Travel Broadens Horizons

Mengping Li, originally from a small town in Sichuan Province, was prepping for her college entrance exam when the disastrous earthquake of 2008 occurred. Although surrounded by misery, the testing went forward.  Mengping ended up being accepted at Chengdu University of Traditional Medicine. (See post one.) She soon discovered that this second-tier university did not have all she needed, and went about finding ways to make the experience better. (See post two.) The realization that she held the reins regarding her future lit a fire in her soul, and she began exploring as she never had before. (See post three.) She had thoughts about getting a higher degree, but decided instead to try to find a job. (See post four.) While she had heard it would be impossible to find a job, coming from a 2nd-tier university, she thought she'd test the waters during a holiday break. Through persistence, she found a position promoting VIP cards at a manicure/pedicure salon. (See post five.) While her colleagues were quick to judge customers and decide whether/not to engage, Mengping helped everyone. One impoverished-looking woman turned out to be quite wealthy and connected, and offered Mengping a job in an electronics company. Mengping turned this down.(See post six.) However, a year later, when she was graduating, she managed to snag a job with GE Healthcare, something this woman was also connected with. (See post seven.)

Mengping not only started her new job with G.E. Healthcare, but she applied for her first passport and began to travel—inside China as well as abroad. In order to afford her trips, she started “couch surfing,” meaning that she went on the web and looked for places where she could sleep on someone’s couch for a night or two or three.  She warned against just going to anyone’s place—“When I used it, I always found families. I travelled alone for 2 weeks (in Taiwan) by myself.”

She also found SERVAS, an international club, which specializes in this kind of couch-surfing idea. All members need to be recommended, so there is less chance of chicanery.

“I traveled a lot of places. I did hitchhiking to one of the Tibetan areas. I lived in the Tibetan people’s house. They are Buddhist. They are very kind. I saw their pure eyes. “ She participated in a Sky Burial (where they throw the body to the eagles, hoping the birds will take the spirit closer to heaven.) Every chance, she travelled.

“It was a kind of education. To cherish my life. Now in China a lot of people are focused on their materials and their reputation. In China it’s all about responsibility. You have to work hard to support your parents, to have a family. You have to get married before you’re 25 or you’re left over (because Chinese men they like younger girls. They like ladies to worship them.) I cannot follow this.
“People have so many limits. They make those limits for themselves. All this traveling experience kind of teach me. “  

(To be continued. Next: Stepping Outside Farmer Mindset.)