The storm is at most a disaster and at least a storm. And I was not overwhelmed by the images concerning those who had lost their families in the storm or by the spectacular scenery, which never appeared in southeastern China during the previous fifty years. Actually, I was in Beijing on a study tour when the storm took place.

Anathema! As I left my school on the 21 st of Jan. and the storm begin to release her power after Jan. 23 rd so I avoided all these problems gracefully. Beijing, our capital, used to be Chairman Mao’ living place (He passed away in1976 and was eager to talk with his tutor Marx) and now there’s a great big picture of him hanging on the Forbidden City’s gate, that welcomed me warmly. There was sunshine, a nice breeze and gray snow and the storm didn’t seem to affect Beijing.

Meanwhile, the storm, which I had underestimated, was increasing in a hurry and almost become a disaster in a single night. It was the day I went back on the train from Beijing to Shanghai that I finally felt its power.

The snow, nearly 20 inches in height, mixed with dust and footprints appeared a kind of gray, which really made me ill. Thousands of people were stuck in railway stations and had no seats but only had standing room. The chilly wind had nothing to do accept to wait for succor from the government. The airport, railway station and many different kinds of equipment, used for transportation purposes, were all closed or shut down. I soon realized that I had become one of those people sitting in a temporary tent, eating bread or anything that our government gave me. You know, the most depressing thing was not I had no train or plane home but sat in a totally strange city waiting with dozens of total strangers. “God, please help these people!” Just yesterday, I appreciated my time in Beijing, our capital and Chairman Mao and his tutor, everything! And now, I was watching Rat Race, a famous American Comedy, a movie that in the past could always bring me great laughter and fun, but not this time, this time I had no interest at all…

The third day after I left Beijing, I arrived home. The journey came to an end and it took me four times’ as long as it usually takes.