很多人覺得要應付生活已經很煩，還管什麼政治？為何六四過了二十多年仍每年有成千上萬的人在維園舉行燭光晚會記念？太傻了吧！當年生的一代現在都已大學畢業了，投入社會工作，積極賺錢買樓，積極尋找另一半結婚生子。六四那一代過去了，成了中年男子，中年婦人了，還吵甚麼吵？政治不是我們普通人搞的，沒錢沒後台的人，休想在政治在有甚麼影響。歷史，就留待研究歷史的人去看，普通人就繼續做我們的普通事。
從小就不喜歡歷史，中學的歷史科一敗塗地。不關心歷史，因為覺得歷史是過去了的事，為何要關心？當下才重要，過去的，就讓它過去。梁壽華牧師改變了我對歷史的看法，第一次讀歷史考了個九十八分的，是在晚間神學課程中修的中國教會史，梁牧師的教學非常生動，不單把沉悶的歷史講得有趣，更叫我看見原來歷史不單是過去的事件，更反照現今世代，也許更隱隱地看見未來。
政治兩個字聽起來很冷，沒人性，從政的都是奸的。然而在華盛頓住了三年後發現政治根本就是生活的一部份。教會中認識的人中不乏在國會上班的「重要人物」，然而看見他們從政的動力，原來並非為一己的利益，而是為了回應對神的愛，想叫這個國家的制度更合理、公義。聽見一位在運輸部工作的女士討論如何帶領她的下屬，搜集資料來支持他們提出的一個有關小孩子坐車安全的全國性案，我深受感動，最後她說：「這個法案若通過，不知道可以保障多少小孩子的性命安全，這是我從政的原因。」
政治和歷史原本都是事不關己，己不勞心的事，可是今天我認識到政治和歷史都是生命中不可或缺的部份，六四、教會歷史、政治與我息息相關，都攫住我心。
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我的父親
過去兩年多來多次整拾往時存下的物件，在一叠紙中發現了我在二十多年前，大學時代所寫的一篇文章。
寫於1986年6月19日 台灣大學
第一次看到爸爸滴眼淚，是在祖母的靈堂上。他並沒有哭，只是靜靜的 流淚。我們從小就聽他說祖母的偉大：祖母一個人領著七個小孩子從大陸逃難到香港，最大的才十七、八歲，爸爸是老四。從他平時的說話中，聽得出他懷念的故鄉 ﹣﹣ 那大房子和兒時嬉戲的庭園。祖母和兒女們在新界粉嶺賣飲料，叫「咖啡大王」，當時生活非常艱苦，是我們這幸福的一代體會不到的。可是有一點我是刻骨銘心的 看到了，就是爸爸的眼淚似乎在說：「樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在。」
爸爸很孝順老人家，我們小時候每週一次去探望住在伯父家的祖母，是必然的「節目」，我和弟妹有時候不想去，就會當場給他教訓一頓。爸爸會說沒有祖母就沒有 爸爸，沒有爸爸就沒有我們，所以我們一定要孝順祖母。另外，由於父母都要上班，我們姐弟三人都是由妹姨婆帶大的，從小到大，爸爸常常叮嚀我們一定要孝順姨 婆，沒有姨婆，我們不可能長得那麽壯健、活潑。孝慈觀念，就是從小時候潛移默化得來的。
爸爸因為限於環境，不可能受高深教育，他只唸到高中，可是他的領導才能令人驚訝。從賣票開始做起，在九龍巴士公司中，他今天已在外勤組管理數千部下。媽常說爸爸若多唸點書，成就必定驚人。他的深思熟慮和處理意外事件時的當機立斷，都不是平常我們心目中的爸爸所擁有的。他從來不會他看見的車禍的驚心動魄的場面向我們敍述，怕嚇倒我們，郤苦口婆心地提醒我們過馬路要千萬小心，不可亂衝亂撞。
爸爸帶給了我們最難忘的童年，海灘嬉水、砌沙堆；在名勝古蹟之間到處拍照；到大餐廳吃西餐。還記得他教我們怎樣拿刀叉、怎樣切牛排。記得有一次游泳後倦極 而歸，那時我們七、八歲吧！洗頭髮洗澡後就想睡，但頭髮仍未乾，爸爸就拿著毛巾幫我揉乾頭髮，另一隻手郤擋在我眼前，深怕燈光刺到我的眼睛。現在長大了， 才體會到那種是何等的慈愛，怪不得媽媽稱爸爸為「二十四孝爸爸」。我們對他的要求，除非是很不可能，否則他大多數都會滿足我們的心願。有時候甚至不用要 求，他會給我們一個意外的驚喜。
那時我才十二歲吧！爸爸知道我很喜歡小狗，有一天他如常的在晚上回家吃飯，那時我仍然在房間裏對著數學習題發呆。我只聽見咔的一聲，房門開了，爸爸一個箭 步衝進來，手中拿著一團毛茸茸的小毛球，往鋪滿了習題的桌子上一放，嘩！是一雙白毛小狗！當時我驚喜得話也說不出來了。爸爸就是這樣，幽默、風趣，且隨時 會弄得你手足無措。
