5千英里驱车，4颗勇敢的心，3个多星期，2个文化的冲击，1个横穿美国的梦想

感谢

坐在西北航空1226航班上，听者Jack Johnson的”Never Know”—you never know, you never know, you never know…这夏威夷冲浪的旋律让我思绪万千。昨天晚上从夏威夷起飞，飞了16个小时，转了2次飞机，睡了4个多小时，想着还有1个小时就到达的sweet home Durham，心里特别兴奋。兴奋并不是因为这次26天的旅程平淡无奇，恰恰相反，这是我从小到大最刺激，有趣，开心的旅程。在上海交通大学毕业后的几年当中，我游历了很多地方--在以色列待过一个多月，顶着炮火穿过加沙地带，钻过金字塔，在印度和巴基斯坦参观皇宫，登过欧洲之巅勃朗峰，在东南亚帆板冲浪，在大洋洲的帆船上晒太阳。但这次旅行却是我人生最宝贵的一个旅行。5千英里驱车，4颗勇敢的心，3个多星期，2个文化的冲击，1个横穿美国的梦想。这是一次深刻的美国文化之旅，让我在嘈杂当中坚信了世界很美好的信心，让我懂得只要有一个敞开的心世界就是我的。

当然，我能有这么一个刺激的旅程，全都多亏了我的三位旅伴。没有他们，我知道所有的捧腹大笑都不可能，不可能在一天能开1100英里，不可能在新奥尔良的大街上疯狂的跳舞，不可能在干枯的火山熔岩上行走，不可能从10米多的悬崖上纵身跃入海中。。。

Echo Yang – 曾经的IBM Global Sourcing经理，目前Duke MBA一年级学生。没有Echo，我们就不会有那么多陌生人家住宿流浪的经历，不会有那么完美的圣诞节，不会在深山老林里面的牧场骑马。谢谢你让我们的旅程如此精彩。

Eva Huang – 曾经Johnson & Johnson的市场经理，目前Duke MBA一年级学生。Eva让我们的旅程充满了快乐。在我们开车的时候，她利用了能说的强项，牺牲睡觉陪我们聊天，这不仅保证我们能安全到达，更让我们见识到了一个J&J牛人。

Joe Shen – 曾经安永的资深审计员，目前Duke MBA二年级学生，2008年暑假在Goldman Sachs做实习Banker。Joe丰富的旅游经验，加上百折不挠的banker精神让我们翻雪山过草地，长征5000英里，并使我们的旅程不断有各种惊喜。

当然，还要感谢Couchsurfing网站，以及上面那些无私的朋友们—Max, Megan, Emily, Robert。感谢Echo的朋友Lawrence，Duke校友Derek, 在夏威夷的叔叔和阿姨们。没有你们的帮助和信息分享，我们的旅程仅会像平静的死水一样毫无生机。

最后，在Internet Explorer中输入http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=710B+constitution+drive,+durham,+nc&daddr=marietta,+ga+to:new+orleans,+la+to:dallas,+tx+to:denton,+tx+to:Flagstaff,+az+to:carson+city,+nv+to:mitchell,+or+to:seattle,+wa+to:honolulu,+hi&hl=zh-CN&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=38.754083,-100.986328&sspn=33.723358,78.75&ie=UTF8&ll=33.72434,-103.007812&spn=69.475715,157.5&z=3&layer=c&pw=2，就能看到我们的具体行程。

目录

旅行之最

上篇 – 开车4982英里的西游记

Day 1 – 2008年12月18日 – 西游记开行

Day 2 – 2008年12月19日 – 新奥尔良的晨跑

Day 3 – 2008年12月20日 – French Quarter的疯狂之夜

Day 4 – 2008年12月21日 – 达拉斯的高度

Day 5 – 2008年12月22日 – 最美味的中餐

Day 6 – 2008年12月23日 – 过山车的疯狂

Day 7 – 2008年12月24日 – 圣诞节的惊喜

Day 8 – 2008年12月25日 – “在路上”+“后天”来了

Day 9 – 2008年12月26日 – Lake Tahoe的温度

Day 10 – 2008年12月27日 – Outlet??! Must be kidding!

