MEMORIAL services were held a week ago Sunday for Joel Taplin, 42, director of studies at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) Zhuhai Campus. Joel, originally from Massachusetts, died in a moto accident on his way home at around 2am a week ago Thursday.
Three hundred westerners and Chinese reviewed the life, paid respect to, showed their love for and shared warm memories of Joel during afternoon and evening services at Uncle Mike’s in Tangjia Town.
All his friends expressed shock and grief.
“Today Joel, you upset the universe, my poetic crazy friend. Rest in peace. We will miss you …” JJ Verdun, a Frenchman who has lived in Zhuhai for over 10 years and founded www.deltabridges.com, posted this message on WeChat that Thursday to show deep sorrow for losing a best friend.
Then a message was posted by several expatriates through WeChat:
“We are a small community in a Land far from Home. When one of Us suffers We All suffer. In these sad times it is important to reflect upon the good times and be thankful for how much we have. The Zhuhai community has lost a beloved member. This Sunday January 11th at 4pm at Uncle Mike’s in Tangjia come show your Love for our Fallen Brother. Food and drinks will be served and the floor will be open for any and all to share their Love, Respect and Memories of Mr Joel Taplin.”
Outside the bar, a billboard with big characters of “Remember Joel” and a photo of his big warm smile stated:
In loving memory of Joel Taplin
grieve not
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were besides you…
I love you so --
‘twas Heaven here with you.
People came in succession from all parts of the city and gathered at the bar at around 4pm. They talked in groups over beers in the open while The Collectives Band with bass guitarists John Ulrich, Gus Martin and others played live music voluntarily at the door of the bar.
Mickel Van Hoof, a Frenchman at United International College (UIC) in Tangjia Town, eulogised a big and a small Joel:
“Big in words,” he said, mentioning how Joel had used big words, exquisite phrases, simile and metaphors for good and profound conversation. He was also big in demeanour, generous in his moral support if you had an issue and were looking for comfort and good, brotherly advice, he stated.
Mickel said he also had come to know small Joel, who started with encouraging him to climb farther and ending up in lengthy discussions about family and the joy of teaching during hill hikes.
Michel referred to Joel as definitely a family man. “When he’d talk about his big nest in Boston, he’d always glow of pride. Mum and dad, pillars of the community. Sisters who’d outshone him in athletic ability. How they’d overcome life’s hardships. And that’s when little Joel popped out.”
In conclusion, he declared: “I think I speak for all here present when I say that we’ll remember him as the man he really was: the great, genuine Joel, both big and small.”
Michel’s remarks garnered immense applause.
Philip Gallant, project safety manager of BP Zhuhai Chemical and an expert in industrial safety and security for 37 years, said: “Joel was a great guy, a great big bear. We’re going to miss him sorrowfully. From my profession, I have to tell you don’t drink and drive. God damn it! Stop it! Stop it, please!”
His emotional caution resonated with the audience.
Sean Moran, an Irishman who is headmaster of Global IELTS School Zhuhai in Xiangzhou, told a story he had experienced in person:
In Guangzhou he had a friend who broke his leg in an accident, and Joel had met him probably just once but went to hospital every day and brought a lot of food to him, talking to and looking after him for two weeks.
Sean also shared poem lines written by Joel:
The person who is the teacher and writer
But his students are his masterpiece…
Taylor Ashton Manhart, a close friend of Joel’s, pointed out that: “Joel has one of the biggest hearts in the entire city. He was a man who was always positive, and he was one of those kind of people who always want to paint beautiful positive picture about the world. That is something very rare. We should all show our respect to him and try to remember the good things.”
Michael Toohey, a New Zealander and colleague of Joel, shared his feelings: “I got somewhat angry at him. So I can only say it again: keep yourself safe, because I don’t want to lose any more friends like Joel.”
Dr Terry Shortall, associate professor with the Division of Humanities & Social Sciences of UIC, recalled how he became friends with Joel and said: “You know he was your brother, because the thing that was biggest about Joel is his heart. He had a huge heart, and we all lived in this, and we still do.”
JJ said he had been so happy to see Joel do better and better in Zhuhai, especially right before Christmas, when Joel came in hand in hand with a girl and said, “This is my girlfriend Annie.”
“I was really touched by him,” said JJ. “I said, ‘Joel, you’re going in the right way. Wow, this is a big step.’”
Working as a designer with a foreign-funded shoe design company, Annie Zhang rued that it was too short a time to be with Joel. “He was humorous, kind-hearted and always ready to help people. I felt rather safe to be with him.”
Joel once told her, “I’m your big baby. You should protect me.”
Aside from his big heart, Joel showed a high sense of responsibility for his job and students. He strove to help his Chinese students learn English well, Annie noted.
Nonetheless, what she regretted most was due to Chinese conservative culture, she had failed to say “I love you” to Joel before he was gone.
“But I feel relieved that he is with God now,” she said.
Darrell D Rea, a Brit who has lived in Zhuhai for seven years and a good friend of Joel’s, asserted: “We’re happy to reunion. We’re happy he was part of us -- the foreign community. We’re celebrating his life today.”
-By Betty Lin, Zhuhai Daily
Zhuhai
Community
