赵小兰的简历（根基成长教育赵小兰：我的父母相信儿童早教是改善人生的根基)
2015年10月21日晚，赵小兰与父亲、美国著名企业家、慈善家赵锡成博士；妹妹、美国福茂集团副董事长赵安吉；妹夫、赵安吉丈夫国际顶尖投资家吉姆•布莱尔(Jim Breyer)一行四人，在北大发表主题演讲。泥巴青年有幸现场聆听，近距离感受儒雅大气、充满爱意的家风。
常言道，女儿要富养。赵锡成博士富养出了六朵金花。这个家庭的富，富在爱，更富在教育。
赵小兰的父亲赵锡成博士生于上海嘉定，1949年因战乱随船到台湾，1958年，只身负笈前往美国寻找新机会，3年后将家人接到美国团聚，再过3年创办福茂公司，此后将福茂发展成世界级航运企业。
赵锡成、朱木兰夫妇和长女赵小兰
赵锡成与太太朱木兰育有6个女儿。女儿们均毕业于常青藤院校，且4个毕业于哈佛大学，个个独当一面，成就卓越。
在北大几个小时的谈话、演讲、问答，无处不在的是满满的爱，无处不在的是对教育的极端重视。赵锡成与朱木兰的夫妻恩爱，赵小兰姐妹们对父亲的尊敬和对母亲的怀念，一家人对于祖辈的传承、对故土教育的关爱，让人动容。
赵氏一家带着母亲的照片，在哈佛大学捐赠仪式上留影。
泥巴青年珍藏了赵小兰当天的演讲稿，谨此分享给大家。
美国第24任劳工部长
赵朱木兰基金会主席
赵小兰女士
北京大学演讲稿
二0一五年十月二十一日， 星期三
中国北京
各位老师、同学，朋友们：
大家晚上好！
感谢各位莅临我们的演讲，很高兴，与大家相聚在此！
很开心能陪伴我的父亲赵锡成博士，我最小的妹妹赵安吉以及他的丈夫Jim Breyer，有这次特别的中国之行。这也是我们四个人第一次共同在中国公共场合亮相，可以说是难能可贵！
这一趟，我们到了安徽、上海。在安徽来安县，我亲爱的母亲赵朱木兰女士的出生地，父亲捐建了两所新的幼儿园：木兰泗阳幼儿园和木兰七里幼儿园。我们参加了十月十五日的幼儿园落成仪式。上百位家长和观礼的民众对家父的捐赠表现出的热情和厚爱，让我们深受感动。
我母亲是她那一代妇女中极少数受过教育的人之一，她的学校生活被席卷中国的战火打断，但是她从未放弃求学的热望。她认为教育是在一个不断变化的世界中持续进步的关键。当我们都长大成人，她决定在美国重新读书，并在53岁时，于纽约的圣若望大学取得了亚洲人文历史的硕士学位。
为了纪念家母对教育的热忱，对故土的热爱以及她毕生的追求，父亲以母亲的名义给来安县孩子们捐赠学校，使他们得到更好的教育机会，也让他们的家庭和社区受益。我们希望这些孩子们和他们的家人能学习赵朱木兰女士的一生，学习她的坚毅进取、乐观博爱，希望他们的人生由此得到启迪。
此次行程还有一个目的，是为了参加以我祖父赵以仁命名的上海嘉定马陆“以仁幼儿园”成立20周年纪念庆典活动。“仁”是孔子最著名的思想——以人为主，“泛爱众而亲仁”。我想我的祖父是“以仁”这二字最好的代表。
我的祖父是个乡村教育家。我的父亲成长于偏僻的农村，他的亲身经历使他明白获得教育资源多么艰难。为了纪念祖父对教育的重视以及他的慷慨、奋发向上，始终以仁为善的精神，我的父亲这次在家乡捐赠学校，以期帮助马陆镇的孩子们获得更好的教育机会。我们希望孩子们和他们的家人以我的祖父赵以仁先生为榜样，继续传承他在逆境面前不屈不挠以及他的坦荡情怀和乐于助人之精神。
我的父母亲总是强调教育对于人生进步的重要性。他们相信儿童早教是实现人生改善的根基。中国在世界舞台上的重要性日益增长，这也要求她的公民获得更多更好的教育，对世界有更多的了解，与连接日益紧密的世界有更多的互动。我的父亲和我们家族，愿意为此不断努力，并做出看得见的贡献。
我的大多数生活都在美国，现在越来越多的学生愿意去美国，越来越多的学生将要与西方人有所接触，所以我希望与大家分享一些我对于美国和美国文化的观察，希望我的发言能够帮助你们了解美国，与西方进行更有效的互动。
为了让大家了解我的经历，我要首先分享我父母亲一生非凡的故事。我的母亲赵朱木兰，是我们的家庭根基，我们的家庭在美国的成就归功于她的勤奋努力、牺牲精神、决心和爱。母亲与父亲相守相惜一生，他们的爱情是真正的传奇。
母亲22岁就嫁给了我的父亲，一个勤奋努力、不屈不挠、充满乐观并前途光明的年轻人。在他们婚姻的最初七年，我的父亲是一名商船的海员，通过勤奋、努力的工作，他在29岁时成为中国历史上最年轻的远洋轮船长。但他的工作总是远离我的母亲与他们刚刚建立的家庭，每一次离开都是几个月的分别。当母亲正要临产生下我时，父亲把送她到医院便立刻赶往码头登船，因为他必须执行一项航行任务。而他的船在之后的一个月都没有返航回家，直到我满月，他才见我第一面。
