calconklin

I have been to China 4 times since 2005.  I enjoy the wonderful people and their culture away from the big cities in rural farm villages.  I do not live in Sacramento but there is no other choice on this website.  I live on the border between California and Oregon in the country near Yreka, California.  Yreka is the largest city in the county with a population of 7,500.

I have a summary of my 4 China trips so far. It is available if you want me to e-mail it in *.txt, or *.rtf, or *.doc form depending on your word processing program.  My story is intended to show what I have seen in China and how I like to travel.  I enjoy more the "old fashioned" Chinese culture found mostly in the less populated rural areas.  Large cities and high tourist areas tended to be more "westernized".  My trip planning is with only a few destinations to allow more flexibility for the month trip. The picture I used is of Daughter Kaitlin and me this past 2012 summer on our trip to visit her in Washington, DC.

------- See 4 trip insert. ------

This next China trip I have been researching like I always do before going.  My interests continue from my strong need to help poor families in rural areas of China or India.  Part of the reason for this is I grew up on a dairy farm in New York State which was poor and rural.  I help people in need here locally as a volunteer because I have been retired for 16 years and enjoy helping others.  I feel there are people with more need in China and India than America so I am searching how I can best be of service there.

The next trip depends also on my wife, Essie's health.  She has been doing chemo (chemical) therapy for 8 years because of our doctors finding stage IV breast cancer that had spread throughout her body.  I care for her and help her in her weakened state.  She cannot travel in China because of the different health standards. If she is stable and we can find help for her for the month I am in China, I then can travel. 

Thanks, Cal

Ps. I am NOT a tour guide....I just like to experience China culture.