In the News

Sometimes, it seems that the newspaper speaks directly of our lives. A few bits of news keeping our lives interesting:

Air pollution engulfs China's Shanghai after expo

When asked, our girls will tell you that they're from Shanghai. Its a natural answer, as they've each lived longer there than anywhere else (although Annika will soon have Shenzhen tied for the same number of months). The World Expo closed in Shanghai at the end of October, and after a summer of nearly blue skies, it comes as no surprise that the air has now turned grey. But still, these photos are appalling.

Wikileaks cables reveal China 'ready to abandon North Korea'

Personally interesting to me in a few ways. First, the Foreign Service message boards are going crazy with the wikileaks stories. Its been called the September 11th of Public Diplomacy, and really messes with the jobs of plenty of Foreign Service officers. But also because we are Americans, living in China, with Dave spending the weekend in Korea. Should any fallout come from these tensions (short of WWIII, of course), we expect to feel it. It is of some comfort to me that China may agree with the rest of the world on the topic of North Korean leadership.
Nut jobs.


Water pump bursts in Shekou

This one really is in our own backyard. A water main burst at the bottom of our hill, flooding the main street outside our complex, and shutting off water for nearly 24 hours. I love how the article makes it sound as if they carefully delivered water to each household. A water truck did drive through our neighborhood, about 20 hours after the water ceased. They did not tell anyone it was coming, and the truck only stopped when flagged down. But at least we were able to flush our toilets... eventually.


Chinese man beats his wife

This last one didn't make the papers. No longer our ayi, many long-time readers will remember Wendy. She worked for us in Shanghai, and struggled with an abusive husband. We heard from her employer that she showed up to work this week with a black eye and a swollen face. This was the worst.

I called and spoke to her for a while. Wendy is such a strong woman, I felt encouraged from our conversation. She described the prototypical abusive husband, but she did not sound the prototype of an abused woman. She knows that he is wrong; she will leave as soon as she can; and she has no doubt that she is strong and worth much more than this. She described her daughter, and broke into tears. When he beat her this time, Lele didn't cry. I suppose that's good, I said. No, she cried, it means she thinks this is normal. Later that day, Lele gave her trouble, clearly looking for a reason to cry and release her tension. Wendy said, I have to leave. He has already hurt her heart too much. I thought of my Sophia, the same age as her daughter. Her heart has been hurt.

In his regret, he promised her in writing that he would allow a divorce if he ever beat her again. He wrote that he would award her full custody of their daughter, and pay regular child support. The police and the local hospital documented the abuse, and she's keeping all of these papers hidden away from her husband, as well as a slowly growing stash of money. She will spend some time with lawyers and doctors while her employer spends Christmas in the U.K. And she says that the next time he starts to hit her, she will leave. I am not optimistic about his promised support, but I think she may really leave. I just hope that next time is not too late.