Kelly

It is about time

I've been doing the graduate student speaker stuff last couple weeks. But unforturnately after the audition on Monday I am not the lucky person. I still want to let you know what I appreciate during the two years. Here is the speech I am going to give if I am the person. I wish I am. But anyways...

Distinguished guests, administrators, professors, families, friends and

members of the class of 2009

I am honored and humbled to stand here on behalf of the class of 2009 of Sawyer Business School.

My task today is to use my story as a way of expressing for all of the class of 2009 what graduate work in the Sawyer business School has given us,  My first lesson may seem very basic to others, but it was powerful for me.   To really learn, I have to “practice,“ The real world does not always go according to the test book. The great leader is not the one who only knows management theories.  I have some metaphors to help summarize for me “It is impossible become an excellent doctor without actually doing surgeries”. On my first day at Suffolk, one of my professors  told us, “The book is just a key to the door .  When you walk in the room, you don’t need the key anymore.” In China. theory is the end; the students’ goal is to learn the theory.  Students must get the theory right and are afraid to make mistakes. So, like many of my Chinese peers at the very beginning I was quiet and shy in the class for fear of making a mistake.. Later on I grew to realize that in the business school nobody will judge me poorly when I made mistakes. I realized that when I learn something new for example, using the new accounting knowledge, mistakes can’t be avoided. Day by day, I tried to practice and to accept the mistakes that go with practice: From trying out new vocabulary words I’d heard, to the new software I am using at work.

Some people asked me about my favorite class in Suffolk. There is a funny story of why I love class risk management very much. By the end of my second semester I got an interview opportunity with America Civil Liberties Union for an accounting intern. On the interview day, I remembered Prof Kraten’s advice about applying risk management to our personal lives,  ““risk is everywhere in life. You have to prepare for it in unexpected places.” Wouldn’t you know, I missed the bus that morning but luckily I had my risk management plan handy -- Call a cab to make me on time. Guess what? I got the job and still work with them.

I have a lot of memories related not only SuffolkUniversitybut also my new adventure of United States of America. My first presentation in English was a disaster. I thought I had prepared enough and was pretty confident. But many classmates told me later that they couldn’t understand me completely. The first thanksgiving I was in DC to visit my friend’s family. I had my first pumpkin pie (which by the way, I liked). The last year I watched the Boston marathon and was surprised by the spectators’ passionate cheering. But today I have to leave. I want to take everything here with me. But I figured out recently the only thing I can take with is my memory.

 

I definitely take with me the memories of the 73 Tremont street. The days I worked at graduate admission office were the days with my truly happiness. My favorite part is giving people the campus tour. I told people how I enjoyed my life in Boston. Where is the greatest sandwich restaurant? I have to mention the Center of international education, too, My first Chinese New Year was with you at a tradition Chinese lunch. All the authentic food and performances made me feel at home.

 

I take my memories with me of my classmates and co-workers. John who works at graduate admission office always has the brightest smile on the earth. I still remember before the deadline of my risk management class all my group members sitting on the floor of the library to go over our presentation trying to make it more creative.

But it is about time to finish this speech as it is time to finish our graduate studies.   A time not say good bye but to say thank you. Thank you my parents who are sitting over there. Without your support I couldn’t become the person I am now. Thank you all my professors. You gave me that key to the door of my career. Thank you all my friends, you helped me know more about this country and let me share so many special moments with you. Thank you SuffolkUniversity. You opened my mind and gave me a whole new world.  And thank you United States of America.

Thank you!

Easter Weekend

I went to Catholic Church on Easter Sunday before a fantastic Easter brunch with my friends.  

St. Paul Church is at Harvard square. I barely made on time. It was totally my bad. Cause I should got up a little bit earlier. That is my first time to be in the Catholic Church. People are dressed up and the church is gorgeous.

