Mission China 1st Valentine’s Day Event

On February 14, 2011, the Public Affairs Section of US Consulate General Guangzhou hosted the first U.S. Mission China St. Valentine’s Day event for the Chinese public.  This included California wines donated by American vintners, and chocolates ordered for the holiday.

Assistant Public Affairs Officer Daniel Holtrop and Community Liaison Officer Jennifer O’Connor kicked off the event with a lecture on the culture, history, customs and symbols of  the romantic day, and the universal values of love behind it. Following the introduction,  Mr. Eugene Grace, an American poet, discussed the world famous love poetry of Elizabeth Browning (who wrote “How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways”…).  Then Mr. Grace and Ms. Zia Zhao, a senior undergraduate student at Zhongshan University, read four sonnets by Browning and responses by Mr. Grace. The audience was very pleased with the live art, and then pursued an energetic discussion sharing different perspectives on the romance and values behind this day and fun stories related to it. Local TV interviewed Mr. Eugene Grace as well as two student lovers who attended the event and brought a bunch of roses with them.