成为牛津人的自豪

Proud to be an Oxonianx0a《西游漫记——牛津大学和哥伦比亚大学访学实录》（5）x0aWandering and Wonderingin the West (5)...



与Alan教授讨论研究重点2012年5月31日中午，约好与阿兰.哈德森教授共进午餐，这是到牛津后第一次与阿兰教授正式见面，阿兰教授 (在英国，大家习惯称昵称，或者直呼其名，一般在邮件和谈话中一般不需要加姓氏，立即拉近了人与人之间的距离)。午餐在Wellington Square 的Rewley House中心进行，有点儿类似于我们的单位招待所。

教授邀我一起在办公室旁边的咖啡馆里讨论，咖啡馆门面虽小，却庭院深深。我的选题是研究和了解伦敦国际服务能力形成进程，从多角度考察伦敦国际服务能力，为上海的国际化发展提供借鉴和参考作用，属案例研究。通过与阿兰教授交流与讨论，初步确定了课题研究的重点。

阿兰教授负责牛津大学国际合作教育的中国培训项目，他在浦东国家干部学院的公共政策课程被视为名家课程。阿兰每天的工作日程排得很满，见面两次每次都很准时，结束后马上又回到办公室去处理他的案头工作，并安排6月中旬再度赴上海授课。我的牛津大学校园卡办理期间，他将通过Email发电子版研究资料便于尽快熟悉伦敦经济状况。这段时期主要是学习现有的研究文献。虽然在轻松的氛围中进行，感受到了牛津教授的严谨内敛，责任心强。刚到英国还不能立即适应英语语境，但是讨论专业问题还将就得过去。第一阶段主要是学习文献资料，并迅速提高英语交流能力；第二阶段将在阿兰教授的推荐下与伦敦相关部门管理人员访谈。

Oxonian（牛津人）的感觉——持“卡”通行来到英国快一个月了，6月18日下午终于领到了牛津大学的校园卡。幸亏这段时间有阿兰教授发给我的一本刚送出版社排印的书稿《The Global Recession》的电子文档，逐字逐句的啃，一方面是这本书符合我的研究方向，另一方面利用这个机会把生锈了英语单词从记忆中捡回来，否则宝贵的时光就这么枉费了实在是冤。



19日一大早坐在双层巴士的顶层，享受着明媚阳光，欣赏着路边大片的麦田风光，想到可以在牛津各学院畅行无阻不免内心激动，Oxonian（牛津人）的自豪感油然而生。太阳终于照耀大地，用英国话讲sunny and no windy，下了十几天的雨好不容易停下来了，报纸用大标题“今年英国的夏天从九月份开始”来调侃，您可能不信，又潮又冷，每天晚上需要开会儿暖气，天气预报用Chilly来形容。在上海绝对想象不到，六月里的天儿，人们期盼太阳公公。这就是典型的英国气候，变化无常。大街上有人穿T恤，有人套羽绒服。牛津大学城市和大学融为一体，不显眼的大门里可能就隐藏着一个个历史积淀深厚的学院。各个学院都有门卫把守，真想探个究竟，没有卡是行不通的。利用这个机会品味牛津，容我向您慢慢道来，共同体味这座古老而魅力十足的千年学府。网络上详细介绍牛津的文章并不多，新浪博客“窗外有蓝天”的博主“薇薇的家园”值得一看，游记文字优美，摄影作品上乘。

 Bodleian Library博德利图书馆(钱钟书译为饱蠹楼)在进入博得利图书馆之前，虽然已经在网上查询了博德利图书馆的故事，牛津大学的标志性建筑——那个高傲地雄踞于牛津中心、厚重、圆形的穹顶建筑居然就是牛津人每天可以自由翻阅图书的场所，大大出乎我的意料。6月21日第一次站在图书馆的书架前翻看藏书，仰望足有20多米高的巨大穹顶和周围结实的木质书架时，欧洲建筑的雄伟、庄严和神圣带来的视觉冲击和愉悦令我心潮澎湃。前一天我还像其他游客一样端着相机对它横拍竖照呢，猜想这里可能是举办盛大活动的场所，原以为前面四面围合的方方正正的建筑是图书馆呢。第二天居然就端坐在靠窗的书桌上阅读，看着窗外的游客，俨然已经是牛津大学的一份子了（书桌上安装了电源，读者可以自带电脑，登陆图书馆无限网络，尽享电子图书资源）。还在地下书库发现了许多需要阅读的重要参考文献,脑海中顿时浮现出马克思在大英图书馆研读的画面。我在牛津访学的大部分时间将在这个神圣的殿堂里渡过。风靡全球的影片《哈利.波特》系列有海量的场景都是在此处拍摄。




