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.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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.
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
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
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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