The Great Wall of China

The Foochows of Sibu by 1990 had settled down in the Rajang Valley for more than 80 years. One can say three generations of Foochows have lived in this geographical area of Sarawak, Borneo,  since the arrival of the first Foochow Pioneers led by Wong Nai Siong between 1901 and 1903.

Many Foochow pioneers who were born in Fujian look at the northwest, from Sibu, and dreamily would say "I would go BACK to Dong Sang" one fine day. Some did prosper and went back to Fujian for a visit or two. Some never went back (like my paternal grandfather) while some younger ones brought their whole families to see their ancestral villages.

Later the Fujian Overseas committees arranged for family reunions in China and that really made "return to China" easier.

My maternal grandmother said that phrase often, whenever she was not happy with family matters. And indeed she returned but it was a failed attempt because she could not stay on in Minqing. She returned to Sibu to live out the rest of her life with her many children and grandchildren. She had wanted at least her second son to live with her in Bang Dong, 6Du where she would built a huge mansion with the fortune my Ngie Gung gave her.

The Japanese war disrupted her dream.

My Ngie Gung was happy to be in Sibu, and all my mother's siblings were happy to be in Sarawak, as they were born in Sibu. My eldest and third maternal aunts went to school in Fuzhou, and so did my second Uncle, before World War 2. My youngest uncle, Pang Teck, went back to China in 1954 to pursue  his university education. And only he lived and died in Dong Sang. 

My mother however did not have the opportunity to have higher education because the Japanese Occupation began just as she was about to finish her Junior High. 3 years 8 months later, she completed her Junior High and graduated in 1946. She was very proud of her certificate which qualified her to be a primary school teacher that very same year. 

"My mother dedicated her whole life to her family, her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, her own children and grandchildren, honoring God and her fellow men."

She did dream of visiting China but only as a tourist when "life was better". She would not have spent money to visit a land and people who would not know her at all.

 She had dreams of seeing the Great Wall of China together with my father but then the dream was shelved because my father passed away untimely.

Between 1965 and 1980, the Chinese were not able to visit China because of political reasons. Even getting a passport to travel was a bit difficult then. She shelved her dream of seeing the Great Wall and sacrificed everything for her children.

After 1980 China opened its doors my mother was still busy educating her children. However, she visited England, Australia and New Zealand but she never visited China.

By the 1990's she deemed herself too old to visit China.

So she watched a lot of documentaries about the scenic places, and TV dramas with beautiful historical backgrounds covering the various dynasties of China.

We as her children often wondered about her DREAMS of seeing the Great Wall of China. But she was a very practical woman.

She had said, "No point going to see the Great Wall of China, because I cannot walk there. Let the younger people go." My sisters and brother did visit China as tourists.

I went on her behalf in 2018, May and saw the Great Wall of China, the parts nearer Beijing. My thoughts were full of her, but I also realized that what she had said was correct 20 or 30 years ago.

"You go and see the Great Wall of China only when you are young and healthy, when you have legs to run. Don't depend on others to push and pull you."

My mother had always been a thoughtful and mindful person, kind to others at all times especially when she was travelling.

She was born in the same year as Queen Elizabeth 2, and Tun Mahathir in 1926. When these two had their birthdays, she would comment. She passed away on 31st August 2020,

Queen Elizabeth is celebrating 95 birthday today. My mother would have commented, "Ah,she has a good life, accompanied by her husband for 73 years. She becomes a widow only at 94. Jing kuai oh. Eh hor ya......"