Reference
This book is a long read, but I had a personal interest in it. My daughter, adopted in 2003, is from Fuling, the town that the author spent two years teaching in. His description of the sounds and smells of that town were so accurate that it brought me back to the time I spent there. There is so much in the book about East versus West contrasts and also cultural misunderstandings that it is worthwhile to read in order to make one more aware of perceptions and beliefs of others. Peter's constant mentioning of the car horns honking and people staring made me laugh, because it was so true. I wonder how much this town has changed since the construction of the dam- I know that much of Fuling is now under water and its residents relocated. I'm glad that Peter recorded his experiences so that there is a record of how it used to be. If you really want to know what life as an American would be like in town in China, this is the book you want to read.
