Cohousing-L Mailing List: Opening the Door to Cohousing in China

[Alice Alexander (alicecohous]

Many of you were intrigued that we enjoyed six representatives from China
at the National Cohousing Conference. I had been contacted this spring by
Gou (Joy) Chuanjing, who discovered our website in their research on
cohousing. I encouraged her to come to the National Conference, and she
agreed - bringing 5 of her colleagues with her!

Below is an email from Joy, upon arriving back just last night to Nanjing.

I hope you take pride as I do that cohousing in the US is having an impact
on another continent and culture.

PS The participation of Joy and her group inspired Laura Fitch to provide a
Chinese version of the Cohousing Slide Show.

Dear Alice, I'm so sorry to reply your e-mail so late... After leaving
Durham, we had a pretty full schedule, and I just came back to China this
midnight. We really had a wonderful trip in the U.S.. The community visits,
the experiences shared, the friendly people and your help and consideration
would be good memory in our minds forever. I really, really thank you for
your suggestion and help about the cohousing!

I'm so glad you like the gift! I was very excited when we met at the
cohousing conference, especially after so many e-mails between us~ Wish I
could be your guide when you visit China ^_^

Also, I'm impressed by your Chinese slide show! Yes, this is another door
open to China, let more Chinese people know cohousing! In fact, with the
development of China, aging society and environmental issues are severe
problems we Chinese must face and solve. Cohousing provides a attractive
alternative.

At the same time, I have to say, the Durham Central Park Cohousing
Community you lived in is so...COOL! (I saw your name on the board of
residents, do you? ) I really ,really love it! Just like a Utopia in
reality!

Also, thanks to our bus tour guide (a gentleman with a hat, shorts and
glasses, and grey hair, we were in Group C, I'm sorry I can't get his name,
sometimes my listening is not good... but he's very nice!), we had a very
excellent tour!

I'm really impressed and inspired by all you've done, especially
considering your age. You gave me a different view and impression about
seniors, totally different from most Chinese seniors. So many respect and
thank you! So many to learn!

Let's stay in touch! Of course, your help and support is very important to
us! Also, I wish I could be helpful when you need.

Best,
Joy

-- 
Alice Alexander
Executive Director
www.cohousing.org <http://www.cohous.org>
[image: The Cohousing Association]