Isabel Crook: I believe my beloved China is getting better and better

Professor Isabel Crook teaches at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Since 1955, she has been living in an age-old teaching staff's dormitory on the campus. Over the decades, she has repeatedly refused to move into a new apartment. Her home is plainly furnished, but packed with books.

"I still remember the equestrian units. They were really impressive," Isabel smiled as she recalled the historical moment of Peking's liberation, while browsing an album marking the 70^th anniversary of the founding of New China.

Isabel's parents came to China as Canadian missionaries. She was born in southwest China's Chengdu in 1915. Upon graduation from the University of Toronto in Canada, she returned to China and engaged herself in field investigation and anthropological studies. Her husband is David Crook, a British communist whom she met in China and married.

On the eve of the founding of the New China, the Crooks were invited to teach at the School of Foreign Affairs in Nanhaishan Village, the predecessor of Beijing Foreign Studies University. They reformed English teaching and trained a large number of foreign language talents for the New China.

On September 29th, 2019, Isabel was awarded the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the country's education and its exchanges with other countries.

"I'm very lucky to have witnessed this great era," Isabel said that the Chinese Communist Party ended the wars and brought peace to New China. "I've witnessed how the Chinese revolution went from hardships to victory. I've witnessed the rapid development of the New China in the past seven decades. The great achievements of China over the years have been amazing. I believe my beloved China is getting better and better. I wish the Chinese people great happiness," she said. 

Isabel Crook: I believe my beloved China is getting better and better

Professor Isabel Crook teaches at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Since 1955, she has been living in an age-old teaching staffs dormitory on the campus. Over the decades, she has repeatedly refused to move into a new apartment. Her home is plainly furnished, but packed with books. I still remember the equestrian units. They were really impressive, Isabel smiled as she recalled the historical moment of Pekings liberation, while browsing an album marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China. Isabels parents came to China as Canadian missionaries. She was born in southwest Chinas Chengdu in 1915. Upon graduation from the University of Toronto in Canada, she returned to China and engaged herself in field investigation and anthropological studies. Her husband is David Crook, a British communist whom she met in China and married. On the eve of the founding of the New China, the Crooks were invited to teach at the School of Foreign Affairs in Nanhaishan Village, the predecessor of Beijing Foreign Studies University. They reformed English teaching and trained a large number of foreign language talents for the New China. On September 29th, 2019, Isabel was awarded the Friendship Medal of the Peoples Republic of China, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the countrys education and its exchanges with other countries. Im very lucky to have witnessed this great era, Isabel said that the Chinese Communist Party ended the wars and brought peace to New China. Ive witnessed how the Chinese revolution went from hardships to victory. Ive witnessed the rapid development of the New China in the past seven decades. The great achievements of China over the years have been amazing. I believe my beloved China is getting better and better. I wish the Chinese people great happiness, she said.