Transcending continents and cultures, an extraordinary tale of friendship has unfolded between Gary Dvorchak, a businessman frequently shuttling between China and the US, and a tranquil city nestled by the Mississippi River in Iowa, known as Muscatine. The house at No. 2911 Bonnie Drive has played a pivotal role in this narrative.
Almost four decades back, a young Chinese official, Xi Jinping, made his way to this serene Iowa home. This visit was part of his first-ever international trip and his inaugural experience with an American family. The promising junior official, then serving as Party secretary of Zhengding County in Hebei province, led an agricultural delegation to Muscatine.
During his stay, Xi occupied a room usually inhabited by a college-going Dvorchak. This room, adorned with American football wallpapers and Star Trek models, painted a quintessential picture of an American boy’s space. This interaction sowed the seeds of an enduring bond, a connection that would later reach across oceans.
Fast-forward to the present, Dvorchak intends to transform his childhood home into a beacon of China-US amicability. His vision includes refurbishing the house into a professional exhibit that narrates the story of China-US relations in a positive light. It will spotlight the personal narratives that have fueled this enduring friendship.
Xi’s visit to Muscatine left an indelible impression on the Dvorchak family and the local community. This became evident when, 27 years later, Xi returned as Vice President to revisit his ‘old friends’ in Muscatine, including Dvorchak’s parents. His visit was commemorated by transforming Dvorchak’s childhood home into the ‘Sino-US Friendship House,’ the first museum in the US dedicated to China-US friendship.
However, the house’s vibrancy dwindled amidst the travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dvorchak, who had moved to Beijing with his family, decided to repurchase the house to resurrect its original splendor. With the house back under his ownership, he seeks to educate visitors about China and its rich contributions to human civilization.
Living in China for a decade, Dvorchak has experienced firsthand the warmth of Chinese hospitality. He hopes to share the warmth he experienced during his visit to Kuliang in Fuzhou and the Xiongan New Area and Zhengding county in Hebei. The genuine camaraderie he experienced resonates with his belief in fostering peaceful interactions between the two superpowers.
In a world often marred by media and political hype, Dvorchak encourages Americans to discern their views based on personal experiences and interactions. His vision for the ‘Sino-US Friendship House’ is to contribute positively to the narrative of US-China relations, proving that friendship indeed knows no boundaries.
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