The other day Ann recommended me a postscript of a doctorial thesis which her supervisorrecommended to her. As I grow to be mature and sensible, those chickensoup for the soul can only influence me a little bit. Or as we Chinese often says,don't be serious for that. Yet,one night, while sitting for feet-washing and roaming in mind, I read thepostscript and suddenly it took me.  It’sso impressive that I read it several times later. Sometimes, it just occurs tome what I will say to conclude my thesis, my three years in RUC, or maybe morebroadly speaking, all the previous 25 years of my life.

       I feel so excited that I rehearsed theacknowledgement several times, but still find myself at a loss when I set downto write it.  I have to say I stillremember clearly the heavy snowstorm which hit Anqing in early 2013 and I stillcould remember how I dropped the pen after finishing the last word on answersheet and waited for the final results, like my heart was baked over fire.  Fortunately, it turns out that I waslucky.  Sometimes when I walked pastMingde Building, I could still figure out how I was amazed at its grandeur atfirst real sight.

       You ask me whether I feel regretted forspending three years in postgraduate education. As when I am still groping formy job, my college classmates have all settled down. They have well-paid jobsand some even become mothers and fathers. Did I regret? Ok, sometimes it is justthat imbalance tortures me. Looking back on the 3 years, I find myself indebtedto so many people and that life has been so generous to me. My sincere gratitudewould first go to my supervisor Professor Xie Jiangnan, who stands out like mydear parent in RUC and who cared me, guided me not only in academic writing butalso in life.  Academically, during thethree years, I was able to know Foucault, culture industry, power, simulacra, andalso philosophy.  I got to know moreabout Shakespeare, about history.  Thesethings would never come to me had I not come to RUC.  I could definitely tell that I am notregretful. As for my thesis, my special thanks would also go to Professor WangJianping, whose lectures on American historical novels are indeed inspiring andalso professor Yang Xiaoming, who stroke me most with his preciseness and erudition. Last but not least, my thanks would goto RUC libraries. I was thrilled to find two books by accident, as they helpeda lot in my writing. And especially for the music (いつも何度でも) which plays at round 14:00 every day in library.

       To my dearest parents who are stillmaking a hard living. They give me life, provide me the opportunity to receiveeducation and teach me the truth of life and living. Bidding them goodbye isindeed difficult, though I pretend that it’s ok.  Saying goodbye always reminds me of a scenein the movie The Soong Sisters.  “Mum, please take good care of my little cats”,said Soong Ching-ling to her mother.  Ifeel indeed sorry for causing trouble for them.  They should, at this age, settle down andenjoy.  I wish it won’t take too long.

      Bidding Beijing goodbye is also painful.Not only for its history, culture and convenience, but also for all theunforgettable experiences with my roommates, old and new friends who eitheraccompany, encourage or just share joy and sadness with me. Life has been sogenerous to me, be it my days in Anqing with my dear roommates or in Beijing withAnn, Huiyuan, Dandan, Michel, Kyaw Zin Than and also Ms. Zheng and many otherfriends.

       This year, the Spring Holiday of RUCkicks off today. This morning, on my way to library, I saw groups of students withtheir suitcases, probably to Sichuan or Xinjiang or foreign countries?  Wish you all could have a wonderful journey.