Our Afternoon with Professor Zhou

As part of our cultural training Pfizer's relocation supplier arranged for Theresa and I to spend an afternoon "one-on-one" with Professor Zhou Chun, (that's him in the middle with his brother and sister), an 85 year old scholar and author who shared his life story with us. An amazing story of strength and personal tragedy that unfolded right in our living room.

He grew up in Shanghai in the mid 20's when the French concession was still really the French Concession controled by France and Shanghai truly was the Paris of the Orient. He studied German in hopes of going to medical school however when the Japanese took over Shanghai his plans to attend medical school vanished and he eventually joined the communist party where he rose to become one of Mao's personal translators.

It would take too long to tell his whole story here but the highlights include being sent to jail for five years for treason and then the labour camps for another 17 years only to finally be set free in 79 when he was assigned to teach English at a university here in Shanghai. The man retired when he turned 61 and went to live in Berlin in 87 and published two books in German - all about his life in China.

This man is a walking, talking repository of life in China from the 30's right through to today. We were truly honoured to meet him and spend the afternoon listening to him and sharing some of our thoughts of China with him.

Our New Year's Naked Stables Adventure

Don't let the fancy wheels fool you. Over the New Years weekend Theresa and I went to a beautiful eco-resort in the mountains near Moganshan called Naked Stables Private Reserve and got to explore a side of China we had yet to see.

The resort is built in the middle of a tea plantation and bamboo forest and very close to some very remote villages where we took this picture of a plow/car/tractor/who knows. The resort itself just opened in October and is going through some birthing pains  - like luke warm showers, freezing cold floors and a heating system that doesn't quite work. Add to this staff who haven't quite been trained yet and who speak very little English and you can bet there were a few "Howard" moments over the two days we were there.

That said, it was a great way to welcome in the New Year and to recharge our batteries (mainly Theresa - mine never really gets drained) :) for year two in China. We walked in the tea groves - am not sure what you call a field of tea and through the bamboo forests to villages where ladies were washing their clothes in the creek. We might as well have been in the 1800's - that's how it felt. Coming from Shanghai where at times it feels like 2050, seeing these villages was pretty weird though we've never walked in the Ozarks in the US so who knows, it might look the same there.

Christmas and Chanukah came and went very fast with the kids travelling with us to Thailand for some sun and rest and good Thai food and now we are actually getting ready for a trip to North America mid month - Theresa for business and me to play poker and visit friends and family - oh yes and for both of us to be home for Sasha's birthday.