Chengdu Diary
 
 

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Comments (Send a comment)

I am thrilled to find this blog. Just over three years ago I adopted my son from Chengdu. I had never heard of this huge city before but now will always have a special connection.

In less than 2 weeks he and I will be there once again for his first visit back to his birth place. We will visit the sights we saw on the adoption trip and most importantly, visit the foster parents who loved him so well for two and a half years.

The trip is all the more exciting as he and I won a contest to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay. I submitted a brief version of his story it was found to be one of the three most compelling. We will run in Shanghai on May 19.

Sadly, what should have been an event of pure excitement is marred by the politics around it. To me, it is disappointing as the struggle of China to move forward and integrate its magnificent and rich cultural history with its developing role as a modern nation is reflected in all these issues. So much has changed so rapidly and there is so much potential for positive change but one must also bring some understanding and respect of the culture to the process of encouraging change.

Anyway, we will have fun and it will be a wonderful experience for my son to meld his Chinese and Canadian heritage.

Sent by Ellen Margolese, Toronto | 9:56 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I'm a professional organizer and wondered if the people of China have any problems dealing with their "stuff" like we do. Are they acquiring more or not? And if so, why is that? Thanks for your energy.

Sent by Karen Fulks | 6:27 PM ET | 05-02-2008

Two thumbs up for Siegel/Block/Hsu and
their team for the in-depth report from
Chengdu! Their work is the type of work
that gave us the reasons to support NPR.

Keep up with the excellent work!

Sent by John Wang | 10:18 AM ET | 05-15-2008

Is it just me? I was not pleased with Block's story on the parents digging for their child. It was similar to the all too familiar questions from TV reporters who ask,"How are you feeling since this awful thing happened to you?" As a mother, I don't need to hear a blow-by-blow account of such a heart-wrenching situation to empathize. I understand, without hearing the mother's hysterics and grief, how horrified she is. The reporting just seemed sensationalist to me.

We could hear Block's tremulous voice at the scene. Of course she would be moved. But to broadcast that? A reporter makes more of a point when her own emotion is absent. Remember Walter Cronkite when he announced President Kennedy's death? A simple statement, and silence while he allowed himself to absorb it. Please refrain from this kind of Fox News emotionalism.

Sent by Cindy Weehler | 1:54 PM ET | 05-18-2008

I am wondering how I can hear the previous broadcasts froom Chengdu. Although I generally stream VPR. I have not been since May 12.

I am a US citizen living and working in Zigong, Sichuan. We are about 3 hours south of Chengdu. Luckily I am fine although a little un-nerved by aftershocks. I teach at a university here our students come from all over the Sichuan Province. Many of my students' families have lost everything.

Sent by Margaret Rafferty | 1:07 AM ET | 05-23-2008

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Robert Siegel

Robert Siegel

Host

 
Melissa Block

Melissa Block

Host

 
Brendan Banaszak

Brendan Banaszak

Producer

 
David Gilkey

David Gilkey

Photographer

 
Andrea Hsu

Andrea Hsu

Producer

 
Anthony Kuhn

Anthony Kuhn

Correspondent

 
Louisa Lim

Louisa Lim

Correspondent

 
Art Silverman

Art Silverman

Producer

 
Chris Turpin

Chris Turpin

Executive Producer

 
 
 

About 'Chengdu Diary'

NPR staff went to Chengdu, Sichuan, China in early May 2008 to prepare for a week of special reports for broadcast on All Things Considered. They found themselves in the middle of an unexpected story when the May 12th earthquake struck. The NPR team was there throughout the quake and aftermath. This blog gives you a day-by-day chronicle of the team's experiences before and after the quake.

For more about the project, please be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions guide and our discussion rules.

 
 

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