I and the Forbes list

Author: Hu Rong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Eton College, located thousands of miles away from China on the banks of the River Thames, is one of the most famous private secondary schools in the world. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI of England and is renowned as the "cradle of gentlemen." Seventeen British prime ministers and thirty-six dignitaries who have received the Victoria Cross (the highest British honor for bravery) are all graduates of this school. Many Chinese people know Eton because of the visits of Prince Charles, as well as the younger princes William and Harry, who studied there. At the age of 13, I entered this renowned school and became one of its members. I have seen some domestic media reports saying that Hu Rong entered Eton because his ancestors were once nobles. This claim is a bit "far-fetched," haha, far-fetched in terms of family lineage. Let me clarify, my parents are actually ordinary British citizens, so there were indeed some difficulties in getting into a prestigious school like Eton. For this reason, at the age of 11, I was sent to a British school to prepare for the entrance exam at the age of 13. I was fortunate enough to get admitted to Eton. Diligence pays off. At that time, Eton College had five grades, from 13 to 18 years old, with 250 students per grade, making the total student body 1,250. Among the candidates that year, I ranked in the top 20, which is quite impressive. Of course, with Eton's excellent traditions and strong academic atmosphere, many of my classmates came from noble families. However, in my eyes, not everyone around me was a spoiled brat. They were all very smart, and who would dare to say that the "brother sleeping above me" in my dormitory couldn't become the British prime minister in the future! The time at Eton was unforgettable. The school provided me with opportunities to develop my athletic and other interests. My favorite sports include squash, rowing, skiing, and later, diving and hiking. These activities not only strengthened my physique but also helped me explore many places, broadening my horizons. At the age of 18, I traveled to Kenya and Zimbabwe with the school's squash team for a competition. If it weren't for the competition, I might never have had the chance to visit these places in my lifetime. Now, however, I had two weeks to fully immerse myself in their scenery and learn about their culture—such a lucky experience. Of course, I can't forget the competition. That time, we brought home a trophy for the school.
In 1988, when I was 18. One day in May, I discovered a notice posted on the school bulletin board offering a one-year study opportunity in Japan. I knew that June was the end of the school term, and I was already planning how to travel. For an 18-year-old, what could be more exciting than exploring the wonderful world outside? Especially when it was free, of course—I signed up immediately. To my surprise, I was the only applicant (the following year, there were 10 applicants). The conditions offered by the host school were quite generous—not only covering one year of tuition and living expenses but also round-trip first-class airfare. As soon as I got this opportunity, I immediately switched my first-class ticket to economy class. Haha, I was rich! Clutching my hard-earned savings, I first traveled around Europe, spending two months in Paris, then Belgium, and finally arriving at my destination—Tokyo, Japan. 1988 was a time when Japan's economy was at its peak, and I was lucky to be there at the right time. Because of my famous alma mater, the school invested heavily and had high expectations for me. I also showed my true skills. Within a month of arriving in Japan, I delivered a 20-minute speech in Japanese. Although many of the words were written in phonetic symbols and memorized word by word, I still left the Japanese audience in the audience stunned. At that time, I started working odd jobs, not for the money but to gain experience. There was a park on the island of Kyushu with a tea house said to have a history of over 1,000 years. I worked there, which also gave me some insight into Japanese tea ceremonies. I also worked in a sushi restaurant, assisting the chef and doing things like chopping vegetables. In Japan, I was fortunate enough to find an old acquaintance from my family. Thirty years ago, this beautiful Japanese girl and my aunt met on a train and were invited to my home for a visit. Later, we often exchanged New Year's cards during festivals. Before heading to Tokyo, my grandmother gave me her address. When I finally found her in the vast crowds of Tokyo, she had married a wealthy media tycoon. Through this connection, my days in a foreign land were colorful, and I met many people. However, I gradually realized that many foreigners spoke Japanese very fluently and made a lot of money there, but they didn't belong there. In Japan, foreigners are always outsiders. P005-007