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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Home is a Roof Over a Pig

Did you say “Huh?” when you read that? I did. Then I heard that it was the title of a new book about an adoptive family’s radical move from suburban Georgia to rural China to expose their daughter (and the whole family) to the language, cultures, and traditions in China.

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Wow. I was intrigued, partly because our adopted girls were born in China, and also partly because TubaDad and I toy with the idea of moving to China for a year or two to give Ro and Ree firsthand exposure to their China. Anyhow, I couldn’t wait to read the book. And it didn’t disappoint.

I loved reading about how this ordinary American family of five adapted to live in China. The author (mother Aminta Arrington) gives an honest portrayal of the ups and downs and the joys and trials, and gives such a well-written glimpse into the real China. She is fascinated with understanding the ancient Chinese characters and she drew me in also.

Home is a Roof Over a Pig refers to the Chinese character for “home,” which has strokes for “roof” and “pig” because in ancient China “the life of a man and his swine were so bound up together that the pigs just wandered through the house.”IMG_1860LR_blog

As another example, Arrington shows how the character for population literally is composed of strokes for “people” and “mouths”—separate characters that all Chinese students learn in kindergarten. As Arrington says though “Put them together, and they austerely, yet uniquely, express the challenge China has long faced; a large population means more mouths to feed.” See what I mean? Fascinating.

I think anyone who has adopted from China or wants to learn more about living in China would be interested in this book. I heartily recommend it and am passing it to my husband to read next. Who knows, we might have a similar experience in the next five years and you’ll be reading my book next. :-)

Home is a Roof Over a Pig will be released July 2012, and you can preorder it on the book’s web site or author Aminta Arrington’s web site. You can also win a copy here -- Aminta is offering a signed copy of her book to one lucky Salsa reader. To enter, please fill out this form (comments on this post will not be counted as entries):

One entry per person. U.S. and Canadian entries only. If you’d like to see the entries so far, they’re here. Giveaway is open through July 1st. Winner will be drawn at random, notified by email, and announced here.

The giveaway is now closed and the winner has been announced.

18 comments:

  1. I have a similar fantasy ... always thought around 5th grade would be a wonderful time for something like this. Before the intensity of the teen years but old enough to really "get" the experience. I suspect, though, that mine will remain a fantasy, sadly.

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  2. Anonymous6/27/2012

    A fantasy for me too but I can't wait to read this book! I also find Chinese characters fascinating. Have you seen this children's book?
    http://www.amazon.com/The-Pet-Dragon-Friendship-Characters/dp/0061577766/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1340797260&sr=8-4&keywords=lins+dragon

    It's a story that teaches basic characters based on how some of them resemble what they mean.
    Pam in Indiana

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    1. We do have that one and the girls love it!

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  3. How cool to hear that you're thinking of doing this!! What an amazing opportunity this would be for all of you! Hope it works out for you!!

    Sounds like a great book. Will put it on my reading list for sure!

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  4. This is a family doing just that. I agree I dream of moving to China! This is the family doing just that:
    http://coloradogeek.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/608/

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    1. Thanks for the link K, off to go check it out!

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  5. Thanks for the recommendation! Another great book on this same subject is Big in China. The wife was the head of the Beijing office of the Wall Street journal, he is a freelance writer for guitar and basketball magazines and he got together a few guys to "jam" and they formed a band and became "Big in China".

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  6. I loved that book "Big in China!" Every time I go to Beijing I look around to see if their band Woodie Alan is playing. They are apparently still around, but without the author of the book.

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    1. Hey TD, I haven't read that one, drop me an email if you get a chance before you fly home and let me know where it is. Fun!

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  7. Amy in Texas6/27/2012

    I have this great picture from rural Vietnam of three piglets in a country house peering over a wall. My kids and students are fascinated by it! It's very medieval from my perspective as a medievalist (you keep your valuables lse at hand!), but t also speaks to an earthy-ness that we've lost.

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    1. Amy in Texas6/27/2012

      My IPad sucks tonight... "you keep your valuables close at hand."

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  8. Thank you so much for sharing this. My year in China in was so life changing and I have so much inside that should probably come out on paper someday, even if just for Abbey. I will be so interested to read about their experiences, and yours, if you decide to do it!

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    1. Christi, I LOVED reading your China blog. If we go ex-pat I'm going to have you on speed-dial. :-)

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  9. I know a family with both bio and Chinese adopted children living in China right now. They are living the dream! I stalk their {private} blog because I can't get enough of their adventures- regular life for them- and they live right where my Grace is from, so I'm so curious to learn all about that part of China. I would do it in a heart beat!

    And Chinese characters- there is nothing more interesting or layered in meaning. I love them. I have learned so much as Grace has been in Chinese immersion. She explains the difference between characters that look identical to my eyes, but she has learned the strokes and how a single stroke changes meaning. Incredible.

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    1. Love that! I'll bet their blog is so dang interesting!

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  10. It's on my Kindle. :-)

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  11. Interesting how many fellow adoptive families have considered living in China for a year or two. We've toyed with the idea as well. As the girls get older, it's harder to imagine though. We're already catching heck for moving them from one school to another in the same district! I cringe to think what they'd say if we moved them to another country. Even if the "foreign" country was their birth country! What a wonderful opportunity though! We're still thinking about it.

    Donna

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