This seems like a book that one has to suffer over literature class. While it is a very unusual and refreshing tale, the going forward and backward in time is very tiring to follow. The narrative went on and on and the reader wondered on how did Sophie Mol die.
As this book is the winner of the Booker prize, I guess I cannot expect it to be logical like a Grisham novel. Neither can one expect to read it like a straight forward Nicholas Sparks love story.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
(979) The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
After reading A Saudi Princess, Kite Runner, and Not Without My Daughter, I really should not be shocked by this book.
To think that females are chattels, to be brought up first for the free labor they give and then to be sold away to the highest bidders; I am extremely grateful that I was not born in that segment of population. The first wife of the book seller, Sharifah, at least married somebody her own age. There went twenty over happy years when the book seller decided that a man his stature should have a teenage second wife. Imagine the hurt and the humiliation when a person is declared too old and was replaced! I suppose it then made sense to marry an empty headed uneducated young girl, Sonya. After all, it is her youthfulness and young body that Sultan Khan was after.
In comparison, the Muslim women in my country are much luckier. Here education is free for both male and female. In fact, more female enter universities than male yearly. With a good education, women are highly employable. With many women working full time, that was why hundreds and thousands of maids were brought into the country to keep the hearth fire burning.
At least both Sharifah and Sonya are married and have their rightful places in their husband's house. It is Leila that is really pitiful. Since her father passed away, she lived with her uncle and served as an unpaid maid. When Sharifah and Sonya united to chased away the husband's sister and family, Leila and her family moved to another uncle's house. There Leila would serve a smaller family. There would be less money and less food available. She still had no hope for a better future. At the blink of an eye, her mother and uncle could sell her into a marriage that would enslave her for life. If her future husband has no earning power, she might end up serving thirty over members of an extended family.
In comparison, dogs and cats are better treated in many parts of the world.
To think that females are chattels, to be brought up first for the free labor they give and then to be sold away to the highest bidders; I am extremely grateful that I was not born in that segment of population. The first wife of the book seller, Sharifah, at least married somebody her own age. There went twenty over happy years when the book seller decided that a man his stature should have a teenage second wife. Imagine the hurt and the humiliation when a person is declared too old and was replaced! I suppose it then made sense to marry an empty headed uneducated young girl, Sonya. After all, it is her youthfulness and young body that Sultan Khan was after.
In comparison, the Muslim women in my country are much luckier. Here education is free for both male and female. In fact, more female enter universities than male yearly. With a good education, women are highly employable. With many women working full time, that was why hundreds and thousands of maids were brought into the country to keep the hearth fire burning.
At least both Sharifah and Sonya are married and have their rightful places in their husband's house. It is Leila that is really pitiful. Since her father passed away, she lived with her uncle and served as an unpaid maid. When Sharifah and Sonya united to chased away the husband's sister and family, Leila and her family moved to another uncle's house. There Leila would serve a smaller family. There would be less money and less food available. She still had no hope for a better future. At the blink of an eye, her mother and uncle could sell her into a marriage that would enslave her for life. If her future husband has no earning power, she might end up serving thirty over members of an extended family.
In comparison, dogs and cats are better treated in many parts of the world.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
(978) An Emperor's scissors
About a year back, I was in Silver City buying a pair of scissors for my mum. Choosing among about seven different brands, I was taken with one called "Chang Siow Chuen". "Chang" is as in a "piece" of paper. "Siow" means small. "Chuen" means spring or brook.
During my visit to HanChow, where the famous West Lake is, I heard a true story from my local tour guide. Many, many years ago, an Emperor came to the south of the great river. He went up to have green tea in a tea house on a hill next to the famous West Lake. As he was enjoying his cup, the sky turned dark. He left on a sedan chair. But, alas, as he reached the bottom of the hill, it started to pour. Well, even the Emperor could not control the weather. Hence he sheltered beneath the nearest roofed entry way of a civilian's house. Fifteen minutes after the rain started, it grew heavier. The Emperor decided not to twiddle his thumb anymore but to walk into this man's shop to see what he made.
It was a cottage industry making scissors. While waiting out the rain, he tried quite a few pairs and bought one pair to take back to the forbidden city. The following year, he was so delighted with this "Chang Siow Chuen" scissors that he solemnly declared this brand the imperial brand which would supply him all his palace needs.
Imagine, it must have been hundreds of years later now, this same brand is still being in production and it is sold thousands of miles away from China. There must be something about its design or quality, otherwise I would not have chosen it in a hardware store among many brands.
During my visit to HanChow, where the famous West Lake is, I heard a true story from my local tour guide. Many, many years ago, an Emperor came to the south of the great river. He went up to have green tea in a tea house on a hill next to the famous West Lake. As he was enjoying his cup, the sky turned dark. He left on a sedan chair. But, alas, as he reached the bottom of the hill, it started to pour. Well, even the Emperor could not control the weather. Hence he sheltered beneath the nearest roofed entry way of a civilian's house. Fifteen minutes after the rain started, it grew heavier. The Emperor decided not to twiddle his thumb anymore but to walk into this man's shop to see what he made.
It was a cottage industry making scissors. While waiting out the rain, he tried quite a few pairs and bought one pair to take back to the forbidden city. The following year, he was so delighted with this "Chang Siow Chuen" scissors that he solemnly declared this brand the imperial brand which would supply him all his palace needs.
