35 Comments Add your own

• 1. Athena Schwartz  |  June 11th, 2007 at 2:02 pm

  Listening to testimonials such as hers make me feel ashamed for complaining about any of my simple problems. I’ve been lucky and have never known the hardships that she must have faced. Our class is so lucky to have the opportunity to get a higher education and to pursue almost any career we desire. Although it might feel awkward, I’m looking forward to the english corner where we can hear more stories like hers.

• 2. Frank Wallace  |  December 16th, 2007 at 3:03 pm

  This really is a cool website. I watched the video on Jia Yi Yang, and it is sadly similar to so many other stories that could be told from people in China. Although this is just one story from one girl in China, it is a story that resonates throughout their country. For example, when you watch the Tank Man video, one of the six parts interviews three Chinese girls that work in a factory, and each one of them tells a similar story to Jia about not being educated, working in a factory for countless hours a day, and wanting to make enough money to support her parents and siblings. Listening to her story really puts things into perspective for me. It makes me realize how good I actually have it and how things could be and are for some people in this world.

• 3. Chris Carr  |  December 16th, 2007 at 5:32 pm

  Yes, step back for a minute and really think about what she said … “Mama/Papa, thank you for feeding me.”

  Not to sound like an old foggie, but I have yet to hear anybody in the US make such a statement of gratitude to their parents.

  One of the reasons, but not the only reason, I wanted you to watch this video is because this is a side of village life in parts of rural China that a number of these factory workers come from that the business bashers of the world will never show you or discuss on their blogs when they argue these workers are chained to their factory machines 24 hours a day. Yes, it is a life none of us would want or take on, but its also because we do not have to. Many of these workers come from such deep poverty in their hometown villages that they view working in a factory as a step up and forward in life. This is part how things work in a developing country and is a part of its transition, just like the US once was.

• 4. Morgan O'Hara  |  December 18th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

  The young lady’s aspiration is to become a businesswoman. If determination is a predictor of success, then I’m sure she will do well. And she is a reflection of the millions of young Chinese who want to make it in the business world. That is the dream, it seems. But I wonder, of all the young migrant workers, how many really have a shot at succeeding? And by succeeding, I mean achieving middle-class status.

  It was touching to see how sincere the young lady was in talking about her parents, and how tender her emotions were. My Chinese teacher has told me that Chinese children would never put their parents in nursing homes. In China, filial piety is expected. As Dr. Carr points out, here, that’s not the case.

  And now I’m going to go write my parents a heartfelt letter of appreciation.

• 5. Andrea Muntzel  |  December 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  Like Professor Carr and Morgan, I was very touched by the last segment of Jia Yi Ying’s video. I felt tears come to my own eyes as I watched her brush away her own. I hope that this girl knows how many people have watched her video and been surprised and moved by the words she spoke, despite her situation. We are all so fortunate in our circumstances but so unfortunate to not have the inner strength and love and gratitude that a poor factory girl in Shenzhen possesses. My sisters and I are the first generation in my family to go to college. When I’m home over Christmas break, I work for my parents and I see how much they have given up and how hard they have to work so they can help me in any way they can. They work long hours so that I can have opportunities that they never had. As much gratitude as I feel towards them, I know that nothing can compare to the way this girl feels towards her parents who have given everything they have to put food in her stomach and a shelter over her head. That was a good reality check.

• 6. Jason Larocco  |  December 27th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

  Sorry to be blunt, but that’s what you call a hungry workforce! A hungry workforce is one of the major factors leading to the rapid development of China, and was instrumental to the industrial revolution in America. This girl is willing to sacrifice seeing her family for an undefined period of time to work in a poor environment for feeble financial compensation. Morgan asked how realistic it is for a factory worker to achieve middle class status and I wonder the same thing. My assumption would be that the percentages are low, but the fact that there is a percentage opens the door for more hope than ever before. Her ambitions and sacrifices are admirable, and though we are thankful that we do not have to make the same choices she does, we need to remember that many of our parents, grandparents, or great grandparents did. Though the product of economic development is to have a society that in large does not have make those decisions, we as the U.S. workforce need to remember that there are those who do. Our work ethic may no longer be a matter of life or death, but it still needs to be strong enough to secure our own future and reach a hand out to those who need it. An advanced education and understanding of new technologies can help solve a lot of problems, but sometimes you just need to put your head down and work hard.

