A mixed race

In a country with 56 'races' or 'lineage', it is surprising to discover that out of this large number
the majority comes from the Han line and the other 55 are the minorities! I must admit that it
made me think of the 12 Tribes of the Jewish people, as today we know only of the Priests, Temple custodians and the general population. From exactly which tribe we come, we have no
way of knowing, as they are known as the 10 lost tribes after the destruction of the Temple and the exile that was forced upon them, their settlement unknown. When asking a student from which line he was from, he proudly told me the Han and when I asked further how he knew, he reported from his parents of course.

It seems that in all paths of civilisation we have always looked back at our roots and heritage, today it has become fashionable even to be able to delve into an archive and trace back your family tree and history, in my family, on my father's side, from time to time I receive a phone call asking for further updates of my brood, that they too can be listed on the ever growing family tree. Pictures and a map was sent to members of the family to be able to go and visit
former family graves in Prague and at that particular spot my own sister (Israel) and first
cousin (Canada) happened to meet purely by chance, at the same time.

Who you are, where you come from has always mattered, whether it be to Jew, Christian,
Arab, Chinese etc.. pride is our backbone, but can also be our downfall. How pleasant it was
to read that the Japanese Head of State, wishes to attend the Olympic ceremony and finally
try and let bygones be bygones in a gesture of friendship, reminiscent of the days of Sadat
and Begin.

The people of China are such a mixed nation, falling into categories of Traditional, Post Reform
and the newer, younger generation. A mixed salad of different eating habits, dress, openess and
fear of the west and what it represents and brings. Some are suspicious of what I may say and the influence that I can have, others welcome my openess with outstretched arms.

After travelling a little in China these last couple of days, due to the Labor Day holiday, I came back with excitement and frustration. The first because at last in the city of xian I saw what we
Westerners would call authentic Chinese Culture and the latter because I appeared to be the
greater attraction than the sites that I went to see!!!

On one side, after waking up in the morning feeling like a 'frizzed' out 'blob', I could at least take pride in the fact that not being a 'model' figure of any size or proportion, I at least had a look and hair that people seem to remember! I am sure that now, together with the brief description
passed around from taxi driver to taxi driver, I must now grace a few thousand picture albums whether it be on the computer or hand held!

Some would ask if they could pose together with me, others would take when they thought I wasn't looking. As I observed other westerners passing me by, I did not notice that they were
receiving the same attention! So as to why? I will share that with you in the next installment.