Click to see larger pictures
Lena (left), Nora Kay, Jean Chow King (周婉君), and Janet
Clockwise from left front: Lena, Nora Kay, Janet, Mr. King (Jean's husband) and Jean Chow King. Both Jean and her husband are retired pharmacists.
Jean Chow King is known to most of her friends by her Chinese name Chow Wan Jun (周婉君). She is smart and intelligent. One always saw her reading a book. Among the many books she read are martial arts novels (武俠小說). On top of that, she is also a very good storyteller. Nora Kay recalled that when they were together, Jean would tirelessly told her the stories she had read. Thus, the two became good friends.
Nora and her sister Lena and their friend Jean were enrolled in St. Emilies" Convent as boarders at a very young age. Nora and Lena left SE after studying there for 5 and a half years. While Nora transferred to Hua Zhong High School, Jean remained at Wan Hua until she finished her Matriculation. Many years had passed since then. Surprisingly, Nora and Jean were reunited in their RASU Chemistry class in 1964. But it did not last long because Jean left RASU during her second year for Taiwan to continue her education there. Twenty years later, Nora and Jean met again in California when Nora was on vacation visiting her sister Lena in Irvine, California.
Living in a neighboring city, Jean came to see her longtime friend Nora at Lena's house. It was a kind of visit that warmed Nora's heart. The trio - Nora, Jean and Lena - endlessly chatted with one another in Lena's living room as time flied away. Upon leaving, Jean told Nora that she would give Nora and her kids a tour of interesting places in the vicinity of her city.
A couple of days later, Nora and Jean and their children set out in 2 cars visiting kids' entertainment places and Jean's new home under construction. While the two adult friends reminisced about their good old days back home in Burma, their American-born kids were busy playing with one another. The tour ended with a visit to Jean's cozy house. The two families enjoyed the moments they were together. It was indeed a happy day for them.
Nora and her kids returned to their home in Chicago. Life was very busy for working mothers like Nora and Jean. They lost contact with each other.
Decades later, Nora and her family moved to their new home in California. For years, Nora had been looking for Jean without any success. Last year Nora searched through California State Board of Pharmacy website for any bit of information that could help her find her pharmacist friend Jean. The search turned out to be very successful. Elated, Nora immediately got in touch with Jean and they met for a nice lunch at a restaurant in southern California (Pictured above).
Click here to read a Related Story
Click to go to see more pictures.