于2012/12/31，为UNNC海外交换征文作
‘A red mail box, a rain without raincoat, omnipresent cheers…Lots of differences would remind you that you are in Britain. Till today I may still not understand the religious architecture but truly understand when I was sitting in the church and praying, the feeling of inside peace and the magnificenceof silence.’
On 14th Sep,when embedding diversity with an open-mind, I have learned the ‘appreciation ofbeauty’.
‘I joined a sleep out activity to experiencing the homelessness simply because it sounds so unusual that I may not have a chance to do it myself. Then I have my first foreign friend after arriving UK, Ebba. Sheis a warm-hearted Swedish girl and introduced her friend Emmie to me. Then Emmie became my first Chinese tutuee and guess what? She is in China now! ’
On 15th Oct,when trying something different leads me to a series of new stories, I have learned a sorcery called‘curiosity’.
‘My first couchsurfing was visiting Lincoln with Qian.Felix, a 26-year-old French guy was our host. This happened when we were talking about how desperate and struggling we want to fully decorate our rooms with plants, posters and wall-paintings but the only consideration is that we only stay here for one semester. It would be troublesome to reinstate the room in January so we decide not to decorate our dormitory now. The later response with his clear eyes goes: Oh… that could not be a reason. Of course you should.’
On 17th Oct,when I realized sometimes we will never have a perfect moment to be 100% ready,I have learned the‘Bravery to be honesty’.
‘My second couchsurfing was visiting Sheffield with Chen. Our host, Olivia is a local girl who can speak CHINESE, French and play Brazil Capoeira. The weekly exercise on that day happened to be a group of Capoeira fans from Nottingham and one of them was my yoga tutor in campus! Also in that weekend, I came across a concert of Britney Spears. I never thought it before and just like the classic line goes: You will never know what would happen in the next second.’
On 6th Nev,when I decide to hold the fortune of serendipity, I have learned a lifelong treasure called‘hope’.
‘Wilson is a humorous guy I met in my third couchsuringas well as the Christmas trip during Liverpool. Achieved a first-class degreein Hongkong and participated a program exploring the Antarctic before, hestudies transcultral outdoor sports and teaches other climbing now. When we asking about how to become a popular climbing guider, he answered like this with big smile: It is easy, you just encourage them go up, up and up. ’
On 26th Dec,when I first heard about a secret of success is a literalness of directness, Ihave learned the‘depth of Perseverance.’
‘I was impressed by a lot of people who filled with fun and enthusiasm for the things in which they engaged. Each of them has a unique story. I also found something interesting to do with my Chinese identity. Beinga volunteer that promoting Chinese culture in Community Engagement Program gaveme another pair of eyes to understand British education in local primaryschools.’
From the first to the last of all 144 days, when I keep finding who I am along the journey,I have learned a universal path called‘zest’.
‘Maybe something has been changed. When I come back home, I start to stop longing for another place to visit and travel all the time. The endowed gifts have told me how everything happening around you is in the right place at the right time that could be seen as a request to be seen.’
From the last to the first of all 144 days, a time for thanksgiving always stand there,it is where we learned the term‘gratitude’.