BALANCE.

Busy with work and personal...

At work, I've been busy with helping out with an IPO which has been a tiring process. At least, I can enjoy pockets of fresh air between scheduled SEC filing dates, and by now, we've gone through the most difficult parts of the process. Personally, I'm supposed to be busy with wedding planning, which unfortunately has taken a back seat due to busyness at work. Plus, David and I greatly value the meaning behind a wedding, being the future path of marriage, we are not people who gain great satisfaction in the meticulous planning of this event. Nonetheless, gradual progress has been made though I should spend a lot more time on it.

But, in my geeky worldview, I can't help but to notice the parallels between the IPO and wedding planning. After all, the bottom line is that they are both projects to manage.

1. Kick off meeting and all parties meetings

2. Draft the project timeline and budget

3. Clarify requirements with the lawyers

4. Liaise with the printers and submit change pages on the printers proof

Haha -- ok, enough. Anyway, I am happy that my IPO is priced and trading, so now I can focus more attention on the *other* project. :p

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

Addendum -- I'm hoping I pulled my last all-nighter for 2009 and possibly, my ________ ________.

posted by GY @ 2:55 AM

Err.... is this a new pose?

Major billboard for a busy Wanchai gym. I guess they are aiming to attract people who aren't really into sports??

posted by GY @ 12:11 PM

Happy belated

A little coincidental that finally, on the 60th anniversary of the PRC (Oct 1 -- this post is backdated for easy searching), I have some space and time to write this long-awaited reflection for my own anniversary of half as many years. As I say every year, I don't place much intrinsic value on the day (I think I worked until 9pm that day); rather, it is simply a convenient milestone to gauge the progress in our lifetime. Though that's a misnomer since I ultimately defer to God's progress in my life, for any progression that I appear to exhibit can only be attributed to his guidance and carry. No doubt, my entire journey is a most blessed one: growing up in a loving family having learned healthy values, enjoying a joyful education in various healthy social environments, reflecting on the realities of this world as grounded in a healthy spiritual foundation -- health -- the new virtuous goal of the developed world (i.e., more virtuous than the goal of money) is something human effort can only manage so much but is ultimately outside our control. And usually, people only contemplate physical health, let alone the health of the holistic person, or even further, the health of a community, society, or the world (which, I would unfortunately describe as 'cancerous'). To be sure, I would not see this aspect of my blessings were it not for David, who experiences less than ideal health on a daily basis, though through it all, he maintains a spiritual perseverance that is affecting.

So, while such many blessings are to be appreciated and enjoyed, God demands a response, and many of us respond with good intentions in varying degrees. I confess my response has often been made inferior as I knowingly constrict it within practical and rationalized limits. A recent bout of busyness at work was a poignant reminder of my personal weakness to actively maintain the status quo or to deliver superficial achievements to the neglect of true personal freedom. While it is commendable to be a responsible and competent employee, it is not everything.* Plus, having generally enjoyed a very comfortable three years thus far in Hong Kong (exactly to the day!), I know I have exhibited an unacceptable level of mental laziness that I know needs to change. Last year, I alluded to certain impending changes and this year, this birthday marks a turning point in my understanding of that freedom -- true freedom in faith.

As a first try, I left a comfort zone in Toronto, and unexpectedly jumped into an even bigger comfort zone in Hong Kong. Next, I came to terms with stepping out of the comfort zone that is "the Firm". Having 'grown up' in the Firm, the very thought of leaving it brought me mental stress and anxiety last year. I have accepted (and embraced!) that now, but there is yet another step of leaving the industry. This thought still frightens me to tears, which I know is an attack on faith that draws out many underlying psychological fears. That manifestation is a little scary, and even scarier when I realize how much I claw to hold on to my so-far past life, meanwhile not regarding a hopeful future in possibly a handful more decades. While I work through this, David provides much motivation and support to progress along this long journey. Yes, we plan to study full time together next year. I will apply for programs in Education and will see what roles God provides me.