有年好幾年農曆新年他剛好是當夜班，我們全家好夢方酣之際郤被吵醒了，聽得出來是由一個極不願意把別人吵醒的人所弄出來的聲音。爬下床來一看，原來是爸爸 抬著一支大桃花，他正把它那枝桃花抬到客廳中。他不管家中有沒有地方放這麽大一枝桃花，反正他看到又便宜又大又漂亮就買回來了。他不喜歡小的東西，因為他 的哲學是 ﹣﹣ 大就是美。因此家中無論買甚麽、養甚麽，都是以大為主。桌子、椅子、冰箱、電視機等都要大，養狗喜歡養德國狼犬。說到動物，一定要提這件事：弟弟在家中飼 養了用來做實驗竹的白老鼠。有一天，爸爸為了讓十多隻小白老鼠「舒展筋骨」，把牠們從籠子裏放到浴缸中跑步，白老鼠見有機可乘，就到處亂跑，搞得滿城風雨。
最為全家人傳頌至今的，是有一次他要買一套齊肩高的音響擴音器，但奈何房子太小，客廳放不下。但他說那對擴音器音質絕佳，不買實在太可惜了，所以他思前想後，終於給他想出了一個妙法，就是把因廚房太小而被推到客廳的冰箱搬回廚房，但是因為實在沒有位置了，所以爸爸說要把冰箱放在洗碗碟機上面！全家人一聽當場哄笑起來，洗碗碟機已有腰高，把冰箱放在上面，冰箱中的食物豈不是都要爬梯子才能拿得到了嗎？我們在笑聲中提出反對，爸爸郤說若這樣不行的話，就把洗碗碟機放在冰箱上又如何？這一說更非同小可，媽更笑得站不直腳。洗碗碟機放在高處，更本就不可能使用了。其實他也知道他的辦法是行不通的，只是他實在太想買那套擴音器了。他的幽默實在為全家帶來了不少歡樂氣氛。
除了買東西要以大為原則之外，他也吃得很多。所以從以前的「排骨祺」（排骨在廣州話為瘦的意思），變成了現在的「肥佬」。爸爸很喜歡吃飯，其他東西對他來 說都是「不頂肚」的（不夠飽）。就算媽精心泡製了數十隻上海餛飩給他吃，過了一會他仍是嚷著要吃飯才甘心。他自已吃得多，也要求我們吃得多。不止我們，就連他養的熱帶魚也如是。家中有一個五呎長橫放的水簇箱，其中魚口眾多，當然吃得也多，加上爸爸是雙倍餵飼的，所以魚兒都長得特快，顏色特別鮮艷，而且每尾都有營養過盛的傾向。爸爸最喜歡的一尾魚名叫「炮彈」，因為特別吃得多、長得胖、游得快，動作表情都比其他的魚都多，所以爸爸最疼牠。對魚兒尚且雙倍餵飼 了，你能想像他怎麼對待他寵愛有加妻子和兒女嗎？要是他煮麵給你吃，你跟他說你吃一個麵餅，他必定給你吃一個半麵餅。經驗告訴我們，以後我們想吃一個麵餅，就跟他說只吃半個，那麼他就會給你一個。可是後來這個「絕橋」給他看穿了，他仍是依然故我地煮一個半。皆因多年來不敢違背父命，因此全家都長得十分健碩。
對於我來台灣唸書一事，爸爸雖然非常贊成，郤是很依依不捨的。他很想我們多受教育，將來貢獻社會，他並且對子女們戴「四方帽」非常嚮往。近日看見學長學姐們和家人到處拍照，我已想像得到明年輪到我的時候，爸爸會笑得把眼睛瞇成一線，驕傲地撘著我的肩膀在校園拍照。今年妹妹在香港大學畢業，我想他更應老懷安慰了吧！媽曾對我說，在我離港到僑大的時候，爸爸老是長嗟短嘆。一來我是三姐弟中最有依賴性的一個，郤忽然離家而去，當然會傷心。二來兒女出國唸書對爸爸來說才是頭一遭，當然是不習慣女兒不在家。剛好那時正值英國進軍福克蘭羣島之際，爸爸就自我安慰地說：「英女皇尚且派她的兒子去戰場出生入死，我女兒只是去求學，又為何捨不得她呢！」那時才真正的體會到父親對我有多麽的疼愛。妹妹考香港大學的時候，面試後在等結果，爸爸的焦心和擔掛簡直就像自已申請入學 一樣。結果妹妹批淮入學了，從爸爸如何雀躍是不難想像的。
常常強調他是一家之主的他，其實是非常民主的。我們喜歡做的事，只要不 是非法勾當，他從來不會反對的。妹妹信基督教的初期他不大高興，因為怕她誤信邪教，後來也就小事化無了，連弟弟也信了呢！爸爸有一種說話方式很可愛，沒有和他共住的人常會誤會，我們稱之為「假民主」。當他說：「湯好像不夠味道，你們認為要加點鹽嗎？」的時候，不熟悉他的人可能會回答說夠味道了，不用加鹽 了。這就大大的誤解了他的意思，因為其實他是在說：「湯不夠味道，要加點鹽。」另外，去飲茶的時候他一直喊著叫弟弟叫一碗飯吃，又說弟弟肚子一定很餓，其實就是他自已肚子餓得發慌了。他這種說話方式為家中帶來了不少歡笑聲，因為我們很多時候會模仿他的說話方式，十分好玩。他又很喜歡一面吃飯，一面叫人挾菜挾肉：「嘉洛（我妹妹）吃魷魚啦！很新鮮的呀！」「迅立（我弟弟）吃這塊牛腩，很嫩的呢！」在飯桌上坐他兩旁的因此經常滿碗都是菜。自從我來了台 灣唸書之後，妹妹又在大學宿舍寄宿，家中就只剩下媽媽和弟弟，但是他吃飯的時候仍然會把我和妹妹的名字叫在口邊：「嘉洛不回來吃飯真笨，看這條魚多新 鮮！」
