Chinese Response to the Grave
Challenge (Once Again) 16 May 2008 This is the partial translation of an online post and comments. The original Chinese text in full can be viewed on 晋江网友留言区 (daqi.com/bbs/05/344834984.html) 2008-05-14 21:09 昨天在电视上看到红十字会说他们那里人手不足,正好我家距离红十字会不远就走路过去帮忙。安排我去帮忙接电话和作记录,从下午到上午,忙了一个通宵,平均1-5秒左右就有一个热线电话过来,全国各地的都有,也有不少海外的国际电话,大多是问捐款捐物捐血方法的,全国各个省份的都有,有提供私家车、工具的,要求到一线去的志愿者，很多企业提供公司和员工捐款并捐助各类产品的。。。。值班十几个钟头，被感动了一次又一次，从未如此真切的感觉到我们都是中国人，血管里流动的是同一滴中国血。 刚起床，嗓子说不出来话，今天不能去了，吃点东西再继续. I heard Red Cross said on TV yesterday that it needed some help. My home isn’t far from its office, so I walked there to give them a hand. I was arranged to answer hotline calls and do some data entry. From yesterday afternoon to this morning throughout the night, on average I received a call every 5 seconds, from all over the country, and many from overseas. Most enquired about how to donate money, material goods and blood. Some offered their cars, tools, and others asked to join the rescue operation in the quake areas. Many Chinese companies wanted to donate money and products … In over ten hours when I worked on the hotline, I was moved to tears over and over again, and I never felt like in this time that we are all Chinese and we are so united. I just got up from bed, my voice is still hoarse. I don’t think I can go to answer calls today. I need to eat something first, and I’ll continue my post after that.
2008-05-14 21:25 接到过一位大爷的电话,
他跟我说, 你什么都不要和我说,
不管有什么困难, 我都要上一线, 30多年了,
我等这种机会, 当年唐山地震,
我是被从瓦砾堆里挖出来的,
今天我一定要上一线, 我要去救人,
哪怕没有工具给我, 只能用双手挖,
只要能帮上忙, 出上力, 能救人,
多艰苦多危险的工作都行，我年龄大了，但不老，我还有力气和身体。
I received a call from an old gentleman. He said to me: please don't say anything, don't tell me how difficult it might be, I just want to go to the frontline. I’ve been waited for 30 years, I waited for my turn. I was dug out from the rubble after the Tangshan quake, now I wanna go to safe others. It's okay you don't have spare tools for me, I can use my hands to do the job. I just want to do my bit to save the lives. I am willing to do any kind of work, no matter how tough or dangerous they are. I’m old but it doesn’t matter, I’m still quite strong. Of course, we can’t arrange him to join the rescue force - only soldiers are sent to the earthquake zones, volunteers can’t go there, even the medical staff have to stay behind. However, compassion has passed on from one generation to another like this.
2008-05-14 21:55 晚上接过一个电话，是周边区县上一个糕点食品店的老板，问灾区是不是急缺食品，我说是的。
In the evening I received a call from a cake store boss. He enqired if quake victims need food. I said yes. “Can I send fresh food?” he asked again. “They have to be dry food, and must not to reach expiry date when being distributed,” I replied. “My shop makes cakes. Can you arrange for the cakes to be sent to those people as soon as possible?” “It shouldn't be a problem,” I confirmed to him. “All right, then I'll make cakes right away. By the way, do you need some cake-makers in the quake zone? I can make case on site so the people can have fresh cakes to eat.” “That might be a bit difficult,” I told him. Shortly after that phone conversation, I received his call again - he had made a truckload of cake overnight and sent them in down pour rain to Chengdu warehouse before dawn. And the cakes were so nicely made… It somehow reminded me of some creamy cakes sold in stores. Some store owners would make small cakes and sell them as big ones, and some like to quarrel with customers over a few cents. But when big disaster strikes, the bright side of humanity shines like pure gold.
2008-05-14 22:16: In the midnight, I also got a call from a peasant in Henan (or Hebei?). He enquired about the situations in the disaster areas and cried, asked if he could make donations. I gave him Red Cross account number. He said: we peasants don't have much money, I can only donate 1,000 yuans, but I have 250 kilograms of rice at home, can I also donate rice? How should I send it to you? I was confused at the first, and asked him to contact his local Red Cross, but then I thought I could give him the address of the warehouse. So I did. He asked the details repeatedly, and wrote down the address very slowly. Such is our simple Chinese peasants who are so kind deep down in their hearts. My Day on Red Cross Hotline (2) Pre: Wenchuan
County - The Centre of Sichuan Earthquake
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