From East to West

Pearl Zhi Ping Chen always wanted to be a person who 'had rich life experiences'. And it seems she got her wish. Born in China 1950, Pearl was part of the generation who grew up during the rise of the Chinese Communist Party's rule which deeply affected her young life. After having her education cut short in the Cultural Revolution, Pearl had to work even harder to improve her employment prospects. Working in a variety of roles around China, it was her hard work teaching herself English that gave her the opportunity to change her life, going from the daughter of a 'class-enemy' to a qualified teacher. Pearl expanded her horizons, going on to not only gain employment and education in several other countries, but to also gain citizenship, for herself and her family, in two other continents, including her current home: Canada. Follow Pearl through her extraordinary life and see how one can overcome any limits through perseverance and the support of others.