Learning about Yangmei
It was February 2008 that my adventures to and in China started. I had signed a contract to teach English at a college in Shaoxing China, and with little time to research the place that I was to live and work for almost a year. There was plenty to learn about this country, and on this occasion, we were to learn about Yangmei.
It happened a few weeks after I arrived. Someone invited me on a bus tour to an area where the villagers grew a fruit which I had never heard about. There were seven of us in the minibus, which made its way from the city, out through farming areas and villages and into a hilly area when the bus stopped in a tiny village.
For some of us, it was our first tour out of the city, and the scenery fascinating us as we drove to our destination.
We were welcomed by one local and we followed him along a pathway up among some trees on the side of a hill. There were a couple of people there, standing on ladders picking fruit. One was a little girl – I think the daughter of man from the village who did not speak English and spoke with one of the college staff who was there as our interpreter.
The little girl picking Yangmei
There were many trees across the hills. The fruit was Yangmei – a small fruit, looking somewhat like a mulberry.
We were there for about an hour, and were heading back to the bus, when there was something happening as we were told to wait. Three of us had already climbed into the bus, and we waited, not comprehending what was happening.
Then, before the driver had got into the bus, it took off slowly down the hill. It all happened so quickly. Suddenly we were heading for disaster. One of the ladies on the bus jumped into the driver’s seat and hit the brakes. The other folk who were with us on the tour had started running behind the bus and all us were greatly relieved that the bus had stopped. I hate to think what would have happened if the lady had not quickly reacted and halted the bus – saving our lives.
The reason we were asked to delay our departure was that the villagers decided to give each of us a small container of Yangmei. We had to wait because they were packing the boxes for us.
After a short wait, we were all gifted our fruit – which we all enjoyed over the next few days.
Our bus tour was interesting, and we will never forget how it nearly came to a crashing end!!
More Yangmei
