和许多美国人一样，从记事起我就对中国充满着好奇。因此，在我于美国绿河社学院（该学院位于西雅图附近）任职数学教师满12年之际，一次数学系会议上偶然听到这样一个来中学教书的机会我感到无比欣喜。我立即报了名，现在我已在中国。

    绿河社区学院有许多国际留学生。我很喜欢和这些学生接触，了解他们的国家和文化。同时，绿河社区学院开展了许多教学项目。其中最突出的一项为2+2转学制。这项学制是学生先在学院读二年，然后到美国其他大学完成后两年课程以取得学士学位。而绿河社区学院开展的另一个项目，则正是使我实现中国梦的1+1+2国际合作项目。绿河社区学院与北京师范大学珠海分校国际金融学院共同合作的这个项目，是让学生第一年在北京师范大学珠海分校完成，第二年进入绿河社区学院就读，第三年和第四年转入美国其他大学完成学士学位。

    从2007年3月开始，我来到北京师范大学珠海分校国际金融学院任二年级学生的商务统计学教师。这应该是第一次由一位外国老师教授他们的数学课程。我想，之前大家肯定对于这一方法是否可行有些疑虑。我曾教过中国学生，其中一些还是来自北京师范大学珠海分校的学生，但是我从未在美国以外的国家任教或生活过。学生们一开始也有点紧张，因为他们从未有过外籍教师教授过数学。但是，一切都进行得很顺利！北师大的学生非常优秀，他们不仅在课堂上表现出色，而且对我就像朋友一样。他们的英文非常好，似乎对于听懂我说的话没有任何问题。能够做他们的老师我感到很荣幸。

    祝贺国际金融学院成功开展了这样好的一个合作项目。在边晓鸿女士领导下的国际金融学院是国际合作项目的榜样。到这第一天上课时，我曾问起学生们的未来计划。他们的乐观及对美好未来的向往是如此之强烈。许多同学计划将来去国外读书，并憧憬着似锦前程和幸福人生。国际金融学院可称为开展创新性国际合作项目，并引进国外教师教授不同课程的领军人。国际金融学院给了学生们一个好的机会，同时同学们自己作为独立的个体也是非常优秀的。这里的学生学习非常勤奋刻苦。他们的技能出众，对课程准备充分。他们的个人素质完全符合一个金融从业者的标准。他们友善、热情、专业，使我身处于一个非常融洽的氛围中，感觉十分轻松。他们对学习的态度认真，对自己的未来计划十分重视，但同时又懂得享受快乐的生活。我想他们和我一样也为能来到北京师范大学珠海分校，来到国际金融学院感到幸运。

    我在这里经历的点点滴滴都是美好的。我想藉此机会感谢国际金融学院的每一个人，感谢他们在这段时间给我的帮助。尤其是张燕老师，她在我任教期间帮助我尽快熟悉这里的一切，使我在这里的生活变得容易、舒适。

    在这里的这段时间我感到非常愉快，也结交了新的朋友。现在，中国、北师大对我来说已经成了生活中的一个重要部分。我希望很快能再见到我的这些新朋友。事实上，我很快会见到我所教的北师大国际金融学院班上的一部分学生，因为他们将在今年秋天进入绿河大学就读。我期待在美国再次与他们相遇，并希望到时我能够像他们欢迎我一样欢迎他们。再一次感谢这里的所有人给了我这次难忘的经历。

Like many Americans, I’ve been interested in China ever since I can remember. So, after twelve years teaching Mathematics at Greenriver Community College, (GRCC), near Seattle in the United States, I was delighted when a chance to teach in China was mentioned in a Math department meeting. I signed up immediately, and here I am. GRCC has many international students from all over the world. I have always enjoyed, very much, meeting the students and learning about their countries and cultures. GRCC has several programs. The most common is the University transfer 2+2 – Students take two years of college-level classes and then transfer to a US university to complete a bachelor’s degree in another two years. The program that is responsible for my chance to be here in China is the program with the International Finance College, (IFC), here at Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai campus – This is a 1+1+2 program in which students take year 1 of a business degree at BNU Zhuhai, year 2 at GRCC, and years 3 and 4 at the US universities to which they transfer.

Since March 2007, I have been teaching Statistics class for the second year students in the IFC. My understanding is that this is the first time that a foreign instructor has been used for Mathematics classes. I think everyone was a little uncertain how it would work out. I had taught many Chinese students before, some from BNU, Zhuhai, but I had never taught, or lived abroad at all. The students were a little nervous because they had never had a foreign math instructor before. Well, everything worked out wonderfully! The students here at BNU are excellent. They did so well in the classes, and they made me feel like a friend instead of just a teacher. Their English skills are so good they seem to have no trouble understanding me. It was an honor to work with them.

I would like to congratulate the IFC on what a wonderful program they have. The IFC under the leadership of Mrs. Xiaohong Bian, has become an example of international cooperation and leadership. On the first day of class, I asked the students to tell me about their future plans. Their optimism and hope for a bright future is strong. So many of the students plan to study abroad in many countries and are looking forward to a prosperous and happy life. The IFC has been a leader in bringing foreign instructors to their students in various subjects and creating innovative cooperative programs like the one with GRCC. The students of the IFC have a great opportunity to be leaders in the world of International Finance. Not only does the IFC give them a real advantage, but their qualities as individuals are wonderful. The students are very hard working and diligent. Their skills and preparedness for the work are outstanding in every way. Their personal skills are perfect for the business environment. They are warm, friendly and professional. They made me feel very relaxed and at ease so quickly. They take their studies and their hope for the future seriously, yet are happy and enjoy their life. I think they feel as lucky to be here at BNU and in the IFC as I do!

Everything about my experience here has been good. I want to thank everyone in the IFC for helping me in so many ways. I would like to say a very special Thank you to Ms. Zhang Yan, whose help has made my life here so smooth and easy, and made me feel welcome and at home.

I have been very happy here and have found new friends and now think of China and BNU as an important part of my life. I hope to see all my new friends again very soon, and indeed I will, as some of my students from my classes here at BNU, will be attending GRCC this fall. I will look forward to seeing them in the US, and hope that they will feel as welcome as they have made me feel. Thanks to everyone for a wonderful experience.

James Keith Alford