Unit 9

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening
Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.

Second Listening
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.
1) Why do you think big countries and big companies offer jobs to people from abroad?
2) One of your friends wants to accept a job overseas. What advice would you give him/her?
3) If a company hires many people from a different country, does it have any responsibilities toward that country? Explain your answer.

Stop Brain Drain

A bill now before Congress would give preferential treatment to foreign students with advanced degrees in science and engineering who want to work in the United States.
To those of us who are immigrants, the bill seems simply to sanction a policy secretly implemented by U.S. industry for nearly four decades — namely, stealing brains from the third world.
In general, the "21st Century Technology Resources and Commercial Leadership Act", which Sen. John McCain brought to the Senate in late 1999, is designed to keep the U.S. high-tech industry on top by filling the need for skilled technology workers. One provision of the bill states that, among non-immigrant visa applicants, the state should give preference to foreign nationals with secondary degrees in math, science, engineering or technology. Such a provision would provide "temporary skilled personnel" in those fields.
During the 1960s and 1970s, politicians in my native country, India, used to wave the slogan "Stop Brain Drain" — a reference to the fact that the cream of India was leaving for the lucrative shores of England and America.
In that post-independence era, when everything foreign was considered contaminated by colonialism, we talked of cottage industries and economic imperialism. We threw Coca-Cola out and invented "Thumbs Up Cola".
But it was also the era of Sputnik, of nuclear power and the green revolution. Every year, on Independence Day, our Prime Minister Nehru spoke of the benefits of science and technology.
Our institutes of technology, built with European and American aid, offered students free room and board, even salary. Indian taxpayers footed the bill in the hope that one day the graduates would help reconstruct the nation.
I was one such student. But studying my textbooks late at night in the library of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), I would dream, not of India, but of America, the land of opportunity. Many students like me, indeed, left during those years, never to return.
So our government set up special programs to tempt foreign graduates. Our leaders saw parallels to the independence movement founded by people like Nehru and Gandhi who, after absorbing Western political thought at institutions like Eton and Oxford, returned home to serve their native land.
But few foreign graduates came home to "pay their pledge", as Nehru had put it. Our leaders had failed to see that the emphasis on symbol manipulation at IIT left little room for social thought and much scope for the greedy outcomes of capital-driven business.
Over the next two decades, IIT graduates — educated at the expense of Indian taxpayers — played a major role in founding California's Silicon Valley. The personal computer revolution and the invention of the Internet made the demand for skilled labor mushroom to such tremendous proportions that even if every American child were to study nothing but science from now on, we would be unable to keep pace with demand in the decades to come.
In other words, the legislation would benefit not immigrants, but American industry which would be crippled without it. In India in the meantime, the entire education system has shifted gears to feed the appetite of the American computer industry. As IIT cannot graduate enough students to fill these needs, every street corner now sports billboards for private academies offering certificates in computer programming.
At a book show in my hometown of Nagpur recently, large crowds of young people examined books on engineering and software.
Comments about "Brain Drain" don't hold much water when every politician has a son or daughter aiming to go abroad.
And why bother rebuilding the nation when the only goal is to abandon it? At the Nagpur book show, for example, the latest American social publications were conspicuous by their absence and India's politically conscious leadership has been replaced by a new generation, riding on the wave of the Internet, making fortunes within a span of years.
This new leadership has abandoned all talk of economic imperialism in favor of market economics. Indians now put flowers around Bill Gates' neck and offer him the kind of reception once offered only to the Queen. And Thumbs Up is a branch of Coca-Cola.
Mid-sized cities like Bangalore are now the Silicon Valleys of India — their workers generate demand for the very products that they produce. But the nation is slowly disintegrating. India's population recently hit 1 billion, but its interior framework in water, transportation and health care is fast falling apart; its citizens breathe air that is dangerously polluted.
India had gone from an agricultural society to the cyber-revolution, without passing through intermediate stages such as the welfare state and the creation of social services.
Perhaps it is time to pass legislation calling for a "Brain Trust". Funded by corporations like Microsoft and Intel which have drained India of its brains for decades, the trust could set up new institutes in India aimed at training students not in symbol manipulation, but in social thought. Such an effort is our only hope of creating the social structure needed in the next century.
Words: 840