Imagine, it must have been hundreds of years later now, this same brand is still being in production and it is sold thousands of miles away from China. There must be something about its design or quality, otherwise I would not have chosen it in a hardware store among many brands.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
(977) Managing luggage weight
I shared with a lady in my little tour group how I kept my luggage weight down. A few months before a planned trip, I would be on the look out for clothes suitable for use in that country at that season of the year. Since I recycle used clothes year round, I pick out suitable clothes and try them on. Then I wash them and store them until the trip.
During the trip I try to wash them and let them drip dry in the hotel bath room. However, I could not do that in my Shanghai trip, we changed city everyday. Whether the clothes are clean or not, I pack them nicely in whatever shopping bag I have on hand. The last batch of recycled clothes were taken by the toilet custodian. I explained that due to weight consideration, I had to leave them behind. She was smiling when I reassured her that they were reasonably new clothing.
For all my six trips to Thailand, I have donated clothing to orphanages. In Sibu, Sarawak, I left them with a Seminary secretary who promised to wash them before donating to an aborigine own thrift shop. In Hong Kong, I left my bag in the service corridor of a big shopping mall. It was a neatly packed hotel laundry bag, all in one glance one can tell it is clothing and a bomb. Perhaps security would send it to good will. If not, a kitchen worker may find the clothing useful for her children. In Switzerland I left my clothes with my hostess who would bring it to The Red Cross.
That way, it is easy to stay within the strict weight limit of airlines. Whatever few items I purchase, they take the place of the clothes given away. I return to my home country with the same number of luggage and almost the same weight. Not being well-to-do, I see each trip as a blessing. By choosing to give away clothing, I am merely passing the blessing on to the poor folks in that country.
During the trip I try to wash them and let them drip dry in the hotel bath room. However, I could not do that in my Shanghai trip, we changed city everyday. Whether the clothes are clean or not, I pack them nicely in whatever shopping bag I have on hand. The last batch of recycled clothes were taken by the toilet custodian. I explained that due to weight consideration, I had to leave them behind. She was smiling when I reassured her that they were reasonably new clothing.
For all my six trips to Thailand, I have donated clothing to orphanages. In Sibu, Sarawak, I left them with a Seminary secretary who promised to wash them before donating to an aborigine own thrift shop. In Hong Kong, I left my bag in the service corridor of a big shopping mall. It was a neatly packed hotel laundry bag, all in one glance one can tell it is clothing and a bomb. Perhaps security would send it to good will. If not, a kitchen worker may find the clothing useful for her children. In Switzerland I left my clothes with my hostess who would bring it to The Red Cross.
That way, it is easy to stay within the strict weight limit of airlines. Whatever few items I purchase, they take the place of the clothes given away. I return to my home country with the same number of luggage and almost the same weight. Not being well-to-do, I see each trip as a blessing. By choosing to give away clothing, I am merely passing the blessing on to the poor folks in that country.
(976) Early warning - Autism
Condensed from Medical Update, Reader's Digest, January 2003
It is estimated that autism affects seven children out of 1,000. The social and communicative skills of the affected children are impaired. They are often disturbed and isolated.
The test, Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, developed with researchers at the University of Cambridge's departments of experimental psychiatry and psychology, involves parents playing certain games with their child, watching behavior and answering simple questions.
Studies showed that autistic children fail to develop two skills that other children possess at an early age: they do not "pretend play" or point to share with an adult what they see.
This test should be completed by a GP. It takes less than ten minutes and can identify 75 percent of children at high risk.
It is estimated that autism affects seven children out of 1,000. The social and communicative skills of the affected children are impaired. They are often disturbed and isolated.
The test, Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, developed with researchers at the University of Cambridge's departments of experimental psychiatry and psychology, involves parents playing certain games with their child, watching behavior and answering simple questions.
Studies showed that autistic children fail to develop two skills that other children possess at an early age: they do not "pretend play" or point to share with an adult what they see.
This test should be completed by a GP. It takes less than ten minutes and can identify 75 percent of children at high risk.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
(975) Unexpected trip
I just came back from the very first package tour in my life. Prior to this, I have always gone to foreign countries where I either know the language or I have at least one contact who is a local. Perhaps I am no longer young and am rather set in my ways. It took me about ten days to decide to go on this journey when my husband received a coupon that entitled us to a five day four night free stay in three star hotels in four different cities(One of which is Shanghai), we were given guided tour and most meals were included. Since I was not really interested in any guided tour as a rule, I left it for my husband to decide. He prayed and declared he received his answer the next day. We found the cheapest fare within the stipulated period and booked the tickets by faith.
Interestingly, after we paid for the air tickets, an anonymous person passed $1,000 to us through a third party for the forthcoming trip. By then, I was convinced that we should go to this country on this package tour. As my husband was choosing the travel period, he mentioned that it would be during the brief rainy season. I remembered praying that if God is the one who wants us to go to this country during those few days, then could he please graciously give us good sunny weather that is not too hot.
During the journey, our beautiful tour guide commented a few times there was forecast of rain for the few days we would be in each city. But what happened was that as soon as we arrived in a city, the sky turned clear, and it often rained either at night or right after we departed from that city. A few fellow travelers claimed that we brought our tropical sun with us. When this fact was brought up a second time by another tour guide, I could no longer hold my tongue and said that God answered my humble prayer uttered as we booked our air tickets. He is a loving heavenly father who cares for little things in our lives.
