In my interview for today, I talked with Ruby. We had a video call because she decided she would rather share her answers with me that way rather than writing them down. I wrote down her answers and made some small edits to make them more readable.
Ruby is also one of my first students in my teaching career here in China. Ruby was in the same grade as John (my friend from the previous interview), but they were in different classes. Ruby has always been a really sweet student and once we became friends, she has been a wonderful friend.
Her eagerness to learn provided a base for the character of Becky in Snapshots of China. Becky was actually a combination of several students and friends, but Ruby was definitely a big part of her initial character development.
A couple of my friends read my initial draft of Snapshots and mentioned that they didn’t think Becky was realistic in her first story because they had never seen a student like that. When I heard that, I was so sad because I know that there are students like this, and I wish that every teacher could have a Becky (or a Ruby) in every class. Students like this make me love my job.
Ruby and I became friends about two years after I moved to China when she joined a summer workshop that I helped to lead. John was in the same workshop, and over time, all four of us (another foreign teacher at the school, Megan, who is also my friend) started hanging out more.
Several years ago, I spent the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) with Ruby and her family, and I learned so much about Chinese culture. Those experiences will find their way into my writing eventually. Her parents are also very kind and generous, just like so many Chinese people that I have met over the years.
I was really curious to see what Ruby thought about the book, and I hope that you enjoy hearing about her thoughts and reflections as well.
I love the book. It’s sweet. I will know you more deeply.
1. Were there any characters that you related to in the book?
I like the part when the grandma smashed the flower to paint the nails. I didn’t know if you made it up, but it reminds me of my childhood. It made me miss my grandma. We did that kind of thing when I was little. She didn’t use the flowers, but she helped me to paint my nails because normally parents won’t allow their kids to do that in China. [I based the story off of a story another friend had told me.]
I just feel like it’s familiar to me when I read the book. It’s not like a foreign teacher wrote it. I feel like it’s a Chinese person writing about China. I feel like it also will help Chinese people to read your book because they can feel like they had the experience before.
The KTV part was also so funny—when the students pushed you to sing the song.
The part about you and your ex-boyfriend [although I wrote the stories while we were still dating], when you went to their hometown seemed difficult because you are kind, and you try to make others happy. Even if you don’t get used to something, you still do what they ask you to do.
2. Were there any characters who gave you a deeper understanding of your own culture or customs? Could you give some examples?
I want to talk about the culture. In the book, you talked about the students. Some of them were very similar to Haijingyuan students [the university that Ruby attended and where I taught for 4 years]. Not all Chinese students are like that (for example, when the students went out to smoke during class), but these students are very representative of the students from our school.
3. Did you learn anything specific from the stories or the characters?
I just feel like when I was reading it, I was touched. It made me feel relaxed and I could just enjoy it and not think too much. It’s sweet, and it’s good for Chinese as well as foreigners. I recommend them to read it. It’s good for people who struggle with their life to read about these kinds of characters. It makes you feel relaxed and sweet and warm. If I have children, I will suggest them to read it. I think this book can be popular—it just needs marketing.
4. Did you have a favorite story or character in Snapshots of China?
Lili because she was a cute girl.
5. Is there anything you wish foreigners knew about China or Chinese culture?
Many people worship Buddha, although this religion is not only from China. I want to talk about destiny, which is based on the principles of yin and yang. Many people think that the 12 zodiac animals are also a part of our destiny.
Recently, I started reading about whether two people born in the year of the dog (the same year) can be a couple. If the girl or the boy are 6 years apart in age, they can’t be together because they have similar characters. I want to talk about this just for fun. My mom told me about this superstition, but I just thought it was silly. My friend tried to set me up with a guy who was 6 years older than me, and we went out for dinner. We had just sat down to dinner but when I sat down with this guy and started talking, I felt like he couldn’t be my partner. That was just my feeling.
6. Are there any misconceptions or stereotypes about China that you don’t think are true and wish people understood more (this can be something you saw in the book or anything else that you know about)?
Recently, my coworkers and I had a Christmas party at the school with the foreigners. Chinese people think Santa should carry the bag of gifts to surprise the kids. On the other hand, the foreign teachers think Santa is the boss. He should just sit and wait for the kids to come find him. We had a different understanding of what should happen. In the foreigners’ country, kids like to find Santa and take a picture with Santa. But Chinese teachers think Santa should go find kids.
I used to talk with foreign teachers, and they complained about China and Covid. You should write about Covid more.
I like the way you write down things about China. It’s very true.
Thanks for the interview, Ruby, and thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us!