NEW WORDS

drain
n. 1. [C] anything that continuously uses up sb.'s strength,time, money, etc. 不断消耗（力量、时间、金钱）的事
2. [C] a pipe to carry away the unwanted water 排水管（道），下水道
v. (cause to) become dry as water or sth. similar flows off; (cause to) flow away (使)渐渐流干；（使）逐渐流出

Congress
n. the highest law-making body e.g. of the U.S. 国会（立法机关，如美国国会）

advanced
a. 1. not elementary 高级的，高深的，程度高的
2. highly developed 先进的

immigrant
n. [C] a person who has come into a foreign country in order to live there permanently （外来）移民，侨民

namely
ad. (and) that is (to say) 即，即是

commercial
a. 1. of business practices and activities generally 商业（上）的，商务的
2. making or intended to make a profit 商业性的，赢利或以赢利为目的的

leadership
n. 1. [U] being a leader 领导
2. [U] the ability to be a leader 领导能力

senate
n. [U] 上议院，参议院

skilled
a. 1. experienced; trained 有经验的，训练有素的
2. (of work) needing skill （指工作）需要技能的

provision
n. 1. [C] a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must happen or be done 规定，条款
2. (pl.) supplies of food and other necessary things 给养，供应物
3. [U] giving, lending, supplying or making sth. available; providing sth. 提供，供应，供给

▲visa
n. [C] an official mark made in a passport which allows one to enter or leave a particular country （护照上的）签证

applicant
n. [C] a person who formally applies for or requests sth., esp. a job or a place at college or university 申请人

▲slogan
n. [C] a short easily-remembered phrase intended to bring an idea or a product to public notice 标语，口号，广告语

reference
n. 1. [C] a statement, etc. speaking of or mentioning sb./sth. 提到，说到，暗示
2. [U] information or instructions to look at for help 查看，查阅，参考

◆lucrative
a. bringing in plenty of money; profitable 赚钱的，可获利的

independence
n. [U] state of not being dependent on others 独立，自主，自立

post-independence
a. [U] 独立后的

era
n. [C] a period of time that is marked by particular events or developments 时代，历史时期

▲colonial
a. of, relating to or having a colony or colonies 殖民地的

colonialism
n. [U] the belief in and support for the system of one country controlling another 殖民主义

▲imperial
a. of a large powerful country or its ruler(s) 帝国的，皇帝的

imperialism
n. 1. [U] a country's efforts to have a lot of power and influence over other countries, esp. in political and economic matters 势力扩张
2. [U] a system in which a country rules other countries 帝国主义

thumb
n. [C] （手的）拇指
v. get a free ride by raising the thumb as a signal 站在路边竖起拇指要求免费搭车

prime
a. 1. most important 最重要的，主要的，根本的
2. of the best quality; excellent 最佳的，第一流的
n. [U] state or time of greatest strength, beauty, energy, etc. 青春，壮年，全盛时期

institute
n. [C] an organization which exists so that its members can do a particular job (esp. educational or social work), or the buildings which it uses 组织，机构，学院

textbook
n. [C] a book with detailed information about a subject for people who are studying that subject 教科书，课本

parallel
n. 1. [C] sth. very similar to sth. else; (a point of) similarity 可相比拟的事物；相似处
2. [C] a line that is always at the same distance from another line 平行线
a. (of two or more straight lines) having the same distance between each other at every point 平行的

pledge
n. [C] a promise, or sth. that is given as a sign that one will keep a promise 誓言，誓约，保证
vt. give one's word as a pledge 发誓，保证

