Stories to Remember. Ting Chen loved her job as chief accountant for the Shanghai Sports Company. She had worked there 23 years and moved the company from bookkeeping by hand to an efficient electronic accounting system. She was in charge of the finances of 29 branches and was the contact between her company and the Shanghai Financial Bureau. She trained all the accountants in the firm. She was also busy raising her daughter Emilie and caring for her husband and other family members. She had help to do this, and life was good. She did not know that she was about to be called on to make a huge life change. In 2004, she found herself in the U.S. with her daughter, no job, few English skills, and a new life to build. Ting and her husband had decided that their daughter Emilie should be educated in the United States. As she said, “My husband and I always believe the highest education is in the U.S.” Since Emilie was only 13, one of her parents needed to come with her. Ting made the sacrifice and gave up her fulfilling job. Ting remarked, “So when I leave my job, I’m not very happy.” In the U.S., Ting’s lack of English was a big obstacle. Ting found herself asking Emilie to translate in everyday situations that in China she would have handled completely on her own. A very challenging role reversal for both Ting and Emily! Since then, Ting has learned many things in the United States. It’s true that her English has improved greatly with dedicated study and the willingness to take risks to speak. But, beyond that, Ting has learned to take care of herself and her daughter…on her own and in a foreign land with greatly differing cultural customs, including those around child raising. She maintains her relationship with her husband by speaking with him everyday and traveling to Shanghai when possible. In this way, they can continue to parent Emilie together. Ting has a goal to continue her studies and hopes to get a certificate in accounting….in English. And after that? A job in accounting….in English! Look out world!