The latest version of my vita till December 7, 2009, in PDF format. I am uploading one version intended for English jobs only.
(The file is completely reformatted. If one compares this PDF file with the version on the next webpage, one can see the differences clearly. I hope this one looks more professional.)
This sketch captures my imagination because somewhere I came upon a writer who says "I only want to describe a woman's poise when she is brushing her hair."
I intend to dedicate this page to my academic pursuits, to tell a life story of triumph over the environment. A message of affirmation shall ring through. From humble but noble places I come, but I do not see in this anything to regret. Rather, living with honor, respect, integrity, and inspired diligence, I find there is much for celebration, at this stage.
To my surprise, I discover that all through my life, I am particularly good at silencing naysayers. Everybody around me considered my dream of going to college absurd. No one had done that in ages! Quietly, I went to a college, formerly called Liaocheng Teachers College nowadays renamed Liaocheng University. At college, nobody, except my best friend Jia Li, believed I could pass the small but elite Foreign Affairs College’s Master’s exam, and for the English major, too. The college has become China Foreign Affairs University.
There was, however, a twist. As a result of that twist, some professors in Tianjin Foreign Studies Institute shall forever remain the most important persons in my entire life, although I have never met them and did not even remember their names. Those professors reminded me to be considerate and compassionate towards others, to care for others when we could. I had always wanted to thank them. I want them to know that they would always be remembered by me, a total stranger.
The professors’ act of compassion is as alive and fresh today as it was fifteen years ago. When I first received my test scores for my Master’s exams, the total, compared with Foreign Affairs College’s threshold score of the previous year for the same major, was rather low. The college carries a reputation, then as well as now, for being extremely selective. Its threshold score for potential interviewees often exceeded the national threshold level by at least 30 or 40 points when one point makes or breaks a student’s dream of pursuing Master’s study. Panicked, I took a long-distance bus, spent ten long hours, and ventured to Beijing to knock on universities’ doors. I also wrote a sincere letter to several colleges and universities outside Beijing which had similar master’s programs explaining my situation. My goal was to appeal for a chance to be interviewed and possibly admitted, for I did not want to find myself high above the national score but without a master’s program to attend.
It is tacit knowledge that Chinese colleges and universities guard their turfs tightly. And they really care about their pride. For a student who did not apply to a particular college, did not take its tests, but dreamt of being included in its interview process, she would be practically considered out of her mind, if not insane. But you never know what life will hand to you. I received a letter from the Department of Graduate Studies of Tianjin Foreign Studies Institute, informing me that I would be included in the interview process, but I had to request all the official paper tests and bring them with me to the interview, together with the official test scores. The professors probably wanted to see the quality of the tests from Foreign Affairs College so as to correlate my performance with candidates taking their tests. On the same date, I also received a letter from China Foreign Affairs College informing me to prepare for my interview in Beijing. What has happened after that is already history.
I kept the Tianjin letter with me for a very very long time, at least for ten years as a reminder to myself how significant it is to be compassionate towards others, to give a second chance when it is within our ability. I had always wanted to write a letter thanking the professors at Tianjin Foreign Studies Institute (now expanded into a University) for their giving me a second chance, though I did not utilize it. That act itself is worthy of celebration. Others remarked that I was lucky to have received two interview letters from two famous colleges on the same day, when so many students braved the tests two or three years, sometimes even giving up their jobs before forces intent on dashing their dreams. I know my good luck depends as much on my diligence and determination as on acts of compassion from total strangers.
So many years have fleeted by. So many things have happened in my life, including both constructive and destructive ones. But I shall never forget the care of the professors of that Tianjin college, of a stranger asking a bus diver to take me back from their detour to my original destination, of my best friend making dishes for me in our dorm on an electric stove (prohibited by the college for fear of fire) while I was taking my master’s exam in the coldest days of January in North China. It is through these small acts that we see the character of those around us. We choose to remember those friends through such everyday acts of compassion.
Of course, life has also handed me the other side of the coin, especially when it is presented with killer smiles. I have met a pack of two-faced peoples who turn out to be Smiling Tigers or Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing. It is the sudden realization that how different human beings can be, how cruel human beings can be towards one another, that makes your brain suddenly go cold and numb. But I have survived. And the message I want to convey is still one of triumph. I bring the message of care and love. I always offer help when it is within my capability. And I expect those who receive my care return similar acts of compassion, not knives and bullets under their smiles.
I have silenced naysayers before in my life. I will continue to silence them. I remember all my true friends. I will continue to remember them.
Blessings to my friends because they make me strong. Blessings to my foes, for they make me stronger.
And I will find my place.
Xianfeng Mou
March 1, 2009
Here comes the Rainbow!
Rainbow, Music, Water, Sky
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For this blog, except some adopted images whose copyright belongs to the original copyright holder, as I have specifically made clear for each image, the copyrights of all the rest of the images, photos, powerpoint, PDF files, WORD files, and the posts belong solely to me.
All Rights reserved. Anybody that wishes to reference or borrow ideas from this blog are required to properly acknowledge their borrowing according to professional conventions that they are comfortable with. For some materials, especially those related to my research and teaching, the user must contact me in writing to inquire about permission to use before the act of borrowing happens.
Xianfeng Mou
Blog started in March 2009
08/26/09
Rules for this blog 留言板守则：
- 非礼勿视；非礼勿言；非礼勿听!
- Do not do unto others unless you want others do onto you. 己所不欲，勿施于人。
- Do onto others what others do onto you!
- Remember individual and cultural differences!
