Dear Uncle
It’s been years since I’ve contacted you.
Time goes fast! This is my fifth year in the UK now! I finished MA degree in Banking and Finance at Bangor University and am doing PhD in the same subject. I also passed the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level II, which is the greatest achievement for me ever so far!
Apart from my PhD study, the most interesting and instructive part of my life here in Wales has come from communications with local people, my part time job, badminton club, and various activities at the University. Last September I was lucky enough to be chosen to work in the Housing Office in the Student Union to help international students to find privately rented accommodation. Not only did I provide them with all the available information I obtained from different sources, I even went out with them to locate the exact places. After that I became a very popular person on campus and made a lot of friends.
Furthermore, I have done a lot of administrative help at the university. For example, I was the exam assistant during every exam period, helping out with organizing the whole event and making sure everything was in order. Summer time was my busiest time, because first of all, I would join the university Academic Office team to prepare the annual graduation ceremony, and then helped out with graduates’ certificates after the ceremony. At the end of the summer, one month before the new term started, I would be a member of the Student Admission team and would help in preparing packages for new students. When the new term started, I would also be a Peer Guide and be responsible for showing freshers around the campus and help them to settle in. I always remembered that those Welsh students were so astonished to see that I could pronounce all the streets and shops in their Welsh names! (Wow…)
I remained an active part in the Chinese society as well. Last June one Chinese government officer came to visit Bangor and I showed him around the Snowdon, the castles and everything. I even helped the university’s Vice Chancellor organizing a big Christmas party especially for Chinese students. Of course, students from any nationality were also welcomed. It’s an excellent party and everybody was happy.
The most amazing experience for me happened last summer, when Prince Charles came to visit Bangor University. I was selected as one of the representatives of the international students to meet him. It was so unbelievable to shake hands with the most renowned person in the world, talk with him and even have my photo taken with him (Wow...)
Apart from university life, I also attended some local events to meet local people. Once, the local Rotary Club invited twelve international students from the university to a party as well as a nice meal. I was chosen by the university to represent China and gave a speech about myself and my country. The party was full of laughter and joy and I will never forget their spirit of ‘Service above Self’.
You know I have been doing some house-keeping work for a retired couple since I came here. Every time I go to their house, I see it as fun time instead of working. I have learnt many things from them, including British culture, the Welsh language, and even about how to pass my driving test (which I did!). Last Christmas, they took me to see a pantomime—Aladdin. It was so funny that I have decided to go and see a pantomime every Christmas!
As you can see, my life here is totally different from that in China. When we were struggling to understand English words in college in China, we never thought that we could communicate with an English-speaking person in fluent English about everything we have in common, to talk about our interests, to work with them in a efficient team, and even to give a speech in English in front of many English-native speakers (for example, I was chosen to be the only international student representative to attend and give a speech in a conference to enhance research students’ experiences in the university), and so on so forth. So many unbelievable things have happened to me and I believe that if I carry on chasing my dream, I will experience even more!
You may have noticed that I have changed a lot. I found that the biggest change for me is my way of thinking. Previously, I only thought of myself as a Chinese student and China was the whole world for me. After all these experiences in the UK and North Wales, I see myself not limited to China, but as an international-based student facing opportunities all over the world, eastern and western. In other words, I don’t consider things only through a Chinese perspective, but instead, from an open-minded, broad, international perspective. By virtue of this, I can feel a much brighter and broader future in front of me. I am now much more positive, enthusiastic and ambitious than before.
I miss you so much and wish you happiness all the time! Looking forward to seeing you!
Best regards
Hong