I will never forget you

Trans-Pacific memories

"Has the weather turned cold there?" David asked, then went on reminiscing about swimming in the town's river in summer and skating on the ice in winter when he was a boy.

Memories came flooding back as David recalled how arduous travel had once been. A journey from Huangyuan to Xining took an entire day, with a stop at Zhamalong along the way for a bowl of noodles.

"Do you have suanjiujiu (sea buckthorn)? Could you send me some suanjiujiu juice?" David asked with a childlike smile.

Wang jokingly reminded David that he had sent him 3 kg of tsampa 15 years ago. David said he had carefully kept the package in his refrigerator ever since. He then recalled hand-grabbed mutton, pickled cabbage and Laba porridge. His longing for the familiar flavors of home and the warmth of everyday life back in Huangyuan went far beyond what the screen could convey.

During the video call, David watched a prerecorded video of greetings from Huangyuan residents. Leaning back in his chair, he listened and watched attentively, looking closely at the familiar faces on the screen, sometimes breaking into hearty laughter.

"My body is here, but my heart is in Huangyuan. I wish everyone back home peace and happiness," David said.

As the conversation turned to shehuo, traditional festive performances held around the Chinese New Year, David spontaneously recited a children's rhyme from Huangyuan that he had known since boyhood: "On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the temple gates swing open; village women come to light incense."