very much first I would like to say will
Hashem moo-hoo demon the other speakers
because I am the only one speaking in my
native language and all of you are
amazing
speaking in second earth languages
fourth I’m so impressed with you and
it’s a real privilege and honor to be
here I think my introduction sounded
like a lot more than who I actually am
but it made me feel very proud so my
here’s my immediate family so I grew up
with two brothers and my parents as you
can tell from the photos I’m a very
short person in my family and once I
asked my mother why am I so short and
she said because she prayed for me that
I would not be tall because she was
always taller than everyone so a little
bit about my family I I think were just
a normal average American family
maybe middle-class I think when I was
growing up we were lower middle class my
mom and dad were both blue-collar
workers
my father worked in the shipyard and my
mom worked in a primary school not as a
teacher but in the office we had a very
secure childhood though my brothers and
I we grew up in a small town called
Archer and its really a beautiful small
town I still consider it my hometown
even though neither of my parents are
from that town and neither of them are
even from that state my brothers
I’m the middle my older brother
graduated from high school and became a
soldier and I graduated from high school
and went to university and I got a
degree in biology because I thought I
wanted to be a doctor in the process of
university I realized there was no way I
could be a doctor so when I graduated I
had a big question of what was I going
to do
my younger brother went to university
also and he graduated with the degree in
Business Administration today my older
brother is he works on the border of
Canada
he works for Customs and Border Patrol
and I think our family is very happy he
works on the border of Canada and not
the border of Mexico Canada is very safe
and he just has to say hello to
Canadians crossing the border to go
grocery shopping my younger brother he
worked as a teacher in Japan and then he
worked as a financial advisor and now
he’s a pastor oh sure so we’ve all gone
different ways both of my brothers live
in Washington state the same state that
my parents live in I still live in China
now something about my parents well
first of all how did I end up in China
for 23 years
it’s a it’s an interesting question my
father he’s from a very small town and
everybody he grew up with stayed in that
small town nobody left nobody went
anywhere and my father grew up married
before and had no chance to go to
university so when he he graduated from
high school and he went to work on the
Great Lakes he worked on ships that
would cross Lake Michigan taking people
and cargo and he realized one day that
he would have no chance of a better life
if he continued doing the same thing and
he decided to go in the army and he had
no idea about that but she signed up for
the army and they sent him to
so my father lived in makeup Thailand
for three years shout-out to hunting so
my father was the first person in his
family that really even left the state
of Michigan and he left the country
completely my mother has a different
story
her father was an engineer and he
decided when my mom was a little girl
that he would he had to move every two
or three years for his job and he
thought I have to move every two or
three years then I want to see the world
so he changed his job and he started
taking jobs overseas so my first
memories of my grandparents were of them
coming home to America from other
countries that they were living in
places like Pakistan Libya Persil I
don’t even know how many different
countries my grandfather worked in so my
mom who grew up partly overseas in
Ecuador and also in Thailand she decided
she wanted to raise her children in one
place and not go anywhere one town one
house one place and she got her wish but
before she even got married she met my
dad in Bangkok Thailand so I am a
product of a relationship that started
in Thailand no we are like brother and
sister
so now for my brothers they have done
the normal things so here’s my whole
family and it’s a lot of people who I
have done nothing to contribute so I’m
on the end my older brother and his wife
have four children my younger brother
and his wife have five children oh I
have never got married because I have
been living and working in China my
whole adult life the story or the
question well why not marry a Chinese
and I say almost 50 years old where can
I find a suitable Chinese man and I also
peggeleh and I say but I like myself yet
so I’m not going to change it oh just
for reference I’m from Washington State
and from a beautiful town near the water
so near the sea it was a beautiful place
to grow up but not many people also
leave my hometown and my brothers are
further away but I’m really far away
there was one Mother’s Day my older
brother was was working overseas my
younger brother was in Japan
and I was in China and my mom cried she
said not even one of my children is in
America and I think I’m a product of
this legacy of my family that living
overseas was no problem and it was an
easy thing to do and people did it so
the fact that I ended up living overseas
is not so strange how I ended up in
China and staying so long that’s that’s
another story that I don’t even know if
I can explain except to say I have loved
being a teacher in China for some of the
reasons that young now sure was talking
about my students listen to me like like
