Hello Rich,
I am Roni SAM Long, probably the one and only Chinese heritage New
Generation member from the 70's. I enjoyed reading your bio regarding
work in China and Tibet. Our family ( I married GARY LONG and
have three sons, 21, 18, and 12. The oldest just graduated from UCLA,
works as an analyst for an investment banking firm, the second is entering
UCLA this year as a freshman, and the third is a seventh grader in Palos
Verdes, CA) just returned from a family vacation in CHINA last month.
It has been fifteen years since I last visited China for a period of five
weeks in 1984. What changes and strides China has made from the Giant Sleeping
Country into the 20th century. On this trip, I actually found out
that they have not converted their squat toilets to Western style toilets
out of preference for what they feel is more sanitary. I don 't
agree, they all stink! Anyways, it was a FABULOUS ROOTS trip for
our sixth generation Californian sons. I was impressed with
the modernization of Beijing and the outpouring of money and capital into
the city of HANGHAI. Most impressive! I remember
the Bund, all the fishing boats and beggars in the early 80's, all gone
now! The large TV station is a remarkable. landmark site. I
expect Hong Kong to eventually answer to Shanghai in the future one day.
The people of Hong Kong look pretty depressed compared to Guangzhou's optimistic
happy business faces.
Well, I'm sorry that I won't be able to meet with you and your family on the third of October. Who are you hooked up with to give travel tours, CITS? That's who took care of us while we were in China. We had personal tour guides for each of the cities that we visited for our own family of five. It was nice and cozy on a small scale vs. being in the group of 30 type tour.
Hope Barb is happy in Misoula or China with you. Is Lia a girl from Tian Jin? if so, how did you luck out? Thought most of the adoption babies came from Guangzhou? That's where our friends adopted from (a boy).
Regards,
Roni SAM Long