Editor's Words:

In this issue, efforts have been made to cover multi-facets of our lives
in a foreign land. Some excerpts from a recent e-mail debating were
included for the readers to digest. They are crtitical, provocative and
worth pondering.

The editors are grateful to many contributors who donated their limited
time to share with us their experience and skills that may be useful to
our readers. No doubt, real life is stressful and we need more lighted
topics to cheer ourselves up. Hopefully, our readers will find
something here to make themselves relaxed for a moment. Again, your
participation is vital to this joint venture. Send your contributions
to us and let your voice be heard. Tell us your stories about yourself
and your classmates. Original contribution is encouraged. Make sure,
your opinion will be reflected through this channel. Please acknowledge
the sources if abstracts from other
internet publications are used. The contents of the Newsletter do not
necessarily reflect the ONMUAA's opinion. Contributors are responsible
for the contents they submitted.

1. Excerpts from e-mail debating about
"what the Newsletter is all about?" --------- - - -Editors
2. Short News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Editors
3. Relaxant for your life
a) Biotech Advances - - - - - - - - - - - - Benquan Shen (PH78)
b) Have a good laughter - - - - - - - - - - Benquan Shen (PH78)
c) Beyong Marriage - - - - - - - - - - - - Jingrong Yan (PH78)
4. Expert's Advice
a) Career-Building Skills for Job-Seekers - Benquan Shen (PH78)
b) Further Tips for Job Interview - - - - - Yoncheng Liu (PH78)
c) Search for new Cars? - - - - - - - - - Shan Lu (MD77)
5. Reflection of China
a) Hong-Bao in China - - - - - - - - - - - Shan Lu (MD77)

"... anybody wants to do something for the ONMUAA, they now
have the chance. That is why we have the ONMUAA. What is going to be
in the Newsletter is their contributions. They may enjoy what they
submitted or suffer from what others did..."

"... to have unspecified time frequency and let every alumnus to
have the right to do so (not just the official ones). It may flood the
e-mail, that is OK. The recipient can decide how to deal with it. The ONMUAA only provides a channel for free alumni interaction (it may be OK for some alumni to ask for eliminating their name from the 'flooding' e-mail address" ...

"... I appreciate what you've done for all of us..."

(more to come if you, the readers, are ready to participate in)

**********************************************************
2. Short News (By Editors)

Zhigan He (MD79) got a message from Chen, Qi who is now Dean of Basic
Medical Science School. Dr. Chen mentioned that The University had
contacted them about the way to communicate with ONMUAA. As expected,
they are happy to know ONMUAA's actions.

* * * * * * * *

Lead by Benquan Shen (PH78), Yongjian Liu (MD78), Zhigang He (MD79),
the PR group recently have established a channel to help Nanyi library
by donating scientific journals and books. They are also
contacting research departments in NMU to set up potential
collaboration program such as giving seminars when alumni have trip to
China. Further detail plan for the journal and book donation
will be announced.

* * * * * * * *

Condolences :NMU Cardiac pharmacology professor, Tianbei Liu passed
away on Feb.27, 1997. To express our sorrow, on the behalf of ONMUAA,
The Executuve Committee has written a condolatory letter to Professor
Liu's family.

A memorial web page for Prof. Liu will also be set up for this event.

* * * * * * * *

Five alumni members (Youcheng Liu (PH78), Liangfeng Tao (PH79),
Yongjia Yu (PH77), Yi Wu (DS77), and Shan Lu (MD77) had a meeting
at Shan Lu's home on Feb. 16 to discuss the current issues of ONMUAA.
Such issues include homepages, fundraising, directories and mid-term
evaluation. During his visit to San Francisco, Shan Lu, Board Chair,
met with Benquan Shen (PH78), Yongjian Liu (MD79), Bei Chen PH80),
Zhigang He (MD79) and many other alumni activists.

