I was recently invited to join a competition—but there was a catch: teams had to include at least three people. So, I reached out to two close colleagues who I deeply trust.

As I often do, I immediately started preparing everything I could think of—gathering materials, outlining the scope, and mapping out the architecture of our presentation. Out of habit, I only assigned small tasks to them. Honestly, I’ve always felt uncomfortable asking others to do too much. If I’m the organizer or team lead, I believe it’s my responsibility to carry the bulk of the work.

But something unexpected happened.

My two incredible teammates didn’t just help—they owned their parts. They brought fresh ideas, crafted beautiful slides, and contributed thoughtful writing for the proposal. They showed patience, skill, and a spirit of collaboration that truly moved me.

For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel like I was carrying the weight alone. And the results? Far better than anything I could have done solo.

I’m so grateful for this experience—and for them.

Teamwork really does make the dream work.

I was recently invited to visit a retired teacher from our campus for lunch at his home. I was so happy—this was the first time a Belgian person had ever invited me to their home. In China, we often do this more casually and frequently, so this gesture felt both warm and rare.

A great song I really like recently

Grateful Encounters

I truly feel grateful for the people in my life who help me without expecting anything in return.
This teacher is one of them.

When I first arrived on campus and began working on my experiments, I didn’t have a proper place to set up my 3D printer.
One evening around 7:00 p.m., most colleagues had already left, and I was sitting on the ground doing some tests. The printer was temporarily placed on the floor because there was simply nowhere else to put it.

At that time, I didn’t know when or where I could find a better space—my supervisor was very busy, and I was still new.

That evening, this teacher passed by my lab, saw me sitting there, and said hi before leaving.
But the next day, he came back and asked if I needed help. He said it wasn’t appropriate to work like that and kindly offered his assistance.

As a sensitive person, I almost cried at that moment.

Then he emailed my supervisor and expressed his willingness to help resolve the situation.

A Helping Hand

Over the following month, he:

• Helped me find a proper space for my printer

• Searched on AliExpress for the right tools

• Even drove around town to find equipment to help exhaust the toxic gas from the printer

It struck me then that caring for others isn’t always natural—it’s something we can learn by example.
And I learned it from him.

Everything got resolved smoothly thanks to his help.
He was like a grandfather or father figure—not connected to my project, yet he stepped in without hesitation.
It moved me deeply, and I promised myself to become that kind of person too.

Unexpected Friendship

Believe it or not, sometimes you just click with people without needing a reason.
Eventually, we became good friends—from my perspective, at least.

Before visiting him today, I prepared a few interview questions 😊
We ended up talking from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.—five hours flew by!

A Life of Teaching and Discipline

He began teaching in 1982, shortly after leaving the military.
Although his army service lasted only ten months, it taught him valuable lessons:

• Self-discipline

• Leadership

• Teamwork

He believes these are qualities many young people lack today.
Teaching wasn’t originally part of his plan, but it turned out to be a great opportunity—and he embraced it.

On Networking and Courage

We talked about networking. He said it’s essential—not about using others, but about saving time and energy.

“If you can use others, others can use you too.”

Networking is like a phone book—you don’t use it every day, but it’s there when you need it.
It’s different from friendship, which is built on shared memories and interests.
Networking is more about career growth.

He shared a story:
A student once wanted to work on a rocket project, and he happened to know someone in that field.
He introduced them, and now the student is doing well.
Networking, he said, is often a win-win situation.

I told him I often feel shy about reaching out, even though I appear outgoing.
He encouraged me:

“Don’t be afraid. Just keep practicing—you’ll get used to it. It’s a skill.”

Gaining Experience, Finding Direction

He also told me that when he was younger, he struggled with other people’s opinions and felt life was out of control.
But with time and experience, he began to:

• Steer the direction of his work

• Speak with more confidence and impact

I agree—it’s a process.
We can’t expect to do only what we love when we’re still young and inexperienced.

Regrets and Pride

One thing he regretted was not doing a PhD.
I think he had a passion for research, and not having a doctorate might’ve limited some opportunities.

