Editor’s Note: Gary Locke has held the position of US Ambassador to China since 2011, and in November 2013 announced he was resigning the post to be with his family. Before he leaves, Locke agreed to an interview with Men’s Health China, editor in chief, Lin Dan. In this translated article Locke talks family, fitness and his reasons for leaving China.

Gary Locke, while serving as the US ambassador to China, has been a highly visible figure and has been able to maintain a good reputation amongst the Chinese people. Locke is an ABC, or American born Chinese, and has been the most hands-on ambassador to China. He has become a model example of how native Chinese can also achieve the American dream. Editor in chief of Men’s Health China Lin Dan invited Locke to sit down and talk about his time as ambassador. Lin decided to uncover a new side to the ambassador and spoke with Locke about health rather than politics. 

Source: Secretary of Defense

Lin Dan: President Obama is a good friend of yours. He was also on the cover of the US edition of Men’s Health. Between you and Obama, who do you think is a better badminton player?

Gary Locke: I’ve never played badminton with President Obama. The president is very tall and lanky and is extremely healthy. He is a big fan of basketball and also likes playing the sport. He also enjoys playing golf. The First Lady, Michelle Obama has also been committed to promoting sports and healthy eating to young people in the United States. The Obamas are both excellent role models in this way.

LD: I have seen a report that says that no matter how busy President Obama is, he gets up every day and trains for an hour and a half. I think this has inspired many people to choose to start living healthier.

GL: The President and First Lady are implementing the concept of healthy living in the United States. In addition to the sports and fitness aspects of the healthy lifestyle they promote, they also encourage everyone to eat nutritional meals. At the same time, you also need to strike a balance between work and life in order to truly have a healthy life.

LD: Do you run? What do you think of the Beijing weather for running? Do you run outside?

GL: I ran outside a few times in Beijing with my daughter but I’m not very good at running. I love outdoor sports like golf and I like to be outdoors in general, whether it be working outside the house, climbing mountains in Seattle or walking along the Great Wall.

LD: Is this only if the weather is good?

GL: Bad weather does not affect me. I’m from Seattle which is a very rainy city. In Seattle, even if it is rainy, windy or cold, we play sports outside like golf, soccer or go jogging.

LD: What were your childhood ambitions? Is this where you saw yourself?

GL: As a child I never dreamed that I would work in politics or in a government-related field. I thought about being a teacher or a forest ranger. However, I am very satisfied with my life as it is now. I feel very fortunate for God’s blessings as I have a very happy family, a wife and three children. My family gets along well and has good relationships with each other. I have received a lot of support from my wife and kids and am very happy with my life now. I am too lucky.

LD: I rarely talk about my relations with family members or close friends in conversation, however foreigners often talk about their own family to others. I think this is a large difference between the two cultures. Chinese people care about their families but would rather talk about their work or their position. I think this needs to change: family is more important than work.

GL: I grew up that way. My parents always stressed the importance of family. My father came from a poor village in China and we would often send money to our relatives back home. My father told me that success in the family cannot be separated from the hardships of relatives. Some Chinese people are not used to talking about their families, but as far as I know, the family occupies an extremely important position in Chinese traditional culture.

LD: Do you believe in fate? If you cannot make a decision then who do you ask for help?

GL: When I have a problem, I consult my wife. She is very smart and insightful. My political career has not been deliberately planned, even when I was younger and in law school I never thought I would have a political future. I think everyone needs to be prepared for whatever the future may have in store for them. Students, for example, should take a variety of courses and people who work should always try to broaden their skills so that when there is opportunity in front of you will have the experience and skills to match.

LD: If God gave you the ability, what areas would you want to help out your children in?

GL: I just want my kids to have fun and have a rich and satisfying life. I think that is enough. Whatever they want to do in the future, whether it be art, architecture or business, I will be proud of them. I just hope that they can be considerate of others, respect everyone and society as a whole.

LD: What aspects of your personality have been important in influencing the growth of your career?

GL: I try to do a lot of research to fully understand a problem or a topic and seek advice and help form others when needed. I have high goals for myself and high expectations of others and will try to help others achieve their own goals.

LD: What is your real reason for leaving office?

GL: The decision was made in early spring 2013. In the past few years, my family has moved to Washington D.C. from Seattle, and then to Beijing from Washington D.C. This has interfered with the children’s education. Because of that, this decision is mainly for our daughter. My wife and I believe that it is important for her to be able to complete her last two years of high school in the United States so that she is better prepared to study at an American college or university. After much discussion amongst the family, we decided that my wife and children should move back to Seattle in the summer of 2013 in order for her to be able to finish her last two years of high school in the United States. My son is also now in high school in the United States. We have many close friends in Seattle. When they moved from Beijing, we decided a few months later that I should give up my post to reunite with them. We are a family and I have already been separated from them for too long and I miss them.

LD: What do you want to tell the next ambassador? Something about PM 2.5?

GL: I will not talk with the next ambassador about PM 2.5 because everyone already understands the problem. The Chinese government and people all recognize this very serious issue. My advice for the next ambassador is to go to many different places in China in order to better understand local customs. Beijing is not China and is not representative of all Chinese cities. China is made up of of big cities and small villages with large differences in geography, climate and culture.

LD: It was a pleasure to sit down with you, Ambassador Locke. I hope you and your family continue to live happily together on your return to the U.S. and that your three lovely children grow up healthy.

GL: It was my pleasure; it is an exciting thing to be interviewed. Journalism must make for a very fascinating career.

Source: blog.sina.com

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Keywords: Men’s Health China Gary Locke US ambassador to China