Great Wall & Farewell to Sam -China 2010

""One World, One Dream" is simple in expressions, but profound in meaning. It is of China, and also of the world. It conveys the lofty ideal of the people in Beijing as well as in China to share the global community and civilization and to create a bright future hand in hand with the people from the rest of the world. It expresses the firm belief of a great nation, with a long history of 5,000 years and on its way towards modernization, that is committed to peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness. It voices the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and bright world."

A great shot of our group with the flag of China and the Great Wall of China in the background.
Front row left to right: Jonee Jue, Julie Kinder, Kristi Jue, Allen Jue, Milton Lau, Karen Jue
Second row left to right: Don Wong, Jeannie Jue Wong, Daisy Jue Yang, Dorothy Jue Lee, Marianne Jue Moy (red blouse), Barbara Scott, Donna Riley, Ella Lau, Maggie Lee, Rod Lee, Peter Jue and Cedric Yang.
Photo was taken by Chuck Schuman.

Donna and Allen on the way to the top.

 

We made it to one of the top tiers of the Great Wall, 

Left to right: Allen, Donna, Jeannie, Ella, Barbara and Milton. Karen Jue also made it and was the photographer. 

The rest of the group conquered their own portion of the wall.

This is the view from one of the top tiers, we started at the bottom where the square brown building is located.

 The National Olympic Stadium (nicknamed the Birdnest).

"Great architecture can never be fully conveyed through a television screen, of course, and it saddens me that so many Americans will experience the building only via satellite. In a site for mass gatherings, Swiss architects, Herzog and de Meuron, have carved out psychological space for the individual, and rethought the relationship between the solitary human and the crowd, the everyday and the heroic. However the structure attests to China’s nationalistic ambitions, it is also an aesthetic triumph that should cement the nation’s reputation as a place where bold, creative gambles are unfolding every day."

We are lining up to enter the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The construction of the grand palace started in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and ended in 1420.

Our official group picture in Tiananmen Square.

Front row left to right: Sam Yang, Dorothy Jue Lee, Julie Kinder (black), Chuck Schuman, Jonee Jue, Lana Osterholt, Kristi Jue, Allen Jue & Cedric Yang.

Back row left to right: Jerry Osterholt, Daisy Jue Yang, Marianne Moy, Jeannie Jue Wong, Don Wong, Peter Jue (yellow), Milton Lau, Ella Lau, Barbara Scott, Donna Riley, Karen Jue, Maggie Lee & Rod Lee

Beijing is full of modern architecture and world class buildings.

After climbing the Great Wall for most of the day, we've worked up an appetite, what's more apropos than eating Beijing Duck at the famous Quanjude Restaurant in Beijing.

By the Qianlong Period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, the popularity of the Beijing Duck spread to the upper classes, inspiring poetry from poets and scholars who enjoyed the dish.

The inside of our restaurant is nice and modern bristling with lots of business. By the mid 20th century, the Beijing Duck had become a national symbol of China, favored by tourist and diplomats alike.

Henry Kissinger was served Beijing Duck when he lunched with Premier Zhou Enlai, it became his favorite. The same day they issued a joint statement inviting President Nixon to visit China in 1972. Hence the Beijing Duck was considered one of the factors behind the reconnection of the United States and China in the 1970's.

The hung oven was developed in the imperial kitchens during the Qing Dynasty and adopted by the Quanjude restaurant chain. It is designed to roast up to 20 ducks at the same time with an open fire fueled by hardwood from the peach or pear tree.

Chef's wheel the ducks to your table and prepare them.

These ducks have been roasted at a temperature of 525F for 30-40 minutes, during that time, the chef dangles the duck over the fire for 30 second intervals.

Chefs are trained to slice the duck in a certain sequence in order to have the correct ratio of skin to meat. Some restaurants only serve the skin wrapped in a bun.

Besides the Beijing duck, we had plenty of food to eat, more than enough for our American diet criteria, our food consumption bordered on the absurd. Yuk, but honestly, it was sooo delicious.

There is a proper way to eat Beijing duck, pick it up with your chopstick and dip it in the soy paste. Next lay it on the thin pancake, add green onions, wrap like a burrito and eat. The real secret of Beijing duck's flavor lies in your carefully nibbling away at the mixture. You will find the different ingredients very compatible. That's the Chinese way, American way is two or three bites and you're ready for the next one. Give me six more of those.....

