of me? I think so. Would you like more?
I hope you enjoy the rest of your holidays.
When will you have to go back to school?
Hopefully we will be able to talk a lot when you get back to school. I now have ICQ. Try to download it and we can chat on line.
NOVEMBER 3, 2000
Hello Scot,
I am fine here. Thank you for your thoughts.
I am very sorry that I can not write you in these days because I can not often plan on Internet.
I am very well here. How are you? I miss you too.
Please send you message when you have time. Let's keep in touch!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
November 3, 2000
Dear Bin,
I remember how busy I was when I was a student-I cannot believe that you have so much time to write to me and to study. I love reading each of your emails, but when you don't write, I know it is because you are busy. Do you have time to look for a boyfriend or go on dates?
Here is a long story about me. Let me know what you think.
I taught school for 14 years. My first year was the most difficult. I had been trained to teach history and had planned to go on to graduate school to earn a master's degree. I wanted to live at my mother's house and drive to the university nearby. Unfortunately, my mother decided to remarry and she moved. At the last minute, my plans were changed. I would not be able to go to college and rent an apartment.
So, I found a one-bedroom apartment and I found a job. I will talk about the apartment first, since it was quite wonderful. It was on the 2nd floor of a townhouse like building and I had my own private entrance. My apartment had a large bedroom (7 meters x 3 meters), a large living room (6 meters by 3 meters), a large bathroom with a tub and shower combination and an open kitchen that faced the living room. Of course, in America, all kitchens have private refrigerators, stoves and lots of counter space and storage. I had no dishwasher or garbage disposal - but they are standard in many apartments, as well.
My apartment had wall-to-wall carpeting and it was brand new. It was also very close to the laundry room and the rental office. My rent was $80 a month. My apartment also had central air conditioning (but I had to pay my own utility bills). I had 4 windows in my apartment: 2 were in the front living room and faced the parking lot. There were always interesting things to watch from my window! One very cute guy used to spend several hours washing his car every Saturday. He often wore nothing but a pair of shorts and shoes. He was very handsome.
I had little furniture when I first rented my apartment, but after I got a job, I had enough money to start buying furniture. My first purchase was a bedroom set. I bought a large triple dresser (with 6 drawers), a wall mirror, a chest of drawers (with 4 drawers), a bed, a bed frame and a headboard. The entire set of furniture only cost me $200 but, at the time I earned very little money, so I had to save to pay for it. I purchased the furniture on what was known as "The Lay-Away Plan". We do not use this plan any more in America. At that time, there was no Visa or MasterCard and very few stores gave credit to young people like me. So, you had to purchase the furniture by paying a little bit each month or each week. YOU WOULD NOT GET THE FURNITURE UNIT IT WAS TOTALLY PAID FOR. But, there was no interest to pay! I drove to the furniture store every few weeks and paid $5, $15, $20 each time-knowing that it would take me many months-maybe even a year before I could save $200 to pay for the furniture. I surprised myself, however, because I paid for the furniture within 2 months. It was wonderful to know that I had become a responsible adult and bought my own furniture. I was very proud of myself when it arrived and I invited many of my friends over to my apartment to see it.
As the months rolled by, I also bought a wooden dining room table, a large sleep sofa and an organ. I had played piano and organ for many years and wanted to own an organ. By the time I bought the organ, I had established my credit. It took me 3 years to pay for the organ. The payments were $32.15 a month-and it was a struggle for me as a single man to pay that much money. At that time (in 1970), I earned $300 a month as a teacher. My rent was $85 a month, my food cost $30 a month, my electric bill cost about $25 a month, my phone cost about $8 a month and I had purchased a car. My car payment was $65 a month and I spent an average of $15 a month on gas and oil. Times have changed in America. Today people earn a lot of money, but the prices are much higher. Young men and women entering the workforce today can easily earn $2,000 a month, but their expenses are very high. An apartment in Washington DC could cost between $600 and $1,800 a month. Car payments can cost $400 a month. Food costs $200 to $300 a month. In addition, young people have to buy gasoline for their cars, clothes, pay utility bills (electricity and phone) and have money for movies and pleasure. Many American young people live with parents or share apartments or houses with other people their age. This saves them money!
I did it all on my own, however, and I am very proud of myself for having that much courage and strength!
Next time I will tell you about my first job as a teacher. I got the job a few weeks before I got this apartment, but wanted to tell you a little bit about how I lived before I told you how I worked.
All this happened before you were born. I hope it does not bother you that I am so much older than you. I still love you very much. Can you love an old man like me?
I wish I could be there with you, I miss you,
Love and hugs,
Scot
NOVEMBER 4, 2000
Dear Scot,
I like your story very much. Thank you for telling me it. I am fine and you? I miss you too. I thought that I had received the box of books you mailed to me. I will make a phone call to my parents and they will tell me about that. I am still in school. I will learn more English and reach to another degree in the next term. I have no find a boyfriend now. How about you in these days?
Scot, I am sorry that I can not write you more now. I have to do some of my homework. Let's keep in touch. Talk to you soon!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 6, 2000
Dear Bin,
I am so glad that your mother received the parcel I sent to you. I hope you enjoy reading the books. One is an English grammar-it's not the type of book you read. It is a reference. Let me know what you think about the books as soon as you have the chance to examine them.
Hugs,
Scot
NOVEMBER 7, 2000
Scot,
How are you? Thank you for sending me the books. I really feel most grateful to you. My mother made a phone call to me last night, she told me someone send me a parcel from USA. I was very surprise and happy that I receive a treasure gift from you. Thank you. Well, I will be waiting for your message. Hope to hear from you soon!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 8, 2000
Dear Bin,
How are you? Let me know when you receive the books I mailed to you.
You never told me about your sex life. Do you have a boyfriend? What do you do for sex?
Anyway, take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
NOVEMBER 8, 2000
Dear Scot,
Thank you for your message. I am very happy that I can receive the books from you. I am unable to repay your kindness. I am fine here. I have no boyfriend yet. I knew how to play myself now. How are you? Everything is fine with you? Tell me something about you recently. Well, please forgive me that I can not write you more now. Talk to you soon.
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 9, 2000
Dear Bin,
My life has been very busy. I work a full time job at a small health care university. In the evenings I write. I'm currently working on a play about gay life in the military. On the weekends, I rake leaves. We have several huge trees in our yard and it takes several weekends to rake them all up.
I hope that lets you know a little bit about my daily life.
Write Soon,
Love and hugs,
Scot
NOVEMBER 10, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you?
It is very happy to hear from you. Now I play with myself twice a week. I think I have a lot of cum. I am fine in the school. Thank you for your thoughts. Scot, have you ever had sex with someone? I am sorry to ask you a question like that.
Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 11, 2000
Dear Bin,
How are you? I hope all is well. I know how hard it is to spend time studying. Do you have your own room or do you live in a dormitory?
When I was in college, I studied at least four or five hours a day, but I was very stupid and had to practice everything. I also worked two to four hours each day. I was a janitor-I cleaned floors and toilets and kept the school clean. In those days, I earned fifty cents an hour for my work. I also had a scholarship and a small loan. Now it costs so much to go to college in the USA, I don't know how anyone can afford it.
You told me that you play with yourself twice a week. When did you start having sex? In America, boys and girls are generally very young. In my neighborhood, we started playing with ourselves at an early age. Many Americans fuck and suck by the age of 13 or 14. Do you know what the terms mean? How old are Chinese when they start to have sex? I started when I was about 13. I do not have a boyfriend at the moment but I have had several boyfriends in the past. Right now, I pretend that you are my boyfriend-if that's okay with you.
The weather is very cold here again. I will go to South America in January and am really looking forward to it. The weather in Washington is terrible most of the year. It's either extremely cold (from December to March) or extremely hot (from July to September). We have hurricanes, rain storms, ice storms, snow, hail and just about everything. I have a joke about our weather. Do you want to hear the joke? Here it is. We have six or seven beautiful days in Washington. When we have one, take off. Do you get my joke?
Write soon,
Love always,
Scot
NOVEMBER 12, 2000
Hello Scot,
It is okay for you to be my pretend boyfriend. I don't have a boyfriend right now. I am very surprised that the American start to have sex about 13 or 14. We can not do that and we don't know about that when we are in that age. I understand sucked cock and been fucked.
I live with my uncles now. I have a room. I must continue to study hard for my English. Sometimes it is hard for me to study. But sometimes it is easy.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best wishes and love to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 13, 2000
Dear Bin,
Are you learning to speak with an American accent or with a British accent? I understand that it makes a difference depending on what type of job you want.
We are planning our biggest national holiday events-it's called Thanksgiving and it's an American holiday. It's also the biggest holiday of the year. I'll tell you more about it in a few weeks-it's always the 3rd Thursday in November.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
NOVEMBER 13, 2000
Dear Scot,
Thank you for your message.
I am learning the English with American accent.