雖然爸爸吃很多，但是他也很注意運動，他常常會去跑步，時不時摸著肚子自鳴得意的說自已的大肚子不見了。有一次去館子吃飯時他要喝啤酒，媽媽勸他說喝啤酒會得大肚子，叫他不要喝了，可是他得意的說他已成功地減肥了，並摸著肚皮說：「你看我的大肚子沒有了！」說時遲那時快，館子的伙計拿著菜牌走過來問他： 「肥佬，看看吃甚麼菜！」
爸爸就是那麼慈愛、風趣、活潑和感情豐富的人，每次和家人說起他的趣事，總會笑得合不攏咀。他是我們家中的靈魂人物，他上班的時候，家中總是靜悄悄的， 只要他一回家，就一定有很多趣事發生。雖然我們再也不像以前那樣需要他帶我們到海灘游泳，到「爵士餐廳」吃西餐，到海運大廈的大空地上跑跑跳跳，這些地方，我們現在自已都會去了，但是我們仍要需要他的愛。事實上，他給我們的愛從來沒有停止過。只是人長大了，才能更深的體會到爸爸對我們的愛。
雖然爸爸從來沒有對我們說過「我愛你」這三個字，但他一直以來都以各種行動來表明他對我們的愛有多深。我們從未曾停止過感受他那真切的關懷和庇護。他對家庭的認真、負責、積極的態度，使全家都活在幸福裏。
基於中國人的含蓄，我從來沒有在他面前說過：「我愛你！」爸爸，請容我在這裏說一聲：「爸爸，我愛你！」
寫於1986年6月19日 台灣大學
第一次看到爸爸滴眼淚，是在祖母的靈堂上。他並沒有哭，只是靜靜的 流淚。我們從小就聽他說祖母的偉大：祖母一個人領著七個小孩子從大陸逃難到香港，最大的才十七、八歲，爸爸是老四。從他平時的說話中，聽得出他懷念的故鄉 ﹣﹣ 那大房子和兒時嬉戲的庭園。祖母和兒女們在新界粉嶺賣飲料，叫「咖啡大王」，當時生活非常艱苦，是我們這幸福的一代體會不到的。可是有一點我是刻骨銘心的 看到了，就是爸爸的眼淚似乎在說：「樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在。」
爸爸很孝順老人家，我們小時候每週一次去探望住在伯父家的祖母，是必然的「節目」，我和弟妹有時候不想去，就會當場給他教訓一頓。爸爸會說沒有祖母就沒有 爸爸，沒有爸爸就沒有我們，所以我們一定要孝順祖母。另外，由於父母都要上班，我們姐弟三人都是由妹姨婆帶大的，從小到大，爸爸常常叮嚀我們一定要孝順姨 婆，沒有姨婆，我們不可能長得那麽壯健、活潑。孝慈觀念，就是從小時候潛移默化得來的。
爸爸因為限於環境，不可能受高深教育，他只唸到高中，可是他的領導才能令人驚訝。從賣票開始做起，在九龍巴士公司中，他今天已在外勤組管理數千部下。媽常說爸爸若多唸點書，成就必定驚人。他的深思熟慮和處理意外事件時的當機立斷，都不是平常我們心目中的爸爸所擁有的。他從來不會他看見的車禍的驚心動魄的場面向我們敍述，怕嚇倒我們，郤苦口婆心地提醒我們過馬路要千萬小心，不可亂衝亂撞。
爸爸帶給了我們最難忘的童年，海灘嬉水、砌沙堆；在名勝古蹟之間到處拍照；到大餐廳吃西餐。還記得他教我們怎樣拿刀叉、怎樣切牛排。記得有一次游泳後倦極 而歸，那時我們七、八歲吧！洗頭髮洗澡後就想睡，但頭髮仍未乾，爸爸就拿著毛巾幫我揉乾頭髮，另一隻手郤擋在我眼前，深怕燈光刺到我的眼睛。現在長大了， 才體會到那種是何等的慈愛，怪不得媽媽稱爸爸為「二十四孝爸爸」。我們對他的要求，除非是很不可能，否則他大多數都會滿足我們的心願。有時候甚至不用要 求，他會給我們一個意外的驚喜。
那時我才十二歲吧！爸爸知道我很喜歡小狗，有一天他如常的在晚上回家吃飯，那時我仍然在房間裏對著數學習題發呆。我只聽見咔的一聲，房門開了，爸爸一個箭 步衝進來，手中拿著一團毛茸茸的小毛球，往鋪滿了習題的桌子上一放，嘩！是一雙白毛小狗！當時我驚喜得話也說不出來了。爸爸就是這樣，幽默、風趣，且隨時 會弄得你手足無措。
有年好幾年農曆新年他剛好是當夜班，我們全家好夢方酣之際郤被吵醒了，聽得出來是由一個極不願意把別人吵醒的人所弄出來的聲音。爬下床來一看，原來是爸爸 抬著一支大桃花，他正把它那枝桃花抬到客廳中。他不管家中有沒有地方放這麽大一枝桃花，反正他看到又便宜又大又漂亮就買回來了。他不喜歡小的東西，因為他 的哲學是 ﹣﹣ 大就是美。因此家中無論買甚麽、養甚麽，都是以大為主。桌子、椅子、冰箱、電視機等都要大，養狗喜歡養德國狼犬。說到動物，一定要提這件事：弟弟在家中飼 養了用來做實驗竹的白老鼠。有一天，爸爸為了讓十多隻小白老鼠「舒展筋骨」，把牠們從籠子裏放到浴缸中跑步，白老鼠見有機可乘，就到處亂跑，搞得滿城風雨。
