Life is hard

My Poon is 78 years old. He belongs to the Sui people, one of 56 recognised minority groups in China. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shui). He has lived in the village all his life and has never gone outside. I visited his home in a rural village in Guizhou, China and listened to what he has to say about life.

The following is my translation of his story.

****************************************

Life is hard.

When I was seven years old, my father died. After seven years, my mother also died.

I worried about what my life would become.

I got married at 17. My wife and I have 5 sons and one daughter.

They've all left the village to work in the city (Guiyang). They visit us once or twice a year and when we are sick.

I never thought about leaving the village. Where can I go outside? What can I do? Now China's culture is the culture of Hans Chinese.

I hope to stay here with other old people and talk with them.

I hope our roads are flatter that it'd be easier for us to walk around.

{Mabel: What was the happiest moment in your life?}

I haven't felt very happy in my life.

I mean I was happy to see my children growing up. But that's just a normal feeling, not happiness.

When I was small, I worried about my parents.

When my parents died, I worried about life.

When I got married and had children, I worried about my children.

Now I am old, I worry about my wife who is sick in bed. And I worry about my own health.

Life was hard when I was a child. It's even harder when I am old.

Life is full of worries.