Isaiah 40:28-31

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

lesson of the day #3

sometimes the smallest things let you know who your true friends are.

The holiday mood

today i woke up at 9:22am when i was suppose to be at work at 9:00am.

Ahhh now I know I am definitely in the holiday mood.

21嵗

i used to get really excited about my birthday: dinners, gifts,　利是, friends, cakes. But to be honest, in recent years (perhaps the past 2 or 3 years?) i would get really upset about my birthday. Of course, I still enjoy the presents and the company, it's just that when i really sit down and think about it, I am not all too excited.

Birthdays sometime seem to serve as a reminder to me of the fact that I'm 'aging': that time is slowly slipping away and that I haven't done a lot of things that I think are worthwhile, that I have wasted a lot of time committed to things that don't really mean a lot in the long run, and that I am not where I want to be. Maybe I am paranoid, but time is so important to me. After all, this is suppose to be the prime, the time where everything happens and new experiences are everywhere and yet, in the past few birthdays, i have always felt that i've missed out on some things that are meant to be mine by now and all the while doing a whole bunch of things on the side that probably won't mean much ten years down the road. I've felt mediocre at best and I hated that word.

But this year, I feel differently. Maybe because in the past year (while I was 20 years old), I have finally done some things that I'm really pleased with and proud of myself for accomplishing: going to China, living independently for 6 months, traveling solo, meeting new people that are from different cultures, working a 9-5 job at a law firm (albeit only an internship but still, i finally got to fulfill my childhood fantasy of working at 中環), really finding out who I am. Of course, I am not completely satisfied yet (I have yet to join a full-scale musical production) but I know I am getting there somehow.

And this birthday, this 21st year of my life, I am challenging myself to make this year even better than my 20th. I know that as May rolls around and I graduate, nothing will look like what it had looked for the past four years or even for the past 17 years that I've been in school. Next year, as I sit here and write my blog to celebrate my 22nd birthday, I would not be anticipating my final grades like I am now. Maybe I will be working a 9-5 job. Maybe I will be filling out grad school applications. Maybe I will not be in Vancouver. Maybe I will be unemployed. Who knows. But if anything, this 20th year of my life has taught me that I should not be afraid of the unexpected, that i should be ready to make life more exciting.

Next year has to be as rewarding as this. Cheers to being 21.

Joint Birthday Dinner 2009

For our annual joint all-out birthday dinner this year, 鄭少 and I decided to go back to the Cannery. If you're looking for great seafood, great service, lovely ambiance, a great view of the Port of Vancouver, and have a bit of money to spare, you should totally check this place out. Unfortunately, it's also closing down after the Olympics (their location is right at the Port of Vancouver and after the Olympics, they won't be able to renew their rent). So if you haven't been to this Vancouver establishment of 38 years before, do go take a look before it becomes history!

As for me, I've already made reservations to go back in less than two weeks for a Sunday brunch. =)

Today we ordered Lobster Bisque and Grilled Mussels for appetizers, Salmon & Mahi Mahi Duo and Salmon Wellington for entrees, and Creme Brulee and White Chocolate & Blood Orange Cheesecake as dessert.







Two other things of note: 1. We saw Princess and the Frog too. I am glad that Disney "went back to its roots" but honestly, the story isn't that great especially compared to the really great ones recently (i.e. Wall.E, Up!, Nemo, etc.) 2. I have finally busted out my last resort to fight really dry and cracked up winter face skin - the big tub of Vaseline.

First They Came...

"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me."

- Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892–1984)

I saw this quote on the wall of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum when I went there seven (?) years ago. Of course this quote is applied to the Holocaust but I guess it applies to our everyday lives too in how we deal with people and situations.

I guess it's really normal for the traditional Chinese to not be 多管閒事 but I think there is a really fine line between that and standing up for others who might not at the current moment be able to speak for themselves. Because I am sure that we all want someone to help us and speak up for us when we can't for ourselves.

Eventually, someone has to do the dirty work and say something.

好稍息

Today, after a long break from the shopping scene, I bought two pairs of new heels.

This is my mid-exam period reward haha

Growing Up

When I was a little kid, I've always wanted to grow up asap and my mom would tell me that the day that i feel like i don't want to grow up anymore, then i've grown up.

I'm grown up now.

indecisiveness

today's one of those days where either i'm pms-ing or just being emo and feeling really frustrated that no one really understands what i'm saying/feeling.

okay. saying that just made me feel like a whiny high school 'mean-girl' where everything is me! me! me! Perhaps i need to be more decisive: either i swing to the left and decide that it doesn't matter that no one understands what i'm saying/feeling and screw it all OR i swing to the right and go tell the people that I am frustrated with that I am frustrated with them and list out exactly why.

but no, that would've made it too easy. being the usual indecisive me, i am caught smack in the middle.

落唔出?

成日話落雪, 點解等極都好似落唔出?

大佬呀, 靠你落多D 等我唔洗返學考試架嘛...唔該多多合作!

wow typing in 'Cantonese' takes forever.

Round 2: Kathy vs. NEST 301

This one should be one of the easier ones except the final is worth 40% so if i mess up, I'm pretty much game over. Plus tomorrow I have to finish my poli369 paper and study for the poli 369 exam (both on Friday).

My only hope is that it will dump huge amounts of snow Thursday overnight...then that will be perfect!

卡肥 vs. poli 374 final

prospects aren't looking good for tomorrow. but final is only worth 20% so what's done is done as long as I don't too bad...

the weather and my new nail polish

I never knew that Vancouver can be this cold. Of course it snows but mostly, even when it snows, i don't think it's really THAT cold at all. But today, it seemed really really cool (even when I had all my "gear" on). 凍到入骨! According to weather underground, it's -8C outside right now but with windchill it's actually -16C!

Thank God there's no UBC tomorrow or I would not even bother going and walk around campus in this frigid weather.

I bought a new nail polish today (yes again). I am still searching for the perfect i-am-not-wearing-nail-polish-but-i-actually-am colour. This new one turned out okay but Karen says it 'looks cheap'. It's Sally Hansen No Chip 10 Day nail colour in Tough Buff, only 2.99@Zellers today. Maybe I should stop cheaping out and actually go get an OPI or something for $12 (argh almost $10 difference).

