15 June 2019
Today I met my Role Model.
I first saw her picture on Facebook while reading up to prepare for my trip to Kinmen Island, the birthplace of my grandma.
“I hope to have the chance to age like this Elder (长者),” was the first thought that came to mind when I lay eyes on her pictures. After that I saved the shots for future inspiration and that was it.
I would learn later that this Elder (长者) I connected visually with had allowed young people to host a music festival in the courtyard of her house in 2017.
This afternoon while heading back to our car after visiting the ancient houses of 珠山 (Zhushan Village) I was attracted to voices coming from a house on my right.
An elderly woman and two men were seated on low stools at the doorway & chatting leisurely.
I gasped when I realised I was looking at the Elder (长者) from the Facebook photos I had saved! For Real!
I then babbled excitedly to our driver, Yuan, as if I had spotted a Kirin in Kinmen.
“Are you absolutely sure?” Yuan asked, amused by my delirium.
“Yes! She was featured in a music festival in 2017 organised by Wang Ling & friends. She was surrounded by young people in that picture!” I explained earnestly. Nothing is gonna stop me from greeting my Role Model now.
As if the Elder had heard us, she waved and beckoned us to approach her.
She would later tell me that she did that because she wanted us to go inside her house to have some tea and to take a break from the scorching heat outside.
What followed after I entered the doorway to her 400-year-old house was an afternoon of magical exchanges in a mixture of Mandarin & Minan.
I told my Role Model that I saw her on Facebook even before we met & my aspirations to have her strength & gravitas if I ever have the chance to get to her age.
She laughed heartily and held me firmly by my shoulders.
Yuan explained to my Role Model that before we came to her village, I had visited my grandmother’s ancestral shrine in 半山 (Pan Shan).
My Role Model smiled benevolently and said in the Kinmen dialect, “I was born in Pan Shan. My surname is Weng (翁), just like your grandmother’s.”
I couldn’t have asked for a clearer sign of ancestral affection and divine guidance on this Kinmen trip that I made on my grandma’s behalf.
Lisa Ong 