Summer travel: the way they are (3)

I arrived at 3:22 AM. It’s too early for me to go home. My building opens at 6:00 and I don’t want to wake people up so I decided to hang out outside the train station for an hour or two. I’m now sitting on a foot high bench of an outdoor breakfast stall and is trying to listen to a heated conversation of the taxi drivers who in a minute ago were competing for my attention. When I told them I planned to stay outside the train station and wait for daylight, they thought I was crazy. I was told to call the gatekeeper so that I could go to bed. After 26 hours of sitting and conversing using my minimal Chinese, I was actually tempted but I decided to stick to my decision. I want to understand Chinese culture so I might as well learn it firsthand.

I praise God for allowing me to have a pleasant 26-hour train ride. I am blessed because I found every minute of it pleasant and very entertaining. In my cubicle was seated Generous Grandpa who with a smile in his face, offered me boiled eggs every meal. I found it very endearing because truly, the most generous givers are those who has very little but was given much. They know what it means to have nothing and to have a lot so they don’t mind giving away what they have.

I also met Smiling Girl. She got a standing ticket but instead of being grumpy because she had to stand for more than a day, this girl amazed me with the kindness she showed to everyone. She was constantly giving her seat to an older person who, like her had standing tickets. She welcomed every new comer with a smile even if it meant that the already crowded place will become more crowded. I was rebuked by the goodness that I saw in her. I learned from her that a person can truly understand another person if he himself has been through what the other person is going through. That’s why she was giving her folding mini-chair and beautiful smile to everyone because she understands the agony of having to stand for a long time and she wants to make it better for them.

There was also Seat Stealer. Yeah, he stole half of a seat. He started with leaning on the backrest. Pushed a little every minute until half of his butt owned the other person’s seat. He then conveniently fell asleep.

Generous Seat Owner on the other hand didn’t do anything to push him back. Instead, he moved a little further so that Seat Stealer could steal half of the seat. Sounds familiar? If a person slaps you, give the other cheek. How ironic that a man who doesn’t even know Him is practicing His principles.

Nice Tofu Lady allowed me to sit on her bench even if I didn’t buy anything. I wanted to but I don’t think I could digest tofu at 4:00 AM. I might change my mind later. I’m not fond of the food, but I want to truly understand the culture so….

The trip to LY and the train rides has truly helped me understand the people whom I was called to serve. I still don’t get a lot of things and I know it will take time for me to truly understand but I’m just thankful for the opportunities that let me see the beauty of the people, the culture, and the country that I’m learning to love as my own.

* by JAP, one of our Filipino teachers serving in China