Much to my surprise, I did not find this trip too tiring. Perhaps as we traveled in a small van, there is little wasted time waiting for errant late stragglers after each location we visited. It was rather fun to get to know the other family which included a grandma in her eighties and two teenagers.
Interestingly, after we paid for the air tickets, an anonymous person passed $1,000 to us through a third party for the forthcoming trip. By then, I was convinced that we should go to this country on this package tour. As my husband was choosing the travel period, he mentioned that it would be during the brief rainy season. I remembered praying that if God is the one who wants us to go to this country during those few days, then could he please graciously give us good sunny weather that is not too hot.
During the journey, our beautiful tour guide commented a few times there was forecast of rain for the few days we would be in each city. But what happened was that as soon as we arrived in a city, the sky turned clear, and it often rained either at night or right after we departed from that city. A few fellow travelers claimed that we brought our tropical sun with us. When this fact was brought up a second time by another tour guide, I could no longer hold my tongue and said that God answered my humble prayer uttered as we booked our air tickets. He is a loving heavenly father who cares for little things in our lives.
Much to my surprise, I did not find this trip too tiring. Perhaps as we traveled in a small van, there is little wasted time waiting for errant late stragglers after each location we visited. It was rather fun to get to know the other family which included a grandma in her eighties and two teenagers.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
(974) The Tenth Circle by Joni Picoult
Picoult writes thought provoking books. In this book we have a rape, attempted suicide, a talented athlete being charged as an adult as drug is found in the victim's blood, a suspected murder and a missing person. I have read about self mutilation, but until it is explained in explicit details in this book, I did not see how someone could cut herself.
Perhaps I, as a baby-boomer, grew up in difficult financial circumstances. My generation tend to see emotional issues in its rightful perspective. There was no one I know who attempt to kill himself or herself over losing a lover. Recently, it is common to read of suicides of teenager or folks in their early twenties because their loss of love. Last week, my mother was lamenting on the fact that a qualified young doctor who came from a well-to-do family killed himself because a girl he loved chose someone else. From the photo published in the newspaper, the deceased was rather good looking. Friends commented that he was sociable and could be considered as popular.
After reading this book, I begin to wonder if it is good for parents to love and over protect their children. The world is a rather hostile place and there is hardly much fairness in life. Yet how do parents incorporate a training for emotional strength into their children so that when the storms of life strike, the latter could prevail?
Perhaps I, as a baby-boomer, grew up in difficult financial circumstances. My generation tend to see emotional issues in its rightful perspective. There was no one I know who attempt to kill himself or herself over losing a lover. Recently, it is common to read of suicides of teenager or folks in their early twenties because their loss of love. Last week, my mother was lamenting on the fact that a qualified young doctor who came from a well-to-do family killed himself because a girl he loved chose someone else. From the photo published in the newspaper, the deceased was rather good looking. Friends commented that he was sociable and could be considered as popular.
After reading this book, I begin to wonder if it is good for parents to love and over protect their children. The world is a rather hostile place and there is hardly much fairness in life. Yet how do parents incorporate a training for emotional strength into their children so that when the storms of life strike, the latter could prevail?
Friday, June 8, 2012
(973) Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov
This book is about a Spacer woman, Gladia, born in Solaria and later forced to move to planet Aurora. She had an Earth man lover called Elijah Baley. She was more or less informally adopted by an Auroran statesman called Fastolfe.
The universe was divided into territory settled by Spacers and Settlers. Both Spacers and Settlers descended from Earth man. Spacers left Earth centuries ago and evolved into a long living species. Settlers were recent space immigrants. Spacer worlds are old and developed. They depend on robots. Settler worlds are new and crude. Settlers do not use robots.
This book is a representative work in science fiction like Dallas as in soap opera. Gladia lived in isolation for the first 30 years of her life on her birth planet. After her first husband was murdered, she was forced to leave her first estate. She remarried in her adopted planet, had a son and a daughter and lived for about two hundred years. As she was bored by a life that was too long, she was more or less told by someone in her government to go back to her birth planet with the 7th generation descendant of Elijah Baley.
There she was plunged into a series of challenges that led her to become a heroine on Earth. The ending is kind of unexpected. Isaac Asimov is truly a master of science fiction!
The universe was divided into territory settled by Spacers and Settlers. Both Spacers and Settlers descended from Earth man. Spacers left Earth centuries ago and evolved into a long living species. Settlers were recent space immigrants. Spacer worlds are old and developed. They depend on robots. Settler worlds are new and crude. Settlers do not use robots.
This book is a representative work in science fiction like Dallas as in soap opera. Gladia lived in isolation for the first 30 years of her life on her birth planet. After her first husband was murdered, she was forced to leave her first estate. She remarried in her adopted planet, had a son and a daughter and lived for about two hundred years. As she was bored by a life that was too long, she was more or less told by someone in her government to go back to her birth planet with the 7th generation descendant of Elijah Baley.
There she was plunged into a series of challenges that led her to become a heroine on Earth. The ending is kind of unexpected. Isaac Asimov is truly a master of science fiction!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
(972) The Man with the Map in his Head
by Bill Clements Reader's Digest April 2002
Stanford James, 24, has autism. Autism is a brain disorder that alters how a person processes information. As a person with high functioning autism, James has a remarkable visual memory. He is also passionate about trains and maps. In an unexpected way, his disability is a gift that enables him to become the best employee working at a help desk assisting customers of Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority via telephone.