I’m a god and if I say oh this is true
they say okay
and I think no you shouldn’t do that but
so so I have had great joy in teaching
in China when I first started teaching
in Guangzhou and yeah I had the chance
to come overseas to teach English and I
came I knew nothing about China
I knew of Chairman Mao
and that’s about it and when I got off the airplane I could say just yet and I
the airplane I could say just yet and I could say me how and even I thought this
could say me how and even I thought this is not enough I knew it was not enough
is not enough I knew it was not enough my first year in Guangzhou I had one of
my first year in Guangzhou I had one of the the best setups I taught at a small
the the best setups I taught at a small school and I was the only foreign
school and I was the only foreign teacher which was a little bit lonely
teacher which was a little bit lonely but I had a friend who was a foreign
but I had a friend who was a foreign teacher at Guangzhou University and she
teacher at Guangzhou University and she she had lived in China for four years
she had lived in China for four years and she spoke Chinese and for anyone who
and she spoke Chinese and for anyone who is going to live overseas it’s so
is going to live overseas it’s so important to have a cultural informant
important to have a cultural informant somebody who can tell you about the
somebody who can tell you about the culture and explain things to you about
culture and explain things to you about the culture without bats you will you
the culture without bats you will you will see
will see and you will make judgments based on
and you will make judgments based on your own experience without
your own experience without understanding really what’s happening
understanding really what’s happening and my friend joy she helps me so much
and my friend joy she helps me so much in my first year so she was a great
in my first year so she was a great influence and a great help
influence and a great help ironically I had another influence that
ironically I had another influence that also helps to make that first year good
also helps to make that first year good but she was another American teacher who
but she was another American teacher who who hated living in China and she would
who hated living in China and she would say a lot of very negative things about
say a lot of very negative things about China and I felt in my heart that it was
China and I felt in my heart that it was wrong the things that she was saying and
wrong the things that she was saying and so when she would say Oh China
so when she would say Oh China da-da-da-da-da it’s better in America I
da-da-da-da-da it’s better in America I would say I love China every time
would say I love China every time because and I could understand some of
because and I could understand some of her frustration she had had some hard
her frustration she had had some hard times in China well when she would say
times in China well when she would say negative things about China has been I
negative things about China has been I would say overly positive things about
would say overly positive things about China and that also ended up being a
China and that also ended up being a really good influence on my ear and how
really good influence on my ear and how I lived because often I chose to look
I lived because often I chose to look for the positive because she was looking
for the positive because she was looking for the negative and most people his hit
for the negative and most people his hit a point in their stay in China where
a point in their stay in China where they they start to feel the negative
they they start to feel the negative things more and I missed
things more and I missed because I was working so hard on being
because I was working so hard on being positive and so those are two things
positive and so those are two things that were a good influence on me my
that were a good influence on me my first year but I realized after three
first year but I realized after three years in Guangzhou that I still could
years in Guangzhou that I still could not speak Chinese I could speak well the
not speak Chinese I could speak well the first sentence I learned in Chinese was
first sentence I learned in Chinese was one’s a yawa facet op not very useful in
one’s a yawa facet op not very useful in everyday conversation and then I also
everyday conversation and then I also learned some Cantonese so one of the
learned some Cantonese so one of the things I learned was going if actually
things I learned was going if actually they seed alloy like you know
they seed alloy like you know I’m flying
I’m flying give me simple Bell and I also learned
give me simple Bell and I also learned quickly that’s good I so that I could
quickly that’s good I so that I could say that about people’s children and
say that about people’s children and have some positive interaction but my
have some positive interaction but my Chinese was non-existent so at that
Chinese was non-existent so at that point I decided I if I was going to stay
point I decided I if I was going to stay in China I had to study Chinese and that
in China I had to study Chinese and that I would call that the third important
I would call that the third important thing in what has made my experience in
thing in what has made my experience in China good learning the language is so
China good learning the language is so important even the inexperienced I
important even the inexperienced I recognized that without language you’re