母亲怀有七个月身孕时，父亲通过了全国河海航运员特种考试，并拔得头筹，甚至打破历年纪录，并因此获得了去美国的机会。尽管母亲并不知道这次的分离会有多么漫长，她还是坚毅地鼓励我父亲前往美国，为我们的家庭谋求新的生活。而在父亲有能力带我们去美国之前，我们的家庭成员分离了长达三年之久。
我们初到访美国时，前几年过得非常艰难。我们不懂他们的语言，吃不惯美国的食物，不了解美国的传统、文化，也没有任何的亲戚或朋友在身边。然而，在这些艰苦的岁月中，我的父母总是保持乐观，他们对美好未来充满梦想并努力工作，令我们全家一直坚信我们的未来将是光明的。
我的母亲一生都在背后辛勤操持家务，相夫教子，让我们的生活变得安逸、舒适。在她的这一代人中，极少数妇女接受教育，她是其中为数不多的一个。她认为教育是在一个不断变化的世界中持续进步的关键。她在美国重新开始读书，并在53岁时获得亚洲文学历史硕士学位。
随着中国加入发达国家的行列，无疑会与包括美国人在内的外界社会有更多的互动。我希望下面这些我对于美国的观察，在对中西文化普遍差异的认识，能为您提供一些关于美国和美国人的认知。
第一、移民正在改变美国的人口构成。目前，非裔美国人约占13％的人口，拉美裔美国人约占14％的人口，亚太裔美国人约占6％的人口，其余66% 的人口则是白人。根据2015年9月28日出炉的一项新的皮尤研究报告，在未来40年，尽管西班牙裔在美国总人口中仍占据一个更大的比例，亚裔将成为美国最大的移民群体。
皮尤研究中心估计，到2055年，在美国出生的移民人口中36％是亚裔，34％是西班牙裔。不会有一个种族或族裔群体占到美国人口的过半数比例。到2055年，白人在美国人口中预计将占据不到一半的比例，2065年将占46%。拉美裔美国人2065年的人口比重将从2015年的18％上升到24％，而亚裔2065年的人口比重将升到14％。
到那时，没有人群再被视为美国的“多数”人口。每个人都是少数族裔成员。所以，不要害怕成为这个多元种族社会的一部分。
第二、有效的沟通技巧非常重要——包括口说和书面沟通。美国是一个言语社会。因为这个社会由来自不同背景的人构成，公开的语言交流非常重要。一些交流的要诀包括：
在亚洲，人们更精通“潜台词”——非语言交流的暗示，并且擅长预期别人要说什么或者想要什么。在美国，不要想着别人会去预期你想要什么。如果你想要什么，必须学会直接出口并明确提出要求。如果你没有这么做，就不可能得到你想要的。如果你有不明白的事情，不要犹豫，尽量提问。你会发现大多数美国人都是非常有耐心的，不惜花时间解释你的问题。
美国人也会经常打断对方说话——千万不要认为这是具有针对性的。你也可以打断他们的对话。这个行为不被认为是不礼貌的。你不必等对方说完再发言。事实上，在美国，其他人在等你打断他们的话，如果你不这样做，他或她会不断地说话，而你不会有机会交谈。
第三、相对而言，美国不是一个注重等级的社会，而是一个推崇平等的社会。如果美国人想要说点什么——通常而言，他们会直言不讳，无视社会等级、传统和“优先级”——谁更资深、更年长或地位更高。有时这可能略显无理或自大，但是他们只想做自己喜欢的事情——不管周围其他人喜欢与否。
第四、美国人注重个人主义而不是团体。美国文化鼓励“异于他人”。以美国人在餐厅点单、用餐为例。中国人的用餐习惯通常是大家一起分享摆放在桌子中间的盘子中的每一份菜肴。而美国人则是每人选择自己想吃的食物，食物上菜时单独放在自己的盘子，（食物种类）可以和坐在他身旁的人点的完全不同。
事实上，我们也不难见到美国人鼓励小朋友每天自己决定穿什么衣服。他们也鼓励美国的年轻人从很小的时候要说出自己的想法，并根据自己的想法作出自己的决定。
所以，如果有些人说了逆耳的言语，或做了你不喜欢的事情，不要觉得这是在攻击你或伤害了你的感受。其实这很有可能不是故意的。他很有可能先想到的是他自己，而不是你，不要觉得这是针对你的。
如果你有一个意见，不要犹豫或恐惧于表达。如果你对一个看法存在异议，你可以直接表达。但是同时你也要做好准备迎接他人的反驳。大多数美国人非常随性，通过文明的方式表达异议不被视为不礼貌的行为，他们也不会在乎一个人的地位或级别。
