2008年6月13日   中国学生代表彭鹏在结业典礼上的演讲

 

Distinguish Guests, Ladies and gentlemen:

 

Jan Kiely once remarked that the first time he came to China, he did not bring an empty head. Neither did I. I remember last September when I first stood outside of the Center, my head was full of excitement and curiosity. But I couldn’t have imagined how wonderful the people I would meet here would be, or how fascinating I would find life here.

The Center has taught me a lot of things — the different ways of getting drunk and different styles of dancing, for example, and how to speak fluently in Engnese and Chinglish… but most importantly, the habit of asking questions.

The first question I want to raise is, how has my experience here been different from what I’d imagined? Before coming here, everyone had different expectations. Sooner or later, we have found things were a little bit different (or totally different) from what we’d thought.

This raises a second question: where do these differences come from?

In the Center, one can experience a fully immersive language environment, take part in real cultural exchange, and study in a school with academic freedom. The Center is a unique combination of the three, and could not do a better job providing an open platform.

The Center provides a perfect venue for cultural exchange. It helps us open our minds and understand other cultures, even though we sometimes disagree. The cafeteria table is where constructive ideas came out, and the self-organized forums are where we have our bullfights. The classrooms are where we really live, and the lectures are where we have to go when we get caught by Jonathan. And, of course, there is the lounge — the best place for us to commit slow-motion suicide. We have all been exposed to different values and modes of thinking, and have become part of a broader world.

The Center respects our individuality and supports our self fulfillment. I am thankful to the Hopkins—Nanjing Center for giving me so many “first times”: my first time going to a bar like Castle, my first time imitating a golden fish, my first time singing in a dialect in front of so many people, my first time performing tai-qi, and my first time interrupting a professor’s lecture to speak my mind in class…. These were inconceivable for a shy boy like me before I came here. On this cross-cultural stage, we express ourselves bravely and unreservedly.

I also should thank the Center because I have met all of you guys and gals, my great friends. The Mid-autumn festival, Halloween, the Soccer and Basketball Competitions, the Christmas Party, New Year’s, Career Day, the Center Olympics, Center Idol, and Dragon Boat (Let’s make the yell: “War Machine!”)…. Each time I have been surprised by my fellow students: the talent, the passion, and the friendship -- those are the things that I find really touching.

We have developed close relationships through those activities that have connected the Chinese and International sides. What’s more, we’ve learned that to take social responsibility for the friendships we build in this cross cultural environment.

We are always doing our best to make the world a better place. The most moving story to me is what happened here after the earthquake in Wenchuan. The donations, sales, and auctions, all of the touching moments brought about through the dedication of everyone. The Center has educated me about how love can be expressed and how social responsibilities are undertaken in spite of national boundaries and cultural differences. Professors, Co-Directors, all of my fellow students, having seen the efforts we’ve all made, I’m proud to be proud of this community.

Please also allow me to say “thank you” from all of us to all of our Center staff. I still remember the guards saying “good night” to me when I stayed up all night studying in a classroom. I still remember the lights in the teachers’ and staffs’ office not going out until the wee hours on weekends. I still remember hearing one of our library staff apologize to her child late in the night for not being able to sing her to sleep. Although most of you may not like the A Yi who always wakes you up early in the morning to tidy your dorm, we really have to say “thank you” for their hard work. Even though you may not like the food in the cafeteria very much and you may not have gone there very often, we have to remember that they never have a holiday on weekends. What they have done may be easily forgotten, but we should not forget it.

In the Center, you do not have time to say you are busy. In the Center, you do not have time to sleep. In the Center, you do not have time to get sick. However, I believe that I am going to get sick after graduation. The special “HNC sickness”, which you can only get here, will be more and more serious as time goes by, as you reflect on those memories from time to time. You may recall our “happy hour” in the lounge, our carefree fish in the pond, and our delicious nights at Harbin dumplings. Perhaps the only way to cure this “sickness” is to come back. The center is always here, waiting for us, and will be proud of us, just like we are proud of it. The Center has changed us, and together we have changed the Center.

Let’s expect a reunion in five, ten or even twenty years. Let’s cherish our memories here, and share them when we will meet again.

Thank you!