Diary+Entry+1+(AN)

 March 3rd 1937 Dear Diary, I’m only in my early twenties, I feel old. Coming from a poor family gives you great disadvantages and no advantages. What’s the point of hoping and living for a positive life when you have no money to support you. Every day I’m on a hunt to find a job with a decent salary that can support me for a life time, but most importantly, my parents. Being the only child, I have felt that the duty for the first and only son was to earn the money for his parents. The invasion by the Japanese has brought us problems to deal with. My hometown that I always treasured no longer feels like home. The city has now fell under the cold-blooded hands of the Japanese. About two years before the invasion, I was studying as a student. I was a student who was eager to attend college and get a degree. Being the only son, I also felt that getting an education was also important. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend college so I searched for a job, at least a part time job. Finding a job wasn’t easy, some job opportunities were given, however none of it satisfied me much, so I rejected most or quit. It was just another ordinary day, me going out in the busiest streets of Nanking to once again, find a job. The invasion by the Japanese has brought many changes socially and economically. That day when I was walking down the streets, I saw a frightened and weak looking girl being pushed by a man. Before the invasion, I saw nothing like this, however recently these days I heard of this term, hua gu niang or young girls. At first, I couldn’t believe it was true that Japanese men raped women and young girls. Unfortunately, I was faced with a fact that it’s true because I saw one. She looked quite young, in her teens probably and she looked scared to death. I felt bad for her and wanted to free her from the angry man who was yelling at her, almost about to beat her up if she didn’t obey his command. I realized that I was no match for the rich yet selfish looking man who possessed the young girl. I didn’t have the money and I didn’t have the man power to free her away. I looked down at the ground and continue to walk down the streets, I had to focus on finding a job soon. The chances of living during this harsh war period is slight... The cruel sneering faces of those Japanese are commonly seen. I wonder if my parents are safe. If they get attacked, they’re defenseless with nothing on them to attack back... I don’t even want to think about it right now.