After finals are over, I will go get a full set manicure and pedicure treatment. That would be this year's christmas present for my hands and feet =)

and i just watched Love Actually for the 3892708979078th time in my life.

2010 Church Theme

I've already thought of next year's church theme for the church

國家興亡 匹夫有責
教會興亡 會友有責

Of course I'm kidding. =)

2nd Last "Last-Day of School"...?!?!?

If i think about it, today might actually be the second last "last day of school" in my life. That means, i will only have one more chance left to experience the thrills of 'the last day of school' in my entire life (finals notwithstanding and unless i manage to pull myself into more education after this undergrad stuff).

But at UBC, the last day of classes have always been one of my favourite days of the term. Unlike high school, 'last day of classes' don't mean much in university because you still have to deal with finals so it's not like a big sigh of relief. But the special thing about last day of classes is having an opportunity to really show gratitude to the professors that have taught me in the past 3 months by the rounds of applause at the very end of class.

Although I didn't get a chance to personally meet many of them, I just feel this special bond between me and them just because, well, i've been seeing them more or less 3 times a week for the past 3 months. And for all of them, i really do respect them for their knowledge. Of particular, for the past 3.5 years I've met professors that really did inspire me with their passion for their field (i still remember my History 270 "Modern China and the West" professor who inspired me to really go to China and experience it for myself) and also those who have inspired me for their genuine care for students and their professionalism (my Poli 369 "Israeli Politics" prof last year).

Throughout the years, I have begun to recognize the importance of a 'good professor' and how that really encourages me to learn and to take my studies seriously. I remember in my first year, I've planned out my course schedule according to what would fit in and what wouldn't. By this year, my first priority has always been the quality of the professor that will be teaching that course (whether via word of mouth or www.ratemyprofessor.com).

Then again, there are always bad professors too. But for the most part, I guess I've been lucky here at UBC.

老虎活士

I'm just so disappointed in Tiger Woods! He appeared to be such a perfect family man (who just happens to make tons of money). Argh i feel tricked!

ya i don't know why this concerns me at all either but i guess no one likes a cheating man, regardless if they're in a TVB drama, in Hollywood, a friend's dad, a friend's boyfriend or just a friend.

Canada Post

Took me thirty minutes at the post office today to finally send a precious piece of cargo to a Ningbo friend that happens to be in the UK right now. Post is just too expensive nowadays: I was given a choice of paying 23$ for my package to get there between 6-8 weeks (no guarantees) or $48 for my package to get there in around 2 weeks (no guarantees either). I don't understand how people can 'send Christmas parcels' to family around the world still. I bet paying for post is probably already more than the present itself. Thank God for online sites where shopping is a click of a button away and delivering within the US is free.

Today I managed to finish 2 out of 10 articles that I have to analyze by Friday. It's not much compared to my usual working speed but given my newly picked up habit of slacking and lack-of-motivation, I guess it is something.

Windy Day

UBC was so windy today that it reminded me of a Disney Winnie-the-Pooh video that I really liked to watch when I was a kid. I think it was called "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day". Something like that...

Yup, I just googled it. My memory is better than I thought but only for 無聊 things like this. The more important that I really should remember, like how terrorist groups fund their activities, or when the presidency of FDR was, or if UNFIL is in Lebanon or in Liberia, or the difference TVEs and SOEs...I just can't seem to stuff into my mind.

Today's Top Ten

1. 爲什麽台慶那麽無聊?

2. 爲什麽曾志偉年年都要搞到女星們超狼狽他才滿意?

3. How can any body claim to represent another without first consulting with the latter?

4. Why is my Starbucks tumbler leaking?

5. Why can't I play a song on the piano with the melody in the left hand?

6. Why can't people see beyond the immediate future?

7. Why can't I insist on finishing my readings, as oppose to continuing to procrastinate?

8. Why do the yellow yams in my 番薯糖水 today taste not as sweet as the purple yams?

9. Why does my writing slant to the right?

10. 爲什麽無綫的劇集總是喜歡"爛尾"?

of course, i have so many more questions than that, but if I were to continue, I wont be able to wake up to go to UBC tomorrow so let's just leave it at that.

currently listening - 黑風暴雨 by 鄭中基 (karen's listening to it beside me so by default i'm listening too)

A Bitter Rant (?)

i've always been incapable of expressing extreme emotions, particularly sadness, rage or disappointment. I had previously tried to express them through comprehensible words and sentences (written or verbal) but always somehow manage to descend into a mad rant or unintelligible rambling of some sort. For someone who, (no fake Chinese humility here) has a bit of talent in writing academic papers, I can't write something that truly expresses my feelings even if my life depended on it. The true question is, perhaps, what's the point of knowing how to read and write when one can't even express one's own feelings?

I am so sad that I do not think I experience such sadness frequently. But at the same time, Jesus is reminding me right now that my sadness is not even a faction of what He's feeling right now. It is because He was the one who died on that cross for His church, not me. It was because the church represents Him on this earth until He returns and yet we always manage to make a mess out of it, through our own selfish ambitions, our self-righteous acts, our sinful nature, our vulnerability to Satan, our poor decisions and, ultimately, our distance from the true Head of the Church.

Yet, God allows all things to happen for a reason. He doesn't make us go through things for vain nor does He allow bad things to happen because He takes pleasure in them. And it is at times like these that all the teaching that i've collected for the past twenty years come into play: to maintain my faith in God and not in the church, to continue to praise God despite the lack of olives and grapes and cows and lambs or whatever else that might be missing, to see beyond this and pray for healing, reconciliation and God's will to be done.

I actually thought this was going to be a bitter, negative rant when I started typing those first few words. But once again, God has managed to turn my tears into something positive. In a matter of five minutes and less than four paragraphs.

The Start of Christmas

Finally one semi-sunny day after weeks of rain and disgusting-ness; I can finally wear flats instead of boots to school and wear a long coat, not a waterproof jacket. Next week is already the last week of term 1 (so quick!). I promise I will not skip a single class.

