In my hometown of Shima, there used to be a park hosting a Dr Sun Yat-sen Pavilion. Now the only thing that remains is the Pavilion, along with some big banyan trees. Locals, mostly retirees, come and play. I also revisited other places I frequented in my childhood, and took more pictures.

I see overcrowded streets and pollution everyday. I walk on broken pavement amidst throngs of people and shrieking car horns. The Nine Dragon River is the lifeline of my hometown, but its fresh water sands are mostly gone, and its waters are covered and tainted with commercial boats and garbage.

My former students of 30 years ago again came to see me, this time to say goodbye. When we were coming back from dinner, we passed some people handing out flyers. I ignored them by walking briskly by. One of my former students ended up with a couple of flyers in her hands. Sheepishly, she said that if she refused to take the flyers, they might feel hurt. Then we continued our walk, and she continued holding the flyers in hand. I was wondering why she did not dispose of them immediately when she began to fold the flyers inside out. By the time we reached my home, she had turned two flyers into two paper litter baskets.

That, is a big lesson my former student has taught me. To be humble, to be compassionate, and to save for environment. She also represents many of the people I know in this small town by the river. I will miss them all.

石码镇中心原来有个公园。公园里有个中山亭。现在，公园已经基本消失了。没有消失的是记忆，和幸存的中山亭。在亭下和亭四周的榕树下，几代石码人曾在这里玩过。石码还有其他一些我童年玩过的地方，特别是九龙江。但九龙江已经严重污染。清水沙已经不见，只见烂泥滩。江面布满各种船舶和垃圾。在几个地段，臭味铺面而来。

在石码走路，得时时刻刻提防车辆，而且耳旁都是喇叭声和噪音。前天（11月13日），我的30年前的学生又来看我，这一次是送我远行。吃完晚饭走过“街心公园”，有人要塞给我花花绿绿的广告纸，我机灵地闪开。看到我的一个前学生手上多了两张广告纸，我说：你没有避开吗？她说，她如果避开，分广告的人可能会以为被瞧不起而伤心。我们继续走着。她的手开始忙碌起来，把广告纸叠来叠去。等到我们走到家，她已经叠好了两个可以放食品杂物的漂亮的纸盒。细心、善心、贴心、环保心--我的前学生们教我的，绝对比我曾经教他们的多。

他们是我三十年前在漳州业大的学生。认识他们，是我的幸运。过三十年依然有他们，是我的自豪。这次来看我之前，我已经多回婉拒。我不忍心让他们一次又一次为我花钱花时间。但这就是故乡人的深情厚谊。我将装在心里远渡重洋。

这几天看33集电视剧 "蚁族的奋斗“ (2011年戴冰导演)，深深为里面的主人公们而感动。他们无钱无房无车无户口，几个人挤在一间宿舍，生活条件绝对跟美国的无法比。但他们有自己的追求，有善良的心，有尊严。他们不一定个个能成功（我才看到第11集），但他们毕竟在努力，而且背后都有家人和朋友。希望他们和所有故国人的日子过得越来越好。希望家乡的环境最终得到改善。 希望亲友们同学们各自珍重，几年后我们健健康康再见。谢谢大家。

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(will switch to China Trip：back to US in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南故国行: 回到美国的家)