Fire Well

      The next morning I wake up get ready for the day. Today I am going with Fi Fi, Kai, and their son to a museum that is in town. As we walk towards the museum I get an uneasy feeling. Soon I realize why I felt so uncomfortable. I was constantly being stared at by everyone along the street. It wasn’t just a, “Oh he must be the new foreign teacher,” no it was more of, “Why is ‘He’ here?” People were constantly dropping whatever they were doing just to get a look at me. I decided to just shrug it off and to enjoy my time here. We arrived at the museum, and while we were signing into the register I could feel the eyes of people piling into the doorway just to see me. The museum was dedicated to the tragedy that occurred in 2008. In 2008 there was a devastating earthquake in China that had decimated a town where a certain race of Asians lived. Sorry I forgot the name, but their homes were destroyed. When this happened the neighboring city gladly welcomed them with open arms and a warm place to stay. The people of the city helped raise money for them to help provide for all their necessities. In the museum it showed artifacts from tools they had used in the past. They also had pictures of the tragedy and some of the remains of personal belongings that were uncovered. In another display there was a memorial of soldiers that had died helping people that were injured during the earthquake. In another room it showed pictures of the people leaving the city, after recovering from the incident, ready to start their lives once again. From just looking at the pictures you could sense the gratitude that was felt from the expressions on their faces.

      We then travel to Houjing Middle School for a tour of the school grounds. Fi Fi shows me around the school, the offices, classrooms, playground, and tells me about what had happened in 2008. Fi Fi had also had an awful experience with the earthquake from 2008. The earthquake was also felt in Houjing. She was teaching class on the 3^rd floor when it struck. She saw the fear on the students faces as they ran trying to escape the building. She saw students panicked and were jumping out of windows trying to escape…… Unfortunately there were more casualties than injuries. Many students had lost their parents and homes in the earthquake. This showed how devastating the earthquake truly was. The government of course stepped in to help the school and students. They had helped rebuild the school, and provided a dormitory for the students to live. Of course this could never replace what they had lost, but this could help ease their pain.

      We go to the origin of Houjing, and its name sake. Houjing literally translates to “fire well,” and for a good reason. This town is where, from what I am told, the very first natural gas well was discovered. Originally it was just a water-well, but to unknown reasons the well had caught on fire, causing a geyser of flames. This is why the town is called Houjing (fire well). The monument was, in my opinion, lacking in finesse. There was a tall pillar sitting out doors with the story of the town’s origin etched onto the sides. That wasn’t the only thing that was etched onto the monument. It seems that many kids have used a rock, or whatever they could find, to write their name, and whoever they are infatuated with, onto the sides of the pillar. You would think that since this is a historical artifact that they would have kept better upkeep of it.  Just a few feet behind it were two stones slabs with more Chinese transcripts on it. Of course I couldn’t read a word that was on it, but I doubt anyone could. The stones were badly worn down, and anything that was written on them was barely legible. The well, or what was left of it, was still standing; but it seemed to be another place for kids to write their names and to display their artwork as well. There is a metal hatch that has been placed to cover the opening of the well. I hate to say it, but I don’t think it was done as a precaution, but as a reaction to someone that had already fallen into it before. Sad thing to say but I believe it is true.