Anyone who knows me, knows that I love libraries. I went to the Yunnan provincial library this week--enough said!!! The trip was exactly what I needed to motivate me to begin my research. I was issued a temporary card which allows be to browse the stacks. I can't check books out but I hope I can make arrangements to photocopy some chapters of books. I was amazed at the number of people, young and old, at the library. The library is four floors with two large study halls that were packed. I went on a Saturday and a Monday and there was not a noticeable difference in the numbers. In the study halls people can order food, chat with friends, talk on the phone, buy soft drinks, refill tea jars with boiling water and so on. So pretty much one can stay there all day and be totally satisfied--books, tea and stir fry--what else could one want right? Maybe wireless internet:) The library has different reading rooms such as, Yunnan historical documents, Kunming historical documents, government documents, English language texts etc. I must say that the collection does not appear to be that large.
My teacher Quiyan and I did a basic computer search of the card catalog. A search of "Africa" yielded 10 English texts from the 1970s. The library has about 4 volumes of the UNESCO General History of Africa. After more a more detailed computer search of international affairs I found some interesting texts that I plan on photocopying next week. I found a few texts in the stacks that had chapters on Sino-African relations (in English by Chinese authors). Of course I was extremely excited. My teacher found one book for me on 非洲和中国关系 (Africa-China Relations). She led me to the reading room with the text and pretty much told me I was on my own. I enjoyed it. Since I could not read 99% of the words, I copied the table of contents. I plan on translating that before I leave. I figure it will give me a strong foundation in international relations vocabulary.
One more thing...A very interesting thing happened at the library. The first time we went there to check it out (last Saturday) I walked up to a bank of card catalogs. I randomly opened a drawer because I wanted to check out the classification system. My teacher and I with one flip turned to the card entry for Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. I nearly flipped out. Of all of the drawers I could have opened (there were at least 100) I happened to open that drawer and flip to that entry. A text by an African author--it's a sign!!!!
1 comment:
I also feel that it is a sign because I have actually read that book twice and was pleasantly surprised to see that card while reading your blog. I read it once in 1992 for school and then recently reread it when I saw it sitting on my shelf looking like it wanted to be read again. Great book and so glad to be able to feel the cosmic connection with you:) I may just read it again now! I love you so much, little cousin...all grown up and inspiring. You are one of the smartest, bravest, and most beautiful people I know and I hope that you always know how proud I am of you.
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