My husband and I made another trip up to visit the book room I wrote about in (993).
The corner shop lot is beautifully renovated. The staff quarter looks lived in finally. To date, we have one full time counter staff, one kitchen worker, a book seller and a temporary manager whose real job is to oversee translation projects in different parts of Asia.
Sad to say, my husband and I put out a fleece and found that we are not supposed to move up at all. I don't quite understand why I am being given much time to read, contemplate, write a few passages now and then. But I have to accept that here is where God wants me to be. Last year, when I prayed about a part-time teaching project to earn some money for travel, God generously gave me two trips: one to Shanghai and the other to Canton. Therefore I am most grateful and could not complain at all. If it fits in with what God allows me to do, I hope to see two children two or three times a week. I will be paid to speak to them in Mandarin: a six year old boy and an infant girl. The ultimate goal would be to build a love for Chinese literature within these two children. My neighbor would transport me there and back as she was hired to transport the boy from school and then to cook dinner for the family.
We will see how that goes. But back to the book room, I saw hundreds of donated books being sorted and entered into the database. A few pieces of furniture were placed in different corners. God willing, the book room may even open on January 15, 2013!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
(192) Zelda's update
This is another installment continuing from (9).
I just talked to my friend Zelda on the Skype. She has booked her return air ticket and if she could not extend her stay she would be back by January 28, 2013. I guess after writing to each other for over a year and then spending almost 6 months in the same housing area, he is still not exactly sure that she is the one he should wed.
Zelda went to visit her friends in Arkansas and Seattle. The church her boy friend worships in actually blessed her with a trip to Washington DC. During the week ends she managed to visit many places of interest around New Jersey. It was a wonderful rest, she managed to read many books and educate herself in psychology, how to listen to the raped, the sexually abused, the traumatized ... Even more important than gathering head knowledge, she was able to apply what she learned as God led her to those who needed a compassionate listening ear.
Now, more than before, I am sure God has good plans for her. America may just be a starting point. Being a practical and logical person, of course I would love to wrap up the saga with a wedding march. But our God is a surprising God at times, His ways are higher than ours. I could never perceive His thoughts by using my finite brain. And so I eagerly await Jan 28, it would be lovely to see Zelda face to face. Here, I reiterate that in the internet one finds more scams than romance. Unless you are sure that you are smart and scam proof, it is better to leave it alone. I wish that every woman would have the good fortune of Zelda in seeking a suitable mate in the cyber world, but that is a wish that cannot come true in our imperfect world!
I just talked to my friend Zelda on the Skype. She has booked her return air ticket and if she could not extend her stay she would be back by January 28, 2013. I guess after writing to each other for over a year and then spending almost 6 months in the same housing area, he is still not exactly sure that she is the one he should wed.
Zelda went to visit her friends in Arkansas and Seattle. The church her boy friend worships in actually blessed her with a trip to Washington DC. During the week ends she managed to visit many places of interest around New Jersey. It was a wonderful rest, she managed to read many books and educate herself in psychology, how to listen to the raped, the sexually abused, the traumatized ... Even more important than gathering head knowledge, she was able to apply what she learned as God led her to those who needed a compassionate listening ear.
Now, more than before, I am sure God has good plans for her. America may just be a starting point. Being a practical and logical person, of course I would love to wrap up the saga with a wedding march. But our God is a surprising God at times, His ways are higher than ours. I could never perceive His thoughts by using my finite brain. And so I eagerly await Jan 28, it would be lovely to see Zelda face to face. Here, I reiterate that in the internet one finds more scams than romance. Unless you are sure that you are smart and scam proof, it is better to leave it alone. I wish that every woman would have the good fortune of Zelda in seeking a suitable mate in the cyber world, but that is a wish that cannot come true in our imperfect world!
(191) Recycling books
In my recycling of books, I have had two requests. A missionary translator from North America (working in South East Asia) asked me to keep a look out for any reading materials written by Mercer Mayer. It does not matter how old or tattered it is, he wants them. But until today, I have not seen a single one in book stores, second hand book shops or in the piles of books that friends gave to me.
Many years ago, I was working in Texas as a young adult. A co-worker mentioned the blue cheese moon and I was incredulous. Until then I have not heard about Dr. Seuss. Another kind person actually went home and hunted for a Dr. Seuss book to show me. In The Watchers, on page 268, quite a few children's authors were listed: Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Phil Parks, Susi Bohdal, Sue Dreamer, and Mercer Mayer.
So now I have an idea that Mercer Mayer is or was among the top few children authors that anyone well read cares to name. Another book lover asked me to look out for books by Alexandra McCall Smith. I found one, she gladly took it but asked me to continue to look out for the Lady Detective series.
Many years ago, I was working in Texas as a young adult. A co-worker mentioned the blue cheese moon and I was incredulous. Until then I have not heard about Dr. Seuss. Another kind person actually went home and hunted for a Dr. Seuss book to show me. In The Watchers, on page 268, quite a few children's authors were listed: Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Phil Parks, Susi Bohdal, Sue Dreamer, and Mercer Mayer.
So now I have an idea that Mercer Mayer is or was among the top few children authors that anyone well read cares to name. Another book lover asked me to look out for books by Alexandra McCall Smith. I found one, she gladly took it but asked me to continue to look out for the Lady Detective series.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
(190) Watchers by Dean Koontz
I think I wrote a blog on another book of Dean Koontz quite some time back. There is a list of 39 books by him, he is indeed a most prolific author. Watchers is his 11th book. It is the second I have come across.
He writes well. By looking at the many titles he chose, I would guess that he sells horror tales. But no, he claimed he regretted writing Phantoms because most people classified it as horror but he preferred to think of it as a science fiction. I guess those who look for thrills could see it as a horror story while others could logically log it as a sci-fi.
In our world, there are many happenings that cannot be measured by science. Hence we have the supernatural as well as meta-physics. Yet cutting edge science is approaching to the capability of playing the role of our creator. We need to be afraid of what greedy and mad scientists could produce in the name of science. We have just passed the supposed the end of the world scare predicted by the Mayan calendar. When will that be, no one knows! Only we are racing towards it by destroying the earth.
He writes well. By looking at the many titles he chose, I would guess that he sells horror tales. But no, he claimed he regretted writing Phantoms because most people classified it as horror but he preferred to think of it as a science fiction. I guess those who look for thrills could see it as a horror story while others could logically log it as a sci-fi.
In our world, there are many happenings that cannot be measured by science. Hence we have the supernatural as well as meta-physics. Yet cutting edge science is approaching to the capability of playing the role of our creator. We need to be afraid of what greedy and mad scientists could produce in the name of science. We have just passed the supposed the end of the world scare predicted by the Mayan calendar. When will that be, no one knows! Only we are racing towards it by destroying the earth.
(189) Book of Secrets by Chris Robertson
Out of this book, I enjoyed the different portions of the Black Hand. Either the author managed to find different stories of the same theme from different centuries, or he creatively wrote them in different styles.
As to the three individuals who could travel through time, they sounded like angels. But they seemed eminently modern in the way they talk. I rest in the premise that people read to relax and to escape from a mundane life, hence fantasy and science fiction are popular. Just like fairy tales, there is not much point for anyone to apply logic to analyse them. The ending seemed dangling, he managed to obtain the book of secrets, but did he manage to write the article he set out to research? After that, what is he going to do with the book? If I could provide my choice of the ending, he would auction off the book, then he need not work for an extra day in his life. If he enjoys writing, perhaps he would write as a hobby.
As to the three individuals who could travel through time, they sounded like angels. But they seemed eminently modern in the way they talk. I rest in the premise that people read to relax and to escape from a mundane life, hence fantasy and science fiction are popular. Just like fairy tales, there is not much point for anyone to apply logic to analyse them. The ending seemed dangling, he managed to obtain the book of secrets, but did he manage to write the article he set out to research? After that, what is he going to do with the book? If I could provide my choice of the ending, he would auction off the book, then he need not work for an extra day in his life. If he enjoys writing, perhaps he would write as a hobby.
