In the 1950s, the US was deeply mired in the fear of Communism. We hid from Russian bombs, scrunching under our wooden desks. However, the Catholic school I attended had a visionary nun who declared that we were not to worry about a 3rd WW with the USSR. No, we should worry about war with China. It stuck with me, but sat for decades on the back burner.
In 1965, I became a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines. My activist sister protested the Viet Nam war. The conformist, I wore makeup and a bra while exploring our vast world. Then in 1983 my life turned 180 degrees when I went to China on a 3-week tour. The nun’s words came back to me as I fell in love with the country, people and philosophy, returning again and again.
China became my passion. I led friendship tours, taking airline employees to China for the US-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA). I lived in Hangzhou in the 1990s and again in 2006/7 where I taught English as a Second Language (ESL). I made lots of friends. Certainly, we wouldn’t bomb those we knew and loved!
In 1965, I became a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines. My activist sister protested the Viet Nam war. The conformist, I wore makeup and a bra while exploring our vast world. Then in 1983 my life turned 180 degrees when I went to China on a 3-week tour. The nun’s words came back to me as I fell in love with the country, people and philosophy, returning again and again.
China became my passion. I led friendship tours, taking airline employees to China for the US-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA). I lived in Hangzhou in the 1990s and again in 2006/7 where I taught English as a Second Language (ESL). I made lots of friends. Certainly, we wouldn’t bomb those we knew and loved!
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