Hi, I'm Mofei!

On the eve of my flight to Finland, I sit down in this tranquil moment, trying to find the right words to describe the tumultuous excitement and paradoxical calm within me. Perhaps it's because I'm getting closer to the goals I set for myself decades ago, a sense of indescribable excitement wells up inside me, rippling through my heart like waves, making everything seem so surreal, yet I find myself unusually composed.

Farewell, Chapters One and Two of My Life Story

At this moment, for me, it's undoubtedly the start of a new journey. I've summarized my life into two stages:

The first stage spans the time before I turned 18, during which I had a blissful time in my hometown, nurturing a happy childhood and accumulating moments of growth. In the warm family atmosphere, I learned how to be grateful and persistent, gathering beautiful memories for a lifetime. Whenever I recall those days, my heart fills with emotion and warmth.

In June 2008, a time similar to today, I graduated from high school and was about to leave my hometown for the unknown Shanghai

At the age of 18, I bid farewell to Huainan and embarked on a journey to Shanghai, marking the beginning of the second stage of my life. After moving between Shanghai and Beijing, then back to Shanghai, I found myself in a city brimming with endless possibilities, starting a new chapter of hard work and struggle.

The Evolution of My Career

Perhaps in our era, I was one of the fortunate ones. From the major I chose in university to the jobs I took after graduation, every step tightly aligned with the direction I had set in my heart. Despite the bumps along the way, looking back, the journey seems like a straight path, where I firmly followed the trajectory I dreamed of.

1. (2010-2014) Starting in the workplace, growing with entrepreneurs: My first job after graduation was spent with a group of entrepreneurs. Although this company could be considered part of the "system," as employee number 007, I had the opportunity to grow with the company. During that time, I met two partners, also new to the professional world: Drama Person and Xiaoma (this person is too lazy to have a blog). We had almost identical backgrounds, ages, or interests, so we became "die-hard" friends on the road ahead - we rented a spacious house together, worked overnight together (before "grinding" became popular, we were already doing it in practice), and continuously improved our technical skills. Perhaps due to our outstanding abilities, or maybe because the old company's environment was conducive, later, even though we left the company one after another, we became colleagues again at Baidu in the following years.
2. (2014-2018) Baidu: My first job undoubtedly opened the door to this industry for me, giving me a real taste of the professional world. However, when I entered the doors of Baidu, I realized it was a truly valuable opportunity for growth. Here, I met talented people from all walks of life and deeply felt the reality of "there are mountains beyond mountains." No matter where I went, it seemed everyone around me had a more impressive background and talent than I, which made me more humble and hardworking.

3. (2018-2023) Mapbox Shanghai: With deep nostalgia for the six years of studying and working in Shanghai and a desire for the outside world, I chose to leave Beijing and return to Shanghai. In this city, I was greeted with a job opportunity completely untouched by domestic corporate culture. Here, I lived the professional life I had always longed for, and I cherish this experience deeply, holding it in great affection. Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to seize the opportunity to work abroad. Everything feels like a dream, and I can hardly believe it's real.

   My work experience at Mapbox opened a magical door for me. During a training trip to the United States, I couldn't help but marvel that I was standing in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where the movie "Night at the Museum" was filmed.

   

   My colleagues come from all corners of this blue planet, representing different cultures and backgrounds. Here, these diverse differences fully collide, generating a series of astonishing creative sparks.

4. 2023+ Mapbox Finland: Today, the gears of fate turn once again. Perhaps by the time you read this article, I have already set foot on Finnish soil, or am on my way there. The future is unknown, perhaps with some anxiety, but more so, I am full of anticipation, looking forward to more wonderful things about to happen.

The Transformation of Life

1. Footprints

   After entering the workplace, I gradually gained more opportunities to explore the world. I still vividly remember, in the first year of work, my first experience on an airplane. At that time, my leader asked me with concern if it was my first time flying, his eyes gleaming with pride. However, as time passed, I realized that flying was not such a special event, and going abroad was not difficult. Although the places I've been to over the years may not be numerous, on the world map, my footprints are no longer blank. These exploratory journeys have allowed me to deeply appreciate the vastness and diversity of the world. Every time I set foot on unfamiliar land, it was an elevation of the soul, a longing for and exploration of the unknown world.

   1. Domestic:
      • Went to Tibet in a daze, finding altitude sickness truly uncomfortable
      • Went on a road trip to Xinjiang with colleagues, finding October in Xinjiang really cold
      • Went on a business trip to Maduo, once again overwhelmed by altitude sickness
      • Went to Daocheng, braving a four-hour trek through the plateau to witness the beauty of the lakes, feeling I never want to go to the plateau again
      • Wandered the Hulunbuir grasslands, unexpectedly discovering that milking cows is a skill
      • A family of seven embarked on a journey to Yunnan, becoming a model family praised by the tour guide
   2. Abroad:
      • Went to Thailand three times, accompanied by my spouse, company team, and parents, perhaps will visit this charming land again in the future
      • Went to New Zealand for my honeymoon with my wife, captivated by the majestic nature, once thought of spending my twilight years in this natural paradise
      • Went to the United States twice, both for company team building or training, my praise for Mapbox only increased
      • Traveled to Sipadan alone, exploring another 72% of this blue planet while obtaining my OW and AOW diving licenses

2. Skills

   Besides continuously improving my professional skills, I have also ventured into some new areas.

   • I became a pastry chef, albeit at the lowest level, but I can already make visually appealing pastries.
   • I entered the world of diving, and although I haven't done it many times, it's something to brag about in my social circles!
   • During my trip to New Zealand, I personally flew a plane, gaining some flying experience.
   • I also explored glaciers firsthand, yes, the kind of experience where you fly up in a helicopter and then walk on the ice with crampons!
   • And skydiving, okay, I admit that skydiving might also cause altitude sickness...

3. Life

   Despite the uncertainties brought by the sudden pandemic, looking back over the past decade or so, I feel very satisfied. Every once in a while, life brings little surprises or achievements, especially in recent years. During this time, I've settled matters of household registration, housing, and car. However, I've always believed that life should be diverse and variable, and one should experience different possibilities. For this reason, to realize the dream of going abroad, I lost a significant amount of money selling the car that had only been with me for half a year. I believe that experiencing new scenery and opportunities is a precious and worthwhile pursuit in life.

Future, Keep Going

Looking back on the past 15 years, I feel content and fortunate. Now, standing at the starting point of my journey to Finland, I am full of anticipation. New environments and opportunities will surely bring growth and gains. Life is an ongoing journey, every step is a valuable experience. There might be bumps, there might be confusion, but as long as you hold your beliefs and move forward bravely, the future will no longer be unknown, but your own scenery. Keep going, Mofei!