English Roadtrip - July 2008

Addendum to recurring themes -- Sweet or savoury?

Oh, and how can I forget, a roadtrip is not complete without snacks... a LOT of snacks. Alison had requested some straight-from-Hong Kong dried mango and dried squid, so I bought 1.5 lb of dried mango and a wide variety of assorted dried squid before I left. And when we get to UK, we find ourselves wanting to try out every variety of gourmet "crisps" (turnip crisps, sweet potato crisps, cheddar and chives, or even normal Walkers baked crisps -- those are really good). Plus add on to Alison finding my 'Achilles heel' for mint chocolate, (I'm overall *ok*, I think,) proceeding to push me to try out every variety of mint chocolates that we could find, we found ourselves with a full bag of sweets and a full bag of savoury snacks. Actually, it was pretty disgusting, and by the end of a week, we were done with eating snacks, though I continued nibble away at the dried mangoes until they were gone! Yum... Though the picture below of the snacks still looks unappetizing now...

English Roadtrip - July 2008 - recurring themes

"Check the manual"

Since Alison alluded to it in her comment, for the purpose of planning and ensuring that we had all information on hand at all times (since it would be difficult to find connectivity and printing services, etc.), I had printed out a "manual" that included items such as:
- our planning timetable document, replete with post codes of all destinations which we would set into our Satnav GPS system
- all hotel, train, and ticket confirmations and contact information
- Google maps of all destinations throughout the trip..

Anyway, it was useful information information in the case that we needed any telephone number, etc... it was in there. I referred to it quite a bit (or, my response was always just "check the manual") -- so fine, you can say that it's kind of anal. :p


Stupid GPS!

My parents brought a Tomtom device for which they purchased and downloaded Europe maps. It was very helpful at the beginning (though the very first leg of driving into Rhinefield House from Heathrow was a miracle we found the place without it), but we ended up having a VERY, very frustrating relationship with this little device.

Every so often, we would hear some direction such as "stay right... turn left". WHAT?? Impossible now!... ok, it rerouted us. Or, "after 300 metres, turn left"... (after 2 seconds) "turn left". WHAT?? Missed it again... ok, rerouting.

**new!** Alison reminded me of another recurring example:

GPS: Ahead, cross the roundabout and take the fifth exit.
[approach the roundabout, there is a gas station on the corner with a driveway]
GY: This [driveway] isn't an exit right?? Right??
AH: The GPS just says 5th exit.
[I skip it, we count five exits...]
GY: What?? We missed it! The GPS doesn't know how to count, THAT'S NOT AN EXIT!
GY (on walkie talkie to my dad following me from behind): We need to go around again and take the 5th exit!
AH: Haha, the GPS says that's an exit!
GY: The GPS is wrong! THAT'S NOT AN EXIT!
GY/AH: Stupid GPS!!

[This example was especially funny because AH and I complained quite a bit to Janey, who just laughed at us.. but she was here to witness this incident!]

After a very short time, I instinctively distrusted every direction it gave me, and Alison, my poor navigator who really was just relaying the directions to me, would simply repeat it to my "comfort":

GPS: Ahead, cross the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
GY: [to Alison] 3rd exit? Seriously?
AH: 3rd exit
GY: Seriously? Are you sure??
AH: Seriously!! Take the 3rd exit!

Hahaha... I guess I am a "need to know" type of person, and I think Alison and I worked out an effective communication style by the end of the trip. :p

And finally, the GPS always gave us the shortest routes to places, for which we found ourselves on numerous 'unnamed roads' (especially when we were staying in the forest)... these roads went on for 15 miles sometimes... in the end, we finally worked out an effective system which found us finding a 'parallel solution' that conformed the GPS directions to our roadmap as well as the Google map directions in the Manual.

Independence Day

We were fortunate to have a few good days of sunshine, though it is inevitable that we would be rained upon in England. We just found that the clouds were very ominous at many points in time, to which we felt like we were under a huge round disc of 'cloud' -- similar to the alien spaceship in Independence Day. The picture in Dover kind of shows it, but this one of my parents in Brighton is *really* prominent! The focus is not totally on the cloud... it is also on the rest of the sky that is completely clear!



