Compared with US towns, my hometown Shima is dirty and shabby. Broken and rusty things are not uncommon. But we have a quality that is as apparent: tough and resilien. Small town people are smart, and they can make everything work, or usable.

I remember the early 1980's when I transported a wooden sofa and a bamboo ladder from Shima to the campus of Xiamen University, on a single bike. And I did the same with a 21 inch Sony TV set. Now when the two vendors came to pick up our old sewing machines and computers on their bikes, I found the connection, or legacy. And, looking at the last picture of a family of four, two in wheelchair, one bent sideways, you will notice the absence of sadness or despair. In its place are hope and honor. The picture is from Beijing, but the people were from Shima. Those born in tough places would bear the quality of resilience to everywhere and to fruition. Just as the caption I made for my mom (picture below): seen all, been there, still grateful and graceful.

There is also a quality that is pretty common here, but sadly lacking in the US: respect for teachers. Since I came back, my former students would seek me out and invite me out, and there were students I have not seen for 30 years.

Then we have fresh sea food, fresh fruit and vegetable, and fresh everything, all at a bargain price compared to the US.

Would I want to stay here？ No. just like people, life here is tough. It's either too hot (long summer), or too cold (no heating). Streets are too crowded with pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars competing for passage. Right of way, or courtesy, is not the rules of the road. I admire the people here because they are tougher than me, and can do things I cannot do now. But I have my family and four grand kids waiting for me in the US, and the Interest is far smoother and faster, and uncensored.

跟美国城镇相比，我的家乡石码脏得多，差得多了。街路拥挤不堪。处处可以看到生锈的和破碎的东西。但石码人也有显著的优点：勤劳而俭朴，而且头脑灵，手脚灵。

记得我自己在八十年代曾经从汽船码头用自行车载送一只木沙发和一张长竹梯到厦门大学芙蓉三。我们买第一台21英寸索尼牌彩色电视机时，也是我自己骑车从东渡载回厦大的。前天，当两个收破烂的收了浸水埕老家的两架旧缝纫机和两台旧台式电脑，并用自行车绑了走时，我知道我们之间没有师承关系，但我们显然是同乡。而最下方的一张照片更是同乡的照片。他们人在北京，但根在石码。图中的两位坐在轮椅上，其中一位头还歪了。但图中的人个个心胸坦然，精神淡定。就像下面妈妈的一张照片题词所说的：历尽磨难，心存喜乐。

另一个家乡人普遍都有，而美国人基本没有的品德是：尊师。我在中国当了20多年教师。于是，从我回乡之日起，常有过去的学生来探望。其中有的甚至是30年不见的。

而且，这里的早市是美国无法比的。样样都是新鲜的：猪肉、鸡肉、鸭肉，水果、蔬菜，还有山上的竹笋、板栗，海里河里的活蹦乱跳的鱼虾。价格经常是美国的几分之一。

我想留在这里吗？不。这里天气或者太热（而且太久）或者太冷（没有暖气），街道永远拥挤不堪。交通法规或其他法规是仅供参考而已。在这里过日子，要能像家乡人这样坚韧不拔，能屈能伸，太难了。我的家人，特别四个孙儿孙女，还都在太平洋的彼岸等着我呢。那里的网速可是稳定的（可达60兆）和开放的（没有"长城"之说）。

Roster of the class I taught in the 1980's

漳州业大84级英语班花名册

Click image to enlarge.  击打图片即可放大

(will switch to part 7 of China Trip in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南故国行第七集)