(188) Guardians of the Key by Clio Gray
In a wave of books that seemed to be related to relic and icon, this is interesting as it involved Italy and England. Yet somehow it was rather difficult to follow, I have some difficulties in determining between the ancient past and the immediate past. It was much easier, for instance, reading 187, 186 and 184.
Europe is one continent that I did not have a chance to study its geography and regional industry in detail. I have always thought of China as the center for silk production. Though we learned in history that silk worm and mulberry cuttings were taken out of China and brought to Italy, I did not envisage an Italian town involved in silk production as well as a portion of London dedicated to embroidery and sewing.
It is unthinkable that two households could be tortured and killed for a shawl which contained some information embroidered on the edges. Yet people have been killed for something much less! My sons have been talking about the young lady who was raped and assaulted in New Delhi who passed away in Singapore. Mabel, though a fictional character, was lucky that she had Stroop to look out for her.
Europe is one continent that I did not have a chance to study its geography and regional industry in detail. I have always thought of China as the center for silk production. Though we learned in history that silk worm and mulberry cuttings were taken out of China and brought to Italy, I did not envisage an Italian town involved in silk production as well as a portion of London dedicated to embroidery and sewing.
It is unthinkable that two households could be tortured and killed for a shawl which contained some information embroidered on the edges. Yet people have been killed for something much less! My sons have been talking about the young lady who was raped and assaulted in New Delhi who passed away in Singapore. Mabel, though a fictional character, was lucky that she had Stroop to look out for her.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
(187) Shattered Icon by Bill Napier
Here is another book that touches on ancient religious icon. Prior to reading Da Vinci Code after hearing all kinds of attacks by all types of well meaning Christians, I did not even know the meaning of icon. I did read of the Holy Grail in Robin Hood as a teenager but did not know what it was until I accepted Jesus as my savior and hung out in church circles.
Before this book, I have read another book written as a boy conscripted to work on a boat in the 1500s. I worked tediously through another that talked about the Roanoke settlement that was abandoned. This book supplied a good explanation to the Roanoke mystery. I have read about the Spanish Inquisition. But I did not link the animosity of British versus Spanish in the high seas until I read the word "auto-da-fe". I cannot imagine such barbaric acts like flogging until a person dies nor could I associate hanging, cutting one's male organ off and opening the bowels before the prisoner dies. It sounds as barbaric as the ancient Mongols.
If you are not already frightened by my statements, perhaps it would be interesting to read this book. Life was certainly harsher and harder in those days of sailing compared to our modern comforts.
(186) Pyramid by Tom Martin
This is one book that convincingly threaded together quite a number of ruins flung over the entire globe and gave a good reason how the ancients could perform superhuman feats in building huge structures with no modern technology.
Here in the book, the conspirators are known as the Corporation. One hero and one heroine somehow managed to save the day by globe trotting. They happened to be both young and good looking. Of course there was romance brewing! How else an author could con women into buying expensive paperbacks all over the world. Just like Dan Brown's best sellers, the main characters are academics from famous universities.
Nonetheless, I still think it is a good read, well worth my time and losing some sleep over finishing it fast.
Here in the book, the conspirators are known as the Corporation. One hero and one heroine somehow managed to save the day by globe trotting. They happened to be both young and good looking. Of course there was romance brewing! How else an author could con women into buying expensive paperbacks all over the world. Just like Dan Brown's best sellers, the main characters are academics from famous universities.
Nonetheless, I still think it is a good read, well worth my time and losing some sleep over finishing it fast.
(184) The Codex by Douglas Preston
An entire batch of books came from my brother. These were meant for my children. But as things turned out, I would be reading them first.
Whether Preston meant to or not, his book could be bought and given to people who are either enemies or strangers to their siblings. Perhaps if such recipients were to read this book, some of them may contemplate that blood is indeed thicker than water.
I learned quite a few new obscure facts from this book that was set in the US and then Honduras. The book was written to entertain and inform the readers about the Amazon basin and the foothills of the Andes. I have enjoyed a good description of the Cloud forest, hills that experience cool weather and yet receive lots of rainfall which translate into passing clouds that obscure visibility.
Not that I have ever bought any novels as Christmas presents, if my readers are in the habit of choosing books as Christmas or birthday gifts, this would be a good one (especially for those who like adventure, geography, family dynamics, happy endings ...).
Whether Preston meant to or not, his book could be bought and given to people who are either enemies or strangers to their siblings. Perhaps if such recipients were to read this book, some of them may contemplate that blood is indeed thicker than water.
I learned quite a few new obscure facts from this book that was set in the US and then Honduras. The book was written to entertain and inform the readers about the Amazon basin and the foothills of the Andes. I have enjoyed a good description of the Cloud forest, hills that experience cool weather and yet receive lots of rainfall which translate into passing clouds that obscure visibility.
Not that I have ever bought any novels as Christmas presents, if my readers are in the habit of choosing books as Christmas or birthday gifts, this would be a good one (especially for those who like adventure, geography, family dynamics, happy endings ...).
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
(182) Pragmatics
My friend and I have been attending a prayer meeting for almost two years. One day she asked me over dinner in an Indian Muslim restaurant, "I noticed you have been keeping silent even when a topic was raised that would interest you during the prayer meeting?"
My answer was I sensed that my contribution was not expected nor appreciated. I could neither justify nor prove it, but lingering feelings were there nevertheless. my friend, let us call her Kate here, said that she had not experienced it thus far.
Half a year later, she related her own experience during one prayer meeting when I was out of town. Kate opened her mouth and shared her knowledge about a new hand phone which she had researched when someone mentioned that she was not sure which type of hand phone to buy for her aged mum. Shortly after that sharing, a fourth person asked about some computer related subject, the youngest mother in the group refused to answer and smiled sweetly at Kate and said she deferred to the expert. Now that statement was laced with saccharin and the pointed stare was filled with venom. Kate told me that she felt like she was in a nightmare and something improbable was happening.
Kate asked me if she was going crazy? I laughed and said that it probably happened exactly as she related even if I was not there. I was not surprise at all! Personally I went through something similar, an equally sweet remark came from a demure, loving, proper lady who was actually the hidden leader of the group. There was nothing wrong with her suggestion, her body language nor any mannerism. But I distinctly felt rebuked for sharing my experience and hands on knowledge with a younger mother who needed help. We were told gently to form a new interest group for special education. In other words, the mother who asked the questions should not have taken everybody's time. I should not have consumed collective time by answering. That was the very last time I contributed in that group. I continued to attend irregularly and phased myself out gradually.
While I responded by slowly distancing myself from this group, I have joined another group where the agenda is on the table and everyone is free to keep quiet and speak his or her piece by choice. My objective is simple, I want to pray in a group, be encouraged and if possible I will encourage others.
There is really no need to be part of a group that involves not only group dynamics but where I have to deal with an unexpected set of pragmatics. According to my son, Michael, there is a small group of people who could neither sense nor learn these unwritten rules which no one talks about. Such a group of people would always feel like outsiders and would never be accepted by the normal folks. I wonder if Kate and I are marginally part of this group of "weird" outcasts? Why did I take two years to realize that there is nothing wrong with me? If the earlier of folks thrives on absolute control, then they would have to do it without my support. It may take Kate longer to decide to leave.
My answer was I sensed that my contribution was not expected nor appreciated. I could neither justify nor prove it, but lingering feelings were there nevertheless. my friend, let us call her Kate here, said that she had not experienced it thus far.
Half a year later, she related her own experience during one prayer meeting when I was out of town. Kate opened her mouth and shared her knowledge about a new hand phone which she had researched when someone mentioned that she was not sure which type of hand phone to buy for her aged mum. Shortly after that sharing, a fourth person asked about some computer related subject, the youngest mother in the group refused to answer and smiled sweetly at Kate and said she deferred to the expert. Now that statement was laced with saccharin and the pointed stare was filled with venom. Kate told me that she felt like she was in a nightmare and something improbable was happening.
