Report of Hand-MCC Yunnan Pihe Concert Series 2009

--By Becky Seeger, Zach Seeger, Jon Bare, Naomi Enter and Sherry Tang

Because of the remoteness of these villages we encountered unusual difficulties and obstacles.? The largest was transportation related.? In order to coordinate all the volunteers’ schedules, we had originally planned to arrive in the villages during the Chinese New Year.? Also known as Spring Festival, it is China’s largest national holiday.? Nearly every resident travels to his/her hometown, making it extremely difficult to find transportation.? This year, in the ten days surrounding Spring Festival, nearly 200 million Chinese residents traveled by train, an incredibly cost effective and budget friendly choice.?? We had also planned to travel this way.? However, due to the holiday chaos, and last minute changes in train ticket purchasing policies, we were unable to travel using the train.? Needless to say, all of the volunteers were forced to purchase plane tickets at an inflated Spring Festival price.? Furthermore, since Chinese workers and bus drivers are on holiday during this time, the cost for transportation to and from the villages was double the price and drivers were unavailable.? Unfortunately, this significantly increased our travel budget.? Thankfully, though, we were able to get to more villages than expected and because residents were on holiday we were able to reach more people.? In fact, we doubled the number of our concerts, instead of three concert as planned, we managed to perform six concerts in total.

因为村庄都很偏僻遥远，我们遇到的最大困难就是交通不便。为了协调所有志愿者的行程，我们原先计划在春节的时候到达。由于春节时期大家都回老家探亲，交通工具的供给非常紧张，因此我们很难找到合适的交通工具。今年春节的10天假期中，大约有2亿的中国人乘搭火车。由于假日期间的拥挤和火车票购买政策的突然改变等种种原因，我们无法购买火车票。无奈之下，我们所有志愿者只好购买在春节期间价格大幅上涨的飞机票。另外，因为春节期间工人和大巴司机都在放假，来回村庄的路途交通花费是平常的两倍，并且很难找到司机。这大大增加了我们的旅程预算。但是幸运的是，因为假期原因，在外地的村民们都回到了村庄，我们也因此能够见到更多的人和走访了更多的村庄。我们原本预计举办3场音乐会，实际上我们举办了6场。

成果 Rewards:

As we began to sing the children quickly and politely lined up in front of us with the teenagers and adults hanging near the outskirts.? The note of the first song nearly brought tears to our eyes.? Each child’s face was turned, hungrily staring up at us as the music washed over them.? Hands started clapping and some even attempted to join in the simple refrains we sang.? The shy shell that encapsulated their person when we first began to sing soon cracked as they learned the lyrics and movements to both Chinese and English songs.?? The oldest village members listened just as keenly.? Looking out into the crowd with the mountains as a backdrop and the lilting of voices filling the mountain air as a herd of cows wandered through the square, it was so surreal.? Our simple music was a feast for their souls and the villagers absorbed every crumb.

Finishing our concert we delved into the world of hygiene lessons.? It was clearly an issue that needed addressing as we observed dirt covered arms and legs and runny noses.? Many of the children didn’t know what bacteria were and didn’t understand that these small germs caused them to be sick.? We explained the importance of washing hands and brushing teeth every day.? We also explained how to use toilet paper after going to the bathroom so infections wouldn’t make them uncomfortable.? The incredible thing was that all eyes were riveted on us, as if we were telling them some of the most important secrets of the world.

Hand washing was next on our program.? Every child lined up and proudly marched to the only spigot in the village.? One by one they patiently and carefully scrubbed their hands.? As the water poured over their hands we saw more and more smiles emerging from their faces as they confidently and excitedly presented their newly washed hands to us.? As a reward we gave each of them soap, a towel, a toothbrush, some laundry detergent and toilet paper as well as a sucker.? Their eyes shone with joy and delight.? They gravely accepted our gifts with two hands, bowing to us and thanking us with shy giggles and smiles.

It was not only teaching the children that gave us such elation but also the unique opportunity we had to teach the women of the village.? In the Nu culture it is taboo for women to speak about maturation, therefore as adolescents reach the age of puberty they are taken by surprise.? Many of them are too poor to buy feminine napkins and they often use grass as a substitute.? This naturally causes many problems with infections.? There were a surprising number of basic questions regarding their menstrual cycles.? The greatest pleasure we received from teaching them came when we presented sanitary napkins to them.? The entire group burst into giggling gales of embarrassing yet grateful laughter as they shoved the packages under their sweaters and into their pockets.?? Living in a primarily male oriented society they appreciated receiving such individualized attention.

Although the men mostly watched from a distance, their smiles and conversations with their children made it clear they were gratefully absorbing every moment of the experience.? In fact, when some of the shyer women were afraid to approach us to ask questions, it was the husbands who persuaded them to ask for help.? They also encouraged the children to interact with us at various times during the concert.

As we prepared to leave the village, the locals surrounded us with loud chattering and more bamboo cups brimming with alcohol.? They blocked the path out of the village as they peppered us with requests of returning and statements that will stay etched on our brains forever.? “If you had not come we would never have had an opportunity to buy these things.? Pihe is too far away and it is too expensive to go there.? We will remember what you have done and we will tell your story to many generations as we sit around our fires at night.? You are a gift from heaven.”?? As we pushed and shoved our way through the crowds, we knew this was a remarkable experience, almost inexpressible.? The villagers followed us for a short way down the path all the while shouting farewell messages of peace and happiness with the hope that someday we might be able to return.