▲manipulate
vt. 1. control (sb./sth.) to one's advantage 操纵，控制
2. work with skillful use of the hands 操作，使用

manipulation
n. [C, U] act of manipulating or being manipulated 操纵，控制

scope
n. 1. [U] the chance of doing sth. 余地，机会
2. [U] the range of a subject covered by a book, program, discussion, class, etc. 范围

outcome
n. [C] (usu. sing.) a result or effect of an action 结果，后果

■capital-driven
a. driven by the desire of getting more capital 为资本所驱动的

▲silicon
n. [U] 硅

mushroom
vi. spread or increase in number quickly 迅速蔓延，迅速增加
n. [C] 蘑菇，伞菌

legislation
n. 1. [U] the laws made 法律
2. [U] action of making laws 立法

shift
v. (cause to) move or change from one position or direction to another 移动，转变，转移
n. 1. [C] a change of place, nature, form, etc. 移动，改变，转变
2. [C] a group of workers who do a job for a period of time during the day or night; the period of time itself 轮班职工；轮班

gear
n. 1. [C] (usu. pl.) （汽车的）排挡
2. [U] equipment, clothes, etc. that you use to do a particular activity 装备，用具，衣着
vt. organize, make ready or prepare a person or place for a particular event or type of activity 使准备好，使适应

appetite
n. [C] a desire or need for sth. esp. food 胃口，欲望

■billboard
n. a high fence or board on which large advertisements are stuck 广告的招贴牌

academy
n. 1. [C] a school for special training 专科学校
2. [C] an organization intended to advance art, science, language, etc. 学会；研究院

software
n. [U] the instructions which control what a computer does; computer programs （计算机）软件，程序

abandon
vt. leave (a place, thing or person) forever; stop doing sth. before you have finished it 抛弃，遗弃；放弃

reception
n. 1. [U] (usu. sing.) a particular kind of welcome 接待，招待，欢迎
2. [U] way in which sb./sth. is received 反应

integrate
v. combine sth. in such a way that it becomes fully a part of sth. else 连接（各部）使成一整体，（使）结合，（使）完全，（使）并入

disintegrate
vi. (cause to) break into small parts or pieces （使）分裂，（使）分解

billion
n. [C] 10亿

framework
n. [C] a supporting structure around which sth. can be built 框架，构架，结构

transportation
n. [U] a means or system of carrying passengers or goods from one place to another 运输（系统），交通（系统）

■cyber-revolution
n. 网络革命

intermediate
a. 1. placed or coming between two people, things, etc. in time, space, degree, etc. （在时间、空间、程度方面）中间的，居中的
2. between elementary and advanced 中级的

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

in general
mainly; mostly; usually 主要地；大部分；通常

on top
in a better or higher position 处于领先地位

talk of
talk about; mention 谈论；提及

throw sth. out
throw sth. useless or unwanted away 扔掉，处理掉某物

thumbs up
an indication that sth. is seen as good or has official recognition 伸出大拇指表示接受或赞成的手势

speak of
talk about; mention 谈及，提到，讲到

foot the bill
be responsible for paying the cost of sth.付账

in the hope that
because of the wish that 怀着……希望

keep pace with
move forward, develop or increase at the same rate (as sb./sth.) （与……）同速前进，（与……）并驾齐驱

in other words
expressed in a different way; that is to say 换句话说，也就是说

in the meantime
meanwhile （与此）同时

hold water
(of an argument, an excuse, a theory, etc.) be able to stand up to examination or testing; be valid （指辩论、辩解、理论等）经得起检验，站得住脚

in favor of
in support of; approving of 支持；赞同

call for
require, demand or need sth. 需求，要求

drain sb./sth. of sth.
make sb./sth. weaker, poorer, etc. by gradually using up his/its strength, money, etc. 使逐渐耗尽（力量、金钱等）