Kate asked me if she was going crazy? I laughed and said that it probably happened exactly as she related even if I was not there. I was not surprise at all! Personally I went through something similar, an equally sweet remark came from a demure, loving, proper lady who was actually the hidden leader of the group. There was nothing wrong with her suggestion, her body language nor any mannerism. But I distinctly felt rebuked for sharing my experience and hands on knowledge with a younger mother who needed help. We were told gently to form a new interest group for special education. In other words, the mother who asked the questions should not have taken everybody's time. I should not have consumed collective time by answering. That was the very last time I contributed in that group. I continued to attend irregularly and phased myself out gradually.
While I responded by slowly distancing myself from this group, I have joined another group where the agenda is on the table and everyone is free to keep quiet and speak his or her piece by choice. My objective is simple, I want to pray in a group, be encouraged and if possible I will encourage others.
There is really no need to be part of a group that involves not only group dynamics but where I have to deal with an unexpected set of pragmatics. According to my son, Michael, there is a small group of people who could neither sense nor learn these unwritten rules which no one talks about. Such a group of people would always feel like outsiders and would never be accepted by the normal folks. I wonder if Kate and I are marginally part of this group of "weird" outcasts? Why did I take two years to realize that there is nothing wrong with me? If the earlier of folks thrives on absolute control, then they would have to do it without my support. It may take Kate longer to decide to leave.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
(181) News
My grand ma had a saying in Cantonese: even at a hundred years old, one still hears of something new.
Recently, I heard through the grapevine that a rather indulgent mother claimed that she was beaten by her eldest daughter. Since I do not personally know this woman nor her daughter, I cannot speculate further.
But I do know of another case. One rich lady adopted a female baby in the former's late forties. To the former's credit, she did bring up three lawyers and two accountants. Sad to say, she did not bring up this adopted child in a wise way. Instead, she indulged in the latter's every whim. For every sensible parent, we know what instant gratification leads to: the making of one big ego and an ongoing list of wishes.
Twenty years later, the adoptive mom was in her sixties. By then she was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. This sickly woman is the attention seeking type. She thought nothing of calling her working children with all types of pretext to get them to visit her during working hours. After a while, none of her children would answer her phone calls at work. Thus was her own downfall: one morning she was not feeling well but no help was in sight. When someone finally came after work, she sustained some brain damage because of a mild heart attack.
Soon after, more phone calls and sms deluge her children, this time claiming that the adopted daughter beat her and drew blood. Her children were at wit's end with this new tactic until they spent much money in installing CCTV in every room. Once images of the living area are on line, the SOS call stopped.
I cannot help but wonder if this similar technological solution would help in the first case. Would mother and daughter push and whack each other if they know fully well that full video would be recorded and other members of the family could access it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Recently, I heard through the grapevine that a rather indulgent mother claimed that she was beaten by her eldest daughter. Since I do not personally know this woman nor her daughter, I cannot speculate further.
But I do know of another case. One rich lady adopted a female baby in the former's late forties. To the former's credit, she did bring up three lawyers and two accountants. Sad to say, she did not bring up this adopted child in a wise way. Instead, she indulged in the latter's every whim. For every sensible parent, we know what instant gratification leads to: the making of one big ego and an ongoing list of wishes.
Twenty years later, the adoptive mom was in her sixties. By then she was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. This sickly woman is the attention seeking type. She thought nothing of calling her working children with all types of pretext to get them to visit her during working hours. After a while, none of her children would answer her phone calls at work. Thus was her own downfall: one morning she was not feeling well but no help was in sight. When someone finally came after work, she sustained some brain damage because of a mild heart attack.
Soon after, more phone calls and sms deluge her children, this time claiming that the adopted daughter beat her and drew blood. Her children were at wit's end with this new tactic until they spent much money in installing CCTV in every room. Once images of the living area are on line, the SOS call stopped.
I cannot help but wonder if this similar technological solution would help in the first case. Would mother and daughter push and whack each other if they know fully well that full video would be recorded and other members of the family could access it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
(180) Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
This is a very thick (1273 pages) book. The main idea is to have the newly appointed Vice President who did not get elected by the electorate promoted to be the President of the United States after a disaster that killed 80% of the elected government.
The trait that the new president has which distinguished him from all the others is that he hates politics. Since he was not elected, he never accepted a single dollar campaign fund. For once, America has a decent chance of having a bunch of efficient and non-corrupted officials.
I find the first part very interesting with a working First Lady and a toddler in the White House. However, when I moved to the part of warfare with Iran-Iraq, things became heavy. I could no longer keep track of names of combatants, advisers, countries, intelligent officers ... Well, if I am studying it for history, I would have created a table of notes to keep track. For leisure reading, I chose to skip certain parts that hold no interest for me. Kind of a waste not to read from beginning to end! Clancy is certainly a big picture author.
The trait that the new president has which distinguished him from all the others is that he hates politics. Since he was not elected, he never accepted a single dollar campaign fund. For once, America has a decent chance of having a bunch of efficient and non-corrupted officials.
I find the first part very interesting with a working First Lady and a toddler in the White House. However, when I moved to the part of warfare with Iran-Iraq, things became heavy. I could no longer keep track of names of combatants, advisers, countries, intelligent officers ... Well, if I am studying it for history, I would have created a table of notes to keep track. For leisure reading, I chose to skip certain parts that hold no interest for me. Kind of a waste not to read from beginning to end! Clancy is certainly a big picture author.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
(179) retail therapy
I went to visit my childhood friend. She showed me four working shirts: two with long sleeves and two with short sleeves. They are lovely shirts: white, black, pink and purple. Each with different collars and minor variations in design. Come to think of it, when we first started to work we would go to look at shirts like that in Metrojaya (a departmental store popular many years ago) on Saturdays but could not afford to buy any of them.
Don't ask me why, she actually bought them a size smaller and after keeping them for a year in her closet she decided to give them to my daughter, Elizabeth. I was of course overjoyed as those were lovely clothes of high quality. As I was driving back, I wonder if this is a sort of retail therapy. You see, when we were that size, we were living from hand to mouth. It would be a good month if we could save one hundred dollars. Then we rolled into the land of becoming mothers. New mothers obviously could not fit into tight shirts. Then we quickly grow into practical women who wear clothes that required no ironing. Now that our children are off our hands, we finally have the extra time to go shopping to our hearts' content. For her, she has a high disposable income too, thanks to her inheritance from her mom.
Well, I happen to have all I need but not much else to burn. To date, I have not bought things that I don't wear or use. But I wonder, suppose I have an extra $300,000 cash in the bank, would I become a wishful shopper too?
Don't ask me why, she actually bought them a size smaller and after keeping them for a year in her closet she decided to give them to my daughter, Elizabeth. I was of course overjoyed as those were lovely clothes of high quality. As I was driving back, I wonder if this is a sort of retail therapy. You see, when we were that size, we were living from hand to mouth. It would be a good month if we could save one hundred dollars. Then we rolled into the land of becoming mothers. New mothers obviously could not fit into tight shirts. Then we quickly grow into practical women who wear clothes that required no ironing. Now that our children are off our hands, we finally have the extra time to go shopping to our hearts' content. For her, she has a high disposable income too, thanks to her inheritance from her mom.
Well, I happen to have all I need but not much else to burn. To date, I have not bought things that I don't wear or use. But I wonder, suppose I have an extra $300,000 cash in the bank, would I become a wishful shopper too?
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
(178) Money for retirement
How much money one needs to retire on? I quot one ordinary couple who lives in a link house and drives ordinary cars: ten million dollars. (one US$ is about 3 local dollars)
Six women heard this remark. The only mathematical one, who happens to be a former banker, started calculating. Well, by conventional financial instruments, one could expect to produce $10,000 per month with $5 million. We started asking each other, none around the tea table needs that much to pay regular bills. Among the group, one careful soul said that if one is sick and requires expensive treatment then much more than that would be good to have on hand. Other than that, whoever made the claim either lives luxuriously or is filthy rich.
The retirement age in my country has just been raised to 60. Most women are happy for their husbands to work longer. Out of the six in the conversation group, two are looking forward to retire at 55. None of any of the group's children are married. The eldest single daughter represented is 32 years old. The eldest son found is 25. There is really no guarantee that retirement would mean having grand children to play with.
