Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

Breaking China’s Icy Heart

It’s official - China is facing its coldest weather in 50 years and I am stuck in the middle of it. To make matters worse, I am one of those unfortunate poor souls who experienced their first winter only a year ago - therefore I am terrible unsuited for anything below 8 degrees and that’s the temperature indoors right now.

I am very worried about my team. Most of them are going to make the long journey back home (30 hours by train) and the trains are all stuck.

I will be leaving this Friday for home, but they will have the coldest, hardest journey back to their homes in the mountains of Hunan and Hubei yet. My heart goes out to them.

It’s 8-9 degrees over here.

Same like you Cowboy, just experienced my first winter in DG a year ago.
It wasn’t that bad last year but it’s freezing my pants off this year.
Just been to GZ East station last weekend.
On the way so gave a lift to local friends.

They have no tickets home.
Not even if you’re prepared to camp out for 6 days at the train station (you can reserve the train ticket for 10 days only, then it was reduced to 6, and then it was zero, and then police asked everyone to stay where you are)

It was heartbreaking to watch the struggle, indecision, turmoil and finally the acceptance that they need to go back by plane at full price ticket.

Which is 2X their monthly salary.
Which I’m not sure if they have the money on hand.
And they haven’t been home for the past 2 years.

The “coveted ticket” is a 24++ hours train ride to the north over the mountains and icy tracks

Kind of makes you feel grateful that Five Star VVIP coach is only $41 and runs everyday.
Failing which you can grab some enterprising bas sekolah at Larkin.
Failing which you can pay the cabbie to let you drive his cab to your home (then he drives back)

I’m just grateful I dont have to travel 30 hours by train to some foreign place to have a job.