Images to Never Forget

       After exiting the Forbidden City, Phoebe instructed us that we would walk to our bus where it was parked a few blocks away.  She forewarned us that along  our way, we would encounter more vendors as well as beggars.  Phoebe advised us to avoid eye-contact and to not give away money. From previous experiences in the morning, we learned that vendors would sell cheap products for a cheap price.  However, we had not yet seen beggars.  The thought frightened me; I have a soft heart and I cry easily.  I wasn't sure how I would react.  Phoebe instructed us to not look at the beggars.

       Earlier that day, I had learned how to stay away from a vendor's path.  When they wave their products at you, the best thing was to look down at your shoes, shake your head once, and dismiss them lightly with your hand, whispering or mouthing 不要.  They would then move on to another person.  不要, bu yao, translates to "don't want."  It may seem rude to say that, but it's really not.  Most Chinese sentences are short phrases that contain only essential words.

       While we were walking to the bus, we passed a strip of sidewalk that literally held a line of beggars.  I kept my eyes trained on the back of the head of the student in front of me, but I could still hear the beggars begging for money.  There were musicians and singers and people crying and wailing.  I tried to ignore them.

       However, as we veered a corner there was a mother crying, begging for help.  She held her son, a toddler boy who had either passed out or was asleep.  She held her son with both arms, her face desperate for any kind of help.  His head lolled over her right arm, his face was discolored.  He had to be deathly ill.  I quickly looked away, biting down hard on my lip, tears brimming in my eyes. 
       I truly was not prepared for this.  But then again, this is not about me. 
       Yet it touched a cord within me.  Here I was, fortunate enough to be studying abroad in China, while there were people standing and sitting around me who may or may not be able to eat tonight, tomorrow or possibly ever again..... 
       It makes you think about what you have--no matter what you have or lack.  And it's a reason to be thankful.  There is so much in life we take for granted: food, shelter, water, friends, education, you name it.
        The image of the mother with her child is something that has haunted my mind daily since that day.  It's not something you can forget about easily.  And it is not something I want to forget about.  Sometimes you need to be humbled.