重慶美女高娓娓在美國(guó)

□ 文/本刊記者 楊艷

重慶美女高娓娓在美國(guó)

□ 文/本刊記者 楊艷

重慶有個(gè)“曼哈頓”

翻看高娓娓的微信朋友圈就知道，2016年年末，她頻繁出現(xiàn)在重慶的渝中、江北、北碚、涪陵、潼南、璧山等地，這個(gè)在美國(guó)生活近20年的重慶妹子又回家了，兩個(gè)月的時(shí)間，她依舊忙碌，腳不停歇，用她的話說(shuō)，這奔走的節(jié)奏正是重慶人現(xiàn)在的生活節(jié)奏。

高娓娓常年奔波于中美兩國(guó)之間，身為電視制片人，她把大量的精力投入于兩國(guó)的文化、教育等事業(yè)里，搭起了中美兩國(guó)之間的交流橋梁。這兩年重慶變化迅速，也令高娓娓十分驚訝。“現(xiàn)在的重慶，城市面貌煥然一新，江北嘴高樓聳立，重慶大劇院晚上燈火輝煌，還有兩江新區(qū)就像一個(gè)新生城市，交通四通八達(dá)，很多地方變得我都找不到方向了，城市發(fā)展勢(shì)頭如此之迅猛，現(xiàn)在重慶人的生活節(jié)奏也比以前快多了?！?/p>

說(shuō)起這次的重慶印象，高娓娓滔滔不絕：“算起來(lái)，這次回國(guó)的時(shí)間最長(zhǎng)，跟隨美國(guó)‘一帶一路’總商會(huì)考察團(tuán)真正深入地了解到今天的重慶，我發(fā)現(xiàn)，其實(shí)紐約的曼哈頓與重慶的渝中區(qū)有很多相似的特性—曼哈頓島是紐約最小卻是最繁華的一個(gè)區(qū)，有世界有名的第五大道、時(shí)代廣場(chǎng)；重慶也有個(gè)島，渝中半島，地處在長(zhǎng)江、嘉陵江交匯地帶，是重慶市政治、經(jīng)濟(jì)、文化以及商貿(mào)流通中心，現(xiàn)在的渝中區(qū)就像曼哈頓一樣現(xiàn)代、時(shí)尚、繁榮?！苯陙?lái)國(guó)家的利好政策連二接三地落地重慶，高娓娓也想憑己之力，積極牽線搭橋，引資引智，讓更多的美國(guó)華人華僑看到重慶的發(fā)展?jié)摿?，為助推家鄉(xiāng)發(fā)展出力?！斑@是一個(gè)良好的開(kāi)始，能為自己的家鄉(xiāng)出力，我也很有成就感?！?/p>

搭建重慶與世界的交流橋梁

高娓娓或許天生就是做媒體的“料”?！陡呖疵绹?guó)》《紐約的中國(guó)老板們》《娓娓道美國(guó)》，這3本書(shū)是高娓娓久居美國(guó)后，所寫的見(jiàn)聞感想。在美國(guó)，她以傳媒人的身份報(bào)道過(guò)許多重大新聞事件，專訪過(guò)不少美國(guó)政界、商界精英，做過(guò)很多在別人看來(lái)十分驕傲的事。比如近距離見(jiàn)證美國(guó)大選，目睹中國(guó)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人訪美之盛況，追蹤報(bào)道金融風(fēng)暴襲擊美國(guó)、華人抗議CNN抹黑報(bào)道……一些重大事件的現(xiàn)場(chǎng)就能看到這個(gè)重慶女人的身影。

2009年1月20日，美國(guó)第一位非裔總統(tǒng)奧巴馬舉行就職典禮，高娓娓成為少數(shù)受邀出席典禮的華文媒體人。在就職典禮當(dāng)天，她連夜從紐約趕赴華盛頓，近距離地目睹了奧巴馬發(fā)表就職演說(shuō)。從那之后，她對(duì)每4年1次的美國(guó)大選格外關(guān)注。