Despite his special abilities in visualizing how to get from point A to point B, by foot, bus, train or subway; he can't handle his own pay. Until last year, he could not shave himself in the morning. Special education is what brings out the best in a learning disabled person, the goal is to enable the person to become a contributing citizen in society. Very often, young folks like James would require on-going help as well as training to lead meaningful lives.
I am very happy to see that happening in A Ray of Hope, a church based organization that owns a bakery and a cafe where their special young people are being trained to bake and serve in a controlled and friendly environment in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Stanford James, 24, has autism. Autism is a brain disorder that alters how a person processes information. As a person with high functioning autism, James has a remarkable visual memory. He is also passionate about trains and maps. In an unexpected way, his disability is a gift that enables him to become the best employee working at a help desk assisting customers of Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority via telephone.
Despite his special abilities in visualizing how to get from point A to point B, by foot, bus, train or subway; he can't handle his own pay. Until last year, he could not shave himself in the morning. Special education is what brings out the best in a learning disabled person, the goal is to enable the person to become a contributing citizen in society. Very often, young folks like James would require on-going help as well as training to lead meaningful lives.
I am very happy to see that happening in A Ray of Hope, a church based organization that owns a bakery and a cafe where their special young people are being trained to bake and serve in a controlled and friendly environment in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
(971) The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
A friend passed me this book, saying that her English Lit lecturer once said it was good. I read the first few short chapters, would have given up and return the book had it not been said to be good.
Somehow, by going on reading, I found the next developments interesting. Finally, I finished the book. Perhaps I am rather dense, there are many questions I have that I can't answer. For example, names like Ylla and Dr. Nlla, are they so peculiar to indicate that they are Martians?
Like a thread that appeared and reappeared in different junctures in the book, is a theme of sadness and helplessness. The concept that Martians could read our memories, subsequently mold themselves and their environment to fit into our past is new to me.The author called it telepathy. To me, being able to read memories may be termed as a branch of telepathy. But to be able refashion flesh and blood and objects is more than telepathy. Yet one can expect the reality in another world to be totally different from earth.
Perhaps if I were to find a movie version of this book, it will help to have someone interpret the story for me in video form.
Somehow, by going on reading, I found the next developments interesting. Finally, I finished the book. Perhaps I am rather dense, there are many questions I have that I can't answer. For example, names like Ylla and Dr. Nlla, are they so peculiar to indicate that they are Martians?
Like a thread that appeared and reappeared in different junctures in the book, is a theme of sadness and helplessness. The concept that Martians could read our memories, subsequently mold themselves and their environment to fit into our past is new to me.The author called it telepathy. To me, being able to read memories may be termed as a branch of telepathy. But to be able refashion flesh and blood and objects is more than telepathy. Yet one can expect the reality in another world to be totally different from earth.
Perhaps if I were to find a movie version of this book, it will help to have someone interpret the story for me in video form.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
(970) The Average pairs of shoes a college girl owns
While Michael was in university, at the end of the semester he was often drafted into helping his female course mates or his male course mates' girl friends to move their belongings from one hostel to another.
After a while, he realized most girls are compulsive buyers of shoes and footwear. According to his statistics, most girls possess at least 20 pairs of foot wear. I felt incredulous listening to that! Perhaps I am the abnormal one: I used to own 1 pair of slippers, 1 pair of sport shoes, 1 pair of pumps and one pair of sandles in college. Believe it or not, I still do today. As I plied him with questions, we soon saw that the purchases were random and not necessarily logical. I would expect one girl to purchase formal shoes in white, black and beige color. Perhaps she also have slippers in completely different colors to match clothes in her wardrobe. One pair of hiking boots, two pairs of jogging shoes if she is a serious jogger considering our rainy weather. Maybe a few pairs of fancy high heels for dating? Michael said that those who went overboard buying slippers of all descriptions might not own a single pair of formal shoes, hence resorted to borrowing one pair the night prior to a presentation. Those who collect stilettoes often do not have a pair of sensible walking shoes to go to the waterfall for a picnic.
As I am typing these facts down, I recall my Elizabeth's mentor in church, a young lady in her twenties, owns forty seven pairs of foot wear. That is not the final count, she is still purchasing. Well, she is earning good money and is still living with her parents. I suppose it is not a crime to love and collect shoes. But for students who are renting rooms far away from home, it would be wiser to limit the amount of personal effects. Yet there are always admirers around who would act as "sherpas" on moving days for a treat of drinks.
I am glad that my son's eyes are opened at this young age. If he does not want to be hitched to a girl who habitually spends thirty percent of her monthly income in some shoe shops, he has better be alert and watchful while he is getting to know her. More than monetary, in order to hunt for that illusive pair of dream shoes, such ladies may spend all Saturday and Sunday afternoons trying on hundreds of pairs of shoes. Their husbands may just be appointed babysitters for all their day offs.
