No Chinese Stranger

Rating:
Summary: A superb follow-on to 5th chinese Daughter
Review: No Chinese Stranger carries on with the exceptionally intersting life of Jade Snow Wong. The book covers three phases of her life taking up from where 5th Chinese Daughter left off. We read of her efforts to establish herself in a shop and the problems she had to resolve before she was able to share a portion of a window in a shop owned by another. We also learn of her courtship and marriage. Her style fo raising her four children. We also see a dramatic change in writing style when we read of the death of Mrs. Wong's father. There is a switch from third to first person writing styles.

We also accompany Mrs. Wong and her husband on as she tours and lectures through Southeast Asia. This was the Southeast Asia of the early 1950s where colonies were in the process of converting to self-ruling nations and the resultant problems which they were experiencing. This trip was done at the behest and sponsership of the US State Department. What is illuminating was that prior to her departure, Mrs. Wong recieved no briefing from the State Department and her only real contact with the policy making experts was at the end of her trip when she went to Washington to be debriefed. One country she did not visit was Vietnam. When she gave her report to the State Department, the Vietnam desk asked why she hadn't gone to that country. The fact that she wasn't asked to is illustrative of future problems in that part of the world.

The book concludes with her visit to China with her husband shortly after the historic visit by Richard Nixon to China. The description of her trip, her meeting with family members residing in China and her contacts with government officials is exceptionally well presented. Remember, few Americans had been to China officially and it was a learning experience for all concerned. The problems encountered in the trip are quite educational for those contemplaiting a visit to China.

Throughout the book, there are constant references to her family. Her children, even when she is marveling at the sights in Beijing, are never far from her mind.

It was extremely fortunate that Mrs. Wong was able to travel with her husband for the assistance and advice he provided. By this time, they had become deeply involved in the travel industry and had made numerous trips to Asia outside of China. This experience served them well in their travels through China.

This is a marvelous book that offers a look at a second generation Chinese-American family as they move through the 1950s,60s and 70s. There is a revealing examiniation of China as it was evolving out of the Cultural Revolution and into a new phase of government and social styles.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in China and the social history of San Francisco, and most of all of the family of Jade Snow Wong. This is a marvelous book and I only wish it was back in print.

Rating:
Summary: A superb follow-on to 5th chinese Daughter
Review: No Chinese Stranger carries on with the exceptionally intersting life of Jade Snow Wong. The book covers three phases of her life taking up from where 5th Chinese Daughter left off. We read of her efforts to establish herself in a shop and the problems she had to resolve before she was able to share a portion of a window in a shop owned by another. We also learn of her courtship and marriage. Her style fo raising her four children. We also see a dramatic change in writing style when we read of the death of Mrs. Wong's father. There is a switch from third to first person writing styles.

We also accompany Mrs. Wong and her husband on as she tours and lectures through Southeast Asia. This was the Southeast Asia of the early 1950s where colonies were in the process of converting to self-ruling nations and the resultant problems which they were experiencing. This trip was done at the behest and sponsership of the US State Department. What is illuminating was that prior to her departure, Mrs. Wong recieved no briefing from the State Department and her only real contact with the policy making experts was at the end of her trip when she went to Washington to be debriefed. One country she did not visit was Vietnam. When she gave her report to the State Department, the Vietnam desk asked why she hadn't gone to that country. The fact that she wasn't asked to is illustrative of future problems in that part of the world.

The book concludes with her visit to China with her husband shortly after the historic visit by Richard Nixon to China. The description of her trip, her meeting with family members residing in China and her contacts with government officials is exceptionally well presented. Remember, few Americans had been to China officially and it was a learning experience for all concerned. The problems encountered in the trip are quite educational for those contemplaiting a visit to China.

Throughout the book, there are constant references to her family. Her children, even when she is marveling at the sights in Beijing, are never far from her mind.

It was extremely fortunate that Mrs. Wong was able to travel with her husband for the assistance and advice he provided. By this time, they had become deeply involved in the travel industry and had made numerous trips to Asia outside of China. This experience served them well in their travels through China.

This is a marvelous book that offers a look at a second generation Chinese-American family as they move through the 1950s,60s and 70s. There is a revealing examiniation of China as it was evolving out of the Cultural Revolution and into a new phase of government and social styles.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in China and the social history of San Francisco, and most of all of the family of Jade Snow Wong. This is a marvelous book and I only wish it was back in print.