On driving...

While not really a recurring theme, driving on the left side of the road was very interesting, since I had not done so before! I think I only veered into the "right" lane... twice... haha (of course, there were no cars there at the time!) The first couple of days were most challenging, of course, but also because we stayed in the forest where the roads were essentially like single lane roads but meant for two cars, and the other cars would be driving really fast! So often time I would go on the dirt to avoid them. I think it took me about 3 days to get used to it, and by the end, I was quite enjoying the curvy mountain roads in my manual car.

The roundabouts took a while to get used to, but after reading a driving manual in a bookstore that told me how I was supposed to signal, it cleared the protocol up a bit. :p I think the weirdest to get used to was shifting gears while signalling -- which is both done by the left hand, as opposed to Canada/US where you would signal using your left hand and change gears with your right. It allows for smoother communication and control that way, practically using two hands, as well as using both sides of the brain, which allows for smoother multi-tasking! Bet you never thought of this?? :p

English Roadtrip - July 2008 - The Creation Tour

OK, creation was just an allusion to the breathtaking sights that we saw throughout the country. When you compare to a big country like Canada, England is actually really small -- the drive from London to Edinburgh in Scotland is probably only 8 hours (for the non-Canadians, say, Toronto to Quebec City... going west, you can't even get out of Ontario in that time!) You can traverse the 'width' of England's north end in under 2 hours. But within this small area, there is a varied landscape, so here are some of the spots that we hit:



Dover white cliffs - the white colour is because of the chalk - southeast corner of England





The Lakes district - of course, you can hardly compare to the thousands of lakes in Ontario, or the size of the (5) great lakes, but in England, this small area houses all of the major lakes (and mountains) -- northeast corner of England



The Cotswolds - rolling hills and plains - best on horseback! -- west-central England






The New Forest - Well, it's a big forest, and this is where we stayed for the first week -- in the forest. :p Rhinefield House is the name of the 'hotel' (the word hotel doesn't do it justice) -- it was a beautiful estate -- southern England

English Roadtrip - July 2008

Precursor - Though going home to Toronto to see family and friends is a considerable joy and pleasure every time, this was my first 'long' vacation since coming to Hong Kong, and especially special since I actually planned this one! The original reason for going to England was to attend my cousin's convocation from Sheffield. However, since the university could not fix the date well enough in advance, it turned out that my flight plans -- which I booked in January -- would completely disallow my attendance, and this became fully a personal vacation. I was to travel with my parents, auntT (from Toronto), auntHK (from HK), and auntM (from Montreal -- mom's old friend, not really my aunt). Very thankfully, for the sake of my sanity, Alison availed herself to come along for the ride -- my car ride -- on this English roadtrip on the other side of the road. ;)

While I do enjoy travelling, I realize that I am generally too lazy to plan for anything. Therefore I would be perfectly content if I never saw some of earth's most awesome sights during my lifetime; this is because I am certain of my salvation (some personal theology for you. :p) And looking back, I realize that every single vacation has been planned by those more anal and particular than me -- which has worked out perfectly fine for me! Nonetheless, this time, at the four-weeks-left-to-go mark, my lack of planning threw me into a obsessive panic, and I planned most major details in one week, replete with estimated mileage and petrol budget analysis. I was very pleased! Google docs is also great!

So, allow me to share my journey -- we will start with... creation!

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

For those who can read and/or listen to mandarin (though with a heavy "curl tongue" accent).. this is pretty funny!

10 Book Challenge

Ever since Yuling started this challenge, I was too lazy to participate, but I think I am finally ready! The 10 book challenge started to promote the book habit of reading, especially over the summer when Waterloo students were on work term instead of studying.

Here is my list for the summer (or until I finish, which I allow may be past the summer :p) in no particular order:

Creative Ministry, Henri Nouwen
Run With the Horses, Eugene Peterson
Old Testament Theology - Jeremiah, Walter Brueggemann
Closing of the American Mind, Alan Bloom
Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia), C.S. Lewis
God's Tsunami, Peter Tsukahira
Speaking My Mind, Tony Campolo
Presentation Zen, Garr Reynolds
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver
拾香記, 陳慧 (it's on my list!!)

