Jul 15th, 2022 Friday Rainy
Many years ago, when I stepped onto this campus for the first time, I was taken to a castle-like building. Right next to the building lies the famous lake that this campus is well-known for. After having finished the matriculation procedures and paperwork, I could not hold back my excitement, so I went for a walk by the lake.
The weather was beautiful – the blueness of the sky was reflected on the mirror-like surface of the lake, with bright-colored sailing boats floating as decorations for this painting. Wild ducks, apparently accustomed to the attention of humans (no one other than me was bothering them anyway 😛 ), were busy grooming themselves or basking in the sun.
“What a place to be!” thought I, “How lucky I am that I can come enjoy this view any time I want!”
As it turned out, the building where all the enrollment processes happened is a little far away from most of the campus buildings I need to get to during my academic years here. Consequently, I rarely had the chance to visit the lake again.
The beauty of the lake seemed forgotten.
Until my wedding day. My husband and I decided that the lake view is so characteristic of this city that we should capture it in our wedding photos, so the trip was made with our photographer.
The lake did not disappoint, and our wedding photos by the lake were so picturesque that I selected them to be the cover photos for my wedding album.
Of course, on my wedding day, we could hardly keep our eyes off each other, let alone admire the scenery around us, however lovely it may be ❤️
“We should come back to visit the lake often, so that we remember this day.” I made a little vow in my mind.
But then, we both started working full-time. Then there came a pandemic.
So many things happened in life. In contrast, the lake – serene, peaceful, glistening in the sun like a sapphire – is only a backdrop that does not attempt to make its existence noticed.
Yesterday, I had work to do in a library nearby, so I took the opportunity during lunch break to sit by the lake again. The sight was invariably charming, just like many years ago. The clear water, tender and patient, seemed ready to greet another cohort of new students, who came to pursue their dreams.
A sense of gratitude swelled in my heart. The lake, however neglected (by me) it has been, never holds a grudge and is always there for me.
Not just for me. Thousands of students each year would come here and experience the same feeling of awe as I did years ago – this thought seems to connect me with all those unfamiliar faces. I know that regardless of their backgrounds, regardless of their languages, regardless of all the differences that make each of us unique, we share this lake.
And the lake welcomes all.