After that we had an Easter brunch at my friends’ apartment. I made my first Easter egg. Well just put the egg in the color and then pick it up. I love my green egg. It looks great! Earlier last week I asked my co-worker why there are so many bunny rabbits and eggs during Easter time. Because I thought Easter is a religion holiday. The answer is Easter is not only a religion holiday. It is kind of representing the new life and spring is coming. Like egg and little bunny rabbits represent the blooming and energetic.

Ah-ha, That is great! Saturday I went to a potluck dinner. I cooked some great super duper Monica’s Chili and a tradition Chinese sweet soup as a dessert. The chili was great. But maybe the soup is too Chinese style. People afraid of it a little bit. And a lot left over. It is still lying in my fridge. I am the only person eat it regularly this week… It is taste great by the way. From then on, I feel I am falling in love with cooking. Cooking is definitely a good try when you want to relax and try something now. I mean you can only follow the recipe to relax yourself or want to add some special flavors to create your own homemade dishes. Yes, I like cooking! My American friends always want to me to cook some Chinese food. I’d love too. The only thing is I am not good at it. I just don’t want to ruin your imagine of Chinese food. Oh to be noticed, the Chinese food in Boston rarely authentic.

Hmmm maybe my parents can cook me some when they come.

3 weeks ahead

Last couple weeks in Suffolk

I am start wrapping up my last couple weeks in Suffolk my graduate school will be ended by the end of April. How come? How time fly? I can’t believe that I’ve been here for almost a two years and it is about time to get out of school. It must be really good.

I’ve been fall in love with documentary movies recently. I saw the religulous and the US vs. John lennon lately. Both of them are really great! One of my roommates Al is a huge Beatles fan. We talked a lot about why John left Beatles and then came to US. Some people said Yoko was the reason for John left Beatles. I don’t think so. It was about time for John to looking for his own way to life. The 4 people together about 10 years it was a long time since John 15 years old. Back to then John and Yoko should have their own life.

The thing surprised me is later he became a peace socialist. He also did a lot of antiwar stuff in US. It was a little strange for a foreigner participant in the politics in States. At some point back to that time, John was anti government of States a little bit. Even the FBI agent was monitored his life. From him I’ve been thinking  how could the artist influence people so much. In the movie “the US vs. John Lennon” thousands and hundreds people gathered in front of the white house and sang the song “Give peace a chance” again and again. All the sudden it just reminds me the year 1989 in Beijing.

Another movie is on its way named W.   talking about the Bush administration. I figured out I still interested in politics stuff since I was in elementary school.  Is that true it is really hard to change what people like or love or wish to do? It must be true.

Internet is everywhere

Yesterday before I fall asleep, as usual, I was playing my iphone. Tried to figure out if there are any new applications and played the games for a little while. There is a question just come in my mind do we need keep online all the time even our cell phone?

Last week I had dinner with my roommate and his sister. His sister is a writer and journalist. We talked about the 3G network now and how it changed people’s life. Remind me since the new iphone launched every time I am on the subway at least 5 people around me has iphone. They are playing the games or listening the music. My roommate Al said he won’t get any cell phone which can get internet. He won’t let the work bother him all the time. That’s right! I totally agree. Since I have my iphone I’ve been addicted to check my email all the time. And I always feel weird if there is no new email. The other bad thing is Facebook. I mean the iphone version of facebook. I can’t help myself check it again and again and again. How much people want to let other people know him and how much they want to stay only by him?

Just look at the applications for iphone there is one category is “networking”. There are tons of different ones for networking by iphone. Facebook, AIM, Twitters, and some little programs can combine all the online chat tools together. Google chat, windows messenger, facebook, twitters, AIM etc. That is a really horrible thing. People update their status almost every single minute (including myself). I am confused a little bit what is all about? The internet is exploring to your cell phone and keeps you online anywhere and everywhere. But every week I have to have at least one day just for myself. No friends get together, no catch up stuff and no computer. Unfortunately I can’t live without cell phone and even more unfortunately I can’t get rid of internet and Facebook… How sad it is! I am kind of missing the time when there was only one phone at home and no internet no cell phone…

Inside yourself

This Monday I got a chance to meet some people from my college. They were coming from shanghai and came to Suffolk to talk about some partnership stuff. I was totally exciting about it. Since I am here I haven’t got a chance to back to my college. We talked about my life here and what’s going on in my college right now. Pretty much about everything and amazed me.

