Sorry that I came to blog here so late! I have just been back from my China trip. I went from July 8 through August 12. I first went to Kunming, Yunnan Province of China, where I attended a forum co-sponsored by the Library of Yunnan Technology University and Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA). As a board member of the organization, I was elected to lead a delegation of seven American and Chinese American librarians to the forum, including the in-coming president of American Library Association Jim Rettig. Then I made a trip to the Changbai Mountains, on top of which there is a valcano lake called Tianchi, or Lake in Heaven. It was indeed very beautiful. It is, according to many people, also very elusive because of the capricious weather. A rumor circulated that a former leader of China came three times without seeing the lake, which is hidden by the treacherous clouds. But I was so lucky that I could see it on my first visit!

That might forebode a good academic year, or at least as I am expecting. But for now I have a great amount of work on which I must catch up. Thanks to Berkshire editors’ kind understanding, I was able to adjust my jet lag and send in the articles they had edited a few days after the deadline. It has been a privilege and great fun to work with so many able scholars for the Berkshire Encyclopedia of China. I must thank Karen for giving me this opportunity! I am looking forward to sharing and comparing views with fellow contributors and members of the editorial board on issues related to China and its culture. Speaking of its culture, by the way, my second book, titled Princess Peacock: Tales of Other Peoples of China has just come out.