A Great Week to be a Woman . . . (March 2017)
So . . . . . International Women's Day . . . . . . I've read a little bit about the strikes/protests in the U.S. and other places in the world. This is how we did it here . . . .
Tuesday, March 7 -- I was among many honored guests at the People's Hall at Tian'anmen Square. Who would have ever thought?? We (about 12 foreign teachers at PKU) received beautiful invitations to a reception held at The Great Hall of the People (equivalent to the U.S. Capitol or British Parliament buildings). We met at the university, where a lovely bus was waiting for us, and traveled from there to Tian'anmen Square, which was filled with limos and fancy cars/drivers. Security was tight -- in fact, my friend Marilyn wasn't able to get in because she didn't bring the correct documents (read the ENTIRE email, Marilyn!!) Sadly, you can see Marilyn here in the shadow of Mao behind the fence (what kind of sick person actually snaps that picture???) So, while Kathy and I entered the People's Hall to red-carpet treatment, Marilyn trudged toward a subway stop -- alone -- heading for home because, yeah, I guess that's just the kind of friends we are . . .
What a wonderful afternoon of entertainment (singers, dancers, acrobats) and speeches (not too many!) The main speech began: "Honored guests, Chinese Officials and Dignitaries, Ambassadors and Wives of Ambassadors, Foreign Dignitaries, and International Foreign Experts . . . ." That's me!! An "International Foreign Expert!!" I know in translation it sounds somewhat redundant, but that is my title -- and I have the credential to prove it (issued by the Chinese government -- looks a lot like a passport). Kathy had attended this reception (as had Marilyn) last year, so she wasn't quite as ga-ga over the whole thing as I was, but it was certainly an amazing opportunity. Who would have ever dreamed back in the 1960s that this little girl from Orem, Utah, would one day be sitting in the Great Hall of the People in the capital of China being treated like royalty? I snapped several pictures of the magnificent hall, the beautiful women from around the world, and the entertainment. I'll include just a few of them . . . And my favorite photo??? It's at the top of this blog post. Here's the story: Following the reception, I was making my way out of the building when I passed a group of Chinese officials and dignitaries (the ones with the front-row seats). While passing, I inadvertently made eye contact with one woman, so I smiled and gave a slight nod of my head to show respect, then continued on my way. I had only taken a few steps when I felt a tap on my shoulder, and it was that same woman, wanting to take a picture with me. Such a strong feeling of camaraderie and affection in spite of the inability to communicate verbally!! Perhaps the women should take over the "running of the world" for a while!! (And yes, you can see from this first picture that it was a very blustery day -- that's why there was no smog!)
Just a few days previously--Thursday, March 2, I flew to Hong Kong with my friend Regina for the Asia Area Women's Conference (thank you, Brigg, for covering my Thursday afternoon classes!) We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Times Square (hence the pictures of Times Square during the day and again at night). I snapped the lego-themed pictures for you, Gants! We found a Picasso exhibit right there near our hotel, which was just a few blocks from the church where the conference was held. Another great experience!!
This last picture is a group photo of the LDS women from mainland China who attended the conference -- mostly ex-pats. Altogether, there were several hundred women in attendance -- ex-pats and natives -- from countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Mongolia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Japan, and Korea, in addition to China and Hong Kong. We met many beautiful and interesting women -- each with a unique story. On Friday evening, Regina and I went out for dim sum with our new friends Esther (from Hong Kong) and Imelda (from Indonesia). Don't know if I was "showing off," but it seemed like a good time to actually try the chicken feet that I have been snapping pictures of for the last six months. Regina's face says it all . . . .
On Friday, March 10, I went with a former student, Rebecca, for hot pot near the campus. Rebecca is from Xi'an, loves musical theater, is planning to be a lawyer, and has a great story. She shared some "Women's Day" traditions that are honored at PKU, including one where the female students fill out "wish" cards, which are then "drawn" by the young men on campus, who then make the wishes come true. For example, one young woman might "wish" for some help with her math homework, while another might "wish" for a lunch date or a movie date. It's something the girls on campus look forward to all year. While I was on my way to meet Rebecca on campus, I came across a beautiful couple taking wedding photos right there in front of the library. I think I may have surprised the bride by snapping a photo, but I wasn't the only one enjoying the moment.
