Chinese Family in Chengdu
Meeting my fellow student Atom in Dali again is great, not only because of catching up with him after a month, but also because he gives me the contact of a lovely Chinese woman.
He is raving so much about Huqin, that I think “Okay, I will contact this woman“. And so I do – always follow your gut – and the I Ching!
Huqin responds instantly, and not only opens her heart, but also her home to us! Without even knowing me, she very generously offers us her apartment to stay in – for free ! – and to be our tour guide during our time in Chengdu.
I am already familiar with the kindness of the Chinese, but soon I will find out that Huqin, her family and two of her best friends, Yanzi and Yang Ke Jia, go beyond any expectations one could possibly have.
From the moment we arrive at her apartment, we are welcomed like family. How wonderful it is to be part of a Chinese family too!
“Desperate Housewives” in Chengdu
HUQIN
Huqin, mother of two wonderful boys and married to a great man, turns out to be the best guide we could ever have wished for. Her hospitality and the way she looks after us are just incredible.
We are invited to exquisite meals over and over again. Both Huqin and her husband make sure we get to taste all the different dishes. They are delighted to share as much as they can and let us experience the Chinese culture from their hearts.
She is concerned about Dave’s health when she notices how he sometimes struggles while walking. She cares in a way only family does! So one day, she arranges for Dave to see a doctor in the hospital. Within less than ten minutes, we end up at the hospital, where he is seen by a doctor in no time. The doctor turns out to speak perfect English, as he studied abroad in the U.S. for several years.
Huqin is the most talented woman when it comes to organising day trips, sights and meals. She makes sure her friends get the change to meet us too. She is kind to the people we meet during the day, open-minded and always happy to lend a listening ear and give people her full attention, without expecting anything in return!
Huqin refers more than once to herself and her friends as “just housewives”. She has so much potential, is an amazing networker and is so much more than “just a housewife”!
On our last day, while visiting the Qingyang Palace, one of Chengdu’s most important Taoist temples, we exchange our thoughts and I can finally express my gratitude and admiration for her.
I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that she can see herself through my eyes and knows how precious and valuable she is!
YANZI
Yanzi, one of Huqin’s best friends and mother of “Harry“, joins us while visiting Panda Valley and also the following day.
She is the most caring person you can imagine. Bringing us breakfast, a bag of apples, peanuts and all sorts of typical snacks.
Together with Huqin, she is always giving her very best to give us the most authentic experience we can get. It’s obvious, that she supports Huqin in many ways.
Her English is fantastic, and it is wonderful to see how well she is raising her son. We bond in a very special way.
I recognise myself in many ways in her. She’s the one, helping to set the table, always making sure the children and everybody else are served first. She’s also the one who stays behind to clean up afterwards and the one who accompanies us all the way home to make sure we arrive safely.
A true treasured friend!
YANG KE JIA
Yang Ke Jia calls herself “a tiger mum“. She is indeed very demanding when it comes to her children. The effort she makes to provide them with the best possible education, while being a great example of how to treat others, is very impressive.
Both her daughter and son are so loving and caring! They look after us, and especially after Dave, as if he were their own granddad. Always taking him by the hand, peeling fruit or cracking peanuts for us.
Her efforts are already bearing fruits.
We are delighted to be accompanied by such loving, well-behaved and well-educated children!
The friendship Yang Ke Jia shares with Huqin and Yanzi is so beautiful! Each of them adds something very special to their relationship. I feel so blessed to become part of this friendship.
I “desperately” want to be part of the “house wives” club! This is true GIRLS POWER!
The People’s Park
Since I came to study Tai Chi & Qi Gong for two months in the Tianmeng Mountains, Huqin drives us early in the morning to the famous People’s Park. She drops Yanzi, Dave and me off right in front of the entrance before she tries to find a parking spot nearby.
I watch a ninety-year-old master practising Tai Chi with some women. When he finishes, Huqin walks over to him and starts a conversation.
She is so good with people, always showing genuine interest! She would make such a great journalist, as she is truly interested in people and their stories.
This man, for example, started practising in his seventies, after he retired. Now he comeds to the park every day. He teaches people for free. On days with heavy rainy, he skips his practice, but still shows up because people are waiting for him!
The way he moves is so graceful – I am in awe!
Grandma
A bit later, while walking around the tea houses and botanical garden, we see an elderly lady in a wheelchair. I smile at her and she waves back to me.
Huqin notices and, as always, immediately sees an opportunity to brighten someone’s day!
She starts a conversation. The woman is delighted to meet us, and so we end up taking pictures with her. She introduces us to her friend, who has joined us with her rollator.
The enthusiasm of this woman is so contagious! How lucky we are to meet her!
In the end Huqin and the woman exchange WeChat numbers so we can send her the photographs.
Later that same evening, Huqin receives a message from her, including a photograph. It shows the woman holding two pictures – the ones we took that very morning.
Her loving son went to have them developed straight away, since she was over the moon about meeting us!
She also sends Huqin a picture of herself proudly wearing a uniform. It turns out she was a specialist in fingerprints. How interesting!
I am so grateful to have a Chinese Grandma too, now! How wonderful life can be.
Chinese Food
As mentioned before, Dave and I are so spoilt by everything Huqin, her family and friends offer us.
On our last day, while Huqin and the girls guide us around, her loving husband and his mother prepare the most delicious dinner.
And guess what, we are invited!
It’s their way of saying “goodbye” to us and showing us once more how welcome we are.
Being guests in their warm and wonderful home is very special. We also meet their cute dog!
Dave is particularly intested in how to prepare the famous “thousand-year-old-eggs“. So, after dinner, Huqin’s mother-in-law gives him a private cooking class. They turn out wonderfully!
On our last morning, before taking a Didi to the railway station, Huqin insists on seeing us off and making sure we have a proper Breakfast before leaving. Yanzi shows up to say goodbye too! How wonderful!
After breakfast we go for a little walk and Huqin’s mother joins us. Our Chinese family keeps growing!
It is hard to say goodbye, but the fact that we all grew together as one family in only a few days makes it a little easier.
No distance can ever come between the bond of a family!
“Xièxie wŏ de jiārén” !