* * * * * * * *

Boston area Chinese New Year NMU alumni activities:
Liu Youcheng, PH78 joined the Boston "Yellow River Chorus" to give a
performance on Yellow River Local Symphony as well as some Peking opera
pieces on the eve of Chinese New Year. Donglin Lee, PH83 and Lei Feng
MD84 are program persons

* * * * * * * *

Special thanks from Dept. of Fundraising to the following alumni who
have made their donations:

Bei Chen (PH82), Youcheng Liu(PH78), Liang feng Tao (PH79) and Maomao
Wang (PH79), Ning Jin (NS84), Jie Li (MD77), Benquan Shen (PH778) and
Ming-hong Xie (MD78) Qing Tai (MD82) and Ying Zhai (MD82), Qingyi Wei
(PH78) and Jingrong Yan (PH78) Shan Lu (MD77), Yongjian Liu (MD78), Wei Yang (PH79) and Fan Zhang (PH79), Donglin Li (Ph83), Wei Yang (PH79) and Fan Zhang(PH79), Jin Chen (PH78) Jinjie Hu (PH78), Liqun Xiao (MD78).

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

2. Relaxants for your life

**********************************************************
a ) For the lonely hearts, single strands, and unbound receptors in us
all Biopersonals (By Benquan Shen, PH78; Source: unknown)
**********************************************************

I've been single-stranded too long! Lonely ATGCATG would like
to pair up with congenial TACGTAC.

Menage a trois! Ligands seeks two receptors into binding and
mutual phosphorylation. Let's get together and transduce some
signals.

Some dates have called me a promotor. Others have referred to
me as a real operator. Personally, I think I'm just a cute
piece of DNA who is still looking for that special transcription
factor to help me unwind.

Highly sensitive, orally active small molecule seeks stable
well-structured receptor who knows size isn't everything.

There must be a rational way to meet a date! I'm tired of
hanging out in those molecular diversity bars, hoping to
randomly bump into the right peptide. I want a molecule that
will fit right into my active sight and really turn me on. I'll
send you my crystal structure if you send me yours!

Gene therapy graduate. After years of producing nothing but
gibberish, I've shed my exons and am ready to express my
introns. All I need is a cute vector to introduce me to the
right host.

My RNA, I'm sorry I misread your UAAUAAUAA and inserted three
tyrosines when you repeatedly asked me to stop. Something got
lost in the translation. Please forgive me.

Naked DNA with sticky ends seeks kanamycin-resistant plasmid.
EcoR1 sites preferred.

Uninhibited virus seeks reason to make me shed my protein coat.

This very selective oliogonucleotide has been probing for just
the right target for long term hybridization.

Mature cell seeks same who still enjoys cycling and won't go
apoptotic on me. Let's fight senescence together!

I'm a prolific progenitor with great potential for growth and
self-renewal. Call me if you're a potent hematopoietic factor
who still believes in endless nights of colony stimulation.

I don't always express myself on the surface, but I'm looking
for a signal that you appreciate my complexity. Send me the
right message that will penetrate my membranes, turn on my
protein expression and release my potential energy.

((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))(((((()))))))))))))))))))
b) Have a good laughter
(By Benquan Shen, PH78; Source: unknown)
((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))(((((()))))))))))))))))))
A fellow is going on a tour of a factory that produces various latex
products. At the first stop, he's shown the machine that
manufactures baby-bottle nipples. The machine makes a loud hiss-pop!
noise.

"The hiss is the rubber being injected into the mold," explains the
guide. "The popping sound is a needle poking a hole in the
end of the nipple."

Later, the tour reaches the part of the factory where condoms are
manufactured. The machine makes a noise: 'Hiss. Hiss. Hiss.
Hiss-pop!"

"Wait a minute!" says the man taking the tour. "I understand what the
'hiss, hiss,' is, but what's that 'pop!' every so often?"

"Oh, it's just the same as in the baby-bottle nipple machine," says the
guide. "It pokes a hole in every fourth condom."

"Well, that can't be good for the condoms!"

"Yeah, but it's great for the baby-bottle nipple business!"

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
b) Beyong Marriage
(By Jingrong Yan, PH78; Source: WWW)
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
Marriage is a three ring circus:
engagement ring
wedding ring
suffering

Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After
marriage, the "y" becomes silent.

Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about
something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you
finish.

When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knows why.
When a ten-year married couple smiles, everyone wonders why.

Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of
marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second
year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year,
they both speak and the neighbors listen.

A husband said to his wife, "No, I don't hate your relatives. In
fact, I like your mother-in-law better than I like mine."

The honeymoon is over when the husband calls home to say he'll be
late for dinner and the answering machine says it is in the
microwave.

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've
experienced pain and bought jewelry.

How do most men define marriage?
A very expensive way to get your laundry done free.

A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost
to get married?" And the father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm
still paying for it."