这次走访村庄的经历是我们一生中最让我们触动心灵，鼓舞人心的经历。当我们爬上陡峭的山路时，层层山峦在我们眼前蜿蜒延展。蔚蓝的天空和等待播种的棕色稻田形成鲜明对比。驴子背着一带带肥皂，纸巾，牙刷，洗衣剂，卫生巾，毛巾，和礼物，在我们前面沉重缓慢得行走。外国人满载着礼物到来的消息不泾而走，像野火一般蔓延开来。我们终于到达了所谓的村庄广场，只有一个房间学校前方的一小块泥土地。广场只有一个简陋的投篮架，孤零零地站在广场一脚。孩子们穿着简陋的衣服，脸上脏兮兮的，鼻子上还挂着鼻涕。他们看到我们，立刻停下玩耍，躲到妈妈的身后，害羞地偷窥我们。当我们走道广场中央，村里最受景仰的老人们拿着装着自家酿制的饮品的竹子杯子，向我们慢慢走来。他们脸上挂者灿烂的微笑，欢迎我们来到他们的村庄，并我们我们的健康和好运祈福。当我们中的一个拿起相机，拍了一张孩子们的相片，突然之间，文化的隔膜消失了，孩子们从四面八方向我们涌来，争先恐后地想看看这个奇怪的机器。立刻，他们便吵闹着想看看自己上镜头的样子。村民们胆子大了起来。几个妇女拉着NAOMI和BECKY围成一个圈子，开始教我们怒族传统舞蹈，同时向我们一杯接一杯地敬酒，庆祝我们的到来。我们好不容易从他们无法抵挡的热情清醒过来，想起自己来的目的。我们迅速地拿出乐器，为音乐会做准备。当我们拿出乐器时，孩子们睁大了眼睛。几个胆小的男孩走上前摸了摸我们带来的鼓，用指尖轻轻地敲了敲，为其所发出的声音而惊讶。不久，他们就高兴地敲起鼓来。当我们开始唱歌的时候，孩子们迅速地在我们面前排成一排，青少年和大人们则在外围徘徊。当我们唱第一首歌的时候，我们几乎热泪盈眶。当音乐响起的时候，孩子们瞪大了眼睛，专注地看着我们，聆听着。掌声开始响起，有些人甚至想要加入我们。当人们学会了中文和英文歌的旋律和节拍，他们不再害羞怕生了。村庄了最老的老人们也专注地听着我们的歌。看着以巍巍山峦为背景的人群们和听着在空中回响，抑扬顿挫的歌声，我们突然觉得这一切就像在梦境一般。我们的歌曲是如此的简单，但对他们来说，是一场心灵的圣宴。村民们专注地听着歌曲的每一点，每一滴。

音乐会结束后，我们开始了卫生教育课。孩子们脏兮兮的手脚和挂着鼻涕的鼻子更加证实了卫生条件的恶劣和卫生教育的必要性。大部分小孩不知道细菌是什么，更不知道是细菌使他们生病的。我们向他们解释洗手和刷牙的重要性。然后我们向他们解释上完厕所后如何使用卫生纸，为了防止细菌感染。最让我们感动的是孩子的眼睛专注地看着我们，好象我们在向他们透露全世界最重要的秘密。洗手是我们活动的下一个项目。所有孩子都排成一队，向村里唯一一个水龙头走去。清澈的自来水流过孩子们的手，他们一个接一个地在水龙头下搓着手。当他们自信骄傲地向我们展示他们新洗过干净的手，我们在孩子们脸上看到越来越多灿烂的笑容。作为奖励，我们送给孩子们每人一个肥皂，毛巾，牙刷，一些洗衣剂，厕所纸，和泡炮纸。他们庄重地用双手接过我们送的礼物，向我们鞠躬，并用微笑向我们表示感谢。不仅是教孩子们让我们感到愉悦，能够帮助到村里的妇女们这个难得的机会也让我们很高兴。在怒族文化里，女性们谈论性成熟是一个禁忌。因此，当村里的女性到了青春期的时候，她们对自己身体的变化感到惊异。村里的许多女性没有钱买卫生巾，只能用草来代替。这自然引起了很多问题，最严重的就是细菌感染。令人惊讶的是，很多人都不太了解经期方面的知识。当我们送给她们我们带来的卫生干净的卫生巾时，她们非常高兴。所有人发出一阵尴尬，但又感激的笑声。她们将一包包卫生巾放在衣服底下，或放在口袋里。在这个男性主宰的怒族社会里，她们非常感激得到个人的关注。虽然男村民们大多站在远处观望，我们从他们脸上的笑容和时不时与孩子们的交流看出他们也很感激这一次经历。实际上，当一些比较害羞的妇女不好意思向我们问问题，是她们的丈夫鼓励她们向我们寻求帮助的。在音乐会的时候，丈夫们也鼓励孩子们和我们上多多互动。
当我们准备离开的时候，当地人都拿着装着酒的竹子杯，围着我们，为我们欢送。送行的村民们将回去的路都堵住了。他们希望我们能再来，并说了些让我们终生难忘的话。“如果你们没有来，我们永远不会有机会买到这些东西”，“当晚上围坐在篝火边上的时候，我们会向我们的子孙后代叙说你们的故事”，“你们是上天带给我们的礼物”。。。。。。当我们终于从人群里出来时，我们知道这次的经历是无与伦比的，是无法用言语道尽的。村民们送我们下山了一段路之后，向我们挥舞手臂说再见和祝我们一路平安幸福，并希望我们下次再来。

总结 Conclusion:

We have done our best to put these into words, but really, there’s no way to describe the delightful, shy giggling issuing from the mouths of the children as they lovingly, almost reverently, held their gifts.? Who would have expected the amazing relationships that were established so quickly but so firmly?? Who would have known that such simple music would enhance their souls?? Who would have known that such basic necessities would change their lives.