Eric's Beijing Diary

Amber invited me to a concert at BIT (Beijing Institute of Technology) this evening. Amber is a college kid from BIT who likes to chat with me at the coffee bar. I am not very familiar with Stephen Curtis Chapman's music, but he is a pretty good guitar picker. This guy must have steel-tipped fingers. He broke a string about half-way through the third or fourth song. But his friend Jeff kept things going, so the recovery was good. It was obviously a benefit concert, because it was free. Amber was determined to get there at least an hour early even though she had saved seats for us in the small auditorium. This kind of thing is a very big hit with Chinese young people, and both Steve and Jeff have adopted orphans from China, so they have a unique interest in this country.

They began with a couple of well known country songs--Country Roads, and one other one--can't remember. Then they began to sing some of the songs they had written and tell their story. As the concert progressed, Amber became more and more absorbed in the music, as did many of the other students. After awhile, she wrote two characters on a piece of paper and showed them to me...gandong, moved. touched. Wo hen gandong (I'm very moved).

Toward the end of the concert, there was a question and answer period. Amber raised her hand several times, but someone always beat her to it. She was frustrated, and I was frustrated for her, because I knew that the real reason she was raising her hand was not just curiosity. Amber had spent the whole afternoon drawing a cute collage for the two visitors. Hearts, designs, part of the Chinese flag, and three monograms that said, "Stephen," "Jeff," and "Amber." A friendship poster. She wanted to give it to them. I knew she didn't have much chance if she didn't take pretty assertive action, so I said, "Amber, the next time they ask if someone has a question, don't raise your hand. Just stand up and start talking."

"Stand up?!"
"Yes. Be bold. Be seen. Give them no options."

Well, the MC asked for one more question. Amber raised her hand, but he did not call on her. She was really disappointed. In one sense, it was presumptious, I suppose, to expect that she would abandon a lifetime of inbred propriety just because of my suggestion. Amber is very outgoing and friendly, but not rude in any sense of the word. And who am I to tell this young lady that she should abandon propriety so quickly just for a chance to speak with an American musician? Still, I felt sorry for her, and I wanted to give her an edge.

Well, the concert was over, and the MC was winding things up so that Stephen and Jeff could be on their way, when Amber suddenly jumped to her feet, "Wait! I have a question!" She seemed a bit surprised at herself, but determined as well. The moderator was obviously prepared for such outbursts, because he immediately cut her off, but Amber had passed the point of no return; there was no turning back. Emboldened now by her own audacity, she persisted, "No! Let me talk, please!!"

She was trembling now as she held out her labor of love for Stephen and Jeff, the two singers from America. Stephen was very gracious, and thanked her for both of them. When she sat down, she said, "I was so nervous!" I said, "I'm proud of you, Amber." Now the concert really was over. A few closing remarks, and Stephen and Jeff collected Amber's drawing and left the stage. This, of course, did not escape her notice, "Oh, they're taking my picture with them...they took my picture!"

I said, "Of course."