From: zdchang@coos.dartmouth.edu (David Z. Chang)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china
Subject: Shandong !
Keywords: Shandongnese list
Date: 30 Dec 92 22:47:13 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH


Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Thank you for your warm responses and encouraging remarks about the overseas
Shandongnese list.

After I posted the announcement (and someone kindly put it in CND-US),  I
received many responses which basically fell into two groups--one, encouraging
it as a great idea or two, questioning me about future plans.  In this message,
I hope to give reasonable answers to some general questions asked most often.

A:  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR COMPILING SUCH A LIST AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
WHY DID YOU THINK OF COMPILING SUCH A  LIST?

This is the most frequently asked question.   First of all,  let me say that
such a list is not used for political reasons, and no person or organization
should use the list for such purposes.  There is no special reason for
compiling this list; it was compiled for the same reason that one seeks to
get in touch with hometown fellows (Lao Xiang) during his/her college life,
that is, to make contact with old friends or make new friends. In brief, the
purpose is to unite the overseas Shandongnese.  People of the same origin
certainly have more in common.  I believe such a list will be useful for
better communication in exchanging information about hometowns as well
helping one another answer various questions or solve common problems. This
list also helps newcomers (maybe old ones as well) to overcome homesickness.
Quite a few people told me they miss the Shandong dialect, and many  have not
found making friends  here an easy, pleasant experience.  With a list of
overseas Shandongnese,  it will be easier to get to know one another better
and make friends  more quickly while adjusting to a new location.  (I
personally think Shandongnese people are the best choice for friends anyway.
Smile...).  These reasons made me compile such a list.  Interestingly enough,
a conversation triggered me into compiling such list.  Recently, I had an
argument at a party with some friends (Chinese from other areas) on the
personality of Shandongnese people.  While they accepted that Shandonese were
more honest,  they  said the word "Shandongnese" was also a symbol of the old
style or even a symbol for fool.  They think Shandong people are old
fashioned in their acceptance of modern life and even said I couldn't find
any Shandong students in Western countries.  Well, I thought to myself, let
me just find some overseas Shandongnese to prove to you that they are as
intelligent and modern as you are.  When I seriously thought about the idea,
I found that it was a really good one with some advantages--as I mentioned
above.

B: WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS  LIST?

People with any kind of connection to Shandong province,  either born there
or went to college there.  In addition, people who have special interests in
Shandong province can also be included.

C: WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE LIST?

The following are some basic kinds of information  that are needed:
                Name:
                From:
                Post-High School:
                Present School/Company :
                Telephone Number:
                E-mail Address:
                Mailing Address:
One can give any of the above information as he/she wishes or leave the item
empty if he/she does not want such information released and any  information
can be as specified as one wishes. If you would like to be included in this
list or you want to give me more information, please email to me at:
                zdchang@coos.dartmouth.edu
Please put NEW or OLD Shandongnese in your subject to state if you are sending
me the first time or otherwise, just to save me some time.

D:  CAN  I GET  A  COPY OF THE LIST?

Certainly.  I'm not compiling this list for my own use.  On the contrary, any
interested individual or party can get a copy.  However, please be alert to
this fact if you do not want certain information  released to the general
public.

E: What  is  going to  be done with this list?

After the list is completed,  it will be sent to everyone on the list--via
network.  Hard copy will be also be considered if some information is
presented in Chinese.  People can contact interested parties, such as people
from the same area or college.  If enough interest is shown,  we can also
consider distributing a newsletter to members.

E: WHO ARE YOU?

This is another frequently asked question.   I can understand the initial
reaction--who the hell are you to compile such a list?   Well,  in the first
place,  I am a Shandongnese resident who is proud to be one and eager to meet
other Shandongnese "neighbors."  I am from ZaoZhuang and had my undergraduate
training at Shandong Agricultural University and Taishan Medical College (so
I can be considered an alumnus of both even though I did not finish at the
Agricultural University).  I came to the States in 1989,  majoring in
Computer Science in Chicago and then transferred to Dartmoth College in 1990,
majoring in Pharmacology.  Now I am in the 3rd year of my Ph.D. program.  If
anyone would like more information,  please feel free to contact me.

F: HOW MANY PEOPLE  HAVE BEEN  PUT  ON  THE LIST AND WHEN CAN I GET A COPY?

So far,  about 80 people have responded and have been put on the list.  They
are mainly  in the United States, but some are from European countries as
well.  I am still getting responses.  As soon as I compile enough
information,  I will send a draft to everyone on the list to recheck the
information.  The final verson will be sent via E-mail.

G: WHAT CAN I DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS  LIST?

I appreciate the many  offers of help in compiling such a list.  At this
point, I am just gathering information.  I will ask for assistance later on
if I need.  Nevertheless,  all of you can help by distributing this  news
sheet to all of the overseas Shandongnese you know and by having them respond
to me if they would like to be included on the list.  Some people have said
they know many overseas Shandongnese but can not give me their names because
they  don't have permission or because they didn't  know who I was and what
the list was for.  Please inform other overseas Shandongnese about the list,
especially those who do not read internet news.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china