Day 11 – 2008年12月28日 – 不就是摔吗？怕什么？！

Day 12 – 2008年12月29日 – 摔得怕了。。。

Day 13 – 2008年12月30日 – 牛粪上的驰骋

Day 14 – 2008年12月31日 – 西雅图的不眠夜

下篇 – 夏威夷阳光之旅

Day 15 – 2009年1月1日 – Aloha! 从雪山到海滩

Day 16 – 2009年1月2日 – 跨越火山的勇气

Day 17 – 2009年1月3日 – 越Camp越“美丽”

Day 18 – 2009年1月4日 – 瀑布之旅

Day 19 – 2009年1月5日 – FY，好运！

Day 20 – 2009年1月6日 – 冲浪？还是被浪冲？

Day 21 – 2009年1月7日 – 初探摩门教

Day 22 – 2009年1月8日 – 我的马拉松梦想

Day 23 – 2009年1月9日 – 睡吧，我是猪，我怕谁？！

Day 24 – 2009年1月10日 – 泥人的开始

Day 25 – 2009年1月11日 – 世界上最美海滩旁的烧烤

Day 26 – 2009年1月12日 – 最后的钓螃蟹

下一站？？欧洲？阿拉斯加？南美？每个人都有自己的梦想等着去实现

What's up, tigers? So I am finally back to sweet home Durham last night!

 

The summer is awesome! I had a great time with my friends at Shanghai, awesome McK projects in Beijing, relaxing vacation in Bali Indonesia, exciting and fun traveling around China... I went to three new countries -- Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia, and one additional province in China -- Shanxi. This does not help me cross out any items in my “Things to Do before 30” list, but it is quite something for me.

 

The traveling is perfect, but also made me tired like a dog. I finished the traveling on Aug 30 and then took a plane to fly here. When I reached home last night, I could barely speak. This morning, thanks to jetlag, I woke up at 6:00. Went to Wilson gym, but God Damn Sunday, it does not open that early. I then drove to Duke Forest to jog. Dude, it is awesome to back to the forest! I recalled what Richard said last night “Second year is only 8 months, I will live every day to the fullest.” Yep, that’s the spirit. So I ran faster…faster…and faster…and…I had the perfect honey, sausage, and egg McGriddle as breakfast. Life definitely takes better with coffee and McGriddle.

 

Fuqua just had the new building, I wanna to check out today. And? Fix my car, practice/play “Summer of 69’”, unpack, laundry, dinner, Friends/Scrubs/Supernatural, wine/beer… Life keeps moving…

 

Some photos to share for the summer.

                           

                             

Start... to use shortcuts!   30 Jul 2008

Craig and I have making wine for months. Finally, we bottled them up yesterday. And today, I proudly present the CNP wine - 100% home made. Definitely the best wine in the world. Below is a logo I deisnged for the wine. In total, we made 24 bottles (if does not count those stupid milk containers...). If you want to get one, price is $1M. Credit card and major check accepted. Please call 800-Best-Wine to make a reservation. Firends discount 10%. You do the math.

 

Some update from me. MBA is half way done, which means that I am a step closer back to work. Shit. School life is the best. Let's rock and roll!!! Party, drinking, "studying", and party again... can't wait to get back school this September.

 

So excited that I am heading to Atlantic City tomorrow. Yes, dude, the Jimmy Eat World concert. It is the best!!! The following days staying with Feng and Yan in Boston will also be exciting. Scott and Sandy will also take me to some nice place to eat. After that, hum..., I am heading back to Guangzhou.

 

Peace out!

 

CNP Logo -- 4/30/2008

 

 

Now, we got lots of wine to drink.... forget about beer for some time...