第五、虽然美国人推崇个人主义，但是他们也很懂得团队协作。团队协作是美国人的强项之一。
第六、如果你犯了一个错误，不要担心。在美国的生活中你会经常犯错误，但是很少的错误是致命的。千万不要想太多。美国人对待错误非常宽容。
第七、美国是一个年轻的国家，充满能量。人们成功不仅是因为他们努力工作，还因为他们热爱自己的事业。中国人鼓励他们的孩子改正、弥补自己的缺点，而美国人并不关注缺点——他们强调优势，这意味着他们工作，是为了培养他们的才能。
第八、美国文化具有肯定性——非常正面。他们给出大量的正面回馈。他们经常说：“谢谢，你做的很好！继续前进，这很棒！”他们通过正面回馈鼓励他人。
这些饱含我自己经历、感受的观察不是绝对的，但我希望你们有兴趣了解这些并能对你们有所帮助。
中国在过去的三十年经历了人类历史上最快之一的转型。因为你们生活、工作在这巨大的变革中。我想与你们分享一些生命中真正的价值，作为我最后的总结。
我的父亲，赵锡成博士，毋庸置疑是一个成功人士，但是他从来不追求物质上的成功。在他的一生中，他的目标是对社会作出贡献，成为一个“好人”。这些价值是我们从小就耳濡目染、伴随着我们成长的。我的父亲富有，是因为他是一个杰出的儿子、一位无与伦比的丈夫、父亲、企业家、慈善家，也因为他是社会的楷模，为社会作出了贡献。我们作为他的孩子，成为我们父母的爱与指引的受益人。
中国正在崛起，外界也在日益了解中国。对于两国和世界而言，美中关系的未来只有一个方向——继续上行，两国和世界都会从中受益。你们中可能会有人成为未来的领导人，希望你们会进一步加强中美关系发展。
你们的未来充满光明。我希望你们能够在自己奋斗的领域取得成功，为社会做出自己的贡献。
Remarks prepared for The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
24th U. S. Secretary of Labor (2001-2009)
Chair,Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Foundation
Peking University
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Beijing, ChinaThank you all for being here. What a great pleasure it is to be here withyou tonight!
I am so pleased to be accompanying myfather, Dr. James S. C. Chao, my youngest sister, Angela Chao, and her husband,Jim Breyer, on this special trip to China.
This is the first time that all 4 of ushave appeared in public!
We have just come from Anhui and Shanghai.In Anhui, Lai’an County, the birthplace of my beloved late mother, Ruth MulanChu Chao, my father has donated to the building of two new kindergartens: TheRuth Mulan Chu Chao Kindergarten, in Siyang, and The Ruth Mulan Chu Chaokindergarten in Gili. We attended the dedication ceremony on Thursday, October15, 2015. It was so moving to see thehundreds of parents and spectators who came to witness the dedication and whowere so grateful for my father’s gift to their village.
