Last But Not Least ;)! (Mark)

As I think back on this INCREDIBLE trip and think on just how fortunate I am to have had such an experience, there is a moment at the very beginning that stands out. The six of us representing the “David Yang” branch of the family tree had just met up in the SEA-TAC airport, flushed with excitement over our coming adventure.

“You know, I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for your grandfather. I’m just so grateful for this opportunity,” said Robyn to Dave.

I thought for a second, then realized...”Neither would Vicki...in fact, NONE of us would be here!”

It was a strong reminder of how our lives in the present are built upon the works of those who lived in the past, and of the responsibility we have toward those in the future.

Growing up in the United States was something I just always took for granted. The double-edged sword of knowing nothing but freedom is that it becomes the lens through which one views the world. It simply exists as the natural order of things, and aberrations such as fascism or communism are expected to fall away of their own accord. After all, doesn’t everyone want to be free?

It takes a story, a personal story of a human experience to span that gap between the abstract and the real. Perhaps the most striking experience for me on this trip was visiting the Sung family ancestral village. The image of my great-great-grandfather laboring under the weight of an overflowing wheelbarrow of firewood threw into stark contrast the lifestyle I now enjoy. Today, the living standards of that small village are little changed. In fact, the wheels of industrial progress seem to have made life harder. Now that much of the surrounding hillside is being mined for one resource or another they must walk miles just to reach the land they are allowed to cultivate...

And yet, we, the descendants of Song Feiqing, have enjoyed blessings of fortune many times over that which these people have. I ask myself, what is the difference? Yes, simply being in America is a big part of that, but then how did we come to be here? How did “I” come to be...here?

This question, for me, is everything. It’s a question that first started forming in my mind years ago during a middle school culture fair project. It was then I first heard the story of an incredible man. A man who built not just a company but a community, indeed a very industry where there was none. This man touched the lives of those around him so deeply that now more than 2/3 of a century later the ripples of his deeds have spanned the globe. I too, now get to span the globe, to see the place where those ripples began.

China Memories 2010: My China memories (Steven)

China Memories 2010: My China memories (Steven): "Apologies for the delayed post and thanks to my Mom for the reminders. I can blame my current boss who could learn a few lessons from my G..."

From Dave - I loved reading your post, Steven. You are very well spoken, as I would expect an attorney to be :) However, I have one correction...... I believe I was referred to as "sturdy" rather than "stocky" ...... :):) OK....I have to admit that I did know what she was trying to say each time, and that she did not mean anything at all in a negative way, but there was so much potential humor by misinterpreting everything ..... I just had to go for it. Years of being in the "shark infested" business world tends to drown out our ability to recognize "humorous" opportunities, so my being able to "mine those nuggets" are a real testament to how our vacation with everyone truly relaxed me. "True" vacations are necessary. Truthfully, yes, the kids do get their looks from their mom ...... I guess what they got from me are their size 10 feet .........

I hope we will have future opportunities to all get together and recall our memories, and better yet, to make some more. It was truly the trip of a life time....... infinite thx to Sanyi and everyone else for all they did...... a truly monumental task.

Dave

Trip Back in Time

As I read everyone else's blogs, I realize there isn't much left for me to say. The pictures you've painted with your words are so vivid, I feel as if just arriving home! Well done, everyone....

First off, Aunt Roberta, THANK YOU! What an amazing experience, to be witness to this "full circle" trip with you, Aunt Rebecca and Mom, where your Dad's many accomplishments and most of all his true character were being recognized and acknowledged by so many.

As an immigrant myself, I KNOW your dad and mom would be very proud and full of joy knowing that you took your family back to your country of origin to pass on their legacy to the younger generation. A true selfless act of love and honor towards your parents!

I don't think I could put into words as eloquently as everyone else has all we did and experienced, so I won't even try... what I can do though is let you know this trip touched a very deep part of me, the part that gets the need to pass onto the younger ones our heritage, all that our parents were, did and how deep in our hearts they will always be!

As I watched the youngest Yangs, I couldn't help but feel sadness that our girls were not able to join us. Rest assured they have been told and will continue to hear about their wonderful ancestors, all that they accomplished and ultimately sacrificed to enable their children, namely, you and your siblings, to seek a free and better future than you would have had if you stayed in China.

Again, Thank You!!! It was humbling to be part of the incredible trip "back in time" you so kindly funded for us.

Sincerely,

Olga

Memories and more!

First, I want to start with the thank yous. Thank you so much to San Yi, Shao Yi and Mom for all their time and energy in sharing the Sung family history with us. A BIG thanks to San Yi for treating all of us with the trip of a lifetime, spoiling us with 5 star hotels and providing guides and private buses all the way through Huangshan. Thanks to Maya for taking time out of her very busy schedule and Mom's surgery to take us shopping. And thanks to everyone for making it such a fun and rewarding trip...I'm so glad our family travels together so well.

As with so many things, it is hard to fully appreciate something until you have experienced it. Over the years, we've heard stories of Grandpa and recently we've been blessed to be able to read the book on his life (thanks San Yi, Shao Yi and Aunt Chinnie). Being able to go visit the original factory site, see the pictures and read about the history was very meaningful. Being able to visit Song Village and see the houses, farmland and cemetary was very sobering. It clearly took a lot of determination and hard work for great Grandfather to find success from such a humble beginning.

Seeing the Textile museum outside of Tianjin was a real eye opener for me. With Grandpa being the only one with his own room, it was clear that he was a most important and influential person in the history of the Chinese textile industry. It made me proud to read and hear about his many charitible activities, his business savvy and innovative managing style. Being one who has worked in a large company for many years, I've worked for a lot of different managers (mostly bad) and wish that I could have worked for someone like Grandpa. Managers who you admire and respect are very very few. The perfect example of how loved and respected Grandpa was is the example at the train station when the guards changed their minds and let us keep the swords as soon as they found out that we were his descendents. These guards were probably no older than their 30's and Grandpa left China 60 years ago. so these guards weren't even born, yet, when Grandpa was still in China. So they know about Grandpa only by reputation and by hearing stories. That only happens with great people.

I was so happy to be able to go into the house that Mom, San Yi and Shao Yi grew up in. When we went 3 years ago, we were only able to see the house from the outside. Hearing all the stories, many funny, of life growing up in that house was great. Never realized how mischevious everyone was (and still are).

I have a new favorite city in China...Qingdao. Very picturesque..."a very very pretty city". I definitely want to visit there again. And speaking of picturesque...Huangshan. We were so lucky to have the clouds part just as we were leaving. Words and pictures are not enough to properly describe the views...you just have to be there and see it yourself.

And I'm very thankful for the opportunity to travel with and get to know cousins Steven and Daryl much better. We are all going to have to make a bigger effort to get together more in the future.

The trip was awesome, rewarding, educational, fun, entertaining, humbling, exciting, breathtaking...and much more! Hard to imagine a vacation topping this one!