While I try hard to recover from the nasty flu, I had a terrible car accident over the weekend. My new SUV is not drivable! The old gentleman who hits my car seems to be ok, and lucky enough I am OK.

I felt sorry and guilty for not getting together with the local librarian friends this year. 8 American friends are coming this week for the Olympics and stay in our house. When I feel a bit under depression and stress, Mindy’s greeting popped in and brighten up my weekend, so pasting here as a new year greeting to all of us. Way to go, Mindy!

Here is an early Happy Chinese New Year greeting to you! Ever since my LIS study years, I’ve always looked upon you as my mentor for librarianship, so I’d like to send you some updates about my work here at UCF. 2009 was quite a blessed year for me. I was nominated for the Excellence Librarianship award in my university and was selected after winning the most votes among the library faculty. It’s quite an honor and encouragement for a junior level librarian like me, since the awardees (one for each year since 1984) in other years are all veteran librarians with at least more than 10-15 years’ professional experience. Plus, the monetary side is also pretty attractive :>. The award will be presented in this April. As to services, I’m honored to be appointed to the upcoming chair for the FLA Continuing Committee and the Vice President/President-elect for the CALA SE Chapter.

吴老师带来了她CHIN403的学生，像个小型的联合国，把Asian-616挤满了。我让出了自己的座位，站着讲完。老外同学能这样认真地听我神侃，真的很感动，不如全职教书算了。坐在我旁边的哥们儿最可爱，不仅提出了很好的问题，居然还用中文跟“刘老师”开玩笑！我提到了即将开展的问卷调查和今年的工作重点。Better make a note here. Their responses include: terrible lighting, study carrel computers don’t have the instant online translation software. They wish Asian Library projects can give them hiring priority as student assistants, so they can practice their Chinese at work.

他们中的一些是瞄准了亚洲或中国研究的。其浓厚兴趣让我想起了老何，金发碧眼、大块头，做的是急救工作，同时又是中国通。老何的中文比我们外交部的中国通们都不弱。他不以中文功底为谋生的手段，完全是兴趣、自得其乐。圣诞party上把酒听老何侃金庸、梁羽生和倪匡、、、似乎是很久以前的事了。星源的中国艺术史的学生来了三批，正赶上CHIN403的学生往外走，还不忘说， “谢谢刘老师，老师再见！”好可爱！

I am really happy to receive Li Xuemei’s card from Halifax! I am happy for her to find the first pro job that fits her interest. After Ian and Heather’s technical endeavour in digitization and systems, now Xuemei is settling in this new position at Saint Mary’s University.

Hard to believe 2009 is leaving us soon, but glad to see us growing. Wish all of you, in China, Colorado, Florida, McGill and Halifax a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2010!

I was invited by the History folks, and Anna forwarded me the primary sources that Prof. Van de Ven used for his article on Liao Chengzhi’s case. I was thrilled to see the hand-written letters from He Xiangning, Zhou Enlai and Sun Fo, and those used-to-be top secret telegram decoded archives. The Reading Group filled the bright CCR office. Discussing in person with 方教授, Prof. Brook, Alison and the graduate buddies was fascinating！ 不禁向这位剑桥学者请教大陆方面原始资料的挖掘情形。他解释了南方局1942年的案子在当年以及多年后的影响，中共中央档案馆应该有大量的文件，但并无解密迹象，连央视摄制组的人都无权光顾，更何况海外学人。

隔天方教授在亚洲研究所的演讲更有趣。他对中国海关史料的关注似乎出于他在南京大学的偶然发现。原来南大的民国史料如此丰富，他当年发现的成千上万的缩微胶卷是中国海关最早的原始资料，居然没有被整理过。类似的情况在国内可能还有，所以很多我们可以挖掘的史料，正如在北美的大量英文史料有关中国，却没有得到整理加工和数字化的优先权。可以做的事情实在是很多，可以当作爱好而并非工作来做。

ASIST年会把武汉大学的学姐们带来了温哥华。机场迎接了徐鸿和胡承仁大姐，到家她俩惊喜地发现校友先生。我们四个晚餐吃得很忙，聊的都是珞珈山下的故事，以及遍布全球的校友们。忙碌的工作和家务曾经有割裂过去的感觉，相聚唤醒了那段铭刻心底的青春岁月。
当年，黄宗中老师到北京招生，看到我第二志愿是图书馆系，就大笔一挥改变了我的一生。当他在迎新大会上告诉我实情的时候，他注意到了我的眼泪吗？现在回想起他的湖南普通话很亲切。如果不是他，我会有华大的奖学金吗？会享受参考咨询的辉煌年代吗？我现在会…?

周末载徐鸿周游大温，虽然不免会谈到工作，但更多的是人生。人到中年，走南闯北，人生历练足够写出长篇，不变的是在武大校园里就已造就的价值观。没有必要反问自己，“假如重新来过”云云。

Hong‘s still in town, Jane came from Texas, asking me to meet in Hyatt, ASIST’s conference site. Heather is coming this weekend from Montreal. Maybe, Danny the next. Good to know so many good friends. Lingbo just sent me something sweet, as if she knew what I’ve been up to:

GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS.

YOU DON’T ALWAYS SEE THEM,

BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!