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From Rednecks to Red China

In the early 70's, I was the odd one to study Chinese in France. In those days, what inspired me, besides Pearl Buck's novels and "The Blue Lotus", was the challenge of a difficult language. I quickly became fascinated with Chinese characters ...

Settling in Beijing

The day after my arrival in Beijing, my roommate flew in from the U.S. and, by coincidence, her name was also Anne. That greatly puzzled our new Chinese friends...

The AFS Song

 

The AFS motto "Walk Together, Talk Together" is taken from the ancient Sanskrit proverb

Walk together, talk together,
all ye peoples of the earth;
then and only then
shall ye have peace.

It was used in AFS publications as early as 1952 and widely used in the 1960s. There were several songs.

The Chinese and The French

At some point, I had to remind the Administration of my college that I was supposed to teach as well as study. All vacancies for English teachers were filled so they decided, with my consent, to set up a French class.

“FROM REDNECKS TO RED CHINA”

From Rednecks to Red China is a collection of anecdotes related to my stay in Beijing in 1986, which I started to write in the late 90's. I was fortunate enough to be part of a brand new AFS programme with China, sixteen years after my year in high-school in Texas.