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October 30, 2008

Vestibulum, Ipsum R. “ Morbi Auctor: A Sodales.” Interdum. Quisque. 2000: 46

Laoreet Venenatis, Egestas A. Mari. Lorem Ipsum: A Faucibus Luctus Auctor Condimentum, 1993. 115.

Bartusiak, Mauris. Pellentesque. Lorem Ipsum: Risus Curabiyur Fringilla Venenatis, 1993

Vestibulum, Ipsum R. “Morbi Auctor: A Sodales.” Interdum. Quisque. 2000: 46

Laoreet Venenatis, Egestas A. Mari. Lorem Ipsum: A Faucibus Luctus Auctor Condimentum, 1993. 115.

Bartusiak, Mauris. Pellentesque. Lorem Ipsum: Risus Curabiyur Fringilla Venenatis, 1993

Vestibulum, Ipsum R. “Morbi Auctor: A Sodales.” Interdum. Quisque. 2000: 46

Laoreet Venenatis, Egestas A. Mari. Lorem Ipsum: A Faucibus Luctus Auctor Condimentum, 1993. 115.

Bartusiak, Mauris. Pellentesque. Lorem Ipsum: Risus Curabiyur Fringilla Venenatis, 1993

Vestibulum, Ipsum R. “Morbi Auctor: A Sodales.” Interdum. Quisque. 2000: 46

Laoreet Venenatis, Egestas A. Mari. Lorem Ipsum: A Faucibus Luctus Auctor Condimentum, 1993. 115.

Vestibulum, Ipsum R. “ Morbi Auctor: A Sodales.” Interdum. Quisque. 2000: 46

My Grandfather: the person I interviewed.

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Alex CTo Cross the Bridge

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To Cross the Bridge

By: Alex C

Alex C

November 7, 2012

Author’s Note

This is a story about my grandfather. The story takes place in the old Shanghai during the Second Sino Japanese War. The Japanese invaded Shanghai about three years before my grandfather’s arrival in Shanghai. He was five years old at the time and just escaped from his hometown in pursue of a peaceful life. His family was fortunate enough to escape the wrath of the Japanese and finally arrive in Shanghai and they arrived in Shanghai in the year 1941. The invasion in Shanghai was still happening and it finally ended in 1945, four years after my grandfather’s arrival.

Family Tree

To Cross the Bridge

“Wake UP!!!!” my dad shouted in the distance. I rubbed my eyes as I descended from dreamworld. “Uh, what?” I asked sleepily. There was still a chaotic storm from the night’s sleep, but I still got dressed reluctantly and grumpily ate my breakfast.

It was rice soup again, and it still had teeny bits of pebbles inside. There never was an appetizing breakfast. I gulped my breakfast and quickly followed my dad outside. “Why did you call me up so early today?” I questioned my father.

“Don’t you remember, we’re visiting to your cousin today!” my dad replied.

How did I forget. I was thinking about it the whole night yesterday! I tried to contain my excitement and kept on walking. Then I saw Japanese soldiers marching down the street; They were all wearing dull brown military uniforms. They puffed up their chests and made unnecessarily loud noises as they stomped up and down the street. They held polished guns in their hands, and they ignored the people walking by. I chased after my father out the alley, as he descended into the urban and noisy cities of Shanghai.

We took a rickshaw to the Suzhouhe Bridge. It was a long distance, and the rickshaw driver was out of breath when we arrived. My dad threw the man some coins, and he disappeared with his rickshaw. The

bridge had two figures standing on each side of it. The figures looked like painted statues of soldiers holding guns. When I took a closer look, I noticed that they were breathing; they were real Japanese soldiers! Just when I was studying the statues, someone tried to sneak past the soldiers and cross the bridge. He crouched low and scurried across the big steel structure. Suddenly, one of the statues shouted, “Bagayalu! Come back here!” The person froze and looked back. His face was pale and he looked horrified. He quickly bowed to them, and one of the soldiers nodded, as if saying, “You can go.” The person briskly rushed over the rest of the bridge.

I held my breath and followed my father across the bridge. My heart was pounding so hard, that it could jump out of my ribcage any second. I clumsily bowed to the soldiers and dashed as fast as my small legs can carry me. I finally reached the other end of the bridge after what felt like an hour of awkwardness. I clung onto my father’s hand tightly and cheerily traveled to my cousin’s house.

Interview

(In grandfather’s perspective)

Where were you born?

1936, 12, 25

When were you born?

Shangyu, Zhejiang China

What was it like to be in the (event)?

Everybody was trying to escape, It was scary, there were soldiers and bomb craters everywhere

What happened?

Every time someone crossed the Suzhouhe Bridge, you will have to bow to the Japanese soldiers standing guard there. It was very strange to see my father do this. I saw some other people who didn’t bow and they got whipped and punched. It was really hard living that time. The rice has stones in it so it will pass the weighing quality control. We starved that time and we ate corn powder and rice soup. We often see Japanese soldiers walking down the road. Most people avoid walking into their paths and most people run away and tries to stay away from them. The Japanese even had a policy that tells them to kill all, steal all, and burn all.

What age were you when this happened?

5 years old.

How did you feel at the time of the event?

I heard gunshots and I was scared.

What were you like at that age?

I was no more than a kid, and there was no school that time.

What did you have to do in (event)?

I had to hide and I was no more than a kid.

How did you feel towards the Japanese at that time?

I hated them but I also was scared of them.

How do you feel towards the Japanese today?

I still don’t like them.

How did this event change your perspective about the world?

I learned that you have to be powerful yourself, so you won’t get bullied

What role did you take during this event

A child who didn’t understand anything yet.

Bibliography

“Battle of Shanghai” Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shanghai>

“The Genocide of Nanking” The History Place <http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm>

Grandfather as another main source.

Reflection

What specific challenges did you face during this project?

I didn’t know what situation my grandfather was in, so I had to try hard to make it realistic.

What did you learn about your family member? (personality, character…)

He probably hated the Japanese and the Japanese soldiers must have been really cruel.

What did you learn about yourself (as a learner, as a family member)?

I should read more historical books, and learn more about the Chinese history.

How have you grown? (as a writer…)

I learned how to use more vivid descriptions.

Why do you think doing a project like this is important?

It is important because it helps you learn more about your family.

What part of this process did you enjoy most? Why?

Revising with friends to improve my writing piece. It was nice hearing all the comments my friends had, and it helped my narrative improve a lot.

What part of this process did you least enjoy? Why?

I didn’t enjoy the interview since my grandfather was unfocused that day and I had to really try to get things from him.

How do you plan to share this project with your family/ family member?

I plan to let them read it and let them help me improve my skills. On the other hand, I would like to know more about my family history.