Let's Play Catch Up

Last Monday we went on a tour of the village of Hutong and then travelled to the City of Zho Zhou. As usual Eric as a virtual treasure of information. We had a short tutorial about marriage customs on the bus ride to Hutong. The majority of marriages are still arranged somewhat, with the parents introducing children to acceptable matches. However, the children do have a say init, and the customs are evolving round the importance of love in a marriage plan. The divorce rate here is very low. Another evolving tradition is that of the bride price. Traditionally the groom was to provide the bride's family with 3 gifts. In the 1980's it was a bicycle, a good watch, and a sewing machine. in the 1990's the gifts became a T.V., a refrigerator , and gold jeweller y. Today the expected gifts are: gold jeellry, a car, and an apartment! This is why the Chinese are marrying older, and only the very wealthy can afford a bride!!! This has happened in part to aid in the competion factor. There are 10 million more men than women in China due to the one child only laws and parents choosing fetal viability according to the sex. ( tears) This has created a number of interesting social ramifications, including a whole new single working class of men. The extravagant gifts expected by the groom, really narrow the playing field of available suitors. In return the future mother-in-law gives the girl 10,001 yuen. 10,000 is the number of heaven here so 10,001 is a symbol of her being perfect for their son; that she is sent from heaven.

We arrived in Hutong during a welcome rain shower and enjoyed a wonderful rickshaw tour of what I can ony describe as old China. Everything is very compact. The streets are only 2-3 metres wide compared to our normal 8 meter roads. The street widths do widen here and there according to the wealth of the homes that share the drive. The rain was the perfect acompaniment to this morning rickshaw ride. Many women, children and old men poked their heads out to see us as we progressed in our caravan of 8 rickshaws. The drivers were jovial, with never ending smiles, lots of joking between one another. This must be a good way to pass the time with heavy loads. They had us draped with water proof curtains while the rain fell. I felt like royalty :)

My mind wandered to how it would have felt to be in a horse-drawn covered carriage. The sound of horses hooves on cobble stone replaced the constant whirring of the bicylce tires on the pavement. Our tour paused in front of what looked at a quaint home. It had four stars above the door and it as explained that this was in fact the most expensive home in Hutong. Once inside the courtyard, the beauty of the home enveloped you. Everything had been maintained in old-style furnishings and finishings. The Feng Shui of the home was said to be perfect, which I do not know how to judge, but it certainly was appealing to the eye and all the other senses! The 1500sq. ft home is over 400 years old and it is currently valued at 1 billion Cnd dollars!

After this, we were transported to an upper class family home for a traditional lunch with the family who lies there currently. This as wonderful! Again- homecooked always tastes better than restaurant food. The children were enthralled by the family alter to their anscestors, complete with offerings of fruit, money and very large, well-fed crickets. They sang loudly throughout our whole meal.

After Lunch we walked to a fine porceline workshop and museum. Ethan and Liam each received a lesson at the potter's wheel bythe pottery master who is employed by the government. Liam made a bowl and ethan a candle stick. It is not unlike an artist in residence situation, where they have a new artist come in every three years. There were staions flled with young men and women shapng and finishing the pottery, as well as a room for a sculptor.

Our afternoon ended with tearful goodbyes to our wonderful guide Eric. He would not be taking the trip with us to Zhu Zhou. It was to be a quick 2 hour plane ride to our destination, but the lovely light rain we had enjoyed for most of the day, had morphed into the ligtening storm of the summer and the entire Beijing airport was shut down for 6 hours. We arrived weary eyed at 3 a.m. instead of 8 p.m. One of the books I read about China before coming said that the # one thing to take with you to China is PATIENCE. I am glad I have a suitcase full. The delays in the airport were a sign about how the rest of this week was to unfold...but that is another story.