All the conversation we had reminded me my college life. A nerdish girl is me. Everyday my life was from dorm to library or classrooms. I didn’t do anything crazy as the college kids here. When I was in my junior year I visited my friend in Hong Kong. It was the time changed my life. We were high school friends she went to college in Hong Kong. It was a really good college as you know Hong Kong is kind of place combine western and eastern culture together. I was totally touched by the western education system and decided to come to America to start my new life.

Yesterday one of my co workers asked me if I don’t need to earn money for life what would I do. That was a really good question. I said I’ll do some art related work. Like play my violin in a pop band not only classic music. Or do some marketing related job like marketing development. But meanwhile I like my accountant career. Every time I figured there is a mistake in the balance sheet I’ll feel very happy. As you know, before you do anything you really like you might have to do a lot of things you dislike. If I don’t need to earn money for live I would like to work with any political related industry. It just reminded me when I was in middle school or early year high school I thought about to work as a professional politician. Oh my god why I stop thinking it as my career? Why I give up music and art?

My co-worker she also asked other people in my office: what will you do if you don’t need to earn money for live? All the answers were different compare with what they are doing now. They are lawyers, legal assistant, etc etc…but are they really want to be the lawyer? Good question. I start wondering: Can life change people’s mind or long term goal or people himself can change his life?

Snow day

Snow in March

 

I’ve been thinking where the spring is for a little while. But the snow storm broke my heart badly. I don’t have class on Monday anymore which means school called me on 5 am doesn’t mean anything to me. No I was fall asleep at that TIME!!! The only good thing for snow day is an extra day off. I had a really lazy Monday which I haven’t enjoyed by myself for a long time.

 

Sometime I am asking myself why people need personal space and want to spend time with other people. Is it balance? Then I spent my whole Monday just read some books I’ve been stated for a little while and listened music, watched TV and try to far from the horrible stock market and Facebook. (I’ve been on facebook too much, tooooo much).

 

The book named “the namesake” written by an India American author. It is talking about a story of an IndiaN family the parents come from India and studied in MIT and then live in Cambridge. Their boy born and raised in Cambridge. They tried to give the boy what they can. They tried to live as an American family. Finally the boy considers himself an American meanwhile try to erase the entire Indian element in his life even his name.

 

I am interested the movies and books talk about immigrant life here. I also noticed it is really hard for them to figure out who they are. From Joy luck club to the namesake and recently the ACLU’s report about human rights about immigrant all the sudden I put myself into that group of people. Am I?

 

Snow day is a really good day off. But when people too busy to think may be not a bad thing.

New words

Recently I feel I am like a little kid. When I learnt some new words I always like to use them all the time. Maybe only some very simple words but as you know I am still new here J

 

First one, retarded. I used a lot since I fall in love with Family guy the TV show. Peter is such a retarded guy.  Last time I had a discussion with my roommates kind of remind me that all the audits are some how retarded but the dog Brian and the little kid always look like a normal person.

 

Second one, sarcastic. I am trying to be a happy person. Well I am at some point. Since I can freely talk to people here for a little while I am thinking how to add some flavor of humor in my words. Oh yay, maybe be sarcastic. Maybe not.

 

Third one, hopeless. This one is not a new one I use it for the B line when I lived in Allston. Yes B line is hopeless but now I feel like everything is hopeless a little bit. I am kind of asking myself everyday: are you ready? Nope I am not. The only thing which is not hopeless is my first mid-term turned out I did pretty good which means I will graduate on time. Another not hopeless thing is I can still work with ACLU after I graduate until I find a full time job.

 

All the negative feelings surround me and coming to me. How could people survive? Do I need to remind me the saying: Whatever doesn't kill me make me stronger? I believe there always a clue always.