最為全家人傳頌至今的，是有一次他要買一套齊肩高的音響擴音器，但奈何房子太小，客廳放不下。但他說那對擴音器音質絕佳，不買實在太可惜了，所以他思前想後，終於給他想出了一個妙法，就是把因廚房太小而被推到客廳的冰箱搬回廚房，但是因為實在沒有位置了，所以爸爸說要把冰箱放在洗碗碟機上面！全家人一聽當場哄笑起來，洗碗碟機已有腰高，把冰箱放在上面，冰箱中的食物豈不是都要爬梯子才能拿得到了嗎？我們在笑聲中提出反對，爸爸郤說若這樣不行的話，就把洗碗碟機放在冰箱上又如何？這一說更非同小可，媽更笑得站不直腳。洗碗碟機放在高處，更本就不可能使用了。其實他也知道他的辦法是行不通的，只是他實在太想買那套擴音器了。他的幽默實在為全家帶來了不少歡樂氣氛。
除了買東西要以大為原則之外，他也吃得很多。所以從以前的「排骨祺」（排骨在廣州話為瘦的意思），變成了現在的「肥佬」。爸爸很喜歡吃飯，其他東西對他來 說都是「不頂肚」的（不夠飽）。就算媽精心泡製了數十隻上海餛飩給他吃，過了一會他仍是嚷著要吃飯才甘心。他自已吃得多，也要求我們吃得多。不止我們，就連他養的熱帶魚也如是。家中有一個五呎長橫放的水簇箱，其中魚口眾多，當然吃得也多，加上爸爸是雙倍餵飼的，所以魚兒都長得特快，顏色特別鮮艷，而且每尾都有營養過盛的傾向。爸爸最喜歡的一尾魚名叫「炮彈」，因為特別吃得多、長得胖、游得快，動作表情都比其他的魚都多，所以爸爸最疼牠。對魚兒尚且雙倍餵飼 了，你能想像他怎麼對待他寵愛有加妻子和兒女嗎？要是他煮麵給你吃，你跟他說你吃一個麵餅，他必定給你吃一個半麵餅。經驗告訴我們，以後我們想吃一個麵餅，就跟他說只吃半個，那麼他就會給你一個。可是後來這個「絕橋」給他看穿了，他仍是依然故我地煮一個半。皆因多年來不敢違背父命，因此全家都長得十分健碩。
對於我來台灣唸書一事，爸爸雖然非常贊成，郤是很依依不捨的。他很想我們多受教育，將來貢獻社會，他並且對子女們戴「四方帽」非常嚮往。近日看見學長學姐們和家人到處拍照，我已想像得到明年輪到我的時候，爸爸會笑得把眼睛瞇成一線，驕傲地撘著我的肩膀在校園拍照。今年妹妹在香港大學畢業，我想他更應老懷安慰了吧！媽曾對我說，在我離港到僑大的時候，爸爸老是長嗟短嘆。一來我是三姐弟中最有依賴性的一個，郤忽然離家而去，當然會傷心。二來兒女出國唸書對爸爸來說才是頭一遭，當然是不習慣女兒不在家。剛好那時正值英國進軍福克蘭羣島之際，爸爸就自我安慰地說：「英女皇尚且派她的兒子去戰場出生入死，我女兒只是去求學，又為何捨不得她呢！」那時才真正的體會到父親對我有多麽的疼愛。妹妹考香港大學的時候，面試後在等結果，爸爸的焦心和擔掛簡直就像自已申請入學 一樣。結果妹妹批淮入學了，從爸爸如何雀躍是不難想像的。
常常強調他是一家之主的他，其實是非常民主的。我們喜歡做的事，只要不 是非法勾當，他從來不會反對的。妹妹信基督教的初期他不大高興，因為怕她誤信邪教，後來也就小事化無了，連弟弟也信了呢！爸爸有一種說話方式很可愛，沒有和他共住的人常會誤會，我們稱之為「假民主」。當他說：「湯好像不夠味道，你們認為要加點鹽嗎？」的時候，不熟悉他的人可能會回答說夠味道了，不用加鹽 了。這就大大的誤解了他的意思，因為其實他是在說：「湯不夠味道，要加點鹽。」另外，去飲茶的時候他一直喊著叫弟弟叫一碗飯吃，又說弟弟肚子一定很餓，其實就是他自已肚子餓得發慌了。他這種說話方式為家中帶來了不少歡笑聲，因為我們很多時候會模仿他的說話方式，十分好玩。他又很喜歡一面吃飯，一面叫人挾菜挾肉：「嘉洛（我妹妹）吃魷魚啦！很新鮮的呀！」「迅立（我弟弟）吃這塊牛腩，很嫩的呢！」在飯桌上坐他兩旁的因此經常滿碗都是菜。自從我來了台 灣唸書之後，妹妹又在大學宿舍寄宿，家中就只剩下媽媽和弟弟，但是他吃飯的時候仍然會把我和妹妹的名字叫在口邊：「嘉洛不回來吃飯真笨，看這條魚多新 鮮！」
雖然爸爸吃很多，但是他也很注意運動，他常常會去跑步，時不時摸著肚子自鳴得意的說自已的大肚子不見了。有一次去館子吃飯時他要喝啤酒，媽媽勸他說喝啤酒會得大肚子，叫他不要喝了，可是他得意的說他已成功地減肥了，並摸著肚皮說：「你看我的大肚子沒有了！」說時遲那時快，館子的伙計拿著菜牌走過來問他： 「肥佬，看看吃甚麼菜！」
爸爸就是那麼慈愛、風趣、活潑和感情豐富的人，每次和家人說起他的趣事，總會笑得合不攏咀。他是我們家中的靈魂人物，他上班的時候，家中總是靜悄悄的， 只要他一回家，就一定有很多趣事發生。雖然我們再也不像以前那樣需要他帶我們到海灘游泳，到「爵士餐廳」吃西餐，到海運大廈的大空地上跑跑跳跳，這些地方，我們現在自已都會去了，但是我們仍要需要他的愛。事實上，他給我們的愛從來沒有停止過。只是人長大了，才能更深的體會到爸爸對我們的愛。
