Leaving home ...A letter from Beijing ... By JAMES FIDLERLeaving home. The words hadn't been voiced in the same way since I left home after the uni years as I started new married life and teaching in the late 70s... Being born and raised in the same house, street and city was something that I never believed to be that special until you meet people who have never lived in one place any longer than a couple of years. As my wife, 13 year old son and I boarded the plane at the Launceston Airport, there were similar feelings of some apprehension but knowing that new adventures were just around the corner! Leaving my home of birth, Tasmania, was more of a challenge that I imagined. I'm sure part of it is that we just get older. Now I look back on my time in Tasmania as being very, very fortunate and special. You look back and hope that what you left is still there but after returning several times over the past 4 years nothing stays the same. People move on and you are no longer a major part of their lives. Although it is good to be able to come back and relive great times over a beer and a barbie! Coming to China was such a monumental change in every aspect imaginable. St Helens - Beijing. I could think of no greater contrast. Just one thought captures the moment. To smell the gum trees and the salt laden breeze is something to be treasured. I did take that for granted as I walked along Binalong Bay beach with the dog! Coming to Beijing has certainly broadened my outlook even though I thought I was reasonably aware after having travelled extensively. It does not quite prepare you for when you are actually living in a very foreign country, especially one as different as China. All aspects are different. I now teach full time after 17 years as a Principal and Assistant Principal in Tasmanian schools. Going back to the classroom was a very conscious decision. Being back with the students again has been fantastic and the kids here at ISB are so good. I don't think I could go back to teach in Tasmania again! My experience of being an educator in Tasmania has certainly been a great benefit to me here and I would hope the school in general. The main difficulty assimilating to Beijing revolved around the dramatic change in physical environment. We left a 3 acre block in St Helens with a house we had built ourselves, dog, garden, orchard, chickens, the bush, the beach and the golf course across the road. We arrived in Beijing to a three bedroom apartment on the third floor, in a compound of 2,500 other people and Beijing air. It took me some time to come to terms with that. Cultural assimilation was not a problem. Meeting new people, struggling with the language and seeing all the sights in Beijing and China was a great adventure and still is. Not to mention driving in the Beijing traffic! After 4 and a half years here we still love the teaching and the stimulation of meeting new people and constantly being amazed with what we see in this ever changing country. What do I still miss? Primarily our dog! She now lives with friends on a farm outside Launceston and is doing very well. I also miss the footy! It was such a constant in my life for over 30 years and to leave that and go to nothing was tough. Since our arrival, ABC Asia Pacific has the AFL on 4 times over the weekend which helps. But being able to go the footy and back the ute up against the fence, eat a sav and have a beer are all not to be underestimated in their value! Of course you miss family and friends. The internet and email has been an absolute bonus, as family of all ages have been able to stay in touch. I do miss the bush and the beach. As you may have gathered from the earlier point, it is the air, smells and the views that you crave after a week of Beijing air. Before we left Tasmania in June 2000 we did a tour of Tassie. Along the northwest coast and then down via Waratah, where I was Principal for four years and leave a son. The drive down through Queenstown and across to Hobart was a fantastic way to say goodbye. I have those views implanted in my brain. But we move on and once we sold our land we severed our physical ties. Our lives continue to change as our children grow. Our daughter comes to teach in China next year and our son flies off to explore Canada before he starts uni in Victoria in 2006. Tasmania is part of my soul and will always be so. I read voraciously anything Tasmanian and remain fiercely Tasmanian. I read with dismay the continued pillaging of our forests. I spent so much time in them and to see that disappear is a tragedy. I followed the recent election from afar and to watch the forest used once more as a political pawn was very sad. Not to mention the unfortunate machinations of the Richard Butler disaster! I then read an article about Franklin in The Age this morning and it is great to know that there is a Tasmanian future that is sustainable and where people can work together. I remain staunchly Tasmanian even though I am now living in a foreign country. I will return. I just do not know when. Our children were born there and 4 previous generations of both sides of my family give me a strong heritage. We leave to seek new challenges but there is still part of Tasmania that remains within and we know that Tasmania is one of the most special and unique places in the world. I'll be back!
Postcards from Beijing:
RAPID RESPONSE EMAIL: What do you think? Monday, December 13, 2004 |
