Good morning Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to address you here. This is my first time to do such a job. Actually, the center has given me a couple of first times in my life. It is my first time to visit the US where I was exposed to a civilization, which might be manifested by the long queue out of a movie theatre bathroom. Actually I did make up my mind in Hawaii that I would drive in a civilized way when I come back home but eventually gave up. It is also my first time to sleep with a man, Dan. And thanks to Max, this is my first time to practice so many dirty words. Not just that, it is also the first time in my life to find out that classes can be so challenging and interesting; that bosses can be so amiable and easy-going; college life so colorful, professors so relentless, and that air of Nanjing is so dirty compared with Hawaii.
First of all, please allow me to extend our gratitude to the administration on behalf of all the students, especially the Chinese. You have offered us almost every possible means to make our study and life fruitful. You’ve made us feel easy; you’ve made us feel at home and that you are here for us. From you, I can see the function of a limited government, under which people can govern themselves and can do a much better job than being instructed or forced to do so. Indeed, we enjoy freedom and respect here, which are rare for students in China. And I want to thank you particularly for your financial aid in Hawaii that saved us from starving and provided us money for touring the US. And thank you for your kindness for letting those well-paid American professors to teach the Chinese students who paid less than the international students who are taught by poorly-paid Chinese professors. Please allow me to mention two persons in particular. I complained to Robert one day that Milo never smiles at us. Robert told me how dedicated Milo has been for this center in the past decade and he really regards this center as his home. One day I saw him going over every detail of cafeteria menus, and I was touched. I argued several times with Jonathan only to find out that he is direct and honest and always ready to help. I will remember his kind face when we first turn up at the Hawaii airport. To me, that is the attitude of Americans. Thank you!
I would like to thank the faculty too. Professor Liu Houjun taught me how to play ping pang, Professor Ren Donglai bought me some beers, professor Van Holde invited me for snacks and alcohol and Professor Riedle often give me cigarette to kill me. Even though I beat professor Liu Mingquan in ping pang match, he still gave me an A, minus, which is much better than I expected. You’ve arranged all kinds of in-class and extra-curriculum activities that make our study interesting, including the diplomatic simulation in which I proudly acted as Chinese premier but unfortunately Li Peng. It is from you guys that I learned fresh knowledge, had my own thinking triggered and inspired, felt the sense of responsibility as an intellectual, and the necessity to be not just outstanding, but also nice. It is from you guys that I learned that teachers and students could be equal. I can still remember 70-year-old professor Weston, who talked to us with deep emotion in the last class and rushed out of the classroom with tears in his eyes. Thank you professors.
And to my fellow students. Firstly please allow me to thank the banweis for their dedication. Without you, much of our happy hours would not have come true. It is for our benefit that Ben and Jin Shiwei have been selling drinks for the whole semester and that Ed was captured by Hawaiian policemen for illegal trafficking of pumpkins. Actually, you are behind every single happy scene of ours. Thank you! And please allow me to thank those who have made contribution to our community life, for instance, Max has devoted almost a whole semester to
the play, finally making himself a handicapped person.
There are too many things for us to remember and too much memory to cherish. We’ve been studying and living together for almost a year. Together we dance, we play games, we drink, go outing, we stay overnight for the new-year, and for final exams. I can recall Daniel playing violin under the shining moon and Max sitting on a piece of shit when everyone sniffed around. I can also recall the play rehearsal when a number of people including Ben and Hu Mingfu were trying to show JJ what a real prostitute is. I will treasure the moments when we carried out illegal drinking at balcony where our topics always change from constitutional law to sex. Those were the days. We are about to know each other better and become best friends when we now have to part. We’ve come to an end of our happy hours together and I don’t think that many of us would say that wo bu care. I planned to play bridge with Ed, to dine with Daniel, to chat with Zhang Yingming and to spend some time with some lovely girls but I am running out of time. Some of the international students have taken the renjiguanxi class and you might have already known that how important guaxi is in China. Therefore, we got to continue our guanxi in the years to come.
I will cherish the sweetest memory for the past year for the rest of my life and you are always on my mind. Once you come home, I’ll be right here waiting for you.
It is said that every good thing comes to an end. I doubt it. We can make our relationship an ever-lasting melody. The center will have new buildings, new library and new students. It will expand and develop. But we are part of its glorious history. In fact, we are glory itself. Thank you.
