A Pictorial Biography.

From hometown, with packs on the back, swaying hand, climbing mountains and wading rivers, this is a feeling of a life-long journey and the journey of human being....

Childhood Experience

Xiaopeng’s hometown is a small village at Hangzhou, a south-eastern city of the delta of Yangzhi River. He was born as the first child and followed by one younger brother. He enjoyed playing with brother, and many cousins and peers. He also enjoyed outdoors activities and the freedom with them.

Scene of hometown

Memory of Water, Bridge, and Boat

A life-long love of nature developed in these first days of youth. He liked playing water, making electronic gadgets, and making paper-made ships and planes. He went to school at the age of five, and he did not shine in the classroom or in the playground, but he enjoyed early stage of childhood very much. Under sparkling silver sky, he was immersing in the smell of trees and plants. He became interested in school subjects until he went to the middle school. He did very well in his middle and high school. His favorite activity in the high school was to take adventure to the mountain next to his school during weekends. He left his hometown until he finished his high school.

With brother and cousin, 1985

At the age of 12

Elite team in the middle school

 

University Life 

He traveled to Shanghai in 1991 for his college in major of educational information technology. Shanghai is one of biggest cities in the world and plays a significant economic role in one-hundred-year history in China. He liked visiting the bund when friends came. He had studied in the East China Normal University, a leading university in education in China, for four years and another three years of graduate school a couple of years later. The most precious memory during university life is the opportunity to talk with many excellent youngsters. Topices covered from technology, biology, science, etc. to psychology, philosophy etc.. Nothing is better than a role model and challenging companions. He was very glad that he had such a chance then. It is said that we have seen further by standing on the shoulders of giants. He would say he had gone further because of companions in life. He had extended his interests from natural science to social science by the day graduating from the college.

Motto: seek truth, foster originality

The bund , Shanghai

 

At the graduation ceremony

 

Cross Country

Long stimulated by the challenge of wilderness survival and by the curiosity of the remote, from 1995 to 1999, He took several odysseys cross the country and visited different parts of China. During summer 1995, he, along with his friend, Quan, took a bicycle odyssey along Jinhang Canal and Yinshan mountain. Next year, he led a longer oddssey trans-crossing the country. The total distance across China from the east coast to the west desert is 5,500 kilometers. From Xi'an, they followed the ancient Silk Road and witnessed mountain passes, castles, caves, Gobi, and desert. They stayed in different schools and homes, talked with headmasters, administrators, teachers, parents and students. He observed different life styles, attended some summer classes, helped some families repair their electronic utilities, provided them with knowledge about nutrition and hygiene, and discussed with parents how to educate children. They also experienced severe environment and hardship and had to deal with complex situations outdoors. They didn’t plan to take money for the trip, which means they had to “beg” for a living. Therefore, the odysseys was not just a hard trip any more, but an overall challenge coping with surroundings, equipments, physical, and psychological conditions as described in the wildness survival website. Of course, he survived in the first and second adventure of his lifetime and was ready to take several other odysseys. Most precious concepts learned during these odysseys, though hardship, are the diversity and the warmth of human being and the infinite remoteness of the universe.

The gradient of building: the east to the west.

 

Teaching at the Suzhou University

Suzhou is one of the oldest cities with more than 2500 years history. He worked there for more than four years. He taught educational technology, computer-based education, and photography in the Suzhou University. One greatest accomplishment for him was his students loved the class very much because of the innovation of teaching as well as illuminating ideas. His students even carried their friends to the classes. Of course, teaching and learning are a reciprocal process. His interest in instructional technology was developed there during interactions with his students. So, to a certain extent, his students were his career guide.

Motto: unto a full-grown man

Zhunshixuan at Suzhou University

 

As a photographer.

Studying Oversea

Xiaopeng went to USA in fall, 2002 with initial expectations to get acquainted with frontier research and methodology. Although challenging linguistically and culturally, the cross-cultural experience is very beneficial and has provided more than just academic development. Athens, where his university is located, is a college town and a southern classic offering a charming mix of historical downtown, cultural diversity, music bands, and sports. Just like most cities have their symbols of animal, Athens has famous bulldogs. Xiaopeng loves this small town and feels like it's a right place to accomplish his program of study.

The arch: wisdom, justice,& moderation

Around US

Traveling at Hongkong

Gavin at 100 days

Standing up

Riding a bike

 

Besides an academic and a cultural development, one big accomplishment during studying oversea is he got married with Cun, and had their first child, Gavin. Although it is hard to take care of a young baby with both of their Phd programs going on, it is a great experience that worth having. Actually they are also growing with their son. Of course, Xiaopeng sees this experience more as an “awareness” than an investment.