Vivian – Yang L i na - #0505020242

If there would be another chance, I’d be there with them, at home.

The storm of 2008 was already behind us; however, even with the slightest touch of it today, deep regret will clutch me time and time again.

When the blizzard conditions began, I was far away from home in Shanghai for my so - called meaningful training course of Advanced Interpretation, leaving my family members at home struggling with the snow, but not together with me.

In late December 2007, when the winter vacation was on its wheel, I talked to my parents about my plans to go to Shanghai to do something meaningful during vacation instead of staying while doing nothing worthwhile. After they knew the cost and that maybe I could not come back home for the Spring Festival gathering, they hesitated. I thought they were only concerning about money since we have a large family with four children. I told my parents that I would use the scholarship I got that semester. After deep discussion, I went to Shanghai as planned.

The first day I arrived in Shanghai, I called my family. On hearing my voice, my sister was overjoyed. She called all the family members to talk on the phone, and she hoped that I could have a full harvest in the winter, while only mentioning that the snow at home was only about ten inches then. Nothing more.

She didn’t tell me about the power failure. She didn’t tell me that they were shut in from all communication with the outside world until later. She didn’t tell me that they were shivering because of the cold, even staying inside. No, nothing.

I was kept in the dark about all their conditions at home.

The next day, when I turned on TV, an avalanche of news about the disastrous storm was broadcasted wildly. I began to realize that the storm had badly affected my hometown. A lot of power poles fell. Trees were weighed down by heavy snow. Roads were blocked. The winds rioted up and down the country. How could my sisters do their homework at home? Even cooking may be difficult for them without electricity. My heart was sad.

My sisters are only in their teens and my grandpa is in his late seventies. How could they manage such a mess in the dark? How I wished I were at home then, maybe I could comfort them just by being with them, all of us together.

For a long time, I thought my parents didn’t love me as much as before, because there are so many children. They have too much to take care of. I insisted I go to Shanghai as a way to gain their attention again. How foolish I was! I found I was wrong.

When the Spring Festival was approaching, my parents called me.

“Honey, go and buy the ticket, come back home for the Spring Festival!”

On hearing those words, I knew they loved me as much as ever. No matter how costly the trip was, they just wanted me back home to be together with them.

When I saw my sisters’ cracked hands, I couldn’t help sobbing. They suffered a lot during the storm. However, the last straw - my grandpa’s hands were red and in great pain because of his frequent use of cold water, I cried. Still, there were no complaints, only the warmth of home.

I owe you a lot - My family.

Your tolerance of me was the seed from which my strong desire to be with you for good has since grown. I could never learn a better lesson from the storm.