I work as a civil servant in New York -- Let me tell you about a little-known aspect of America

Author: Zhang Surchu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The social service agency where I worked is a government institution specializing in housing the homeless and is one of New York City's confidential units. For 20 years, it did not employ foreign staff until 1986, when it began accepting foreigners who had passed exams and held U.S. green cards. I was hired as a permanent employee of the New York City government after passing the exam. The agency's regulations stipulated that employees were forbidden from disclosing internal information to outsiders, but former employees were unrestricted. During my 15 years as a researcher in the agency, there were no other Chinese employees. Here, I gained insights into the underbelly of American society, including cases where once-high-status individuals fell into dire straits. The main content of this book is to faithfully introduce to readers the various characters I encountered. Additionally, it collects other observations from my 25 years in the U.S., including interviews and travel reports. Part of it also covers my family, of course, with a focus on my father, General Zhang Zhizhong. Chinese students who graduated in the U.S. and passed exams to become civil servants in the U.S. government found that the "big pot" system there was even "better" than in China! The social service agency where the author worked is one of New York City's confidential units, and she was the only Chinese employee there. She presented her observations and experiences from the past 15 years to the readers. The author is the daughter of the renowned patriotic general Zhang Zhizhong. Stories of her father's generation, interactions with famous figures from China and abroad, and her foreign experiences are also part of this book.