除了美國(guó)時(shí)事熱點(diǎn)，高娓娓還關(guān)注一些民生事件：美國(guó)人結(jié)婚送禮、美國(guó)槍店如何銷售槍支等，或是與中國(guó)有關(guān)的事件：中國(guó)留學(xué)生的生活、美國(guó)人怎么看待中國(guó)美食、拔火罐如何受美國(guó)人歡迎、美國(guó)有哪些蔬菜在中國(guó)沒(méi)見(jiàn)過(guò)……一檔名叫《娓娓道來(lái)》的自媒體節(jié)目，就是她主持的視頻脫口秀，她把發(fā)生在她身邊的點(diǎn)點(diǎn)滴滴，拍成視頻短片放在網(wǎng)絡(luò)上，向中國(guó)人展現(xiàn)了一個(gè)最真實(shí)、最平民化的美國(guó)。據(jù)她透露，一期介紹美國(guó)槍支市場(chǎng)的節(jié)目，閱讀數(shù)量高達(dá)105萬(wàn)，被網(wǎng)友轉(zhuǎn)發(fā)推薦470萬(wàn)次，評(píng)論多達(dá)6000多條。她想讓中國(guó)人通過(guò)她的視角和經(jīng)歷認(rèn)識(shí)到真正的美國(guó)，這些數(shù)據(jù)正是她堅(jiān)持的動(dòng)力。

高娓娓在華盛頓年拜會(huì)上與陳香梅女士合影。

同樣身在異國(guó)他鄉(xiāng)，因感同深受，她特別留意中國(guó)留學(xué)生的生活。曾經(jīng)有一位留學(xué)生的留言讓高娓娓至今難忘?！霸诿绹?guó)，收獲中最重要的不是英語(yǔ)不是文憑，而是兩樣?xùn)|西：一種是把我放到任何國(guó)家，任何人都不認(rèn)識(shí)的地方，我都能生存下去的能力；另一種是名車豪宅已動(dòng)搖不了我愿意每天坐公車去追求簡(jiǎn)單夢(mèng)想的平淡心態(tài)?！倍潭痰膸拙湓捵屗钣懈杏|，走出國(guó)門，打開(kāi)了眼界，價(jià)值觀的轉(zhuǎn)變，不僅是人生的突破，也是最大的財(cái)富。

說(shuō)起中國(guó)與美國(guó)的教育差異，高娓娓說(shuō)：“在美國(guó)，無(wú)論是大學(xué)還是高中，大家很注重培養(yǎng)特長(zhǎng)，特長(zhǎng)變成了一門學(xué)問(wèn)和要求，每個(gè)美國(guó)高中生至少都有一個(gè)特長(zhǎng)，無(wú)論是數(shù)理化、體育，還是樂(lè)器。好的美國(guó)大學(xué)在申請(qǐng)書(shū)里都有這樣的問(wèn)題—你有什么特長(zhǎng)？參加過(guò)什么比賽（州/國(guó)家、世界）。所以在中國(guó)，孩子比的是知識(shí)，在美國(guó)比的是能力。”高娓娓說(shuō)美國(guó)的課程和中國(guó)的不一樣，他們的課程沒(méi)有那么嚴(yán)格，老師教的不是統(tǒng)一的教材，上課時(shí)老師會(huì)不斷地講有關(guān)課程的延伸知識(shí)，學(xué)習(xí)更全面，當(dāng)然，她認(rèn)為，這并不是意味著美國(guó)的學(xué)校就是天堂，怎么融入集體是中國(guó)學(xué)生的“自修課”。

她的美國(guó)故事還在繼續(xù)

近年中國(guó)在國(guó)際舞臺(tái)上的影響力正不斷擴(kuò)大，不僅是高娓娓，還有很多像她一樣定居美國(guó)的華僑也都有體會(huì)。于是，她和華人向善基金會(huì)共同創(chuàng)辦了“美國(guó)‘一帶一路’總商會(huì)”，她擔(dān)任秘書(shū)長(zhǎng)。在她的主導(dǎo)下，商會(huì)得到一大批中美行業(yè)精英的鼎力支持，有世界著名華人華僑領(lǐng)袖、社會(huì)活動(dòng)家、美國(guó)國(guó)際合作委員會(huì)主席、“飛虎隊(duì)”創(chuàng)建人美空軍陳納德將軍遺孀陳香梅女士，以及美國(guó)猶太人議會(huì)主席、著名企業(yè)家杰克·羅森等。