Six women heard this remark. The only mathematical one, who happens to be a former banker, started calculating. Well, by conventional financial instruments, one could expect to produce $10,000 per month with $5 million. We started asking each other, none around the tea table needs that much to pay regular bills. Among the group, one careful soul said that if one is sick and requires expensive treatment then much more than that would be good to have on hand. Other than that, whoever made the claim either lives luxuriously or is filthy rich.
The retirement age in my country has just been raised to 60. Most women are happy for their husbands to work longer. Out of the six in the conversation group, two are looking forward to retire at 55. None of any of the group's children are married. The eldest single daughter represented is 32 years old. The eldest son found is 25. There is really no guarantee that retirement would mean having grand children to play with.
Monday, December 10, 2012
(177) Young adults chose to be unemployed
Many years ago I heard my husband the amateur sociologist telling everyone who would listen that there was a trend for young folks in Japan who stayed home, did not work and chose to remain single while waiting to inherit the parents' wealth. My hubby spent a few months as an exchange student in the fair country of cherry blossoms.
A few years ago his former boss' son failed to finish his degree and ended up being a trust fund driver and companion to his wealthy parents. Today I heard that a rich couple has a middle daughter who graduated from a reputable university in Australia, worked at a local college for a few years and then sat at home for one and a half years twiddling her thumbs. At the same dinner table there was a lady whose son stayed in New Zealand for more than a year looking for some specific job but was not successful. The said young man has been in the country for many years and has obtained permanent resident status.
The young lady mentioned above spent her nights clubbing with her gainfully employed friends. She seemed to be rather happy with being unemployed, not really applying for jobs. The young man in question spent hours playing tennis with juniors in his university. They certainly are not bored at all!
For my generation, I don't remember ever hearing a single case like that unless the person involved has some physical or mental disability. Perhaps we were too busy climbing out of the extreme poverty we grew up in. The sudden wealth my generation acquired may yet turn out to be a curse for the next generation!
A few years ago his former boss' son failed to finish his degree and ended up being a trust fund driver and companion to his wealthy parents. Today I heard that a rich couple has a middle daughter who graduated from a reputable university in Australia, worked at a local college for a few years and then sat at home for one and a half years twiddling her thumbs. At the same dinner table there was a lady whose son stayed in New Zealand for more than a year looking for some specific job but was not successful. The said young man has been in the country for many years and has obtained permanent resident status.
The young lady mentioned above spent her nights clubbing with her gainfully employed friends. She seemed to be rather happy with being unemployed, not really applying for jobs. The young man in question spent hours playing tennis with juniors in his university. They certainly are not bored at all!
For my generation, I don't remember ever hearing a single case like that unless the person involved has some physical or mental disability. Perhaps we were too busy climbing out of the extreme poverty we grew up in. The sudden wealth my generation acquired may yet turn out to be a curse for the next generation!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
(176) Meeting one's old friends
Whenever friends return for visits, our former town crier tries to organize reunions. In the case when the visit was fleeting, it is usually arranged to the convenience of the visitor. Whomever contacted who could make it would join, those who could not make it just hope for better luck next round.
Some time next week I will go to one such event. This time I hope to see that the returnee relax, happy and contented. Our VIP was a former model, she was the prettiest and the most slender of us all in our early twenties. Her features were still good, she seemed slimmer the last time I met up with her; but from her body language she was far from happy then.
Her husband was in the business of some service providing in New Zealand. The fact that he is Asian probably does not help his business in his adopted land. Finances must have been tight because her visits were few and far in between. Her only daughter went through a very turbulent period as a teenager in the country down under. My friend has probably been biting the bullet for years. While all these have been happening, she went back to university to get herself the necessary qualification to teach.
I must remember to be as quiet as possible. It is not becoming to flout my homemaker status. While she has an NZ permanent resident permit, it came with great personal sacrifice. When I have been having a relatively easy life bringing up my brood of children here in home ground, she must have suffered and adapted to big changes abroad. Now that my chicks have flown the coop, I have less of a worry that I would lose all of them. It must be difficult for parents of singleton to release their precious treasure, what if she flies away and not return? My daughter, Elizabeth, asked me why do I still want to go? Well! It is the lesser of two evil. Of course I stand a chance of being shot at for having an easier life by staying in my homeland. The attack is not considered personal nor malicious. I do not want to lose my friends from elementary or high school days. It is so very easy to lose touch by not responding to invitations.
Some time next week I will go to one such event. This time I hope to see that the returnee relax, happy and contented. Our VIP was a former model, she was the prettiest and the most slender of us all in our early twenties. Her features were still good, she seemed slimmer the last time I met up with her; but from her body language she was far from happy then.
Her husband was in the business of some service providing in New Zealand. The fact that he is Asian probably does not help his business in his adopted land. Finances must have been tight because her visits were few and far in between. Her only daughter went through a very turbulent period as a teenager in the country down under. My friend has probably been biting the bullet for years. While all these have been happening, she went back to university to get herself the necessary qualification to teach.
I must remember to be as quiet as possible. It is not becoming to flout my homemaker status. While she has an NZ permanent resident permit, it came with great personal sacrifice. When I have been having a relatively easy life bringing up my brood of children here in home ground, she must have suffered and adapted to big changes abroad. Now that my chicks have flown the coop, I have less of a worry that I would lose all of them. It must be difficult for parents of singleton to release their precious treasure, what if she flies away and not return? My daughter, Elizabeth, asked me why do I still want to go? Well! It is the lesser of two evil. Of course I stand a chance of being shot at for having an easier life by staying in my homeland. The attack is not considered personal nor malicious. I do not want to lose my friends from elementary or high school days. It is so very easy to lose touch by not responding to invitations.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
(175) Number of children
I have always thought that the number of children we have denotes something about our choice. Since traditionally Chinese treasures sons, once a modern Chinese woman presents her husband with an male heir, no one could force her to beget another unless she agrees.
We start with my friend Amber. Amber has one son. Her mother kept advising her to have another, but in her youth she valued personal freedom and chose not to go through the business of pregnancy and years of inconvenience. Her son is grown now. She suffered through the fear of teenage suicide, son thinking of relocating with college girl friend to a state 2,000 miles away, fear of fast cars, drunken driving ... At long last she admitted that she was not wise in ignoring an old woman's wisdom.
Next we have Barbara, she has two sons. Both sons are gainfully employed and are of marriageable age. Despite the fact that both sons are sociable, there is no sign of any steady girl friends. Barbara of course is very envious of others' sons getting married. But nothing can be done since both guys are happy with their single state. Barbara could not even dream of begetting any grand babies.
Then we have Claire, who has three sons. Of all my friends, she came out with a really ingenious excuse for not having more children. She claimed that all her boys have expensive tastes. They only eat exorbitantly price fish fillets. Since each of them grew up with fish porridge every main meal, she said she could not afford any more.
Daisy is the next one with four sons and a daughter. She placed tremendous importance on the bottom figure in the bank account. Although she is rich, she claimed she could not afford foreign college education for a sixth child. In her old age, she ended with four of her five off springs in foreign countries.
Emily has five sons and one daughter. As soon as the youngest daughter was born, both Emily and her husband decided that their family is complete. Emily's husband passed on recently, her children rallied around her. Three of her children are abroad.
Of course no matter how many children we have, it does not guarantee that we would not age alone in an old folk's home.
We start with my friend Amber. Amber has one son. Her mother kept advising her to have another, but in her youth she valued personal freedom and chose not to go through the business of pregnancy and years of inconvenience. Her son is grown now. She suffered through the fear of teenage suicide, son thinking of relocating with college girl friend to a state 2,000 miles away, fear of fast cars, drunken driving ... At long last she admitted that she was not wise in ignoring an old woman's wisdom.
Next we have Barbara, she has two sons. Both sons are gainfully employed and are of marriageable age. Despite the fact that both sons are sociable, there is no sign of any steady girl friends. Barbara of course is very envious of others' sons getting married. But nothing can be done since both guys are happy with their single state. Barbara could not even dream of begetting any grand babies.