通往地下书库的入口就在这个穹顶建筑下面，小心翼翼地走在通往地下书库的楼梯时，芝麻开门——发现宝藏暗道的神奇，地下书库里排列得密集的书架，据说全部延展后的全长可达到惊人的153英里（约246公里），几乎收藏了人类文明的所有研究成果，名副其实的知识宝藏，人类智慧和财富的源泉，入口处明示藏书一律不外借。1598年曾任牛津大学研究人员的外交家T.博德利重建该馆的计划为校方接受，博德利亲自监督改建工程，主持设计，广泛搜集图书,并捐赠了自己的藏书。经过4年努力,1602年图书馆开放,藏书2000多册，不久，博德利利用捐赠款项设立基金会，使该馆的经费得到保证。他还多方奔走促成该馆为英国5个接受出版物缴送本的图书馆之一。难怪从牛津走出了那么多影响世界的人物。图书馆的历史可以追溯到13世纪，历史上英国也出现过焚书坑儒的时代，牛津大学的藏书曾两度被全部焚毁。据传，现在即使英国国王也无权借走图书馆的任何一本书，知识和规则面前人人平等。

荣誉学位授予取得成就的牛津人6月20日那天图书馆周围戒备森严，据说举行牛津大学一年一度的建校庆祝活动，并答谢捐助者。牛津的街道和校园的草坪上不时能看到身着长衫的教授们的翩翩身影。今年的活动主题是为AungSan Suu Kyi（昂山素姬）颁发荣誉博士学位。昂山素姬毕业于牛津大学 StHugh's College (圣休学院)，是缅甸非暴力提倡民主的政治家。先后在纽约联合国办事处任职助理秘书,在英国与阿里斯结婚、日本京都大学南亚研究中心从事访问学者。1988年9月获悉母亲中风后独自回国。成为全国民主联盟的联席创办人兼总书记，1989年7月20日起，先后被缅甸军政府以“危害国家”罪名软禁家中15年，1990年5月27日全国民主联盟在大选中以压倒性票数获胜，但选举结果遭军政府抵赖。2010年11月获释，软禁期间得到了BBC等国际媒体和文化界的舆论支持。Damien Rice的Unplayed Piano以她为原型创作。1990年她获得萨哈罗夫奖，翌年获得诺贝尔和平奖。2012年6月16日，抵达挪威，正式领取她在1991年获得的诺贝尔和平奖，发表了朴实的获奖致辞。之后应英国首相卡梅隆之邀访问英国，6月20日她在牛津的演讲平实而感人，在她身上体现了牛津精神：对个人尊严的尊重、对自由和民主的追求、对人类文明传承的执着。6月21日英国首相卡梅隆及各党派在威斯特敏大教堂为她举行欢迎仪式。牛津把最高荣誉授予了这位杰出的学生。她在诺贝尔和平奖的发言：“第一次世界大战带来了令人恐惧的对青春和才智的浪费，对我们这个世界的积极力量的残忍毁灭。那个时代的诗歌对我来说意义非凡，因为当我第一次读到这些诗歌的时候，我与那些面临含苞待放却即刻就要枯萎的人生前景的青年们处于相仿的年纪。一位参与法国外籍兵团作战的美国士兵，在1916年的一次战斗中牺牲之前，他这样写道，他即将面对自己的死亡，“在某个争斗的要塞”，“在某个瘢痕累累的激战的山坡上”，或是“在大火纷飞的小镇的午夜时分”。青春、爱和生命，为了夺取无名的、不会被人铭记的地方而作无谓的战斗，永远地凋谢、毁灭。这样的牺牲意义何在？一个世纪以来，我们依然需要为此找到令人满意的回答。”她道出了战争对于人类是多么荒唐和对年轻生命的漠视。（The First World War represented aterrifying waste of youth and potential, a cruel squandering of the positiveforces of our planet. The poetry of that era has a special significance for mebecause I first read it at a time when I was the same age as many of thoseyoung men who had to face the prospect of withering before they had barelyblossomed. A young American fighting with the French Foreign Legion wrotebefore he was killed in action in 1916 that he would meet his death: “at some disputed barricade;” “on somescarred slope of battered hill;” “at midnight in someflaming town.” Youth and love and life perishingforever in senseless attempts to capture nameless, unremembered places. And forwhat? Nearly a century on, we have yet to find a satisfactory answer.）Nobel Lecture by Aung San Suu Kyi, Oslo, 16 June, 2012。