PROPER NAMES

John McCain
约翰·麦卡盖因

Coca-Cola
可口可乐（一种饮料，商标名）

Thumbs Up Cola
顶呱呱可乐（一种类似可口可乐的饮料, 商标名）

Sputnik
（苏联）人造地球卫星

Nehru
尼赫鲁（1899-1964，印度独立后首任总理［1947-1964］、国大党主席［1929-1964］，万隆会议和不结盟运动倡导人之一）

Gandhi
甘地（1869-1948，印度民族解放运动领袖，有"圣雄"之称，印度国大党主席［1925-1934］，首倡"非暴力抵抗"，多次发动反英"不合作运动"，领导争取印度独立的斗争，印度独立［1947］后，被印度教极右分子暗杀）

Eton
伊顿（英国英格兰南部城镇，在伦敦之西，是著名的伊顿公学的所在地）

Oxford
牛津（英国英格兰中南部城市，牛津郡首府和牛津大学所在地）

Silicon Valley
硅谷（旧金山东南圣克拉拉谷的别称，美国主要微电子公司集中于此）

Nagpur
那格浦尔（印度中部城市）

Bangalore
班加罗尔（印度南部城市）

Microsoft
微软公司

Intel
英特尔公司

Section B

Borderline Ridiculousness

The hardest thing about getting into Britain is walking the excessive distances around Heathrow Airport. No one has ever searched my baggage, or asked anything more than where I planned to stay and for how long. Likewise in other European countries I've visited but not so in America. When I go there not only must I make a declaration of all purchases and gifts acquired abroad, I am obliged to list every country I visited. What business is that of the Finance Department? The information probably goes into some computer, never to be removed; and while I have nothing to hide, the thought is unsettling.
This is the preferential treatment I enjoy as an American citizen. Foreign nationals have another, longer form to complete before being granted a U.S. entrance visa. The questions include: "Have you ever been a controlled substance (drug) salesman, or a sex slave or pimp?" "Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, destructive or terrorist activities or any illegal purpose?" "Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization?" "Have you ever ordered, caused, assisted, or otherwise participated in the torture of any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion under the control, direct or indirect, of the Nazi Government of Germany, or of the government of any area occupied by, or allied with the Nazi Government of Germany, or have you ever participated in genocide?"
An untruthful answer gives authorities another arrow for their attorney's quiver. If they can't get you for pushing drugs, maybe they can deport you for denying you pushed them before. But what self-respecting terrorist would agree he belongs to a "terrorist organization"? The vagueness of the language suggests its purpose is as much rhetorical as legal. It tells the rest of the world that troublesome visitors are unwelcome.
The rhetorical intent is clearest in the question about Nazis. It sounds legal and precise, but examine it and it turns out to be ridiculously broad. Consider that Franco's Spain was an ally of Hitler's Germany. Many, if not most, of its government employees can be said somehow to have "participated in the torture" of persons on account of "political opinion". How, then, should a former Spanish official, reply to the question? And why such a particular fuss about Nazis, now that most of them are dead?
My mother is a U.S. immigrant, and my father is the son of one. So it is with personal disappointment that I observe the current tendency to keep out new arrivals. I am myself a stranger in a strange land — Italy. Because I am married to an Italian citizen, establishing residency was easy. I dropped in at our local police station and in less than two hours received my "resident permit", good for two years. If my wife and I choose to live in the U.S., however, she must apply for a visa ahead of time. This is supposed to take two months, but an attorney assures me it can easily take six. As it happens, we don't plan to live in America. It was challenging enough going there on vacation.
Shortly after our wedding, we decided to spend a couple of months in the States. Luckily I mentioned this to an embassy official first. "The immigration officer might not let her in without a green card," he warned.
"Couldn't she just enter on the 90-day tourist document, like any other citizen of the European Union?" I inquired.
"If someone's married to a U.S. citizen, the assumption is they intend to reside there," he explained.
I said my wife had no intention of moving to the U.S. She had a teaching job in Italy to return to at the end of the summer. The immigration officer might believe her or he might not, I was told. Too many foreigners slip in as tourists and then try to remain on grounds of marriage. The procedure for determining that such unions are not tricks to obtain the treasured green card takes time (sometimes separating couples for more than a year, I later learned). But surely there aren't many cases of marriage fraud involving Italians, I suggested. There would be little reason to doubt my wife's word. The official gave me a look of pity for my simplicity. "I think you can understand why we can't have one policy for white Europeans and another for Filipinos and Mexicans," he said.
So when my darling wife arrived at the airport in Washington, she wasn't wearing her wedding band, lest it provoke inconvenient questions. To be safe, she hadn't even packed it in her luggage. Nor had she flown on the same plane as myself — doing so would have meant answering "yes" when asked whether she was traveling with any member of her family. Thus, she passed unhindered through the gates. When I met her on the other side we laughed with wicked pleasure, as we'd gotten away with a crime.
Words: 834