Had the opportunity today to take a brief excursion into Metrotown after having dinner with Irene at the Cactus Club across the street. Took 10 minutes to find a parking spot, no wonder Christmas shopping is so stressful for everyone. The mall was so crowded and it was so Christmasy. I really hope I have time to leisurely shop somewhere for Christmas presents soon but I guess this will have to wait till at least after Dec 21st...that's when my last exam is (UBC finds a way to screw me over annually).

For starters though, I got my first Christmas present done today (and I even gave it to the person already). Every year, my family would go through a draw where we draw out each other's name. With the name, we buy a Christmas present for that person (so, like Secret Santa). This year, I got my mom. Just so happened that I found out Karen got dad so we secretly did a deal where we would buy tickets to go see 張偉文 for them. Dad almost got the tickets but he didn't want to spare 38$/ticket to go watch. Finally, we used Benny's credit card to get the tickets for them via ticketmaster and it wasn't even the $38 ones, we got them the $89 ones. Hopefully they'll have a great time.

Last week, I started writing down everything I spend on. In a matter of a week, I spent $200...half to my ridiculous Rogers bill ($90, I didn't know that they started charging for RECEIVED text too) and the other half on other 'student neccesities' like food and Starbucks. It's sad that I can easily spend that much money in a week whereas my dad 不捨得 to spend $38 to see a singer that he really wants to see. I really should reign in my spending. I think for starters, I should stop drinking starbucks and bring my own tea. Secondly, I should stop eating bought food and pack my own snacks. I already bring packed lunch to UBC daily (my mom packs my lunch) but, for anyone that knows me, I am always hungry so I always end up buying a chocolate bar at the vending machine or a cookie from Blue Chips. I should pack my own food...healthier food too. Stuff like crackers and apples.

Much needed: slashings on a lazy student

I don't know what's gone into me. Lately, I've been feeling a lack of motivation, so much that I don't even care how good my work is or whether I will get good marks as long as I get it done. Why is this happening now? I'm in my 4th year: arguably the most important year of my undergrad career, and possibly the deciding factor for my future path. Why am i slacking off? This is almost unheard of for Kathy Wong (emphasis: almost). Sure, I've slacked before but for one month straight? What's going on?!?!? At the rate I'm going, I'd be lucky to not get a significant drop in my gpa, nevermind applying for graduate school.

Does anyone know how to whip a lazy student back into shape?

哈巴谷書 3:17-19 之 第二回

雖 然 無 花 果 樹 不 發 旺 ，

葡 萄 樹 不 結 果 ，

橄 欖 樹 也 不 效 力 ，

田 地 不 出 糧 食 ，

圈 中 絕 了 羊 ，

棚 內 也 沒 有 牛 ；

然 而 ， 我 要 因 耶 和 華 歡 欣 ，

因 救 我 的 　 神 喜 樂 。

我以前已經把這句聖經放在這裡 (albeit in English) but this verse speaks to me anew every time I see it. The context of the entire book is the Kingdom of Judah bracing for an imminent attack from the militarily stronger Babylons (actually my Near Eastern Studies - History of Ancient Mesopotamia class talked about the Babylonian/Chaldean invasion of Judah). Although the first few chapters are filled with gloom, despair and the questioning of God's wisdom, Habakkuk ends his work with a song of praise to God. In the end, it is our God who is "our strength; making our feet like the feet of a deer, enabling us to go on the heights".

Thank you, Jesus

Thank you Jesus, because You've reminded that it is through trials that I can see more of You.
Thank you Jesus, because through what is going on, You've allowed me to grow stronger in You.
Thank you Jesus, because You have told me that I am blessed when I am at the end of my rope: with less of me there is more of You and Your rule
Thank you Jesus, because You have given me enough wisdom to be able to tell what I should and should not do.
Thank you Jesus, because You haven't given me too much wisdom so that I only rely on myself and not on You.
Thank you Jesus, because You have prepared me to handle this.
Thank you Jesus, because You have surrounded me with people that support and help me handle this.
Thank you Jesus, because You have reminded me also to not place my trust in people, or leaders, or institutions but in You and only You.
Thank you Jesus, because I know that through this we can be more unified.
Thank you Jesus, because You won't let us fight this battle alone.
Thank you Jesus, because You have given me hope.
Thank you Jesus, because You remind me that, in the end, this is all about You.
Thank you Jesus, because no matter how heartbreaking this gets, You will never forsake me.
Thank you Jesus, because no matter how disappointing this gets, You never disappoint.
Thank you Jesus, because no matter how hopeless this looks, Your ways are still far greater than ours.
Thank you Jesus, because no matter how much harder this gets, Your grace is still sufficient.
Thank you Jesus, because on the cross I saw love and sorrow mingled down.
Thank you Jesus, because through that hymn today, I realized that in the midst of sorrow, there can still be love.
Thank you Jesus, because through what has happened, I have developed a greater thirst for You.
Thank you Jesus, because through this, You have forced me to seriously contemplate why I choose to serve.
Thank you Jesus, because You have taught me that serving is not always easy.
Thank you Jesus, because I see people around me that are going through the same sorrow and yet they still love.
Thank you Jesus, because You've reassured me that You will be in charge of tomorrow.
Thank you Jesus, because You're in charge of today, right now.
Thank you Jesus, because this is a valuable lesson that I must learn.
Thank you Jesus, because You've forgiven my sins.
Thank you Jesus, because You understand how I feel.
Thank you Jesus, because You care.
Thank you Jesus, because it is You who give me the strength to still wake up every Sunday morning at 7am.
Thank you Jesus, because You haven't allowed me to be numbed by all the words and emails of the past two months.
Thank you Jesus, because I see more clearly than ever because of this.
Thank you Jesus, because You look into our hearts, not our actions.
Thank you Jesus, because in my deepest sorrow, You still comfort.
Thank you Jesus, because You've called Your own servants to lead and mediate during this difficult time.
Thank you Jesus, because You have reassured me that You're still working through PMPGMBC.
Thank you Jesus, because in Your word, I know that if we are willing to turn back to You, You will listen and take us back.
Thank you Jesus, because all this is not for nothing.