最后摘一段@白色小狮子的博文作为结束语：牛津大学—这座古老的学府无声地展开双臂，欢迎着每个欣赏和赞美它的人，并慷慨地给予着智慧。一所大学真正的声望是从老房子的一砖一瓦、泛黄的书页、对历史虔诚的尊重和对未来不惧的探索、对平凡及差异的包容和对卓越和杰出的追求。无形的态度超越有形的建筑。一个国家亦然。

Proud to be an OxonianQingjuan li Discussion about research focus with AlanI had lunch with Mr. Alan Hudson on May 31st.He insists I call him Alan, as is customary in British culture for two to referto each other by their first name, differing in some regard from Chinesecustom. It was our first meeting in Oxford. Lunch was at the Rewley House Centerin Wellington Square, and was much like our unit’s reception place for guests.Yesterday, I went to Alan’s office, a classy old building at Wellington Square; not too big atabout 10 square meters. Most architecture in Oxford is classic and traditional,with a few more modern building mixed in. Both Alan and my hostess Hazelpointed and complained that those newer buildings are eyesores. With almost onethousand years of history, Oxford inspires a pride in its classic heritage and breedsa strong sense of culture.

Alan invited me to a small coffee house nextto his office. I told him my research plan is to do a case study about theformation process of London’s internationalservice abilities. By investigating London’s experiencefrom different angles, my research means to provide some suggestions for the furtherdevelopment of Shanghai’s government. After somediscussion with Alan, I focused my ideas on several key points.

Alan is the director of Leadership Programmesfor China in Oxford University’sDepartment for Continuing Education. He also teaches in China’s Pudong Carder College. His course in public policy is recognizedas one of the more popular courses offered by the college. Alan’s work schedule is quite busy. He was on time for both meetings andwent straight back to work after the meeting. However,before I received myOxford University identification card to access to the library, he still tooktime to email me some materials about London’s economicstatus to facilitate my research. I get the feeling that the spirit of Oxfordis rigorous and responsible. I am not yet used to an English environment, but Iam slowly becoming more confident when talking about professional issues. Ihave the hope that, in later months, I will be able to interview some of themanagers in related departments that

Alan will introduce.

 Feelings of being an Oxonian—Card “Pass”I have been in Britainfor almost a month and finally received my university identification card on June18th. Before getting the card, I was reading an electronic document, “The Global Recession”

that Alan sent to meearlier, which was just submitted to the Oxford University Press forpublishing. Thanks to this book I was able to make good use of my time to startmy research. By reading it word

by word and sentence bysentence, I also started to improve my still-developing English. The nextmorning, I took a double-decker bus to the campus, going up to the top level toget some long missed sunshine and lively farm views. It has been raining forover two weeks and now it’s “sunnyand not windy” as the weather man said. An article inthe newspaper even made fun of the weather with the headline “Britain’s summer of this year starts fromSeptember.” Britons look forward to the rare sunnydays. People who live in Shanghai would not believe that the weather in Junecan be so chilly and humid that people need to turn on their heaters during thenight. This is how the weather is like in Britain: unpredictable. It is commonto see people wearing clothes of many different seasons walking down thestreet, some wear t-shirts while some wear down jackets.

The university has long been integrated intothe city with apartments guarded by doormen. Behind some inconspicuous doormight be an academic hall with long history and profound traditional culture. Ihave long wanted to visit, but nobody may enter those doors without a properuniversity identification card. Today, with my “pass” in hand, I was finally able toexperience this mysterious

world. Considering thelack of articles about the University of Oxford, I will share my experiences fromthis old charming university.Bodleian LibraryBefore I got to visit the Bodleian Library, Iread some stories of it on the internet. It is not only the main researchlibrary of the university, but also ranks second place after the BritishLibrary in U.K. Based on oxford’swebsite, there are 29 reading rooms, 120 miles of book shelving, and 2490places providing seats or relaxation for readers with a book. Besides, “Harry Potter,” known as the popular movieseries, has shot various scenes from this very place.