• 7. David McKinnon  |  January 14th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

  The emotion in her eyes was powerful. She wanted to grow up and knew that it was necessary, but you can tell it is hard on her. She is giving up seeing her family so that she can make something of herself.

  I am thankful for the hard work my parents put in to provide for me and my brothers and sisters. I am more grateful for the time and love they gave us. Watching this as a child makes me grateful. Watching this as a father is stirring. It reminds me of the huge responsibility on my shoulders. It provides me motivation to continuously try to become a better dad.

• 8. Eric White  |  January 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

  Its hard to comment on this video (and others on the website) because it is difficult to put myself in their shoes. I have never known what its like to be hungry, without education, without … thats it: I have never known what its like to be without.

  Many times people compare their place in life with the people that immediately surround them. They judge their social status from what they see. I see myself lucky to be living in the U.S and lucky to be receiving this level of education. The poor in this country would be well-off in places like China.

  Though few Americans would desire a life that this young Chinese girl leads, the world will always have a need for those labor intensive jobs. Will China and India continue to supply these jobs? If not, who? Africa?

• 9. Oscar Merlin  |  January 15th, 2009 at 11:52 pm

  Its very hard for me to see someone cry, but I guess her tears expressed an emotion of proudness. She brought up the point in the video of how she has had to grow up now that she has had to leave her family in search for a job in the city. I guess it makes me teary eyed as well because I start thinking about my own family as well and how difficult it would be for me to see my sister depart from our home to another city where she doesn’t know anyone and is completely alone. I wished that girl in China didn’t have to go through the separation of her self from her family, but I guess that’s just the way things are.

• 10. Jenna Healy  |  January 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

  Jia Yi Ying didn’t get me until the song. I love this website! What a valuable resource for learning not only about the world we live in and all of its cultures, but also how people view love, life, and other universal values. One guy who made me smile was talking on the issue of love. He said he’s been married 25 years and fell in love 2 years ago. Ha! Not something we really see in the states. I assumed he got married for a reason other than love, or he fell in love with a mistress?

  What great insight into the people from all over the world. Well done.

• 11. Josh Hickman  |  January 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 am

  I also agree with Dr. Carr that too many times in our country, children to not express enough gratitude towards their parents thanking them for their current spot in their lives. Seeing her, a young girl at only 18, starting to become completely dependent on herself and aspires to help her parents by becoming successful. In the U.S., most eighteen year olds are going to college and still being able to be a kid in a sense, still relying on their parents for money, food, and a home cooked meal, while Jia Yi Ying is on her own along with millions of others just like her.

  I admire her for taking steps to better her life and the lives of her parents, a completely self-less act that more people around the world should be doing. So next time you talk to your parents, think of her, and say thank you Mom and Dad. I know I am going to.

• 12. Jessica Harris  |  February 4th, 2009 at 4:15 pm

  As many have mentioned already, watching this video makes you step back and reevaluate how great ones own life is. Like Eric, I have never been without. Before we jump to conclusions and claim that the life of a Chinese factory worker is unfair and they are treated horrible, we must step into their shoes and see how they view the situation. Working in the factory has created a whole host of opportunities for the young girl and she now has dreams and aspirations that she has the potential to make come true. It reminds me of the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Though we might think a factory job is not a good enough job, to this young girl it is the best thing that ever happened to her. Just another of the many cultural differences we are seeing between the US and China.