Do you have any plan for these days?
I am sorry that I can not write you a long letter now. Let's keep in touch. Talk to you soon!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
NOVEMBER 13, 2000
Dear Bin,
I wish I was there with you now-but then you would not have time to do your homework! I think about you all the time. You are not only handsome and sexy, but you are talented and gifted as well. You are just the type of man I would love to be with for the rest of my life! I could imagine sitting together in our living room on our sofa. Slowly we would start to kiss and hug. Then I would become more assertive and rub my hands up and down your back. You would rub my thigh. I would stick my hand inside your pants legs. I would unbutton your shirt and we would kiss-deeply and long. Our tongues would touch and we would explore each other's mouths. You would unbutton my shirt and slip it off. I would rub your legs and slide to the floor as I untied your shoes, and took them off. Then I would take off your socks and kiss your feet and suck your toes. My hands would rub up and down your legs reaching to your crotch. You would unbutton your pants and I would slip them down, down, down. You would strip to your underpants and then…well, I'll let your imagination take over from here.
Do you wish I were with you now, my love?
Scot
NOVEMBER 13, 2000
Dear Bin,
This is a story I wrote for you in the third person. Do you know what I mean by that? I am Scot Walker but rather than using the pronoun "I" (first person) I used the pronoun "he" (3rd person).
Have you experimented with writing stories from 1st or 3rd person?
Let me know if you like my story. It is true
I love you and miss you a lot. Hope to see you sometime--but in the meantime I just think of you.
Can you email me your picture? I have the ones you sent me but would love to have an email version as well. Do you have any more you can email me?
Love and hugs,
Scot
What Scot saw there, was almost enough to turn him around and make him head home. There was a dirt-colored carpet in the main lounge that appeared to be at least a hundred years old. And then there was a smell-an indescribable smell emanating from the building itself-almost like raw sewage mixed with cabbage. There were girls dressed in long dresses and skirts-and there were very few boys. When Scot looked around, he realized that the ration of women to men was about 3 to 1. Scot registered and was given a room on the 7th floor, his mentor, Larry, carried the heavy bags up the 7 long flights of stairs. There was an elevator, but it didn't work. Scot reached his room and collapsed. There was a bunk bed and a single bed in the room. Guys had already placed their personal belongings on the single bed and the lower bunk. Since it was all that was left, Scot laid claim to the top bunk and waited for his roommates to come home. Well, Bin, my love, let me know what you think of this third person story and write soon.
Love and hugs,
Scot
DECEMBER 13, 2000
Dear Scot,
How are you? Do you have a good time?
I am very busy with my studying recently. I will have my final exam on Jan 12th. I have to work hard at my subject. After exam I will have a long holiday. I will come back to my hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year with my parents and friends.
Please forgive me if I can not often send e-mail to you in these days.
Hope good luck and happiness go with you every day.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
DECEMBER 24, 2000
Dearest Bin,
I purchased a new bird feeder and hung it from a branch of a tulip popular tree in my back yard. The tree stands over 60 feet tall (about 18 meters) and the branch hangs about 20 feet (6 meters) from the ground. I hung the birdfeeder about 9 feet (3 meters) off the ground by a slim wire. It's high enough to keep the squirrels from getting the food and comfortably located so that the birds can fly onto it and feed. It has four small openings and I fill it with millet and small seeds. I then sit on my covered roof deck, which is about 30 feet (9 or 10 meters) from the feeder.
It is amazing how many birds enjoy the seeds. I've seen purple martins, Baltimore orioles with their colorful black and yellow feathers, sparrows, wrens, finches, red-headed woodpeckers and dozens of other species that I haven't been able to identify. Can you guess what I want for my birthday? A book describing colors, sounds and habits of birds!
In addition to this small feeder, I have a large feeder hanging from an oak tree on the other side of my back yard. Since this feeder is bigger, the larger birds enjoy eating from it. I also fill it with larger seeds. The strange thing about this feeder, however, is that there are dozens of squirrels living in the woods just behind my house. They will do almost anything to get to the seed in this feeder. I've seen them jump from the tree to the feeder. I've seen the smaller ones scamper up the tree trunk and jump over to the feeder. The older squirrels jump down from the higher branches. However, there is an extremely intelligent squirrel who once filled his stomach and mouth with almost all the birdseed. He climbed down the thin wire that supports the feeder, landed on its roof (it's shaped like a small house with a bin for the seed) and then proceeded to eat every single seed.
I laughed so much I thought I would pee my pants. I wish you had been there to have seen the birds and squirrels in my back yard; I think you would really have liked them.
What animals do you like best? Do you have any living near you? Do you feed them?
Hugs from your friend,
Scot
JANUARY 2, 2001
Dear Scot,
Happy New Year!
Hope good luck and happiness go with you every day!
How do you celebrate New Year?
I went to party to celebrate New Year with my friends and classmates. This was my first time to go to a party to celebrate New Year in Guangzhou. I had a lot of fun with my friends. It was very crowd inside of the bar. It was very hard to find a seat to sit down. My friend introduce his classmates and friends to me. They were very friendly. We drank the beer. I was surprise that the girl could drink beer more than the boy. I didn't drink to much! Everyone was in high spirit when we began to count down the 2001arrived. 10..9....3..2..1
Happy New Year!
My friend invited me to have a dance. But I didn't how to dance. They told me that relax and did what I want to dance. Finally, I did. This was my first time to dance. I felt Woo... It was very fresh and special and funny.
We were very happy. Because one of our friend win the top prize. She got a TV set. It seemed to good to be true, she didn't believer her ears and she was afraid to receive the prize. Her friend a man carry her in the arms and took her to the stage to get the prize. The host said that they should make a hot dancing if they wanted to get the prize. They had to do that. But that was not the only test. Now, they should kiss in ten minutes in front of the people. Woo...
They received the prize and came back to us. We congratulated them and the man gave us a big hug. They were very happy. My friends said that they could go to their apartment to watch TV program now! We stayed another hour there. Then we went outside to have a meal. We talked each other and share our happiness together. All of us enjoyed at that night and celebrate the New Year together.
I was very happy to be with them and it would remain a happy memory in my life.
How about you?
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
JANUARY 5, 2001
Dearest Bin,
How are you? I wish I had danced with you-it would have been so much fun!
Was it cold there? It was freezing here and there was a lot of snow just to our north. Some places had 24 inches of snow-I think that's about 2/3 a meter!
We had no snow, luckily, but it is below zero and it's very cold.
Bin, guess what? We had an anniversary. Did you remember it? You sent your first email to me on December 30, 1999-that means we've known each other for over one year!
Happy New Year.
Would you like to see a copy of my latest play? It's called November 22 and it is about the murder of President John Kennedy.
I'm including a new photograph. Let me know if you like them. Also let me know if you would be embarrassed if I sent you a red envelope to celebrate the New Year. I hope to hear from you soon.
Take care, my dearest and sweetest friend.
I love you
Hugs and kisses
Scot
JANUARY 17, 2001
Dear Scot,
It is very nice to hear from you again. How are you? Thank you for your nice picture. I have some new pictures. I am trying to find a scanner that I can send them to you. I like the books you send to me and I am still reading them. Thank you very much.
Scot, may I have your address again? It would not hurt my feelings if you sent me a red envelope. You needn't send it to me. It is very far to send the letter from you country to here and I am afraid someone would stole it.
I will come back to my hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year in this Sunday, January 21st. I'll come back to Guangzhou in one or two weeks. Please forgive me if I cannot send you any message during these days. I hope we will keep in touch.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
JANUARY 18, 2001
Bin, my love,
I know how important Chinese New Year is. Each year I go to Chinatown in Washington and watch the dragons and the parade. I love it. I usually eat at a Chinese restaurant with friends. Chinatown in Washington is very small-but I have been to Chinatowns in London, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Vancouver. San Francisco's Chinatown is huge!
Bin, I dream about you a lot and I wish I could get back to China to visit you-but it is so expensive. It will cost about $5,000 US dollars for air and hotel to get there for a three week trip. In my dreams, I wish I could visit-but-well, perhaps some day I will.
Let me know how your new year goes.
Enjoy.
Write soon
Your friend forever
Scot
JANUARY 20, 2001
Dearest Bin,
Today we have a new President. It is very exciting in Washington and there are hundreds of thousands of people watching the parade. It is also raining, which is a shame because parades are much better when the sun is shining. I'm glad you like the books, but use them as textbooks; you don't have to read them, just use them as references, skim them and scan them (do you know what I mean?) It's not worth your time to read every word.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
What happened over New Year? Did you have fun? Did you see all your family? Were they excited to see you?
I am confused. I know you live in Guangzhou, which is next to Hong Kong, but I don't know which city your college is in. Where are you when you go to school?
Well, I have a deadline. I am writing another play and want to finish it soon. I also have 3 more projects I need to work on.
Love and hugs
Scot
JANUARY 21, 2001
Hello Scot,
Thank you for your message.