My mother was one of the few women of hergeneration to receive an education. Herstudies were interrupted by the wars which ravaged China at the time. But, shenever gave up her desire to finish her education. At the age of 53 years old,she finally obtained her Masters degree in Asian Literature and History.
To commemorate my mother’s emphasis oneducation, her love for her native province, her life and her legacy, my fatherhas made this donation to enable the children of Lai’An County to access bettereducation for the benefit of their families and society in her name. We hope the children and their families willbe inspired by my mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao’s life and legacy and emulate herspirit of determination, perseverance, altruism and love.
The second purpose of our trip is to attendthe 20th anniversary celebration ceremony of the Yiren Kindergarten in JiadingCounty which was named in honor of my grandfather, Zhao Yiren. “Ren” isConfucianisms first virtue – kindness and concern for humanity. No one personifies “yiren” better than mygrandfather.
My grandfather was an educator in a ruralvillage. My father grew up in a rural farming environment. He understood from personal experience thedifficulties of attaining access to education.
To commemorate my grandfathers emphasis oneducation, his generous and enthusiastic spirit to always help others, myfather has made this donation to enable the children of Malu County accessbetter education. We hope the children and their families will be inspired bymy grandfather’ Yiren Chao’s, spirit to persevere in the face of greatadversity and emulate his magnanimous spirit to always help others.
My parents always emphasized the importanceof education to advancement in life. They believed early childhood education is a key foundation to a better life. As China grows in importance on the world stage, it is important that itscitizens become more educated and knowledgeable to interact with the rest of the world that is increasingly interconnected.
Since I have lived most of my life overseasin America, and more students are going abroad to America, I hope I may offersome observations about what America and American culture is like. As the U. S.-China relationship develops furtherin the years ahead, more students will come in contact with westerners and Ihope my remarks will help you understand and interact more effectively.
To understand my experience, I hope I may sharethe story of my incredibly inspiring parents. My mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, was the foundation of our family. Everything our family has been able to achievein America was due to her diligence, sacrifices, determination, and love.
She and my father share a wonderful lovestory. At the age of 22, she married my father, a young man of great ability,diligence, and promise.
For first seven years of their marriage, myfather steadily progressed in his career to become one of the youngest actingsea captains in Chinese history at the age of 29. His career took him away frommy mother and our young family for months at a time. For example, when my mother was about to givebirth to me, my father dropped her off at the hospital and then rushed on boardhis ship as it was sailing for another assignment. His ship did not return tohome port for another month. So, myfather did not see me until I was one month old.
When my mother was seven months pregnant,my father took the National Mariner Examination and scored number one, breakingall previous records, and thus had an opportunity to go to America. Even thoughshe was unsure how long our separation would be, she encouraged my father to goto America to start a new life for our family.
Our family was separated for three long yearsbefore my father was able to bring us to America.
When we first arrived in America, our initialyears were very difficult. We didn’tunderstand the language, couldn’t eat the American food, didn’t understandAmerican culture, traditions and had no relatives or friends nearby. But throughoutthese adverse times, because my parents were always optimistic, hopeful for abetter future, hardworking, we never doubted that our futures would bebright.
Throughout her life, my mother steadily workedin the background to help the family and make our home a place of solace and comfort.As mentioned, she was among the very few women of her generation to receive aneducation. She believed education was the key to advancement in a constantlychanging world. She herself resumed her education to obtain a masters degree inAsian literature and history when she was 53 years old.
As China joins the ranks of developed nations,there will undoubtedly be even more interaction with the outside world,including Americans.
I hope the following observations, whilegreatly generalized in nature of necessity in this discussion, will providesome insights on what American and Americans are like:
1. Immigration is changing the compositionof U. S. population. Currently, African Americans comprise about 13% of the population,Hispanic Americans comprise about 17% of the population and Asian PacificAmericans are about 6% of the total population with the remainder (62%) beingwhite. According to a new Pew Researchstudy that came out on September 28, 2015, over the next 40 years, Asians willbecome the single largest immigrant group in America although Hispanics willremain a larger share of Americas overall population. By 2055, Pew estimates that36% of the foreignborn population will be Asian, compared with 34% Hispanic. No racial or ethnicgroup will constitute a majority of the U. S. population. Whites are projected to become less than halfof the U. S. population by 2055 and 46% by 2065. Hispanics will see their population sharerise to 24% by 2065 from 18% in 2015 while Asians will see their share rise to14% by 2065. No group will beconsidered a "majority" population. Everyone will be a member of a “minority group”. So, don’t be afraid tobe a part of this multiracial society.
