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“Lao Wang” “Brother Wang”, this is what everyone in Yushu calls him. They seems like forgot his real name and background. I would like to write a story about him, yet, I scared it is too early to do so. Yesterday, I heard him talked with his hand phone:”To live as a human… Enjoy your life…” I better take this chance to write a story about him.
I had known Lao Wang since last year August when I brought some student to be the volunteer of Yushu. Lao Wang said to me that he had met me before at the horse racecourse. I am not a good socialiser; I always follow Teacher Meng when I work. I excused myself once he smoke inside the tent. Hence, Lao Wang acclaimed that I am the “little follower” of Teacher Meng. Who knows, he had chance his thought about me after he heard the news of my real identity. When I follow him to visit the earthquake victims, he treats me as a “professional”, just like I need to get some information from those civilians. He asked me with a concern way, “Teacher Tan, how many houses will you visit? What kind of civilians do you visit?” I replied,” Lao Wang, you are wrong. I am here to learn from you. You had been stayed at Yushu since 26th April, the patients and civilians that you had treat, had farther away than anyone else! We will follow you to the civilian house that you would like to visit!” Later, Lao Wang had understood everything. We as the teachers and students, who just want to follow him, to the house that he visit and we will get to understand and help more victims.
Lao Wang always wear a red jacket, black sport pant, wear spectacle, has a dark skin and he is a smoker. What the same is, he is from Northeast China's Heilongjiang, who is also the fellow of Teacher Meng, both of them can cook very well. All the civilians of Yushu called him as “doctor”, while he explained:”I am not a doctor. I am just a volunteer who learn medicine from a doctor for 17 days, I am here to help to treat small injury. After the medical team left Yushu, I decide to stay here and help to send some medicine and change gauzes. ““Which field does you from?” My student asked with curious. Lao Wang replied:”I am just a national level baker’s. I had opened a few bread shops in the past 10 years.” “No wonder Lao Wang does not like to eat bread. He only eats a few cakes during his birthday celebration.” That student murmured. “I had eaten bread for one whole week when I first started to learn baking bread.” Lao Wang replied. No matter is a good news or bad news, every thing that came out from his mouth, will turn to gossip news! That’s Lao Wang life’s experiences.
Every time when Yushu civilians appreciate and thanks him, Lao Wang always told his history again. He always begin from the first time he meet with the “mystery” Teacher Meng and due to his curious about Teacher Meng, he is willing to stayed back in Yushu after the medical team excused themselves from Yushu. Besides that, he always said:” I do not necessary help people do things, unless I am willing to do. I stayed at Yushu because I want to help those victims here.” Later, I only found out that he had been studied in university for Mathematic course! Do not judge book by its cover. Lao Wang always have a messy hair, wear a big spectacle, with a simply and happy attitude, he do have a kind face. “I had worn this red jacket for 3 months. This is because that is the way every civilians recognize me! Every time when I walked on the street, a car will suddenly stopped beside me, that driver will greet me and invited me to their house to treat patients. This is all because of my jacket! If I change it, I scared that civilians could not recognise me!” Lao Wang, who only bath 6 months once, what about his clothes? After the shocked, many civilians who run away had come back to Yushu and most of them were injured. Lao Wang will use this opportunity to help those civilians, so he brought us to follow him. He always asked those civilians whether there are any injured victims. Lao Wang always said that:”I am very happy to follow Teacher Meng steps and worked with all of you. I am really appreciated that I get to learn a lot of different things by helping Yushu civilians. I am so happy and get blessed!”
I went back to Yushu again in October, which was my first team work with him. We were help to plaster one patient. Begin from gypsum material until bandage, Lao Wang always treats it carefully. He always comforts his patients while he bandaged his patients. Even his bedside manner is better than other specialists’ doctor. Subsequently, we never expect that the patient husband had saw out her plaster! Lao Wang and I were worried about her, I kept quiet when Lao Wang advise her and explain to her about the advantages. “Maybe I can tie it nicely with other material.”Lao Wang was extremely angry and disappointed with her. The effort of find an orthopaedic doctor for her had wasted. Lao Wang never disappointed with that effort but he was worried that his patient will never cure from the diseases, could not get to walk like normal person. With his “anxious” words, I can understand that he would want to use the concept “respect elderly, and love the young” to treat his patients. His words always touch people heart. I still remember that he told me:” Teacher Tan, I don’t really know what to say to you…I am glad that I get to know the friend like you. I just like to see you live happily…it is better to think before you make up your mind! You should take care of yourself first before you make your other decision. ..” I am glad that I get to know a person who can understand other people needs and mentally. Great!
Most of the long term volunteers always depend on outsider or relationship to get mentally support, so does Lao Wang. Only, he live depends on the cigarette in his hand. Lao Wang, who always had a smile on his face and always say that:”I’m fine, I’m fine”, will fall sick. I always hear him coughing every day and I would also make a joke with him:”Lao Wang, the sound of your cough may be my morning alarm clock!” Actually, Lao Wang does understand that cigarette had damage his healthy. Lately, I heard that he was willing to stop smoking before he left Yushu. I was happy to hear that.
Since last time I left Yushu, I felt sorry to him. I had made a deal with him to celebrate New Year in Yushu with him, but I had broken the deal. Hence, I will make a call to him and chat with him while I had extra time in United State. However, there’s a serious mood…”That stomach cancer aunt had pass away! I visited her on 20th morning, but she had passed away at 11pm! I had visited her in the next morning…but… I always accompanied her since she fell sick…I knew that she had not much time to live…but… I never expect that is so fast! Life as a human, must live in happy life!... This is the first time that I felt “helpless”…Oh ya, I had a dream about her last night…”
“Oh?” That was my first time heard about Lao Wang talked about his dream.”Is good dream or bad dream?”
“I saw that she smiled at me, she even gave me a thumb up.”
“That is a good dream!” Everyone who passes through Yushu will know their way of appreciation. Lao Wang dream had appeared in front of me.
Although I never seen Lao Wang in a “serious” and “incoherent” look, but Lao Wang turned his topic very fast. His tone returns back to normal and asked, “Teacher Tan, how are you? Do you feel depressed now…”
“Haha…I still hear you talking…”
“But……”
Lao Wang, Lao Wang, although you don’t really understand that tears represent “sadness”, but I knew that you had been hurt by reality, you also felt “helpless” at the moment. You only thought of getting peaceful moment by your way. Celebrate Chinese New Year along, without firework and firecracker. You cooked a table of dishes, invite elderly and young children together, that is your own happiness! I respect you!
Oh right, I forgot to say, during his way back to his tent after he treat his patients, he had bitten by Tibetan Mastiff! Although he said that he had won in the battle, but we all knew that is an adventurous scene behind. I only heard that he said,” I had sacrificed my lovely pant…” Simple Lao Wang only had his pant for winter. Unfortunately, I stayed far away from him, could not buy him a new pants. Before I hang up my phone, Lao Wang murmured, “Teacher Tan, please take care of yourself. The job in United State is important, but you could not always think of Yushu, that will affect your quality of work. Don’t always send your money to Yushu, you must leave some for yourself, don’t over spend…” Haha, although he don’t know what big life value is, but Lao Wang always kind and generous. He always visit from one tent to another tent, walk towards civilians and understand their hardness. This is what we called the medium of a barefoot doctor and life.
Lao Wang, my partner, my brother, I am so glad that I get to help Yushu civilians with you.
Dr. Rachel Ting
22/2/2011
Special thanks to our translator: Yap Yiing Jye
Special thanks to our translator: Yap Yiing Jye
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