Simple Pleasures

Simple pleasures of today:

1. Earl Grey - My affair with Earl Grey began during my first year of UBC when I was introduced to London Fog at Starbucks. Then when I went to China earlier this year, my mom packed me a can of Earl Grey to bring with me (I know, why would anyone bring tea to China? But I'm glad she did pack it). And from then on, I just went solo with EG - no milk, no syrup, no sugar, nothing. And now, in my final year of UBC, Earl Grey is my daily campanion to all my 9am/9:30am classes to wake me up and to keep me warm (I bring it in my trusty Japanese thermos that keeps water piping hot even after 2 hours). Last week, my mom came home from work with an ENTIRE plastic bag of Earl Grey teabags from work (my mom's job offers wonderful benefits like no other: free spices for any cooking/baking needs, organic raisins/craisins, fair-trade chocolate bars, nutrition bars, health foods...)

2. Cadbury Fruits 'n' Nuts chocolate bar - this one's quite self explanatory. And yes, the cadbury commercial with the 2 kids with popping eyebrows worked.

3. For some reason, it feels very Christmas-y today.

Currently listening: The Wild One (Hot Blood) - Shorty Rogers and His Orchestra

The Real Tidbits of Life

I really should be more diligent about blogging. How can I ever remember all the things that happen in daily life if I fail to write them down? Perhaps this blog isn't meant to remember all the big things that happen (since if they're that big, I can probably remember them with my own brain) but the smaller tidbits that are important to me today but might as well go un-noticed or become insignificant in the future.

So here it goes.

Yesterday, the doctor told me that the "lump" in my left ovary was but a figment of the ultrasound's imagination and the MRI has proven that I am as normal as normal can be (at least my ovaries are). Phew. Thank God for giving me my health and reminding me that I should never take it for granted. But the doc did say that I should be careful about my spine as it appears to be slightly worse than an average 20-year old spine should be. Okay, time to exercise more.

The status of my diet (day 5?). Ultimate fail. I actually ordered deep fried wontons as "dinner" today after I did a 2 hour stint at Gourmet (Ben took a day off to go see Jay-Z and Elaine was worried that it might be busy, hence I dropped by). How am I going to get the perfect body by my grad pic in less than two weeks?

This Sunday, I have to 領詩. I think I've done it so many times that I no longer am that nervous as I was before. I really should still stay on my toes though. It's too big of a responsibility to 求其.

Not All Women are Created Equal

Example:

I need to wear a pair of stockings as part of my outfit for church tomorrow. Mine all have holes in them (I never bother to buy new ones because I honestly rarely wear stockings). Karen has tons of stockings but I can't borrow them. They're just too long for me because my legs are pathetically short.

Currently Listening: Little Room - Norah Jones

Autumn at UBC

When people ask me my favourite season, I used to say "spring!" or "summer!". Right now, I think it's autumn, especially at UBC. The leaf-full trees are starting to turn orange, brown and red, people are starting to bundle up in beautiful scarves and boots and somehow, despite the cold wind and chills, the sun continues to shine and you might actually be able to find some warmth in its brightness. Strangely, it makes me feel like I'm at Hogwarts.

Well, I say this now. Wait until the leaves fall and the rain comes and UBC transforms itself into a murky soup of leaves, water and mud. And chances are, my shoes will have water leaked into them.

The Despairs of a Graduating BA Student

Career and Grad School Day - another scheme organized by UBC to make me feel infinitely stupid, inadequate and hopeless about my already murky future. Among the booths of insurance companies, firms from the financial sector (they're still hiring?), marketing firms, and even college pro-painters, I only found a few booths that fit the following criteria: 1. something i am remotely interested in, 2. something that i might remotely have a chance of getting into and 3. a booth staffed by people that look like they'll be interested in talking to an inexperienced, mediocre,　goal-less, BA student like me. (The depth of my desperation can be seen as I seriously start to look over the "Canadian Forces" pamphlet that I got).

And don't even mention grad school. 3.87 GPA to get into UVic Law? >160 on LSAT?

I should start talking to Kwun (my manager) to see if he wants to hire me as a full time at Gourmet soon.

偉大的祖國, 生日快樂 !

Looking at all the pictures and videos of Beijing's celebrations for the 60th birthday of Communist China makes me miss my China days a lot especially the folks in Beilun and the 3 weeks wandering around China. I just realized that I never posted any of my China trip photos here, so here they are, three months belated...

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

Although God is the only one who knows exactly what is going on, I will learn to trust Him. Although He is the only one who can right the wrongs that are within me, I will learn to submit myself to His will. I will not worry about any of it because it is all in His hands.

Sad News

Gourmet has a lot of die-hard fans and among them is this couple (the woman with the bushy hair and her husband who always smiles and says "thank you, thank you so much") that comes (no joke) once a week, usually on the weekends. They would walk down from their house on the Plateau and have dinner, then walk back up. Everyone at Gourmet, even the kitchen staff, knows them.

Every time they'd come in and patiently wait for us to seat them (all the while the husband keeps saying "thank you, thank you so much"). We'd give them the menu and they'd always religiously study it, as if they're really thinking about what to order, even though we know their orders by heart now: a chicken chow mien, chicken chop suey, some green tea and a glass of water (it's always this order week after week; I've only seen them deviate from it once).

They aren't the most generous tippers but they do give 10% but mostly, they tip us with their friendliness, their appreciation of everything we do and of course, their coming back the next week. They're also very talkative and if you ever start a conversation with them (which is highly likely), don't expect to get free without dedicating 10 minutes of your time. The couple, particularly the man, is one of those rare human beings that, even though they don't really know you, gives off this impression that he genuinely cares about you and is really interested in what you have to say. They also remember what you said from previous conversations.

So last night, as I was working, they came in and the usual, they ordered their food, etc. And as I was talking to them, I found out that they will be moving to somewhere 1 hour away which means that they will no longer be able to come for dinner weekly. They did promise to come back as often as they can though.

Even though I don't actually know them (I don't even know their names), I do feel saddened. Good customers aren't hard to find but GREAT customers like these two, very rare. It's like saying goodbye to friends. In fact, I dare say I see them more often than some of my real friends.

That's Just Life!