Keep me accountable! :)

One month from the epicentre

[photo from South China Morning Post]

On May 12, a massive earthquake ran through the province of Sichuan, China. On that day, I was sitting in a manager office of the Ernst & Young Tower in Toronto (actually) doing some work before my dinner plans that evening. While various coworkers remarked at the current events of the day, the statistics were processed in my head as information (and at that time the death toll was likely 'only' around the 20,000 range.) I didn't process the events of the earthquake until I returned to Hong Kong to see and feel the impact that this earthquake had on the people of Sichuan, China (including Hong Kong), and of Chinese people worldwide. And not even now, with a death toll of over 69,000, can I seemingly really comprehend the tragedy of this disaster, and only one disaster among many.

The photograph above was accompanied by the story of parents raging against politicians regarding the collapse of a school of 1600 students. Reading and seeing that brought tears to my eyes. Of course, the loss of life is tragic, on any level. Add to that, the loss of a child (and remember these were the only child parents were allowed to bear), but the loss of students -- such students who were to become the foundation of future society -- magnifies greatly the loss to future society. The figures are mind-boggling. And while it is possible to extrapolate the pain of a loss of a parent or a child, that is still an idea.

There was an slight connection having been to the small city of Mianyang which was not affected by the earthquake but was on high alert for fear of the quake lakes. [By the way after I visited the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Mianyang in 2005, the entire campus moved to Chengdu in the following year. As far as I know, none of my students were affected by the earthquake.]

It was a blessing to listen to a first-hand account of a small team who went to the sites with an American Christian relief organization two days after the earthquake. Their pictures and stories brought the level even closer, feeling the dearth of fresh water or any food, sensing the loss of a home and livelihood, not having any covered personal space to sleep, or to even breathe fresh air, or even to find a suitable grave space for a loved one... It was a sad, sad Father's Day for some. I pray for the children who lost their father or mother, and I pray for the parents who lost their children.

But hope only emerges out of such tragedy. As devastating as this earthquake was, I know I am still limited in what I can comprehend (though it takes some time for the massive level to come down to me.) It takes reminding that God's power cannot be measured on any scale; for that power would be *truly* incomprehensible. Even a measure of 8 has already been protected by his mighty hand; the earthquake could easily have been detrimentally stronger or if it were situated nearer to more populous areas. Despite the sinfulness and degradation of humankind, his Spirit is still present and is our protector and help in times of trouble. How can we imagine the picture when he will return back to heaven?

And amidst the desperate situation, there have been many counts of kindness and love expressed on a face-to-face level that reminds me of the rawness of humanity. There are no classes or levels amongst us; we are all broken and in need. We all need food and water to survive. And when someone has little but still is willing to share, the gesture of love expresses more than words could express. I pray that God bless those who share love during this time, and that God's love showers upon China.

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
        -- Psalm 46:1-3

Olympic flame takes Hong Kong

It was a relatively uneventful day at work until this afternoon rolled around. Many pedestrian walkways throughout the city were closed to control the crowds in anticipation for the Olympic torch relay. While I didn't really care to see try to see it, at about 3pm this afternoon, the torch was on its way from Kowloon onto the Star Ferry, to the Central Piers, to be taken to Wan Chai. Conveniently, IFC is adjacent to the Central Piers... so, my coworkers started to stalk out the positions until we saw the flame!! We're on the 17/f.

Something I want to bring out -- for those who visited Hong Kong last year, you may have walked on the pedestrian walkway linking the Pier to the city. This pedestrian walkway was built alongside the harbour. Now, it is already about half "reclaimed". For the tenants of IFC in the near future, they will soon be looking out at other buildings instead of say, gigantic cK ads. :p


People lining the streets in red with Chinese flags. At least, this relay was a peaceful one.


And passed onto the next one! The flame is pretty big, it was probably the most clear thing that we saw from 17/f.