• 13. Jimmy Spann  |  February 4th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

  Jia Yi Ying is a very motivated person. She has been brought up and has some ambitions to become a businesswoman with her own company that does as well or better than others. What she really wants though is to take care of her family and to get her family out of poverty. She also has her family at heart the whole time. It reminds me of my family and especially my mom’s side. They are from Greece and have always put the family first. My grandparents made sacrifices so that my aunt, uncle, and mother could have a good life. My mother has made many sacrifices for the benefit of my brother and me. And I expect to make some sacrifices when I get older for my kids benefit. Also my mother has instilled in me that I will be paying for her retirement home, and any costs that she will have when she gets older. She reminds me other whenever she does me a favor. She says that she can do all of these little things in life knowing that I will make the big return in the end. And I know that I will because it is my mom. I know that I am not in the same situation as Jia Yi Ying, but it is a similar principle.

• 14. Nick Chamness  |  February 4th, 2009 at 8:38 pm

  That was really cool. What a great idea for a website/project. They were all really interesting. It really breaks down the barriers of our boarders and shows us that everybody really is human. We care, feel, and think just like everybody else. While some of the people on these videos had cares/issues that might seem trivial to us, they are still very important to them.

  For example , the Masaai chief who gave up all of his livestock to pay for his own party to become chief. It might seem like nothing to us, but as you could tell it was very very important to him. It seemed to me he would rather have his animals back that be chief! Cool website.

• 15. Patrick Johansing  |  February 11th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

  The “Factory Girls” article tied in well with the video interview. The 18 yr old from the interview moved to the city so that she could figure out how to make some money to support her family. The article points out that this is the exact same story for so many women, but not all of them are able to achieve what they consider financial success. Chinese cities have so many hard working and ambitious immigrants that the competition between them is fierce. The girl from the interview must be very scared. I hope things are working out for her.

• 16. James McMillan  |  February 15th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

  The video was touching. I was glad to see someone express such gratitude and respect for their parents. I personally do it all the time but I get the feeling that it’s something that’s lack with the younger generations. There are some funky shows on TV (MTV) that put on display how disrespectful and unappreciative youth is towards their parents and elders. I really hope kids don’t think acting this way is ok and that it becomes a growing trend.

  It was shocking to see the girl express appreciation towards her parents for just feeding them. It really puts it into perspective when compared to the things I thank my parents for (putting me through college, attending my sporting events, emotional and motivational support). So to Dr. Carr’s point, it would not be a good idea to judge the working conditions abroad until one were to understand that person’s life and their upbringing/perspective.

  I hope she achieves what she sets out to do. I always feel that hard work and dedication can get you most places and luck plays a more minor roll.

• 17. Andre Ourthiague  |  February 28th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

  Jia Yi Ying expressed a gratitude to her parents that is remarkable. Her inspiration for working is to simply help her family from poverty. Vairava Sundaram (the man in the portrait form India) stated that happiness is not having to feel sorry for oneself, not having to beg from others, not being in need. Its hard to understand the motivation that can come from fighting against poverty, but the thought of someone looking down on you is a devastating blow to deal a person.

  My college education is paid for by federal aid because my mom makes under $10,000 a year. I asked how she managed to raise two kids alone with that much money, “I wouldn’t know, I used to not earn this much.” I remember my mom crying because she could never afford Christmas presents, and I remember her promising next year would be better. The desire to give your family a better life than the one they have may be the greatest motivating factor in this world. I wont even pretend to understand the level of poverty in India and China, but I understand the desperation that hits when you begin to view yourself as failing your family.

  The portraits from India and China are strikingly similar in my eyes. They may be very different individuals. But the desire to find happiness by offering their families hope of a better life shows they aren’t as different as they initially may seem. Thank your parents, grandparents, friends, etc. Somewhere in your history is an individual who sacrificed much of their own happiness to ensure you have a better chance of finding yours; they deserve you gratitude.

• 18. Michael Mossman  |  March 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm

  I found it amazing to see the sacrifice Jia Yi Ying has made for herself and her family. It is really touching to see her express her feelings and experiences about her journey leading to her new life as a factory worker. Regarding Morgan’s question of how many will make it out of the factory and into a middle class; I believe only a small percent will make it to middle class in the next two decades. It will most likely take a few decades before factory workers can be labeled middle class in China or have the opportunity to move to higher level jobs. China will most likely focus on its cheap manufacturing to keep the economy rolling which will keep the factory workers in the same social and economic class. It is amazing to think that Jia Yi Ying is only one of the millions who have migrated to the factories of industrial China.