雖然爸爸從來沒有對我們說過「我愛你」這三個字，但他一直以來都以各種行動來表明他對我們的愛有多深。我們從未曾停止過感受他那真切的關懷和庇護。他對家庭的認真、負責、積極的態度，使全家都活在幸福裏。
基於中國人的含蓄，我從來沒有在他面前說過：「我愛你！」爸爸，請容我在這裏說一聲：「爸爸，我愛你！」
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Good to be home
Our stay in Hong Kong will last for two months, I am quite overjoyed because last time I stayed here this long was before I was married, that was 13 years ago! Hong Kong has changed a lot, however, it is still crazy busy with lots of people, various modes of public transportation, and many many tall buildings. The other day Dan and I went out for dinner with Kioni. After a tasty and inexpensive (6 US for two people) at a local fast food restaurant, we both sit back and ponder at how convenient for us to get to a restaurant (about a 10 minute walk from where my parents live), and how wonderful the food tasted. Nothing quite compare to the choice of food and the amount of money that you have to spend on it. At least, throughout my travel, I have yet to find a place quite like Hong Kong as far as food is concerned.
We are also impressed by the Octopus Card, this is the most innovative way for payments. Not only can you take the subway, buses, mini busses and such with the Octopus Card, you can pay with your Octopus Card at the supermarket, fast food restaurants, pharmacies, etc. Kioni has her own card and it makes her feels like a super big girl.
All in all, it has been wonderful being back. I hope Kioni will be able to remember her time here. She is having a bit of a cultural shock with the language, hopefully she will find it easier each day.
We are also impressed by the Octopus Card, this is the most innovative way for payments. Not only can you take the subway, buses, mini busses and such with the Octopus Card, you can pay with your Octopus Card at the supermarket, fast food restaurants, pharmacies, etc. Kioni has her own card and it makes her feels like a super big girl.