I will come back to my hometown in three hours.
I hope you will have a good time during these days too. Maybe I cannot send you any message on the net in this 1 or 2 weeks. But I will send you my message when I come back to Guangzhou.
My college is in Guangzhou. My hometown is in Wuzhou. Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best.
Bin
FEBRUARY 23, 2001
Dear Bin,
Here is some more personal information about me. Gardening season will start soon and I am very excited.
I don't know if I ever told you how very much I love to garden. I started gardening when I was about ten years old. My first garden was a strawberry patch. It amazed me to find out how quickly they reproduced. At the end of their short growing season, they produced long runners, which developed roots and became baby plants. Each plant produced from two to five new plants and within a few years, I had so many strawberries I didn't know what to do!
After that, gardening became part of my soul! I planted corn, flowers, watermelon, herbs, trees, shrubs and just about anything that would grow.
This year, my favorite items are azaleas and cherry trees. Last year my herbs turned out beautifully. I had basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. There's even a famous song about those herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Have you ever heard it?
This growing season, however, has been very strange. Our summer started very late and it rained almost every day in April and May. Then we had two very hot weeks when the temperature was in the 90's. Then it got cool and the temperature plummeted back down to the low 70's. After years of gardening, I can honestly tell you, I have no clue as to what will happen to this year's crop!
Write to me soon and tell me about your hobbies!
Write soon,
Scot
FEBRUARY 27, 2001
Dear Scot,
I mailed you some pictures today. I just return from my village and do not have time to write you a long letter. How have you been? Did you finish your projects? How is your play?
Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best.
Bin
MARCH 5, 2001
Dear Bin,
Thank you for sending me the pictures; I eagerly await them.
I'm working on my play and I'm also writing several new short stories. I hope to send some stories off to publishers later this week.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MARCH 17, 2001
Hello Scot,
Nice to hear from you again.
Passing through the score I got. I give myself more confident and I am sure that I can do my best and I am sure I would be success. I am alone in home, watching TV and reading. And I am going to cook something for my lunch later.
I want write a novel. The story was happen in 1940 in China about two men. Do you think that it is a good idea? Do you want gather my story together to a book? Do you think my stories are interesting? Well, I will stop here for the time being and hope to hear from you soon.
All my best!
Bin
APRIL 7, 2001
Dearest Bin,
It is springtime again in Washington and each of my five senses is oozing with the scent, feel, beauty, sound and taste. The combination is like opium, strong -- vibrant and alive.
The pallor of winter has passed now and new life emerges everyday-from the ground-from the sky-from the stream!
The next 30 days are among the most beautiful in Washington. In its struggle against the harsh decrepit man that many call winter, life slowly returns.
Birds and daffodils seem like messengers from the gods, sent to us to remind us of their love! Daffodils, among my favorite flowers; shoot their strong thick stems from the nearly frozen ground, upward, over a foot from the cold ground, producing yellow cuplike blooms. When daffodils are clustered in groups of hundreds, they dazzle the senses and elate the mind like elves dancing on a pot full of gold at an Irish christening. These friends are the first to force their way up through the snow-to show the world that winter has been slain and that mankind will survive.
Almost at exactly the same time, the birds begin to return to the island lying just behind my house. They come in pairs at first and are relatively quiet. But soon there are scores of them-and then there are hundreds-and then what sounds like thousands-all competing for the same insects, the same seeds, the same worms. Each bird finds a mate, copulates, builds a nest, lays eggs and incubates. For several weeks, the birds dart back and forth across my lawn or fly up and down the stream, eating enough to build up their fat reserves for the long struggle ahead. Soon, they will have to feed a nest of screaming crying baby birds, perhaps spending all day and all night searching for enough food to feed their baby chicks.
Washington's spring is also a time of running water. I have a stream with a tiny waterfall that lies just behind my house. The waterfall is only about a meter high, but there is always a constant flow of water going from one level of the stream to the next. It is relaxing and restful to sit outside on my lawn and listen to the birds and watch the stream. Some days, I see beaver and herons (a very large water bird-about a meter high). One day I saw a deer. On other days, I've seen foxes, opossums and wild turkeys. And of course, there are always dozens of playful squirrels romping around my property. I love to watch them as they scamper from tree to tree, climbing up to the bird feeders, stealing the seed I've tried to hide from them.
Then there are the smells-the fresh smells of spring. These can vary from the smell of fresh cow manure laid on a farmer's field to the pungent scent of a skunk, to the mushy sweet scent of the hyacinths (these red, blue, white flowers have the scent of heavy perfume) to the colorful azaleas. The azaleas are everyone's favorite shrub. Growing at just a few centimeters a year, they're covered with flowers. Each bush comes in just one color, but there are thousands of varieties-more than enough to produce a miniature rainbow blanketing my yard!
My other two senses, touch and taste, are a part of my springtime ecstasy as well. First, I love to touch the earth as it warms. I love to dig up the weeds to provide enough room for my flowers. I love to rub the sweet flower blossoms through my fingers.
Finally, I love to taste the fresh sweet honeysuckle-to suck on its honey like flowers. I love to eat the first berries of spring: the early strawberries-luscious red berries with their imperial green crowns!
Sometimes I sit alongside the waterfall and listen to the sounds of nature. I watch her change. I smell her beauty. I taste her fruit. I feel her joy. It is no wonder that the ancient Romans and Greeks worshiped Ceres as a living goddess who came back to visit the earth each springtime.
Do you know the Greek myth about Ceres? Have you studied the Greek and Roman myths? I know very little about the Asian myths. Perhaps we can share ideas.
In Greek mythology, Ceres was the goddess of the Earth. She had a daughter named Persephone. Pluto, the god of the underworld, wanted to take Persephone as his bride, but she didn't want to marry the god of the dead. Pluto however, kidnapped the young girl and kept her with him in Hades. When Ceres went to her brother, Zeus, the king of the gods, he told her that she could get her daughter back as long as her daughter had not eaten anything from the underworld. Of course, Ceres was elated. She hurried to Hades to bring her daughter home, but discovered that Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds. Ceres began to cry and, since she was the goddess of the Earth, the Earth started to freeze and die and darkness blanketed everything. The crops failed and many people died. Finally, a group went to Zeus and begged him for help. They knew they would die if Ceres withheld her generosity. Zeus relented and decided that since Persephone had only eaten six seeds, she would only have to remain in Hades six months a year. Zeus, however, ruled that Persephone could spend the other six months on Earth with her mother.
Of course, Ceres was delighted. Her daughter was coming home. Immediately the Earth started to warm up and crops started to grow. The people were very ecstatic. The bounty continued for six months, but at the end of that time, Pluto returned for his wife and Ceres, again, cried, and the Earth started to die.
The ancient peoples of Greece and Rome (who lived about 2,500 years ago) believed in myths like this. It gave them reasons for natural events like the change in seasons. Do you have any similar myths like this in China?
I like your idea about writing a book. Would you like to collaborate on it? I could help you with the grammar and spelling and you could have the ideas. Let me know what you think.
Hugs,
Scot
APRIL 23, 2001
Hello Scot,
How are you? I miss your letter and think of you!
I am sorry that I didn't get the book in here. Because the address I gave you was in my hometown. I will go back to my hometown to get the book you sent to me. I am fine in the school. I should work hard at my subject and pass the exams.
I would love to collaborate on a book with you too. But my English is very poor. I am concern about my face saving (ha ha). I would like to write a novel. I have some idea but I don't know how to write down on the paper. Scot, you are very kind and I can not pay back your kindness. You are my friend forever and ever too.
When I finished my story that I will send it to you and you can help me to correct my mistake!
Well, Scot, let's keep in touch and I will be waiting for your next message.
All my best!
Bin
APRIL 24, 2001
Dearest Bin,
Did I ever tell you about my love of music? I started to play the organ when I was 15 years old, but unfortunately, I don't have perfect pitch. As you probably know, someone with perfect pitch hears each note in his head. I have to read music, which is a much slower process. Someone with perfect pitch can sit down at the piano or organ and play any song he has ever heard anywhere at any time. I, on the other hand, am tone-deaf. I have to look at all the notes on each sheet of music and know what they mean-and I have to know how long each one is sustained, where it is on the keyboard and how delicately or defiantly I must strike the keys. Poor me, can you imagine how difficult it is for me to try to read music? It is a sight to behold!