Tomorrow, we fly home to the US, this is the last moments of our trip with our national guide, Sam Yang. Marianne is telling Sam she was so grateful he spoke beautiful English.

She also spoke of his effectiveness in dealing with problems along the way such as hard beds, quality of the foods, keeping us senior citizens out too late and lack of air-conditioning in certain rooms.

In Beijing on a warm night, Marianne was so exasperated her air wasn't working, she walked to Sam's room in her pajamas and traded him rooms because his air was working. He made a "big no, no" the next morning when he asked us how we slept, he got an ear full from a number of us. Donna remarked, "she would have preferred Motel 6 over this", others were vocal too. However, everything was repaired and we're cool....

If truth be known, it was hard to be irritated with Sam, he was a prince and made our trip the dream trip of our lifetime.

Dorothy is telling us we had two birthdays on the trip, Chuck and Jonee. The birthday tradition is to share red lucky money envelopes and when you are given one, you in return wish them a happy birthday. My red envelope contained the 13th president of the United State, President Millard Fillmore one dollar coin.

Sam, in you, we discovered a wonderful human being. In the United States, we refer to you as one of the good guys. We thank you for your kindness and personal caring: you took the time to know each of us.

Your leadership in guiding us from place to place was seamless. As Marianne said, this was our ancestral trip to five villages, we shared those poignant moments with you and in turn, you shared yours with us.

Aside from the political rhetoric and ideology, there is that common thread of friendship that we can use to bridge our understanding of the peoples of China and the United States. The thread we take with us will be nurtured and possibly brought to fruition during our lifetime where we will live as one peoples of the world.

We have seen China through your eyes. We appreciated your knowledge of China's history which you unselfishly shared. It enriched our trip to contemplate 5,000 years of China's history.

As you go on with your life, please remember us as the "ancestral pilgrims" and/or the "air-conditioning gang".

We bid you goodbye and when we gather at Marianne's home for our reunion,  you can be sure your imprint on this trip will be resonated over and over.

We offer you our best wishes and appreciation as you take your place in the future of China.

Goodbye, Sam.

Tony Kwan Jue Village - Gong Gui Lei (Village of Multitude) 2010

This is a picture of May (sister) and Tony Kwan Jue (brother in law). We believe this picture was taken around 1940 after their wedding. Before Tony immigrated to the United States, they had a daughter, Marianne.

Gate entrance to the Kwan Village was donated and built by Tony and May Jue.

  

This is called "Sa Han" Protector of the village and its inhabitants. It was located near the entrance gate of the village.

 

The ever present pond at the Kwan Village. Except for the electrical lines, the village looked the same as 60 years ago. Thanks to the donations of Tony and May Jue and other overseas villagers, the money facilitated deferred maintenance and repair.

This whole area personifies peacefulness, no five o'clock rush here.  From the Kwan Village you can look across the pond and see lush rice fields growing in the next village and the distant mountains in the background.

The Chinese are predominately farmers, they love the feel of the soil in their hands. They have tilled their land  for centuries and tend their fields faithfully as they would in rearing their children.

 

The Tony Kwan Jue home where Marianne and cousin Gary were born. The rest of the nephews and nieces were born in the United States.

 

The kitchen prep area where the meals are prepared.

 No granite island in the kitchen here.

 

This is a two burner kitchen stove Chinese style. She is stoking the fire with kindling wood.

This is not "Yan can Cook", it's our Kenny Lau who has a perpetual smile and enjoys life to the fullest.

 

The roast pig is used for all festive occasions, our visit was considered such an affair.

 

The pig is ready, the five strings of firecrackers are ready. 

 Blast off! The firecrackers welcome the celebration and chase off the evil spirits.

The red paper is the aftermath of the big bang!

This is our travel group in a Kodak moment. Marianne is front and center in her Jam's World red flower shirt and Gary is to her right in the white shirt. It was the efforts of these two that made this entire trip "A trip of a lifetime".

Marianne with her siblings (my nieces and nephews)

Kevin, Karen, Gary, Marianne, Dianne and Peter Allen.

 

 Gary and Marianne's Uncle Jiang is 91 years old and head of the third cousins family. He has 7 sons and 2 daughters. He lives by himself and is in good health. His secret to his longevity and good health is due to his    concoction of soup with wine from 3 or 4 kinds of local poisonous snakes.

