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Childhood I was born and grew up in the Chinese province Henan which is several hundred kilometres south of Peking and west of Shanghai. When I was young, my mother told me gladly her experiences particularly from her school time, much of which I can no longer remember. But what impressed, and in fact moved me profoundly was the contentment on her face whenever she repeated the texts and poems she had learned. And I was amazed how well she still remembered those texts by heart. I therefore always thought that later on I should work hard at school as well. As the youngest daughter of my parents and the smallest sibling of my brothers and sisters, the memories of my childhood were filled with love and attention. At the same time, much importance was attached to discipline too. My mother did not accept if I wore e.g. a short skirt (in her view, a woman and especially a young girl should not expose themselves too much), left my long hair loose or wanted to paint the nails. My father, on the other hand, stressed that one should be honest and behave correctly. In the Chinese culture the name often reflects the desires of parents. Liu is my family name. Xiu suggests prettiness, loveliness, gracefulness; Mei is a typical women’s name, and means beauty. Mei usually reminds one of a particular Chinese vinegar plum. When I introduce myself and spell my name in Germany, I notice that it is not easy for a German or a European to read or remember a Chinese name. For this reason I am used to being called by my international friends by the short form Mei. In 1976, our chairman Mao (1893-1976) died, leaving behind his influences upon this country and its people still noticeable at the end of the seventies. And I can even now remember that there were sayings from Mao on the walls of the public buildings in many places. Many families hung up a large portrait of Mao in their living room. As a child I always read or heard that we were supposed to love Mao, the communist party, our country, and the people, and that collective advantages are more important than any individual interest. My parents also often reminded me the importance of our society and that we should try to be helpful and supportive to other people. | |||||