After a while, he realized most girls are compulsive buyers of shoes and footwear. According to his statistics, most girls possess at least 20 pairs of foot wear. I felt incredulous listening to that! Perhaps I am the abnormal one: I used to own 1 pair of slippers, 1 pair of sport shoes, 1 pair of pumps and one pair of sandles in college. Believe it or not, I still do today. As I plied him with questions, we soon saw that the purchases were random and not necessarily logical. I would expect one girl to purchase formal shoes in white, black and beige color. Perhaps she also have slippers in completely different colors to match clothes in her wardrobe. One pair of hiking boots, two pairs of jogging shoes if she is a serious jogger considering our rainy weather. Maybe a few pairs of fancy high heels for dating? Michael said that those who went overboard buying slippers of all descriptions might not own a single pair of formal shoes, hence resorted to borrowing one pair the night prior to a presentation. Those who collect stilettoes often do not have a pair of sensible walking shoes to go to the waterfall for a picnic.
As I am typing these facts down, I recall my Elizabeth's mentor in church, a young lady in her twenties, owns forty seven pairs of foot wear. That is not the final count, she is still purchasing. Well, she is earning good money and is still living with her parents. I suppose it is not a crime to love and collect shoes. But for students who are renting rooms far away from home, it would be wiser to limit the amount of personal effects. Yet there are always admirers around who would act as "sherpas" on moving days for a treat of drinks.
I am glad that my son's eyes are opened at this young age. If he does not want to be hitched to a girl who habitually spends thirty percent of her monthly income in some shoe shops, he has better be alert and watchful while he is getting to know her. More than monetary, in order to hunt for that illusive pair of dream shoes, such ladies may spend all Saturday and Sunday afternoons trying on hundreds of pairs of shoes. Their husbands may just be appointed babysitters for all their day offs.
Monday, June 4, 2012
(969) The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Apart from The Joy Luck Club, I really enjoy Tan's books. A good friend loaned me Tan's first best seller to me while I was an undergraduate, at that time, I couldn't appreciate it. Looking back, I really could not understand much of what she was trying to say in that thin volume. Years later, by chance I saw the movie version back in my home country. This time, I not only understood it very well, I absolutely loved it. That is extremely unusual for me. 99.99% of the time I would choose a book over its movie. The only other movie(that I can off hand recall) I like over the book is The Lord of the Ring.
Back to The Hundred Secret Senses, I lost count of how many times I read it. The main reason I like it is because each time I read it, I remember something either of my deceased maternal grandma or something she once told me. This grandma of mine was born some where in Canton, China. She grew up as an adopted daughter of a landless Hakka share-cropping family. She sailed to my country as a mail order bride at the ripe old age of twenty one. I grew up listening to her stories nightly.
Like Oliver, I grew up in a house hold that very often contain long staying relatives, father's friend's children and assorted guests. When female guests ended up in my room or I ended up giving up my bedroom to any visiting couple, one cannot pretend to like it. As Oliver put up with her step-sister, Kwan; I have to put up with my girl cousin who loved to boss me around every school holiday.
If you are thinking of how Oliver went to China with Kwan and her ex-husband, in the story it somehow seemed it was meant to be. Taoist may call it fate. Free thinkers may call it chance occurrence. Some Christian may say it was due to circumstances. It seemed dramatic to have Kwan disappeared in the cave. Yet interestingly, a child that was not supposed to be possible was born and Kwan's husband later married another woman whom Kwan would have approved of. Just one trip ended with two good out come, not bad at all!
Back to The Hundred Secret Senses, I lost count of how many times I read it. The main reason I like it is because each time I read it, I remember something either of my deceased maternal grandma or something she once told me. This grandma of mine was born some where in Canton, China. She grew up as an adopted daughter of a landless Hakka share-cropping family. She sailed to my country as a mail order bride at the ripe old age of twenty one. I grew up listening to her stories nightly.
Like Oliver, I grew up in a house hold that very often contain long staying relatives, father's friend's children and assorted guests. When female guests ended up in my room or I ended up giving up my bedroom to any visiting couple, one cannot pretend to like it. As Oliver put up with her step-sister, Kwan; I have to put up with my girl cousin who loved to boss me around every school holiday.
If you are thinking of how Oliver went to China with Kwan and her ex-husband, in the story it somehow seemed it was meant to be. Taoist may call it fate. Free thinkers may call it chance occurrence. Some Christian may say it was due to circumstances. It seemed dramatic to have Kwan disappeared in the cave. Yet interestingly, a child that was not supposed to be possible was born and Kwan's husband later married another woman whom Kwan would have approved of. Just one trip ended with two good out come, not bad at all!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
(968) Colander brain
Elizabeth came back from uni and moaned,"My friend told me that I have asked her three times about the same thing and I still can't remember the little fact of her back ground! What is wrong with me?"
It is a good thing I have put my free time to good use while she was growing up. I used to take students that nobody wanted to teach and attempt to make pig's ears into silk purse. One thing that I came across very frequently is what I call colander brain. No matter how smart a child is, if he or she displays some symptoms of learning disability, chances are I will fight against this short coming in tutoring. In simple terms, I will teach and reteach certain simple pieces of fact for months until I feel like strangling the child or I want to sit there and laugh at myself. Why should a sane and some what intelligent home maker like me want to attempt the impossible? After all, I was no longer ambitious and I didn't really need the extra income. Yet time and again I was stupid enough to take on challenges I was not exactly trained for. That way, I had to pray for God to help me, I suppose!