In a Latin party, 4-5 Americans and I became minority (I always is...). We stood at the corner, eating pizza and enjoying the food Emma and Pablo made. Finally, topic reached to work.
"I would like to work in States for a couple years." I said.
"Sure, that's best for you" said Scott.
"And if long enough, you will become a citizen..." Sandy (Scott's wife, she cooks the best!!!!!)
"Nah.... I want to go back to China."
"Come on Nick, stay here, stay in the best country of the world." Scott.
"If you go back, whon Scott is going to hang out with..." Sandy
(Natasha is still tasting the wine from Argentina. She is the wine club president now!)
"But my root is in China, I am from the country. My everything is there... my cluture, my family, my language, my friends, my everything..." I countinued "I grew up there, you know..."
"Then grow old in States then :-p" humored Sandy
"Haha..." everybody laughed

 

I have been to this country for nearly 9 months. The experience in this wonderland is so exciting. I had learned far more than I could imagine, made some great friends, explored more and more about the culture, and had unbelievable fun.

 

It is good! When I was still in college, I said I want to go to US. The reason is not only from Hollywood movies and all the stories I heard about USA, but also because that some of my relatives have lived in the States for doezes of years. They chose to stay in the country. In my family, everybody think it is a corret way for me to follow. And I happlily accepted it.

 

I made a huge jump. Far enough that get me here and began my adventure. Just like what I said, everything is great! But sometimes, when the topic of future coming into discussion, I always fall into some thinking.

 

I hope I am smart enough to figure it out and brave enough to say something encouraing and inspiring. But it would not be me then....

 

Anyway, I am mumbling again, even without drinking... But now, at this moment, after gym, after protein milk shake, it is the best time to have a Sam Adams! It is truly the best beer in the world!

 

 

 

今天在金峰的带领下去MIT和HBS参观了。来读MBA这么久，终于参观了了商学院的巨头HBS。Harvard果然是不同。各方面的设施都好的无与伦比。整体的格调也非常classic。不过，我还是想回到Duke那寂静的森林。那是一块神奇的地方，嘿嘿。

 

这两天在Boston都是在初中，高中，和大学同学的陪伴下游玩。有operation的作业和Bain的面试，不能尽兴，但是和老朋友聚会的感觉还是非常好的。谢谢两位了！在纽约也多亏了YP！Congratulations on your offer! I know the note will bring you luck, right?! It is a pitty you are not going back to China for summer. But enjoy your banker time at NY!

 

Also, so many Dukies got great offers these days! Congratulations to everybody! For those who are still looking for jobs, don't worry. Trust me, the last is always the best. Hold on and welcome good news!

 

Last, I also got my dream offer and am going back to Shanghai for summer intern this year. I look forward to meeting all friends! See you guys!!!

 

Nick

Long time no blogging. There are really too many things to write. But human is an interesting animal -- when life is stuffed with excitement, no motivation to record them, and then when time pass, some best parts just fade away. Anyway, the past five months are really wonderful and exciting. Here are some photos to record those pieces, not that much, but good enough to share. Enjoy.

                   

 

 

                               

 

                                            

 

                                       

 

                                                                                

Just writing to let my friends know I have arrived at Duke safely.

 

It has only been two days, but to me, it seems like a long time -- the busy schedule of settling down really keep me from relaxing for even a minute. I bet it will be more tough when school starts. Don't get me wrong, the life here is very excited. I live in a condo surrounded by a forest. There are two floors and I live on the first one, while Craig and Richard picked up the second level. The condo is so nice and I definitely think Craig made the right decision to buy it.

 

Yesterday, Richard, Debbie, and I finnaly rented a car. It is simply impossible to live here without a car. It's Ford Focus, the model I like. But soon we wre struggeling in finding our way, since the road here is not as easy as imagined before. I will try to get a second-hand one early next week.

 

Well, it is 7am in the morning. I woke up early these few days. Guess some more days are needed for the jet lag.

