Liu Jianshu, John (Oriel, 2010 - )

While working in rural China, I was very lucky to be admitted by Oxford University. Even luckier was that I received the generous support from Mrs. and Mr. Paterson, and this is the first year the Paterson Trust offers financial support for master students. Isn't that amazing? I've never got the chance to meet Mrs. and Mr. Paterson, so I am really looking forward to thanking them face to face.

So far my life in Oxford goes perfectly. I've settled down smoothly. I've met dozens of interesting people and become friends with some of them. I've made a study plan and before the start of term, I am already working on it. Jurisprudence and Political Theory, Constitutional Theory are two of Oxford's best and most challenging courses. The undergraduate course Company Law would help me lay a solid foundation of common law. I believe the coming year would be as exciting, if not more, as the year in China Rural Library.

Yesterday, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Yesterday was also John Lennon's birthday. It is an interesting coincidence.

"You may say, I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world would be as one." John Lennon sang so. "We hope that our fellow citizens. will... embrace the broad goals of this citizens' movement. Together we can work for major changes in Chinese society and for the rapid establishment of a free, democratic, and constitutional country. We can bring to reality the goals and ideals that our people have incessantly been seeking for more than a hundred years, and can bring a brilliant new chapter to Chinese civilization." Liu Xiaobo wrote so.

This is not coincidence.

Now, I will concentrate on my Oxford life and try to get the most out of it. Someday, maybe I can really join them, and contribute my own tiny voice.