NEW WORDS

border
n. 1. [C] (land near the) line dividing two countries or areas 边界，边境
2. [C] a strip that goes around or along the edges of sth. 边，边缘，界线

borderline
n. [C] (usu. sing.) a line that marks a border between two physical things or between ideas, conditions, feelings, etc. 国境线，边界线；界线

ridiculous
a. worthy of laughter; silly or not reasonable 可笑的，荒谬的

ridiculousness
n. craziness 可笑, 荒谬

baggage
n. [U] all the bags that one takes when traveling 行李

likewise
ad. 1. in the same way or manner 同样地
2. also 也，亦

declaration
n. 1. [C] a statement giving official information申报（单）
2. [C] declaring; formally announcing 宣布，宣告，声明

oblige
v. 1. force or require (sb.) by law, agreement or moral pressure to do sth. （以法律、协议或道义上的压力）强制或要求，责成；迫使（某人）做某事
2. please or help sb. esp. by doing sth. one has asked to do 帮……的忙

substance
n. 1. [C] illegal drugs 毒品
2. [C, U] material with particular physical characteristics 物质
3. [U] importance or relationship to real facts 实质，本质，要旨

salesman
n. [C] a person whose job is selling things in a shop or directly to customers 售货员，营业员，推销员

■pimp
n. [C] 拉皮条者

export
n. [C, U] action of sending (goods) to another country for sale 出口
v. send (goods) to another country for sale 出口

violate
vt. 1. break or be contrary to (a rule, principle, etc.) 违反（规定、原则、条约）
2. disturb (personal freedom, etc.) 侵扰，侵害，侵犯

violation
n. [C, U] (an example of) violating or being violated 违反（行为），违背（行为），侵犯（行为）

terror
n. 1. [U] intense fear 恐惧，惊骇
2. [C] a person or thing causing terror 引起恐怖的人或物

terrorist
n. [C] a person who supports or participates in terror activities 恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

illegal
a. (esp. of an activity or action) against the law; not allowed by law 不合法的，非法的

torture
n. [C, U] (the act of causing) great physical pain in order to persuade sb. to do sth. or to give information, or simply to be cruel to a person or animal 拷问，拷打，虐待
vt. cause great physical pain or mental suffering on (sb.) 拷问，折磨

origin
n. 1. parents and conditions of early life 血统，出身；来历
2. [C] the beginning or cause of sth. 起源，起因

indirect
a. 1. happening in addition to an intended result, often in a way that is not obvious or that is hard to understand because of its many connections 间接的
2. not following a straight line; not directly connected (to or with) 迂回的，曲折的

ally
v. (with/to) join or unite, e.g. by political agreement 与……联盟
n. [C] a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one, esp. during a war; a person who helps and supports sb. else 盟国；盟友

■genocide
n. [U] the murder of a whole group of people, esp. a whole nation, race, religious group, etc. 种族灭绝

arrow
n. 1. [C] 箭
2. [C] a sign or mark like an arrow 箭头符号

attorney
n. 1. [C] a lawyer 律师
2. [C] a person appointed to act for another in business or legal matters 代理人

