The “Exchange Meeting Between New and Old Students” Is Really Depressing

5,134 characters2007.09.26

I had long been thinking about this year’s new-student/alumni meet-and-greet. I missed last year’s, and because I had been in seclusion for a long time, I had had almost no contact with the juniors and sophomores over the past year. In particular, I barely knew any of the class of ’06, and even the classmates in my own department were mostly unfamiliar faces. I really felt a bit guilty about that. In the last year of my undergraduate life, after thinking it over and over, I decided I should at least go see people. This was probably the only group activity I have主动参加 recently — because it seemed that if I didn’t go on my own, no one would come invite me anymore.

Back when I met the freshmen of the class of ’05, I seem to have delivered a long speech and talked about many things. Looking back now, that was really quite unnecessary. Of course, if any freshman were to talk with me privately again, or ask me to have a special chat, I would still make some long speeches. Whether you like listening or not, I simply want a chance to say what I myself have experienced.

This time, when I went to the new-student/alumni meet-and-greet for the class of ’07, I went in from the very beginning with the intention of just “drifting through”: absolutely no speaking, not only no long speeches, but no short ones either. My purpose in going was simply to recognize people, to see which remarkable figures there were among the classes of ’06 and ’07; at the same time, I also wanted to make a gesture and show my face to the freshmen. If there were a chance, I would tell them that they were welcome to come find me, especially if they had questions about studying or scholarship. No matter how my own level may be, my ability to guide others should be pretty good. Incidentally, I also wanted to use my last undergraduate year to see whether I might, by some coincidence, make the acquaintance of one or two future masters.

The event was said to start at 9 p.m. on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and of course I followed my usual rule: arrive five minutes early. But looking at the people in the room who were busy making preparations, I didn’t recognize anyone except ML and XCJ, and those two turned out to be the hosts or organizers or something of the sort……

Most people did not arrive on time, and the event was delayed until after 20 minutes before it officially began. During the wait I just wandered about in the corridor or in the dim area outside the door — everyone there was from my own department, yet I didn’t know a single one of them, which was very awkward. Besides, at that time it seemed no one cared about me, this wandering figure. Only one Korean freshman was extremely enthusiastic; he rushed up and shook my hand vigorously, asked who I was, and I said, “Just call me Senior Hu.” He had actually heard of me, said he admired how many books I had read, and so on. Then he pulled over another boy to introduce him to me, and I gave them my phone number.

After I went in, I sat by the door, preparing to listen and look around during the “exchange and meet-and-greet,” and once they started playing games, I would leave. After finally waiting for the activity to begin, I really hadn’t expected that there would be no exchange at all; everyone seemed already very familiar with each other, and they went straight into games. Passing the flower while drumming. I had no choice but to leave. Later I heard that from beginning to end, it really was just games.

By ordinary experience, at a time like this, freshmen and upperclassmen — even freshmen among themselves — especially boys and girls — generally don’t know each other very well. Maybe this class is a bit special. I heard that on Mid-Autumn night, Teacher WF treated their whole class to dinner; it seems it really may have been unnecessary for anyone to say much. The upperclassmen serving as hosts didn’t even introduce themselves, looking as though they were already quite familiar with the freshmen. But still, where on earth did that leave me, an upperclassman who specifically attended after seeing the public invitation to a “new-student/alumni exchange meet-and-greet”? Yes, I didn’t take part in orientation, and I wasn’t active in exchanging with freshmen. But now that I’ve taken the initiative to attend the so-called new-student/alumni exchange meet-and-greet, is that too late? Are you afraid I might go on another long speech and spoil your holiday mood? I wouldn’t do that — two years ago’s exchange meeting wasn’t on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Besides, even if you were going to exclude me, I don’t believe every upperclassman who went that day was already familiar with the freshmen; and indeed, I heard that Haitao left after I did.

After more than a year in seclusion, I finally emerged from the mountains once, only to have this turn into an exercise in embarrassment. I really don’t understand how, for today’s young people, an “exchange meet-and-greet” is carried out by having everyone play games for the whole event. Of course, games are great — the game of eagles catching chicks we played in Jingyuan during the Mid-Autumn Festival of my freshman year, such beautiful memories…… But why put on the banner of a “exchange meet-and-greet” and then make it a pure game event? Why not just call it a Mid-Autumn gathering? This really hurts my feelings so much~~~~~~~~
I don’t know who planned this event. If it was XCJ, then I won’t say anything. After all, I had originally withdrawn from the class-of-’07 QQ group because he joined it. I also haven’t figured out why I am so dissatisfied with him; that is a very strange thing. (I am not dissatisfied with many people, and if I am dissatisfied, I will say so openly; I would never secretly show dissatisfaction with anyone.)
Forget it. As I said on the BBS, knowing one formidable junior from the class of ’06 and one fierce junior female student from the class of ’07 is enough.
Let me continue my seclusion. When I get to graduate school, I’ll become active again.