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The first time I meet Han MeiMei, we were standing on my deck in Vermont. She looked at the fields around my house and she said, ‘That’s a lot of fields. Have you ever thought of writing messages to airplanes?’ I had not thought of this.
Han is a brain scientist. She studies the nature of memory, and she’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. She grew up in a state-run factory compound in Guilin, in southeast China’s Guangxi province. Everyone who worked there lived there, and shopped there, and the children were educated in schools there. Han was born in 1984, soon after China had decided to open itself to more economic engagement with the international economy. But she was also a second child when second children were not allowed in China.
We talked about growing up in China, and what she learned about China after she left. And why she’s chosen to spend her life asking questions that may never be answered in her lifetime.
Notes
Thank you as always to Tobin Anderson.
Music credits I cannot pronounce:
An excellent Little Tiger Team video that you must watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7hbYLaD-FY
Han is not her real name. A lot of what she says in this conversation would be considered censorable in China, and she wanted to protect her privacy.
I also hate when people ask ‘how are you?’ and I’m American. I wonder what it is like to live between worlds like this, after learning some of the complicated history of her country after arriving here. I worry that I’d be lonely but it seems like her curiosity keeps her company and that goes with her everywhere. Thank you for this story.
Great story and music! I love getting insights into how others grew up so much different than I did. It was so refreshing to hear how others embraced her rather than stigmatized her for being the second child. I wonder if she would consider doing a playlist of Chinese music that we could all enjoy. I would love to hear more…..
That is a great idea Mike. I will ask!
This is a brilliant episode. Everyone should listen to it! Thank you Erica and Han.
Wow, another great episode. Meimei’s story in Guilin and Florida was fascinating.
It made me laugh when Meimei mentioned in her story that she felt odd whenever people greeted her with “how are you (doing)”.
When someone greeted me this, I had to pause for a few seconds, searching my mind, thought about it but always responded with “good”, sometimes I felt guilty with this “good” answer. How are you doing? This is not an easy question for us to answer-:)
The story and the well selected music brought me back to my childhood, appreciate it.
I recommend anyone who is interested about 1980’s China to read Paul Theroux’s insightful book on China:
Riding the Iron Rooster: By train through China.
Erica did an excellent job to let Meimei unfold her story.
Thank you Erica and Meimei for such a great episode.
Kindest Regards,
from Shanghai