Then we have Claire, who has three sons. Of all my friends, she came out with a really ingenious excuse for not having more children. She claimed that all her boys have expensive tastes. They only eat exorbitantly price fish fillets. Since each of them grew up with fish porridge every main meal, she said she could not afford any more.
Daisy is the next one with four sons and a daughter. She placed tremendous importance on the bottom figure in the bank account. Although she is rich, she claimed she could not afford foreign college education for a sixth child. In her old age, she ended with four of her five off springs in foreign countries.
Emily has five sons and one daughter. As soon as the youngest daughter was born, both Emily and her husband decided that their family is complete. Emily's husband passed on recently, her children rallied around her. Three of her children are abroad.
Of course no matter how many children we have, it does not guarantee that we would not age alone in an old folk's home.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
(174) Statistics
Lately I noticed that a good percentage of my readers have different ways of accessing my blog which left no trace after they exit. It seemed that folks from former communist countries are more likely to be thus security conscious. But the other night I realized two of my real time readers from USA also seemed untraceable. Well, I do respect the individual need of privacy on the net.
A check from two sets of statistics showed me that two articles should have been included as top ten popular titles but did not because of my illusive self-effacing readers:
834 America by Stephen Fry
598 A walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
There are a further 3 entries that are very close too:
491 Blood Sugar Level
517 A Reluctant Queen by John Wolf
841 Crocodile meat as Medicine
Otherwise what was recorded in 697 still holds true.
A check from two sets of statistics showed me that two articles should have been included as top ten popular titles but did not because of my illusive self-effacing readers:
834 America by Stephen Fry
598 A walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
There are a further 3 entries that are very close too:
491 Blood Sugar Level
517 A Reluctant Queen by John Wolf
841 Crocodile meat as Medicine
Otherwise what was recorded in 697 still holds true.
(173) Where There is a Will by Jeffrey Archer
It is interesting to note how Ms Lynn Beattie skilfully talked her elderly sick employer to amend his will to give 30% of his huge estate to five of the organizations with prestigious law firms in USA and keepsake of a cane with a silver handle as well as a photograph of the deceased at Princeton to her. Once the new will was drafted, she adeptly substituted one paragraph to exchange things around to benefit herself. She was smart to pick a lawyer who did not qualify to become a partner in her employer's Law firm to witness the signing of the improved version of the new will.
The long and short of it meant Ms Beattie inherited a cool 70 million dollars while Chester(son of the millionaire who lived away from his dad) was left with a silver handled cane and Joni (daughter of the millionaire who lived in another country) was to get an old picture of her dad.
Recently I attended a wake of the husband of my mum's girl hood friend. During his final illness, the deceased's wife turned down an appointment for a proper will to be drawn up. She chose to save a few hundred dollars and decided to put the entire estate into one off spring's name as caretaker. For the moment, it seemed a convenient and economical decision. But no one lives more than a hundred and twenty five years, should that caretaker dies intestate then all the worldly goods would go to the family, who is to say whether these individuals would restore what was rightfully the rest of the siblings (uncles and aunties)?
Very often decisions of this kind would eventually cause families to fragment, the wealth left behind became a curse to alienate the heirs rather than to bless them.
The long and short of it meant Ms Beattie inherited a cool 70 million dollars while Chester(son of the millionaire who lived away from his dad) was left with a silver handled cane and Joni (daughter of the millionaire who lived in another country) was to get an old picture of her dad.
Recently I attended a wake of the husband of my mum's girl hood friend. During his final illness, the deceased's wife turned down an appointment for a proper will to be drawn up. She chose to save a few hundred dollars and decided to put the entire estate into one off spring's name as caretaker. For the moment, it seemed a convenient and economical decision. But no one lives more than a hundred and twenty five years, should that caretaker dies intestate then all the worldly goods would go to the family, who is to say whether these individuals would restore what was rightfully the rest of the siblings (uncles and aunties)?
Very often decisions of this kind would eventually cause families to fragment, the wealth left behind became a curse to alienate the heirs rather than to bless them.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
(172) The Queen's Birthday Telegram by Jeffrey Archer
When I was studying in America, I have heard lots of jokes making fun of women who never become older, at least by their own claims. It came as no surprise that a wife would lie to be a few years younger than her beloved husband in Archer's story.
Strangely, since I have returned home, I have come across only one neighbor who blatantly claimed to be at least five years younger than her legal age. In her case, it was futile to lie as there was a lady from her home town living a few doors away. The person who told untruth went to the same school as the other lady. In fact the former was a classmate of the latter's second elder brother. While the latter said she was sixty five, the former claimed her brother's sixty one.
All the while, I have been filling in forms that my father was born in the year 1923. When he died, by Taoist practice, there were to be two lanterns showing his age added to 3 (1 for heaven, 1 for earth and one for man kind). I was taken aback when it showed 91. I was expecting it to show 87, which means after deducting 3, he was 84 when he passed on. Apparently, according to his horoscope, we could tell his legal age was 4 years less than his biological age. After the funeral, I asked my mother about the discrepancy and the answer was ages were often reported lower for guys during the prewar years to avoid conscription into the army. If my father did not resort to lie about his age to the Japanese, he could have been sent to build the death railway that passed through Thailand to Burma and I might not be here today writing about him.
Well, I suppose I could buy the argument to lie to survive so that at least one son could stay home to look after the family. On my mother side, one uncle went to China to further his studies. Since his education had been interrupted by the war, he conveniently reported his age to be four years younger so that he stood a chance to compete for a prestigious placement in the medical faculty. His ploy was successful and years later he retired as a urologist. After he left for China, his elder brother conveniently took his identity and became five years younger. Until today, I could not fathom why he wanted to be five years younger. Could it be that he liked his younger brother's name? Or maybe he thought by doing that he had more years to make money?
Perhaps because women don't have the problem of being drafted, my mother and all my aunties went by their real age. If they lie at all, they often add to their legal age as old age is well respected in the Chinese society.
Strangely, since I have returned home, I have come across only one neighbor who blatantly claimed to be at least five years younger than her legal age. In her case, it was futile to lie as there was a lady from her home town living a few doors away. The person who told untruth went to the same school as the other lady. In fact the former was a classmate of the latter's second elder brother. While the latter said she was sixty five, the former claimed her brother's sixty one.
All the while, I have been filling in forms that my father was born in the year 1923. When he died, by Taoist practice, there were to be two lanterns showing his age added to 3 (1 for heaven, 1 for earth and one for man kind). I was taken aback when it showed 91. I was expecting it to show 87, which means after deducting 3, he was 84 when he passed on. Apparently, according to his horoscope, we could tell his legal age was 4 years less than his biological age. After the funeral, I asked my mother about the discrepancy and the answer was ages were often reported lower for guys during the prewar years to avoid conscription into the army. If my father did not resort to lie about his age to the Japanese, he could have been sent to build the death railway that passed through Thailand to Burma and I might not be here today writing about him.
Well, I suppose I could buy the argument to lie to survive so that at least one son could stay home to look after the family. On my mother side, one uncle went to China to further his studies. Since his education had been interrupted by the war, he conveniently reported his age to be four years younger so that he stood a chance to compete for a prestigious placement in the medical faculty. His ploy was successful and years later he retired as a urologist. After he left for China, his elder brother conveniently took his identity and became five years younger. Until today, I could not fathom why he wanted to be five years younger. Could it be that he liked his younger brother's name? Or maybe he thought by doing that he had more years to make money?
Perhaps because women don't have the problem of being drafted, my mother and all my aunties went by their real age. If they lie at all, they often add to their legal age as old age is well respected in the Chinese society.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
(171) Stuck on You by Jeffrey Archer
In this real story a young man was besotted by a society girl enough to help steal a pricey engagement ring.
