Jamie Torry Report

April 7, 2008

 

Jamie presents Ma family with Rotary loan

 

Hi everyone;
I know I don't have an up-to-date listing on this laptop computer here to send out a global email to the club - maybe Wayne can somehow magically send this out to the club members.  Of course, I have no idea what my password, etc. is on clubrunner anymore!!  Anyway, last week we made the first installment on a micro-credit loan to Mr. Ma and family in their Doufu- making project.  They were absolutely thrilled and wanted to show us all the clean-up work they had done on the buildings they will be able to use.
 
To summarize, this family lost their home in a fire a number of years ago.  The mother was badly burned in the fire while rescuing the daughter.  She has not had any plastic surgery and does not like to have her picture taken so I feel privileged that she was willing to meet with us and stand in the photos.  Their daughter is extremely bright and helpful in grade 6.  We did buy her some clothing back at Christmas. 


The mother and daughter live in the senior home in a room, while the father and their 18 year old son lives out back in the concrete sheds.  Their living conditions are deplorable at best with no hope of things improving.  The father, Mr. Ma, makes Doufu for the senior home in exchange for room and board for his family.  The 18 year old son works for 4 RMB (about $0.57/hour) at a local restaurant.  The senior home manager has agreed to let Mr. Ma clean up one of the storage sheds to make Doufu properly and he has also gotten a license and inspection from someone in the Chinese government (this is all a bit confusing at the best of times). 
 
I have attached some pictures here of presenting the 5000 RMB to him.  3500 RMB came from you guys, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge.  This was all explained to the family and I gave them our banner.  They have proudly put it in plastic and hung it on the wall (everything in China is in plastic - sadly)  They are very excited and eagerly showed us where everything was going to go...
 
We are very fortunate to have Fairy, the Chinese wife of one of the teachers, who is passionate about helping these people out - and is a huge help in the translating of the language, getting agreements written up and signed, and being able to check legitimate requests (there are many that are simply bogus!).  We do have a simple loan agreement set up, but this first 5000 RMB we will probably make a "forgiveable loan" - I would like to see them firmly on their feet and feeling self-reliant before expecting any money paid back. 
 
I have also attached here the pictures of the boiler, frames, grader (this might be grinder - I'm not sure) and of course the Rotary banner from all of you.  He will have the boiler installed by a "professional"  - it is very moving to be so close to this situation and to see first-hand how hopeful and helpful these donations are...given under the right conditions, they are so helpful - I want all of you to know - this has made a huge difference for this family - baby steps...they work.
 
I am home July 3rd - and head back out August 13th - I know I might be crazy but am going to head back here for another year.  What a crazy world it is here...

Jamie Torry, Instructor
Dalian Maple Leaf International School
Jinshitan National Resort
Dalian, Liaoning Province
Peoples Republic of China, 116650

 


Sheds behind Seniors Home



Mr. Ma and son live here



Doufu delivery bike



Rotary Club of Downtown Lethbridge banner



No more dripping water




Doufu will be made here



Mr. Ma's room



Grander (Grinder?)



Frames



Daughter



Boiler



Banner


What Red Hair?

Making Beancurd By Yourself
   
Making Doufu By Yourself
dou fu (Mandarin)

　

   

Materials
 
Soybeans    100 g
Water   10 cups
Natural Bittern   4 g

　
 

Steps
1)   Remove moth-eaten & damaged soy bean, impurities as well
2)   Rinse the soy bean in clean water 2-3 times, soak then in 8-10 cup of water
3)   Soak the soy bean for whole night until they expand to 3 times larger
4)   Drain out the water, then put the soaked soybean into a blender
5)   Add 2 cups of clean water, turn on the blender for 2 minutes
6)   Pouring 8 cups of water into a deep flat-bottom pot, and heating until boiled
7)   Turn into middle heat, put the grounded soybean in and boil for 15 minutes
8)   Stirring with a ladle when boiling, but NOT USE high heat
9)   Fill the "bean-milk" slowly and little by little into a cotton gauze bag, and wring it
10) If the bean-milk is too hot, wring the bag by chopsticks, until all juice is wrung out
11) Put natural bittern in small container and add 1/2 cup (100cc) water to dissolve
12) Boil the bean-milk with slow heat until 70℃, turn off fire
13) Add 1/2 of natural bittern solution and stir gently
14) Keep the temperature by 70℃, boiling the bean-milk for 5 minutes
15) Add the other 1/2 of natural bittern solution, keep stirring gently
16) Keep the temperature by 70℃, boiling the bean-milk for 15 minutes more
17) Don't let the temperature too high or too low, or the congregation will be poor
18) When all bean-milk is congealed, water will be separated out
19) Spread a bleached cotton towel in a plastic rectangular box
20) Then pour the congealed bean-milk into the rectangular box
21) Wrap it well in the towel, then add a weight onto its top for 10 minutes
22) After further congeals, remove the wrapping in water
23) Wash surplus bittern away with water, beancurd done

Above found on http://www.nicemeal.com/doufu/doufu01.html

Many recipes using above bean curd on this webpage.

 

 

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