Overview

""Get to China before it changes too much,"" Mary was advised. It was 1982, and China was beginning to transform itself after years of isolation. When Mary, a seasoned Delta flight attendant, arrived in Hangzhou a year later, her life also began a major transformation. China became her passion-at times her nemesis and ultimately her teacher-as she returned year after year, decade after decade. Butterfly Dreams tells the story of how, through years of friendship and exploration, Mary came to discover her life's purpose: working with others, in China and the United States, to create a sustainable and thriving Earth for all. ""Butterfly Dreams is a beautiful example of how one person committed to making a difference with her life-and succeeded."" - Lynne Twist, cofounder of the Pachamama Alliance and author of Living a Committed Life and The Soul of Money ""A testament to the power of dreams, the strength of cross-cultural bonds, and the imperative of ecological consciousness."" -Huang Ming, Solar Valley developer, Dezhou, China

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Reviews

In Butterfly Dreams, I see a reflection of my own journey-a relentless pursuit of a dream that many deemed impossible. Mary Klug's narrative resonates with the spirit of Solar Valley, where aspirations take flight, and sustainable living becomes a reality. Her experiences in China, her deep connections with its people, and her unwavering commitment to environmental harmony mirror the very essence of what we strive for in our solar endeavors.This book is not just a memoir; it's a testament to the power of dreams, the strength of cross-cultural bonds, and the imperative of ecological consciousness. Mary's journey inspires us to believe that with passion and perseverance, we can illuminate the path to a greener, more harmonious world.- Huang Ming, developer of Solar Valley in Dezhou, ChinaButterfly Dreams is a beautiful example of how one person committed to making a difference with her life-and succeeded. Mary Klug's creativity, determination and respect for her Chinese colleagues led to her work with groups in China over many years to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on the planet.- Lynne Twist, cofounder of the Pachamama Alliance and author of Living a Committed LifeGiven that the United States and China are the world's biggest economies and polluters, there has never been a time when it was more important to understand these two countries, their relationship to each other and the environment, and the chasm of misunderstanding that separates them. Butterfly Dreams is a personal journey over the bridge that crosses that chasm.- John Perkins, cofounder of the Pachamama Alliance; author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman, Touching the Jaguar and other booksIn Butterfly Dreams, Mary transports the reader into China's past, where we join her in witnessing the country's and people's transformation over several decades. Her view of the process is powerful and compassionate, seen through eyes of hard-working, resilient people who have gone through tremendous struggles. Unexpected moments jump off the page in this intimate memoir. - Dame Doria Cordova, founder of Excellerated Business Schools(R) for Entrepreneurs (BSE) and author of the Money & You(R) Book TrilogyMary Klug's Butterfly Dreams offers a deeply engaging ethnography that spans 42 years of visits to China. Her observations of cities and regions of China stretch from the early 1980s to her encounters in environmental research/activism, in a narrative informed by a belief in the synchronicity of the forces of life, nature and spirituality. Beginning during her life as a flight attendant, her travels incorporate astute observations about the people of China and the changes to their everyday lives as their standard of living improved along with their concern for global coexistence. Her story offers unconventional insights about how the politics of China have evolved from one of isolation to a more capitalist-socialist one; the challenge of learning the Mandarin language as well as teaching English in Hangzhou; cats(!); the Catholic Church and Buddhism; an appreciation for the peace advocacy of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association New England; reflections on her private life; an obsessional effort to comprehend China as an American by visiting the country many times; promoting the Awakening the Dreamer (ATD) Symposium created by th

Author Information

For 36 years, Mary Klug was a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines. She has been teaching English as a Second Language for several decades, both professionally and as a volunteer. Mary is presently the Vice President of the New England Chapter of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association, and an active member of the Pachamama Alliance. She volunteers for the North Shore Node of the environmental group 350MASS. Mary lives with her cat, Emma, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She can be reached at meklug22@hotmail.com or through her blog: Ecojourneyinchina.blog.

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