• 19. Mark Polydoris  |  March 4th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

  The Chinese girl’s story really puts yet another face onto figures and statistics we’ve been reading about the migration towards China’s big cities. I loved the part about how the city affected her imagination; she couldn’t believe how big everything was. It must be a major shock to move from a poor mountain village to a city that might as well be a completely new country. It definitely shows that there is a going to be a lot different sides and faces to China….nothing about it is uniform; this will certainly be something to keep in mind while trying to make generalizations about the people after our short visit.

  I loved the website. I watched a few of the other portraits, and I loved the 91 year old American widow. Definitely worth watching. The website reminded me that EVERYONE has some story about where they’re from and what’s important and who they are. That means there’s six billion different life stories for you to hear. What a great way to hear about what’s important to people from all over the world.

• 20. Matthew Neal  |  March 9th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

  I really like this website; it’s really amazing being able to see the stories and lives of people around the world. In addition it gives you a sense of a world culture watching people from across the globe sharing their stories. The story of the Chinese girl fits along well with a lot of the other blogs we have been reading regarding the Chinese migration to the cities and the unique struggles it presents. She seems to be finding a better life in her new situation and able to help others through it as well. One thing I was impressed by was the deep respect and admiration for her parents. This was especially true when she talks about her father who was rarely there, but that she understood why, and also knew why it was time for her to move to the city. The project must have been a huge undertaking and it is really interesting to scan through it and get life perspectives from across the globe.

• 21. Ashley Breneman  |  March 12th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

  This is one of the most interesting and moving projects I have ever heard of. The main message I got after watching quite a few of the videos is that we are all more alike then we think. As we travel, it is so easy to look at the differences and judge other cultures, usually because it is something new to us and we aren’t quite sure how to take it all in. Instead of focusing on all the differences, this project really works to unite people of all different races, religions, and beliefs. There is so much knowledge to gain by just sitting down and listening to strength so many people carry and to hear of the stories that brought them to where they are. I could honestly sit here all day until I watched every single video. Yann Arthus-Bertrand is doing a great thing here, and I think learning a person’s beliefs can really give insight of why these people think the way they do.

• 22. Amy Cook  |  March 12th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

  What an awesome website, I could surf that thing all day. It’s awesome that you can see the face and hear the story of a person living on the other side of the world, and it’s not a celebrity or political figure, it’s a regular person like you or me. I can’t imagine being in the exact same position as Jia Yi Ying, but I don’t think I could have such a positive outlook if I were there. It’s incredible to hear how well she was able to manage the hardships of her life. The heartbreaking thing was how much she missed her parents. I got the sense watching it that she was really lonely in the city and would have liked to stay home. She just seemed like a person full of love rather than any bitterness, and that’s inspiring. According to the Factory Girls Article, some do make it into the middle class, I hope this happens for Jia Yi Ying.

  I also enjoyed the WSJ article about how hard American children used to work and how that came to change. It really wasn’t all that long ago that American teenagers were doing hard labor for 12 to 14 hours a day instead of goofing off in high school classrooms. I’m all for education, but I wonder which really taught them more.

• 23. Raquel Rusing  |  March 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

  I just spent two hours of today that had been originally dedicated to my marketing final on this website… oops!

  Amazing idea. As most people have said, Jia Yi Ying’s story is heartbreaking, but she is alive and the fact that she recognizes this and thanks her parents for her past position in life is extraordinary. I believe Dr. Carr mentioned that it is rare for our generation to truly appreciate and thank our parents. I am fortunate enough to have profound respect for my parents and the urge to express my appreciation frequently. But even so, I know that I still do not appreciate what my parents have provided for me because I have not been in a position of genuine poverty, starvation or disadvantage. I was born in a middle-class suburban area of the US. I am female, white and well-educated. More than likely I will never experience true hardship. For this I am thankful, but again, never thankful enough.

