FOREWARD (pending book . . . “Losing China”)
“In a sharp escalation of tensions between the two superpowers, China announced on Tuesday that it would expel American journalists working for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.” This was the beginning of an article in the New York Times in March of 2020 and described one of many low points in the relationship between China and the USA. We fell fast. Just a year earlier, the Author tried to set up a sharing experience between students in the USA and those of China. See: Luncheon. Then came Jan 6 of 2020, and we fell even further see: The Four Horsewomen.
The Author was “Hooked on China” beginning his seven week teaching gig in 2000, and this is the story of the fun, quirky and eye opening experience of a truly cross-cultural experience. Appreciation and understanding of alternative cultures is a survival skill in this complex world.
Twenty years after a the inital seven week visit, the author was determined to continue reporting what was happening in China as the COVID pandemic unfolded. He took advantage of a rare opportunity . . . scooping the NY Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. The www.tourguizhou.com website kept reporting through the Pandemic, even though the major news media in the West had lost their “boots on the ground”. Interesting and fun reporting on China was documented by blog entries from October 2012 through October of 2025, encompassing the advent of the pandemic in both the USA and China, strictly from the point of view of an American in China.
Conflict is nothing new between cultures and building relationships is a key survival skill for we humans. The West has been mingling in Chinese lands for hundreds of years and the reverse is also true. Historically, being part of a powerful network has been a key to survival. This is one man’s story.
The West’s colonies in China started with Portugal in Macau, leading to a lot of trading and wealth accumulation. The relationship goes back to Marco Polo in 1271. Later, in the 1800s China’s Taiping Rebellion had a lasting effect on China and it’s relationship with the West.
The seven week trip of the American Author to China in 2000 was an eye opener into the respective cultures of China and the West. Hooked in the first chapter, the Author’s study of China and Chinese informed not only his seven-week experience, but also the next 25 years of his life.
Making money, spirituality, and the world’s changing technology all have a place in our respective histories. This book is the Author’s effort at helping us understand each other, and the forces that drive both our loves and hates.
Now, more than ever (May of 2026), the educated countries of the world need to find a way forward. In fact, “Education knows no boundaries” is a famous expression. The USA is in it’s 250th year. One would have to be a “Village Idiot” to not recognize the need for civilizations of the world to again learn how to be civilized.
The book “Losing China” (final draft pending) describes the Author’s discovery of China and his loss in 2000, returning back to a USA safe home. That loss was culminated by his escape from Shanghai in August of 2000. This loss occurren again, not so gracefullyagain in October of 2020. The COVID pandemic changed the multi-ethnic fraternity of educated people both in China and the world as described herein. Resources are lean for support of both this website and the book project. The Author has taken a full-time job on a golf course. After supporting this web site and 20 years with research in China and reportage thereof, money for support of the project is scarce. It is a price that the Author paid when the major newspapers had to retreat and regroup. And his decision was to stay and report . . .
Please support this project if you can with a PAPAL donation:
CLICK HERE TO DONATE