In the past week, I have been asked three times, “Why did you come to China?”  I have answered two students with the short answer, “I love people, I love teaching, and I love English.”  I have added another sentence for one student, “China wants English, I have English.”

Last weekend we had a visitor from a place we taught before.  She is not associated with the school there, but we met her through a mutual friend.  We have been in touch for a few years, so she came to visit.  She asked this question also.  I said that we expect to live another twenty years at least, possibly thirty, and it is too soon to sit down.  I spoke of being useful.  I spoke of loving people and loving teaching.  Dear husband spoke of loving the people of China.   Our friend said “We are not so lovely a people.”  Then she said her husband wondered, “Is it possible they are spies?”   We laughed out loud.  Then I said, “If we were, would we tell you?” More laughter.  We asked how could we possibly learn anything not already known through electronic surveillance, being as we are, illiterate and ignorant of Mandarin language.

A cab driver asked the same question, stating that in China, older people expect to enjoy life and to take care of grandchildren.  He also wanted to know our salaries, and was surprised.  He said it isn’t enough, we should have much more.  Then he went on to tell us, through our friend how much he makes per month, which is as much as both of us make.  He owns his own cab.  We spoke of the fact that our apartment is provided with utilities.  I said that he risks his life every day, driving a cab in China.  In fact, he did not run his meter for the trip from the train station to our apartment, but asked for  a set amount for the trip.  We agreed, even as we knew it was more than required, because we just wanted to get home with our guest who was travel weary.  The following day, another taxi took us to the train station and back again, and the round trip fare was less than the one way the previous day.  It does make me wonder anew, “Why did I come to China?”