路...一直都在 - 陳奕迅

穿過人潮洶湧燈火欄柵
沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程
甚麼時候能走完

oh 我的夢代表甚麼
又是甚麼讓我們不安

That's just life 尋找夢裏的未來
That's just life 消滅現實的無奈
不能後退的時候 不再徬徨的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在

穿過一塊 裏面一片黑暗
沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程
甚麼時候能習慣

oh 我的夢代表甚麼
又是甚麼讓我們期盼

That's just life 尋找夢裏的未來
That's just life 消滅現實的無奈
不能後退的時候 不再徬徨的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在

看不清的路又算甚麼
看不清的夢又算甚麼
就算走到盡頭又能算甚麼
能算甚麼

That's just life 尋找夢裏的未來
That's just life 消滅現實的無奈
不能後退的時候 不再徬徨的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在

That's just life 徘徊到不再徘徊
That's just life 重來到不怕重來
沒有選擇的時候 不能選擇的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在

Hopefully I will always remember this song and really stop being afraid of aging. For some reason, the last few days were really the first time I started having China-sickness since I've been back. At any given time, I'd suddenly think about Shanghai or Ningbo and all the fun stuff to do there and all the wonderful people that are there.

Maybe I should go back some time soon.

Grace

To be honest, I can't really think of a lot of things that really break my heart. Seeing hungry children with swollen bellies in Africa on TV used to break my heart but I guess now, thanks to mass media and such, it seems that I have developed a small "immunity" against these somewhat terrifying images (haven't we all?) Nonetheless, I would still feel discomfort from looking and seeing such pictures (thank God at least I still have those).

Other things that break my heart are pictures of shanty towns. Or war. Or children during war.

But one thing that is really close to home that never fails to cause me a lot of grief is when things that aren't suppose to happen happen in church. Things like anger, unkind words, envy, pride, rudeness. What happened to emulating Christ and being loving people? But at the same time, who am I to judge when I myself am guilty of these very same crimes that I accuse others of? As mom always says, our faith is in God, not in church leaders or the church itself.

Indeed, we are but a church of sinners, saved by God's grace.

The Beatitudes

3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Matthew 5:3-10 The Message Bible

Thanks Cheryl for this awesome 20th birthday gift.

the Hubble Telescope

Like most people, I've always been fascinated about outer space and the universe. When my dad got us a pair of binoculars when I was in elementary school, I would go to my backyard and point them to the sky to stare at stars and the moon (not as good as telescopes but hey, they do the job).
Even to this day when I look at the stars and the night sky, I get really frightened and, a the same time, sad. Frightened because of the endless possibilities that are out there in that vastness. As a tiny dot in this enormous sea of stars, galaxies and unknown things, the Earth seems too small to provide much comfort and security. How do we know what's out there? How do we know if someone/something is watching? How do we know if there is imminent danger? How long will it take before we even begin to comprehend what really goes on out there? (I took Astr311 last year but I basically didn't get much out of it). I suppose this fear of the universe also leads to a sadness because of the fact that, despite all the photos of amazing and spectacular happenings out there in the universe, hundreds and thousands of light years away, there is no way we can ever actually get to these places, at least certainly not in my life time and probably not my great grandkids' either. So it seems like the universe is always just kinda there, displaying its wonders and teasing us with its mysteries but we have no choice but to admit defeat.
I don't know. I hate having to put these sort of ideas into words. They seem so great and touching in my head but when I write it out it all seems kinda stupid. Ignore me please.
Anyways, the point of all this is here. Check it out and see if you know what I mean.

Currently listening: 沙龍　－陳奕迅

Mere Christianity

Never was a fan of reading religious works but am currently reading C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity thanks to the copy that Rollie gave Karen for her graduation. And here, hopefully, commences my journey to experience God logically and rationally.

分生

Sometimes I go to something that is meant to spiritually revive me and end up with nothing. Is there something wrong with that?

Currently listening: 分生 - 張惠妹

嫉妒

I really should do a better job of blogging more frequently. It's not that I don't enjoy writing here it's just that upon returning to Vancouver i find that I have a lot more things to do but none of them significant enough to warrant a few sentences here.

Chicago, or the little that I did manage to see of Chicago because we were always in the church we were serving at in Chinatown, seems like a place that I would like to go back again to explore and get to know. Museums, art galleries, aquariums, Lake Michigan, American-Italian food...hmmm! Hopefully somewhere in the future I can go back to Chicago and really see what this Windy City is like.

As the beginning of my last year at UBC slowly comes upon me, I continue to frantically stuff commitments and events into my already filled schedule - jobs, volunteering, church committees, GM events, goals.... I do enjoy doing this things, but already more than once I have been warned to "watch my time" (and it's not only my parents saying this). I have a sneaky feeling that this is my fear of losing time, opportunities and never finding my "true calling" creeping up on me again. Especially this coming year being the last of my university years and life as I've known it for the past 3 years and, really loosely speaking, ever since I was five, everything beyond April 2010 is as hazy as a bowl of miso soup (what a dumb analogy but its the best I can think up of right now).

On another note, as I twist and bend my schedule in an attempt to try new things out and find my true calling, some of the most important people in my live are heading out to other places in the world for long periods of time in search of their own new experiences and callings. Good luck and, when you've found your goal(s) in life, enlighten me too, please.

A bit of Chicago...

Chicago Day 1

Woke up at 4am to catch the 6:30am flight to Chicago for my very first out-of-town trip with GM for the Easter Musical. At first I was worried that because I don't know the brothers and sisters in the team too well hence I will feel awkward or what not but thankfully everything turned out well.
Our United plane was delayed for 1 hour (something was wrong with the communications system) but we arrived in Chicago before 2pm local time (Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Vancouver). Finally got to meet the local church and the choir that will be serving with us. It was interesting to see everything finally fall together (I have only seen the musical once almost 9 years ago so I don't remember a thing).
Unfortunately, we didn't really get to venture out around Chicago today as we were mainly devoting our time to rehearsals. We did manage to have meals around Chinatown twice though (the church is situated in Chinatown) but compared to Vancouver Chinatown, Chicago Chinatown is a lot more "dead" - there weren't a lot of people walking around.
Tomorrow night will be our first performance. I am most concerned about messing up my lyrics.