But the happy side?

Over the past 42 years, he spent most of his time doing work he genuinely enjoyed.
That’s a kind of perfection, isn’t it?

When I asked him what he was most proud of, he said: his family.

He lives a happy life and cherishes his relationship.
A small but touching detail:
Every workday, he rides his bike to meet his wife after her work, and then they ride home together.

What a lovely couple! ❤️

Differences and Understanding

We also talked about politics and the current world.
As a Chinese person who loves her country deeply, I naturally had different opinions.
I’ll summarize those discussions in another post.

What I’ve Learned

His life might look ordinary at first glance.
But to me, his passion for education and his kindness toward life are extraordinary—and worth learning from.

I still feel lucky to have a senior friend who’s willing to show me what life can be.

Today I went to Leuven to do SEM characterization. Since I needed to put my samples into a vacuum chamber, I was told it would be best to leave them inside for a whole day. But because of the long distance, I decided to go very early and finish everything in one day. I was surprised to find that it’s even possible to book night or weekend sessions for the SEM. Somehow, this is exactly what I expect from a good research institute or university — flexible access that respects how research really works.

I don’t want to glorify overworking, but there should be an environment that allows researchers to work late when they need to — whether because experiments take a long time, or because some people simply do their best work at night. On my Brugge campus, this is impossible. There are strict checks by a third-party security company, and I always have to leave before midnight. I’ve been warned many times not to stay alone in the building for safety reasons.

But despite the early start, I had a really good working day in Leuven. After preparing my samples, I went to the canteen for lunch and ended up sitting with a big group of Chinese students. We talked about the research atmosphere back home, each other’s projects, and funny things that have happened to us here in Belgium. It had been a long time since I’d had such a warm, lively conversation with so many people. I’m not the talkative girl I once was — now I’m quieter, a listener, and I really like this version of myself: calm, thoughtful, and curious.

Back in the lab, I wasn’t familiar with one of the coating machines. A Belgian colleague I hadn’t met before was so kind — he patiently showed me how to use it step by step, and even explained the principles behind each step. By 8 p.m., I had finished all my tests. I was exhausted, but grateful — and happy with the results.

What touched me most was the bright lights of the building as I left. So many people were still working, or at least still there, deep into the night. Sometimes, I feel like an alien on my Brugge campus — I try to hide how much I love working hard, because it’s not always understood. But deep down, I know why I’m here: for research, not for entertainment. I know how to enjoy life — but for me, doing my work is part of that joy.

Where we are does not define who we are. Today reminded me of that — and made me feel grateful all over again.

I’ve come to realize that doing chemistry or materials experiments is, in many ways, like practicing meditation. If my mind wanders even slightly, mistakes slip in—sometimes with frustrating consequences.

Take today (well, technically yesterday). After spending the whole day mixing a solution, I accidentally poured it into a dirty beaker. Just one moment of inattention, and all that effort went to waste. It drove me crazy.

Even the simple act of weighing particles on a balance demands complete focus and patience. Preparing five groups for a comparative experiment can easily take over an hour. There’s no rushing it. Every grain matters.

Honestly, I didn’t enjoy this kind of work when I first started. It felt repetitive and lacking in technical creativity. But something has changed. Recently, I’ve found that when I fully immerse myself in the process, a sense of inner stillness takes over. My thoughts settle. My attention sharpens. My heart feels… clean.

That feeling—that calm flow of presence—is perfect. And I think that, maybe, this quiet discipline is a kind of innovation. Not in the tools or the results, but in myself.

Today, I learned that my landlord’s mom underwent euthanasia. It left me reflecting on a conversation we had not long ago.

Public transportation in China is incredibly affordable. For instance, taking the subway in Shanghai typically costs only 4 to 6 RMB (approximately €0.5 to €0.8). That’s pocket change! 🤑 As someone used to this cost-efficiency, traveling in Belgium, or any other European country, feels like public transport is reaching directly into my wallet! 😂💸