This is still here on the old Ritz Carlton. (Picture is not much better.) There is also a female version on the backside of the hotel, I guess you may be able to see it from the Peak. :p

Oops... too much

Oh all right. So I was persuaded to publicly confess my rather shameful performance with respect to missing a recent flight from Shanghai back to Hong Kong. The discussion stemmed from me trying to paint a picture that missed flights occurred far and few in between. However, upon evaluation, this was probably the fourth in my lifetime, with a certain flight to Singapore almost making a fifth. (Probably my most stressful flight experience ever, especially since it was for vacation.) Now, for business trips to China, I know that the flights are frequent enough to/from Shanghai and Beijing, and I have enough flexibility over my schedule to allow for a stress-free wait for reticketing or on standby, provided that I make important personal commitments -- last Friday, I had adequate cushion before having to teach at University of Hong Kong so that as fine.

So that's my confession for last Friday. Then, this morning came about when I got to the airport on time for my flight... if it were really scheduled at 900. Instead, it was flight KA 900 departing at 800. OOPS. I guess I should have paid more attention to all of my electronic ticket, my itinerary, the online check-in page, and my discussion among coworkers to meet in Beijing at 11:30 -- I remembered this discussion, but thought 12:30 instead of 11:30. But regardless, it was a usual calm experience, heading off to the nearest Pacific Coffee for my breakfast after once again registering for stand-by, with just a slight complication the one time I neglected to print my e-ticket. With the torrential rains this weekend, a number of flights were cancelled and so, for this morning, all flights were full and I couldn't get on the next flight (this was a first for me). So finally, instead of trying for standby on the next flight, I just reticketed for a later flight this afternoon; I even considered going back to the office to take the last flight into Beijing. But all in all, I departed at about 4pm and got some solid work done this morning at the lounge.

Anyway, I think this episode shows (a) my auto-pilot mode when it comes to flying now.. just don't change my itinerary from my norm, (b) morning flights don't work for me; I think the last time I flew in the morning before this month was a while ago.. I should just stick to that, (c) my nonchalant nature regarding missing flights is getting to an unhealthy level of concern, and (d) too much flying make Gladys go crazy. :P Hope there won't be any more flying before coming home soon!

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

Ruined

Does anyone else think this advertisement ruins the HK Central skyline?? (Unfortunately, it's very cloudy today and my camera isn't very good.) This is taken from one of the senior manager offices in front of me. At least I don't look up to see the ad!

No more

As much as I like (love?) exams, I think I am finally done -- for professional designations, anyway. I am happy to report that I passed the Hong Kong CPA exams (law and tax) -- which means I can wear a suit and join the 'tute. No dancing though. :p The real message is -- God is gracious because I hardly studied for it.

Anyway, I will not waste any more time on these exams, and I am slowly accepting that I will finally let go of the CFA. It means nothing in the end and adds no value to me! I look forward to focusing on completing more Tyndale courses, which mean a LOT more to me.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

A new beginning

No, I don't do new year's resolutions for either January 1 new year's or Chinese new years. But, I do think it's important to periodically reflect back and see where we've come. So this year, it was humbling to look back on the whirlwind of November and December and see where God brought me -- by his strength and his grace.

January 1 was another trip to Guangzhou where it was awesome to see the passion of brother and sisters in Christ there. If you ascribe to the theory that the church only thrives on the 'periphery' of society, such that it started in Europe to North America yet, argubly, now only really exists in Africa and Asia, this idea was confirmed by the passion of the students that we met. They truly see their role to spread the gospel in the country. And it is encouraging to see the fruit of previous generations of 'ingrafted' Christians there to build the local church there. Of course, many difficulties continue to exist and much work needs to be done, but it is awesome to see many empassioned individuals actively and willingly take up the role as workers in the fields. Praise the Lord!

And then, despite through various business trips, January was yet another whirlwind month for me in a different way, and similarly, I can only look back and praise God for his grace and timing. Now, as I go forward into this totally unexpected new period, I am excited and scared at the same time to learn what it really means to serve, submit, sacrifice, and together, seek God's will for our lives. Praise Him!

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Best wishes to you all, especially peace and joy in the love of the Lord!

It's cold this year, but then last year was extraordinarily warm. We get two days off for CNY which was nice (kind of an understatement) for me to catch up on homework and spend some time with people. I also actually did the 'bai leen' thing with my relatives, a good time since I haven't seen them in a while.