A couple was having a discussion about family finances.
Finally the husband exploded, "If it weren't for my money, the
house wouldn't be here!" The wife replied, "My dear, if it
weren't for your money, I wouldn't be here."

A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report
it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.

Words to live by: Do not argue with a spouse who is packing your
parachute.

Boring husband: Honey, why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?
Bored wife: Because I married the wrong man!

First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!" Second Guy: "You're
lucky, mine's still alive."

Marriage is grand -- and divorce is about 10 grand!

4. Expert's Advice:
**********************************************************
a) Career-Building Skills for Job-Seekers
(By Benquan Shen, PH78; Source: Human Resources, Bristol-Myers Squibb)
**********************************************************
Part II. NEGOTIATING THE JOB OFFER

Aundrie Botts, Associate Director
Human Resources, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Is negociating a job offer any different for people from
underrepresented backgrounds? "In fact," says Aundrie Botts, "it has
been our experience that people from certain backgrounds are not as
familiar with what you might call 'the culture of interviewing'. They're
not sure what's allowed. They may be less likely to do preparatory
research, ask questions during the interview, or call us later. Most of
all, they're less likely to be savvy about networking."

Less networked candidates may assume that it is somehow bad form to get information about the company before the interview. "Nothing could be
further from the truth, " Botts says. "In addition to finding out
information on the company through public resources, job-seekers should
try to network. Find people currently working for the company; that's
the only way to get really good information. Ask them what it's like to
work there, what the salary structure is, and how often you get
reviewed. You'd be surprised how freely people will share this
information."

Another myth is that the interview is your last chance to communicate
with your interviewers. On the contrary, candidates routinely make
follow-up calls to ask further questions and give further information.
"We're quite familiar and comfortable with that," Botts says. "We can
tell when a candidate has been asking insiders the right questions and
now is coming back, challenging us (politely) because they now have
inside information. Again, that's perfectly acceptable."

Minority candidates, like everyone else, want to know: what's
appropriate? At your first (often your only) interview with human
resource officers, it is common to ask about the structure of the
department ("ask to be shown a structure chart," Botts says),the career
ladder, your place in that structure, the frequency of written reviews,
and general information about pay (does the company provide stock
options or bonuses? is the pay the same for all entry-level people at
this level, or does that vary, and if so, what are the variables?). "
Definitely ask about benefits," Botts says, "including whether there is
a waiting period before benefits kick in. Ask about relocation
reimbursements-especially if you're moving from far away."

Job and salary offers usually arrive by telephone, followed next day by
a written offer sheet. Companies that still give a second interview use
it to make the offer. In both cases, the first question to ask is ,
"how much time do I have to think about it?" There is no industry
standard-although if you need to request more than 48 hours, you had
better have a good , concrete reason. "Also tell the employer how long
you'll need to come on board," Botts says. "Many people cannot get to a
new job in the conventional two weeks. Let the interviewer know if
that's the case."

If you're interviewing with other companies, say so. " Then they 'll
know up front that they'll have to compete to get you," Botts says,
"which can work to your advantage." It is also appropriate to ask about
the specific team or work group you'll be working with if you don't
already know. Ask about pre-employment tests such as physical
examinations and drug screenings.

So to the big question: Can you bargain? Many candidates do. Botts says
that the most credible negotiations are based on one of two situations:

. you have an equal or higher offer from another company (make sure you
have a FAX or copy of the offer sheet);

. you are moving from a low-cost-of-living area to a higher one, and
your research indicates that the offer would not be equal to your needs.

Networking also can create negotiating opportunities, Botts says: It is
completely appropriate to ask, 'I know you've offered X dollars to a
person at the same level recently. Can you explain why I'm not getting
the same offer?'" Negotiation, even aggressive negotiation, rarely
results in offers being withdrawn. "The very worst case," Botts says,
"is that the company would come back and say, 'We're not prepared to
increase the offer.'"

Botts returns to her first point: Create a strong network of associates,
professors, referrals, and company contracts. Don't be afraid to ask
questions or to negotiate. Become part of the culture.

