Kenny Matthews was just three when the flat he lived in went up in smoke in 1991. The accident left him with burns to 70% of his body. Despite being very young when he suffered his burns, Kenny can still remember the day of the accident.
He was playing with his toys and watching TV on the floor in the living room while his grandfather was sleeping on the living room couch. All of a sudden, he heard a sudden noise from the window and that was when the window caught fire. He had no idea what caused the window to burst like that, but all he remembered was the apartment filling up with gas and smoke from the fire. He could do nothing but panic (恐慌).
His grandfather, who had been asleep, woke up because of the smoke. He tried to save Kenny’s life, but he couldn’t really do much because he was weak. Picking Kenny up under his arms, he carried him over the window — unfortunately, that’s how Kenny got burnt by the fire.
Kenny and his grandfather were rushed to the hospital. His grandfather, whose arms were badly burned, was hospitalized for a while and then discharged (出院). Kenny went through numerous surgeries over the next few decades, which he described as a very painful journey.
Now, after having been through so much over the years, Kenny’s treatment is finally done. The 36-year-old man has shared online how his burns and scars (伤疤) have affected his life as an adult. “People don’t really care about personality — they just want somebody to look good or attractive physically, and honestly, I don’t fit that description,” Kenny says.
There was a guy who once said to him. “It is hard to feel attracted to someone like you because of your scars and burns.” Kenny understands it’s not their fault. He’s smart enough to know not every person is the same, even though he’s not actively looking for a partner.
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Kenny now has 2.4 million followers on the Internet.
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People always ask him how he remains positive.
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2 . Rain or shine, Tsering Chopa treks (艰苦跋涉) for long hours to deliver mail. For 18 years, the Tibetan mailman has been an important link between a remote, high-altitude settlement and the rest of the world. At 5,373 meters above sea level, Pumachangthang in Nakarze county of the Tibet autonomous region is China’s highest township(乡镇). The oxygen level is less than 40 percent and the annual average temperature is –7℃ . However, these weren’t the biggest challenges for a postal service. The area of the township is about 1,500 square kilometers, but its population is less than 2,000. The distance from the county town is some 70 km and a single trip to all the six villages can be as long as 160 km. The dogged perseverance required to get the job done under such conditions needs no further explanation.
The busiest time for Tsering Chopa is between July and August each year, when students are waiting for their admission letters from various universities. He recalls once he had to deliver mail to one student whose family had already moved away. He had to quiz neighbors several times to find the new address. It was summer and the usual road to the village was blocked because of rain. He trekked for more than 20 km and grappled with shortness of breath all the way to finally deliver the letter. “I don’t mind the hardships because it is not easy for students from remote villages to get college admission. It was my duty to deliver the mail on time,” he says.
One night in February 2019, a local resident Nyima Tsering’s daughter had fainted and desperately needed help. Knowing that, the mailman arranged for a car right away and sent her to the county hospital. He also gave some cash to the family for the girl’s treatment. Nyima Tsering’s daughter recovered soon, and Tsering Chopa became an idol in the village. “I will never forget his compassion and kindness,” says the grateful father.
In 2019, Tsering Chopa received the China Youth May Fourth Medal. “It is an acknowledgment of what I do and a token of encouragement as well,” he says. “And I want to help more people living in remote areas. I want to bring the world closer to them and take them closer to the world.”
1. Which is the most challenging part of Tsering Chopa’s work?| A．Trekking for long distances. | B．Suffering from cold temperatures. |
| C．Standing extremely bad road conditions. | D．Adapting to the high-altitude environment. |
| A．Optimistic and cautious. | B．Generous and intelligent. |
| C．Courageous and ambitious. | D．Persistent and responsible. |
| A．Tsering Chopa fixed his car for free. |
| B．Tsering Chopa saved his daughter’s life. |
| C．Tsering Chopa delivered his admission letters quickly. |
| D．Tsering Chopa drove him to a hospital for treatment. |
| A．Hardship Makes a Good Postman | B．A Mailman Shows Kindness to Students |
| C．A Postman in Tiebet Bridges Huge Gap | D．Post Service Creates a Convenient Life |
