Oct 23 2007
Zhou Qibo 周启博
Qibo (Roland) is my distant cousin (3rd). Although we didn’t know each other in Beijing, but lived just a stone throw away: his parents were professors at Beida (Beijing Uni) and Qinghua, hence he’s Qinghua product from head to toe: attended Qinghua affiliated primary school, middle/high school, Qinghua University itself and the graduate school too in Zhongguancun. My maternal great grandma was his paternal great grandpa’s kid sister, phew, I think I got that proclamation right.
He’s born in Boston while his dad was pursuing his PhD at Harvard in 1945. Got sent down to the countryside during his junior year at Qinghua, befriend with cows, chickens and guns. I found his postings about his daddy on the net, and contact one of professors he mentioned. The professor gladly provided me with his phone and address.
Roland enjoys politics/China, has a soft voice. We spoke few times on the phone before the meeting, had lively discussion: obviously, he’s very bitter, and a fierce critic of Mao. I, on the other hand, more or less a defender. This attitude had drove my family/relatives, especially Lucy crazy. They couldn’t understand why I’m the only one who suffered the gravest lost - mom was the only one who committed suicide during the Cultural Revolution among all known relatives in our large circle, yet seems as if I’m a supporter of the regime. .. When Roland showed up at my door with his wife, I regretted that I didn’t toady his lines - jk 
- for he’s a good 6′2″ with a solid built frame. His wife is equally statuesque. After they left, my kids busting out laugh, advice me ’Mom, you need to enlarge the doorway if you want to invite them again.’ Out of all my cousins, he impresses my kids the most, they refer to him as Double G, gentle giant.