One of my colleagues, Brian, is learning French now, tutored by another colleague, Carmen, informally, of course. Carmen was born in Quebec, so French is her mother tongue. Brian was growing up in Quebec, actually. How small the world is. But he speaks only English, a little French learned at school as second language I guess. He went to English schools.

He said the reason he started learning French was that he overheard, just a rumor I will say, that library technicians would be required to be bilingual, English and French which are. He said he wanted to be ready if that day came. I don't see this day comes anytime soon. I was a bit surprised and did not know what to say at that moment because considering of his age, 59 which is, to plan something of future career like this. Most of my old Chinese colleagues my age, early 40s it is, are saying that they are just waiting to get retired, and do not expect much change and challenge or even opportunities at work. I know that's just the way we Chinese people say things. But this is the point, the way we say things and the way western people say things.

We, my Chinese colleagues I mean, can afford to say that way of course. Most of my Chinese colleagues went to the university right after graduation, young in their 20s, and knew for sure right from the beginning that they would work in the university forever. That's what I did and knew for sure back 16 years ago. There is no risk, no layoff, unless we want to leave and change ourselves, and which we don't. 

If I was still in China, at my lovely old job, probably I would be thinking this's it of my career and my work. But here in Toronto, I'm freshly out of college, and still looking for jobs and planning my career in my 40s, and I don't feel late or silly at all. That old Brian, he just landed his full time permanent job here last year, at 58, which makes me feel young, and feels good. Maybe I will start learning another language, say French, later. Didn't they say that each new language you learn and speak makes your brain 5 years younger? I would be still 40 when I'm 50 if I learn the third language. This thought itself already sounds exciting.