Just as what I said in the title page above: appreciation is where memory cannot forget. As the years went by, memory sank or vaporized, and we learn to appreciate what happened long long ago. As soon as I stepped onto my hometown, I was greeted by people who knew me, or knew my mother. Old friends and students approached, be they 30 years ago or 60 years ago. And their memories and faces loomed really big. I am to have a reunion with my elementary teachers and schoolmates of 60 years. Out of no where, I saw myself, an 11-year-old, raising my hand to ask my Nature teacher Ms. Dai a question: why could dews cling to the surface of leaves?

And yesterday (9-2-2013), my former students of 30 years ago at Zhangzhou Spare-time College gathered to welcome me back to Zhangzhou--back to their memory when they were eagerly learning English. The diploma they earned did qualify, and help many of them find better careers and prosper. Now many of them are grateful, just like I am grateful. Our shared fate and memory has bound us together since 30 years ago.

Tomorrow I am planning to visit the head master of the high school where Li-qing and I taught in 1977. She, Ms. Li, together with the principal of the school, Mr. Hong, gave us shelter and jobs when we most needed them. They were so very kind, and we were so very grateful. Do good, and be good.

Most of the pictures on this page were taken in two places in Zhangzhou. One was in the suburban area of the city: Tianbao. Tianbao is famous for vast farms of banana, and for the memorial to Mr. Lin Yutang, writer, translator, and linguist. Incidentally, Mr. Lin's nephew, Prof. Lin Yujin, was my beloved teacher and tutor in Xiamen University, and dean of the English department. The other was in the wetland in between Zhangzhou and Longhai. The local governments are to be commented for doing their best to preserve a cultural icon like Mr. Lin, and to preserve a natural refuge like the wetland.

正如我题头照写的：（人类少涉足的地方就是乐土；）记忆遥遥的过去就成了心中的宝地。遥远的记忆由于久远，由于沉淀，往往成了心中的瑰宝。从回到故国的第一天起，我就天天在跟过去的记忆打交道。路上遇到熟人，妈妈会告诉我他（她）是谁，或谁的谁。那一天，我突然想起六十前的一堂”自然课“。11岁的我举手提问：为什么叶片上的水珠不会流下？戴丽娟老师答：表面张力。下个月，我们这些60年前的老学生们就要再跟我们的老师们团聚了。当年，我们十多岁，而我们的老师们其实也才20出头。他们如父母般地爱护我们，即使毕业后也是这样。而我们也深情地记住他们，六十年如一日。

昨天（2013年9月2日），原漳州业大85届的学生设宴招待我这个30年前的老师。看到他们，听到他们的情况，我为我当过他们的老师而骄傲，而宽慰。岁月总是垂青那些肯努力，有准备的人。那是我们共同的，值得骄傲的一段历史。我们都努力过。我们一起走了过来，赢得了今天。在祝酒时，我希望大家爱护身体，酒要少喝，而烟绝对不要抽。他们会听吗？

明天我准备去看望原龙海一中教导主任李水锦老师。当年，在我和丽卿十分困难的日子，她和洪涛校长给了我们一份工作和一个安居四口人之地（两个大人及六岁和三岁两个孩子）。是的，我们自己是努力的。但他们给了我们一个机会。

这个网页的照片，前三张摄于位于天宝的香蕉园和林语堂纪念馆。林语堂的侄子林疑今原是厦门大学外文系的系主任，是我的恩师。后面的风景照摄于位于西溪的湿地保护区。政府能够注意保护文化内涵和自然资源，是值得称赞的。

Click image to enlarge.  击打图片即可放大。

(will switch to part 5 of China Trip in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南故国行第五集)