Such Coventry Taxi Drivers!
(26 SEP 02)
Soon after arriving in Coventry from China, I took great interest in the taximen here. At night, when they are not sure if I really need a taxi, they will stop about 10 meters ahead of me and wait patiently, never sounding their horns, nor coming nearer to me to ask. In case I pay no attention to them, they will simply ride away, or flash their lights thoughtfully, to attract my attention. Very interesting. And in such a gentlemanlike way!
(Writer’s note: This diary was originally published in The Source- Coventry University Students Union Newspaper, November 2002, Edition 2)
My First Class in England
(9 OCT 02)
5:30P.M.-9:30P.M.,October 8, I had my first class in England, given by my course tutor Dr Shaun Hides, on "What is theory?"
The class is designed pretty well. At the outset we watched two TV programmes. The first is a documentary produced by BBC4, about which we are launched into a group discussion: Make sense of the programme; the second is a fraction of Hollywood film, about which we are required to think about: What do we need to make sense of the film?
In this way, we are led, step by step, to the topic: What is theory?
For each discussion, the questions/topics are designed at different levels so that every student, expert or outsider in the field, has something to say.
I am NOT surprised at all when I received 63 pages of handouts (all A4 size). The tutor stressed that all the handouts must be read through for the next class.
I Met A Poet, Artist and Philosopher!
On October 19, 2002, we took a trip to Oxford, where we first visited Oxford University, and then ventured in the town. But for me, the most valuable harvest of this trip is that I encountered, nearby River Thames, an old lady, probably in her 70s’. Her name is Zoe Peterssen. She is a poet, artist and philosopher!
Sitting at the roadside, she was painting some pictures of trees. At our request, she showed us many of her poems and some of her cards. To make a living, she has got some of her paintings and poems printed in the cards she herself designed.
My friend Miss Wang Yingli bought a card from her, but to our disappointment, she declined to sign the card. She also refused to take pictures with us, and turned down my invitation to publish some of her poems in China. She was even reluctant to grant me the permission to write an article about her and her works.
She likes Lao Zi, one of the greatest ancient Chinese philosophers. When I asked her the meaning of her life, she replied:
Feel life, appreciate life, and be good to life.
Inside the card my friend bought is:
Steady
steps
on
a
long
road.
To tell you the truth, I really appreciate some of her poems.
(Writer’s note: This article was originally published in The Source—Coventry University Students Union Newspaper, November 2002, Edition 2)
Free Training at Coventry University
(NOV 02)
Coventry University Students Union (CUSU) offers a so-called Horizon Training Programme, which is completely free to all the students. The programme consists of 8 workshops: teamwork, leadership, planning, time management, communication, presentation, negotiation and problem solving. Every session, lasting 2 hours, is run twice a week to cater for trainees' timetable. For each workshop, you will receive a certificate of attendance. If you wish for the Personal Development Certificate, you need to attend at least 3 workshops; an Advanced Certificate is awarded for those who have attended 6 sessions.
This kind of free, systematic, extra-curriculum training is almost unavailable in universities in China.
My Visit to A Real English Family
(3 NOV 02)
Today I was invited to the Cordles’ and had lunch with the real English family in Coventry. Mr Peter Cordle, the host, and Mrs Janet Cordle, the hostess, are both loyal Christians. They have five children: Debbie, Andrew, Joanna, John and Stephen (in the descending order of age). The eldest two are at university.
I am very interested in the table etiquettes. We sit at a long table. The host sits at the top while the hostess the opposite to him. But after lunch Janet explained to me that there is, in fact, no rule governing the sitting order. That is to say, diners are free to take any seat.
It's no doubt that the hostess is the busiest and the real VIP at the table. She allocates dishes and food, asks everybody in time: “Do you need more?” Sometimes, Peter, Husband, and Derby, the eldest daughter, act as assistants.
It seems that the British people are more honest than the Chinese at least in terms of dining. If you say “No, thank you”, the hostess will not ask you again; if you say “Yes, please”, more of what you want will be given to you.
To be honest, the lunch seems much simpler than what we have in China, but the procedure is almost the same as that in China. At the end of the lunch some kind of cake and “mixed fruit pie”- I coined this term--are served, and after lunch you can have some tea or coffee, whichever you prefer.
Also like the Chinese people, the family show great respect for Grandmother, the only golden citizen in the family.
Two other guests are also invited to lunch, one of whom is an Iran guy; it appears to me that the family know them very well.
It's the first time for me to visit a real English home in England and dine with an English family. After the lunch the graceful hostess helped to crack one of my hard nuts: City of Coventry and Warwickshire are irrelated in terms of authority.
Obviously, the family is a very happy one: respectable Grandma, well-educated parents, pretty girls and handsome boys. Most importantly, they are all kind and hospitable.
May God bless them!
Learn from Birmingham
(6 Nov 02)
On 14 October, 2002, I went to the Police Headquarters in Birmingham for registration, where I took a hasty visit to B’ham Museum and Art Gallery—to be exact, only the first floor. When I left there, I took a Customer Comment Form designed by B’ham City Council Leisure and Culture, which promises that if I fill it in, I will receive an acknowledgement within five days. Simply to test it, I filled it out and sent it back---it’s FREEPOST, that is, I needn’t affix any stamp--- after I returned home.
To my surprise, on 21 October, I received a card of acknowledgement dated 18 October, 2002.
Also, on 4 November, I received a second post from B’ham, containing a letter and five brochures about some cultural heritages there. The letter is dated 30 October, 2002.
We know that B’ham is the second largest city in the U.K., and every day a multitude of visitors flock there. But the government managed to send me two replies in 15 days with respect to my comments.
What message can and should we learn from this incident?
Fire Alarm Sounds in My House!
(13 NOV 02)
This morning while I was cooking, the fire alarm suddenly sounded. I was frightened, because we had been well informed that the fire service is carrying out a national industrial action and therefore the fire coverage in Coventry is extremely limited. Anyway, as requested by the university rules, everybody in the flat must immediately evacuate the building and go to the designated assembly zone. So we did, some in pyjamas.(Later, I realized I must apologize to them.)
In about five minutes, two whistling fire engines rushed in, with fully armed firemen. While advancing to the kitchen, some of them checked the rooms. In fact, nothing happened at all! It is just because the door to the kitchen was kept open and the smoke wanderd into the corridor that the alarm was activated. When I tried to explain, one of the firemen comforted me kindly: “ No problem, but remember to close the door before cooking next time.” And then they left.
Soon a young protection officer came to check again; he also reminded me of the alarm cause. When leaving my house, he noticed a letter lying in the staircase. He picked it up and asked whose it is. When I told him it has been here for almost a week but nobody claimed, he told me: “I am going upstairs to check with them.”
Now the incident has passed, and of course, I will bear the lesson in mind.
But this episode also assured me that we are safely protected by the sophisticated and sensitive fire detectors, as well as the loyal firemen.
Salute the fire brigade and the protection officer!
A Friend Indeed
On November 30 at Coventry Market, I encountered a very kind English lady, probably in her 70s,who considerately showed me the way out.
Soon after she learned I was actually not lost but needed "something to cut my nails", she told me that's a nail clipper. So she led me to a shop ahead and then to Boots. With her great help, I bought one there.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. As a newcomer to Coventry, I really cherish her kindness and hospitality. In my eyes, she is an angel of Coventry!
(Writer's note: This letter was originally published in Coventry Observer, December 19, 2002)
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