Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Prank

One of the best pranks on the phone...

Angry Chinese?

I almost became one myself because of totally different reasons (read on for explanations below). With the approaching of the olympics in less than 100 days as well as the chain of events lately such as the torch relays, deporting Danish sculptor Galschiot of the "Pillar of Shame" from Hong Kong (how fit the title it is for such action by the HK, and possibly PRC governments), and protests for different causes in all corners of the world, China is under unprecedented scrutiny as a host of such a worldwide event. I've read a few insightful and interesting articles including the Economist and the National Geographic. I just want to say both China and its people (counting myself in) really need to learn to be good hosts to the world despite all the "oppositions". This is the price of presenting oneself a prominent role on the world stage. It seems the nation as a whole has already partially failed the test by overreacting to the "negative press" from the West and the zealous Chinese citizens trying to silence any voices not supportive of the Chinese Olympics or the PRC's Tibetan policies. Bear in mind almost every single Olympic host countries have taken their shares of criticism and the success pretty much lies in how poised and mature the countries acted politics-wise. Imagine how "excited" many of the Westerners, especially the French, would be to come visit China now for the Olympics without worrying being "attacked".

Back to more personal issues. These past couple days I have been very bothered and troubled by certain behaviors of one particular mainland Chinese colleague but after much thought, I realized I have gained insights from those Chinese articles that instead of being an angry Chinese myself, I just need to keep on carrying out my duties 100% to stay blameless on my part and not to lose my cool. And there sure is a price to pay for being in a leadership position that one is proned to criticism, whether constructive or not. And I am a true believer of Karma that you reap what you sow, as can be seen in the fact that a few "troublemakers" in our department are gone now...