 

I apologize for not beeing to write back to the emails you sent. There will be more time for internet when everything is all right.

OK, that's pretty much about my situation right now. Gonna to have another busy day. And just like what every day used to be years ago, it will be another one for me to fight for!

 

Nick

Dan Millman Interview

by Simon Hunt
for Spiritual Endeavors

Spiritual Endeavors Dan, you're probably best known to most people for your best selling books. Your first book, Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, has been read by millions of people, translated into 12 languages, and has a major feature film in development. But athletics was your first love. And it's obvious that it remains dear to your heart. You're doing a fund raiser here in Las Vegas for the World Acrobatics Society. Let's start there.

Dan Millman Okay. I'll be visiting with the World Acrobatics Society as they hold one of the major meets of the season, The Go For It Classic, at Cashman Field. I'll be speaking on Life Mastery And The Laws Of Spirit at one of the rooms there, from 2:30 till about 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 7th, followed by a book signing. Tickets are $ 22. I'll be there to raise funds for these talented kids.

Spiritual Endeavors You had a wonderful career teaching and coaching gymnastics at Stanford. You took a dormant program and in four years turned it around to produce world class and Olympic athletes. You put in all the hard work of changing it around, but didn't stay to reap the rewards, why?

Dan Millman I stopped coaching when I realized I was admiring the other team as much as my own athletes. I didn't care who won. I cared if everybody played a good game and did their best. In my view, no one looses, because whenever you play, you're learning something about yourself. I treated opposing athletes not as the enemy, but as potential teachers. So I decided it wasn't really appropriate for me anymore.

Spiritual Endeavors I understand that you used some unusual techniques at the time; fairly commonplace now, but unheard of back then.

Dan Millman Yes. Other coaches used to rib me because they considered me kind of a weirdo at the time. They'd say, "I heard rumors you have your athletes meditate before competition." And I'd say, "Of course not! I have them meditate during the competition."

Spiritual Endeavors From being an athlete and college coach, how did you get into writing books like Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, The Laws Of Spirit, and your other books?

Dan Millman I started my writing career with articles about natural principles of training for a gymnastics magazine. Later, these principles expanded to the broader arena of skill training, including other sports, such as dance, martial arts, and music. During this time, I wrote the book now titled The Inner Athlete (formerly "The Warrior Athlete), to convey how to become a natural athlete (or musician or anything else)--about the larger promise and potential of training. Having done that, the scope of my work expanded into the realm of daily life. I went on to write Way Of The Peaceful Warrior and the books that followed.

Spiritual Endeavors I realize that it's not as important as some people think, but for the record, is the character Socrates real or fictional?

Dan Millman The character of Socrates is based on a real old man I met in an old gas station on the corner of Oxford and Hearst Streets in Berkeley, California, about 3 A.M. one starry night.

Spiritual Endeavors And could he really jump up on rooftops etc..

Dan Millman No. Nor did he grab me by the head and "send" me on inner journeys, or make me forget about Joy for all those years, or "crush" my skull in a cave in the mountains. Socrates became the spokesperson for what I had learned from a number of teachers and influences in my life, both external and internal.

Spiritual Endeavors How much of that book is true?

Dan Millman Except for the items I've already noted, most of the book is factual. I did go to Berkeley. I was a world trampoline champion and gymnast. I did shatter my right femur in a motorcycle accident and recover to join my team and win the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. I did travel around the world studying various martial arts and spiritual traditions; I was married to Linda with whom I had a daughter, Holly. I did have an experience one might call "ego death" and powerful insights that continued to surface over the years.

Spiritual Endeavors As I said, I realize the non importance of the question, but some people will be very disappointed.

Dan Millman Some people are very disappointed to learn that it's not all factual, because they are so strongly hoping for "magic" in the world that contrasts with what appears to be a mundane existence. My intent is not to create illusions, but to point out the extraordinary event of daily life, right now. Let's keep our heads in the clouds, but our feet on the ground. Why be concerned about traveling "out of the body" before we've even gotten INTO it? Let's not get so fascinated by "near-death" experiences that we fail to notice that THIS moment is a near-death experience. Some of us who want to know all about past and future lives aren't yet paying attention to this one.