I am envious of those eyebrows...

 

 Here he is again with his young assistant.

 

The Kwan village relatives gathered with Marianne and Gary for this photo opportunity. The lady in purple top (3rd from right, front row) used to babysit Marianne. They are always happy to see relatives from the USA returning home for a visit and celebration.

In the 40's there were 290 Kwans (not counting females) living in the village, at last count there are only 60 Kwans left in the village, mostly elderly.

Typically, this is the pattern throughout the country, young people are moving to the larger cities for educational and career opportunities in China's growing economy.  

 

Vicky (left), with third cousins, Lee, Liang with granddaughter, and Murrie (right) sharing goodies with  the kids in the village.

Don, Milton, Ella and Julie enjoying the moment. 

 

Marianne and Gary were born in the same house but not the same bed. They're sitting on Marianne's bed reminiscing of their young years in the village.

 The collage on the wall is of their father, mother  and the family. These pictures were taken during our family get together's and we see them again 6,000 miles away in a setting vastly different than ours.

 Kristi is pointing at a picture of me taken when I was around seven. That's been a whole lifetime ago.

That's Tony in the larger picture in the middle.

(To enlarge the picture, click on it, to return to the blog again, click on your back arrow.)

Gary and Vicky with third cousin, Liang and granddaughter.

 

Aunt Jeanne and niece Marianne, Marianne used to introduce Jeanne as her aunt to some of the guys during their college days especially at dances. They are best buds and golfing addicts.

 

Gary, Kevin, Dianne, Marianne, Karen and Peter Allen is on the balcony where you can see forever.

 

Ella, Milton and Donna are in deep discussion of something important, 

 

Julie is on the top balcony enjoying some private time to reflect what she is experiencing.

 Paying our respects to the ancestors at the burial grounds by burning incense, burning paper money and offering food.

Chinese custom is to pay respect to their ancestors and thank them for everything they had done for the current generation. Incense is burned at the grave and fireworks are lit to scare away any evil spirits. Food is offered and taken back home where a feast ensues.

 

Here's the firecrackers to deal with the evil spirits.

 

Grandparents Kwan 

 

Walton Jue, Tony, Allen and Ed. 

Because Tony wore his uniform so did Ed and I, except Ed wore his army jacket with a navy hat, what's up with that?

Tony was assigned to the Presido of Monterey at the Army Language School which specialized in Russian, Chinese, Korean, Arabic and six other languages in its curriculum. The Presidio was a sub-installation of nearby Fort Ord.

In recent years, the Institute has taken on challenging new missions, including support for arms control treaty verification, the war on Drugs, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.

A photo of Tony while he was working on the Jue's ' Bros Produce Farm in Oxnard, Ca. in the middle 40's The farm was located on Saviers Road which consisted of 15 acres. Most of the produce were sold to the Jue's family markets, local stores and the Los Angeles produce market.

After the farm closed, he came back to Jue's Market in Ventura. I remember everyday around 4:00pm, he would invite me to make home deliveries with him. The homes in those days (early 50's) were not locked and we would take the groceries into the house and put the cold things into the refrigerator and leave the bill.

While in Ventura, he made many friends and customers who still remembered him long after his move to L.A.

Tony and May went on to operate their own markets in the Los Angeles area until their retirements. They both have passed on, their legacy of a honest days work have lived on through their children and grandchildren. 

 

He was a quiet gentle person that was neither blessed nor burdened with the ambition of accumulated material things, there was a simple spirituality to Tony, he was about devotion to his wife, May, and to his children. He was about being a kind soul that always greeted you with sincerity along with a ready smile; he would always offer a listening ear no matter the subject.

He lived his life in a very positive way and expected others to do the same. He was just happy doing what he was doing. . . . There was no sense of urgency. This may seem simple to us, however, to do it day after day, year after year, even though difficult times, Tony mastered it.

I do not believe he knew his impact on others.  He was a person of purity of heart, and leaves a legacy to be emulated by his family and friends.

During the last years of May’s life, he was a pillar of support; he catered to her every need and made sure she was happy. When she cooked her festive meals for the family, he was more than happy and always ready to drive to Chinatown for her special ingredients.

We all have vision of moments and places and people that will never again seem quite as wonderful as when he was here among us.