And then, there's of course, dealing with red pockets at work. The good thing is that our group is very small so it's still a personal gesture. I know that other groups had more formalized systems such that managers should shell out to give to everyone.

Last year, being my first year here, I was dreading it because it just seemed so weird. But after getting used to the culture (it's explicitly about money but not necessarily always), I can come to terms with it now. I think it also has to do with comfortability in being me too. [And maybe I used to view giving red pockets as something that is 'high above' where I am. :p] And I actually gave less red pockets than last year, since we have less staff. So, a good year!

But I was also in the office to see the 'red pockets craze'... as part of the tradition the 'big partners' (Chairman, COO, etc.) give red pockets. The COO, a new partner from the US, took the opportunity to experience the culture -- and meet all the staff in the firm -- by meeting everyone who came to his door. So whereas most other partners just give the red pocket and go, the COO ended up have a long queue...



This is on the 18th floor, the queue went down the stairwell down to the 16th floor where we sit. So all we heard was this louder and louder commotion, and it felt like an amusement park but you don't know what people are lining up for -- but has to be good if people are lining up for it! [It's quite HK, actually.] Quite a sight to see, as silly as it was. [No, I didn't join. :p]

And then the last thing that makes me smile about red pockets is... re-gifting... of money. It's not a big deal because cash is cash, but does everyone *really* have so many fresh and crisp bills to give away? They're all regifted!! It would be interesting to see how many hands a bill goes in CNY season, haha.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

Relentless pursuit

Wow, it's already February. Relentless pursuit: a strong reminder of our God who continually pursues us no matter how far we turn or run away.

For most of you who know me from Waterloo, you may know about a certain "'lil godsis" who has also turned up in Hong Kong. After a tumultuous undergrad life, which was lived out under no supervision from any "godsisters", she made her way to Hong Kong for a lifestyle which she sought since even before university.

And what a disappointment that lifestyle came to be. December was super-busy for me because I had to help her through a few crisis points... yet, despite how low it seemed to be, God provided, and now, after at least 5 years, she may have finally have found the start of picking her life up and seeking those things which are lasting.

Through her experience, I can attest that God has always continued to watch over her no matter how much she did turn away.
Through her experience, I have also learned a glimpse of God's unconditional love for us -- though discipline is a tough part of that -- and also learn to love others in the same way.

Things were going ok for about a month or so, but now, there is another fresh crisis point, and we can only pray for the next steps. But I am confident God will continue to teach us about his providence and guidance. Amen!

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

I had a bunch of backlogged thoughts from my whirlwind of events in December. Slowly, ever so slowly, may I get them down in writing; here is one.

Manifestation of God's love.

Over time, likely having to do with a better understanding of myself and hopefully an increasingly sensitive/softer heart, I get touched really, really easily. [Quite annoying, actually :p] Weddings are no exception, and neither was Sarah and George's wedding an exception.

This wedding was a special one for many people. As usual, what usually gets me teary-eyed is the part when the married couple attributes and thanks their/each other's parents for their upbringing. To me, the love between the married couple pales in comparison to the lifelong and unconditional love of parents. The gesture of recognition by the married couple further gets me going perhaps it represents the 'coming of age' that this stage represents in Chinese traditional family values. The love has not gone unnoticed.

But beyond that, in this case, was an extension of Sarah's parents with her father as senior pastor of Kong Fok. I was especially touched when Rev. Ng apologized for the life of travels that his daughters have had to endure since their living location was defined by God's calling for him. As a pastor, his fatherly love was clearly and simply an extension of his own love for God in his vocation.

And even beyond this, with George being the son of another 'auntie' at church, this wedding was not simply the joining together of two families of Christ, but within the entire church congregation. Undoubtedly, this wedding was unique in the amount of 'input' in the process; but this input is simply out of God's love of this community in Christ that is Kong Fok Church. On relative terms, I've only known Sarah and George for only a short time; yet, this band of 'brothers and sisters' was not simply a fun time, but a reflection of a community that runs deeper, spiritually.

