The Music of Departure

I have my supplies (1 microphone, recorder, a couple of oral history technique books - Valerie Raleigh Yow's Recording Oral History and Women's Oral History, the Frontiers Reader, many articles on gender and Chinese history, battery charger) and a round trip ticket to Shanghai. I leave in a week. Am I ready?

My mindset has changed significantly since the last time I left for China, right after high school graduation after a ten year period of no return. This time, I think I know what to expect. I will not expect to find people, buildings, culture as I've left them. I won't even be going back to my home initially (though there is a chance that I may be going to Urumqi...we will see.) Yet, I'm still apprehensive about meeting relatives who are basically strangers to me.

In the end, seeing my grandmother is really what I care about foremost. Who I am is tied to our relationship and my perception of her legacy, and every single thing that I fight for in my life now stems from her. On this trip, I hope to explore the fierce love and connection that stem from her strength and my heritage. At the same time, I hope to be grounded in reality and accurately interact with the material world (i.e. show love through service/material care), rather than getting lost in my head as I often do.

Here I come. Will attempt to update more but IIPP is somewhat intense now. Probably won't have access to blogger in China but I'll be keeping a journal, as well as the oral history transcriptions of course.

Peace and love,

H