I took piano lessons when I went to college and everyone except me had perfect pitch. I remember being in a recital and the first pianist played a difficult piece by Scarlatti-he was lucky because he had perfect pitch and memorized all the notes, so he didn't have any music books in his way! The woman after him played a moving piece by Mozart and again, she played from memory. The next pianist played a fantastically rhythmic piece by Tchaikovsky with no help from a music book. Then I took the stage and with trembling step approached the grand piano. I placed my tiny book of music on the piano and sat down. I adjusted the seat. I sweated-a lot! I prayed a little. I especially prayed that I wouldn't make a complete fool of myself. I started to play, but when I reached the end of the first page, I was unable to turn it. I didn't want to have to stop playing and I hadn't been able to memorize the music. So, I started vamping. Vamping means you just keep playing the same chord over and over and over again. Da-da-da-dum. Da-da-da-dum. Da-da-da-dum. I turned red. My entire face became a bucket of sweat. I heard a few of my college friends laughing in the audience. Then I heard a few more. Soon the entire auditorium was filled with laugher and I was totally embarrassed.
After what seemed to be a million years, my piano teacher came on stage and sat next to me. He turned the page of the music and whispered, "You can do it, Scot. I know you can do it. Take your time. You will be okay." I felt like a million dollars! I finished playing and when I was done everyone stood up and applauded me for my courage and effort.
The irony is that two of the performers with me on the stage that day are now professional musicians. They have also made several records and given concerts. Neither of them, however, received a standing ovation that day-just me!
Love and hugs,
Scot
APRIL 25, 2001
Hello Scot,
Nice to hear from you again. How are you today?
It is quite warm today. My cloth is wet with sweat. But a strong windy is coming.
I want to write a novel and a fairy tale.
I must go to school tomorrow. I hope my holiday will come soon. Then I can relax myself and sleep late on my bed. That would be good. (Am I lazy?)
Scot, what have you been doing in these days?
Well, I have to stop typing now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best wishes to you.
Your friend forever
Bin
APRIL 28, 2001
Dearest Bin,
How are you doing? I know you must be very exciting about finishing this term at school. When I was your age in college, I used to count down the days until the year was over. It seemed that the final weeks would never end. I hope that you don't go through as much stress as I did when I was 20.
What are you going to do on your holiday? Will you just relax or will you study or what?
I hope to hear from you soon,
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
APRIL 29, 2001
Hello Scot,
Nice to hear from you again. How are you and what have you been doing in these day!
It is quite hot here today. The temperature climb to 32 degree today [85 degrees Fahrenheit] and I have to turn the fan on to keep myself cool. Do you like hot weather? I like hot weather when I am playing outside or at the beach or lake. But I don't like the hot weather for working. I hope you would more help with my English. I will be very happy to learn from you. Thank you so much.
I think your book had arrived to my hometown. When I got it that I will tell you about that. Ok?
I hope I will enjoy my school break and I hope good luck and happiness go with you everyday!
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
APRIL 30, 2001
Dearest Bin,
It sounds like it is very hot there right now. Usually our hot weather begins in June-but by July and August is so hot you can literally fry an egg on the sidewalk.
You once asked me if I liked the hot weather-the answer is I like it better than the cold weather, but I would prefer to live in a temperate climate. Perhaps some day when I am rich I will have a house in the north when it is hot and I will also have a house in the south when it is cool. Unfortunately, I don't think I will ever be rich so I'll just have to live the way I do.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 1, 2001
Hello Scot,
Nice to receive your message again.
I must come back to my hometown to get the book you sent to me. Do you understand what I said?
It is a nice day today, I feel very good. It is not hot in this morning.
Happy Labor's Day!
I got the Heaven Cave story from my mother. And she got it from her grandmother. It was a fairy tale!
I like this story very much!
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
MAY 5, 2001
Dearest Bin,
Thank you for your email. Let me know what you think about the books when you get home.
Bin, I really enjoyed reading the story about the Heaven Cave. We have many stories that we hand down from mother to mother to mother. They are called folk tales. Have you heard about the Grimm Brothers? They recorded hundreds of folk tales-among their stories were Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Little Red Riding Hood. Let me know if you'd like me to send you copies of those stories.
We also quote poems-and these are passed down from parent to child. My grandmother taught me this poem when I was about three years old:
My grandmother was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts in the USA. There is no such word as muddle-the poet meant middle, but wanted a silly rhyme. Does your language allow for that same kind of rhyme-words that don't make sense but fit in a poem or story?
I am sending you some pictures of my trip to Brazil. Let me know if you like them.
Take care,
With hugs,
Scot
MAY 14, 2001
Hello Scot,
How are you? Nice to hear from you again.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures. I like them very much. Thank you!
I could hardly sleep last night and I felt pretty bad the following day. Because the workmen pulled an old building down in front of my home and made a very large noise. Fortunately that I didn't get a panda eye in this morning and they had been finished their job. I could sleep well tonight! Thank God!
It is quite hot here today and I have to turn on the fan to fan myself to keep from fainting (Just joking). My cloth was wet with sweat. If I have free time that I would like to go swimming. Or I would like to stay in home, eating ice-cream and reading book in the whole day. That would be great! (Am I lazy?)
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon!
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
MAY 15, 2001
Dearest Bin,
It was so good to hear from you so soon.
I hope you are sleeping better-I hate it when there is a lot of noise and I want to go to sleep. Some people are very lucky, however, they can sleep anywhere at any time. My sister is like that. When she lived in California, she once slept through an earthquake!
Have you started on your book? I try to write everyday.
Sometimes I ask you a lot of personal questions and I hope you do not think I am nosey-I am just trying to find out more about you and your life in China. Can I ask you what you wear to bed? I generally sleep in my underwear. Most American men sleep that way, although some sleep in the nude and others sleep in pajamas.
Also, what do you plan to do when you graduate from college? Do you study when you are on break? Do you read or write then? How long does your summer vacation last?
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 15,2001
Hi Scot,
Nice to hear from you again!
I am fine here. It is quite hot today and I dare not go outside. It is good to stay in home, relaxing, reading and listening to music.
I have no a lot of time to think about my book. Because I have a lot of homework to do in these days. I feel very tired when I come back home from school sometimes.
I usually sleep with my underwear.
I hope I can find a good job after I graduate from college!
I don't study when I am on break. But I would like reading and writing during those times. We will have two month for summer vacation.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best!
Bin
MAY 17, 2001
It is glorious spring here-but soon the temperatures will be hot and the air will be muggy. I like May but my favorite months are October and November, when the danger of the hot humid summer is over.
I worked in my garden some today-weeding and harvesting. I ate fresh lettuce and spinach. Many Americans have small vegetable gardens-we don't do it because of the cost of the vegetables, however, we do it for the taste. Planting a garden is very expensive here in the United States. It costs a lot for seeds, fertilizers, good soil additives, etc. But, when the vegetables are ready to eat, they are delicious.
I also planted corn, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, basil, and Swiss chard. I'll send you a picture of my garden sometime soon.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 17, 2001
Dear Scot,
How are you? I am fine here! I am fine with my studying. I am still studying English. We met the hard rain this afternoon. A lot of people have not raincoat and umbrella, so they had to go to the shop to seek shelter from the rain. Some one didn't want stop walking and they thought the rain would stop soon. But they had to change their mind a few minutes. Otherwise they would get all wet as a cock jump down into the river. The rain was very hard and kept a long time. Soon, some streets was in an emergency .They became to low-lying land. Many people had to take off their shoe to across the road. A lot of shop owner was very worry about their commodity and move them from one side to another side quickly. But the rain made the city fresh and clean, the trees looked greener and the air became more pleasant to breathe in.
Well, that's all for now, hope to hear from you again soon. Let's keep in touch.
All my best wishes to you!
Hope good luck and happy company with you forever!
Bin
MAY 18, 2001
Dearest Bin,
Dearest Bin,
Here is a story about my life when I was in college. My first year in college was weird! It was the first time I had been away from home, so I had a chance to do all those things I hadn't even dreamed of. I stayed up late and went out for pizza at 1:00 a.m. I also played the piano day and night because I was an aspiring pianist at the time. I dated women as well because I was hiding my sexuality and I had to pretend that I was straight. Later in my college years, I actually became engaged to a woman and then changed my mind. I knew I liked guys and wondered how I could live with a woman. I imagined that I'd turn off the lights and pretend that I was with a man-but then I thought about how cruel that would be to the woman, so I broke off the engagement. Bin, life was very hard for homosexuals in the USA in the 1960s. People had to marry-it was the norm. Many of my gay friends married and raised families, but their lives were miserable and some died when they were very young-probably because of the stress. I often wonder what would happen if society forced men to marry men and women to marry women. I wonder what would happen if that were the norm-how would heterosexuals deal with the pain and the guilt and the stress? I bet they wouldn't deal with it very well at all-so I guess one of the good things about being gay is that we have learned how to pretend, how to cover up, how to hide our actions and how to live our lives outside the view of the rest of the world. In the USA, many actors are gay-it is no wonder why-they had to hide and act for so many years, it just was a natural thing for them to take their talents to the stage or films.
Well, I hope I haven't preached about homosexuality. Those are just my feelings. Let me know if you feel the same, of if you haven't made up your mind yet. Your opinions are welcome and they will not affect our friendship.