▲quiver
n. 1. [C] a thing used for carrying arrows 箭囊，箭筒
2. a shaking sound or movement 震颤声; 颤动
vi. shake slightly, often because of strong emotion （因强烈感情而）颤抖，发抖

▲deport
vt. force (a person) to leave a country, esp. because he has no legal right to be there or because he has broken the law 驱逐（某人）出境（尤指因无合法居留权或违反法律）

vague
a. 1. not clearly expressed, known, described or decided 含糊的，不明确的，不清楚的，模糊的
2. not clearly seen; not clear in shape （轮廓等）模糊的

vagueness
n. [U] being vague 不清楚，含糊

◆rhetoric
n. 1. [U] clever and persuasive language which is not genuine or has no real meaning 虚夸的言辞，华丽词藻
2. [U] (art of) using language impressively or persuasively 修辞（学）；修辞艺术

rhetorical
a. 1. full of rhetoric in order to be seen as important or persuasive 浮夸的，词藻华丽的
2. 修辞的

legal
a. 1. connected with the law 法律的
2. allowed by the law 合法的

fuss
n. [U] show of worry or excitement, often one which is greater than usual 忙乱，大惊小怪，过分激动
vi. give too much attention to small and unimportant matters, usu. in a way which shows that one is anxious and not relaxed （为小事）烦恼，瞎操心，过于忧虑

shortly
ad. in a short time; not long; soon 立刻，马上

embassy
n. [C] the group of people who represent their country in a foreign country, or the building they work in 大使馆全体人员；大使馆

document
n. [C] a paper, form, book, etc. giving information about sth. 证件；文件；公文

inquire (enquire)
v. ask for information 打听，询问

assumption
n. 1. [C] a thing accepted as true or as sure to happen, but not proved 假设，假定
2. [U] the act of taking on (a position, etc.) 担任，夺取

procedure
n. [C] a set of actions which is the accepted way of doing sth. 过程，步骤，常规

▲fraud
n. 1. [C, U] (an act of) cheating sb. illegally in order to make money or get goods 欺骗（行为）
2. [C] a person that cheats others 骗子

simplicity
n. 1. the negative quality of simple-mindedness 头脑简单
2. the positive quality of being simple 简朴；简便；简单

darling
a. loved deeply 心爱的，可爱的
n. a person who is greatly loved or liked 心爱的人，亲爱的人

band
n. 1. [C] a thin flat strip used to bind things together 带，箍
2. [C] a group of people who share the same interests or beliefs, or who have joined together for a special purpose 一伙（人），一帮（人）
3. [C] a group of musicians who play modern music together 乐队

lest
conj. in order to prevent any possibility that (sth. will happen) 以免

provoke
vt. 1. cause (sth.) to happen 致使，引起
2. (try to) make (a person or an animal) angry 挑衅，激怒

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

get into
be allowed to enter （使）被允许进入

seek to do sth.
try to do sth.; attempt to do sth. 试图做，企图做

engage in sth.
take part in sth. 从事……

participate in
take part in or become involved in (an activity) 参与，参加

push drugs
sell illegal drugs 贩卖毒品

on account of
because of 因为

keep out
(cause to) stay or not enter （使）不进入；（使）远离

drop in
pay an unplanned visit (to a person or place) without notice or warning before going 顺便拜访

ahead of time
earlier than expected or before an arranged time（比原定时间）提早

on vacation
away from work or school for fun or rest 度假

a couple of
a small number of 几个

let in
allow to come in 让……进来，使……入内

have no intention of doing sth.
have absolutely no plan or desire to do sth. 没有意图做（某事）

