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China's VP returns to life on an Iowa farm
Source: Agencies |
February 16, 2012, Thursday
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THE last time Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited Iowa, he slept in a bedroom with green shag carpeting and Star Trek character cutouts on the walls. He ate eggs with a spoon because his host forgot the chopsticks.
But apparently Xi remembered the 1985 stay fondly because he insisted on returning this week to Muscatine, a small farming community he toured to learn about crop and livestock practices.
Back then, he was a young Communist Party leader seeking ideas to help his agriculture-rich county in the northern province of Hebei.
Now the nation's vice president, he made certain to add Muscatine to his itinerary so he could reunite with the same Americans who showed him around the region's hog and cattle operations and its abundant corn and soybean fields.
"I'm flabbergasted that he would take time out of his busy schedule and come back to Muscatine," said Eleanor Dvorchak, whose family hosted Xi for two nights.
Although Dvorchak and her husband have since moved to Florida, they planned to return for Xi's hour-long visit yesterday, and several other local farmers and residents he encountered were due to be there, too.
The visit will be in marked contrast to Xi's lengthy Oval Office audience with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, an elaborate reception at the State Department, full military honors at the Pentagon, a gathering with chief business executives and dinner at US Vice President Joe Biden's house.
After his visit to Iowa, he will later stop in California.
In 1985, Xi stayed with the Dvorchaks, their 15-year-old daughter, and their dog in a four-bedroom ranch home. The Star Trek-themed room was left unchanged when the couple's sons went to college.
Eleanor Dvorchak, now 72, recalled a handsome 31-year-old man who was calm and intensely focused on learning as much as possible during his brief trip. He kept busy until late each day, so all he needed when he returned in the evening was peace and quiet.
"My job was to provide him with breakfast and a quiet place for him to relax and think, to give him time to pull his thoughts together for the next day," she said. "It was just a pleasure to have him in our home. He was very undemanding."
The language barrier made conversation difficult, but Xi was interested in touring the home and seemed impressed with the two-car garage and large concrete driveway that had a basketball hoop, she said.
Sarah Lande, whose family hosted a dinner during that visit, is organizing the reunion at the request of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. She plans to gather about 16 people for tea or champagne to reminisce.
After Muscatine, Xi is to fly to Des Moines for a reception with political and business leaders and will attend the first US-China Agriculture Symposium, with China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu also expected.
But apparently Xi remembered the 1985 stay fondly because he insisted on returning this week to Muscatine, a small farming community he toured to learn about crop and livestock practices.
Back then, he was a young Communist Party leader seeking ideas to help his agriculture-rich county in the northern province of Hebei.
Now the nation's vice president, he made certain to add Muscatine to his itinerary so he could reunite with the same Americans who showed him around the region's hog and cattle operations and its abundant corn and soybean fields.
"I'm flabbergasted that he would take time out of his busy schedule and come back to Muscatine," said Eleanor Dvorchak, whose family hosted Xi for two nights.
Although Dvorchak and her husband have since moved to Florida, they planned to return for Xi's hour-long visit yesterday, and several other local farmers and residents he encountered were due to be there, too.
The visit will be in marked contrast to Xi's lengthy Oval Office audience with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, an elaborate reception at the State Department, full military honors at the Pentagon, a gathering with chief business executives and dinner at US Vice President Joe Biden's house.
After his visit to Iowa, he will later stop in California.
In 1985, Xi stayed with the Dvorchaks, their 15-year-old daughter, and their dog in a four-bedroom ranch home. The Star Trek-themed room was left unchanged when the couple's sons went to college.
Eleanor Dvorchak, now 72, recalled a handsome 31-year-old man who was calm and intensely focused on learning as much as possible during his brief trip. He kept busy until late each day, so all he needed when he returned in the evening was peace and quiet.
"My job was to provide him with breakfast and a quiet place for him to relax and think, to give him time to pull his thoughts together for the next day," she said. "It was just a pleasure to have him in our home. He was very undemanding."
The language barrier made conversation difficult, but Xi was interested in touring the home and seemed impressed with the two-car garage and large concrete driveway that had a basketball hoop, she said.
Sarah Lande, whose family hosted a dinner during that visit, is organizing the reunion at the request of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. She plans to gather about 16 people for tea or champagne to reminisce.
After Muscatine, Xi is to fly to Des Moines for a reception with political and business leaders and will attend the first US-China Agriculture Symposium, with China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu also expected.
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