曲高和寡

昨天从一位朋友那听说iPhone 在国内大流行，当他知道我还在用我的pay as you go 三年还没换的手机时，大吃一惊。然后又说现在笔记本都是宽屏了，说了半天，我恍然大悟。最后他很理解的说：我刚从英国回来时，也觉得自己有些土。刹那间，我有种火山爆发的感觉，因为平日最恨没有头脑的跟风族。知道这种风气在国内最为盛行，到处都是风。看见别人用了，对自己有用没用先不说，就先跟上。看见别人走这条路，不管是不是一个方向，也要挤一条路。等到时候发现错了，也迟了。自己天生就不是追风族，因为也没有那种虚荣心；又加上实在恐惧这种风气之害，因此对fashion 总有保持距离的感觉。说到笔记本，前两天在会上时，Harvard, MIT, Stanford 的学生也没用宽屏呀，反而很多和我一样，用着IBM 的告别版。这么看来并不是我一个人不追风。朋友解释：其实追风挺好，这样很容易就知道现在流行什么；不像在英国，也有流行的，就是自己不知道。我想了想，说：那你还是适和在国内生活。

Business man and Engineers ------ Calming down, back from the conference

I never considered myself as a business people, that is why I tried very hard to switch to an engineering course, because I like engineers' down to earth, practical and realistic styles. When I talk with engineers, I like to trust their words. However, I still ended up in business schools, finally, after many years' struggle, which is the destine I have to face. The question is that do I have to get myself into the shape of a business man. Do I have to brag? Do I have to show off my money right in front of others' eyes? Do I have to pretend I like luxuries, even though it is definitely an environmental disaster? Do I have to say, always, I am a shark-killer ...... (anything more?)

Academic fan ／／／ 我也成了追星族

Last week I went to attend a three days conference at LBS and met other PhD colleagues from top 20 business schools in USA and Europe. I am very excited to be a member at such a prestigious conference. Apart from appreciating elites'presentations of their research and their unique styles, I hardly believe our keynote speaker, a professor from Havard, was that friendly, so that he came to me himself, introduced himself and shaked hands with me, until that moment I still have not realized that he is that one. We were offered the privilege to access the London eye with fast track. Very cool! The picture here was taken in the London eye.

The Fletcher Moss Garden in Manchester

Here are some pictures taken by the mobilephone.

Back from Manchester

That was a busy week. Catching up with old and good friends, colleagues; meeting with the supervisor in case he forgot what I am like; being seduced to do some shopping ( got several good spots!); having a taste of a newly open restaurant; spending a half day out in one most beautiful garden I have ever seen in UK; watching one movie; having a haircut; finally, doing some serious work (that was necessary, because, after all, it was not a holiday!)

The biggest surprise is that I met a Fresher PhD. After a talk, it ends up that he was once undergraduate classmates of my best friend back to many years ago. What a small world!