  When I watched the testimonials, I was struck with particular interest about Maremba, a man from Papoua New Guinea who had no concept of age. He disdained white men for stripping himself and his children of their traditions and condemning their sacred practices to hell. I was particularly captivated by his perception of money:

  “I thought that the modern world with its money made it very easy to look after my children… but it is not easy at all… I thought the arrival of modernity was good, so I embraced the modern world. Now I realize that I have forgotten my culture, which made it easy for me to survive… it involved no money. Now I don’t know how to feed my family… Money, money… it’s always the same.”

• 24. Cece Reyes  |  March 14th, 2009 at 11:51 am

  That is a site that I will return to again. The emotion of Jia Yi Ying was so real and, even though it is difficult to translate an emotion, having the english translation alongside the video of her face was powerful. At first, I thought she might be resentful about having to move away and work but then she seemed to be thankful for the opportunity and at peace with growing up. Even though she comes from a poor family and what we would consider difficult circumstances, it is inspiring to hear her aspirations to become a businesswoman.

• 25. Mark Wegemer  |  March 14th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

  Like Raquel, I try to appreciate gratitude for everything that my parents have provided for me in my developing years, undergraduate years, and graduate years. They have been there in the rough times that I’ve had, not too many which I’m thankful for. It is interesting to think that sometimes I take this life for granted. Some people’s dreams might be to go to college, have a successful career, be a successful person, provide for a family, and more. I am set up to do those things and I’m worried about what I’m going to do this weekend, or what I’m going to do today. It takes videos like this to fully understand the how lucky we truly are to have the education and parental support that a lot of us have. I am thankful to have such a great opportunity as this to get a great education, meet awesome people, and get a job that will provide for me and my future family. That is my dream.

  My dreams seem so much less significant than the dreams of those in this video.

• 26. Logan J Travis  |  March 16th, 2009 at 10:50 am

  That was a little potent for me; I closed the page when she began to sing. I’m especially ashamed that I will probably never feel the degree of gratitude for my parents that she does for hers everyday… Ugh, that is a bad way to start a considered response.

  I want to ask the group: “How many of you see yourselves working to repay the support of your parents?”

  I love my family (my irritating younger brother included). But I’ve never felt it as my duty to give back their aide in monetary terms. They certainly provided me a better springboard than most, and I do feel I owe them…

• 27. David Caldwell  |  March 16th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

  I really enjoyed listening to Jia Yi Ying’s story - this website really seems to have a human touch. I think that just listening to people talk about their lives and watching their mannerisms works wonders in helping me to understand where they come from - something I just can’t get out of the CIA World Factbook.

  Child labor is basically a social taboo today, but it seems perfectly reasonable to expect it in undeveloped societies - having many children the old days wasn’t just “another mouth to feed,” it was another hand in the field; it increased a family’s productivity and was a sign of honor. As the “lemonade stand” article indicates, market forces and new technology were the primary forces for removing children from the workforce. This makes me think that there are more solutions besides government regulation for solving our social problems.

• 28. Jamie Hastings  |  March 17th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

  Jia Yi Ying’s story is pretty neat and very humbling. I, like so many others have stated, take a lot for granted. It is very humbling to see what simple things can bring so much happiness into so many people’s lives that go unnoticed in our own.

  Some of the dreams and aspirations of the people on this site really put things in perspective. It kind of makes you think, that if you have every thought you had it hard, there are millions of others out there that have had it tougher for their entire lives. We are some of the luckiest people on earth to be able to do what we are doing right now.

• 29. Victoria Rodriguez  |  March 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am

  The young woman’s story as has been said is inspirational and makes me want to push forward as she does each day.

  I enjoyed the profile of the man from Nepal. His entire essence throughout the interview was positive with a love of life and people. Maybe he had a drink beforehand, or living in Nepal is the reason, or maybe he is just one of those inspirational people. After this quarter, I really needed this, and maybe I should have watched this video in the middle of the quarter.