One parallel in my country would be the rich being stolen from by foreign maids whose deeds could hardly be proven. I will bring forward just one case. My mother has a good friend whom she met while studying hairdressing as young unmarried girls. This friend happened to choose a husband of high earning power. While her children were young, she used to have local maids. Once her eldest son was married, she has no choice but to rely on a series of Indonesian maids.
At this point I must point out that I personally know quite a few good and honest Indonesian maids of different religions who work for long periods of time for a few of my friends. While I could not vouch for the integrity of most Indon maids, I could only claim that I am illustrating how rotten one particular "apple" is.
To get back to my mum's friend, she has had a maid that worked for her family for seven years. During that period, they normally hired two maids: one for child care and the other to look after her husband who was wheel chair bound. It was only after the long standing good maid left to get married to a man in her village that they realized she had stolen from them.
There was an impending marriage in my mum's buddy's family, a niece was being married off from her house as the niece's parents are from 400 Km away. They looked for the family heirloom tea set that came from China. (It is customary for the bride and groom to serve tea to older relatives after a wedding.) That particular tea set was worth a good penny as collectors were still looking for it. They used to display that set in a locked cabinet in the sitting room. A guest with special knowledge in ancient porcelain advised them to stop displaying it. It was then placed on the highest shelve in the kitchen out of sight.
Her good maid was well trusted that she was allowed to keep watch for the family when everyone went on vacation. It never entered anyone's mind that she would steal from them. Well! That expensive tea set is no where to be found. As they searched high and low for it, their new maid mentioned about the "loss" to the next door maid who in turn told her mistress. This neighbor came with her chauffeur. Apparently there were a number of occasions when the supposedly good and trusted maid asked on behalf of her mistress for the next door chauffeur to mail a few packages to a relative in Penang. The maid would pay the chauffeur a little in excess of the postage as a small token of appreciation. Neither the neighbor nor the chauffeur suspected the packages were not from our good lady, the mistress. After all, she does have a cousin sister in Penang. This cousin sister hired a maid from the trusted maid's village. Since that cousin sister was bed ridden, her maid had a wide range of mobility. The trusted maid had seven long years to think of what she could steal and send away without being missed. She probably started with things of lesser value. By mailing it to the cousin sister's house, no one suspected anything. After all, she has never left the house on her own without being accompanied by at least someone from her employer's family. Once the item arrived in Penang, the other maid would repack it and mail it to the trusted maid's home. A bed ridden woman could not really be sure what her maid was up to.
Sad to say, the shock was not from monetary loss or even from sentimental reason of missing a family heirloom. They have treated the trusted maid like a member of their family. Every two years, they increased her salary. Whenever she returned home, they bought her and her family members gifts. When she left for the last time, they collected from the extended family to buy her a decent gold necklace as a marriage gift. It was betrayal that hurts the most.
Or you can look at it my husband's way: he said that some of the people in my country have too much money. They ended up buying all kinds of things that they could not use. There are too many assets in the house that are not properly locked up. According to him, if a smart and unscrupulous maid could systematically steal from them for seven long years and they did not find out until she was gone, they could well afford to lose those items graciously: consider they have given the maid a chance to right the imbalance of wealth distribution between my country and Indonesia! What do you think?
One parallel in my country would be the rich being stolen from by foreign maids whose deeds could hardly be proven. I will bring forward just one case. My mother has a good friend whom she met while studying hairdressing as young unmarried girls. This friend happened to choose a husband of high earning power. While her children were young, she used to have local maids. Once her eldest son was married, she has no choice but to rely on a series of Indonesian maids.
At this point I must point out that I personally know quite a few good and honest Indonesian maids of different religions who work for long periods of time for a few of my friends. While I could not vouch for the integrity of most Indon maids, I could only claim that I am illustrating how rotten one particular "apple" is.
To get back to my mum's friend, she has had a maid that worked for her family for seven years. During that period, they normally hired two maids: one for child care and the other to look after her husband who was wheel chair bound. It was only after the long standing good maid left to get married to a man in her village that they realized she had stolen from them.
There was an impending marriage in my mum's buddy's family, a niece was being married off from her house as the niece's parents are from 400 Km away. They looked for the family heirloom tea set that came from China. (It is customary for the bride and groom to serve tea to older relatives after a wedding.) That particular tea set was worth a good penny as collectors were still looking for it. They used to display that set in a locked cabinet in the sitting room. A guest with special knowledge in ancient porcelain advised them to stop displaying it. It was then placed on the highest shelve in the kitchen out of sight.
Her good maid was well trusted that she was allowed to keep watch for the family when everyone went on vacation. It never entered anyone's mind that she would steal from them. Well! That expensive tea set is no where to be found. As they searched high and low for it, their new maid mentioned about the "loss" to the next door maid who in turn told her mistress. This neighbor came with her chauffeur. Apparently there were a number of occasions when the supposedly good and trusted maid asked on behalf of her mistress for the next door chauffeur to mail a few packages to a relative in Penang. The maid would pay the chauffeur a little in excess of the postage as a small token of appreciation. Neither the neighbor nor the chauffeur suspected the packages were not from our good lady, the mistress. After all, she does have a cousin sister in Penang. This cousin sister hired a maid from the trusted maid's village. Since that cousin sister was bed ridden, her maid had a wide range of mobility. The trusted maid had seven long years to think of what she could steal and send away without being missed. She probably started with things of lesser value. By mailing it to the cousin sister's house, no one suspected anything. After all, she has never left the house on her own without being accompanied by at least someone from her employer's family. Once the item arrived in Penang, the other maid would repack it and mail it to the trusted maid's home. A bed ridden woman could not really be sure what her maid was up to.
Sad to say, the shock was not from monetary loss or even from sentimental reason of missing a family heirloom. They have treated the trusted maid like a member of their family. Every two years, they increased her salary. Whenever she returned home, they bought her and her family members gifts. When she left for the last time, they collected from the extended family to buy her a decent gold necklace as a marriage gift. It was betrayal that hurts the most.
Or you can look at it my husband's way: he said that some of the people in my country have too much money. They ended up buying all kinds of things that they could not use. There are too many assets in the house that are not properly locked up. According to him, if a smart and unscrupulous maid could systematically steal from them for seven long years and they did not find out until she was gone, they could well afford to lose those items graciously: consider they have given the maid a chance to right the imbalance of wealth distribution between my country and Indonesia! What do you think?
(170) The Wisdom of Solomon by Jeffrey Archer
If you have read this story, you would agree with the title: remember how Solomon gave the judgement to cut a living child into two to divide it to give to two contesting mothers?
Instead of Bob, in real (happen to be mine) life the soft brain one was a great friend of mine: Serene. Just like Bob was in his forties as a man when his brain turned soft, Serene was in her early thirties when her biological clock struck.
In place of Fiona, we have John the male version of a gold digger. Interestingly, John was not handsome and tall. In fact he was thin and below average height. There is nothing in his physical build, looks and demeanour that recommended him to be the ideal husband of my friend, Serene.
I am a woman who is straight forward and would call a spade a spade. Because of my wise husband, I was more than civil in my exchanges with Serene's prospective husband. In a way, I was glad that after a parade of accountants, engineers and managers for close to ten years, Serene has finally chosen a male that could provide her with legitimate heirs. By that time, my eldest child was seven and I was quite impatient with my friend's series of failed romances.
One day Serene was complaining about all her family members and relations because they objected to her lover boy. I made it very clear to her that I personally have nothing against her intended. But I brought up the possible points of contention:
1. educational - she has a foreign degree but he might not even have a High School Equivalency
2. station in life - she is a fully qualified accountant but he is not even an executive in construction line
3. back ground - she is a city girl but he was from a village I have never heard of
4. exposure - she is well traveled but he has only been to Singapore and Thailand
5. age - he is a good 14 years older than her
6. Culture - her father went by boat to Australia for his Masters, he used to have 32,000 subordinates before he retired but his father died early leaving a few acres of rubber estate
To every point I stated calmly, she had a clear rebuttal. I chose to keep a few minor points unsaid and wished her the best.