All in all, it has been wonderful being back. I hope Kioni will be able to remember her time here. She is having a bit of a cultural shock with the language, hopefully she will find it easier each day.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Last night in Cebu
Going back to read the first blog entry that I wrote 19 months ago when we first arrived in Cebu, it seems like not much that I felt then has changed. It is just as hot and humid, the poverty still is on display every corner we turn. The music is still loud, the traffic is still like a big confusing net.
However, something happened inside us. We are not the same person anymore. We have understood the Filipino culture much deeper than just the heat, the poverty and the loud music, and in turn, the Lord has taught us how, though all these, to understand ourselves.
Tomorrow we are flying to Hong Kong, we will stay there for two months. Dan will fly to China in two different periods of time to teach.
I have already started to miss Cebu, not for the heat and the poverty, but I miss the people I know here. I miss Maris, our faithful and loyal helper, who has saw us through thick and thin while we were dealing with cultural difficulties. I feel sorry for Kioni that she is feels sad for the first time because of having to have to say goodbye to people she knows. She does not remember America, all her memory is in Cebu.
I just hope that I won't cry too much at the airport. Maris and her best friend, Dolor will come and see us off. Saying goodbye is so hard, but we have to do is all the time. Wish that Jesus will come back soon, so there won't be anymore goodbyes.
Typhoon #3 signal is hoisted in Hong Kong, there are strong winds and rain in Hong Kong. I hope the plane will not delay, sleeping in Cebu airport with 5 large suitcases and 6 carry-on bags with a 4 year old in tow is not exactly an adventure.
