Tuesday, September 13, 2005
10:16 pm
Here's the mini-highlight of my day:
Li Cunxin, author of
Mao's Last Dancer, came to talk to us Year 10s during English this morning.
I don't know if anyone has heard of Li Cunxin, but let me give you an idea.
- US President Ronald Reagan and President-to-be George Bush, were directly involved in his defection (he defected from China to the US, long story.) He was personal friends with them and Barbara Bush.
- He was one of the 10 best ballet dancers
in the world. (He has retired cos ballet dancers retire early.)
- He has worked with Margot Fonteyn - please know who she is.
- His book
Mao's Last Dancer (his autobiography. good book - do read!) has been a top 10 international best seller for a couple of years.
- Movie producers are seeking to produce a film about his life.
I think that's enough to raise eyebrows, huh? Through the whole talk I was wondering what in the world he was doing talking to a teeny pathetic group of Year 10 girls in a tiny lecture theatre when he used to dance for thousands and thousands in some gigantic theatre in front of presidents and world ambassadors!
He told us his story (that's in the book) but it was so different hearing him actually tell it. We got all teary so many times! It's the biggest success story, but this guy has had low points in his life way lower than most of us will probably ever experience.
Yikes if I don't watch myself I will end up telling the whole story. Well to cut things short, he started out as one of seven children born into a dreadfully poor peasant province in China. And he ended up as, well, I've been through that up there. But oh man it really is an inspirational journey - go read the book!
*
Penny - hiii!!!! i'm great how are you? haven't spoken to you in ages now! anyway, pymble ladies college
is my school! it's in pymble. why did she come? btw, plc will not be my school anymore as of next year...