Recommended by Benquan Shen

* CAUTION: The above article is recommented for your reference only. Do
not reproduce or transmit in any forms or by any means without written
permission. Recommender is not responsible for any legal issues if you
don't use it properly.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
b) Further Tips for Job Interview
(By Youcheng Liu, PH78)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In last issue, Benquan Shen, PH78, forwarded a very insightful article
on job interview particularly for the corporate endeavors. Here are some
more tips for job interviews in general I summarized from various sources. I wish to share it with you. Hope you are not tired of it, rather they are of reference value. May we NMU alumni always have successful interviews in our clinic, academic, corporate job huntings.

INTERVIEWING--PREPARATION IS THE KEY

Dress For Success

Conservative suit or dress (well dressed)
Comfortable shoes (low heels)
Professional satchel or purse
Neat, clean and pressed
Small tasteful jewelry, if any (for ladies)

First Impressions Count

Smile
Direct eye contact
Greeting - "Hi, I'm ... It's a pleasure ..."
A firm but a gentle handshake
Attentiveness
Posture: relaxed, poised demeanor and good manners

Interview Kinds

At a job fair, career fair, engineering expo
During a society activity
Through the college placement office
Over the phone
On a plant trip/site visit

Interview Types

Passive Type: you do the most talking. The interviewer simply says "tell
me about yourself," Remember you know what you want to communicate about yourself

Active Type: this types talks incessantly--you may need to gently
interrupt to register your skills

Definite Purpose

Company: looking at the candidate as a potential employee
Candidate: looking at the company as a potential employer

Valued Characters

Team attitude: ability to work well with others
Leadership ability
Organization skills, time management
Initiative
Enthusiasm, drive, energy level
Communication skills _ written, listening, articulation
Self confidence
Alertness
Humor
Maturity, integrity and articulateness

Preparation Is the Key

Before the Interview:
know the company as much as you can
mission or products
location
type of work

develop an understanding of the job requirements, demands, salary
and working conditions
analyze and discuss how past and present experience relate the job
collect reference names so you have them on hand at the interview
collect examples of work to bring to the interview
hold a practice interview and videotape it
analyze your performance

During the Interview: Market yourself
confidence
poise
expect certain questions
answer questions briefly, yet informatively
guard against saying too much or too little
positive and candid comments
alert for signs the interview is over
overstays one's welcome could create a negative impression

Questions Frequently Asked

What are your goals (short-term, long term)?
Why did you choose this field?
What are looking for in an employer or job?
What classes did you like best and why?
Have you participated in any projects?
What involvement have you had in this club?
What kind of job responsibilities have you had?

After the Interview

Make notes about what was discussed
Send an effective follow-up letter
Consider a job offer in the given time limit or in reply in two weeks
Ask for extension of the time limit if not able to decide
explain why you need the extension
All offers of employment warrant a response
You letter of acceptance

Common Mistakes

Expand too much on their answers
Reveal too much regarding personal matters irrelevant to the job
Not knowing about the organization
Reacting in a defensive manner
Dressing inappropriately
Displaying overconfidence/cockiness
Putting on/presenting oneself in a superficial manner
Arriving late

Summarized by Youcheng Liu, PH78

**********************************************************
c) A good source for new car buyers
(By Shan Lu, MD77)
**********************************************************
On recent MD77 gathering in California, several alumni asked where to
find a good information source for new cars. Luckily, one of the MD77
alumni happend to have a good internet site: "www.edmunds.com/edweb"

This site is very comprehensive including almost any model people may
have questions. The most important part is that this site can teach you
how to calculate the real cost of dealers, not just the common invoice
price we can find in many places. There are pictures for some models,
there are nice comparisons for similar cars. If someone studies very
well, the price can be very close to the bottom line in dealers' mind.
Good luck and enjoy your new car.

5. Reflection of China

*********************************************************
a) Hong-Bao in China
(By Shan Lu, MD77)
**********************************************************
Recently, many of our overseas Chinese went back to visit our families.
One practical thing we all desparately need to know but with zero
experience is how to give a Hong-Bao (cash gift wrapped in a red paper
bag) to your little niece or nephew, or any little kids of your
relatives or good friends, when they approach you so lovely that you nervously search to find a gift for them. According to people who agreed to provide this "trade secret" on anonymity, the current practice in
Nanjing is to put 200 YMB in this little red bag. You can certainly put more or less depending how rich you are or how close your relationship is with your relatives. It is also OK if you don't feel you like to give to
anyone. But be aware, more likely than not, your child will receive one
if your son or daughter is going back with you!

(To be Continued)