Spiritual Endeavors I understand. Here at Spiritual Endeavors we've had that lesson drawn to us also. Idealistically, we'd love to give everything away free. But that head in the clouds philosophy doesn't keep Spiritual Endeavors alive, to keep on benefiting others, unless the bills are paid. I would imagine that being the great success you are, you would have had to do a bit of soul searching in the "money and spiritual truths department". How did you work it out for yourself?

Dan Millman Some people have negative or unrealistic, idealistic views about money, especially when it comes to what they see as spiritual teachings or spiritual life. Images of the Indian sadhus, ascetics who own nothing but a loincloth, or the Buddhist monks with begging bowls, are archetypes in our psyche. Popular media laud the "poor but good-hearted people" and the "nasty, spoiled rich." Remember the film, "It's a Wonderful Life"? The term "rich person" has become an epithet.
Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it's greedy or loving. If one lives alone, one can live without much money; if one raises a family as I do, and wants the best schools and a comfortable life for them, then one needs to work. I make my living writing and lecturing. I charge a respectable fee and give all I can. This is how it works for me.

Spiritual Endeavors At Spiritual Endeavors we are understanding that more clearly with every passing day. Yet, let's play devils advocate for a moment. There are those people out there who would say, "Dan you have information others should know about. You should be giving it away, not selling it".

Dan Millman Anyone who disagrees is welcome to express their view. After all, if we all agree on everything, only one of us is necessary…

Spiritual Endeavors Well put.

Dan Millman …People are welcome to express agreement or disagreement, and to criticize me. No one is above criticism. I don't require people to believe me or even to trust me; I encourage them to trust themselves. It's important to test what we read or hear against our own life experience to see if it is realistic or valid.

Spiritual Endeavors And that is so important! That's probably the one thing we try to convey the strongest at Spiritual Endeavors. So many "New Agers" tend to gulp down the latest philosophy without even bothering to chew it over. The real spiritual knowledge is eternal and gained through the discernment of all ages. How do you feel about your books being considered New Age?

Dan Millman I really haven't the faintest idea what the "New Age" is. First of all, it's not really new; most of the shamanistic, positive-thinking, proto-Atlantean healing technologies, occult, extra-terrestrial, subliminal, affirmative this-and-that have ancient roots. Second, the "new age" differs from the warrior tradition in that the "new age" has no shadow; it is aggressively pacifistic, idealistic rather than realistic, hopeful to the point of denial. Anyway, now that I'm 50 years old, I've asked the bookstores to move my books out of the New Age section and put them in the "Middle Age" section.

Spiritual Endeavors Dan, this has been delightful. Perhaps I better ask you some questions for your readers. Some of your readers think that through your experiences with Socrates you've become enlightened. How do you respond?

Dan Millman We've all read about these idealized figures who have "reached the state of permanent enlightenment." I'm a little skeptical about that. If life is a series of moments, we each have enlightened moments, and moments of being asleep, ignorant. Sometimes I'm an illumined guy, and sometimes I act like a jackass. I do have more good moments than in the past. Someone who observed my life would find it pretty compassionate, balanced, committed, responsible, functional, altruistic, and at other moments less so. That seems more realistic than talk about enlightenment, as fascinating as that may be. Enlightenment, to me, is less like turning on a light switch; more like gradually turning up a dimmer switch. In a sense, we're all becoming more "enlightened" over time--that is, if we're paying attention to the bigger picture.

Spiritual Endeavors Do you believe in God?

