❧ oo3; Yang Guorong now owns my soul for the next three years

As of last night my major is being officially changed to Chinese Philosophy and I will be apprenticing with Professor Yang Guorong for three years as his pupil, privately, alongside my friend and also GVSU alumni Kellen Parker. Who is he?

"Born in Shanghai in October 1957, Prof. Yang obtained his PHD in 1998 and was promoted as Professor in 1991 and then Doctorial Advisor in 1994. From 1998 to 2000, he was the chair of the Philosophy Department at ECNU. Prof. Yang was visiting scholar at Oxford University (1994-1995) and Harvard University (1999-2000). He is now Professor of the Philosophy Department at ECNU, guest Professor of the Philosophy Department at Wuhan University, and also serves on the Academic Evaluating committee of the State Council, the International Union of Confucianism, Commissioner of the Confucius Fund, the Chinese Philosophy Committee under Shanghai Philosophy Academy." (Source.)

As you can see... this is a very, very big honour. It would not have been possible without Papa Ni and Dad Shang, nor really without Wang who phoned Yang Guorong last night and asked him to please accept a second pupil. When he found out I was Ni and Shang's pupil during undergrad, he did so with delight. We're going to meet in person next Sunday and have a nice chat about my experiences in philosophy as well as getting to know each other in general. He should, after all, meet me before I become his slave for the next three years. :P

This is VERY good news. :D :D

I should also mention that I will be studying in English... and am now exempt from the HSK. :)