A A ““ Little FishLittle Fish”” Who Came From Yangzi Who Came From Yangzi River River

My nickname My nickname ““ Xiao YuXiao Yu”” = = ““ Little Fish”Little Fish”

I was born in Nanjing, a city I was born in Nanjing, a city southeast of China. It is a famous southeast of China. It is a famous ancient city beside the Yangzi ancient city beside the Yangzi River, the third largest river in the River, the third largest river in the world. I spent world. I spent the entirety of my the entirety of my childhood andchildhood andteenage years there.teenage years there.

Swimming To The East Sea Swimming To The East Sea After I finished my After I finished my secondary school, I went to secondary school, I went to Xiamen, a coastal city by the Xiamen, a coastal city by the East Sea, for my East Sea, for my undergraduate degree. I undergraduate degree. I majored in kinetics of ship majored in kinetics of ship building.building.

Above - the Above - the university’s university’s main gate.main gate.

Above – the lake Above – the lake on the campuson the campus

Right – the Right – the beach by beach by the the campus.campus.

Right – the Right – the beach by beach by the the campus.campus.

The The ““ Little FishLittle Fish”” Was Sea Sick Was Sea Sick

After I graduated from After I graduated from university, I worked at a university, I worked at a ship plant as an assistant ship plant as an assistant engineer in another engineer in another coastal city in the same coastal city in the same province as my province as my hometown.hometown. However, I could not However, I could not continue this career continue this career path as a ship engineer path as a ship engineer because I was because I was susceptible to sea susceptible to sea sickness.sickness.

Becoming An Becoming An ““ AmphibianAmphibian ””

I left the coastal city to I left the coastal city to go to Beijing, an inland go to Beijing, an inland city, to pursue my new city, to pursue my new career. Thecareer. The““ little fishlittle fish”” had to leave the water!had to leave the water!

I studied journalism inI studied journalism in The Graduate School of The Graduate School of Chinese Academy Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and of Social Sciences and obtained my Masters obtained my Masters Degree in Journalism. Degree in Journalism.

The Life InlandThe Life Inland

Upon graduation, I worked as a reporter and Upon graduation, I worked as a reporter and editor in editor in PeoplePeople’’s Dailys Daily, the largest newspaper in , the largest newspaper in China. China. While working in Beijing, I found my significant While working in Beijing, I found my significant other - my husband Yuhong Kuang. We had a other - my husband Yuhong Kuang. We had a wonderful daughter, Kristina YuFei Kuang, a year wonderful daughter, Kristina YuFei Kuang, a year after we married.after we married.

After working in Beijing for three years, I was After working in Beijing for three years, I was accredited to the Hong Kong office of accredited to the Hong Kong office of People’s People’s DailyDaily. There, I wrote a series of editorial . There, I wrote a series of editorial articles about the negotiations and articles about the negotiations and controversies between China and Britain controversies between China and Britain concerning the return of Hong Kong to China. concerning the return of Hong Kong to China.

Moving To An Moving To An IslandIsland

Swimming Further SouthSwimming Further SouthIn 1996, I went to In 1996, I went to Singapore with my Singapore with my husband who was husband who was invited by a music invited by a music school to teach school to teach violin. violin.

I later worked as an I later worked as an editor for Singapore editor for Singapore Press Holding Limited.Press Holding Limited.

I later worked as an I later worked as an editor for Singapore editor for Singapore Press Holding Limited.Press Holding Limited.

A typical A typical residential residential apartment apartment area in area in Singapore.Singapore.

My husband and I cycling along the beach.My husband and I cycling along the beach.

My daughter in the playground in front My daughter in the playground in front of our townhouse.of our townhouse.

Becoming A Becoming A ““ Dried Fish Dried Fish ””

In 1998, I went to In 1998, I went to Arizona State Arizona State University to study University to study computer science. computer science.

Due to my lack of Due to my lack of familiarity regarding familiarity regarding computer technology, computer technology, I struggled through I struggled through the first year with the first year with tears and sweat. tears and sweat. On campus On campus

at Arizona at Arizona State State University.University.

Survival Of The Survival Of The ““ Dried FishDried Fish””After two years, I After two years, I successfully successfully graduated with my graduated with my Masters Degree in Masters Degree in Computer Science Computer Science and found a job in a and found a job in a consulting company consulting company in South California.in South California.

Above – Attending a conference at Above – Attending a conference at Berkley, University of California.Berkley, University of California.

Right – Defending my graduate thesis.Right – Defending my graduate thesis.

The Last Station (I Hope) -- CanadaThe Last Station (I Hope) -- Canada

In 2000, my husband In 2000, my husband and daughter moved and daughter moved to Canada from to Canada from Singapore. Two years Singapore. Two years later, I joined them later, I joined them from US. Finally, five from US. Finally, five years of separation years of separation ended!ended!

Above – My daughter and I Above – My daughter and I feeding ducks in Central feeding ducks in Central Park near my home.Park near my home.

Left – Performing violin trio Left – Performing violin trio at a relative’s gathering at a relative’s gathering with my husband and with my husband and daughter.daughter.

Back school againBack school again

right: joined right: joined research team for research team for the project "Internet the project "Internet use in public library"use in public library"

After a couple of years hunting for a job, I decided back to school again to pursue my third postgrad degree - Library & Information Science in the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

After graduation from UBC, I got an offer from University of Alaska and became digital project librarian/assistant professor in Alaska University Fairbanks.

Swimming to the top of the worldSwimming to the top of the world

In front of Rasmuson Library of UAF

We play violin with neighbor for the bees.

My home in Alaska is pure wood made in a forest surrounded by pine and birch trees. Snow covers the ground 6 months a year.

We have evergreen inside my house.

My Home in My Home in AlaskaAlaska

From Atlantic to Red SeaFrom Atlantic to Red SeaIn 2008, my husband read a news about In 2008, my husband read a news about KAUST from a Singapore newspaper-my KAUST from a Singapore newspaper-my previous employer. This bit of luck started our previous employer. This bit of luck started our new journey. In August of 2009, we moved to new journey. In August of 2009, we moved to a formerly ancient fishing village, now a a formerly ancient fishing village, now a modern university campus by the Red Sea modern university campus by the Red Sea shore in Saudi Arabia. I was hired by KAUST shore in Saudi Arabia. I was hired by KAUST Library as systems librarian since then.Library as systems librarian since then.

Outside view of KAUST Library.night view of KAUST library.

Inside of the library

The Hobbies Of The Hobbies Of ““ Little FishLittle Fish”” RelaxationRelaxation

MeditatingMeditating Drinking teaDrinking tea

SportsSports HikingHiking SwimmingSwimming

ArtsArts Playing violinPlaying violin Browsing Browsing

galleriesgalleries

““ Little FishLittle Fish”” Q & A Q & A Q: What is your favorite occupation?

A: Student. Q: What would you ultimately like to

do?A: Do nothing!

Q: What is your favorite novel?A: One Hundred Years Of Solitude.

Q: What is your favorite music?A: J. S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto.

Q: What question do you ask most?A: Who am I?

The EndThe End

What will be the What will be the ““ little fislittle fishh’’ ss”” next journey? She next journey? She will be an will be an ““ old fishold fish”” for for sure! However, the learning sure! However, the learning and discovery will be and discovery will be continuing …continuing …