Finally I am going home after two years of working in the United States.  At the outset, I want to thank Aunt Jingyi and Uncle Ming for sending me to the airport. It’s so much nicer to have someone there for you.

Planning to leave with a handbag, I ended up with a big suitcase. Life is full of surprise, isn’t it?

The first time in my life, I will become a “big girl” in my family, because during these two years, I finanlly became "totally" independent. I know they are proud and I am glad that they are. However, this is just the very beginning of my career.  I hope during this month in China, I can get a clearer picture of the market and a better idea of what I want to do.

Sometimes, I am puzzled whether I am pushing myself too hard. Uncle Ming said the good thing of living in the U.S. is the stability. In here, it’s unnecessary to struggle for as much money as possible.  His words put me into some sort of thinking.

Jay, a friend of mine, retired in his early 40s, after 20 years being a real estate attorney. He said he wasn’t blessed with a lot of money, but his saving is enough for him to retire. Tomki, another friend of mine, told me he is making 200K right now as a sales engineer. He plans to retire in 4 years, when he reaches 40. He just moved back to California. Grew up in the woods, he said it really doesn’t cost much money to have a very comfortable life back in the woods.

I believe, in the United States, many more people are just like these two of my friends. "What I want in life" becomes a question to most of the young people here.  However, in China, people’s mindset is different. What are the differences?

First of all, we take on much more responsibilities from families.  Most of the people, as least most of the people that I know, work so hard, not to retire in early age, but to give their parents, kids, or other relatives a better life. Many of them don’t even think about what they really want, instead just fall in this routine kind of living.  I hope I can find a balance in this.

Second of all, many people in China tend to work as hard as they can in order to be prepared for life accidental issues, which is, in part or to a large degree, why Chinese have much more saving than American. Chinese would save up to fifty percent or more of their earnings, while most American would spend the same percentage of their earnings in rent.

...

 I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to expand my vision in the United States during the last couple years.  My first visit to America was in August 2004, as an exchange student in SUNY. After the one year exchange program, I returned to my home university in China in June 2005. After that, I transferred to IWC through my school in August 2005 and got my bachelor degree from there in August 2006. Prior to that, I returned to China and finished my internship in Nanbao Pharmaceutical Company.  In July 2006, again I came to US for my Optional Practical Training, during which, I was fortunate to have the opportunities to work in ROI Group LLC, an investor relations firm, which encouraged me to get my master degree in finance.

The purpose of visiting China this time is to visit families and to look for opportunities.

After spending all this time in US, I believe I have a quite good network of professionals who are ambious like me and want to do something in the booming Chinese market. I want to build a bridge between China and US, to help the Chinese companies to access the US capital market and vice versa.  I strongly belive this is the way for me to make full use of my advantages, and I can see my furture career in it.

I love the city of New York. However, I strongly believe that no matter how succesful you are, your happiness still entirely depends on your relationship. I grew up,  here in China,  in a big, great family that I love with all my heart. A life without them would not be meaningful to me, in any sense.  Fourtunatly,  my parents are in good health condition, and I want to make sure this is the case when time passes by. I want to be here when my sister gets married, and I want to watch my newphew (son of my brother) growing up...

I appreciate life;  appreciate what I have, appreciate what I was, am and might be able to gain in life.  Also, I believe in hardworking and human brain power.  Being apprecaitive keeps you healthy and happy. With the right strategy and right amount of effort, you will get there before you even notice.