2. Effective communication skills - bothverbal and written - are important. America is a verbal society. Because it is a society consisting of people from all differentbackgrounds, overt verbal communications is important.
Some communications tips:
In Asia, people are much more practiced andskilled at reading nonverbal communication cues and are good at anticipatingwhat the other person is saying or want. In America, do not expect others toanticipate what you want. If you wantsomething, you must learn to speak up and ask for it clearly. If not, you will not get what you want.
If you dont understand something, donthesitate to ask. You will find that mostAmericans are patient and generous with their time and explanations.
Americans also interrupt each otherconstantly – don’t be offended. You can interrupt as well. It is not considered bad manners. You do not have to wait until the other personfinishes before you talk. In fact, inAmerica, the other person is expecting you to interrupt. If you do not, he orshe will just continue to talk and you will not have a chance to talk.
3. Relatively speaking, America is NOT ahierarchal society. It prides itself as an egalitarian society.
If Americans want to say something –generally speaking, they will say it without much consideration as tohierarchy, tradition, or precedence - who’s senior, more superior, older, or inhigher position. This may appear rude,or arrogant, but in American culture, it facilities exchange of ideas,brainstorming, and overall communications.
4. Americans emphasize individualism, notthe group. American culture celebratesbeing different than other people.
They tend to do things they like –regardless of whether others around them like it or not.
For example, look at the way Americansorder and eat their food in a restaurant. Chinese share a communal meal eating from dishes set in the center ofthe table for everyone. American mealsare served in their own portions and Americans eat what they choose –what theylike - which can be very different from what the person next to them hasordered.
It is not unusual to allow and in fact,encourage small children to make decisions on what they want to wear everymorning. American youngsters are encouraged to make their own choices, formtheir own opinions, speak their own opinions at a very early age.
So, if someone does or says something youdon’t like, don’t be offended or have your feelings hurt. It probably is unintentional. The person wasprobably thinking of himself or herself first, not you. Don’t take itpersonally.
If you have an opinion, don’t hesitate orbe afraid to express it. If youdisagree, you can express your disagreement. But be prepared for the other person to argue back. Most Americans arevery informal and it is not bad manners to express one’s disagreement in a civilway regardless of one’s status or rank.
5. Yet as individualistic as Americans are,they also work well together as a team. Americans collaborate on teamwork whichis one of their strengths.
6. If you make a mistake, don’t worry. Mistakes occur all the time in Americanlife. Very few mistakes are fatal. Don’t worry too much about it. Americans are very forgiving aboutmistakes.
7. America is a young country that respondsto energy. People succeed there because they not only work hard but they lovewhat they are doing. The Chineseencourage their children to shore up their weaknesses, mend theirweaknesses. The Americans don’t pay muchattention to their weaknesses. Theyemphasize their strengths – meaning, they work to cultivate their talents.
8. American culture is very affirming –very positive. They give a lot ofpositive reinforcements. They are alwayssaying: Thank you. You’re doinggreat! Keep going. That was good! They encourage by positivereinforcements.
I hope these observations borne out of myown experiences - which are by no means definitive – are interesting and helpful.
China has gone through one of the fastest transformationsin human history in the last 30+ years. As you live and work through such greatchanges in your own lives, may I offer some closing thoughts about the truetreasures in life. Though my father, Dr. James S C Chao, is obviously a verysuccessful man, he never sought material success. Throughout his life, his aimwas to contribute to Society, to be a good person. These are the values we grewup with as children. My father is a rich man because he is an outstanding son,husband, father, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and because he has led anexemplary life and has contributed much to Society. We, his children, arebeneficiaries of my parents love and guidance.
As China rises, other peoples around theworld are increasingly interested in learning about China. The future of U. S.China relations must go in one direction – upward - for the mutual benefit ofboth countries and the world. You are part of the new generation of leaders whowill contribute to further enhancing China-United States relationship. Yourfutures are bright. I wish you much successin your chosen field of endeavor and hope that you will.
这里是
一位北大人的教育随感，
一位80后父亲的陪伴记录，
一位农村青年的泥土感恩。
泥巴青年，扎根泥土
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