Brock lived with her husband Edwin L. Brock and four children in Colorado, working as a nurse and then became the head of a children's hospital.

"In the US I had a big garden. It seems to me the various varieties of flowers have different characteristics. Beauty is inspirational," Brock says.

During Brock's childhood, China was ravaged by war, poverty and disease, which made a strong impression on her.

"At that time, I was shocked by China's conditions. People were dying of hunger, young girls were forced into prostitution and some parents sold their daughters."

"I was very distressed because I couldn't help. I lived in a warm home (in the US) and people were freezing in the temple next to where I used to live," Brock says, "So I decided to return to China."

"Now I can see great changes have taken place in China. People are enjoying much better lives."

But Brock also has good memories of when she was young and living in China.

She recalls digging wild foxglove from the banks of the Grand Canal and planting them in her small garden.

She also remembers her childhood friendships, such as playing with a Liaocheng local named Zhou Renjie.

To fulfill her childhood dream of "offering help", after her husband died in 1999, Brock sold her US house, 16-hectare forest and all her other possessions and returned to Liaocheng.

She has donated money to local primary schools, hospitals and villages. She spent 20,000 yuan ($3,116.24), for instance, buying computers for the village school.

When Christmas comes, she dresses up as Santa Claus and drives a wooden cart pulled by a donkey to present gifts such as books, stationery and snacks to students. She also volunteers to teach children English.

"Brock is always looking for opportunities to help others. Her optimistic view of life encourages me a lot," Wang says.

Brock's contribution to the local community and her enthusiasm for China have earned her several honors, including the World Peace Prize presented by the World Peace Painting and Calligraphy Committee in 2006, and the "You Bring Charm to China" award, jointly presented by Tianjin Television Station and Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, in 2009.

Besides planting flowers, Brock says she wakes early every morning, reads books and writes.

She also loves playing electronic games. She even taught a local boy to play chess.

"I consider myself a Chinese woman," Brock says.

(China Daily 08/11/2011 page20)

By Zhao Ruixue and Ju Chuanjiang (China Daily)

Edited by Chen Zhilin