Ikea catalogue 2010

今天上班最高興的是收到了 IKEA 2010 catalogue. 拿著在手中可以imagine 到很多affordable possibilities (emphasis on affordable). 今年我房間的翻新大計包括買新的書櫃(加一點讀書的氣氛...), 一張舒舒服服的椅子 (不可以太舒服因爲是用來坐著看書, 不是坐著睡覺). 從寧波回來以後, 我已經把我的"工作空間"從我房間裏搬到basement的"study room" in a bid to up my productivity level (I read that if we dedicate one spot to one purpose only, our efficiency will increase.) Hopefully this is a good plan to make sure I am on time for most of my course readings this year. 畢竟都是UBC最後一年 (hopefully not the last year of my education), should really finish well.

UBC, what have you for me this year?

Currently listening: 遇見 - 孫燕姿

我願意

God must've known that I haven't been seriously singing in too long so upon coming back He decides to thrust to me a lot of singing "projects" and opportunities that I had no idea would be coming. GM@Chicago and Charles' wedding I expected but worship leading THIS Sunday?

God, sometimes I think You overestimate my ability to multitask. but it's all for You and I count it my honour to be able to bring worship and praise to You in any way and wherever possible. Thank You for entrusting me with all You have given me.

Currently listening: 我願意-王菲

Habits

Sometimes when I open the fridge, I still half expect to hear Dude's squealing and shuffling as he scurries over to see if he's getting a piece of carrot or a leaf of bok choy. Yesterday, mom came home and the first thing she said was "阿 Dude!" before she stopped and realized that neither Dude nor his playpen was there.

I miss you a lot Dude, I hope you've got tons of blueberries and apples wherever you are right now.

tutor kids, accounting, careers and such

now that the biggest thing of 2009 for me is officially over (i.e. my exchange), I start worrying about 2010 - my grad year and I'm not giving myself an easy time either as I find that recently a lot of the conversations I have with friends revolve around "jobs!", "co-op!", "careers!", "grad school!" or "graduation!" (and the occasional "CA!" or "CGA!" or even "CPA!" from my accounting friends). I am so uncertain about my future that I've started giving the answer of "being unemployed" when people ask me my plans after graduation.

But I think after having worked in Hong Kong for a month in July, I realized that it's not too hard to find a good paying job - at least not as hard as finding a job that one loves (or maybe I'm really naive). After having worked in a law firm and observing what real, non-TVB lawyers do, I realize that maybe this really isn't the job for me. This really starts worrying me because if a hefty paycheck is my sole greatest requirement for a dream job, then all I really need to do is work really hard and get myself some sort of license: lawyer, accountant, real estate agent, you name it. But that's not all I want (yes i am greedy). I want a good paying job but also a job where i can wake up everyday and go "wow I can't wait to start working today". I even dare say I prefer the latter over the former if I must choose. If my job is a 9-5 thing, that's already 8 hours - a third of my life dedicated to this cause. It better be something worthwhile.

So I suppose this is my God given theme of the summer as things that have been going on recently seem to be somehow related to this issue too. Having, for the very first time, an opportunity to actually pick and choose kids that I want to tutor for the coming school year, I figure it's not just about the money I can make anymore. More so, I want to tutor kids that I really think I can help and somehow be friends with them beyond the usual English tutor sense. I don't want to take in as many tutor kids as I want to anymore.

And then there's Brian Liu who's heading to Ontario to work with IVCF - someone who graduated and work a job not because it pays well but because it is important to him.

But beyond all this worrying and thinking, I found comfort from a least expected person who told me about his current sufferings working his accounting co-op job. As he told me his grievances and how he isn't really cut out for this kind of a job and it didn't turn out to be what he was expecting, I cannot help but think that less than 3 years ago I was also looking forward to an accounting degree until I almost got kicked out of Commerce and ended up doing IR which I am still doing today and really enjoying.

So why should I worry? God has always watched out for me.

Currently listening: Down to Earth - Peter Gabriel, from Wall-E
Do you feel you've been tricked - by the future you've picked? Well come on down.

The Last Bit of Hong Kong

Macau, the rain, the heat, time with Cheryl, the dinners...

But on the other hand, I'm coming home.

Going-Home Anxiety

When I left to go on exchange, UBC gave me an Exchange Handbook in which one of the chapters talked about the possibility of experiencing cultural shock and/or anxieties upon encountering new cultures and surroundings (duh.) What really surprised me was when the chapter also mentioned the chance of having another set of culture shock and anxieties upon returning home.

I think I have that right now. Anxiety at least. A part of me really wants to go home because I love Vancouver and I miss all my friends and my bed and my shower and the things that I do in my Vancouver-life (things like singing, gourmet, Joshua, etc.) But at the same time, I am worried about the various changes (big and small) that have taken place while I was away for the past 6 months (i.e. big change: Dude leaving us; small change: mom shifted all the furniture in our house) and other possible (maybe even bigger) changes that I am currently not aware of (i.e. the changes in people).

The handbook also mentioned the fact that "going-home anxiety" might also be a result from the changes that occurred in me as a person, as a result of my experiences during exchange; many people coming home from a foreign country might come back seeing things differently and having experienced things that many people at home have not experienced, or will not understand. I don't see it quite as dramatic as I was only in China (and most of my friends are Asian anyways) but I suppose it would be possible if I went to Uganda instead of the past 6 months.

No matter how anxious I am right now though, I have this sneaky feeling that this will all go away when I head back to Vancouver in exactly 1 week and life will go back to the normal of 6 months prior.

