Taoism-An Oak Tree and A Blade of Grass

I have moved in the penthouse for roughly a month. I still feel so fortunate to have a luxurious panoramic view of Glasgow for fifty weeks. If you come and visit me, you will be nicely surprised by how privileged I am at where I live. I need a key at the lift to take me to the penthouse since there is only one flat on that level. Another wonderful surprise is my flatmates. At first I was thinking eight girls they would not live together unless they were married to the emperor. However, it’s been a month now and we still talk to each other, I guess that’s a good sign, ha. The truth is I get on well with everyone, and some girls and I just hit it off right from the start. This is something I feel very grateful and something I know I should never take for granted. I enjoy going back to my sweet home and my “family” every day. We would knock on each other’s door to have a wee chat in bed before going to bed. I think one of the best places to chat is being in “bed” though some people might think talking is such a waste of time when you lie down…

The course I am taking now only occupies 1/3 of my attention here (I think that’s good enough). The other 2/3 I want to explore Glasgow lifestyle and meeting people practically from everywhere. The best lifestyle one can possibly have, in my view, is being a foreign student in one of the UK universities. It is such a challenge yet very rewarding to study a course in English with local and foreign students. I enjoy “reading people” a lot. Of course I get to know some people I am drawn to in the beginning, yet what interests me the most is to learn the hidden beauty in each unique individual. Guess that explains why most friends say they tend to have a deeeeper conversation with me. Sometimes I don’t feel I like in the UK but more like in mini EU, there are quite a good number of European students, especially from exchange programmes. I wonder what the majority of European thinks of EU, guess it depend on which perspective you are looking at. Then, should there be an Asian Union if it is such a good idea? Well, the best reply I could come up is that where there is land, there is Chinese, I suppose we simply love to explore everywhere as long as there is a market rather than confine ourselves to Asia?! Another huge group of people I have met is the generation from the 80’s, which I would also like to describe as the “Internet Generation”. Babies from the 80’s, they learn knowledge by clicking enter or delete. Interestingly, I find this generation can learn fast and have a good variety of different viewpoints individually (though not always practical). They seem to have a better idea of what they want to achieve in the future than me at the same age. So, what seems to be lacking in this generation then? I would say patience and persistence in general, guess there are things cannot be taught by computers.

Lastly, I have the last 1/3, my study, which I am the least motivated to focus on when I am here. It is funny how the more you least expect to enjoy doing something, it turns out not so bad in the end. I was reading a book “Managing Across Cultures” for my assignment, it was quite pleasant reading in the end, especially the part with the distinctive cultural characters between the East and the West. Of course I am always bias in this aspect, I believe Chinese philosophy is the ultimate truth in life. One example, as Lao Tzu, generally considered as the spiritual leader of Taoism, wrote: since all matters have positive and negative attributes associated with them, the key to success is to accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. Consider, for instance, the difference between an oak tree and a blade of grass. The oak tree is strong and mighty, no one can trample on it when it stands. A blade of grass, on the other hand, is small and fragile. It can be stomped on and crushed. But this picture changes during a storm. The tree may collapse under the wind’s force, while the blade of grass yields to the gusts and stand firm. I enjoy this metaphor a lot. Guess everyone is gifted in different ways, we do not really need to envy others or feel less confident in ourselves. I see myself more the grass type. Well, I did not have a very pleasant upbringing and haven’t got a sweet home I can return in Taiwan. Nevertheless, I feel I’ve got nothing to lose, I can enjoy living on less and explore living in foreign land without family constrain. So, my dear friend, which type do you see in yourself then?

Now, it is the change of a new season, a very challenging season for me, indeed!