1 September 2024

Welcome back to all of you.  Despite a peaceful and sunny summer vacation, we should expect a rough September and October, for typhoons may come late this year. Typhoons no doubt will upset our usual learning routines, and domestic activities. It is important that we prepare early, plan well, to welcome each and every day.  We are excited that the national team received honours in the Paris Olympics. As a matter of fact, China and the USA have been in the top three ranks in terms of winning medals for many years.  A quick survey since the Beijing Olympics 2008 would be a good proof of all players’ diligence and perseverance, something for all of us to learn, especially at the beginning of the school year: plan well, work hard, and then receive fruitful results.

 

The learning of Chinese identity has been in the curriculum for years, in addition to Chinese language, Chinese history, and Chinese literature.  In fact, in a city where East meets West, we are blessed to learn the best of both worlds.  Athletes compete on fields and tracks; scientists race for the advancement of technology. One thing that we do not want to compete and wish to end all of them is war. China commemorates the victory over Japan which also ended WWII on every 3 September. Although the world war ended 79 years ago, the lessons are still there for all of us. History cannot be retold; pain and loss cannot be recovered; but we learn that the mistake should not be made again.

 

In mid-September, we celebrate the mid-Autumn festival. Against its folklore background, we gather with loved ones and enjoy each other’s company. But this year, the day-after holiday also commemorates the Mukden attack, a staged event for Japanese troop to take up more land in China. The attack started by a lie backed by well-prepared arm forces, and it sprang to a full-force massive attack. One can imagine why we scared to the bone when we spot any politicians lie on TV: we fear the tragedies to come.

 

While mid-Autumn is the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, Qiufen is the forty-fifth day since Autumn begins. Since 2018, China celebrates Harvest Festival on this day (22 September in 2024, Sunday this year). This will be a good day to go to the nature, give thanks to farmers, or go to the market with parents and enjoy the massive colours of the produce displayed. Be thankful for the nourishment brought to us.

 

This year, we celebrate the 75^th anniversary on 1 October.  But a country’s establishment and thriving required a lot of hard work and sacrifices. A person who died for a country may be given the honoured title: a martyr. China’s martyr’s day, began in 2014, is fittingly placed on 30 September, the eve of the national day, to allow living countrymen to remember the dead’s contributions as cornerstones of the country.  Now, the country has close to two million martyrs. Something to remember at the birthday.

 

Anson Yang