Humans of China: "I Have a Basketball Hoop in My Garden"
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This article comes from Humans of China (WeChat ID: humans-of-china), which aims to document and tell the stories of the many varied people of this vast country, one individual at a time. This edition details a basketball-playing 爷爷 yéyé (grandfather) in Jiangxi province.
Life was tough during the Cultural Revolution. I was persecuted for being a teacher and it was scary. They often made me wear a tall white hat and they hung a wooden plaque around my neck which said 'capitalist roader.' They tied my hands behind my back, made me kneel on the ground and they'd beat me. It could happen at any time – morning, afternoon, or night.
They'd make us eat food for dogs or pigs and told us we are no different to common people like the farmers and humiliated us. We were paraded around the streets for all to see. They were soldiers and they were trying to make things fair. Before I like Chairman Mao but after that period of my life, I didn't like him anymore.
"One of the happiest times of my life was when China opened up"
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Before that, I had graduated from high school and went on to be a Chinese teacher. I loved my job; I enjoyed teaching and I liked and still like kids. I have eight of my own. I always tried to make my classes as fun and as interesting as possible. I'd never hit the kids and was very passionate about what I was doing. Now I'm 90 years old and some of my old students still visit me after all these years. One of the happiest times of my life was when China opened up and I could teach again without being scared.
My wife and I live together and this year she is 87. We came from different backgrounds and she was a farmer. She never had the chance to study and she can't read or write.
"I have a basketball hoop in my garden and often practice"
I have many hobbies and I like to try and keep fit and healthy. I like to write calligraphy, I like reading and scrapbooking the news, and I like to play basketball. I have a basketball hoop in my garden and often practice. I've never taken medicine and I'm still very healthy. People often invite me to visit schools and conferences to talk about how to live a healthy life.
Photos: Cameron Hack
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