• 30. Xiaofei Song  |  March 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

  I always like to know the different perspective of people about their lives. This website shows people from all over the world talking about their import section in their lives, which is very amazing!

  By watching these videos, I always compare my life with them. I was very shocked by the section of fear, since it shows the most differentiation of how people think about their lives. Some people care about their family and some people just hope there will be no war in the world. After watching the video, I feel that it is very selfish to just care about my own feeling. People should care more about others emotion; try to understand more about other people. There might be something we can do that changes their life.

  I really feel that my life is good and I am very lucky!

• 31. Scotty Hayes  |  March 19th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

  What a powerful story. Don’t tell anybody, but it brought a tear to my eye. I have said it before, but I will say it again, all of us are fortunate in so many different ways. Please don’t take any freedom that we have for granted because there are billions of people around the world fighting everyday for those very same freedoms.

  Not until recently did I really see and understand the sacrifices that my parents gave to my life. I think we all owe our parents that letter Morgan mentioned earlier.

• 32. Alex vanDalen  |  March 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

  I like stories like this. It one of the primary reasons I like to travel to dirty and poor areas. There is something extremely powerful and inspiring in the raw power that comes to people through necessity. I am reminded of the cliché mother who, in a moment of desperation, is able to lift the car from on top of her child. I never feel more alive, or life around me, than when I am in the middle of a ghetto, except for perhaps the middle of nowhere. Perhaps it is because they are both areas that are wild and untamed.

  I want to learn from people who have this type of mindset, partly because I believe that they have a certain advantage over me. They are very tough; I can scarcely imagine being so tough no matter how I try. But I want to try and I want to learn. I hope on our trip we can at times shy away from the boardrooms and outlets of western multinationals to see the face of struggle and poverty and talk to the people who experience it first hand. They will not give up their hard won secrets easily, if at all, but there is likely much that we can learn just from the experience.

• 33. Andrew Welborn  |  March 19th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

  The interview with Jia Yi Yang was very moving. She is obviously happy to have a job where she can progress, but is very emotional about her family and what they gave to her. She has large aspirations for her future, which many of her fellow workers also must have, making those goals difficult to attain. She knows what she wants and she seems determined to get it and lift her family out of poverty. There must be millions of people with stories similar to her. These interviews really put a face to the shifts that are occurring in China and show what these people are truly made of. With widespread formal education, China will be a major force to contend with in the near future.

  My parents never went to college, but are comfortable in their current situation. They have been so supportive of my journey, but it pales in comparison to anything that these young men and women endure. The appreciation for her parents providing her with food really grounded me in the reality of their situation. Any complaint I have would be a blessing for Jia Yi Yang, which is even more reason to have the no whining policy, because we truly have nothing to complain about.

• 34. Matt Eves  |  March 20th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

  It is amazing what technology has afforded us today. We can listen to stories from people from all over the world and be blown away by the differences between the situations of others and our own. Taking the time to listen to someone else’s story, anybody’s story, forces you to step outside of your own little world into the lives of others.

  I have seen some attempts at sites like this: jaudible.com -stories of people from all over the world. 6 Billion others is the best I’ve seen and one I plan to frequent. We have it good here, and we need to be reminded all the time.

• 35. Justin Miller  |  March 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

  I can’t imagine having to do what these workers did. I couldn’t imagine leaving my family and everyone I know to go and work in a factory. In a way it’s like college. You leave everything you know and start a new life, live in a dorm, and go to school. The difference is that we’re going to college, and for many of us it’s easy to go home and visit. Additionally, we’re in college, not stuck working in a factory. It would be an incredibly hard sacrifice to make, and I know many of the people are doing it to benefit their families.

  I also really liked the article about the factory girls. I think that it would be a very good book to read that would provide a good perspective to what the individual experiences that these people have. I think it would be extremely difficult to go from moving away from home, to working in a factory, and then back to visit your home town. The experiences that you would have while away would change your experience of your former life and I think it would be hard to transition back to that life if you decided you didn’t want to work in a factory anymore.

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