Fast forward 10 years and Serene told me that until her husband joined EE (Evangelistic Explosion), she thought he was a non-believer going to the church as a country club for more than 20 years. I was aghast at that estimation. Well, thank God for EE, we now know that he is a genuine believer from that point on.
They came to visit us in Silver City and I had problem ridding my downstairs toilet of cigarette smell for almost two weeks. I searched the entire house and could not find a single cigarette. My husband and each child had a good laugh at me. Finally I found cigarette butts caught between the sieve and the water outlet. The next time I visited Serene, I asked her maid in confidence. She whispered that she had the very same suspicion as she too had to clean the downstairs toilet many times because of the same complaint. It is amazing that an impostor (John pretended to be a born again Christian) could keep such a fact (he has been a long standing smoker) from his wife for at least 20 years. Either he was darn good at deceiving or she has been really blur. I certainly hope that Serene would meet her Mrs Justice Butler in some form, I wonder if her punishment for disobeying all her near and dear folks (prior to marriage) would have to last until the moment she breathed her last!?
In this case, the gold digger wanted respectability. There would be no divorce. It looks like Serene would just have to tolerate him until one of them passes on. In spite of the many years of difference in age, he looks younger than her and he is fitter than her. She has been supporting him in financial terms practically from month 14 (after marriage) onward. While she gets stressed at work and still comes home to a second shift, he reads newspaper whole day long and has plenty of time to exercise. It really looks like he would out live her and then enjoy her vast fortune that came down from her parents.
Instead of Bob, in real (happen to be mine) life the soft brain one was a great friend of mine: Serene. Just like Bob was in his forties as a man when his brain turned soft, Serene was in her early thirties when her biological clock struck.
In place of Fiona, we have John the male version of a gold digger. Interestingly, John was not handsome and tall. In fact he was thin and below average height. There is nothing in his physical build, looks and demeanour that recommended him to be the ideal husband of my friend, Serene.
I am a woman who is straight forward and would call a spade a spade. Because of my wise husband, I was more than civil in my exchanges with Serene's prospective husband. In a way, I was glad that after a parade of accountants, engineers and managers for close to ten years, Serene has finally chosen a male that could provide her with legitimate heirs. By that time, my eldest child was seven and I was quite impatient with my friend's series of failed romances.
One day Serene was complaining about all her family members and relations because they objected to her lover boy. I made it very clear to her that I personally have nothing against her intended. But I brought up the possible points of contention:
1. educational - she has a foreign degree but he might not even have a High School Equivalency
2. station in life - she is a fully qualified accountant but he is not even an executive in construction line
3. back ground - she is a city girl but he was from a village I have never heard of
4. exposure - she is well traveled but he has only been to Singapore and Thailand
5. age - he is a good 14 years older than her
6. Culture - her father went by boat to Australia for his Masters, he used to have 32,000 subordinates before he retired but his father died early leaving a few acres of rubber estate
To every point I stated calmly, she had a clear rebuttal. I chose to keep a few minor points unsaid and wished her the best.
Fast forward 10 years and Serene told me that until her husband joined EE (Evangelistic Explosion), she thought he was a non-believer going to the church as a country club for more than 20 years. I was aghast at that estimation. Well, thank God for EE, we now know that he is a genuine believer from that point on.
They came to visit us in Silver City and I had problem ridding my downstairs toilet of cigarette smell for almost two weeks. I searched the entire house and could not find a single cigarette. My husband and each child had a good laugh at me. Finally I found cigarette butts caught between the sieve and the water outlet. The next time I visited Serene, I asked her maid in confidence. She whispered that she had the very same suspicion as she too had to clean the downstairs toilet many times because of the same complaint. It is amazing that an impostor (John pretended to be a born again Christian) could keep such a fact (he has been a long standing smoker) from his wife for at least 20 years. Either he was darn good at deceiving or she has been really blur. I certainly hope that Serene would meet her Mrs Justice Butler in some form, I wonder if her punishment for disobeying all her near and dear folks (prior to marriage) would have to last until the moment she breathed her last!?
In this case, the gold digger wanted respectability. There would be no divorce. It looks like Serene would just have to tolerate him until one of them passes on. In spite of the many years of difference in age, he looks younger than her and he is fitter than her. She has been supporting him in financial terms practically from month 14 (after marriage) onward. While she gets stressed at work and still comes home to a second shift, he reads newspaper whole day long and has plenty of time to exercise. It really looks like he would out live her and then enjoy her vast fortune that came down from her parents.
(169) Working hard in the shadow areas
When I was teaching remedial English, I normally keep mum about my 6 years of elementary Chinese education. Once I built the rapport and earned the students' respect, I would choose the right time to reveal my background.
Usually when one student complaint that he was sent to a Chinese medium school while all his sisters were sent to National schools, I would tell them it was so with me too. All my brothers were sent for English medium education because they would have better prospects in getting well paying jobs. It was very hard to break into the English speaking world, especially when all my neighbors and close friends then were dedicated Mandarin speakers.
To all the incredulity displayed on my students' faces and their claim that I was talented in languages, I would reveal my failures in English and the National language in Grade 5 and 6. I admit I was talented in Chinese essay writing. But until today I have not picked it up since I dropped that in college. My command in English came from close to 40 years of sheer hard work.
Since I was 12 years old I started a discipline of doing something every day to improve my English. For instance on Monday I would write an English letter to one of my pen friends. On Tuesday I would read aloud the newspaper article I chose and worked on understanding on Sunday. On Wednesday I would make use of my Interact Club (a school affiliation of Rotary Club) friends' good language skills by saying out sentences made with new words I learned that week, their laughed their heads off more often than not. But usually among three of them they corrected my few sentences for conversational use. On Thursday I would visit my neighbor and watch an English TV program, probably a movie or a serial. On Friday I would read a simplified classic not more than 100 pages. On Saturday I would keep my transistor radio on throughout the afternoon and night listening to Australia Broadcasting, BBC or the Voice of America. Finally on Sunday I would force myself to read the two pages of New Straits Times where the editorial was printed. It would take hours as I need to check the dictionary many times.
The rationale behind all that goal setting is:-
Monday -- writing
Tuesday -- oral (reading aloud)
Wednesday-- Verbal (using words in the correct context)
Thursday -- video (image and audio)
Friday -- reading
Saturday -- audio (exposing myself to accents of foreigners)
Sunday -- increasing vocabulary from a serious publication
To this program of improvement I studiously stuck to for at least 8 years. Of course there were days that I could not do what I was supposed to do because of scheduling. I would make a note and cover the shortfall on a public holiday if possible. Otherwise I added what I neglected to my time-table during school vacation. Through these years I was active in the library, the literary and debating club as well as the student government.
Usually when one student complaint that he was sent to a Chinese medium school while all his sisters were sent to National schools, I would tell them it was so with me too. All my brothers were sent for English medium education because they would have better prospects in getting well paying jobs. It was very hard to break into the English speaking world, especially when all my neighbors and close friends then were dedicated Mandarin speakers.
To all the incredulity displayed on my students' faces and their claim that I was talented in languages, I would reveal my failures in English and the National language in Grade 5 and 6. I admit I was talented in Chinese essay writing. But until today I have not picked it up since I dropped that in college. My command in English came from close to 40 years of sheer hard work.
Since I was 12 years old I started a discipline of doing something every day to improve my English. For instance on Monday I would write an English letter to one of my pen friends. On Tuesday I would read aloud the newspaper article I chose and worked on understanding on Sunday. On Wednesday I would make use of my Interact Club (a school affiliation of Rotary Club) friends' good language skills by saying out sentences made with new words I learned that week, their laughed their heads off more often than not. But usually among three of them they corrected my few sentences for conversational use. On Thursday I would visit my neighbor and watch an English TV program, probably a movie or a serial. On Friday I would read a simplified classic not more than 100 pages. On Saturday I would keep my transistor radio on throughout the afternoon and night listening to Australia Broadcasting, BBC or the Voice of America. Finally on Sunday I would force myself to read the two pages of New Straits Times where the editorial was printed. It would take hours as I need to check the dictionary many times.