身後事

Last night, Dude was buried in our backyard to lay with Chippy, Hammy, Sony, BB Bird, 龜龜1 and 龜龜2. The stump that he always slept in is placed over his burial spot and decorated with flowers and his favourite fruit, apples. It is very difficult to say goodbye to a family member of 2.5 years, especially when I couldn't be there physically to say goodbye or to bury him (thanks for doing the work Andrew). Imagining him wrapped in a pink towel and laying in a shoebox doesn't seem to fit the Dude that I know. I can't even imagine him all stiff and cold because he was always so warm and soft.
After two days, I can finally look at photos and videos that I have of Dude in my computer but I know that when I have to go back home, it would be a lot of work getting used to not seeing him in his playpen beside the kitchen and not saying "bye Dude!" and "hey Dude!" everytime I head out or come home. Or to tell the people at Gourmet that I no longer have a use for their extra veggies because no one at our house is going to eat those now.
I can tell that mom and dad are kinda upset too. Last night, mom suggested over dinner that we print out a photograph of Dude, frame it, and place it over the place where his cage usually is. For a person that rarely shows sadness, this comment from my mom told me how sad she is too. Dad said that when we go back to Vancouver, we will have a proper funeral for him and Karen can paint a tombstone over his grave.

We miss you Dude. Hope you're having a good time in Guinea Pig Heaven. I am sure they have tons of apples, watermelon, hay, bok choy and carrots there.

Goodbye, Dude

It is likened to losing a family member - the most reliable, trustworthy, quiet, vulnerable and loyal member in a family; the one that is always where he is supposed to be, always happy to see us, always waiting for us, always ready to make us smile, always easily satisfied by carrots and celeries, always scampering over to welcome us home.

You don't deserve to be in a shoebox. You don't deserve to leave us so soon.
But God has a place for everything.

Five Things

Five things to note (in order of importance):

1. Dude is sick again. He's been peeing blood again and refusing to eat and drink. Naturally we're all very concerned about him and wanting to go home to see him. The vet didn't seem especially helpful by suggesting that we run all possible tests on him and claiming that she has no clue what's going on. She's a vet for crying out loud. She should tell us the higher possibilities and narrow the action down, not tell us to run every test possible and see which one is jackpot. Just hoping now he will get better in the next 2 weeks, enough so that when we come back we can take him to his usual vet.
2. Last night, we came to find a lizard on the ceiling of our room. Pretty freaked out. Still don't know where it is right now.
3. Need to start thinking about new volunteer opportunities when I come back to Vancouver.
4. Total solar eclipse and I missed it.
5. I donated money to a cause that I have no clue about today. That's the thing about charities in Hong Kong. They ask you to donate money on the streets without actually telling you what their organization is/what they do. They usually just follow you, saying something really generic like "help the elderly!" and trade your twenty dollar bill for a sticker. I think social services organizations are just as much about education as they are about the money. But that's just my opinion.

離譜！

每一天早上 8:45 當我趕頭趕命，雞手鴨腳趕著去彩虹地鐵站返工的時候，總會經過一大班人，男男女女，準備好泳衣，零時，太陽眼鏡，沙灘椅，人字拖，etc., 排隊等小巴去西貢，享受陽光與海。

losers.

有精神玩無精神返工

其實基本上返工都是一件超悶的事情。看看一些永遠都看不懂的文件，上網，翻譯，edit, 開眼睡覺, 發呆，等放lunch, 等吃自備的茶點...etc. so far 最緊張刺激就是星期二的時候樓上火燭 (但是恐怖的就是完全聼不到警鐘...)。 最後在樓下hea了差不多兩個小時才可以回到辦公室...老細請飲茶. haha

雖然星期一至五都要返九至五, 但是還可以拿一點點的時間來吃喝玩樂 （第一日認識我麽？)

上星期六三號風毬我和鄭少就去了海洋公園 to take a look at the pandas who i swear consume more than they can work off, some pretty fat goldfish, plastic hippos, dolphins and Chinese guys dressed up as cavemen from the Ice Age. 三號風毬 guaranteed that we didn't have to deal with the immense crowds that are a signature of Hong Kong. On the other hand, it also meant that all the amusement park rides and the cablecars were closed down.　在海洋公園最喜歡的就是熊貓舘...大大話話去了五次。原因就是熊貓舘的溫度永遠保持在17度左右而外面就三十三度. pretty self explanatory why Benny and I loved to see the pandas so much.



星期天去了“香港老字號" 太平館 (first "Western" restaurant to be established in Guangzhou, since 1860s) and had the original 瑞士雞翼, a souffle the size of a massive air-filled muffin and other items. 因爲這家茶餐廳比較高級，you can see Karen and my dad trying to eat their 瑞士雞翼 with their forks and knives here.



Today 鄭少 and I went to see Harry Potter 6 (i LOVE emma watson) at Elements. Then went to 澳洲牛奶公司 to eat some yummy 燉奶.


Some things to look forward to...
1. 星期五去廣州...land of great food!
2. 再下星期五去澳門
3. Cheryl's coming to HK!!

Currently listening: 散 - 莫文蔚

We are all Children of God

I cannot take this off my mind.

LSAT

yayaya 又到了每一天的高潮位 - 5:30 放工！ (well haha, almost...)

今天還可以，做了filing, 打字 and had left over time to tackle my 1.5 inch thick LSAT prep book.

原來我比我想象中蠢。 So the LSAT has 4 different types of sections: logic reasoning, logic games, reading comprehension and a writing part. Today I tried the logic reasoning and the logic games and ended up with 16/25 and 9/24 respectively. I always thought I wouldn't do too horribly with LSAT...afterall, I never thought that I particularly lacked common sense. I knew that I wasn't good with logic games (I hate and suck at sequences, probability, and math in general) but didn't think I would suck THAT much. The worst thing is, I never actually believed in studying for these things. I am always under this idea that either you have it, or you don't. Hopefully I am wrong because I obviously do not have what it takes to get a good score on the LSAT without studying =\ Come to think of it, I haven't even decided when I want to take the LSAT. Maybe I'll just take it to see where I am at and then decide from there.

I have a new mosquito bite on my arm and its driving me crazy.

Now we are tall and Christmas trees are small

Some thing that I always need time to get used to in Hong Kong is the living environment.

Typically, I live in the flat that my family and I used to live in when we were still in Hong Kong (when I was younger than the age of 5). It was an apartment that we shared with my paternal grandparents (the flat had 3 rooms and 2 washrooms) and now they live here by themselves. Everytime I come to Hong Kong now, I have readjust my memories of my old home to bring them in par with reality and get used to this place again. Everything seems really small, cramped up, and oppressive. I can cover all the "empty floor" in my room with less than 5 steps. I admit, it's probably because I've long grown accustomed to "Canadian" living - the size, the big empty spaces, the triumph of aesthetics over neccesity and practicality.

