In the wake of the apocalyptic earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, states and organizations worldwide are rushing to aid the victims. With a yet unknown death toll, the images speak for themselves: a devastated city in rubble, bodies crushed under the debris, destroyed homes and lifeless people wandering, the light gone from their eyes, amidst an air that must reek of death and despair. Hell on earth in every possible way.
How do survivors and families of the victims go on? How do survivors come back from among the dead?
As international aid is dispatched to Haiti, people are being called upon to help the victims by making donations. If you can afford to be generous, don't hold back. After all, aren't we all citizens of the world and children of the earth? By now, we've seen it enough to know that natural disasters are unpredictable and that we are all vulnerable.
During my university years, I was really good friends with Maelle, this sweet and beautiful Haitian girl. We used to hang out a lot, studying together and just being silly. Sometimes we'd bring out our respective Creole for fun. We even pulled some all-nighters before exams, studying for Macro and Micro Econ and taking Compa and Sega breaks every once in a while. Last I saw her was over two years ago and we haven't been in touch since. She had always wanted to go back to Haiti to get married. Tried to trace her but to no avail: an out-of-service Montreal number and an old deactivated e-mail account.
Major crises snap us awake, in more ways than not.
For my part, until the next time I run into her on the street (and I really hope I do someday), the question will always remain: "did you ever go back or are you still around, old friend?" I pray she and her family are ok...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Proud to be Hakka
The Chinese-Mauritian community is made up of two sub-groups: the Cantonese and the Hakka (which means "guest people"). The Hakkas are descendants of the Han Dynasty (circa 202 BC). Throughout history, the Hakkas have been known as the nomadic Chinese, fleeing the northern part of China down south and to countries such as Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Jamaica, South Africa and...Mauritius - among others.
I remember, growing up with my paternal grandparents, how it was always an emotional experience whenever my popo and kungkung (grandma and grandpa) would tell stories of how they survived in China, how they met, why they fled and what it was like to start from scratch in a country where everything was foreign, from the language to the people. Because the Hakkas are also typically a hardworking people, they've battled many challenges and made sacrifices which children today would have trouble picturing. It's a pity that the younger Hakka generation (e.g. my brother and me) are still very much in the dark when it comes to our ancestral roots, even though we were lucky to have somewhat grasped the language thanks to our folks. In our own way, we kind of embrace our Hakka values, having moved from Mauritius to Montreal. Maintaining the traditions and saving the language is another story altogether.
I've been to Meixian once with my parents to visit my grandparents' village and meet our relatives. I was 10 back then and only have vague, trivial memories of that trip. Today, to embark on such a trip would be to undertake a personally enriching journey to the roots of the Hakka culture.
Take a look at this video (that's just part 1 of 4) of the Hakka Conference and find out more about the rich history of the Hakka people worldwide, "a people with great survival skills".
PS: Thanks for sharing M.Li.
I remember, growing up with my paternal grandparents, how it was always an emotional experience whenever my popo and kungkung (grandma and grandpa) would tell stories of how they survived in China, how they met, why they fled and what it was like to start from scratch in a country where everything was foreign, from the language to the people. Because the Hakkas are also typically a hardworking people, they've battled many challenges and made sacrifices which children today would have trouble picturing. It's a pity that the younger Hakka generation (e.g. my brother and me) are still very much in the dark when it comes to our ancestral roots, even though we were lucky to have somewhat grasped the language thanks to our folks. In our own way, we kind of embrace our Hakka values, having moved from Mauritius to Montreal. Maintaining the traditions and saving the language is another story altogether.
I've been to Meixian once with my parents to visit my grandparents' village and meet our relatives. I was 10 back then and only have vague, trivial memories of that trip. Today, to embark on such a trip would be to undertake a personally enriching journey to the roots of the Hakka culture.
Take a look at this video (that's just part 1 of 4) of the Hakka Conference and find out more about the rich history of the Hakka people worldwide, "a people with great survival skills".
PS: Thanks for sharing M.Li.
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