I was born in Chengdu and lived there until I was eighteen, never leaving Sichuan. Due to my different sexual orientation, I longed to be in an environment where uniformity wasn't expected of everyone.Later, I had the opportunity to study in the United States and chose a school in Mississippi that offered scholarships. At the time, I knew nothing about America and naively thought all regions were like the cosmopolitan cities of Los Angeles or New York, diverse and free. But upon starting school, the cultural differences in this typical southern state shocked me. There were about ten thousand students at the school, with only about a hundred Chinese students. Social life here mainly revolved around the church. The pastor told me to watch the news, but only on Fox News. I felt as though I had crossed an ocean only to enter another environment with very limited choices. Fortunately, everyone I met there was very friendly. In 2005, the area was hit by the rare and severe Hurricane Katrina, causing nearly two thousand deaths. I became a refugee at school, with no water or electricity for a month or two, and the scorching heat of late August was terrifying. However, the local residents showed their genuine kindness, helping us through the crisis. This was the first time I deeply felt the complexity and multifaceted nature of people. Perhaps breaking down cultural barriers starts with seeing each individual as a living person.Later, due to work, I traveled to more places, met more people, and saw the diversity of thoughts among people. Now, I enjoy life in the Bay Area. In California, people don't overly concern themselves with others' appearances or lifestyles, providing everyone with enough personal space and freedom.

我出生在成都，在家乡长到十八岁没出过四川。由于性取向不同，我很早就渴望去一个无需所有人都整齐划一的环境。后来，我有机会来美国留学，并选择了一所提供奖学金的学校，在密西西比州。当时我对美国一无所知，天真地以为所有的地区都像洛杉矶，纽约这种大都市一样，多元和自由。但当我一入学，典型南部州在文化上的差异让我大为震惊。学校大约有一万人，其中只有约一百名中国学生。这里的社交活动主要依靠教会。牧师告诉我看新闻，只能看福克斯新闻频道。我感觉自己跨越大洋，又进了另一个只有单一选择的环境。幸运的是，我在那里遇到的人都很友善。2005年，当地遭遇了罕见的强烈飓风卡特里娜，造成近两千人死亡。我在学校成了难民，一两个月停水停电，八月底的炎热天气让人倍感恐惧。但当地的陌生居民都展现出了淳朴的善良，帮助我们渡过了难关。这是我第一次深刻感受到人的多面性与复杂性。消除文化间的隔阂也许要从先看到一个个鲜活的人开始。 后来，由于工作需要，我去过更多地方，见识了更多的人，看到了更多人与人想法的不同。如今，我喜欢湾区的生活。在加州，人们不会过分在意他人的外表或生活方式，这里给予每个人足够的个人空间和自由。