Introductory Message
Every year about this time, China experiences the world’s largest annual human migration. Millions of migrant workers flock out of metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou to celebrate the most important festival with their families. Accordingly, it becomes a frustrating period for urban dwellers because of maid and nanny shortage. Needless to say, this movement exacerbates China’s ongoing traffic jams and transport nightmares. Why bother then? As the Chinese idiom 'fallen leaves return to the roots' suggests, 'getting home' seems to be an essential element of Chinese culture and life philosophy. This week, we invite you to share your stories of going home during the Spring Festival season and more importantly, to scrutinise the fundamental values that underlie this strive to get home.
年前的最后一期英语角了，不知你是否也即将踏上返乡的归途。一年一度的人口大迁徙让大城市的生活变得不那么便利，快递小哥清洁阿姨都成了最抢手的人力资源，整整四十天里，数以亿计的人用各种方式赶往家的方向。中国人说“落叶归根”，“回家”是中国人文化里一个重要的元素，本周的英语角和各位聊聊“回家”的故事，漫谈“回家之路”。
Getting Home Stories
Haber's coming home story:
Haber is a first year university student, majoring in Engineering. He embarked on his journey home as soon as the term ended. On the train from Wuhan to Fuzhou, he noticed the change of passengers' accents. The Fuzhou accent served as a reminder for him that he's getting home.
Celia's story:
Every year, Celia and her family would return to her husband's hometown to celebrate the Spring Festival with her parents-in-law. It was a bit stressful for her because she had to take care of the whole family and arrange the banquet. Regardless, she reckoned it as an important occasion for her son to understand the concept of home.
What does Home mean to you?
Where there's your family, there is your home.
Home is where you were born and raised.
When you lose your parents, you lose your home forever.
Home is not about location but the people there.
Home is the unconditional love from another person.
A Paradoxical Feeling about Home
East, West Home is the Best.
Leaving home is for getting home.
You would never experience the challenge of 'living away from home' unless you leave home.
You get to know what home means in its absence.
Home is a Fortress Besieged you desperately want to escape from when you are in it but on the moment you stepped out of it, it becomes the top place you want to be.
Sushi Platter: Courtesy of Lin and Mike
Date & Time: 19/01/2019 19:30-21:00 (Cold & Windy)
Attendees: 13 Nanxian, Janny, Lin, Q, Mike, Celia, Tony, Qiubin Lin, Jason, Habour, Joan, Vincent, Guest
Archive files: 5 Photos, 1 Signin Form
Minutes taken by Janny