And so, such change -- of family status, of career, of location -- is spiritually, mentally, and emotionally very scary, but infinitely exciting at the same time. Only God can provide peace that transcends our understanding to enable the strength required to live a free and healthy life amidst the uncertainties, discomforts, and chaos of this world. Further, I think faith to live in God's freedom is part and parcel of our personal identity in Christ, another one of my recurring themes. To be sure of my identity in Christ is to believe his death on the cross not only (abstractly) released my soul from the grip of sin, but also released my soul from the very tangible constrictions that compartment our lives. With this new understanding of freedom, this year marks the undertaking of a new, long, difficult, exciting, gracious, and hopefully fruitful journey...

“They were a free people, free to live in faith before a merciful, saving God. But a free life of faith, lived in the vast and gracious mysteries of God, is a large, demanding life—it is far easier to live small, reduced to the visible and tangible requirements of petty gods and tyrant kings.” -- Eugene H. Peterson, "First and Second Samuel", p. 56, in commentary of 1 Samuel 8:4-18, where the Israelites rejected God's kingship and demanded a human and tangible king, like the other nations.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

* One of the best leadership books that I have read discusses leadership as a similar challenge through the release of your own identity in the course of leadership: "Building the Bridge as You Walk on It" - Robert E. Quinn.

posted by GY @ 10:14 AM

Tiens! Tiens! Tiens!

C’était depuis longtemps que j’ai utilisé un petit peu de français. La première fois après ma graduation d’école secondaire était peut-être deux ans et demi avant que j’ai rencontré une dame française en la province de Yunnan en Chine. Je me souviens que j’ai oublié le mot pour «cow» - vache – c’est triste hein? En écrire cet «blog», j’ai remarqué que je ne connais pas les «shortcuts» pour les letters avec des accents, un peu frustrant!

En tout cas, pourquoi la motivation? J’ai attendée une presentation de «小王子» - le petit prince (en chinois). C’était une musicale typicallement en style de Hong Kong ; les gens dans la spectacle étaient un peu ennuyeux que j’étais peur que la musicale va ruiner pour moi l’histoire du petit prince. Alors, celle nuit, j’ai trouvé l’histoire du petit prince, et puisque l’originale est en français, j’ai decidé à essayer la lire en langue originale.

Et je comprends! Au moins, je pense que je comprends la majorité de l’histoire. Après tout, c’est une histoire pour les enfants et l’auteur a été l’écrivé en une style simple. Je suis joyeuse alors, j’imagine si je peux écrire un «blog» en français. Alors, je peux, mais ce procès prend assez longtemps!! Mais, j’ai absolument besoin de réapprendre un niveau de français, je pense que c’est possible, avec beaucoup de temps! Peut-être je vais trouvé ma copie de «le petit Robert dictionnaire» chez moi en Toronto, mais maintenant, nous avons l’internet et on peut facilement utiliser beaucoup d’outils pour la traduction, spécialement «Google Translator»!

posted by GY @ 1:56 PM

The name of the game: "No jetlag!"
The objective of game: "No jetlag!"

I'm back in Hong Kong and have started to catch up on work (IPO activity has palpably picked up), church (preparing for fellowship EM), Tyndale course (two final papers due in the next couple of weeks), and also hanging out a bit with my brother who came over right after I left last June (can you please go to sham shui po and help me pick up a router?)

No jetlag!

Thankfully, I have been able to get generally adequate rest at night, though I was hoping for more rest by the excuse of a typhoon -- an excuse that didn't pan out since it hit on Saturday night and was clear by 6am on Sunday morning. However, I still need to instill discipline to control my ever-erratic sleeping patterns on a continuing basis.

