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Growlersworld Interviews |
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INDEX
The
Growlersworld Interviews is an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful
and creative people in all walks of life.
Rawle
Austin presents...
A
conversation with Liang Yan - Writing to New Creative Heights in China
Liang
Yan (English name is Leanne Liang) writes creatively in her spare
time which shows us the world through her eyes.
She
has written a column for this site called Liang
Yan - New Chinese Writer. I spoke with her to learn more about
her life.
Rawle
Austin: What is the meaning of your Chinese name?
Liang Yan: According to my hometown’s custom,
the new born baby’s name should be given by one of the important
people of the family.
Such
as a grandfather, father, or by the person who is the first one
to enter the house of the new born baby.
But,
as I am a girl, and during that time the people liked boys much
more than girls. |
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So,
many girls didn’t have a name, rather they were called ‘little
girl’ which translates as 'gu niang' in my hometown language.
This
was the same for me, I did not have my own name until I was 2, when one
day, a woman came to our home and registered permanent residence for me,
which needed my name.
When
my parents told her I still did not have a name, she went to the hall
and saw a picture with a swallow flying in the sky, so she suggested to
my parents that was good to call me “Liangyan”.
This
is my name, and it doesn’t have any special meaning. Anyway,
my family still calls me 'gu niang' even though I am not little
any more.
RA: Where is your hometown?
LY: My hometown is a small village of Jiangxi Province
called Daixi Town in Yichun City.
It
is in the Southeast of China, and to the north of Guangdong Province.
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RA:
Can you describe your hometown?
LY: My home town is surrounded by big mountains. When
I was young, I always went to catch firewood for cooking in the mountains
with my two brothers and neighbouring children, we played and laughed
and there was lots of fun.
As is the case with big mountains, the water is clean and cool, and of
course, the transportation is not so convenient.
Therefore
the town is a little undeveloped and this makes most of the young
people go out to earn money since 1990s.
The
biggest treasure in my hometown is wood and bamboo.
In
1980s, many families got rich selling bamboo shoots and wood.
RA:
Why did you leave your hometown?
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LY:
The first time I left my hometown was in the year of 2001, when I went
to a college in Hunan Province, which is to the west of Jiangxi Province.
Since
2004, I came to Dongguan City of Guangdong Province, to get a job in an
Electronic Factory, opened by a Taiwanese.
RA: Where are you working and living now?
LY:
I am working in an International school in Chang’an town of
Dongguan city and I’m also living at the school.
RA: Where did you live and work before?
LY: In 2004, I worked in Tangxia Town of Dongguan
City, and in May 2005, I went to Shenzhen, a developed and fast-paced
city.
And
during that time I lived with [my boyfriend] Joe. |
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RA:
What is your favourite food and why?
LY:
I don’t have a favorite food, I like different kinds of vegetables.
For meat, I just like chicken legs, beef and pork without fat. Maybe this
is inherited from my mum.
RA: What makes you happy?
LY:
To stay with the people I love and read books.
RA:
What do you like to do when you are not working?
LY: The same as other girls, I like shopping when
I am free.
And
I also like to go to a bookstore to read new books, they are free,
and many book lovers go there.
Travel
is another thing I like to do, but it needs a lot of time and money,
so I need to do a great deal of preparation before I do it. |
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RA:
You are a very good writer. Why do you like to write?
LY: I want to remember the things that have happened
or were important to me. And writing is best way to remind you of them.
RA: What is your dream for your life?
LY:
My dream is marry with my love, earn some money and when I am 40,
I want to go back to my hometown or my husband’s hometown
to stay with the old people and run a little bookstore.
RA: Can you introduce your family?
LY: My parents are farmers, in 1990s, my mother
left our hometown for Fujian Province to earn money to enable her
three children to go to school.
My
father stayed home, did farming and took care of us.
Two
years ago, my mother found a job for my dad [in Fujian Province]
and all of our family went to live there except for me.
I
have two brothers, one is older than me, he is married, and has
a baby boy of 1 year old; my younger brother is 20 now, he learnt
to drive by himself. |
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My
sister in law, who is my older brother’s wife, is from the north
of China.
RA: Why should people come to visit China?
LY: In my opinion, every country has its own history,
culture, customs and special spots to see. This is why the people like
to travel to other countries.
And
China, as one of the oldest countries in the world, it has its own
specialties, for example, the Terracotta army in Xi’an, the
Great Wall in Beijing, 55 minority races, the dragon boat races,
and Chinese Kungfu (Gong fu), etc.
You
still can feel the old customs in China, and you also can see the
modern cities.
RA: Why do you like to learn English?
LY: Language is a tool to us. If I don’t
know English, maybe I can ask someone to translate for me. |
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And
when I am watching TV/Movies, I can use the Chinese version, but, even
though the translation is great, there are still some differences.
If
I know it well, I can use my own understanding, this is directly touch.
And I not only want to learn English, I also want to learn some other
languages.
RA: What do you think about the Olympic Games
in Beijing 2008?
LY:
The Beijing Olympic Games is just a title to me. In my opinion,
the most important thing is to attract the people to love sports,
to inherit the Olympic spirits.
In
order to support it, I will do more exercises and make myself healthy.
RA: What do you know about London, England?
LY: I just heard about Big Ben, the Thames River,
St. Paul’s Cathedral, the big bridge and the heavy fog in
London. Big Ben tells the time for the BBC.
RA: What else would you like to say about yourself?
LY: I am simple, find it easy to forget things
and am cautious but I am thankful. I don’t want to worry about
my future, I always say I want to do something, but I cannot keep
on it.
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RA:
And finally, what would you like to say to everyone reading this
interview?
LY: The difference between people is great, everyone
is special. I am the biggest gift for my mom, she has already spent 20
years to look after me.
Now
it’s the time for me to take care of myself. I hope all of you will
take care of yourselves.
Read
Liang Yan - New Chinese Writer
The
Big Yellow Band - Rocking All Over the World>
<Danny
Herbert - Directing the Creative Landscape
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