Isaac's Troubles

Carrie: Good morning , good noon ,good evening and good night.(I am not sure what time gmail is working) I am so sorry for my impertinent call while you were working this morning.But it was very urgent.Here is the complete report for what happened today. As I told you last time, I choosed a neighbourhood of Peking Union Medical college and hospital , which was sponsored by the Rockefeller Fundation, and was constructed in the year of 1918. The place is located in the foreign affairs department alley. After being declined by seven people, I finally found a middle-aged lady who is in charge of the entrance to that neighbourhood and she is also an active resident responsible for the activities there. On June 5th, she agreed to take some pics of her daily life and willing to keep long term cooperation relationship with us. Since then, I've sent some messages and called her for several times to have a detail talk about the history and incidents happened there. But she never replied. And she didn't call me until today to tell me that she didn't want to do that. So this morning , I rushed there. On arriving, I was encircled by six or seven retired ladies. They kept talking , asking , explaining... "This kind of behavior is a great threat against our private peaceful life !" ; "Do you have a journalist ID card, and is your organization legal? " ; "Will you act in accordance with the center of communist party,?" "Are we going to be concerned , if you are revealing something bad of communism? " etc... "If you want the camera back, we won't sign the compact and the films and pics which has taken must be returned !" "You should go to our residential committee and police station to get the permission !" All right! I give it up...The place is so nice. The outside is just an vulgar alley with so many shops , vendors, restaurants with really bad and dirty conditions, but the inside of the neighbourhood is exactly a wonderland, a lost pure world. Giant old trees are standing on the both sides of the path which leads to the end of the garden. There are birds singing in the trees, and there are cadence and fragrance breezing in the sky. In the middle of the neighbourhood , there lies a decent parterre. There aren't many houses (or villas more exactly), but each has its own style. They are originally American or European ,but after being battered by the wind and the rain for decades of years, the local culture has already insinuated some Chinese elements into its seemingly incompatible style with its enviroment. I love the one where fully grows the ivy(Or your may call it as the Virginia creeper) on almost four walls.I guess this must be the most concealing house that strikes the eyes most. But his owener is the first to refuse me. And there are so many other places so nice that I can't help to stay and stare at it for a while. However, it's gone. I messed it up... I know it's communists' fault and it is a kind of sequela of the culture revolution. But I am still feeling very guilty of losing such a gorgeous realm of beauty. However, there is so much beauty to quit. OK! Now I'll stop longing and regret and save my boss's time After I snatched back the camera and the compact by great effort, I rushed to my first backup place (I've got two) Maybe you've found that the one I like most is not a real HuTong(Well I love it badly).But the one I really get is an authentic HuTong of Beijing style.Its name is "Xi Ting HuTong", written in a red signpost , or "West Hall HuTong" for its English name. It was going very fine. Even much more easier than I expected. Although I got some declines at first. Because I went to ask some old people for help, they were very willing to help but their eyesight are too bad to use a camera. But I knew I would someone here. I almost asked everyone I saw on the street , and finally I found an ideal person. His surname is Ma, around 60 years old. And he is the member of Beijing photography committee. Last year , he was invited to a similar large scale photovoice activity. I invited his whole family and his cousin who is also very familiar with HuTong history to join our project. And they are so nice, sincere , and generous. He signed the name on the pact immediately and also felt very happy. That's the real Beijingnese! Still I'd like to fetch the camera on Tuesday , June 13th. And I'll also go to your place for the weekly meeting. I don't want to work by myself. I need to know what is everybody going on and I also wonder if you have new plans or adjustments for the whole project.And I will also submit some infomation for you. And I'd like to prepare some quesions for uncle Ma's family. That's all. Now I am fully convinced the motto"To hope the best and wish the worst!" I was so delightful this Monday, and I wished I would do a wonderful job.But I messed up. This morning I thought maybe I would get killed if my failure ruin part of your project. But I never give up my hope. With best regards and wishes. Sincerely Isaac