recognized that without language you’re lost
lost and also by learning the language of
and also by learning the language of local people you are showing respect for
local people you are showing respect for the culture and you are showing that you
the culture and you are showing that you want to learn and they care about what
want to learn and they care about what people think and so I studied Chinese
people think and so I studied Chinese and my Chinese got better I do have a
and my Chinese got better I do have a couple of funny stories about learning
couple of funny stories about learning Chinese everybody who’s studied a
Chinese everybody who’s studied a foreign language knows that inevitably
foreign language knows that inevitably you make big mistakes and I was no
you make big mistakes and I was no different
different only my Chinese should be better now but
only my Chinese should be better now but I’m a little lazy so my Chinese is not
I’m a little lazy so my Chinese is not better so I make more mistakes than I
better so I make more mistakes than I used to but one day I went to the bus
used to but one day I went to the bus station a girl had come to visit and I
station a girl had come to visit and I was hurt a Leo and I lived in Hunan and
was hurt a Leo and I lived in Hunan and I didn’t know anything about who none
I didn’t know anything about who none but I thought I should take her to Xiao
but I thought I should take her to Xiao Xiang Chairman Mao’s hometown a good
Xiang Chairman Mao’s hometown a good place to do this and but I didn’t really
place to do this and but I didn’t really know how to get there except we should
know how to get there except we should go to the bus station so I went to the
go to the bus station so I went to the bus station and I said me out you shall
bus station and I said me out you shall shine and and I thought someone will
shine and and I thought someone will point to a bus but everyone asked me a
point to a bus but everyone asked me a question and it sounded like they were
question and it sounded like they were saying do you want to go someplace else
saying do you want to go someplace else I was like no I want to go to shell shun
I was like no I want to go to shell shun and that happened over and over and over
and that happened over and over and over I so would say wait outside and they
I so would say wait outside and they would say Meowth you a different place
would say Meowth you a different place and I would say no I want to go too
and I would say no I want to go too shall shine and finally one lady she
shall shine and finally one lady she just looked at me and then she pointed
just looked at me and then she pointed at a bus so we went and got on the bus I
at a bus so we went and got on the bus I had a lovely time in shall shine
had a lovely time in shall shine the middle of the next week I realized
the middle of the next week I realized what they had been saying to me they
what they had been saying to me they have been saying be out Zulu youma I was
have been saying be out Zulu youma I was like no we all Julie oh boy yahoo shall
like no we all Julie oh boy yahoo shall shine so the middle of the next week I
shine so the middle of the next week I just thought oh such a big mistake
just thought oh such a big mistake and all those people know oh yeah Chu Lu
and all those people know oh yeah Chu Lu yo and I never went back to that bus
yo and I never went back to that bus station again to show my face there so
station again to show my face there so language mistakes are one thing
language mistakes are one thing cultural mistakes are also inevitable
cultural mistakes are also inevitable and often more painful and just recently
and often more painful and just recently I made a stupid mistake on the train and
I made a stupid mistake on the train and there was a I was going to hyung hyung
there was a I was going to hyung hyung to visit some teachers and have meetings
to visit some teachers and have meetings with them and there was a lady and her
with them and there was a lady and her son I was talking to them and they were
son I was talking to them and they were going to come shun and she after we were
going to come shun and she after we were talking she said you should help to have
talking she said you should help to have a shine if you come look for us and I’m
a shine if you come look for us and I’m American I’m very direct so I felt like
American I’m very direct so I felt like that was a real invitation like you
that was a real invitation like you should come to hug shot and look for us
should come to hug shot and look for us and
and to my mind it’s like but I can’t and so
to my mind it’s like but I can’t and so I set her oh I’m sorry I’m so busy I
I set her oh I’m sorry I’m so busy I can’t go to funshine which changed the
can’t go to funshine which changed the conversation she was just being polite
conversation she was just being polite but by me saying no I can’t it raised me
but by me saying no I can’t it raised me and it lowered her and maybe half an
and it lowered her and maybe half an hour later I just thought oh that was
hour later I just thought oh that was the wrong answer I should have just said
the wrong answer I should have just said oh if I have a chance I will so I’m a
oh if I have a chance I will so I’m a little ashamed to say even after 23
little ashamed to say even after 23 years in China I still make foolish
years in China I still make foolish mistakes so I think one of the most
mistakes so I think one of the most important things and something that
