Images,Reflections, Impressions

Christina Harvey

Foreign Expert

Guangxi NormalUniversity for Nationalities

The curiouspeaks starkly silhouette against a sunset canvas. They call me to come and restin their peaceful quiet world and to forget the business of my life. Theclinging vegetation parts to show the naked rock, beautiful in its bareness.Cliff and bush each boast of the other’s loveliness. Conflicting pointedmountains and rolling meadows show in their contrast the splendor of each. Thewind brushing my face gently refreshes and reminds me to come here often.Moments spent here are unique and precious.

During my brieftime in charming Guangxi, I have had the honor of visiting the cities andsurrounding countryside of Nanning, Chongzuo, Fangchenggang, and Dongxing. Thekindly people whom I have the delight of calling my friends tell me that thislandscape is not remarkable compared to their hometown. “Where are you from?” Iask. “Guilin!” Though perhaps Guilin is the jewel of Guangxi, the entireprovince has been bestowed with splendor and I try to impress on them thebeauty I see here.

Scenery inMingshi village, Daxin county, Chongzuo City.

Traveling aroundChongzuo, Ithink of how my friends from home would love to be in my place. What aprivilege it is for me to see field after field of rich, swaying crops. I closemy eyes and try to capture the images in my memory. Each time I look up, a newsight greets me. As we pass mountains that will now always be a part of who Iam, I unsuspectingly see a serene lake penetrate the landscape, tucked betweenand reflecting the steep cliffs. As these scenes rush by, I reflect on what Iwill write to my family. “I wish you could be here on my first day. Apleasantly over-cast afternoon, passing strange, beautiful mountains andprevailing greenery. Large green fields of sugar cane speak of the province'smain source of income. Small mountains poke up from the landscape in a peculiarway, boasting of lush greenery and contrasting silvery-gray rock. This is mynew home!”

About ten yearsago, my city of Chongzuo was a small county like the othersurrounding counties. Therecently completed modern and attractive bus station is a testament to thegovernment’s resolve to prepare the city for its growing economy. Four yearsago, my university moved here from Longzhou. Though I haveonly been here three months, my students tell me the university itself isgrowing more beautiful every year. The attractive new gymnasium was just openedthis month. I love walking through this campus I now call home. The ruggedmountains and hills can be seen in any direction and remind me that life is notjust about business and responsibilities. As I ride through the city of Chongzuo, the sights of the rivers are refreshing. They seem to say, “Your life isfleeting, just like my currents. Consider what you are working for. Find outwhere true peace comes from.”

Campus ofGuangxi Normal University for Nationalities.

Though I am justbeginning my study of their musical language, these people welcome me with openarms. I have so many offers to help that I do not envision ever being in needwhile living here. People whom I had never met become dear friends in just afew months. Now I cannot imagine my life without knowing them.

I have even hadthe chance of meeting someone from Wuhan – the city which was my introductionto China nine years ago. I sit across the table from this journalist. We wereboth university students when I first visited Wuhan. He was studying at Wuhan University; though, of course we did not meet then. Now he is stationed in Chongzuoto write about the precious people in the mountains of Guangxi and to igniteothers’ understanding of and compassion for these people. I think of how thesevillagers who love their homes in the mountains will have a small spotlight onthem. How can we learn from them? How can we help provide for their needs? I amso thankful the government has sent someone here to do this work.

Scenery inJinlong village, Longzhou county, Chongzuo city.

AsI imagine the unbroken beauty of Chongzuo, Guangxi, Iponder how blessed these people are to call this land home. If they couldtravel to any place in the world, I imagine they would still choose to buildtheir lives here. I have traveled to charming Great Britain, romantic France, exotic Russia, unsoiled Jordan, sparkling Zanzibar, lush Guatemala, historic Greece, modern Australia, wild New Zealand, and through much of picturesque America, but none are like the striking peaks and fields, the memorable people ofChongzuo, Guangxi, China.