Thursday, August 29, 2013

introduction to me for Ms.Belisle's class


My Chinese name is Weiyu Lin , and go by Will for these years. I had this name in the middle school when I was first asked about my English name. It was at a time when I was fascinated about the movie The Pursuit of Happiness that Will Smith starred in it. In a instant, I replied, "I am Will; My English name is Will".  Ever since, I did not bother to change it.

Today is the second day of this semester, and I gratefully took this essential technology class, which required me and delighted me to start this blog. The first assignment is to write the self-introduction.

I am from a small town in China named Ma Wei, which literally means " the tail of the horse", because my little town is at the beginning of a river. It is located at the southeastern coast and right opposite Taiwan. (And it's not close to Canton or Hongkong at all).    How small is my town?   I could walk everywhere that I cared to go within 30 minutes.  I spend most of my childhood with my grandpa. He had the first television in his whole neighborhood thirty five years ago, which became a public cinema at that time.  Thirty five years later, his house remained, and he was gone. In 9 years' stay with him, we hardly talked, because we did not share the same language. He spoke the dialect which is totally different from the mandarin, yet transmitted enough affection from the gesture, the eyes and just the presence.

I would drag myself back from falling into too much details. Unearthing childhood memory is such a spontaneous thing to do.

So finally,  I left my tiny town at the age of 11 and lived in the dormitory in the middle school in a big city Fuzhou, before I had my own apartment at 13. At my 18th birthday, I came to United States of America.

Next question is my campus activities. I would have my own club this year: Club of Mind. It's an idea sharing program that lets students inspire each other (like TED talk).  I also did the performance art. Last semester, I did the performance art Artist is Present, by Marina Abramovic. I sat in the chair immobile for three hours while anyone can sit opposite me and look at me through the eyes.  It was life-changing.

The "secret fact" that I wrote in scavenger hunt stick note is: I am a traveler that went across China, Tibet, Nepal, U.S. and Mexico with many hitchhiking. Here is my journal that I posted in one traveling website. You may not recognize those characters, but there are photos! http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/1071811.html

My computer background  is limited to the basic use of Microsoft, the common computer usage,  and the most basic programming that I learned in high school. I did not really begin to use computer until 16 years old.


If you ever want to chat with me or subscribe to Club of Mind, you could reach me at wlin@trinity.edu.  I am tired right now and have to stop writing. I would take a little nap before the sunset comes down to San Antonio. Have a beautiful day.





10 comments:

  1. Will, this is one of the most interesting introductions I've ever read - thanks for all the details! I am so looking forward to working with you this semester

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    1. Will, I don't have to read your blog to know that you trekked across U.S. and across China and Nepal. You should add the link of the story you wrote about it. I like your introduction blog.

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    2. Hi Sweet Nancy, maybe I could add the link of my journal, even though none of the classmates could read the characters. But there are photos! Thank you!

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  3. Your life seems very interesting Will haha

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  4. I forgot to tell you that I saw Marina Abramovic in New York two years ago - it's an amazing performance piece that requires a huge amount of self-discipline. What a challenge for you, Will!

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  5. I grew up without any art, having never been to any gallery before I came to U.S. Marina Abramovic is the first artist that showed me the art can be so intimate. I am glad you had a chance to visit her exhibition!

    I will send you my diary on this performance art!

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  6. I really think you should start Club of Mind because that sounds so amazing and fun! I love Ted talk, they are the reason I have no social life, that and Netflix.

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    1. Then could I add you to the mailing list of the Club?

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