important things and something that smooths over so many mistakes is to be
smooths over so many mistakes is to be humble and to be polite and to be a
humble and to be polite and to be a learner I think those three things can
learner I think those three things can help to make you a successful person
help to make you a successful person living in a different culture and soon
living in a different culture and soon I’m going home
I’m going home my parents are are elderly you can tell
my parents are are elderly you can tell from the photo and they really need my
from the photo and they really need my help
help and you saw my brother’s children who’s
and you saw my brother’s children who’s much easier for me to help my parents
much easier for me to help my parents that my brothers so I will go home and
that my brothers so I will go home and I’m leaving it’s 23 years of experience
I’m leaving it’s 23 years of experience here in China and my hope is that I will
here in China and my hope is that I will be kind like my Chinese neighbors and my
be kind like my Chinese neighbors and my Chinese colleagues my
Chinese colleagues my students have been to me and are
students have been to me and are constantly kindnesses outsiders and I
constantly kindnesses outsiders and I hope I will be kinds like that and that
hope I will be kinds like that and that I will be a good example to those around
I will be a good example to those around me of how we should treat outsiders and
me of how we should treat outsiders and it will be a little bit different
it will be a little bit different because I won’t be allow why anymore I
because I won’t be allow why anymore I will be the Labe and I’m really hoping
will be the Labe and I’m really hoping that I I will be able to have a positive
that I I will be able to have a positive influence there and one good thing about
influence there and one good thing about Chinese culture that has helped me in
Chinese culture that has helped me in this transition if I told American
this transition if I told American friends oh I’m going home I’m stopping
friends oh I’m going home I’m stopping this to go home and take care of my
this to go home and take care of my parents they would say like why like
parents they would say like why like your parents can take care of themselves
your parents can take care of themselves but when I tell my Chinese friends I’m
but when I tell my Chinese friends I’m going home to take care of my parents
going home to take care of my parents they say that is the right thing to do
they say that is the right thing to do and that’s what I know in my heart is
and that’s what I know in my heart is that it’s the right thing to do but
that it’s the right thing to do but leaving China
Hashem moo-hoo demon the other speakers
because I am the only one speaking in my
native language and all of you are
amazing
speaking in second earth languages
fourth I’m so impressed with you and
it’s a real privilege and honor to be
here I think my introduction sounded
like a lot more than who I actually am
but it made me feel very proud so my
here’s my immediate family so I grew up
with two brothers and my parents as you
can tell from the photos I’m a very
short person in my family and once I
asked my mother why am I so short and
she said because she prayed for me that
I would not be tall because she was
always taller than everyone so a little
bit about my family I I think were just
a normal average American family
maybe middle-class I think when I was
growing up we were lower middle class my
mom and dad were both blue-collar
workers
my father worked in the shipyard and my
mom worked in a primary school not as a
teacher but in the office we had a very
secure childhood though my brothers and
I we grew up in a small town called
Archer and its really a beautiful small
town I still consider it my hometown
even though neither of my parents are
from that town and neither of them are
even from that state my brothers
I’m the middle my older brother
graduated from high school and became a
soldier and I graduated from high school
and went to university and I got a
degree in biology because I thought I
wanted to be a doctor in the process of
university I realized there was no way I
could be a doctor so when I graduated I
had a big question of what was I going
to do
my younger brother went to university
also and he graduated with the degree in
Business Administration today my older
brother is he works on the border of
Canada
he works for Customs and Border Patrol
and I think our family is very happy he
works on the border of Canada and not
the border of Mexico Canada is very safe
and he just has to say hello to
Canadians crossing the border to go
grocery shopping my younger brother he
worked as a teacher in Japan and then he
worked as a financial advisor and now
he’s a pastor oh sure so we’ve all gone
different ways both of my brothers live
in Washington state the same state that
my parents live in I still live in China
now something about my parents well
first of all how did I end up in China
for 23 years
it’s a it’s an interesting question my
father he’s from a very small town and
everybody he grew up with stayed in that
small town nobody left nobody went
anywhere and my father grew up married
before and had no chance to go to
university so when he he graduated from
high school and he went to work on the
Great Lakes he worked on ships that
would cross Lake Michigan taking people
and cargo and he realized one day that
he would have no chance of a better life
