Germany and Hamburg

My 21st century America-Germany novel for young adults is ready. Unlike the many negative books and movies about what Germans did in the mid 20th century, my novel is positive.  It's written also for the 90 million German speaking people in Europe and the 50 million German-Americans. It's the story of 17 yrs old Petra, who moved with her parents from Germany to New York City. Willkommen (welcome) to Germany:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T48UedD2eA

They came to NYC on a flight with Lufthansa Airlines.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMt5sYQT4Pc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pV3oHAETW8

Petra was born in Hamburg in Northern Germany. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, after Berlin, and is viewed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNyWf1ilu6I&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hamburg

Petra and her mother, who works at Goethe Institute in NYC,  enjoy singing the song by Maria from Hamburg, reminding them about home.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--4CzYbMjaQ

Their favourite song, singing together, is from Austria. Mom likes the singer so much that she named her daugther after her.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlrLqiiFKqo

Petra and her father, who moved from Bonn to the German Consulate in NYC,  are fans of Hamburger SV, their hometown's football team. She plays soccer in her NYC High School, inspired by Birgit Prinz, Germany's famous female football player. 
She started playing soccer as a little girl.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfey6NIOfPY

Sichuan, Chengdu and Chongqing

My novel starts in a small village in the province of Sichuan in Southwest China, where Shui Ying is growing up ... "Sichuan, which mean four rivers, is one of China's most populous provinces. It is one of the country's main agricultural areas for growing rice, wheat and other grains. It is home for the giant Panda bears who feed primarily on bamboo. Kung Po chicken is the best known Sichuan dish and the secret of Sichuan food is the purity of the salt collected from the mines of Zigong." When Shui Ying is born, the biggest cities in Sichuan are Chengdu and Chongqing, but after a few years Chongqing separates from Sichuan to become one of the four direct-controlled municipalities in China.  China's greatest leader in recent history is Deng Xiaoping who was born in Sichuan. He is the founding father of China's economic rise.
Welcome to Sichuan (Szechuan)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9-h9Olp_g

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province. It is one of the most important economic, transportation and communication centers in Western China. It has the most tea houses in China. Its people have a reputation in China for having a laid-back attitude and for knowing how to enjoy life.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JASEkJYwgHg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu

These are the famous cute residents of the city
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTXkN6YTPBY&feature=fvwrel

And these are famous places in Sichuan that appear in my novel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZndmtCf1Jus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=risuF_17ITk

The most populous city in China, and the world, is Chongqing with about 30 million people, while Shanghai and Beijing have about 20 million each.  The Beijing government "Go West" strategy is urging companies to set up operations in inland cities to prevent immigration to cities on the east coast. Chongqing is the main beneficiary of this policy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmyPm_4I_4U
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqing

People from Sichuan, Chengdu and Chonqing like to eat spicy food like the  Hot Pot.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mmmvhgFEeU&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI6M7NJbaZ4&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szechuan_cuisine
www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=dI3Lcfl4Fko

Americans and Canadians wishing to try the Hot Pot in their countries,  please check the locations for:
www.littlesheephotpot.com

Hong Kong

My novel travels to many places in China, mainly to the province of Sichuan (Chengdu), Shanghai and Beijing. There are two stops in Hong Kong. I was introduced to Hong Kong by Shui Ying, a wondeful woman living now in that city. She e-mailed me this beautiful 360-degree panoramic view over Hong Kong harbour
www.sky100.com.hk/sky100-panorama/start_south.html

For walking tours in Hong Kong, please go to "A Kindle in Hong Kong" by blogger Shannon Young, where she has many great photos of the city.
www.akindleinhongkong.blogspot.com/

Hong Kong is a bridge between mainland China and the West. Last year Hong Kong retained its position as the freest economy in the world. In mainland China there is state capitalism with planned economy. Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's republic of China. Many of the 7 million residents of Hong Kong wish that mainland China wil become more like Hong Kong, while the regime in Beijing hopes that Hong Kong will become more like mainland China.  The city flower of Hong Kong is the Bauhinia. To learn more about the city:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong

Enjoy this song about Hong Kong (1978) by the late Teresa Teng
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmqVXQiAyQY
and this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqG11eNZFzo

 

Chinese Buddhist Songs + The Best Chinese Song

My novel introduces the reader to modern China and to the history and culture of this great nation. I wrote many parts of the novel while listening to Chinese songs to make me feel as if I am in China. I discovered many wonderful Chinese songs, including Chinese Buddhist songs. Three Chinese Buddhist songs are included in my novel. Wei, the mother of the heroine, prays to Guan Yin (a variation of Buddha). She sings three Chinese Buddhist songs and teaches her daugther to sing one as well. You can listen to these wonderful songs on YouTube 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf4HvM3gtAI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVvHZpuLt0U
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dBxfV0rs3A

After listening to many Chinese songs I was wondering which is the best song. For awhile I considered the song by Teresa Teng "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" (The Moon Represents my Heart) to be the best Chinese song. But maybe the song "Zhen De Hau Xiang Ni" (Really Missing You) is the best. Many singers from China sing this song, but the version by American Chinese students is the most touching. Check their version on Youtube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SioExojFsr4

Mandopop Songs

My book introduces the readers to many wonderful Chinese songs. I listened to hundreds of songs and put in the book the ones that I really liked. Some of them are Mandopop, which stands for Mandarin popular music, and many came from Taiwan. It all started with Teresa Teng from Taiwan, the Mandopop queen of 1980s. Check her songs on YouTube, like
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_cEeDlop0 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgfGJsUD47Q

For more contemporary Mandopop songs listen to S.H.E. and Jay Chou, both of them born in Taiwan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O-AuVSSRZ8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr5fNKK2FaA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gZIckG0EIM

For a song from Hong Kong, listen to Gloria Yip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i58uTpyp6rs