高娓娓主持2016年美國(guó)“一帶一路”春節(jié)晚會(huì)。

這次回到重慶，一個(gè)完全不一樣的家鄉(xiāng)讓她感慨萬(wàn)千，重慶從深居西部?jī)?nèi)陸逐漸成為開(kāi)放的前沿，這座城市就像一個(gè)巨大吸鐵石，正在吸引全世界的客商前來(lái)發(fā)展，并且更多的重慶商人也走向世界各地發(fā)展。高娓娓已攜商會(huì)考察了重慶13個(gè)區(qū)縣，中美間不少企業(yè)初步達(dá)成了合作協(xié)議。她期待重慶與世界能有更多更密切的交流往來(lái)，創(chuàng)造交流機(jī)會(huì)才能創(chuàng)造出無(wú)限可能。

“以前，世界很大，我走出中國(guó)看世界；現(xiàn)在，世界很小，我站在世界看中國(guó)……我是高娓娓，我在美國(guó)，為您娓娓道來(lái)：最真實(shí)的美國(guó)經(jīng)歷，道盡美國(guó)好與壞；最真切的美國(guó)感悟，說(shuō)盡美國(guó)是與非……”一段飽含深情的錄音源自高娓娓的視頻節(jié)目的開(kāi)篇語(yǔ)，這也正是她發(fā)自內(nèi)心深處的心聲。她一直在堅(jiān)持做一件事，講她的美國(guó)故事。

(圖片由受訪者提供)

A “Manhattan” in Chongqing

A glance at the We-chat’s Moments posted by Gao Weiwei reveals that this girl who had been living in the United States for nearly two decades, frequently appears in districts like Yuzhong, Jiangbei, Beibei, Fuling, Tongnan, Bishan in her home city, Chongqing. In these two months, she still made a hurried journey without stop. Such high strength work in her words was just about the pace of life in Chongqing at present.

As a television producer, she’s been traipsing back and forth from China and the United States and also investing a lot of energy into the cause of culture and education in both countries in all these years so as to put up a bridge of communication between China and America. After an experience brushed with death in an air travel, she got a fear of flying and decided to settle in the United States instead of commuting. The tremendous changes in Chongqing these two years also surprised Miss Gao. In her description, Chongqing now has taken on an entirely newlook by the towering buildings in Jiangbeizui, the brilliantly illuminated Chongqing Grand Theater at night. Liangjiang New Area--like a new city--extends its transportation network in all directions, which even makes her lose her orientation. Chongqing leads a rapid development in urban construction which also matches the fast-paced life of its people.

She launched into endless praises about the impression of this trip to Chongqing. “Followed with the delegation of American One Belt and Road Association, I have indeed a deep understanding of modern Chongqing during the longest trip to hometown.” “Compared with Manhattan in New York, Yuzhong District in Chongqing has many similarities in my eyes. Manhattan Island, the smallest but the most prosperous district in New York while there is also a Yuzhong peninsula in Chongqing, located in theconvergence zone of the Yangtze River and Jiangling River, which boasts the political, economic, cultural and commerce-circulation center. And at present, Yuzhong District also is the same as Manhattan in the areas of modern, fashion and boom.” Under the support of a barrage of favorable policies provided by state, Gao Weiwei also would like to do her bit to play as a bridge to introduce foreign capital and bring in talented people to get wider audience of the potential in Chongqing’s growth. “It represents a good beginning and it gives me a big sense of achievement to help my hometown.”