However, something happened inside us. We are not the same person anymore. We have understood the Filipino culture much deeper than just the heat, the poverty and the loud music, and in turn, the Lord has taught us how, though all these, to understand ourselves.
Tomorrow we are flying to Hong Kong, we will stay there for two months. Dan will fly to China in two different periods of time to teach.
I have already started to miss Cebu, not for the heat and the poverty, but I miss the people I know here. I miss Maris, our faithful and loyal helper, who has saw us through thick and thin while we were dealing with cultural difficulties. I feel sorry for Kioni that she is feels sad for the first time because of having to have to say goodbye to people she knows. She does not remember America, all her memory is in Cebu.
I just hope that I won't cry too much at the airport. Maris and her best friend, Dolor will come and see us off. Saying goodbye is so hard, but we have to do is all the time. Wish that Jesus will come back soon, so there won't be anymore goodbyes.
Typhoon #3 signal is hoisted in Hong Kong, there are strong winds and rain in Hong Kong. I hope the plane will not delay, sleeping in Cebu airport with 5 large suitcases and 6 carry-on bags with a 4 year old in tow is not exactly an adventure.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Give us the words
I just found out today that my aunt (my father's older sister) died. She had battled dementia for many years and didn't recognize anyone in recent years. She walked out of the house once about 7 years ago and went missing for about a week. My mom called and asked us to pray that she would be found, a few hours later, she called again and told me a nurse reported to the police that she took care of a patient whom was taken in by some strangers, because this woman was stealing bread and she didn't look right. My mom told me that my God did 'work'.
My aunt's funeral will be on the night when we arrive in Hong Kong (April 19, Saturday). My mom think that us being Christians will reject going to a Buddhist funeral, my sister told her we do not reject Buddhist, we just reject the belief. My mom was surprised that we are so 'welcoming' to other religions. I would very much like to go to show my dad that I respect my aunt, though I am sure he understood that as Christians, we will not participate in any Buddhist rituals in the funeral.
My dad took the news quite badly, after all, my aunt was the third oldest of the 7 children my grandparents had, and she was close to my dad because their age difference is small. Now that this aunt has died, my dad might think he will be next.
Since my brother and sister are both Christians, we have been trying to share the gospel with our parents for years but to no avail. We sense that my aunt's death is going to open up a window that allows us to talk deeper into the meaning of life and death.
Jesus, give us the right time, give us the right words. May all glory be yours.
My aunt's funeral will be on the night when we arrive in Hong Kong (April 19, Saturday). My mom think that us being Christians will reject going to a Buddhist funeral, my sister told her we do not reject Buddhist, we just reject the belief. My mom was surprised that we are so 'welcoming' to other religions. I would very much like to go to show my dad that I respect my aunt, though I am sure he understood that as Christians, we will not participate in any Buddhist rituals in the funeral.
My dad took the news quite badly, after all, my aunt was the third oldest of the 7 children my grandparents had, and she was close to my dad because their age difference is small. Now that this aunt has died, my dad might think he will be next.
Since my brother and sister are both Christians, we have been trying to share the gospel with our parents for years but to no avail. We sense that my aunt's death is going to open up a window that allows us to talk deeper into the meaning of life and death.
Jesus, give us the right time, give us the right words. May all glory be yours.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
11 years later
Amy, Johnny Mak (the CEO), Johnny Yun (the small business owner), Richard Lee (the PhD) and Patrick Chan (the designer-lecturer)
We had a great time last night meeting with really old friends from church. I have not seen these friends for over 10 years, except Patrick, whom I see almost every time I come back to Hong Kong. All of us have gained some weight (except Patrick) and lost some hair (all of us), but most of us (except me) have become "someone" in their area of expertise.
We started out at the new high-end mall the Elements, well, for an average person like me, everything in this mall is way over my budget. We ended up having dinner at an Arabian restaurant, we ordered four dishes, but I don't think any of the guys went away with a full stomach, however, their wallets have become quite thin. They were very nice to treat me to this very special meal.
We were just starting to catch up with old times and talk a bit about the future when the meal ended, so the CEO Johnny Mak suggested that we catch a taxi to the night scene of Tsim Sha Tsui to continue on our conversation. We ended up in a lounge in a hotel, sitting in those big comfy chairs, we had lots of laughs.
Even after all these years, it seems like our friendships have not changed one bit, we are still as at ease with each other as before and laughed just as loud.