The rationale behind all that goal setting is:-
Monday -- writing
Tuesday -- oral (reading aloud)
Wednesday-- Verbal (using words in the correct context)
Thursday -- video (image and audio)
Friday -- reading
Saturday -- audio (exposing myself to accents of foreigners)
Sunday -- increasing vocabulary from a serious publication
To this program of improvement I studiously stuck to for at least 8 years. Of course there were days that I could not do what I was supposed to do because of scheduling. I would make a note and cover the shortfall on a public holiday if possible. Otherwise I added what I neglected to my time-table during school vacation. Through these years I was active in the library, the literary and debating club as well as the student government.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
(168) A Change of Heart by Jeffrey Archer
In this short story, the white man who caused the death of a black man survived to use the deceased's heart to live another 4 years.
On the first level, he did literally changed his own heart for a negro's heart.
Figuratively, he awoke with full repentance. He gave up everything to serve the poor and needy blacks that he did not even treat as humans before his operation.
I don't want to appear as a white basher here. I believe that given certain backgrounds, circumstances and culture, any race could and would treat some other races as sub-human. I heard that in Singapore, only mainland Chinese with money were allowed in to artificially keep up the Chinese to non-Chinese ratio for election purposes. Australia has been on a pro-white but against Asian immigration policy for decades.
In my country, the English standard was artificially killed from 1976 or thereabouts. Overnight, all subjects in elementary and high schools were switched to be taught in the national language. Now we see the result: in a premier public university, out of a small batch of first year English Literature students, they could not find 5 qualified students who could work towards Lit degrees. For practical reasons, all the students from that year may have to be shunted to an easier stream called English Studies.
These current students are lucky that they were admitted to courses of studies that are recognized and would not cost a bomb. Back to my batch, most of my friends who would have qualified by merit to enter into public universities ended up as article clerks and worked their ways to become chartered accountants. There was the class clown Jack (I remember him as the practical joker who put ice cubes down the prettiest girl's collar). He is a chartered accountant now and lives in Australia with his family. There was Clarence, the tallest boy with nimble fingers who could confidently extract things from the girls' pockets without touching us. Clarence is the Head of an Accountancy College in town now. There was the bad boy Vincent who owns his Accounting Consultancy. There was Pamela who took eight years to qualify for her ACCA, she married late and has a son at 43 years old. These are the few accountants I can off hand name out of a class of 30.
On the first level, he did literally changed his own heart for a negro's heart.
Figuratively, he awoke with full repentance. He gave up everything to serve the poor and needy blacks that he did not even treat as humans before his operation.
I don't want to appear as a white basher here. I believe that given certain backgrounds, circumstances and culture, any race could and would treat some other races as sub-human. I heard that in Singapore, only mainland Chinese with money were allowed in to artificially keep up the Chinese to non-Chinese ratio for election purposes. Australia has been on a pro-white but against Asian immigration policy for decades.
In my country, the English standard was artificially killed from 1976 or thereabouts. Overnight, all subjects in elementary and high schools were switched to be taught in the national language. Now we see the result: in a premier public university, out of a small batch of first year English Literature students, they could not find 5 qualified students who could work towards Lit degrees. For practical reasons, all the students from that year may have to be shunted to an easier stream called English Studies.
These current students are lucky that they were admitted to courses of studies that are recognized and would not cost a bomb. Back to my batch, most of my friends who would have qualified by merit to enter into public universities ended up as article clerks and worked their ways to become chartered accountants. There was the class clown Jack (I remember him as the practical joker who put ice cubes down the prettiest girl's collar). He is a chartered accountant now and lives in Australia with his family. There was Clarence, the tallest boy with nimble fingers who could confidently extract things from the girls' pockets without touching us. Clarence is the Head of an Accountancy College in town now. There was the bad boy Vincent who owns his Accounting Consultancy. There was Pamela who took eight years to qualify for her ACCA, she married late and has a son at 43 years old. These are the few accountants I can off hand name out of a class of 30.
(167) A Matter of Honor by Jeffrey Archer
If you care to check the number of books I have written about in the past six months, perhaps you would be impressed if I say that the above mentioned book is certainly the best I have read lately.
What I really like about Adam Scott is that he is not perfect in every way as some fictional heroes were painted to be. He needed the gift from his grandfather to study in the right school to qualify to join the army. He was a good soldier, but the smear on his father's reputation prevented him from progressing in the armed forces. Instead of drinking himself to oblivion or becoming bitter, he resigned and look at greener pasture: foreign service.
One thing that has the ring of truth in it was his new girl friend being killed by the Russian agent. Surely even the important characters also get killed, it cannot be that all heroes and heroines survive kicking until the very last page.
Archer made Scott excellent but not unreal. Even a good and great guy is caught by the crooks. What gladdens the heart is to read that the mole: mentor was extinguished by Romanov before the story ends. I remember learning in world history that USA bought Alaska(thought of as an ice wasteland) from Russia for a relatively small amount of money hundreds of years ago. As a teenager I thought Russia was stupid to sell such a large territory for so little money. Later, the transaction was brought up by my Greek Economics Lecturer in college Econ 101. He talked about it and calculated the present and future value of the sum in question. After he related how big the purchasing power in the by gone years were, I began to see the transaction as economically sound.
What I really like about Adam Scott is that he is not perfect in every way as some fictional heroes were painted to be. He needed the gift from his grandfather to study in the right school to qualify to join the army. He was a good soldier, but the smear on his father's reputation prevented him from progressing in the armed forces. Instead of drinking himself to oblivion or becoming bitter, he resigned and look at greener pasture: foreign service.
One thing that has the ring of truth in it was his new girl friend being killed by the Russian agent. Surely even the important characters also get killed, it cannot be that all heroes and heroines survive kicking until the very last page.
Archer made Scott excellent but not unreal. Even a good and great guy is caught by the crooks. What gladdens the heart is to read that the mole: mentor was extinguished by Romanov before the story ends. I remember learning in world history that USA bought Alaska(thought of as an ice wasteland) from Russia for a relatively small amount of money hundreds of years ago. As a teenager I thought Russia was stupid to sell such a large territory for so little money. Later, the transaction was brought up by my Greek Economics Lecturer in college Econ 101. He talked about it and calculated the present and future value of the sum in question. After he related how big the purchasing power in the by gone years were, I began to see the transaction as economically sound.
(165) Shall We Tell the President by Jeffrey Archer
This is the third book in the series: Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter and Shall We Tell the President.
Florentyna Abel Kane was a most unusual woman. She was the only offspring of a pair of Polish immigrants. Her dad became the proud owner of the Baron Hotels chain worldwide, one rags to riches story. She met the son of a banking millionaire and married him despite both fathers objecting. Eloping to the West Coast, she became a success selling women apparel on her own merit.
Archer seemed to have a record of twisting the tale. He allowed the younger Kane to die in a car accident. By the time Florentyna was the Vice President, she was in a comfortable relationship with her long time admirer Edward Winchester. She seemed to have married her old friend before she moved into The White House as the Chief of the nation.
The chapters of this rather thin book were action packed and believable. I agree that it is better written than The Day of the Jackal. Apart from Jackie Kennedy, I can't seem to think of any other beautiful and influential woman with ability, wit and brain enough like the first fictional Polish descent American President.
Florentyna Abel Kane was a most unusual woman. She was the only offspring of a pair of Polish immigrants. Her dad became the proud owner of the Baron Hotels chain worldwide, one rags to riches story. She met the son of a banking millionaire and married him despite both fathers objecting. Eloping to the West Coast, she became a success selling women apparel on her own merit.
Archer seemed to have a record of twisting the tale. He allowed the younger Kane to die in a car accident. By the time Florentyna was the Vice President, she was in a comfortable relationship with her long time admirer Edward Winchester. She seemed to have married her old friend before she moved into The White House as the Chief of the nation.
The chapters of this rather thin book were action packed and believable. I agree that it is better written than The Day of the Jackal. Apart from Jackie Kennedy, I can't seem to think of any other beautiful and influential woman with ability, wit and brain enough like the first fictional Polish descent American President.
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