if he continued doing the same thing and
he decided to go in the army and he had
no idea about that but she signed up for
the army and they sent him to
so my father lived in makeup Thailand
for three years shout-out to hunting so
my father was the first person in his
family that really even left the state
of Michigan and he left the country
completely my mother has a different
story
her father was an engineer and he
decided when my mom was a little girl
that he would he had to move every two
or three years for his job and he
thought I have to move every two or
three years then I want to see the world
so he changed his job and he started
taking jobs overseas so my first
memories of my grandparents were of them
coming home to America from other
countries that they were living in
places like Pakistan Libya Persil I
don’t even know how many different
countries my grandfather worked in so my
mom who grew up partly overseas in
Ecuador and also in Thailand she decided
she wanted to raise her children in one
place and not go anywhere one town one
house one place and she got her wish but
before she even got married she met my
dad in Bangkok Thailand so I am a
product of a relationship that started
in Thailand no we are like brother and
sister
so now for my brothers they have done
the normal things so here’s my whole
family and it’s a lot of people who I
have done nothing to contribute so I’m
on the end my older brother and his wife
have four children my younger brother
and his wife have five children oh I
have never got married because I have
been living and working in China my
whole adult life the story or the
question well why not marry a Chinese
and I say almost 50 years old where can
I find a suitable Chinese man and I also
peggeleh and I say but I like myself yet
so I’m not going to change it oh just
for reference I’m from Washington State
and from a beautiful town near the water
so near the sea it was a beautiful place
to grow up but not many people also
leave my hometown and my brothers are
further away but I’m really far away
there was one Mother’s Day my older
brother was was working overseas my
younger brother was in Japan
and I was in China and my mom cried she
said not even one of my children is in
America and I think I’m a product of
this legacy of my family that living
overseas was no problem and it was an
easy thing to do and people did it so
the fact that I ended up living overseas
is not so strange how I ended up in
China and staying so long that’s that’s
another story that I don’t even know if
I can explain except to say I have loved
being a teacher in China for some of the
reasons that young now sure was talking
about my students listen to me like like
I’m a god and if I say oh this is true
they say okay
and I think no you shouldn’t do that but
so so I have had great joy in teaching
in China when I first started teaching
in Guangzhou and yeah I had the chance
to come overseas to teach English and I
came I knew nothing about China
I knew of Chairman Mao
and that’s about it and when I got off the airplane I could say just yet and I
the airplane I could say just yet and I could say me how and even I thought this
could say me how and even I thought this is not enough I knew it was not enough
is not enough I knew it was not enough my first year in Guangzhou I had one of
my first year in Guangzhou I had one of the the best setups I taught at a small
the the best setups I taught at a small school and I was the only foreign
school and I was the only foreign teacher which was a little bit lonely
teacher which was a little bit lonely but I had a friend who was a foreign
but I had a friend who was a foreign teacher at Guangzhou University and she
teacher at Guangzhou University and she she had lived in China for four years
she had lived in China for four years and she spoke Chinese and for anyone who
and she spoke Chinese and for anyone who is going to live overseas it’s so
is going to live overseas it’s so important to have a cultural informant
important to have a cultural informant somebody who can tell you about the
somebody who can tell you about the culture and explain things to you about
culture and explain things to you about the culture without bats you will you
the culture without bats you will you will see
will see and you will make judgments based on
and you will make judgments based on your own experience without
your own experience without understanding really what’s happening
understanding really what’s happening and my friend joy she helps me so much
and my friend joy she helps me so much in my first year so she was a great
in my first year so she was a great influence and a great help
influence and a great help ironically I had another influence that
ironically I had another influence that also helps to make that first year good
also helps to make that first year good but she was another American teacher who
but she was another American teacher who who hated living in China and she would
who hated living in China and she would say a lot of very negative things about
say a lot of very negative things about China and I felt in my heart that it was
China and I felt in my heart that it was wrong the things that she was saying and
wrong the things that she was saying and so when she would say Oh China
so when she would say Oh China da-da-da-da-da it’s better in America I
da-da-da-da-da it’s better in America I would say I love China every time
would say I love China every time because and I could understand some of
