Future China and I
Nicol Lo – ex-intern for Future China Society
 
Formalities petered out; the room grew silent. As he casually studied the menu, every shuffle of hands seems glaringly visible.
 
Across the dinner table sits one of the richest men in Taiwan.  The main advocate of Future China, Mr.Huang cordially invited all the employees of the organization for dinner. Boss had kindly “reminded” us numerous times about leaving a good impression, yet inevitably, most of us are fidgety if not somewhat diffident.
 
I did not,however, share most feelings that had unsettled my fellow colleagues, for I couldn’t help myself to be curious about the businessmen’s intention.  A newcomer to the organization, I have yet to grasp the worth of my employer - to unite successful individuals to enlighten the new generation through lectures of their personal experience, or more generally, to “bridge the gap in exam-oriented education system”.  Indeed, the goal sounds impressive; many had expressed their praise for our courage to undertake such a monstrous task.  Yet the further I go into my apprenticeship, the more I learn how indifference, bureaucracy and resistanceattempt to thwart such “indoctrination” outside what is dictated, and the more I question Future China’s aspirations. Howcouldsuch a controversial effort benefit the man?Is the dinner just an affected display of the billionaire’s generosity?  Anyways, what could, such nebulous intellectual enrichment transform one for the better in a matter of hours? 
 
In the midst of my reflections, footsteps woke me.  Expecting to endure an armor of glitzy extravagance and supercilious demeanor,I sawinstead an unassuming man, greeting us with a beaming smile.  As he advanced, he brought with him a distinct aura of assertivenessand composure.
 
It didn’t take to long for him to sense the tension.  Nodding attentively as our boss introduced us one by one, he curiously remarked the 1 to 6 male to female ratio in our team. Laughter burst out; the ice broke. 
 
Insightful and amicable, the tycoon placed no barriers between himself and us.He spoke about his children and his comicalcommentson their sweethearts; he proudly showed us the pictures he takes for his wife every day and talked about the roses he still send his wife every Valentine’s day.  He inquired about our relationship statuses and offered advice from his experience -“always lavish on gifts for your mother-in-law - you will get the money back when she gives you something better in return. ” He elaborated on why not to take school seriously with amusing stories of his troublesome teenage.  He acknowledged our efforts and praised our courage to explore territories never discovered.  He told us the reason he dedicated himself in his least profitable business is because by entering the property management industry, he bears the responsibility of protecting millions of household who put theirtrust in him.  “We shouldn’t be doing what we want to do,” he stated when he asked one of us about our future plans, “but what we ought to do.”
 
As the day closed with our laughter, I left the restaurant, illuminated.  For long the media have taught us to distrust our leaders, who disappoints us with wrongful deeds masked under their halos of glory.  As we mature, we became so convinced that power and wealth would ultimately triumph decency that we abandon our childhood dreams to change the world for the better, losing faith in the society and ourselves.  We need some pointers, some guidance, or a spark of insight.  Why is the world like this? Could it be improved? What are we to do?  In a society developing at such an unprecedented rate, adages are outdated and advices are inappropriate.  We need leaders of our age to tell us that success doesn’t involve wealth and fame; that compassion and generosity still exist;that greatness is achievable.  Future China would inspire countless young souls like how the dinner had enlightened me.  Perhaps we are only at the beginning of the tortuous journey, and perhaps barriers would impede our progress, and traps would prevent our procession.  We will never know now how far Future China would go, nor how big an imprint it would leave on the world. 
 
Still, nothing is certain but one: we had made, are making, and will continue to make a difference.  The seeds we sew yesterday may not sprout today, and perhaps will noteven grow tomorrow. However, no matter how small or insignificant an idea, we know when time comes, some of them wouldblossom with brilliance, passing on their genesof humanitarianism to our progeny. Ideas are vague; opinions are nebulous. Yet precisely because of its immeasurability, these messagesgo beyond borders and generations until they become integral to our nature.
 
“What is Future China?” someone asked.  I may have hesitated during my first few days into work, but now I could answer pride and delight.  It’s boss’s reflections on her day she starts with every meeting; it’s the letters with gratification and awareness imbued in every line; it’s the sense of direction and confidence in my colleague’s eyes. 
 
And it’s much more than that – or could be much more.  We are still work our way out, but I believe we would reach our goal someday.  We believe in that a small group like us could make a difference, because we believe in the power of individuals and the goodness in people. 
 
On the poster I designed for the charity’s new project, I drew a butterfly in a storm with a catchphrase beside it:
 
“If the flap a butterfly’swing in South America could set off a storm in the Pacific, why couldn’t you change the world?”