In the meantime, take care
Love and hugs,
Scot
Just before graduation, I became engaged to another woman. Again, I backed out. I knew who I was and did not want to put a woman through the hell of marrying a gay man - besides I didn't feel comfortable about the idea of sleeping with a woman!
Your friend,
Scot
MAY 18, 2001
Hi Scot,
Thanks for your note. I am not sure how I feel about having a girlfriend or a boyfriend, right now I am study all the time and don't' have the chance to think much about that.
It is still raining here. I dare not go outside. It is the rainy season now. We will have more raining in these days!
I hope you will have a good time in the playwright. In this weekend maybe I will go to bookstore and choose some kind of books for reading at home.
I think you are still very busy with your working. Take care yourself.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
MAY 19, 2001
Dearest Bin,
I hope you are doing well. Bin, I never asked you what you thought about your future. Do you think you will have to marry? Now in the United States, gay couple can live together in peace and happiness. When I was a young man, however, all men and women "had to marry." Even if you were gay, you needed to find a woman, get married, make babies and pretend that you were straight. Is that the way it is in China now? What do gay men do?
I've also thought a lot about your writing-I know you've mentioned that you wanted to write a book. Please feel free to let me edit it or review it when you do. I love your writing style and your descriptions.
Well, the weather is beautiful today and I'm going to try to enjoy the rest of the day.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 20, 2001
Dear Scot,
Good afternoon. How are you?
Thank you for your thoughts and regards and suggestions. I don't want think too much about that now. I am only 21 years old now. I don't know if I will married with a girl in the future.
I went to Foshan with my classmates yesterday. We visited the Ancestor Temple and Liangs' Garden there. They were so beautiful and neat! We had a good time there. The garden in Foshan is mainly composed of many units in different places. Liangs' garden is one of the typical representatives of scholar's garden and becomes one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong Province., which is well-known, far and near. My classmates took some pictures there. I thought that was a good place to relax yourself. In order to appreciate the quietness of the place, we gave up yourself entirely to nature with a light heart and a happy mind.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
MAY 21, 2001
Dear Bin,
I'm very excited because I've just published my first book, Winston Churchill's American Cousin and Other Tales. I will send you a copy as soon as they arrive.
Take care,
Hugs,
Scot
MAY 21, 2001
Dear Scot,
Good evening. What have you been doing?
Thank you for sending me the information about your first book.
I will be very busy in the next month for my studying. I hope I can find some time to write a book. That would be great.
It have been raining in the whole day here. I think maybe the flood will attack some places soon. I hope it would never happen.
I could hardly sleep the whole night and felt pretty bad the following day. I hope I can sleep well tonight.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon. I must go to have my dinner now.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
MAY 24, 2001
Dearest Bin,
I will be going to New York City soon. I love visiting there because of their great theatre, fantastic food and wonderful sites. My favorite place to visit at this time of year is Central Park. The Park is about 80 city blocks long and 10 blocks wide. It contains lakes, trails, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, picnic areas, and a wonderful restaurant called Tavern on The Green-the tavern has indoor and outdoor dining rooms and the food is good even though it is expensive. I also love to go to Chinatown and Little Italy. New York is an enormous city-the biggest city in the United States-and it contains many ethnic peoples. The most common are the Italians and Irish. Well, I'll talk to you later.
Hugs and kisses,
Scot
MAY 25, 2001
Good afternoon Scot,
How are you? Thank you for telling me your summer plan!
It is very hot here. I have to turn the fans on every minutes to drive the heat away! Now, I hope I can go to your country and appreciate the cold weather. At least, I needn't spend the money on the ice-cream! That would be great! Do you think so. Ha ha!
Nothing more special during that weekend.
Scot, I want buy some books which I like it very much. I don't decided yet whether I would buy them or not. But I like reading and collecting them very much. How'd you think about that?
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon.
All my best wishes to you and let's keep in touch!
Bin
MAY 26, 2001
Dear Bin,
I took yesterday off and installed a beautiful picture window in my dining room. I used to have two ugly side-by-side windows with a large piece of wood in between them. Now I have a large window nearly 2 meters across by a meter high-and my view is fantastic. I see a small stream, a little forest and my gazebo. It really brightens my day to see the beauty outside my window.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
MAY 26, 2001
Hi Scot,
Good evening. How are you, my friend?
It is raining very hard here. I was lucky enough to come back home earlier.
I went to bookstore yesterday and I got two books. There are some books that I like them very much. I don't decide yet whether I would buy them or not. My father and my uncle would say that I have bought a lot of books. But that is my hobby! As far as I know that there is no good libraries near me. There are some books that not only do I like reading them, but I like collecting them too as my treasure.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon. I am going to take my dinner now.
All my best wishes to you!
Bin
MAY 28, 2001
Dear Bin,
I love the theatre. I don't mean cinema-I mean the legitimate theatre. I love going to comedies, dramas, and mysteries, but most of all I love musicals. I saw my first drama when I was 10 years old and I try to see at least a dozen every year. Last year, I saw 45 Broadway-type shows! Don't get me wrong, I'm not rich, it's just that I discovered a secret to see them free: I usher. An usher is a volunteer who takes tickets, leads patrons to their seats, etc. You don't get paid if you volunteer, but you do get a free seat and that's why it makes it so worthwhile. Here, in Washington, we have over 50 theatres. Some are huge like the world famous Kennedy Center, but most are small and include university theatres and dinner theatres. A dinner theatre is really interesting. It consists of rows and rows of tables instead of chairs. Each guest sits with his friends and enjoys a buffet dinner. The guests have about 2 hours to eat and chat. Then the show begins in the same room as the dining room. Often, the waiters are the actors in the play. This gives guests the chance to meet cast members and talk with them before the show and again during intermission when the waiters serve drinks and deserts. It also helps build a friendly relationship between the actors and their audience. I think this is very important because most of the actors in dinner theatres are very young and very inexperienced. They need this atmosphere to help build their self-confidence. In addition, in America, salaries for actors are very low and very few people can afford to be a full-time actor. So, since the actors are also waiters, they are paid and given tips. This helps them in their lives, as well.
I also love to go to New York and see the plays there, but it is very expensive. A hotel room typically costs over $150 a night. The cost of taking the train from Washington, DC to New York City (about 300 kilometers) costs about $130. Each ticket to a Broadway show also costs anything from $35 (if you are exceptionally lucky and sit way up in the top balcony) to $200. In addition, food is very expensive in New York.
I also love the works of Shakespeare. Do you know his works? He was an English playwright who lived about 400 years ago. He wrote such plays as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet.
Do you like the theatre?
Hugs,
Scot
MAY 29, 2001
Hello Scot,
Nice to hear from you again.
Now I can open one of the files you sent to me. I am using Nectscape. What's the meaning of IBM clone? I am using Windows 97. It is still raining here. It is good to stay home, relaxing; reading; learning. I worked at my subject all the morning. I feel quite tired now. I think I need take a nap later.
What are you doing? Are you writing your new works? I do not know the works of Shakespeare but think he wrote something I heard about.
Well, Scot. I have to stop typing now. I will be waiting for your next message.
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
JUNE 15, 2001
Dearest Bin,
My book sales are going very well and I'm now working on several more writing projects. I work at a small university during the day time and I hate almost every minute of it. My work is boring and I have not been given a raise since I started working here over five years ago! The company is ready to go bankrupt and the morale is low. I'm hanging in there, as the saying goes, until I am able to retire-I hope to be able to retire in about 3 years. In the USA, it is difficult for people my age to get a job once they reach 50. Employers discriminate against us and tell us we are over qualified. What they really mean is that they don't want to hire us. It's really quite a shame because an employer will hire a young kid and pay the kid $40,000 a year but the same employer is not willing to hire an experience worker for $30,000 a year. I wish there was something I could do about it-it is so unfair!
Is that true in China? Do older workers face discrimination?
I'm going to arrange a book sale/book reading at a local bookstore soon. I'm really excited about it. I think I'll set the date for early September.
JULY 7, 2001
Good evening, Scot,
How are you? I got up early today. I went to bookstore in this afternoon and got my books back and I enjoy reading them very much. I was so exciting when I read the book. I sent my suggestion to the comic book company in May. Now I found out that they published my letter and they answer my questions in the book. They said that I gave them very good advice and thanked me. I am so happy!
The wind was strong and the rain war heavy here last night. The heavy rain was violently beating against the window and pattering on the roof. The street was drenched by the rainstorm. The wind whistles through the street and it uprooted several trees on either side of the road.
The wind diminished and the rain has stopped. But I am sure that it would rain again soon.
Well, that's all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon. Have a nice weekend!
Let's keep in touch!
All my best wishes to you.
Bin
JULY 15, 2001
Dear Bin,
My book sales are still going well and I've arranged my book reading and sale for mid-September. I'm very excited about everything-perhaps I'll make enough money to retire earlier than I had hoped.
I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope you are well. Write when you have the time.