because and I could understand some of her frustration she had had some hard
her frustration she had had some hard times in China well when she would say
times in China well when she would say negative things about China has been I
negative things about China has been I would say overly positive things about
would say overly positive things about China and that also ended up being a
China and that also ended up being a really good influence on my ear and how
really good influence on my ear and how I lived because often I chose to look
I lived because often I chose to look for the positive because she was looking
for the positive because she was looking for the negative and most people his hit
for the negative and most people his hit a point in their stay in China where
a point in their stay in China where they they start to feel the negative
they they start to feel the negative things more and I missed
things more and I missed because I was working so hard on being
because I was working so hard on being positive and so those are two things
positive and so those are two things that were a good influence on me my
that were a good influence on me my first year but I realized after three
first year but I realized after three years in Guangzhou that I still could
years in Guangzhou that I still could not speak Chinese I could speak well the
not speak Chinese I could speak well the first sentence I learned in Chinese was
first sentence I learned in Chinese was one’s a yawa facet op not very useful in
one’s a yawa facet op not very useful in everyday conversation and then I also
everyday conversation and then I also learned some Cantonese so one of the
learned some Cantonese so one of the things I learned was going if actually
things I learned was going if actually they seed alloy like you know
they seed alloy like you know I’m flying
I’m flying give me simple Bell and I also learned
give me simple Bell and I also learned quickly that’s good I so that I could
quickly that’s good I so that I could say that about people’s children and
say that about people’s children and have some positive interaction but my
have some positive interaction but my Chinese was non-existent so at that
Chinese was non-existent so at that point I decided I if I was going to stay
point I decided I if I was going to stay in China I had to study Chinese and that
in China I had to study Chinese and that I would call that the third important
I would call that the third important thing in what has made my experience in
thing in what has made my experience in China good learning the language is so
China good learning the language is so important even the inexperienced I
important even the inexperienced I recognized that without language you’re
recognized that without language you’re lost
lost and also by learning the language of
and also by learning the language of local people you are showing respect for
local people you are showing respect for the culture and you are showing that you
the culture and you are showing that you want to learn and they care about what
want to learn and they care about what people think and so I studied Chinese
people think and so I studied Chinese and my Chinese got better I do have a
and my Chinese got better I do have a couple of funny stories about learning
couple of funny stories about learning Chinese everybody who’s studied a
Chinese everybody who’s studied a foreign language knows that inevitably
foreign language knows that inevitably you make big mistakes and I was no
you make big mistakes and I was no different
different only my Chinese should be better now but
only my Chinese should be better now but I’m a little lazy so my Chinese is not
I’m a little lazy so my Chinese is not better so I make more mistakes than I
better so I make more mistakes than I used to but one day I went to the bus
used to but one day I went to the bus station a girl had come to visit and I
station a girl had come to visit and I was hurt a Leo and I lived in Hunan and
was hurt a Leo and I lived in Hunan and I didn’t know anything about who none
I didn’t know anything about who none but I thought I should take her to Xiao
but I thought I should take her to Xiao Xiang Chairman Mao’s hometown a good
Xiang Chairman Mao’s hometown a good place to do this and but I didn’t really
place to do this and but I didn’t really know how to get there except we should
know how to get there except we should go to the bus station so I went to the
go to the bus station so I went to the bus station and I said me out you shall
bus station and I said me out you shall shine and and I thought someone will
shine and and I thought someone will point to a bus but everyone asked me a
point to a bus but everyone asked me a question and it sounded like they were
question and it sounded like they were saying do you want to go someplace else
saying do you want to go someplace else I was like no I want to go to shell shun
I was like no I want to go to shell shun and that happened over and over and over
and that happened over and over and over I so would say wait outside and they
I so would say wait outside and they would say Meowth you a different place
would say Meowth you a different place and I would say no I want to go too
and I would say no I want to go too shall shine and finally one lady she
shall shine and finally one lady she just looked at me and then she pointed
just looked at me and then she pointed at a bus so we went and got on the bus I
at a bus so we went and got on the bus I had a lovely time in shall shine
