Entrance Exams

(My dream journal dated 25 June 2005)

I have just done the series of National Entrance Exams for University (in China).

There are six exams altogether. I finish my last exam on English in the morning. It is late afternoon. My English teacher is on the panel of marking the exam papers and he has just finished his first round of marking the exam papers.

“There are some pleasing results.” He said to a bunch of his students including me. “Two of my students achieved 100%”.

At first I almost believe that I am one of the two students. But since he does not tell me in person that I get 100%, I begin to doubt it. I have known the result of one other subject already - Chinese. I get 117 (out of 120). I am very happy with that, I must say.

To remove my doubt, I muster the courage and approach my English teacher, and ask him if I am one of the two students who achieved 100%. He says: “Of course you are! Who else do you think would be?”

I am relieved.

I feel very good with my overall exams. The results of the Chinese and English are just an assurance. With this momentum, I am sure I would be able to choose any University I want to go. At that time, someone asks me which University I’d like to go.

“University in Shanghai, of course.” I replied. “As that’s the economic forefront at the moment. Besides, I can learn a bit Shanghainese.”

The statement soon turns to be self-contradictory as when I start to fill out the application form, I have consideration of only two Universities - Beijing University of Foreign Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs and Institute of Beijing 2nd Foreign Language. None of them is in Shanghai, but both of them are the best Universities in China in the area of foreign languages and international diplomacy.

I think I am going to choose Beijing University of Foreign Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs after consulting someone who is in the know and tells me that the attitude of the students from the Institute of Beijing 2nd Foreign Language sucks because they thought they are so elite and extraordinary as such most of them are an arrogant bunch.