on grounds of
by reason of 出于……的原因

get away with sth.
not be punished for sth. 不因某事受惩罚

PROPER NAMES

Britain
大不列颠（大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国的简称，即英国）

Heathrow
（英国伦敦的）希思罗机场

Nazi
（德国）国社党党员，纳粹分子

Franco's Spain
佛朗哥（1892-1975）统治下的西班牙

Hitler
希特勒（1889-1945，纳粹德国元首、头号战犯，发动了第二次世界大战，战败后自杀）

Spanish
西班牙的

Italy
意大利（南欧国家）

Italian
意大利的

Filipino
菲律宾人

Mexican
墨西哥人

Washington
华盛顿（美国首都）

Section C

We Share the Same Heritage（传统）

"I was only thirteen when four of my team members and I were chosen by my swim coach to train with the Chinese National Team. The following piece shows how that experience has influenced me."

The night before I left for China, my mother called me into her room. I entered not knowing what to expect. I sat down at the end of her very neatly made bed, opposite the bedroom table on which she kept a Ming-style vase（花瓶）illustrated in great detail. She told me that my great-grandmother was still living in the surroundings of Beijing. Her name was Ren Li Ling and she was 97 years old. This was the first time I had ever heard of her.
The dragon（龙）on the vase snaked through the flowers and vines（藤蔓）as my mother said, "Pu Pu, look at me. You need to hear this so that when you go to China you will understand. You must keep this knowledge in your heart."
She told me a story about my grandfather, Ren Li Ling's son, who left Beijing to go to college in Taiwan. She told me how the Chinese civil war kept him away from his mother for fifty years, so neither of them even knew that the other was alive. No one from Taiwan could visit, write, or call anyone in mainland. All lines of communication were cut off.
She told me of my grandfather's devotion to his own children, and how difficult it was for him to send his daughter to America for her education, fearing that same separation（分离）. He gave my mother all that he could give — nineteen years of love and fifty years of savings. I learned how my mother, through means only available in this country, would finally be able to unite my great-grandmother with my grandfather again. The dragon curled around the vase, connecting the separate vines. For a fleeting second, I felt it was present in my mother's room. It was all very strange, yet very clear. I began to understand that this trip to China was not just for me; it was for my mother, and her father, and his mother. Now, I had not only a future, but more significantly, a past. I saw the world with new eyes.
And so I went to China and met my great-grandmother. My great-aunt picked me up at the training center, and we rode in a taxi through the crowded city. The noise of the taxi and the city united into a deep roar. We finally stopped in front of a narrow street lined on either side with small one-level houses. As we made our way to a house like all the others, I drew the stares of many people in the street. My great-aunt led me through a rotting（朽烂的）doorway into a room with a furnace（炉子）, table, and a rocking chair where an old woman wearing gloves sat facing the doorway, covered with a worn brown blanket. I walked over and immediately embraced this frail（纤弱的）woman as if I had known her all my life. My limited, broken Chinese wasn't up to expressing my complicated feelings. And even though I couldn't completely understand what she was saying in her thick Beijing accent, I knew — the same way I knew what my mother had been trying to tell me before I left. Her joy shone through her toothless（没牙齿的）smile. She wouldn't let go of my hand. I haltingly（结结巴巴地）asked her how she had managed to live such a long life. She answered in words I will never forget, "Hope has kept me alive. I have lived this long because I wanted to see my son before I died."
My fellow team members must have wondered how two people separated by three generations could be so close. Before this trip, I would have wondered the same thing. And even now, I can't quite explain it. We were as different as two people can be; some 85 years and 8,000 miles apart. We came from two entirely different cultures; yet we were connected by a common heritage.
I stayed for dinner which was cooked in a black iron wok（锅）over the furnace. The meal was lavish（过分丰盛的）, prepared in my honor. As I began to eat, with my great-grandmother beside me, I felt the dragon was present. But this time, the feeling didn't pass; the dragon had become a part of me.
My great-grandmother passed away last year at the age of 100. With her highest hopes and wildest dreams fulfilled, I know she died happy.
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