My dearest older cousin, Millie Yung, and Sister Linda were friends at St. Johns University, Shanghai. Linda was Ms. Linda TSAO then, so I would cheerfully address her “TSAO GA JIA JIA“ in Shanghainese.

Since Yuelin Yang became a FF Brother, his Mother naturally became my “YANG GA MM MA”. But, by FF Fraternity’s simplistic logic “ All immediate female relatives are “FF. SISTERS”.  So in FF circles, she automatically became my “Sister Linda”.

But since Sister Linda is my most admired old friend and colleague from The 199O Institute, I sometimes salute her “ AMBASSADOR YANG “ for her prominent role as the U.S. Ambassador at the ADB (Asian Development Bank – appointed by President Bill Clinton – 1993-1999 ).

_____________________________________________________

I first want to take this opportunity to thank “Sister Linda” who in 2003 helped arrange an opportunity for me to visit UC Davis’s Mondavi Center for Performing Arts ( one of the best acoustical chambers in the U.S. ) – as I was trying to persuade Ningbo University ( Ningbo is my ancestral home ) to build a First Class Music Center.

“Sister Linda” treated me graciously with her delicious home-cooking at her home in Davis. To this day, I still remember her succinct advices, her warmth, her fantastic Chinese paintings on the walls, and an unusually large and beautifully bonded book titled: “SUN TZE BING FA. ( The Art of War ).  I was profoundly impressed.

_____________________________________________________

Many of us already know about Sister Linda’s many spectacular achievements. They were mostly mentioned in the FF Announcement for this FF Strong Town Hall Zoom.

However, I think we all want to learn HOW she accomplished WHAT she did, and from Where came her MAGIC ?

I would first examine why she was awarded the “Distinguished Service Medal” by the U.S Department Treaury and the “Honorary Citizen & City’s Favorite Daughters Award” by Shanghai’s People’s Congress.

It had been explained that the “Distinguished Service Award” was for her steering the bank towards policies and practices which made development assistance more equitable, and enduring, and her key role in defining the bank’s participation in the international response to the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997-98.  

The  Shanghai “Honorary Citizen Award”- was for her bringing international technology and standards in water quality management to the Suzhou Creek environmental cleaning and revitalizing Project – most beneficial to China and to Shanghai, her Ancestral Home.

It seems to me, to accomplish what she did required: first having deep purpose and foresight / then ability to analyze complex problems – technically, economically, and diplomatically / optimizing and prioritizing various opportunities / providing persuasive policy ideas and plans / and finally leveraging her personal integrity, credibility, and charm. I think the last aspect may be the most unique about Sister Linda that we should learn from her.

Indeed, at this Zoom gathering, we can learn a lot by LISTENING closely to WHAT Sister Linda has to say, and WATCH closely on HOW she tells her stories.  I would pay close attention to her VERBAL & FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

If we seriously wish to learn from her, we must watch her Manners and Composure and capture her Inner Spirit : her Compassion, her Dedication, her Optimism, her Constant Striving, her Pride & Modesty, and her unique Shanghai Sentimentality.

Now, Let us Watch and Listen Closely to Sister Linda.

Welcome, Sister Linda !

_________________________________________________

BILLY’S SUGGESTION – TRY TO CAPTURE :

Why she sings ?

What she sings ?

How she sings.

Learn from her Songs

Learn from her High and Low Voice Control

Watch her eyes, lips, and body movements

Catch her Passion – Style – Effects

Confidence – Trustfulness – Optimism.

Totally void of Pretense & Arrogance !

____________________________________________________

Since the birth of this Friendshipology website https://friendshipology.net – September 2019 – I have collected about 130 essays – few written by myself, and mostly by my very supportive friends. The collection shines light on various aspects about Friendship, but indeed it has further deepened the love and bonding between me and my wonderful friends. Moreover, the deeper understanding about my friends’ thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and aspirations, has encouraged me to introduce many of them to each other – hoping to expand this “Good Supportive Feeling” generally, and perhaps inspire some of them to consider possible cooperation or collaborations on their worthy endeavors. Most enthusiastically, I decided to make  “CONNECTING FRIENDS TO FRIENDS” to be a major goal for this Friendshipology Initiative.

