"Don't wear bizarre clothes or the villagers will gossip," Mother urged again and again over the phone. Wearing my plain jeans and T-shirt, I grabbed a big backpack and set out for home on the 10:00 pm train.

The writer wearing "bizarre dress"

Every time I go back home, I have to spend more time buying myself special clothes than on buying presents for families and friends. "Is it necessary to wear special costumes to go home? " you may ask. Yes. In my hometown I have to. Conservative ideas and values there have not changed in line with improvements to the standard of living. Stories about my clothing seem endless.

It is human nature to like to be well groomed, and I am no exception. My mother often dressed me according to images from films or magazines. Everyday, on the way to kindergarten I received many compliments on my dress and felt proud. However, there was a period when I dressed more modestly. It was after the first class at my primary school when the teacher told us about Lei Feng, model soldier of the 1960s, who was always ready to help those in need.

"Lei Feng was very obliging and frugal. He darned holes in his socks and continued to wear them. " Although I was still a kid, I knew that Lei Feng was the hero of the whole nation, and that I should learn from him. "Mum, I want to be a frugal person like Uncle Lei Feng. " From then on, my mother often altered her old dresses to fit me. However, the altered dresses seemed to be more special. Compliments continued.

But the situation changed after I went to middle school. The conservative idea that a gorgeously dressed young girl must be ill behaved made people prefer plainly attired girls. Mother ordered me to have my hair cut, which had been growing for more than ten years. All I could was two sets of work clothes from my parents. I was very upset telling them: It is my business to decide what I should looked like.

Several years later, I came to study at a university in Beijing, a modern city where people are open-minded. Young people like to look smart, cool and original. I felt free to do what I wanted. I could wear long hair, and any clothes I liked. However, my style of dress gave rise to gossip among the villagers when I went home during Spring Festival. "It will bring you into disrepute if you wear such bizarre dresses!" my mother said angrily. From then on, I had to wear "normal" clothes to go home. Although women in my hometown have begun to dress themselves up, nobody dares to stay far from tradition and wear what they like to. I always tell my mother: "The situation will change someday."

When the holiday ended, I went back to Beijing. I put on my hipster denim and vest, and enjoy admiring glances. I wear what I like, and I enjoy my youth.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+Mustard gas victims sue Japanese government ( 2004-02-02) +Premier urges strict bird flu measures ( 2004-02-02) +Stocks rally greets capital market policy ( 2004-02-02) +Beijing hospital in tainted blood suit ( 2004-02-03) +Australian PM: Racist attacks 'disgraceful' ( 2004-02-02)		+The evolution of Chinese rock&roll ( 2004-02-03) +Eyes on me, a bizarre-wearing girl ( 2004-02-03) +'MyDoom' worm clogs Internet ( 2004-02-03) +U.S. watchdog investigates Jackson breast incident ( 2004-02-03) +Scarred boy finds inner strength ( 2004-02-03)