Visitors

A group of senior physicians from a major medical school of our country came and visited our department – with an aim of exploring potential aspects that we could have some collaboration.

We ended up having a small meeting of a dozen people. After a brief introduction, our chairman showed a video to introduce our faculty – it was a short film specifically prepared by the university for visitors from the mainland, with narration in Putonghua.

After that, our friends from China decided to show a little movie to introduce their hospital – it was in (perfectly spoken) English.

All through the morning, I had a deja vu feeling of reading Fortress Besieged (圍城) of Qian Zhongshu (錢鍾書): People outside the fortress wish to get in, but those who are inside want to come out.

PS. During the meeting, we each took turn to give a brief presentation on our own division. Most of us spoke in Putonghua, but I had no choice but had to do with English - of course our friends from China could understand alright.

I'm sure we should emphasize our difference, not similarity.

"Ah-Q," I could hear you whisper.