China is a wonderful place and this country has so much to offer to the world. In fact it does offer so much to the world. Well in exports to other countries. Rice being the biggest one. I never really knew how rice was grown until I came here and saw the many fields used to grow rice.I pictured the Chinese farming with an cow or a horse doing all the work. Well now, my eyes have been opened to the true way of Chinese farming.
First off its not a cow or horse doing the work but its an ox! These things are huge and they stink!!! Oh and always dirty! I have never seen a clean one! They are controlled like a horse in the states but instead of a bit in the mouth, it's a rope that goes through the nostrils of the poor animal :-( But it has to be done so the farmer can direct the ox to do what he needs done.
It was cool to see the farmer control this massive animal with a single rope, he was also saying words in Chinese but I dont think the ox understood because all ox hear in English.Now behind the ox there was this contraption that was being pulled and I think it was like a rake catching all the dead sticks and unearthing the ground beneath the water. Thats right water....the entire garden is under about a foot and a half of water!
This crazy farmer has to control and steer this ox, watch the massive rake so it doesn't catch his bare feet, and also walk through a foot and a half of water with like 6" of mud under the water!
A lot of hard work for a product that is served with every meal of the day! The white gold of china! They sure love their rice and each time I am eating it, I wonder why doesn't China just stop the whole chopstick thing.
They need to stop making chopsticks and then the country would convert to a fork and spoon and it would be much easier for them to eat their white gold! This is just my thought. Maybe this is me just getting frustrated at eating rice with chopsticks! hahaha
Seeing this farmer work so hard in the sun made me miss home and working hard in the garden with mom and dad. In fact I miss working hard, I really do! Its so cool that work ethics here are more on the upper hand. Yes the Chinese might sit around and play cards or mahjong but when it comes to work, they work hard.
Back to the farmer and the ox...I said that the ox was doing most of the work. That is not true. That farmer was soaked with sweat from head to his muddy feet. He was one true hard worker and he was in his late 60's too!
I try and let the Chinese teach me something new everyday and today's lesson was that the Chinese have taught me to keep up the great work ethic! I learned at a young age to work hard and I thank my parents for teaching me a great trait that will always help me through life!It is great that China could remind me that I do have this trait and I never back away from a moment to work hard. In fact I was asked to help a friend to help clear out weeds to expand their garden! I am excited for that and I will make sure to get some pictures.
Love you tons
Jordan
Beijing Time
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