Do you guys wonder how Chinese college looks like 30 year ago? I can show you according to my parents’ description. But before start, I have to introduce some background. 30 years ago, the college entrance exam just had renewed for 3 years. Only a small part of people could attend the college. People were poor, especially those in country, like my parents. In the school, students were divided into groups with the unit of class and every group had a tutor.
Image that I was freshman at that time……
It’s 6:30 am, on December 3rd, 1981. I’m waked up by the noisy of the old wooden window. It’s snowing heavily outside and the wind is strong. I stay abed for a while, then climb down the bed (there are tow floor of a bed), and go out to buy breakfaster for other 7 girls in my dorm (we take turns to do this and it’s my turn today).
At 7:30 am, I’m sitting in the classroom with other 39 students waiting for the teacher. Some classmates have studied for almost 1 hour. The chance to attend college in 1981 is very precious. We all know the fact, so all of us are willing to devote ourselves to study. The first class is English class. Teacher comes in with a big tap player in his hand. Before the college, I’ve never learned English. The letters are like alien language for me, and it’s same to most of other students. The slow weird sound makes me dizzy, but I hold the pencil tightly and write down the note. “Do my best” I say to myself.
The last class before lunch is mathematics. I like math. I like to deal with numbers rather than letters. We can’t afford to buy a calculator. So we just calculate with pencil, paper, and our brains.
However, as the end of class coming, everyone become nervous and excited. Today is Thursday, the only day when refectory cooks meat for lunch.
When the bell rings, the whole class runs out of room. It’s still snowing and the snow makes my shoes wet. But nothing can stop us. I rush to the refectory. There has a long line and it’s growing longer and longer. I stand in the line waiting for the delicious food. How fortunately, I get the last meat! Those who stand behind me are so upset. I run back to dorm. My friend has heated the Wotou, a traditional Chinese food made of corn. We do not eat rice and steamed bread which is made of wheat everyday. It’s luxurious for us. Mostly, we will cook some when we celebrate New Year. Eating the meat with my friend (we eat together, so we can save money), I feel that it’s really a great day today.
There is no class this afternoon. All of my roommates are having noon break. I’m in bed with thick quilt, knitting a sweater for myself. It is green, the most popular color in contemporary society. I have done half of it. I must finish it as soon as possible so I can wear it instead of my worn one. After my friend getting up, we go to library to do homework. Actually, it is because the library is warmer than my dorm and we can save some coal if we do not stay in dorm.
Time always pass fast when we are studying. After supper, we go to classroom to practice singing. There is a party for the coming New Year. Every class has to perform. What we sing is “Unity is Strength”. Just as the song goes, we should unite to make our life better, to make our country strong, to make better conditions of studying for next generation.
At 10 pm, the electricity is limited. But we all contune to study with flashlight, also with the great expertation for life in my heart.
Oh.. I understand what you mean. Students in South Korea also had hard time 30 years ago. :) Btw, you are the first person I have ever seen who wrote about 30 years ago not about 30 years later! It was interesting.
回复删除I admit, I always prefer the blogs from the past. I loved this ... it reminded me of my studies in England in 1982 (except for the math). We were also cold and poor! :)
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