I also had a wonderful trip (pictures on Facebook, of course) with some of the following experiences:

Outdoor wedding (Toronto) - If you receive an invitation to an outdoor wedding, ensure to go early, lest you end up in the overflow seats outside the tent under the strongest rays of the beating sun (at high noon, no less). So much for trying not to tan (I slightly burned.) It was a beautiful wedding though, with wonderful weather!

Preston and Bolton, Lancashire, UK - Two recondite cities I am sure most people would never visit during their lifetime. It was worthwhile to explore these two tiny cities in advance of actually moving here (chances are slim now, if any) because while David and I believe there are aspects of the monastic spirit that are worth emulating, we don't agree on extreme asceticism.

Boston, MA, USA - Did you ever notice that the outdoor 'office shot' of Cage, Fish and Associates actually showed the faint name of the actual Boston building chosen taken as their office? The name is Congregational House and is located on 14 Beacon Street. If all goes well, perhaps I may become more acquainted with this city as I search my soul since there is so much more to life... though I am not referring to what love has to bring.

The Rockies, AB, Canada - The first and only time I came here on a cross-country family road trip when I was about 14. At that time, it was fun to step foot in tourist hotspots but without the appropriate appreciation one ought to have for the mountains (and lakes and glaciers) and their designed and created beauty.

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? -- Psalm 8:3-5

London, UK - This city is unique its cosmopolitanism though built upon a strong British history and culture. Despite having no outstanding indigenous cuisine, we thank God for Wagamama -- count: 4. (And once in Boston!)

Toronto, ON, Canada - Of course, as my hometown, it is a deep joy that I express in catching up with old friends as we encourage each other in the race. Swiss Chalet count: 2, Marche count: 3, Tim Hortons count: too many to count! (Unfortunately I did not stumble on any lemon-filled timbits.)

GRE - I completed it with a decent quant score and a passable verbal score; writing assessment score to come. As usual for standardized American examinations, I found the exam tedious and archaic - could they at least update the software from a monochrome interface found in computers manufactured by AST, a company that disappeared from the market over 10 years ago? (Though somehow a specimen of their computers remains in our basement at home in Toronto.)

While I don't believe in their testing strategy, I must admit the little vocabulary studying I have done has been beneficial in my general reading, especially of older books such as Richard Yates Revolutionary Road (if you're not one to read, go watch the movie -- it's good!) as well as assisting with everyone's favourite pastime, the Times Spelling Bee.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

posted by GY @ 10:42 AM

I'm pseudo- studying for the GRE. I applied NOT because I was reverting into old examination-taking habits, but figured it could be useful for future applications. And mainly, for some reason, the GRE is essentially only offered once a year in Hong Kong in a two-part exam, as compared with year-round computerized sessions around the globe. [I plan to take it in Toronto.] In preparation, I've combed the internet to gather the gamut of word lists. I need some work in this area, especially given the insane and arcane words on the lists, so the best way to remember definitions is to use them in sentences. Please join me in my studies!

A new good internet friend is now etymology.com to help me understand the origins of words and to assist with neologisms. But confuse that not with entomology.com, lest you be confronted with creepy crawlies that are mottled, hirsute, refulgent *and* pellucid -- and may cause a paroxysm of fright from some visceral fears. Though that site might have sections where apiarists expatiate on their science, perhaps to help others with agrarian interests. For those with a predilection for anything equine, bovine, or ursine, I recommend zoology.com.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam. :)

posted by GY @ 11:36 PM

Poughkeepsie

No offense meant to the new Treasury Secretary of the United States -- I know how difficult a job he has dealing with the economic crisis as it is while balancing through the politics. But unfortunately, every single time I look at Geithner's face, I think of Peter MacNicol. Of course, to me, I think of Peter MacNicol a la Ally McBeal's John Cage. I realize he's done quite a few shows since then, but that character sticks in my mind. Which means that when I look at Geithner, I think he will get the job done in the end as long as the jury pleases him. And maybe he'll use some quirky antics here and there, but hey, as weird as they are, they'll be effective.



Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

posted by GY @ 1:09 PM