National Day
A Letter From A Former Student
China
2014
Dear Friends
Hope life is going well.
As you might already know, October 1st is China’s National Day. Schools and companies have 7 days off. People travel and visit friend during this break. I went to visit my sister who works in Zhejiang Province as I knew I would not need to walk that much visiting my sister, it is better than just stay at home for 7 days.
My sister and her husband has been working at a small town called “Fanshi” for 6 years as Migrant workers leaving 3 children at home with her husband’s parents. Fanshi is a town with hundreds of manufacturing factories, which attracts thousands of young migrant workers from Henan Province. The shrimp factory I worked for two summers is located in this town as well.
To support the family and their children at home, my sister and brother-in-law work for 4 hours at night from 12 am to 4 am. And then my sister would get up at 6 am to buy materials to make dumplings. When everything is prepared by about 10 am, she would drive a 3-wheel motorcycle to a place where many vendors gather together and sell food in the front of a large factory that hosts about 8 hundred workers. (As indicated in the pictures). After lunch time, my sister goes home to refill dumpling materials and charge the battery of motorcycle. Then goes back to at 3pm until 9pm after dinner. During the day, my brother-in-law drives a taxi.
I was helping my sister making dumplings during the visit. It sells 1$ a bowl, 13 dumplings each bowl. If life is good, my sister can sell about 100 bowls a day, if not, sometimes she only sells 3 bowls of dumpling a day.
My sister makes 300$ by working at night in the factory per month and about 200-300$ per month by selling dumplings. She sees her children once a year during the Spring Festival.
There is one school for migrant worker’s children in this town, I talked to many of the workers who came to eat dumpling, most of them have their children left back at home. I asked the reason why not send them to this migrant worker’s school, they say that there are many requirements to go to that school and they don’t have time to look after the children after school.
My brother-in-law has a nephew Jim who is 16, he quit school last year and worked at a construction site for 6 months back at home. He came to this town in February, 2014 and works at a toy factory. He works 10 hours a day, 28 days a month and gets paid 250$ per month. I knew him since he was little, a very nice boy. I asked him why he quit school at only 8th grade. He said he did not score well at the exams and was acting as a naughty teenager. The teacher always said to him and his other 3 friends, “What is the point of staying in school for you guys if you are not studying well? Why don’t you quit school? If you are staying just for a graduation certificate, I can give you one by the time you should graduate.” So he got very embarrassed and angry and really quit school, along with him, his friends quit also. Working at the same factory with him now.
My cousin’s son, 19 years old now, quit school 3 years ago, is now working at the construction site with a pregnant girlfriend Susan at home.
Those there are just quite a few among dozens of teenagers who drop out of school.
I remember feeling shocked when I heard those two boys with school. I thought high dropping out rate only happened to my generation. With the development of the economic and the increase of people’s income, students and parents would realize the important of continuing education. I feel heartbroken when I see pregnant Susan walking on the farm, I am worried about Jim’s future when my brother-in-law gets mad at him when Jim cuts off work.
Both the teachers in rural areas and parents should realize what they say and behave are making a difference on their children every day.
I feel so lucky and grateful to have a job I like, and a chance to see a bigger world and a dream and passion to do what I can to help more people and children.
Life is rich and full of surprises.
Best Regards
Selia
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