Take care,
Love and hugs,
Scot
SEPTEMBER 13, 2001
Dearest Bin,
I'm sure you've heard about 9-11. It may be the most tragic moment in American history. So many people are dead and so many lives are ruined. Two planes were aiming toward Washington, DC-one tried to hit the White House, couldn't find it, turned around and struck the Pentagon. We think that the one that blew up in Pennsylvania was heading toward the U.S. Capitol Building-that would be like blowing up Tienamen Square or Peak Victoria in China-lives would be lost but it would have been a horrible and cruel psychological blow if it had happened here. Luckily none of my friends were killed, but many people in my community lost friends and relatives. The Pentagon is only about 5 miles from my house.
Sadly, my book sale and reading was scheduled for September 12th-the day after the terrorist attacks. I cancelled it, of course.
Write soon. Let me know how you are.
Your friend forever,
Scot
NOVEMBER 30, 2001
Dear Scot,
Yes I heard all about 9-11 and yes we have terrorists here also. It was a horrible thing but I am glad that you are okay.
I was not my well on last Sunday. I had dinner with my uncle at that night. After we finished our meal. My uncle went and got his motorcycle and I waited for him. During at that time a motorcycle ran quickly and pushed forward to me. I tried to avoid it and turn around. But the bike was still hit on me and my feet was cut by the sharp block. I got a serious injury. I had to go to see a doctor and had my wound sown up and cleaned. The nurse gave me 7 stitches on my right foot.
I got a lot of trouble at that night. My foot was very painful and sometimes I could not walk very well. The more I walked, the more I could get pain. My uncle took me to the hospital to change the medicine for my foot. I must thank you for him. My friends and my classmates gave me a call and ask me how I was when they knew what happened to me.
My mother and my cousin also came to Guangzhou to take care of me. My foot is getting better now and I think I can go back to school in this coming Monday.
Don't worry about me and I will take care of myself and I am sure that everything is fine with me!
I am sorry about that event on 9-11 and I hope it never happen again. All my best and talk to you again soon.
Bin
DECEMBER 5, 2001
Dear Bin,
I've had an unbelievably difficult day! I had an early meeting at work so I got up early and went outside to wait for the bus. Unfortunately, the bus was late. Then I had to stand in the subway. Then the subway broke down and we were all downloaded. I got to work at 9:15, forty-five minutes late! Then the copy machine got jammed and I had to run up and down the stairs to the other copy machine to get everything ready for the meeting. Then I took the lunch orders for the committee members, but the carry-out restaurant got all the orders wrong and I got the blame. I decided to go for a walk while the committee was eating and luckily the temperature was in the 70s-this is so unusual for this time of year. Usually it is about 30 degrees in December! When I got back to work, I had to take notes at the meeting-that part of my day went well; I'm an excellent note taker! I got home easily and received an invitation for a Christmas party from a close friend. Later that evening, I went out to dinner with a friend. We ate at a small Vietnamese restaurant and had friend tofu and Vietnamese coffee. Late that night, I worked on my latest short story, Faces of Evil, before going to bed at 1:00 a.m.
I hope you had a good day.
Write soon,
Love and hugs,
Scot
DECEMBER 8, 2001
Hello Scot,
It is very nice to hear from you again. How are you there?
It is raining here and I just want stay in home.
I did receive the history book that you sent to me and I had chance to look at them. I think they are great books!
My mom had come back to Wuzhou and I will take care of myself here.
I will go back to school tomorrow and it would be very happy to see my teachers and classmates again!
I got drunk on Wednesday night for the first time in my life. My friend brought me home and helped me get to bed. He treated me very strange yesterday and didn't even want to talk to me. I don't know why since we have been friends since we were young children. Maybe he's not feeling good. I don't know. All I know is that I hope things are the same with us as they used to be.
How did you spend your weekend there and I hope you did enjoy your time!
Well, that's all for now and talk to you again soon.
All my best!
Bin
The End On December 8, 2001, Mo Bin, my young gay Chinese cyber friend, disappeared from my keyboard and my life forever.
THE BEGINNING
DECEMBER 24, 1999
DECEMBER 25, 1999
DECEMBER 26, 1999
DECEMER 27, 1999
WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS
For my Lass
When the trumpet sounds, you also will arise
To break that ageless barrier-death-once proud.
Wake up and gain life, the eternal prize.
God Omnipotent in heaven resides,
Ready to uncover your green-turfed shroud.
When the trumpet sounds, you also will arise.
As He beckons, all men, small and wise
Will weep when even death to you has bowed.
Wake up and gain life, the eternal prize.
Lass, only you can joy and peace comprise,
For men, now weak, will chant you honors loud,
When the trumpet sounds, you also will arise.
When the spirit of my dear lass to God flies,
She shall no longer alone be enshroud.
Wake up and gain life, the eternal prize.
Oh, lass, it's time for peace where glory lies
So stay asleep until the day God has allowed.
When the trumpet sounds, you also will arise,
Wake up and gain life, the eternal prize.
DECEMBER 29, 1999
DECEMBER 31, 1999
1. John wanted to get more holidays, so he makes a phone call to his teacher and make a voice as his father. He said; "John was ill, so he must stay at home three days."
The teacher said; "I am very sorry to hear that. Excuse me, who it is?"
John said; "This is my father!"
2. One day, a mother and his son went to the bank. The son was a naughty child, so mother worry about him.
When they arrived the bank, the mother shouted in loud to his son, "Put up your hands and stand by the wall!"
Everyone in the bank put up their hands and standing by the wall!
JANUARY 1, 2000 (EVENING)
JANUARY 2, 2000
JANUARY 3, 2000
JANUARY 3, 2000
JANUARY 4, 2000
Email Attachment:
FIRST LOVE
By Scot Walker
I was fourteen, tall, lean, lanky, lonely-and at six feet and one hundred ten pounds, a mere straw in the summer breeze. I never went swimming with the other boys although God knows I wanted to. I only had ribs, no chest, no waist, no thighs, and no calves, just ribs sharp enough to give a paper cut. Physical education was a nightmare! I was thin enough for six of me to glide into my locker and I often prayed I could have hidden there to avoid the humiliation!
My dad was a construction worker and my mother was a housewife-both admirable professions in the 1950s, but somehow I was different from the neighborhood boys and I didn't exactly know why.
I liked to read-at first, just comics-then books. I liked to play the piano and listen to music. I liked to play teacher with the younger kids and I loved to play inside while my boy cousins played basketball and touch football outside my window.
I was different, but I didn't exactly know how.
A few days after my fourteenth birthday, I remember walking along Georgia Avenue from Wheaton Plaza to my home a mile away. Shortly after I passed Whittier Elementary School and neared Randolph Road, the cutest boy in the world passed by me.
We looked at each other in a special way and, even though I knew the look meant something, I didn't know exactly what it meant. The boy was about my age, perhaps 5'8" well built, muscular, with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. We passed by each other slowly-like dogs sniffing on a moonless night, our eyes making a special contact that I had never experienced before. As soon as we passed each other, I turned around and snuck a second look at him, only to see him turning to sneak another look at me.
My eyes darted away from him as I turned, stretching my legs and rapidly walked away. Moments later, though, I decided to sneak just one more look. He was just too cute to pass by. Timorously, I turned my head for one more furtive look. It was at that exact moment that he turned to look at me. Our eyes met and I turned away, embarrassed and confused, but it was at that moment, I realized I was not alone!
JANUARY 4, 2000
Ted and Bobby were small boys. They were brothers, and they often had fights with each other.
Last Saturday their mother said to them, "I am going to cook our lunch now. Go out and play in the garden-and be good."
They played in the garden for half an hour, and then Ted ran into the kitchen. "Mummy," he said, "Bobby's broken a window in Mrs. Allen's house." Mrs. Allen was one of their neighbors.
"He's a bad boy," his mother said. "How did he break it?"
"I threw a stone at him," Ted answered, "and he quickly moved down."
The lecture on evolution had been going on for nearly two hours. Then he started again, and said he, "Let me ask the evolutionist a question. If we had tails like a baboon, where are they?"
"I'll venture an answer," said an old lady. "We have worn them off sitting here so long."
JANUARY 5, 2000
JANUARY 5, 2000
Young hopeful: "Father, what is a traitor in politics?"
Father (a veteran politician): "A traitor is a man who leaves our party and goes over to the other one."
Young hopeful: "Well then, what is a man who leaves his party and comes over to ours?"
Father: "A convert, my son."
(A father and his son have supper)
Father: "We must keep silence when we are having our meal!"
Son: "Dad, I want say. . . "
Father: "Stop talking, we are having our meal!"
(After supper)
Son: "Dad, it is tasty to eat up the fly?"
Father: "Why you ask me this question?"
Son: "I found a fly fallen down in your soup when we had our supper!"
No matter which girl he brought home, the young man found disapproval from his mother. A friend gave him advice.
