Liberation

(2/12/07)

On Thursday the 8th, I took my final exam and my final oral test, after which my three teachers (or laoshi: l-ow-sure) told me, “Jiefang le.” I did not understand ‘jiefang’ at the time, but I was happy to get on my way. That afternoon we were all heading up to the countryside to see an ice festival and have a grand ceremony followed by a ‘China Night’ full of performances—all taking place at a large hotel. After someone else said jiefang le in passing, I finally looked it up to find it meant “liberation, emancipation,” and for the Chinese, the added meaning of the Communist victory in 1949. I as well had now been liberated.

Starting that night, I have heard or seen fireworks booming, their thunder echoing off buildings and cliffs, echoing the other meaning of jiefang, but the fireworks are the first signs of Spring Festival (the Lunar New Year) swiftly approaching. It is a time for reunion, and all of China is clogging every mode of transportation heading home (and bumping up prices). For me, there was some reunion as I got to see classmates that studied in Hangzhou in the fall, now hanging out in Beijing.

But all liberation comes at the price of struggle, I suppose. Our dorm emptied, Chinese roommates heading home and students taking advantage of our break to travel: Harbin, Xi’an, Nanjing, Shanghai, and for me—southern Hebei, 2-3 hours by train south of the city. Loneliness, emptiness—is one of my struggles. Other struggles include discovering an even more alien city, Shijiazhuang, to which I am even more of a stranger; waiting in a ticket line for an hour or so only to realize I wasn’t supposed to be waiting; and renting a room for more than what most might consider ‘budget’ despite Lonely Planet’s guidance. But there is a saying I’ve already heard and known since being in China: “spend money to buy experience.” Experience, maturation, etc. sometimes comes at a cost, at a struggle. Liberation is not so easy.