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My Long March From Mao to Now: A Memoir of Survival, Love, and Redemption

Easton Powell

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Published in Red China Blues: My Long March From Mao To Now

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I was born in China in 1950, during the tumultuous years of Mao Zedong's communist revolution. My early childhood was marked by poverty and political upheaval. My father was a high-ranking official in the Communist Party, but he was purged during the Cultural Revolution, and our family was forced to live in a remote village. I witnessed firsthand the horrors of that time: the public executions, the forced labor camps, and the widespread starvation.

Red China Blues: My Long March From Mao to Now

by Jan Wong

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4569 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	418 pages

Despite the hardships I endured, I never lost hope. I knew that I had to find a way to escape China and to build a better life for myself. In 1978, when I was 28 years old, I finally got my chance. I was accepted into a graduate program at the University of California, Berkeley. It was a difficult decision to leave my family and my homeland, but I knew that it was the only way to achieve my dreams.

My journey to the United States was long and arduous. I had to travel across China by train and on foot, and I had to hide from the authorities who were determined to stop me from leaving. But I finally made it to Hong Kong, and from there I flew to San Francisco. I arrived in the United States with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes and a few hundred dollars in my pocket.

I was determined to make a new life for myself in America. I enrolled in graduate school and worked as a teaching assistant to support myself. I also started to learn English, which was a difficult but necessary task. I knew that if I wanted to succeed in America, I had to be able to communicate with the people around me.

My first few years in the United States were challenging. I was lonely and homesick, and I struggled to adjust to American culture. But I slowly began to build a new life for myself. I made friends, I found a job, and I eventually became a citizen of the United States. I am now a successful businesswoman and a published author. I have also found love and happiness with my husband, John.

I am grateful for the opportunity to live in a free country where I can express myself without fear of reprisal. I am also grateful for the love and support of my family and friends. I have come a long way from the little girl who grew up in Mao's China. I have survived poverty, political upheaval, and exile. But I have never given up on my dreams. I am living proof that anything is possible if you have the courage to follow your heart.

My Message of Hope

My story is a message of hope for anyone who has ever faced adversity. No matter what challenges you may be facing, never give up on your dreams. With hard work, determination, and the support of loved ones, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve your goals.

I believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference in the world. We all have unique gifts and talents that we can use to help others. I urge you to find your own voice and to use it to speak out against injustice. Together, we can create a better world for ourselves and for our children.

Red China Blues: My Long March From Mao to Now

by Jan Wong

4.4 out of 5