"Find a girl just like your mother-then she's bound to like her."
So the young man searched and searched, and finally found a girl. He told his friendly adviser, "Just like you said, I found a girl who looked, talked, dressed, and even cooked like mother. And just as you said, mother liked her"
"So," asked the friend, "what happened?"
"Nothing," said the young man. "My father hates her!"
JANUARY 6, 2000
A small boy decided to play mailman. He found his wagon and went door to door delivering letters. He gave a letter to everyone in the neighborhood. That afternoon he told his mother about his exciting game. "I was a postman today," he said, "and I gave letters to all the neighbors."
"Where did you get the letters?" His mother innocently asked.
"They were in your bedroom," the little boy said, "They were wrapped in a pretty red ribbon."
Rio -- 1980
Smell the salt as it sprays out of the sensuous South Atlantic. Feel the hot sand as it oozes through your sun-fried toes. Listen to the sound of the waves as they tumblebreakroar along the bone-white beaches.
Stretch your neck up high -- higher, raise it another five and three-eighths degrees until you see the beginnings of the middle of the mountains -- those macho Latino mountains that dwarf all but the mightiest Brobdingnagian. Look to Sugarloaf on your right; see the cable car rising from the shore to the first lump of brown sugar. Watch the tiny people unglue themselves as they peal their way out of the tiny car and wander around the lower of the two peaks. Imagine them peering through telescopes as they smile back at you. Join them as they cram themselves inside a second cable car, rocking with their weight as the car blows gently in the wind and crawls slowly along its steel cable to the second peak.
Now turn left and hold your head up to the sky, squint as the sun shines so seductively. See the Statue of Christ towering above you. Watch the hang gliders as they float and drift aimlessly from the milk white cow shaped clouds to the distant shore. Smell the salt water as it blends with the aromas of fresh baked breads and barbecued beef. Taste the sweet mango, the zesty papaya, the erotic guava.
Smile at the barefoot boys who stroll up and down the beach, renting umbrellas, selling tea, carrying baskets filled with snacks. Watch the young men play a real game of volleyball -- not one of those namby-pamby sissy games you've seen your neighbors play. These are virile young guys lunging for the ball, falling, knees thrust deeply into the wet sand as they slap the ball over the net. Back it goes, over and over -- from side to side. It seems as if the action will never stop. The score is still six to six, six to six, six to six, six to six. Seven seems impossible for either team to reach.
1. The mosquito
One day, a mosquito bit a boy, the boy cried and tell his mother, "mother, a mosquito bit me, but I knew it was a man!"
His mother said; "Why do you know that it was a man?"
The boy say; "It is very easy, because it bit me in toilet men's."
2. Bananas
One day, a mother and his son came to a bank. They came to the counter of bank, the son put his bananas into the counter, the Bank clerk was very surprise.
The mother said in hurry; "I am sorry, we just been to the zoo and see the monkey in a cage, so my son thought this is zoo too."
Two or Three
Mother asked me to walk to the corner convenience store and buy her a quart of milk. I was a fifteen-year-old boy and had never been entrusted with such a task. My heart skipped three beats as I took the dollar bill from her hand and pranced my skinny ass up Sheraton Street across Georgia Avenue to the gas station/convenience store on the corner.
Two gruff looking men sat inside. One smoked a cigarette. The other held a thick cigar in his right hand. I approached the men cautiously. I was a born-again Christian, living as sheltered a life as a choirboy in Rome. I didn't know what to do about the tobacco smoke-and I certainly didn't know how to handle the gruff looking men.
After what seemed like decades, the older of the two asked me what I wanted.
"I need some milk," I stammered.
"How many do you want," he replied, "two or three?"
I didn't know how to answer his question. I stammered again. Milk cost $.24 a quart and I had a dollar, but my mother hadn't told me to buy 2 quarts-just one. For all I knew that 24 cents had already been ear-marked for my sister's school lunch or our evening's macaroni dinner. I stood there. Facing the man in terror and fear, I had never felt so powerless in my life. So worthless. So helpless. So alone. "Give me two," I said as I handed the man the scrunched up dollar bill I held in my sweaty paw. The man gave me my 52 cents change and I stuffed a quart of milk under each arm and started toward home, wondering all the while what exactly I would say to my mother when she discovered I had bought two quarts of milk instead of one.
The traffic on Georgia Avenue took forever to pass -- or perhaps I waited for my own special eternity, knowing that the slower it took me to reach home, the slower I'd have to face the consequences of my actions. Finally, I crossed the street. But, instead of walking straight down Sheraton Street to my home, I took the long way as I continued down Georgia and cut a left on Urbana. Urbana was a residential street and I knew the chances of being seen there were much slimmer than they'd be on Georgia Avenue. I slowed my pace and thought. What could I do? I had spent 24 cents more than I should have. Mother would go through the roof. She had been divorced -- we had been divorced -- for over a year. My father paid neither alimony nor child support. My mother worked as a bank teller. Needless to say, times were hard and we squeezed each penny -- twice.
My choices were limited. Either I'd go home and admit my failure or I'd have to do something drastic. I passed a sewer, opened the milk bottle and dumped its contents into the drain. Then I tossed the bottle into a neighbor's trashcan. When I got home, I put the bottle of milk in the fridge and hurried up to my bedroom. I took 24 cents from my bank and added it to the change.
That evening, when I gave the change to my mother, proud of myself for having conquered the devil and the men who wanted to sell me 2 or 3 instead of one, I knew I had become a man.
A Sunday-school teacher was telling her pupils the importance of making others glad. "Now, children," said she, "has anyone of you ever made someone else glad?"
"Please, teacher," said a small boy, "I've made someone glad yesterday."
"Well done. Who was that?"
"My granny."
"Good boy. Now tell us how you made your grandmother glad."
"Please, teacher, I went to see her yesterday, and stayed with her three hours. Then I said to her, 'Granny, I'm going home,' and she said, Well, I'm glad!"
Reluctantly, a husband agreed to sell some of his old neckties at a tag sale. He glowed with pride when one woman kept exclaiming, "Perfect!" as she picked up each tie. Paying for her purchases, the woman remarked, "These will look terrific on my scarecrow."
1. gift!
A: I don't know what gift I will present to my friend!
B: Who is he?
A: A friend who just begin to write literary works!
B: Give him a basket (trashcan).
2. Secret papers.
Dad: Come back to home with a big envelope.
Son: Dad, what's this?
Dad: Don't ask it! This is secret papers.
Son: I don't believe!
Dad: Open it and have a look if you don't believe!
JANUARY 24, 2000
"I've had it with my husband. He's such a clean freak," a disgruntled woman complained to her friend. "Every night he makes me wash and scrub my face."
"What's wrong with that?" Her friend asked.
"Then he wants to iron it."
JANUARY 26, 2000
A man goes to his psychiatrist and complains about his wife. "Doctor," he says, "my wife is driving me crazy."
"O, why is that?" the psychiatrist asks.
"She thinks she's a refrigerator," the man says.
"Is that a problem?" the psychiatrist asks.
"Yes, it is. You see, she snores when she's sleeping and the light keeps me awake."
JANUARY 26, 2000
Long ago, there was a boy. His parents left him no money, so he has to worked in his uncle's home as a servant. One night, the boy helped his uncle to wash his feet. He found out a pink mole on his uncle's sole. His uncle said in hurry, "You must be careful to wash my foot! You careless boy! Do you know? The man who has a mole on his sole would be a general in the future. So it is very important for my life and future. I will be a general." The boy was laugh and said; "I don't believe that. The man who have one mole on the told would be a general. And how about someone who have seven mole? "Then the boy took off his shoes and show his foot. There were 7 mole on the boy's sole. The uncle was very surprise and unhappy. Because he know someone who have 7 mole on the sole would be a king. He was very envy his nephew and he don't want his nephew will be a king. He said nothing, he called him out. The boy sleep in the firewood hut every night. His uncle decided to kill him. Then he sent his man to burn the room. The boy woke up and found hard fire everywhere. He don't know what to and he said to the sky; "God, please help me!" Soon, a hard rain was coming and the fire was die out and the boy ran away here.
The uncle was very angry and sent more his men to kill this boy. The boy was very tired and hungry, now it was winter. There were only the withered grass and dead leaves. He said to the tree; "Dear tree, please help me, I am hungry!" Then and there, the tree began to germinate and blossom, soon the trees were full with a lot of tasty fruit. After a tasty meal, the boy continue to run, because the men was very close him. There were hundreds of craggy and lofty mountains, one after another; there were magnificent cliffs, one above another. The boys had not ways (no where) to go, so he said to the mountain; "Dear Mountain, please help me!"
Soon, the boy heard a deafening sound and a large cave was appear on the mountain and a golden dragon fly to him and carry him through the cave. After five years, the boy became a wise and brave king. His Uncle got a deserved punishment, but the boy forgave his uncle and look after him. That's why the people call the cave Heaven Cave.