had a lovely time in shall shine the middle of the next week I realized
the middle of the next week I realized what they had been saying to me they
what they had been saying to me they have been saying be out Zulu youma I was
have been saying be out Zulu youma I was like no we all Julie oh boy yahoo shall
like no we all Julie oh boy yahoo shall shine so the middle of the next week I
shine so the middle of the next week I just thought oh such a big mistake
just thought oh such a big mistake and all those people know oh yeah Chu Lu
and all those people know oh yeah Chu Lu yo and I never went back to that bus
yo and I never went back to that bus station again to show my face there so
station again to show my face there so language mistakes are one thing
language mistakes are one thing cultural mistakes are also inevitable
cultural mistakes are also inevitable and often more painful and just recently
and often more painful and just recently I made a stupid mistake on the train and
I made a stupid mistake on the train and there was a I was going to hyung hyung
there was a I was going to hyung hyung to visit some teachers and have meetings
to visit some teachers and have meetings with them and there was a lady and her
with them and there was a lady and her son I was talking to them and they were
son I was talking to them and they were going to come shun and she after we were
going to come shun and she after we were talking she said you should help to have
talking she said you should help to have a shine if you come look for us and I’m
a shine if you come look for us and I’m American I’m very direct so I felt like
American I’m very direct so I felt like that was a real invitation like you
that was a real invitation like you should come to hug shot and look for us
should come to hug shot and look for us and
and to my mind it’s like but I can’t and so
to my mind it’s like but I can’t and so I set her oh I’m sorry I’m so busy I
I set her oh I’m sorry I’m so busy I can’t go to funshine which changed the
can’t go to funshine which changed the conversation she was just being polite
conversation she was just being polite but by me saying no I can’t it raised me
but by me saying no I can’t it raised me and it lowered her and maybe half an
and it lowered her and maybe half an hour later I just thought oh that was
hour later I just thought oh that was the wrong answer I should have just said
the wrong answer I should have just said oh if I have a chance I will so I’m a
oh if I have a chance I will so I’m a little ashamed to say even after 23
little ashamed to say even after 23 years in China I still make foolish
years in China I still make foolish mistakes so I think one of the most
mistakes so I think one of the most important things and something that
important things and something that smooths over so many mistakes is to be
smooths over so many mistakes is to be humble and to be polite and to be a
humble and to be polite and to be a learner I think those three things can
learner I think those three things can help to make you a successful person
help to make you a successful person living in a different culture and soon
living in a different culture and soon I’m going home
I’m going home my parents are are elderly you can tell
my parents are are elderly you can tell from the photo and they really need my
from the photo and they really need my help
help and you saw my brother’s children who’s
and you saw my brother’s children who’s much easier for me to help my parents
much easier for me to help my parents that my brothers so I will go home and
that my brothers so I will go home and I’m leaving it’s 23 years of experience
I’m leaving it’s 23 years of experience here in China and my hope is that I will
here in China and my hope is that I will be kind like my Chinese neighbors and my
be kind like my Chinese neighbors and my Chinese colleagues my
Chinese colleagues my students have been to me and are
students have been to me and are constantly kindnesses outsiders and I
constantly kindnesses outsiders and I hope I will be kinds like that and that
hope I will be kinds like that and that I will be a good example to those around
I will be a good example to those around me of how we should treat outsiders and
me of how we should treat outsiders and it will be a little bit different
it will be a little bit different because I won’t be allow why anymore I
because I won’t be allow why anymore I will be the Labe and I’m really hoping
will be the Labe and I’m really hoping that I I will be able to have a positive
that I I will be able to have a positive influence there and one good thing about
influence there and one good thing about Chinese culture that has helped me in
Chinese culture that has helped me in this transition if I told American
this transition if I told American friends oh I’m going home I’m stopping
friends oh I’m going home I’m stopping this to go home and take care of my
this to go home and take care of my parents they would say like why like
parents they would say like why like your parents can take care of themselves
your parents can take care of themselves but when I tell my Chinese friends I’m
but when I tell my Chinese friends I’m going home to take care of my parents
going home to take care of my parents they say that is the right thing to do
they say that is the right thing to do and that’s what I know in my heart is
and that’s what I know in my heart is that it’s the right thing to do but
that it’s the right thing to do but leaving China
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