Back to Elizabeth, my advice to her is to apologize and admit that she actually still suffers from some remnant of learning problems that somehow her brain is wired differently from most other people. Don't get me wrong, she has a fantastic memory for songs, music, lyrics, music score, musician's history and things of that kind. But she has to turn to me to ask me what her friends are studying in uni, what gift to buy for one friend ... I actually filed up all her friends' likes and dislikes through the years that I have chosen some very suitable gifts on her behalf.
One old friend of mine who was in denial throughout her sons' upbringing finally admitted it took her about six years to help her son to learn January to December. She sent her son to a Chinese elementary school. The Mandarin way of naming the months is 1 month, 2 month, 3 month instead of January, February, March ... Of course it was difficult for him to learn the English way of naming the months while he was studying in a Chinese environment. It probably made no sense for him at that point to learn such "nonsense". Anyway, he is studying in a premier Australian university now. All that struggle is worth it. But during those frustrating years, either the son, the mom or both would end up crying after half an hour's session together working on things of this kind.
Through my years of working with LD, I have not come across two individuals that have the same problems. While we can kind of categorize the type of similar problems, no one can draw a line and say that dyslexia is like this and autism is like that. Problems often overlap. What works for one child may not necessarily work for another. If you don't love children and have no extra patience to put up with their idiosyncrasies, special education is probably not for you. If you have an LD child and you lack patience to teach him or her, then be prepared to go out and make plenty of money to pay specialist tutors to do your job.
It is a good thing I have put my free time to good use while she was growing up. I used to take students that nobody wanted to teach and attempt to make pig's ears into silk purse. One thing that I came across very frequently is what I call colander brain. No matter how smart a child is, if he or she displays some symptoms of learning disability, chances are I will fight against this short coming in tutoring. In simple terms, I will teach and reteach certain simple pieces of fact for months until I feel like strangling the child or I want to sit there and laugh at myself. Why should a sane and some what intelligent home maker like me want to attempt the impossible? After all, I was no longer ambitious and I didn't really need the extra income. Yet time and again I was stupid enough to take on challenges I was not exactly trained for. That way, I had to pray for God to help me, I suppose!
Back to Elizabeth, my advice to her is to apologize and admit that she actually still suffers from some remnant of learning problems that somehow her brain is wired differently from most other people. Don't get me wrong, she has a fantastic memory for songs, music, lyrics, music score, musician's history and things of that kind. But she has to turn to me to ask me what her friends are studying in uni, what gift to buy for one friend ... I actually filed up all her friends' likes and dislikes through the years that I have chosen some very suitable gifts on her behalf.
One old friend of mine who was in denial throughout her sons' upbringing finally admitted it took her about six years to help her son to learn January to December. She sent her son to a Chinese elementary school. The Mandarin way of naming the months is 1 month, 2 month, 3 month instead of January, February, March ... Of course it was difficult for him to learn the English way of naming the months while he was studying in a Chinese environment. It probably made no sense for him at that point to learn such "nonsense". Anyway, he is studying in a premier Australian university now. All that struggle is worth it. But during those frustrating years, either the son, the mom or both would end up crying after half an hour's session together working on things of this kind.
Through my years of working with LD, I have not come across two individuals that have the same problems. While we can kind of categorize the type of similar problems, no one can draw a line and say that dyslexia is like this and autism is like that. Problems often overlap. What works for one child may not necessarily work for another. If you don't love children and have no extra patience to put up with their idiosyncrasies, special education is probably not for you. If you have an LD child and you lack patience to teach him or her, then be prepared to go out and make plenty of money to pay specialist tutors to do your job.
(967) Church investment
I have a friend, we'll call her Sheila here. She has been very involved as a single lady in missions. After she has married and the children came along, she became a stay-at-home mom. By and by she started teaching Sunday School. As her children became teenagers, she actually was roped in as a Sunday School Superintendent.
At some point in her church life, her church has accumulated about two million dollars in the bank. Since the Committee is made up of accountants, lawyers and doctors, the establishment decided to buy a piece of land about 30 kilo meters away from the church. For folks who live in any metropolitan area, no one would blink at driving a measly 30 Km to church on Sunday morning. But you see, these saints are extra blessed by God, at that time they drove 15 minutes in any direction they were way out of town limits. After the title deed was signed and stamped and the church was the proud owner of a big piece of land outside the town, there started the dilemma of what to do with it.
The church leadership realized that even if they raise the needed fund to build a beautiful church in the rolling countryside, half the present parishioners would not move there. And we all know that it is useless to have a half empty church premise.
These creative leaders then thought perhaps they can run the open country land as a wilderness camp. They then did some research and found that a very well run adventure camp of a inter denominational group is still barely surviving in terms of accounting.
Next someone suggested that they raise fund and build buildings to go into eco tourism so that they can serve church groups in housing camps. Again they found that it is a very competitive sector and there is no one in that church that is called to that ministry and is willing to quit his or her job to head the project.
The ideas of running an orphanage or an old folks' home were brought up, but there again no one felt called to lead into those directions. The last I asked, they were still sitting on the piece of land. Perhaps capital appreciation would one day make the purchase a sound investment.
