Exiled to the Gobi Desert of China, near Mongolia, for ten years. There was no road, electricity, transportation. The average temperature was minus 35c in winter. Weijun Collins offers a true life story beyond our imagination.

From a cave woman in China where her only shelters were underground holes to modern day New Zealand. Weijun is without question one of the most resilient personalities of our time. Her story is a gritting account of determination and spirit of survival

Author of "Desert Rose", Weijun entrances her audiences with a spellbound talk about facing challenges positively against adversity, and becoming a winner against all odds.

Weijun was born in China. She has come through the turmoil period of the Cultural Revolution. She is an independent thinker, humorous and inspiring with deep vision and a profound message born out of chaos and despair.

Her story is quite remarkable but then again Weijun is a remarkable person. The "cultural revolution" set out to break the spirit of everyone who wanted to be strong but they could never break Weijun.

Q. What is her story??
A. She was exiled to the Gobi Desert, North West of China, near Mongolia, for political reasons. There were no human beings there before she arrived. They lived in caves in a climate of extreme. The average temperature was 35c minus. She stayed there for 10 years.

Q. How did she escape from the desert?
It was a dramatic story which was full of danger, risk, desperation and determination. She found the remnants of an English textbook and taught herself English by reading the book under her bedclothes at night. She eventually became an English teacher after her escape.

Q. What did she do in the desert for 10 years?
A. They used melted snow to grow maize, wheat and opium.

Q. How did she get to meet President Clinton?
A. Now that's another story....