Dan Millman One of my favorite sayings is this: "There's God; and then there's not paying attention." To me this has nothing to do with saying I believe or don't believe something. Anyone who has looked into the depths of the ocean or up at a starry sky or really looked at a flower or a tree or anything else is also somehow gazing into the heart of God. At least it seems that way to me. But if you mean do I agree with or state my allegiance to one or another holy book, well--yes and no. A mountain path is my church; so are the city streets. Church is everywhere because Spirit is everywhere.

Spiritual Endeavors Spirit is everywhere. And in many ways it could be compared cyber space. You maintain your own web domain. Are you finding the Internet a useful tool for reaching the Personal Development audience?

Dan Millman I have an almost religious zeal--not for technology per se, but for the Internet which is for me, the nervous system of mother Earth, which I see as a living creature, linking up. In fact, the only way to get information about me and my work, currently other than what's written in my books, is to check my web site. I encourage all my friends to get online. Saves paper, increases interconnection and communication. To me we are in the midst of a quantum evolutionary leap and it's impossible to predict what it will mean.

Spiritual Endeavors And now there's another site, www.destinykeys.com, which aids people in discovering their life purpose. How did that come into being?

Dan Millman I was approached by a very bright group of people who were so taken by the material in my book, The Life You Were Born to Live, and had the Internet expertise to do it right, that I agreed to put the life purpose system online for those people who would like to receive the information through this growing medium. So far, the Life-Purpose Workbook orders are modest, but I know it will grow and serve a valuable purpose.

Spiritual Endeavors At that site people are actually able to get a free preview life purpose reading according to your system. I was there a few days ago. I submitted my birth date, and I was impressed. Helping people discover their life purpose is right down our alley. What do you say we put a link in the Spiritual Endeavors FreeStuff pavilion?

Dan Millman Let's do it.

Spiritual Endeavors Okay. [ See link below interview. ] What other projects are you currently working on?

Dan Millman My next book, Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Spiritual Growth will be published by Warner Books. It should be in the bookstores by April 1998. I also have more stories in the works, including a special Christmas story, a sweeping novel, and a book of principles, quotations, and stories.

Spiritual Endeavors Everyday Enlightenment. Now there's a concept to practice. How about a sneak preview?

Dan Millman Love to. [Editor's note: That exciting preview will be featured in the next issue of New Beginnings.]

Spiritual Endeavors How about being a guest speaker at the Tuesday Gatherings during your visit here in February?
Dan Millman Love to. Let me check the dates…. Opps… I won't be coming in to Las Vegas till Thursday. Perhaps another trip?

Spiritual Endeavors You're on. Dan, you certainly have been very gracious. Is there anything you'd like to add?

Dan Millman Sure! That's why I'm still writing. When I have nothing else to add, I'll stop. Let me close with this: Some people have called with one or another problem--maybe it's a relationship issue, or health or finances or a difficult decision. I end up saying the same thing: Trust the process of your life.
As the title of one of my books, The Life You Were Born To Live, indicates, our lives may be predestined in some sense; yet we also have the free will to make choices which shape our lives. There may be no ultimate right or wrong, but there are consequences. Responsibility means recognizing the consequences of our actions for ourselves and others. Faith is the courage to live and act as if we "can't make the wrong decision." In other words, we make our choices and live as if it were the best possible choices.
A path we choose may turn out to be difficult, but that doesn't mean it was the wrong choice. Let's treat difficulties as forms of spiritual weightlifting. All we can do in this life is to handle what's in front of us, accept ourselves and others as we are. We can be gentle with ourselves, and compassionate, and at the same time, call forth the best within us. There's the paradox; there's the humor; there's the path of daily life, the way of the peaceful warrior.

Spiritual Endeavors Thank you Dan.

May 31 2007, I turned 25.

May 31 2007, I left SAP, the company I had been proud for three years. And ready to heading to Duke!!!

Since then, endless dinners and parties. And now, finally I got some minutes to record this great leap I made.

No matter what, this is a brand new start. Another piece of life that I had dreamed for years. Why shouldn't I be excited?!

No more words to say, only write down the same "If" that helped me pass 2006.