As I was relating this real incident to my husband, I suddenly realize I could blog it. But he laughed at me, "O! Publishing bad things about Christians!" Believe me, that is not my intention. I believe in writing about both the good and the bad about what is true. Not a single human being is perfect except the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a Christian because I have faith and I serve a good God, not because my church or any other church is perfect. If I were to shout about only good things about all churches and Christians from the roof top, would you believe me and think that there is not a single bad thing I can find to write about?
At some point in her church life, her church has accumulated about two million dollars in the bank. Since the Committee is made up of accountants, lawyers and doctors, the establishment decided to buy a piece of land about 30 kilo meters away from the church. For folks who live in any metropolitan area, no one would blink at driving a measly 30 Km to church on Sunday morning. But you see, these saints are extra blessed by God, at that time they drove 15 minutes in any direction they were way out of town limits. After the title deed was signed and stamped and the church was the proud owner of a big piece of land outside the town, there started the dilemma of what to do with it.
The church leadership realized that even if they raise the needed fund to build a beautiful church in the rolling countryside, half the present parishioners would not move there. And we all know that it is useless to have a half empty church premise.
These creative leaders then thought perhaps they can run the open country land as a wilderness camp. They then did some research and found that a very well run adventure camp of a inter denominational group is still barely surviving in terms of accounting.
Next someone suggested that they raise fund and build buildings to go into eco tourism so that they can serve church groups in housing camps. Again they found that it is a very competitive sector and there is no one in that church that is called to that ministry and is willing to quit his or her job to head the project.
The ideas of running an orphanage or an old folks' home were brought up, but there again no one felt called to lead into those directions. The last I asked, they were still sitting on the piece of land. Perhaps capital appreciation would one day make the purchase a sound investment.
As I was relating this real incident to my husband, I suddenly realize I could blog it. But he laughed at me, "O! Publishing bad things about Christians!" Believe me, that is not my intention. I believe in writing about both the good and the bad about what is true. Not a single human being is perfect except the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a Christian because I have faith and I serve a good God, not because my church or any other church is perfect. If I were to shout about only good things about all churches and Christians from the roof top, would you believe me and think that there is not a single bad thing I can find to write about?
Friday, June 1, 2012
(966) I, Robots by Isaac Asimov
When Elizabeth first brought back this book from her library, I thought I have read it in the far off days while borrowing books for my eldest who likes science fiction. But it was not so. The stories are so original and unusual that if I have read them before, I would never forget them completely.
Robbie reminds me of the many infants in my country who are cared for by foreign maids for many years. There must be cases where the maid loves the child and the child reciprocates the love. Then the cessation of employment would cut the bond just like that. The maid would fly home and then there would be no contact between the child and the maid who has been a major part of the child's life. Gloria was fortunate that her father brought the robot into her life again until she was ready to let him go and be scrapped.
In Runaround the two field engineers almost died by giving non-specific instruction to their robot that caused him to go round and round the pool of selenium which was badly needed for battery repair. It is a good thing that they are resourceful and clever to turn things around.
We read in Reason that one robot was intelligent enough to see that human are weaker than robots and look to another big machinery as the creator. Interestingly it was good enough to perform what to men as the critical and difficult task as beaming high energy back to earth in a interstellar storm.
Robot technology was advanced enough in Catch the Rabbit that a main robot was in charged of six robots. It became the test engineers' headache that the team of robots seemed to go AWOL whenever there was a minor emergency. It took insight for one engineer to shoot one of the subsidiary robot to solve the design flaw.
Who would have thought that the one robot who could read human minds would be one who would lie in order not to hurt the human masters. "Liar!" ended up in an endless loop of heads he lose and tails others win that he collapsed from a dilemma so bad that he destroyed himself.
My favorite story is Little Lost Robot. Who would have thought that robots would mind curses and swearing and then took the frustrating phrase of go get lost literally? It took Dr. Susan Calvin quite many days to trick this intelligent yet proud robot into revealing itself for destruction.
There are three more stories after this, they are in a sense different from the top few stories.
Robbie reminds me of the many infants in my country who are cared for by foreign maids for many years. There must be cases where the maid loves the child and the child reciprocates the love. Then the cessation of employment would cut the bond just like that. The maid would fly home and then there would be no contact between the child and the maid who has been a major part of the child's life. Gloria was fortunate that her father brought the robot into her life again until she was ready to let him go and be scrapped.
In Runaround the two field engineers almost died by giving non-specific instruction to their robot that caused him to go round and round the pool of selenium which was badly needed for battery repair. It is a good thing that they are resourceful and clever to turn things around.
We read in Reason that one robot was intelligent enough to see that human are weaker than robots and look to another big machinery as the creator. Interestingly it was good enough to perform what to men as the critical and difficult task as beaming high energy back to earth in a interstellar storm.
Robot technology was advanced enough in Catch the Rabbit that a main robot was in charged of six robots. It became the test engineers' headache that the team of robots seemed to go AWOL whenever there was a minor emergency. It took insight for one engineer to shoot one of the subsidiary robot to solve the design flaw.
Who would have thought that the one robot who could read human minds would be one who would lie in order not to hurt the human masters. "Liar!" ended up in an endless loop of heads he lose and tails others win that he collapsed from a dilemma so bad that he destroyed himself.
My favorite story is Little Lost Robot. Who would have thought that robots would mind curses and swearing and then took the frustrating phrase of go get lost literally? It took Dr. Susan Calvin quite many days to trick this intelligent yet proud robot into revealing itself for destruction.