All about life

I was struggling with my only one class this week. The hardest one in my entire life…Maybe not only the class the world outside school is interesting also. How could I find a job is being a question for a long time since officially US is in a recession.

I was working for ACLU statewide conference last Saturday. It was a great one. Before that though I work with them but it still kind of hard for me to understand how ACLU works? How this organization helps people in the daily life? Now I know. I attended a workshop talked about immigration human rights which ACLU been working with for a little while. After 3 speakers speech there was a free time for people asks questions. All the audiences were full of attention and participated in the discussion. Some of them just pointed out a couple really good points on immigration problem.

That night I was in a deep thinking about human rights. The relationship between government and people especially the relationship in China. There is always a good topic for me and my friends to debate: the human rights in China. Just some different views and different aspects no right or wrong. I’ve already learnt accept them. Meanwhile try to learn my country more by go over the different thoughts.

All about life, recently I start to think how to survive in the bad time to find a job? Not only me a foreigner but also the citizens are struggling. I hope I would be fine. And everybody else would be fine.

Chinese New Year

Monday was the first of Chinese New Year. This year is Ox year. The year I will be in 25… Last Sunday a couple of my friends and me we get together to make some tradition Chinese dumplings. They were really tasty. Maybe because I need to go home to visit my parents or maybe I haven’t eaten authentic Chinese food for a long time. The dumplings were really good.

The most supervise me thing is a lot of people celebrate Chinese New Year here in States. They may not one hundred percent sure what is the traditional way but they like to be one of the traditional Chinese people to celebrate it. Last night I went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown with my roommates and some friends for the New Year. The funny thing is all of them were born in Ox year. So they need to wear something red in a Chinese way.

But the bad news was my grandfather past away 3 days before the Chinese New Year. All the sudden by the heart attack. I was shocked and can not accept the truth for a couple days. And then realize it has already happened then worry about my Mom and grandmother. They are doing very well now. Thank god. I start to thinking am I right to be far from my parents. It could be a culture issue well maybe not. My aunt who lives in Japan she barely made the funeral of her father. I am in States now. It was impossible for me to go home for the funeral. Almost 20 hours trip…

Chinese people said leaves shouldn’t far from the tree. I am just way too far. Maybe… or maybe not… who knows…

Back to real world

My last semester has started last week. I have only one class left. Now besides my job and the school work I should focus on my job hunting stuff cause I will graduate in this May and I need a real full time job badly. But even though I still had a 2 weeks vocation before the school starts.

My Christmas was in London Kentucky the small town which is really quite and peaceful life. People know each other for generations. It is totally new for me. The funniest thing was we left Boston in Dec 19^th right before the storm came to Boston. But we stopped by the storm in Newark airport. Waited in airport for 4 hours and then waited in airplane for deiced for 2 and half hours. When I arrive at Atlanta airport it was already over midnight. After that drove 2 hour to Chattanooga TN…It was the beginning of my long trip.

I am a city person to be honest I’ve never been to countryside when I was in China. I like city which is extremely convenience with the public transportation. Well it is the one of tons of advantages of the life in city. But the south is totally deferent compare with the imagination in my mind. Even people always drive around even there is not that much to do? People still much more friendly then people live in the city. I don’t mean the people in Boston or other cities I’ve been in US not friendly enough. The people in south just more laid back. I think the reason is the speed they speak. Much slower then people live in Boston.   

I like the south accent. Oh I went to the first KFC in Kentucky. So much fun. I watched the 24 hours movie “the Christmas story”. I played the bebe gun which reminds me the little boy in the movie. “You will shot your eye out!!” I haven’t shot my eye out apparently. I visited the battle field for the civil war. I thought about what is the difference between the civil war in US and the civil war in China but no answer for myself.  DW gave me an answer I totally agree. I just don’t want to talk about politics here.

Back to real world which feel so good. Only the snow upset me a little bit well not that much. I hope Obama will bring the new hope to this country. The change is coming.