 

Ciao,

Nick

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard Kipling

Staying in Bangkok for several days, life is ok and weather is hot.

There are so many funny things that I could not help laughing...

 

One thing is a metro (BTS) station named "On Nut"... shit, I laugh dying everytime I read it in the train....

 

The second thing is a conversation with my SAP colleague in Thailand.

 

[We are having lunch together]

Nick: I really love this. [pointing to a vegetable in the plate] How do you call it in Thai?

Usa: Fxxk.

Nick: ...... [Shit...]

Usa: One more interesting thing is another word "Fxxk Mel". And Mel means Tasin....

You can guess the ending. We two blustering into laugh for five minutes... and everybody just watched us...

A busy week finally ended here at KL, Malaysia.

Something important/interesting/meaningful happened, that I should write down to remember.

1. "Fight Club", one of the best movies I have ever seen.

2. I decided to change the way I behavor for the past three years.

3. Meet some great ppl in KL.

4. Went to one of the greatest restaurants I have ever been for two consecutive nights. Thank you guys!

5. Finally tried the Indian banana leaf dinner with hand. But this one also brought me down even my whole month in Inida could not do.

6. VT catastrophy happened. Bombed by the news for several days.

7. Found another important thing to improve... sigh...

英国《金融时报》中文网专栏作家：谁谁谁
2007年4月18日 星期三


毕业两年多点的张小姐厌倦了现在从事的为各类品牌编写传奇故事的虚假营生，很想到新闻事业活跃的中国南方闯荡一番，实现大学时代起就执着不息的新闻理想。但是，她遇到了一些小麻烦：一，父母反对她离开上海，认为她一个女孩子只身上路不安全；二，南方能不能找到工作还不一定；三，这样会和男朋友分开。思来想去，由于不知道如何是好，她目前还处在实现不了理想的煎熬中。

这种受煎熬的状态非但不能令人同情反而惹人生厌。如果非要在父母支持、有优越的职位虚席以待并且男朋友也欣然同往的前提下才打算“执着”一回的话，不知道算是对“执着”一词的奚落还是亵渎。

不只是张小姐，如今很多人的执着都有附加条件。比如唐代诗人王维的仰慕者，一位有文学理想的销售经理，号称要写一本最能反映中国文人情结的王维传记，但附加条件是这本书最好能大卖，像易中天的书那么畅销。因为吃不准这书写出来会不会卖得那么好，这一份执着三年来还雪藏在美梦中，至今尚未动笔。


一位激愤地认为“中国的慈善事业已经被搞得乌七八糟”的私人老板号称要将后半生精力奉献给“真正的慈善”，就像盖茨一样，不过附加条件是“比不上盖茨，至少得等我换了大房子，买好宝马之后吧。”

而一直叫嚣着想体验一回自己创业乐趣的大公司某中层经理，则因为创业有风险、没找到合适的赢利模式、做亏了就养不了家了等原因，多年来依旧在大公司打着那份面目可憎的工。

在好几份有关幸福的社会调查中，“自我实现”这一项都高过事业、爱情与家庭，成为现代中国人幸福感的最重要来源。然而有趣的是，一旦附加条件提出反对意见，实不实现自我立刻成了等而次之的事。换个角度想，这其实也并非不执着，而是很执着，执着于那些理想情操的附加条件们。说白了，香车别墅，锦衣玉食，大概是当下许多人共同的最高执着。为了这份执着，他们甘愿付出的计有兴趣与理想、原则与坚持、爱情与人格，等等，等等。

前两天路过南京西路，再次见到那位用废弃电线做成各种优雅复古自行车的手工艺老人。他在这同一个地方做同样的事光我看见的就应该至少有七八年了吧，而且一直保持着同样的姿态：埋头做车，不叫卖，不揽客。不知道他是从何时开始做这项工艺的，但仅仅是能坚持这么多时间，在现在这个时代，已经是难能可贵了。

MSN space is really toooooooo slow.