Located at the heart of Oxford’s “Academic Quarter,” this library is always surrounded by tourists taking picture. WhenI first saw it in person, I was amazed by this huge building with its solidwalls and beautiful dome, where citizens like to take time to read or study.The great dome and solid wooden bookshelves are beyond any expectations. Mymind flooded with excitement from the building’s visualimpact; it’s solemn and sacred majesty. I grabbed abook and sat down in front of a desk, all of which have their own power outletsfor laptop computers. Even now, I cannot believe that I have enjoyed many abook at this library. Before I received my pass, I was stuck outside with thetourists, trying to capture it permanently with my camera while not knowingjust what was inside those grand doors!

The entrance to the underground stacks isunder the dome. At the end of the staircase lies amysterious door appearing tohide unimaginable treasures. These books are not for circulation; it is saidthat even the king of U.K. could not borrow a book from here. It was here thatI found the book “Real City,” a famous historical reference book. These precious books may be thereason that there are so many famous names connected to the University ofOxford. The library’s history can be traced back to the13th century. During that period, Oxford University was only an impoverishedinstitution, so that there is no any resource for them to establish their collectionsinstead of those dispersed ones. Later on, in 1556, in order to earn money, thedesks were sold here and the place was replaced by the medical school. Then,Thomas Bodley(1545-1613), a fellow of Merton College, just rescued the library.He had travelled nearly whole Europe and implemented several diplomaticmissions for Queen Elizabeth I between 1585-1596. In 1598, his donation was acceptedand utilized to refurnish the old library. Besides, more than 2500 books werecollected, among it, some of them donated by Bodley himself, some by otherpeople. Four years later, the library finally reopened on November 8, 1602through great efforts. In 1610, Bodley reached an agreement with the Stationers’ Company of London. According to the agreement, a copy of every bookwould be donated in the new library, once it is published in England andregistered at the Stationers’ Hall.

 Honorary doctorate would be awarded to successful OxoniansThe library area was under heavy guard onJune 20th due to the anniversary of the university’s founding. Professors dressed in their formal gownswere common sights on campus. The theme of this year’sfestivities centered around the awarding of an honorary doctorate in civil lawto Aung San Suu Kyi who had owned St. Hugh’s College’s B.A., majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1969. Now,she is a Burmese-opposition politician, as well as the chairman of the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) in Burma. She previously worked at the UnitedNations as an assistant secretary before marrying Michael Aris of the U.K.In1988, Suu Kyi came back to Burma to take care of her sick mother, after that,she led the Burmese democratic movement. Working towards a goal ofdemocratisation, she made a contribution for the foundation of National Leaguefor Democracy on 27 September 1988. However, she was under house arrest foralmost 15 years beginning in July, 1989.

In 1990, a general election was held by theappealing of military junta, the NLD received majority vote, but failed to takepower when the military refused to relinquish its hold on the country, sparking

strong internationalattention. At the same year, she won the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,andthe Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. During the following years, she was remainedunder house arrest until her release on November 1, 2010, receiving vocalsupport from many western nations and famous individuals. On June 16, 2012, SuuKyi visited Swiss parliament through her Europe traveling, and finally receivedNobel Prize which she should have obtained in 1991, Oslo, Sweden. Responding toan invited by British Prime Minister David Cameron, she visited Britain on June19 and gave a speech at the Westminster Hall on the 21st. Her speech was simpleyet impressive. The spirit of Oxford is felt in her respect for human dignity,pursuit of freedom and democracy, and efforts to preserve the heritage of humancivilization. She deserves all of her honours.



The dining hall of Christ Collegewhere，the film Harry Potter was shot



All Souls College: Dual purpose of the event--Honor and baptism

I will end this chapter with some thoughtsfrom Kathy’s blog: the University ofOxford … This old institution passes on herintelligence and opens her arms to welcome all who admire and appreciate her.The real reputation of a university is gained from a single brick, a tile of anold building, and faded pages in a book; from respect for its history toexploring its future without fear and embracing the ordinary and the differentequally, looking forward to excellence. This intangible attitude is more powerfulthan the visible buildings and is also true for a great country.

 

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