My DC trip

I'm in DC for a week. A lot's happening. A lot for me to do, and a lot for me to think about. I'm trying to capture all that I can. This is a really diverse group that I'm with this week: some of them young Americans, some young Chinese first time in the U.S., some Chinese diplomat, some American diplomat, some Chinese university presiendts, some U.S. university presidents...

Whatever it is, I know I'm going to cherish this experience. And, this is, again, proof of my philosophy - you never know what's going to happen to you. Just keep your mind open; get yourself prepared; & pay attention to opportunities knocking on your door. Good things will follow.

Indeed. What marvelous experience.

I'll talk more about what happened to me this week after I get some rest.

當愛變成害

除了父母溺愛孩子的經典例子,其實一個人太愛一個地方,也可以令它受到傷害.

我家現居的這個德州小鎮, 是本州兩所最著名學府之一的所在地, 這大學不但在州內吃香, 在國內國外也有點名氣,尤以工程,農業,工管及獸醫學系等最享負盛名, 在多個全國排名中也名列前矛.

本校非常注重傳統,加上歷史悠久,校園多個角落都藏著段段動人故事.學校另一與別不同之處是學生對學校的歸屬感及忠誠度是罕有地高,舊生每年足球季節從老遠跑回母校觀看球賽,捐助學校各項不同發展與科研項目,更是見怪不怪.但最令我詫異的是畢業後留在校內工作的學生人數之高,以我粗略估計,大概有八成的行政職位,都是由舊生擔當的.

舊生回饋母校,為母校服務,理論上是求之不得,但在我這一年間的冷眼旁觀,卻發現這現象往往是令學校不能達到應有的進步的最大障礙.由於本學是公立大學,所以學生一般來自州內各個城鎮,要知道德州除了Houston, Dallas 及Austin三個大都會,其他地方都是...唔...比較鄉下,而且德州人出名不愛外遊(我們常笑說,Texans認為到Oklahoma己是出國了!),世界觀自是比較狹窄了.

有很多舊生為了留在本鎮及本校工作,很多都不惜自降身價,拿著學士甚至碩士學位的當份文員工作並不是新鮮事.本來循漸進不是問題,問題是這些人從未向外闖,也沒有準備向外闖,於是在毫無鬥心之下愈做愈欠衝勁,愈做愈不成器.而且這些忠心的舊生,一畢業便在同一所機構工作,一做便是十多二十年,從未接觸過其他工作方式及可能性,難免是會給培養成墨守成規的一群.

看著一代又一代的舊生留校工作,然後開口埋口我校怎樣怎樣優勝,,聽著聽著,很有點亂倫的感覺.

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有時候我跟這裡的中國留學生閒談,言語中會感受到他們很不屑美國傳媒對中國的種種評擊,覺得他們是有意眨低中國.每次我都只有婉轉的告訴他們,中國的確有很多地方需要改善,若果我們不多作檢討,最終受苦的還是中國人.

這又讓我想起我工作的這所學校的舊生--過份保護,往往只會適得其反.愛與害,有時的確是一線之差.

Mid Autumn Festival Pictures 中秋剪影

Another cheating post - pictures from a couple of weeks ago on the Mid Autumn Festival. A friend came over & had dinner & a mini celebration with us. This is the first year Genghis really enjoyed playing with his lantern. And, he loves mooncakes like I do! Good boy!

遲來的中秋節相片...