The day after the big event I mentioned last Friday, I found myself reflecting on many things I wanted to write about yesterday. However, I was too tired after getting back, so I had to postpone until today.
We left home around 7 am, preparing for the event, which started at 10. By the time we returned, it was about 6:30 pm. The entire day was spent outside in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
I was pleasantly surprised to see many local government representatives who came and gave speeches on stage. On second thought, it makes sense that the Chinese community needs to maintain a good relationship with local governments.
Many children had a great time playing games, and the performances were impressive, even to an amateur like me.
One issue that stood out to me was the lack of inter-alumni mingling. People didn't do much moving around and talking to each other at this social event.
Next to our check-in team was the Peking University (Bei-da) alumni association, and next to them was Tsinghua University (Qinghua). I noticed a group of Bei-da young people struggling to set up their canopy tent. Initially, they had the roof-raising pole facing downward. When the tent refused to stand, one young man suggested turning the tent inside out so the pole would face the sky. As they began this process, I was watching and couldn't help but intervene. I stepped in and told them, "Stop. All you need to do is hold the four legs, push the pole upward to raise the roof, close the strips, then adjust the leg height."
Despite this initial interaction, the Bei-da folks mostly stayed within their group for the rest of the event. They didn't do much mingling with other associations. I walked around and observed the same behavior with other alumni groups; everyone pretty much stayed within their own circle.
I was hoping people would move around more, talk to others, and make friends with attendees from different schools, thereby broadening their networks and connections. After all, what's the point of having an all-hands event with participants from 33 colleges and universities if we don't seize the opportunity to connect with each other and to make more friends?
Reflecting on the event, it was clear that while it was successful in many ways, there is room for improvement when it comes to fostering more interaction among attendees. Encouraging more inter-alumni mingling can significantly enhance the value of such social gatherings, creating a more connected and supportive community. For some, it might have been a missed opportunity for something they never knew they needed.