In his spare time, Xu Wei enjoys cruising around campus on his beloved bike
At Chongqing University of Technology, it’s common to see such a scene: a man in bright, tight sportswear wearing a helmet, riding a three-wheeled recumbent bike, weaving through the campus. This man, who will turn 40 this July, is Xu Wei, the class advisor for Accounting Class 1 of the 2011 cohort in the School of Accounting at the university. In the eyes of his students, this “nonconformist” is nothing short of legendary.
Commuting to work by recumbent bike
Xu Wei’s passion for bicycles began during a trip to Yangshuo during the winter break of 2002. He and his friends rented bikes and rode along the mountain roads in Yangshuo, returning the bikes at 8 p.m.
Xu Wei always has unconventional ideas. In 2008, he saw a recumbent bike for sale on a website and bought one, which he used to commute to work every day. After Chongqing University of Technology relocated to Huaxi, he would ride the recumbent bike daily between Huaxi (the school) and Yangjiaping (his home).
“At first, I just thought taking the school bus back and forth and having to transfer was exhausting, leaving me drained by the time I got home, so I started biking. Unexpectedly, a 30-minute one-way ride turned out to be both convenient and healthy. Now, I feel uncomfortable if I don’t bike even for a day,” Xu Wei said. The recumbent bike has become an important part of his life—not just for commuting, but even for grocery shopping, which he does on the bike. His self-given Weibo username, “Old Xu commutes lying down and still goes grocery shopping,” is quite fitting.
“Notice!! Students enrolled in the elective course on Accounting Professional Ethics, please note that some groups have not submitted their assignments. I will directly email the individuals in the problematic groups before next Monday. Students from the 2009 and 2010 cohorts taking the elective, please take note @Zhang Yan @Li Anyang @Long Xing.” “@Pingcuo Gesang @Danzeng Taji Submit your assignments!!!!!!!”
This is how Xu Wei uses Renren and Weibo to remind students to submit their assignments. As one of China’s first internet users, he often wrote blogs, and when Weibo emerged, he was among the first to sign up. He enjoys browsing Taobao, and most of his clothes are purchased online.
“Starting with the 2011 cohort, I noticed that students liked using Weibo and Renren, so I also registered a Renren account. Then, through Weibo and Renren, I post academic notices as soon as possible,” Xu Wei explained. This approach is related to the difficulty of reaching some elective students through his professional courses; additionally, it allows him to understand and keep up with the latest developments among students through their preferred communication methods.
Often bakes cakes for students
Xu Wei also has a pair of “skillful hands” for baking cakes, and students in his classes often enjoy his delicious creations. In June 2012, more than ten students from his class represented the class in the school’s cheerleading competition. The students had no time to eat dinner, so Xu Wei personally made a bucket of crackers. “The class advisor who gave out cookies” left a deep impression on everyone.
A similar scene played out on the evening of last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, when he brought the students mooncakes he had made himself; and on the so-called “end of the world” day, he brought them small snacks as “end-of-the-world gifts.” Whenever students ask, he will make a cake for them on their birthdays. Xu Wei has made students exclaim, “Having such a class advisor is a blessing in three lifetimes!” Some female students even said, “In the future, I must find a man as handy and loving as Teacher Xu!”