Visit to Alicia Chai's Family in Zhengzhou

5. Alicia Chai's Family

This picture shows the family of Alicia Chai. They graciously hosted Bernice Noll and me one day in June 2002 at their home. It constituted a wonderful day for both of us as they shared their home and family to two former strangers far from home. Alicia Chai (Chai Tingting - Beautiful Chai) was born in Zhengzhou on July 17th, 1981. Her father also a native of Zhengzhou, served in the Chinese Army from 1970 to 1975. He studied at the Dalian City Project University in Project Mechanics with a major in averting earthquake damage. Graduating in 1980, they assigned him to work in the Henan Province Earthquake Bureau where he works now. Alicia's mother, Zhang Yanyan, entered life at Jinan, Shangdong, on January 4th 1955. In 1979 they assigned her also to the Henan Earthquake Bureau where she works in the worker union. It is easy to see why this middle class family has such a dedicated daughter at SIAS University where she majors in English.

Strong moral values and ethics ring loudly in this family. I have no doubt that Alicia will succeed in her single minded endeavor to do well in her studies and in life. We both especially enjoyed the magnificent dinner they showered on us at their home. The fried chicken wings especially hit the spot with Paul who ate many of them. They extended a warm hand of friendship and also arranged for a taxi to take us home.