1. study endurance
A: How about your family recently?
B: My wife study to sing, my daughter study to play piano, my son study to beat a drum.
A: How about you?
B: I study endurance.
2. ghost
A lady was visiting an old castle at night. She was very afraid of the ghost, so she ask the guide:
"Have you ever seen the ghost here before?"
"I have work here in a long time and I have never seen the ghost before!"
The lady was very happy and ask him; "by the way, how long do you work in here, sir?"
"Three hundred years."
3. A machine of intelligence quotient!
There is a machine lay up at the street and it can tell you how many intelligence quotient you have!
The way is stretch out your head into the glass cover that it will display the number of your intelligence quotient.
A lady stretch out her head into the glass cover. Soon the machine displayed the number 48.
A young man was very interesting and stretched out his head into the glass cover, but there are not any number was display but one word; "Don't put a stone into the glass cover."
Circles
Circles are smugglies,
small and ugly;
Ellipses are flat smugglies,
mumbley.
Squares are smugglies
with straight even ends.
The world is a smugly
with its stomach abend.
1. Help me off the train.
"Conductor! Help me off the train."
"Sure."
"You see. I'm stout and I have to get off the train backwards; the porter thinks I'm getting on and gives me a shove on again. I'm five stations past my destination now."
2. Give him another chance
Husband: "I've got to get rid of my chauffeur; he's nearly killed me four times."
Wife: "Oh, give him another chance."
APRIL 1, 2000
From Face to Feet
Quickly my eyes
dart from face
to feet
As I avert
my eyes
from the God
I seek,
Wondering
what's
hidden
in between
As my eyes
wander
from his face to his feet.
1. Help me off the train.
"Conductor! Help me off the train."
"Sure."
"You see. I'm stout and I have to get off the train backwards. The porter thinks I'm getting on and gives me a shove on again. I'm five stations past my destination now."
2. Give him another chance
Husband: "I've got to get rid of my chauffeur; he's nearly killed me four times."
Wife: "Oh, give him another chance."
A big moron and a little moron stood on top of the Empire State Building.
They stood very close to the edge
Which one fell off?
Answer: the big moron.
1. A careless barber:
"Were you wearing a red scarf when you came in?"
Customer: "No."
Barber: "Oh, then I must have cut your throat."
2. Do you have a good memory?
Wife: "Do you have a good memory for faces?"
Husband: "Yes-why?"
Wife: "I just broke your shaving mirror."
3. An interesting answer:
Teacher: "Which is farther away-Australia or the moon?"
Student: "Australia."
Teacher: "Why do you say that?"
Student: "We can see the moon, but we can't see Australia."
MAY 7, 2000
FIRST TRIP TO KINGS COLLEGE
On September 7, 1962, Scot Walker traveled all the way from Washington, D.C. to his new college in New York-a distance of 200 miles. He took two buses from his home in Wheaton, Maryland to Union Station in the District of Columbia. His grandmother met him at Union Station and they talked briefly. It was ironic that Scot was leaving from Union Station because that same railroad station was the first place his grandmother had seen when she entered Washington, DC in 1917. It was fitting that Scot's favorite person in the whole world be with him in this place at this time.
Scot dragged his heavy suitcase and a large sailor's bag filled with clothes, books, toiletries, and food to the train sitting on the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He waived to his grandma as the train chugged away. Five hours later, he reached New York City. Tired now and hungry and in a totally new and different environment, he struggled across the concourse in Pennsylvania Station, dragging his bag in his left hand. His sailor's bag was hanging from his shoulder by a rope, which etched its way deeply into his skin.
Scot needed to find a way to get to Grand Central Station, about eight blocks away, and had heard that he could take the subway, but he had no idea where it was and he knew he'd never be able to carry all his luggage without knowing exactly what he was doing. Scot only weighed 120 pounds and his luggage was almost as heavy as he was. He stood helplessly for a few moments when a kind young man grabbed his bags and said, "You need a taxi, follow me." Scot was happy for the first time that day. He had finally found a friendly face, a kind person-and in New York City, of all places. The young man took Scot to the taxi stand directly outside the main door of Pennsylvania Station and a cab driver put Scot's luggage in the trunk. "That will be a dollar per bag," the kind man said, as he held out his hand for his tip. Scot reached into his wallet and paid the man $2.00 Scot started to sweat since he'd only brought $25 in cash with him and he knew that would have to last for the entire semester.
Scot got into the cab and the cab driver immediately began cursing like a pirate. "That GD SOB who just got out of my cab had me drive him all the way from the F. . . ing airport and he only gave me $2 tip, SOB, F. . ing SOB." The cursing continued for about 10 minutes as the cab crawled across town. Scot looked at the meter. "$.80, $.90, $1.20, $1.40, $1.80, $2.10, $2.25, $2.40, $2.50, $2.75, $3.00, $3.10." Scot had no idea how close he was to Grand Central Station and he had no idea how much it would cost to get across town. His sweat began to run like a river from his armpits to his toes as he fingered his billfold. He prayed that he'd be able to drag his own bags across the concourse in Grand Central Station because he knew he wouldn't be able to afford another porter. The taximeter kept ticking like a Timex watch; it was unstoppable. "$3.30, $3.40, $3.50, $3.70." Each time the cab stopped in traffic, the meter went up just a little higher. Each time the cab crept forward 1/5 of a mile, the meter crept again. Bit by bit, Scot's nerves were being wrought with fear and the sweat dripped down his neck into the rope burns on his shoulders.
Scot entered the station, bought his ticket and dragged his two bags to the gate marked "Peekskill." He would have to take that train to Scarborough Station and then get a ride to his college. It seemed like hours before the train finally arrived. The train had only two cars and Scot boarded the closest one. Stuffing his bags in the overhead rack, he sat on the straw seat and within minutes, the train started to fill with businessmen heading home from New York City. One by one, they lit up their pipes, cigars and cigarettes. Within moments, the air was so dank and dark that Scot could barely see out the window. Scot was deathly allergic to smoke, but didn't know what to do. He was still a kid. He handed the conductor his ticket and feebly asked which station was Briarcliff Manor and Scarborough Station. The conductor mumbled something so fast that Scot was barely able to hear. Scot was too frightened to ask how many stops were between New York and Scarborough and he was equally frightened to ask how long it would take. This was Scot's first adventure-and he had no idea of when it would end. So he sat nervously, smelling the tobacco, miserably alone for the first time in his life-wondering if he had made the right decision to go to a strange school so far away from home--wondering if he would like the place, the people, the curriculum.
Scot arrived at Scarborough station a little after 5:00 PM and called the college for a ride. Within a few minutes, an elderly gentleman arrived, helped Scot with his luggage and took him to the main campus of The King's College.
After a while, he met his two roommates: Chuck Withers and Michael Villano. Mike was an Italian-about 5'10" and thin-he had a dark complexion and talked rapidly; he was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Chuck, on the other hand, was fat and short and came from Irvington, New Jersey-about 50 miles from campus.
Long ago, there was a boy, his parents left him no money, so he has to worked in his uncle's home as a servant.
One night, the boy helped his uncle to wash his feet. He found out a pink mole on his uncle's sole. His uncle said in hurry, "You must be careful to wash my foot you careless boy! Do you know? The man who has a mole on his sole would be a general in the future. So it is very important for my life and future. I will be a general."
The boy was laugh and said, "I don't believe that." The man who have one mole on the toe would be a general. And how about someone who have seven mole?" Then the boy took off his shoes and show his foot. There were 7 mole on the boy's sole.
The uncle was very surprise and unhappy because he know someone who have 7 mole on the sole would be a king. He was very envy his nephew and he don't want his nephew will be a king. He said nothing, he called him out.
The boy sleep in the firewood hut every night. His uncle decided to kill him. Then he sent his man to burn the room. The boy woke up and found hard fire everywhere. He don't know what to and he said to the sky, "God, please help me!" Soon, a hard rain was coming and the fire was die out and the boy ran away here.
The uncle was very angry and sent more his men to kill this boy. The boy was very tired and hungry, now it was winter. There were only the withered grass and dead leaves. He said to the tree: "Dear tree, please help me, I am hungry!" Then and there, the tree began to germinate and blossom, soon the trees were full with a lot of tasty fruit. After a tasty meal, the boy continue to run because the men was very close him.
There were hundreds of craggy and lofty mountains, one after another; there were magnificent cliffs, one above another. The boys had not ways to go, so he said to the mountain, "Dear Mountain, please help me!"
Soon, the boy heard a deafening sound and a large cave was appear on the mountain and a golden dragon fly to him and carry him through the cave.
After five years, the boy became a wise and brave kind. His uncle got a deserved punishment, but the boy forgave his uncle and look after him.
That's why the people call the cave Heaven Cave.
Dr. Foster went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle
Up to his muddle
And never went there again.
Back to the Scot Walker Story Page
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