While the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 60^th anniversary and CRI celebrates its anniversary, I am celebrating my first anniversary of my trip to the People’s Republic of China and meeting the people of CRI English for the first time.

It is considered a milestone in my life and was of historical significance in the relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America. It is also of historical significance in the friendship between the People’s Republic of China and the US Latin Community.

I will always cherish the day that I found out about winning a trip to China. It was a trip that I accepted as an honour and pleasure.  

It was my first trip to the People’s Republic of China and CRI English. It was a dream ever since I first heard Radio Peking [now CRI] on my shortwave radio as a little boy of 8 years old in Ohio. After all, the People’s Republic of China and CRI English has been my constant companions in good and bad times within my life.

Unfortunately, there were certain elements within the US Latin Community influenced by the misinformation that emanated from the television stations in the USA about China. The US Mainstream Media blamed China for everything that went wrong in America and there were certain members of the US Latin Community that believed the lies.

It was these people that lived the Cold War mentality and did not believe in progress. Regardless, I continued with my plans to visit my family and friends in China. After all, no one ever forgets a family member or friend while the certain elements of the US Latin Community talked about “freedom” and “democracy” but did not lift a finger for their fellow citizens. The same applied to those within the US Mainstream Media.

The moment that I stepped on a plane from Miami to Washington in order to continue towards Beijing, I felt a sense of happiness and tranquility that could not be expressed.

The moment the plane landed in China and the pilot announced “Welcome to Beijing, Capital of the People’s Republic of China”, my heart and soul felt a positive emotion that has not been felt for many years. My first impressions of the airport in Beijing were that of a natural beauty as envisioned. The welcoming committee from CRI English was very gracious.

While traveling on my way to the China People’s Palace, I told the welcoming committee of CRI English of how China exceeded my expectations. Beijing China is a beautiful cosmopolitan city which has managed to combine the old with the new.

While many so called experts in America wanted to attribute this beauty to the Reforms of Opening Up in 1978, it is of the opinion of this humble CRI Listener that the Golden Age of China began when the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949 by Chairman Mao Zedong after so many centuries of feudalism and colonialism.

The city of Beijing was clean, clear, and the people were well dressed. There was a sense of community and family that did not exist in America. Before arriving at the China People’s Palace, the welcoming committee took me to a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel.

The restaurant was very impressive and the fact that the cook is present to prepare the food in one’s presence was impressive. This was something that was not seen in America. Afterwards, it was onto the China People’s Palace.

I was impressed by the kind and courteous service of those who worked in the China People’s Palace from the post office, internet café to the people who served coffee and food. The stores were the souvenirs of China were sold had an abundance of products which included souvenirs of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

It is not uncommon for this CRI English Listener to remember his time within the China People’s Palace as it became a second home. The television programmes were also excellent. CCTV as well as CRI English is also family oriented with programmes dealing with sports and other aspects of life.

It was a pleasure to see CCTV in all of its aspects in English, Spanish as well as the music videos and cartoons which were great. I could remember one programme where there was a music video. The music video showed a Female Rock Star from China singing about family and friends. The video showed people enjoying life and family. It affected me within my heart and soul since I am believer in family, a belief that is almost non existent in America.

It was far superior to the US Mainstream Media that showed violence, treason, and hatred. For more entertainment, I would listen to CRI Easy FM 91.5 and feel more tranquility.

How could I ever forget Tiananmen Square and the area around it such as the Great Hall of the People, the Forbidden City, and the War Memorial? The moment that I walked in this area, it was like being in paradise on earth. It was the moment that I dreamt of for a long time.

I will always treasure the Badaling Section of the Great Wall of China and being able to climb the highest peak. I can never forget the feeling of being a true man, a great father, and a great husband after climbing the highest peak. It was also great to appreciate the clean air and beauty of nature while climbing up and down the Badaling Section of the Great Wall.

In further discussion of the Great Wall at Badaling [around May 2009 in Miami Florida], I talked with Univision TV Presenter Satcha Pretto. Ms. Pretto and I discussed about our experiences of visiting the Great Wall of China. She was also in the Badaling Section as well as another section of the Great Wall. We also discussed about the beauty of Beijing.

Both of us also talked about the areas both of us visited including Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City. Ms. Pretto was happy when I told her about how this humble CRI Listener dressed himself as a Chinese Emperor for a photographic souvenir. I wanted to tell her more but since she was interviewing a social worker for her program, I referred her to the CRI English Webpage.

The Olympic Stadiums as well as the International Broadcast Centres and the National Museum were also beautiful examples of architecture. I will never forget my visit to the National Museum and how the staff at CRI English explained the history of China.

The visit to the studios of CRI English and being able to converse with the staff of CRI English and CRI Easy FM 91.5 was also an unforgettable experience. It was great to have visited the Listener’s Museum with letters and souvenirs from listeners from all over the world. It was also an honour to see the recording machines and microphones used to announce the birth of New China.