The interesting thing is, when I was small, I don't recall feeling this way about this old home of mine. I remember seeing it as a big place. My parents sometimes invited their friends or relatives over for dinner parties and the flat could fit more than 15 people. Now, it is hard for me to imagine how 15 people can possibly socialize in such a small place. I remember being able to run down the hallway at top speed. Now I can walk from one end to the other in more or less 5 steps. I remember taking baths in a huge bathtub. Now I don't think I can sit with my legs stretched out in the tub even if I wanted to. I remember not daring to stand beside the window of our 14th floor apartment because I would be scared by how small everything looked below and realizing that if the windows broke I'd probably die from the fall. Now I open up the windows and hang clothes outside to draw, 14 floors above the floor.

As the BeeGees sing: When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall. I don't think anything has changed here. The bathtub didn't shrink; the ends of the hallway didn't shift any closer. It is a matter of growing up.

等放lunch

Lunch hour at the office is an exciting hour because...

1. LUNCHTIME!! food food food food...
2. I get one hour of absolutely nothing to do except eat, shop and explore Central.
3. I get to leave my teeny tiny cubicle and chair to take in some fresh air outside and stop my ass from getting flatter than it already is.
4. It signifies that I have already reached the halfway mark of my 8 hour workday.
5. There are PLENTY of sales going on around here!! H&M, Esprit, AX here i comeeeeeee!
6. 鄭少 comes to visit me for lunch =)

next to the weekend, lunchtime is my favourite time of the week =)

我愛計(婆仔)數

在香港買東西比在大陸買困難:　在大陸就把價錢除五，　但是在香港就要除七 （除五點都比除七容易）. so when i shop, I have to mentally divide the price by 5 or 7 to get a "Canadian equivalent". generally speaking, things in Hong Kong are pretty cheap right now mostly because the prices are divided by 7 (strictly speaking, should be 6.7 but if i have to be that concise, I will have to bring a calculator with me wherever I go). 基本上買東西都不會肉痛.

但是收人工就比較心痛. I am cheap labour in this Hong Kong market, making a meager $800HKD per a 5-days week which is honestly less than what I make at Gourmet. So let's do the math...

$800HKD per week / 5 days a week = $160HKD/day
$160HKD per day / 8 hours a day (1 hour break inclusive) = $20HKD an hour
$20HKD / ~$7HKD/$1CDN = < $3 CDN

wow. I am making less than BC minimum wage. in fact, I am making less than when I delivered the Tri-cities News 2 times a week during grade 10 (I made around $10 a week then and it takes me around 1 hour to deliver the papers once).

man remind me again why I am doing this.

Currently listening: 盧廣仲 - 好想要揮霍

我的 OL 生涯 Day 1

one word: bored. all I did was attempted to translate a letter from English to simplified Chinese and file a pile of paperwork that was 1/3 of my height. to be honest, the kind of law that they do at this law firm is corporate law (handling mergers, stocks, companies, etc.) which is something that I totally am not interested in. still experience is better than no experience and something to do is better than nothing to do. plus the people at the firm are really nice.

currently watching: ID 精英

P.S. 好緊張呀.....下禮拜一有烈火雄心3...with 黃宗澤

i got my blog back

After being deprived of my blog for almost two months (China decided that blogspot was not something that the Chinese public should be allowed to access), I finally got my blog back by arriving in Hong Kong (aka land of sweltering outdoor heat and full blast indoor a/c) two nights ago.

It was quite frustrating to have my blog blocked as I was traveling throughout China because that was when I had a lot of things to say and share. And it was a good way to remember the minor details of my three-week trip. But now, thanks to the Great Firewall, my Chinese experiences will be forgotten and I will not remember half of the things I saw, ate, heard and experienced by the time I return to Vancouver. So much for promoting the goodness of the Chinese and demolishing the prejudices that the outside world has against China. The only thing I will probably remember now is how I, firsthand, became the victim of the oppression of my right to free speech and blogging.

Whatever. At least I am back now.

and somehow, I'm in Shanghai again.

A final little relax trip until finals hit in two weeks. To my credit, I brought my notes and textbook too so that I can study. And I actually DID study today. Went to Xintiandi on the 109 route bus (a mere 2RMB my friends) and bought an iced coffee (25RMB) and two croissants (11RMB each) and sat down to study, outdoors in the brilliant sun, surrounded by little chirping sparrows trying to eat some of my crumbs, for 2 hours.

The cafe that I was at is called Paul and comes directly from Paris. In fact, the last time I was there, the two Americans that I happened to found myself in a conversation with told me that the croissants in the Shanghai Paul were exactly the same as the ones they had in the Paris Paul. And honestly, the croissants were heavenly. Before, on my "best croissants" list, T&T croissants came in number 1 (it's sad when the best croissants I had were from a Chinese supermarket in Vancouver) but now, they're definitely Paul. I might consider buying half a dozen to bring with me when I leave Shanghai...

Currently listening: 小步舞曲 - 陳綺貞

1 Corinthians 13

Recently, Karen told me a simple way to "checklist" myself and see if I really love the people around me. It comes in the form of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love never fails.

So, everytime I am not doing one of these things, I am not loving the people around me enough.
The plan is, every now and then everyday I'll try to run the list through my head. However, I still haven't managed to memorize the whole passage yet but I guess I don't really need to since I rarely fulfill the first "requirement" of love anyways: patience. Maybe when I get the patience part down, I can finally move on to kindness, etc.

Currently listening: Put on Your Sunday Clothes - Michael Crawford

Back in the BO

Yes after a one week absence from Ningbo, I am back to my daily grind of exchange, living-on-my-own life.

Both Nanjing and Shanghai were excellent and I took too many photos, went to too many places and ate too much food to post all of them here.

However, I will show you this:



On my supposedly 4 hour bus ride from Nanjing to Shanghai, the bus driver decided to overload the bus by having people sit in the aisle on little stools too. Extremely crowded, uncomfortable, stuff and dangerous.

That's the uglier part of China.

Currently listening: 今日 - 陳奕迅