Thus, I decide to move to Blogger.

The old Fish File will be closed since today, and please check out new one at http://imagiine.blogspot.com/.

 

Nick

Having not written essays for two weeks, I just could not stop typing...

The MBA application is more than just a way to ten times salaries, but a way to learn myself.

There are some learnings or you can say insights from the experience.

 

1. Somebody is really good at it.

Without doubt, there are some of my friends, who are just like born to MBA. Even if they only apply one school in R1, they are admitted! Hey, I am not talking about second tier school, but king and queen in the realm of MBA -- Harvard and Stanford. Well, I always think that my background is good, of course not the best, but could easily win me a seat in those schools. But who knows? It seems that Essay plays such an important role in admitting or killing a candidate. Well, my status for H and S is submitted and waiting for interview. There are alreay someone got R2 H interview, I hope I will get it too. But on the other hand, even if I am not admitted, or even without being invited to interview, I should still take it easy. Best MBA could expose a brand new world to me, but could not toally change me. I am still me, even if I do not have those prestigious education, I think I can still succeed with my hardworking.

 

2. Give myself some time alone everyday.

I used to like hanging with my friends or playing with computer, which put too much information in my head. And thus, making my life without enough thoughts. Well, during the MBA application, I found that independent thinking is very important, and it comes from giving myself some time to think everyday. When I wrote essays, I'd like to run around Century Park(around 7kms). This is the best way to think -- pushing my physical limit and bring my brain active very effective. Reading is also a good way to be inspired and think. Because I travel a lot, and most of the journey need to stop at Singapore. So Time News Link book store in Changi became my best place to stay. I bought lots of books, and read during my flight. But when I was back to Shanghai, I did not read that much. Fortunately, the application process changed this bad habit. I now read at least 15 minutes a day before sleep, no matter how late it is. And I hope I can carry on this habit.

 

3. <TBA, huh, I am going to dinner>

 

Nick

It is really a long time since my last post.

Life was very busy in last couple months, and will continue to be that busy.

 

In the past four months, I buried myself in MBA application. I submitted two schools, Wharton and Haas, in R1.

And just after submission, I realized my essay skills was really not good, then I joined BBY to improve.

The experience declared an era of darkness but a process of searching for the real me.

 

During these weeks, I had submitted other five schools in R2. And received two ding from my R1 schools.

It is not good to see my R1 all vanished to nothing.

But here, I would really like to thank somebody who came the long way with me.

No matter what the result is, the help and support from you are my life long treasure.

 

Firstly, I'd like to thank my parents. Without your encouragement and phone call, I don't know how can I overcome all the difficulites. Great news is that I am going home soon, hehe.

Secondly, I deeply want to thank my Zhenzhen. Those endless nights till morning, you accompanied with me to discuss essays, even if you caught cold. Your mother's chicken soup, countless talk, and everyday listen to your voice and encouragment...everything is the best thing for me. Just like what Jinbo said, your gf is just a miracle, and has much more potential on writing essays :o)

Thirdly, lots of MBA fighting buddies. Fanny, Jennifer, Donkey, Yifan, Lan, Linda, Richard, Manfred... and of course our great teachers Wei and Jinbo. You made the process more than fighting alone. We enjoyed the hard time together, and wish will cherish happy moments together too.

Last but not least, my greatest roomies -- Linda, Thomas, Yiping, and Shenhong. You are the nicest roommates in the world. Hanging out with you guys is the best pill for those hard time. And also thanks for your encouragment too :o) Yiping, wish you also get the best offers.

 

There are lots of changes to my life these days. And I am thinking each choice, just like Butterfly Effect, may amplify to a totally different version of future. But anyway, I am on the way to chase what I dream of, and I think that's what's important.

 

Looking back stops at here, coz, it is Friday night. Oh my. Qucik ZZ, I am starving......

 

Have a nice weekend, everybody.

 

Nick