Gordon Low: My Chinese Peers Are Highly Skilled and Striving

lifeofguangzhou.com: What impressed you most during the working period in Guangzhou?

I am honoured to be one of the recipients of the FRIENDSHIP AWARDS of the MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF GUANGZHOU for the year 2007.   As a Chinese living overseas, this is a particularly significant recognition from my homeland.   My work as a conduit for the exchange of medical and surgical ideas and knowledge between China and Australia/New Zealand has taken me to twelve cities in China.  But it is Guangzhou that has given me this special distinction.  I am therefore deeply grateful to all my friends at the Children’s Hospital and at the Guangzhou Medical College in Guangzhou.   

During the time that I had worked in Guangzhou, I am most impressed by the scholarship and knowledge of all members of the Medical College and the Hospitals.  They are all highly skilled and strive to be the best in their respective specialties.   They are courteous to one another and combine to achieve rewards of high credit.  Those in positions of leadership make decisions of authority, and the support staff carry out the decisions with industry and precision.  

lifeofguangzhou.com: Are there any touching stories happened during your working time in Guangzhou?

Being in the medical profession, “touching” stories are plentiful.    In an age of single child families, one recent incident story in a hospital corridor “touched” our deficiencies as a medical scientist:  

One morning in a hospital corridor, accompanied by two Australian doctors, we were accosted by a Chinese lady carrying in her arms a young girl.  The girl would be about three years old and quite small for her age.  She had a sallow and grey complexion and had a large abdomen.   Experience told us that the large abdomen was caused by a large spleen.  She was suffering from an incurable condition called glycogen storage disease.  What the mother was hoping for was that we could take the child to Australia, and perform a splenectomy, and that would cure her. We took time to explain to the mother that the condition could not be cured by an operation, and there was no cure for her daughter.   

lifeofguangzhou.com: As a foreign expert in Guangzhou, do you think what the biggest achievement you have got? What made you feel proudest?

It is my hope that “achievement” is not a static target to be reached and then look back to assess the accomplishments.  I consider “achievements” as a continuous process so as to improve upon previous achievements.  I recently placed a doctor from the Children’s Hospital; to a new position in Sydney, invited a New Zealand children’s specialist to visit the Children’s Hospital here, and hope to arrange a conference in Guangzhou.  I hope I can do even better in the years to come. 

lifeofguangzhou.com: Are there any difficulties when working with your Chinese staff? How did you deal with it? For example, some culture difference.

Being born in China and having spent many years of childhood here, I cannot find difficulty working in China.  These are my friends.  These are my people.  There cannot be any cultural difference.  There cannot be difficulty. If there is a problem, it is not the staff or the people.   It is the systems which operate in China and in other countries.  It does not mean one system is better than another system.  It just means that we have to make provisions for different systems.

lifeofguangzhou.com: How long do you plan to work in Guangzhou? 

 I am Chinese.  I am proud to be Chinese.  I wish to share with my people what I have learnt overseas which may be of use in China.  I will continue to work in China as long as my health allows.

lifeofguangzhou.com: What's your suggestion to Guangzhou city?

Guangzhou is a vibrant City.  Historically, it had been the first City of contact for foreigners who wish to visit China for whatever reason.  I wish Guangzhou to regain this status.

Finally, I think there is great scope for the exchange of ideas between the peoples of Guangzhou and other cities, both in China and overseas.  This type of exchanges should be encouraged and enhanced, and Guangzhou will lead the world as a cosmopolitan city.

Source: lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Shanna Chu