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Anabel – my favourite Communist!

At the end of June, Anabel left Changchun to first fly to the Canary Islands and then a new life in Ecuador. Everyone who has met Anabel will miss her deeply – her friendliness, compassion and zest for life have contributed enormously to both her students at Jilin University and to the wider community

I can still remember the first time I met Anabel – for some reason (don’t ask me why), I was in the Mayflower with some friends and got talking to Anabel – in the middle of the screeching awful techno music that was playing, we were discussing Bertrand Russell and other philosophers. A firm and dear friendship was established and from then on Anabel has been one of the key figures behind Changchun Friends.

Now, when Anabel and I first arrived in Changchun there were limited options as to what to do socially. Basically, there was the Mayflower and err….that was it. So, together with a couple of like minded friends we decided that what the Chun needed was some Culture (with a big C!). Night after night one summer, a group of 4/5 of us would meet after work promising to deliver the biggest , best music festival in the North of China . Woodstock, Glastonbury – they had nothing on us!

All through the summer we toiled (but we did eat some great food!). There was Shoghi who was always (and I mean always!) late, Wes, the driving force in setting up a full range of heavy metal/punk bands, myself and Anabel. Eventually, all we could manage was agreeing with a mafia type character that we could hire his night club for the evening. We did get some great bands and nearly 1000 people for the event but it was the fun of meeting and trying to do the impossible that made that summer so much fun

Now, with her passion for teaching, the arts, literature and philosophy - and of course Latin dancing, Anabel, has touched the hearts of so many people here in Changchun and, together with a Brazilian friend, Paulo, Anabel was instrumental in helping to organize summer parties outside at the old Zero bar on Longli Hutong. This soon became a favourite gathering place. The parties would go on to the early hours and it was here that the original Latin parties began with Anabel helping to bring the Latin community together to Salsa the night away

So, to wish Anabel and her fiancée all the best in their new life, a short poem was written to honour our favourite communist!

To Anabel – My favourite Communist!

From Russia and the Argentine

And on to Holland too

In soggy England and Africa

Anabel has been there

It’s true!

Now in China she studied hard

But, the Mayflower and the Latin Dance

• that smile and that friendly glance

• And the books, the books

• And the glass of wine

• Oh! Anabel – you are divine!

Now another chapter will appear -Another place to see

In Ecuador with her beau - a fantastic place to be

And Communism and Darwinism, Borges and Bertrand Russell too

Oh! Anabel, you inspire us

Let’s raise a glass to you!

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