April 20, 2007
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OMG I Found Zhang Zhang!!!
Two years or so ago I wrote (here) of my "Chinese family," a father, mother and daughter I met while posted at the US Embassy in Bangkok in 1982 and who truly came to feel like family. Getting the family out of Bangkok to Canada, where they could flourish was the last think I did before I crashed and burned. I managed to keep in touch for a while after I returned to the US, even visiting them in Toronto a couple of times, but the old breakdown made it harder and harder and I last talked to Lin Ying, the mother, about two years ago.
I grew to love the little girl, Zhang Zhang (pronounced Chung Chung), small, thin, with long black hair and glasses,smart, immensely gifted and suffering, wonderfully engaging. Her mother sent me some pictures after we spoke the last time- of Zhang Zhang, her mother and her brother, the cellist, and I think I posted them in a more recent entry, but here she is in her red dress again. I've not heard from Zhang Zhang since she was 15 or so and she is now in her
thirties. I google for her now and again, and her mother told me she was living and working in Monaco. Two days ago, I googled again and there she was, her own website, one of the best designed I've ever seen. It's full of her spirit, her gifts, for she writes as well as plays the violin, and photographs that tell me she grew up to be a truly exquisite woman. I will write her tomorrow or the next day - what shall I write? - how do I tell of the worlds gone by between then and now....
Meanwhile,
here is her website. I don't have the quick time software to be able to hear her mp3's or see her videos. I suspect they are marvelous. Peruse this and you will encounter an extraordinary young woman.
peace,
pearlbamboo
Comments (5)
i was interested because my family lived in Cambodia in the late 50's. my dad worked for U.S.A.I.D. My brother was born in Bangkok.
I visited her site because I have a connection to bangkok. In the late 50's my Dad worked for USAID and we lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in an apartment complex for people who worked at the Embassy. I was 5. My brother was born while we were there but my Mom and Dad had to be flown to Bangkok for the delivery. I hope someday to visit.
sorry, thought i lost the comment
Amazing pictures! It's wonderful as to how people's lives entwine around each other!! And it's very good to see you posting again!!
Dear Lily,
Your name shot to the top of my sub list, so I thought I'd drop by. This is great news. I hope you connect with her soon, and that you have a wonderful reunion.
I visited the website, and I'm at work, so I don't have the speakers turned on, but I will listen to her work later when I get home. Quicktime is a free plugin that you can install in your browser so that you can hear her work. She supplied a link and I'll copy it here for you. After downloading the software into your computer, you will be able to see and hear anything she has presented.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet philosopher, fool