ABSTRACT
I was born in a family of four in a small town close to Shanghai, China. I grew up during the Great Cultural Revolution, a critical historical period in China. All the intellectuals were compelled to work in the countryside to experience the “hard life” of farmers and peasants. Criticism and self-criticism were the regular practice to show good will, and the intensive study and memorization of political slogans and quotations from Chairman Mao was a daily routine. Anything related to Western culture had to be abandoned, and anything coming from abroad had to be confiscated. A sense of security was always missing while sleeping at home, as once in a while the Red Guards would stop by without notice for revolutionary inspection.