There are three more stories after this, they are in a sense different from the top few stories.
(965) Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro
All five stories in this volume are about music and nightfall. If I were to quote my daughter Elizabeth, they are all not very satisfactory as all five do not have firm endings. I guess I spent a fair amount of time imagining my choice of ending. In three of them I am reasonably happy with my endings. But what I can't escape from is a sense of sadness that all the stories left me with.
It is public knowledge that it takes more than talent to succeed in the musical field. I suppose the odds of not making it does not deter many young musicians from struggling to make it. I agree completely with a father who insisted that his daughter complete her first degree before choosing a career. He set aside a million dollars for her second degree in medicine, should she not qualify; he would not stand in her way if she still wants to set up a guitar shop. But would she really want to set up and run a small guitar shop in a neighborhood mall versus becoming a dentist?
It is public knowledge that it takes more than talent to succeed in the musical field. I suppose the odds of not making it does not deter many young musicians from struggling to make it. I agree completely with a father who insisted that his daughter complete her first degree before choosing a career. He set aside a million dollars for her second degree in medicine, should she not qualify; he would not stand in her way if she still wants to set up a guitar shop. But would she really want to set up and run a small guitar shop in a neighborhood mall versus becoming a dentist?
(964) Steps for parents with LD children
The following steps are extracted from "Does your child have Learning Disability?" by Henrylito Tacio, published in Reader's Digest December 2002.
1. Start with books
Start your children young with reading aloud books like Hop on Pop or The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. This will promote "phonemic awareness" which is the ability to recognize a word's separate, distinct sounds.
2. Watch for warnings
At age six or seven, a child who is English speaking would have picked up that there are more than 40 spoken sounds corresponding to the 26 letters and a combination. Test the child, ask him or her for words that rhyme with cat. The answers should be mat, hat and rat. If he or she said kitty or meow, that shows an inability to break down a word into sounds.
3. Call the doctor
Even if your paediatrician is not a LD expert, he can eliminate eye and ear problems and then refer you to the relevant expert.
4. Go to the Teacher
Parents with concerns should ask the teacher about the child's achievements in readings and other subjects. If the parents have noticed specific problems, for example the child has problems following a series of instructions, the teacher would be able to add to the parents' observation. Should the parents and teacher need further assistance, they can look to professional evaluation.
5. Study the school
It is recommended to keep LD children with their peers as much as possible but to provide them with special help in small group on a regular basis. For severe reading disabilities, experts recommend one-on-one instruction for at least half an hour daily.
6. Teach at home
Parents should be knowledgeable about LD. Follow up with the assignments the experts have given to the child. At every opportunity, teach informally using magnetic letters on the fridge and product names on the packages in the supermarket. Let your children help in the kitchen, in the process get the child to count and learn to divide or add food items.
7. Use technology
Use computer learning software to level the playing field for your LD Child. Help him or her by buying children's books with accompanying CD.
8. Get outside help
Hire a tutor recommended by the school if your child is still struggling. There are Dyslexia Associations in different countries and regions within the country. There are NGOs helping children with learning disabilities. Parents need to meet with other parents who have succeeded in helping their children overcome LD. Face it, we all need to share experiences and encourage one another.
And if you will indulge me, I would add that prayer helps tremendously. Pray for God's healing. Pray for dedicated teachers, wonderful mentors, loving friends and supportive neighbours.
1. Start with books
Start your children young with reading aloud books like Hop on Pop or The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. This will promote "phonemic awareness" which is the ability to recognize a word's separate, distinct sounds.
2. Watch for warnings
At age six or seven, a child who is English speaking would have picked up that there are more than 40 spoken sounds corresponding to the 26 letters and a combination. Test the child, ask him or her for words that rhyme with cat. The answers should be mat, hat and rat. If he or she said kitty or meow, that shows an inability to break down a word into sounds.
3. Call the doctor
Even if your paediatrician is not a LD expert, he can eliminate eye and ear problems and then refer you to the relevant expert.
4. Go to the Teacher
Parents with concerns should ask the teacher about the child's achievements in readings and other subjects. If the parents have noticed specific problems, for example the child has problems following a series of instructions, the teacher would be able to add to the parents' observation. Should the parents and teacher need further assistance, they can look to professional evaluation.
5. Study the school
It is recommended to keep LD children with their peers as much as possible but to provide them with special help in small group on a regular basis. For severe reading disabilities, experts recommend one-on-one instruction for at least half an hour daily.
6. Teach at home
Parents should be knowledgeable about LD. Follow up with the assignments the experts have given to the child. At every opportunity, teach informally using magnetic letters on the fridge and product names on the packages in the supermarket. Let your children help in the kitchen, in the process get the child to count and learn to divide or add food items.
7. Use technology
Use computer learning software to level the playing field for your LD Child. Help him or her by buying children's books with accompanying CD.
8. Get outside help
Hire a tutor recommended by the school if your child is still struggling. There are Dyslexia Associations in different countries and regions within the country. There are NGOs helping children with learning disabilities. Parents need to meet with other parents who have succeeded in helping their children overcome LD. Face it, we all need to share experiences and encourage one another.
And if you will indulge me, I would add that prayer helps tremendously. Pray for God's healing. Pray for dedicated teachers, wonderful mentors, loving friends and supportive neighbours.
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