What a great privilege to have this opportunity to meet and chat. I hope we will be able to do this more often. We see each other so little that next time we meet, it might be in one of our memorial services. (quote Richard)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Hong Kong International Rankings
Like I said before in a previous post, I am proud to tell people that I am from Hong Kong. I recently found the following table in Answers.com listing various organizations that did rankings on countries and regions around the world. After looking at the table, I found it to be very accurate portrait of Hong Kong.
| Date | Contest | Host Organisation | Ranking | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–05 | World's Best Airports | Skytrax | 1/155 countries | Ranked 1st out of 155 countries |
| 2002–04 | Ranking of Container Ports of the World | AAPA World Port Rankings | 2/10 ports | Ranked 2nd out of 50 largest ports in the world |
| 2002 | Ranking of IQ | University of Ulster | 1/185 countries | Ranked 1st out of 185 countries |
| 2005 | Networked Readiness Index (NRI) | World Economic Forum | 11/115 countries | Ranked 11th out of 115 countries |
| 2005 | Worldwide quality-of-life index | The Economist | 18/111 Countries | Ranked 18th out of 111 countries |
| 2006 | 6th Annual Global e-Government Study (Brown University) | Global e-Government | 20/198 Countries | Ranked 20th out of 198 countries |
| 2006 | Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006 | Reporters without borders | 59/168 Countries | Ranked 59th out of 168 countries |
| 2006 | Corruption Perceptions Index | Transparency International | 15/163 Countries | Ranked 15th out of 163 countries |
| 2006 | World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 | IMD International | 2/61 Economies | Ranked 2nd out of 61 economies (countries and regions) |
| 2006 | World City's Skyline/Skyscrapers | Emporis Data Committee (EDC) | 1/100 Major cities | Ranked #1 out of all the major cities in the World. This listing ranks cities by the visual impact of their skylines. |
| 2006 | Global Competitiveness Report - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking | World Economic Forum | 11/125 Countries | Ranked 11th out of 125 countries |
| 2006 | World's Best Airports | Skytrax | 2/165 countries | Ranked 2nd out of 165 countries |
| 2006 | Business Competitiveness Index - BCI | World Economic Forum | 10/121 countries | Ranked 10th out of 121 countries |
| 2006 | Human Development Index - HDI | United Nations | 22/177 countries | Ranked 22nd out of 177 countries |
| 2006 | Access Index (p.19) | FedEx: The Power of Access - 2006 Access Index | 1/75 Countries | Ranked 1st out of 75 countries |
| 2006 | Potential Competitiveness | Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER) | 1/50 Countries | Ranked 1st out of 50 countries |
| 2007 | Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index | World Economic Forum | 6/124 Countries | Ranked 6th out of 124 countries |
| 2007 | Index of Economic Freedom | Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal: 2006 | 1/157 Countries | Ranked 1st out of 157 Countries for 13 years in a row. |
| 2007 | World's most expensive city | ECA International:[1] | 1/92 Countries | Ranked 1st out of 92 locations. |
Saturday, March 11, 2006
幾幀舊照片
爸爸警察學堂畢業照片（最後排右邊第四個就是我爸爸）
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
爸媽結婚照
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
1965年祖母六十一壽筵（香港灣仔六國飯店）我正在向堂姊嘉潔搜集盧家歷史資料，會在這?加上。
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
爸媽結婚照
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
1965年祖母六十一壽筵（香港灣仔六國飯店）我正在向堂姊嘉潔搜集盧家歷史資料，會在這?加上。
(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
This makes me proud!
The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal released the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom today."Once again, Hong Kong ....lead(s) the pack." Singapore follows, and these are the only two Asian countries in the top 10. (For the press release, click here.) Yes, that means Hong Kong enjoys the most economic freedom in the world. China only ranks 111 (and falls in the mostly unfree catagory.) The U.S. shares the #9 spot with Australia and New Zealand.
The authors generally examined data for the period covering the second half of 2004 through the first half of 2005. To the extent possible, the information considered for each factor was current as of June 30, 2005. (See FAQ for how they rated the countries.)
The 2006 Index of Economic Freedom measures countries against a list of 50 independent variables divided into 10 broad factors of economic freedom. Low scores are more desirable. The higher the score on a factor, the greater the level of government interference in the economy and the less economic freedom a country enjoys.
Donald Tsang (Chief Executive, HKSAR) and Edwin J. Feulner (President, The Heritage Foundation)
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