“When I was 8 years old, my parents paid a smuggler to take me across the Himalayas, a weekslong walk over the mountains from Tibet to India. It was a trek that tens of thousands of other Tibetans have taken since the Dalai Lama fled a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. My parents must have had their reasons to send me here; they must have had the best of intentions. But 18 years later, I still don't know why they did it. They are not political people. They are small farmers who raise barley and a few yak in a rural area not far from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. I have not seen them since I left...”. – Tsering Topgyal via The Associated Press. (Photo by Tsering Topgyal/AP Photo)

A Chinese snake charmer performs at a temple fair to mark Chinese New Year February 19, 2007 in Beijing, China. Chinese worldwide are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Pig. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Sorana Cirstea of Romania hits the ball against Jie Zheng if China during the Sony Ericsson Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 22, 2011 in Key Biscayne, Florida.

People visit Chinese artist Huang Yongping's installation art work named “Leviathanation” at Tang Contemporary Art of 798 Art District on March 29, 2011 in Beijing, China. The exhibition named “Tracing The Milky Way” will be last until May 14. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

Chinese artists perform on stage during the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 at the Exposition Park on April 28, 2011 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province of China. The World Horticultural Exposition 2011 will be held in Xi'an from April 28 to October 22. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

A vehicle is trapped in a flooded street during a rainstorm in Beijing city on June 23, 2011 in Beijing, China. Heavy rain that hit Beijing on Thursday afternoon has disrupted traffic and caused flooding low-lying areas. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

iPhone 4 hard case cover with portrait of Steve Jobs are on sale on October 9, 2011 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Apple co-founder Jobs died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

People dressed as a “Chinese Dragon”, swim in water at the Beijing Aquarium on January 5, 2012 in Beijing, China. The new year in Chinese calendar is the year of Dragon which will fall on January 21, 2012. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)