A bridge of the cultural exchange of Chongqing and the world

To be a natural-born media person, Gao Weiwei has written three books--according to her personal experience after living in the United States—namely America in My Eyes, Prominent Chinese-Americans in New York, Vivid Accounts of America. In her second hometown, America, she has reported many big press events as a media person and also given exclusive interviews to political and commercial elites as well as got some admirable experiences like witnessing Chinese leaders’ visits to the United States, tracking reports about fi nancial crisis in America and Chinese’s protest to discredit reports by CNN. It is quiet normal to catch this Chongqing woman’s fi gure in places where important events took place.

This Chongqing woman also became part of a few Chinese media people who were invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Obama--the first African American President in the United States--on Jan. 20, 2009. On that day, she rushed to Washington D. C. from New York that night in order to witness President Obama’s inaugural address from a close distance. From then on, quadrennial American presidential campaign has been getting her extra attention.

Besides hot spots, she also pays attention to both people’s livelihood like wedding gifts, gun sales in America and events related to China like life of Chinese students, American people’s attitude toward Chinese food, why is cupping grass so popular and American vegetables, which are unfamiliar with Chinese people. A We-Media show, named Weiwei Talk Show, is her personal talk show which collects dribs and drabs to make videos on the Internet to describe the most authentic and common America to Chinese people. She added, a program, centered on introduction of American gun markets, has read by 1.05 million times and shared 4.70 million times with over 6000 comments. All those numbers represents the source of her motivation. From her perspective and experience, Gao Weiwei intends to allow Chinese people to know the true America.

She also pays particular interest to the life of Chinese students because of the same homesick. Once a message written by a Chinese students still existed in her mind. This student said, “In America, the most precious harvest I have is not the English or diploma but the ability to live in any countries without acquaintances and a kind of attitude to seek a simple life just like taking buses instead of limousines.” Gao Weiwei was touched deeply by such a few short sentences. She noticed that Chinese students not only go abroad with a broader perspective, but also change their sense of worth, which represents both the breakthrough of life and the biggest wealth.

Speaking of the educational differences between China and America, she mentioned that most American students focus on personal strengths, which becomes a sort of study and requirement in both colleges and high schools. Each American high students usually have a strength at least including mathematics, physics, chemistry, sports and instruments playing. Do you have any special skills? Have you ever taken part in any games? They are common questions when applying for a top university. And the curriculum design in America also is quiet different with the Chinese one. Their curriculum is less rigorous without unified teaching materials instead of extended and relatively more comprehensive knowledge provided by teachers in class, however, it doesn’t mean that schools in America are the paradise. In China, it is a self-study class for students to learn how to integrate into the collective.

Her American stories are still continuing

Both Gao Weiwei and other overseas Chinese living in America have an intimate knowledge of the increasing influence of China in global stage. For that reason, cooperated with Chinese Kindness Foundation, she has set up American One Belt One Road Association and served as the Secretary General of it. Under her leadership, association has been supported by a host of Chinese and American elites in various sectors like Ms. Chen Meixiang, widow of Claire Lee Chennault who was the creator of Flying Tigers, the President of the American Council for international cooperation, social activist and the famous overseas Chinese leader; Jack Rosen, a famous entrepreneur and the Chairman of the American Jewish Congress.

Coming back Chongqing, this totally different hometown has marveled her that Chongqing, a city in western China increasingly becomes the forefront of reform and opening up. It seems to be a gigantic magnet which attracts businessmen from all over the world and also introduces a large number of Chongqing merchants to the outside world. With Association, she has investigated 13 districts and countries in Chongqing with many preliminary cooperation agreements between Sino-US enterprises. She looks forward to more and closer communications between Chongqing and the world to create in fi nite possibilities by those cooperating chances.

“Previously, I want to come out of China to see this big world while now I stand in this small world to watch my homeland, China. I am Gao Weiwei. Let me tell you the most authentic American experiences, the advantages and disadvantages of the United States, the most real American understanding to judge the right and wrong of this state.” This very meaningful sound recording is derived from the opening sentence of her video show, which also represents the heartfelt wishes of this Chongqing woman. What she has been insisting on is talking her American stories.

(Pictures were provided by interviewees)

Gao Weiwei: A Chongqing Beauty in America

□ Article/ Journalist Yang Yan