GlobThink

Very very soon I will be quitting Asia, in General, and China, in particular. I am going on some holidays before finally arriving in Chicago.

I would like to publish the farewell email I sent to my colleagues because It shows very well – I think – what my experience in Asia meant to me and some of the things I learnt here.

I think most foreigners that, like me, have  had the chance to live in Asia or China love it and we will never forget it. And many of us will come back.

Farewell – 告别

…As the German singer Herbert Grönemeyer used to say, “the days were counted and none of them is left”…

…一个德国诗人和歌唱家 Herbert Grönemeyer 经常这样说过：”命运数算着我的日子,但日子现已所余无几了”…

I used to dream of Asia when I was in Europe. Now I do not know anymore whether I am a European who dreams of Asia or an Asian who dreams of Europe. During my dreams in Asia, the breeze of the Pacific has been blowing onto my face in front of Victoria Harbor, along Shennan Road, in the Bund or on the top of Tokyo Tower. Now that wind is blowing me away across the airs of the Pacific Ocean.

我在欧洲的时候经常梦想亚洲。现在我不知道我是一个梦想亚洲的欧洲人还是一个梦想欧洲的亚洲人。这些年在亚洲，我在维多利亚港的时候，在深南中路的时候，在上海的外滩或者在东京塔的最高一曾的时候，太平洋的微一直轻拂我的脸。现在这微风将带我去太平洋的另外一岸。

On August 9th, that inspiring tornado will drop me onto the American continent, where I will start a new dream, a new adventure: an MBA (Master of Business Administration) at the University of Chicago. I will major in General Management and Finance, and will focus on emerging economies like China, but also like India or Brazil. My studies will last for two years and will be fully sponsored by a renowned scholarship of a Spanish bank called La Caixa.

8月9日，微风将带我到芝加哥大学，在那里我会留学两年学习一个MBA（国际工商管理硕士)。我的专业是管理和金融。我会特别学习发展中国家，其中不仅有中国还有印度或巴西。一间西班牙银行的一个很有名的奖学金会付我的学费。

My time in [company name] has been one of the best periods of my life. [company name] has given me the opportunity to lead two amazing projects in a part of the world where I was a stranger but I am not anymore. Each one of you has given me the opportunity to learn new things, to see business and life from very different points of view, and to challenge my own assumptions. It has been wonderful to work with you. I do not know exactly how my life will be after my studies. But, for sure, I would be delighted if my way crosses again in the future with yours or with that of [company name].

我在［公司的名字］的经验是我的生命最好的时期之一。威立雅给我在我不太熟思的一个地去管理两个项目的机会，可是现在我熟思比较好。你们每一个人都给我学到新的东西的机会，从另外一个角度了解商业和生活的机会，挑战我自己的看法的机会。同你们一起工作真精彩。我还不知道我毕业以后我的生活怎么样。但是如果我的未来和你们的或者［公司的名字］的还有合作的话，我一定非常高兴。

On August 9th, my days start to be counted again in Chicago. But at some point, none of them will be left and the wind will blow me somewhere else…

8月9日在芝加哥，我的天再开始计算。但是日子都过了的时候，风会把我去另外一个地方...

Image: The map, found at the University of San Diego, was originally published in Time Magazine in 1952. I found this map in the blog Strange Maps