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 flew to China for the first time, in 1986, to be a student of Mandarin for six months in Beijing.

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.

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...

Shortly after my arrival, I purchased a second-hand bicycle...

In the 80's, Northern China was bitterly cold in the winter, outdoors as much as indoors, despite central heating.

The Chinese cuisine we ate everyday was not what we expected.

Chinese students were free to mingle with us but we were aware of being watched all the time.

At some point, I had to remind the Administration of my college that I was supposed to teach as well as study...