“NCKU: Taiwan's Kyoto University in the 21st century!”

“成大: 二十一世紀台灣的京都大學＂

A welcoming comment delivered to NCKU global alumni at the opening ceremony of its 6th global carnival.
January 18, 2008
Los Angeles, California

Da Hsuan Feng
Senior Executive Vice President
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)

Chairman Albert Hsieh, President Michael Lai, Distinguished Alumni of NCKU from all corners of the globe and Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ever since I arrived in NCKU five months ago as its Senior Executive Vice President, I learned a commonly used phrase in Taiwan, which is “Pai Se” in Taiwanese, “Bu Hao Yi Si 不好意思” in Mandarin. The best translation in English I can come up with is “I am embarrassed!”

Well, I feel Pai Se this evening.

I learned from my boss long time ago when I was a program director at the National Science Foundation that there is an 11th commandment which is “in public, thou shall never speak before thy boss.” Well, pai se, it appears that I am violating this commandment this evening. As you can see, my boss, President Lai, is sitting in the front row, and I am speaking and he is not, at least not until tomorrow. My only excuse for the violation of this important commandment is that, although I knew I am supposed to speak at this carnival, I just found out after arriving at the conference site half an hour ago and read the printed program that I am speaking at this time.

Pai Se indeed!

However, there is one consolation here and that is while President Lai will not be speak this evening, he will serenade you with his violin playing! Also, he will give you his full vision of the university tomorrow morning.

Finally and fortunately, the prepared statement in my head is the result of what President Lai and I have had many conversations on in the past 8-9 months and thus what I am reporting to you here could de facto be interpreted as his vision. I should caution you of course that any confusion and/or errors are mine and not his.