_____________________________________________________

Here are three examples on what I did this past month:

1. Letter to Allan in Shanghai and Hiro in Tokyo.

Dear Allan and Hiro,

You are my two very very dear and trusted younger friends !

Allan from Shanghai and Hiro from Tokyo, you really should know

each other as I believe that together you might collaborate on

projects that can truly promote Global Cross-cultural Bonding and

Friendship.

I shall leave it to you to introduce yourselves, as your credentials

are too long for me to list. Best to describe your aspirations and

see how you might be able to assist each other in the immediate or

long-term future.

BTW, I had earlier introduced Hiro to Ben who is a Fraternity 

Brother of both Allan and me. 

Cheer with warm affection always,

Billy

2. Letter to four Post Graduate Students from China.

Dear E, C, Y, and M,

You may be interested in the latest post by the President of CCIS in

<https://friendshipology.net> .

Please also note a short essay by my teen-age grand-daughter, Alana

–  two posts before the last one. It would be nice if you will write and  

give her more encouragement as she looks up to you guys as her

“ BIG SISTERS “

Thanks !

Billy

3. Letter to Mike and Li-Chun

Dear Mike and Li-Chun.

I am so glad to have introduced you to each other, as Mike was able to

edit and publish Li-chun’s  article, “Ping-Pong Diplomacy Led to Science

Exchanges” in the latest issue of US-China Review. I hope that recounting

in detail the history and the role of scientists played in normalizing

US- China relations (1965-1979 ) may help rebuild trust and goodwill.

Cheers always with warm regards,

Billy

______________________________________________________________

CCIS (Community Committee for International Students at Stanford University) is an organization that provides support to International Grad Students, Post-Docs, Visiting Scholars and their families at Stanford.  Some of our popular programs include Homestay, English in Action (Converse and Connect), Friday Morning Coffee, English Classes, and so many more.  See: website: ccisStanfordU.org

____________________________________________________

Spring has brought blossoms to the trees and blooms to our gardens…so much beauty all around.  But Spring has also brought us a reminder that prejudice and bigotry are endemic in America.  We see it in the trial of Derek Chauvin and in the increasing episodes of violence against Asian Americans.  For those of us in CCIS who love having contact with internationals from all over the world, it is difficult to understand this level of hatred and bigotry. 

At first I wanted to think that this problem was happening somewhere else, not in Palo Alto, but my friend’s forty year old son was harassed just this weekend while jogging in the park.  Someone yelled at him to “Go back where you came from.”  He’s an Asian American, born and raised in Palo Alto. Sadly, Palo Alto is not immune to this kind of bigotry.  Just as we prepare for earthquakes or power shut-offs, we should all probably prepare for how we will respond the next time we see harassment.

How you respond will depend upon the circumstances, but thinking about how to respond before you find yourself thrust into that situation, will be helpful.  In the case of the murder of George Floyd, all the bystanders could do was document it with their phone cameras.  As we have seen, the evidence may be important later on.  Sometimes you may be able to get help to stop the harassment or the violence by calling 911 or by asking other bystanders for help. Bullies will often leave when confronted by a group.   If the harassment has not become violent, you may be able to interrvene by pretending to know the victim and saying something like, “Hey, old friend, long time no see. Do you want to get out of here and go get a cup of coffee?” If the victim takes the hint and leaves the scene with you, you may just find that you have found a new friend.  Sometimes you may only feel comfortable going up to the victim afterwards and saying how awful you feel that this happened to them.  Whatever you feel you are able to do, it’s most important to let the victim know s/he is not alone and that you don’t condone what has happened.

___________________________________________________

BILLY’S COMMENTS: CCIS and USCPFA-S.Bay are two communities where I volunteered to learn about Cross-cultural Bonding. Thru CCIS’s EIA ( English in Action Program ), Dr. Junichi Matsubara from Kyoto , Japan and I had almost three years of weekly conversations to practise English. We became truly intimate friends, and he named his son – born at Stanford Hospital – Little Billy. That is, indeed, my most gratifying life reward.

____________________________________________________