Nancy was born in Shanghai during the 1940s. Her father worked as Asian General Manager for Colgate-Palmolive, a wonderful position...until the Communists took over in 1949. He fled first to Hong Kong, a British territory back then. The rest of the family , however, could not get exit visas. (See post one.) After seven years of waiting, they finally managed to get to Hong Kong. (See post two.)
Husband Peter fled from China for different reasons. His parents were part of the Nationalist Army that fought against the Japanese from 1937-45 and then the Communists from 1945-49. (See post three.) While Peter was safe from Communism, he realized upon college graduation that there weren't many job opportunities. Fortunately, he got a scholarship at the University of Texas. (See post four.) Meanwhile, Nancy struggled in Hong Kong. Her mother enrolled her in a Cantonese/English high school, two languages Nancy did not understand. Nancy only lasted three days. (See post five.)But she did well in college, and managed to get a scholarship to Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas. (see post six.) She started looking for a job, and ended up getting her Ph.D. (see post seven.) In 1981, when Nancy was a Professor of Pharmacology, China came knocking on her door. Would she come give some professional speeches to the Beijing Medical School and the Chinese Academy of Sciences? Although wary, she agreed. She and Peter then returned again a decade later. By then her old hometown was barely recognizable due to construction and modernization. (See post eight.)
Upon retirement, they met a colleague working to build schools in China, and they offered to help as well. They received VIP treatment anytime they were in the country. But, as soon as they left, they couldn't contact anyone related to the project, a project which entailed putting computers in classrooms. (See post nine.)
“The teachers don’t want to be bothered,” Peter said. “It’s too much
work for them (to deal with computers.)”
“Yes,” Nancy agreed, mimicking the voices of their detractors. “’Why do you want us to use a computer? I’ve been teaching for 30 years and never used a computer. I can’t be bothered with this.’"
“Yes,” Nancy agreed, mimicking the voices of their detractors. “’Why do you want us to use a computer? I’ve been teaching for 30 years and never used a computer. I can’t be bothered with this.’"
 |
| A bank of computers Nancy and Peter provided--left to gather dust. |
"The county
education officials do not yet realize that without computer proficiency in the
21st century the students will be illiterate.”
Along with resistance from everyone in charge, Nancy and
Peter learned that an organization asking for donations was “double dipping.” In other words, the organization would present the case to one donor and ask for funds, then turn around to
another donor with the same request.
And, finally, Nancy and Peter discovered that often the planning /building of schools was out of their hands. So, they’d help build a school and then the county government would re-zone things…and turn their lovely new school into a lovely new hotel or office building. Their philanthropic dream was turning into a major nightmare.
And, finally, Nancy and Peter discovered that often the planning /building of schools was out of their hands. So, they’d help build a school and then the county government would re-zone things…and turn their lovely new school into a lovely new hotel or office building. Their philanthropic dream was turning into a major nightmare.
(To be continued. Next: Resolution Reveals New Problem.)
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