In 2010, with a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh and an offer from Google, my wife and I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. We turned the cross-country trip into an adventure, driving our old Hyundai with a U-Haul trailer. When we reached Yellowstone, we camped in freezing temperatures of -15°C (5°F) and woke up shivering while cooking instant noodles to stay warm.

In the early years, we followed the typical international student path—buying a car, house, and having kids—while enjoying Bay Area activities like skiing, cherry picking, and digging for geoducks. Then, in 2015, a casual conversation with fellow Chinese engineers at Google led to the idea of organizing a Chinese New Year Gala. This idea changed my life. The first Google Chinese New Year Gala was a huge success, with performances exceeding expectations and tickets in high demand.

In 2017, we took the gala beyond Google, launching "Zai Ge Zai Gu" (Singing and Dancing in the Valley) for the entire Bay Area. Since 2015,  the community has hosted 11 New Year Galas, 10 Spring Festival fairs, 9 singing competitions, 3 Mid-Autumn festivals, and the "Cloud Gathering" series during the pandemic. "Zai Ge Zai Gu" has become the Bay Area’s largest and most influential cultural community. As a founder, I’m proud that our events continue to thrive, bringing a taste of home to those who cherish Chinese culture.

Running "Zai Ge Zai Gu" has enhanced my organizational skills. A lifelong sports enthusiast, I co-founded the Silicon Valley Chinese Sports Association (SVCSA), which runs the competitive Silicon Valley Chinese Basketball League. With a 16-year history, it includes over 30 teams, thousands of players, and a robust volunteer ecosystem. We also launched the Bay Area Chinese Track and Field Championships, which attracts 500+ athletes annually, giving them a platform to compete and pursue their dreams.

Over the past decade, with the support of my family and like-minded friends, I've embraced the "slasher" (multi-hyphenate) lifestyle. As my children grow up, I’ll have more time for my personal goals. My dream is to establish a Chinese community center to preserve and promote Chinese culture in the Bay Area. Dreams turn the impossible into reality—let’s make it happen!

2010年秋，我带着匹兹堡大学计算机科学博士学位和谷歌的聘书，从东海岸横跨美国来到了旧金山湾区。作为一个爱玩的人，我和老婆自驾横穿美国，带着拖车，途中体验了极限雪地露营，甚至在黄石遇到零下15度的寒冷，半夜被冻醒煮方便面取暖。

在湾区的头几年，我们像大多数留学生一样，完成了买车、买房、生孩子这些重要人生节点。我们的娱乐也和湾区人一样，离不开滑雪、摘樱桃、吃象拔蚌。直到2015年底，在一次公司的内部聚会上，我和几位华人工程师商量举办一台Google的华人春晚，这次头脑风暴改变了我的人生轨迹。第一届Google华人春晚意外成功，观众一票难求，Charlies餐馆根本容纳不下上万名热情的观众。

2017年，我们做出了一个重要决定，将春晚从Google推向全湾区，载歌在谷社区诞生了！这一路走来，我们举办了11次春晚、10次春节游园、9次歌手赛、3次中秋游园，以及疫情期间的云集系列栏目，载歌在谷社区成为了湾区最大、最受欢迎的文化娱乐活动。作为创始人之一，这一路尝遍酸甜苦辣，但让我感到最幸运的是，载歌在谷活动年年举行，带给湾区热爱中国传统文化的人们家乡的味道。

运营载歌在谷让我锻炼了很多组织能力。在运作载歌在谷的同时，作为一名狂热体育爱好者的我，还与伙伴创办了湾区体育社区联盟（SVCSA），旗下有硅谷华人篮球联赛，已有16年历史，30多支参赛队伍，千余名球员，覆盖整个湾区。同时，我们还创办了湾区华人田径锦标赛，吸引了500多名运动员每年参赛，给爱好者提供了展示自己的平台。

十多年来，感谢家人的支持和伙伴们的帮助，我在“斜杠青年”的路上越走越“斜”。如今，孩子们渐渐长大，时间也变得充裕。我的梦想是成立华人自己的社区活动中心，不仅为自己和亲友们提供活动场所，更重要的是为华人在硅谷扎根，让中华文化在异国他乡得以传承和发扬光大。有梦才有可能实现，让我们一起加油！