Visit to the Jue Village - 2010

Our trip to the Jue Village began here in Kai Ping at the confluence of the Tan Jiang River.

Kai Ping is 144km from Guangzhou city and located in the flourishing Pearl River Delta which is the earliest open area to the outside world

The Ever Joint Hotel in Kai Ping was our starting point for our bus ride to the Villages.

We were greeted and welcomed by the village water buffalo.

The entrance gate to the Jue Village.

I am pointing at my parent's picture on the gate, also on the left were Marianne's mother (my sister) and father, and cousin Don & Donna Jue in the middle.

Left to right: May (sister) & Tony Jue, Don & Donna Jue (cousins) and parents on the right.

Allen with daughters, Kristi and Jonee.

Peter, Kevin, Dianne, Karen & Marianne (nieces & nephews) standing below their parents photo.

Portion of the Village as you enter. The gray building on the right is the Community Center donated by my parents and Marianne's parents. Weddings, parties and village gatherings are held in that building.

The Jue House was built in 1931 and must of stood out as the beacon of the village. It was a magnificent design which has proudly held up through the ages. There are 3 stories with balconies with views over the village and at least 10 bedrooms. It was a wonderful experience to step inside and imagine life in those days.

Chuck, Jonee, Kristi, Julie (behind), Donna and Allen paying our respects. That is a roasted pig and various food for the village.

Maggie, Rod and Dorothy (sister).

Daisy (sister) and Cedric.

Milton, Ella, Jeanne (sister) and Don.

Karen, Kevin, Marianne, Gary, Dianne and Gary; Vicky and Peter in second row.

Front: Peter, Murrie and Kenny; back row: Jerry, Lana and Barbara.

Front room, grandpa's picture (large one) is on the left wall.

Bedroom used as storage.

bedroom with netting.

Family alter on the third floor.

Brother and sisters: Allen, Dorothy, Jeanne and Daisy.

Allen, Donna, Jonee and Kristi.

Sister, Dorothy with Rod and Maggie.

Note the prominent vibrant painted frescoes behind them on the wall. However, during the Communist occupation, to our dismay some of the poems and paintings suggesting conflicting ideology were defaced or destroyed. Ironically, those damaged paintings remind us of the turbulent Communist era and its mark on the history of the country.

Cedric and Daisy (sister).

Nephews & nieces: Peter, Karen, Gary, Marianne, Kevin and Dianne.

The front of the house, you can see the carvings on the exterior of the building corroborated elegance and excellent workmanship.
Note the two strings of firecrackers hanging from the second balcony.

Blast-off, Hello celebration, goodbye bad spirits.

House is still standing. No Chinese fire drill here...

Group picture in front of house.

Kristi, Allen and Jonee standing in front of Community Center.

Village pond, also used for various activities including laundry.

Tending the fields as they did 100 years ago with the help of Mr. Buffalo.

Gentleman on the bike looks quizzically at me.

As we leave the Main Gate to the Village, this has been an historical trip, we have seen the genesis of where we came from and why we are who we are. It was an emotional experience for the ones coming for the first time.

I wrote this after the first time Donna and I was here 5 years ago and believe to still be true:

"I have seen the village with my own eyes, now I can more readily appreciate my parent’s life values, work ethics and aspirations. The village is a special sense of place. It’s about the land and the people; there’s a bond and a respect. The land will yield proportionately to the effort put forth and vice versa. A simple life’s lesson which so many fail to understand…

Lastly, I have seen many fantastic buildings throughout China designed by the world’s best architects and entire cities built overnight, but the true power and soul of China is in the villages and the farmers. They are burdened with the task of feeding 1.3 billion people who depend on them for their subsistence."

Marianne: "This is a historical journey for us to the Jue and Kwan Villages. Walton Jue had a vision to go to the United States for a better life for himself and his children, I am the example of the "American Dream".

Karen: "I have been to the village before but this trip was significant and more emotional because I am sharing this experience with my cousins and others".

Kristi: "I have anxiously anticipated this trip when I first learned I was going to be part of the visits to the villages. I did not anticipate the emotion I would feel. I wasn't fully aware of my grandfather's importance and influence on our family. I learned that on this trip. Many things I have seen and experience in China have been awesome, but being with Dad, Jonee and the rest of the family has brought into focus the family unit. It was a once in a lifetime event I will never forget. I thank Sam, Dad and the rest of the family for sharing it with me".