But the real conclusion is this: that the many different types of love demonstrated was beautiful *only* because it manifests God's love for each one of us. Yes, the parental love does get me teary-eyed, but the source runs much deeper than that; as beautiful is such parental love, it is only a fraction of the love which God has for us. May we also attribute such love properly -- to God, for He *is* love.

This is not to say that the love between the married couple themselves is nothing, but to me, the wedding is just not the celebration for it. Rather, I look forward to later anniversaries (diamond?) to truly bring honour to that love. ;) I conclude with the processional for their wedding that day; the choice of song was perfect.

FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

by John Rutter

For the beauty of the earth; For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, friends of earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n: Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

Congratulations George and Sarah!!

Some fun pictures from the two days over two weekends ceremony. Reflections to come later -- It was a beautiful wedding -- with great memories of John Rutter's "For the Beauty of the Earth" accompanying the processional. It's incredible how I can now praise with the lyrics of that song and melody instead of simply being a choir song sung from elementary school. Praise him for the beauty of his love!









The family with the flower girl, ringbearer, and Bible bearers!

可惜我中文太差，因爲很多時中文字能夠更貼切地表達我的心聲.

這個禮拜可能是我一年最忙的一個禮拜... 或者只是我應該最累的禮拜...

認識我的朋友都知道若我去到'哎救命'的地步都已經比一般人忙得多. 不過，雖然這個禮拜可能沒有多睡覺的時閒又有很多任務要完成,很感謝神真的有賜足夠力量和精神給我,也很感謝今天也有空去睡覺多一點！

Anyway, I enjoy Chinese -- it's a better wallow language. Haha. Maybe I've been tired and therefore emotional because of everything that seems to be on my plate, I also know that I'm emotional and therefore I'm just thirsting for God more (well, I suppose it's circular.)

Some of the things on my mind (across some blogs):

Christmas. This must-sing Chinese worship song really touches me [though it's not really a praise song... it's structured as a series of rhetorical questions], nonetheless, the words ring very true to my heart, especially in this incredible (commercial) bustling city of Hong Kong.

誰是主角 Who's the star (main character)?

在這燈飾璀燦都市中，耀眼燈飾彷似千串夢，In this city full of lights,
凝視每串夢裡的景緻，晚空裡飄送，but the sight of lights fade into the air
誰是這節日裡的主角？你懂不懂？ Who is the main character, do you understand?

萬闕歌聲喧染都市中，沒有一首可以稱與頌 Lots of music covers the city, but none is of worship
旋律佈滿玩笑的音韻，晚空裡飄送，The frequencies play many happy notes, disappear into the air
誰是這節日裡的主角？誰又會懂？Who is the main character, who will understand?

他身穿紅衣，還是身穿粗衣麻布？ He wears a red suit or just some coarse wraps?
他靜靜降生人世，還是以雪車到步？ He quietly descended to the world or came in a sleigh?
他輕聲溜走，還是應許一生懷抱？ He silently departed, or promised a life of love?
他賜予百千玩意，還是賜與眾恩典到老？ He gives thousands of toys, or promises eternal grace?

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is born,
and the government will be on his shoulders,
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-- Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to you!

One more course down...

I'm actually not a good multi-tasker at all (any more?). Or, perhaps since coming to Hong Kong, I think I much more easily get distracted that my focus has gone down. So, though I knew my last assignment wouldn't be too difficult to do (since I've prepped for a while up until the actual *writing* of it), it has been looming over my head over the past few weeks that it has affected my productivity in all other areas. Just a few months ago, I was getting quite restless, and then of course, everything came at once and made me really overwhelmed (my assignment did the most to that.)

However, now that that is over, I can move onto the next thing... the HKICPA exams. Um, that's in two weeks and I don't even have study materials yet... got to figure that out.

So, I suppose everything that has come down on me caused me some emotional stress, which means that I realize I need God so much more, so, spiritually, it has been trying at times but God is always good. Thankful for fellowship and prayer, always.

Until next time, this is Gladys Yam.

I thought this was pretty cool... [linked from my Tyndale course.]

On the 40th day of Christmas...

OK, i guess the decorations only *started* to go up on November 15, but it seemed substantial enough that it felt like the countdown to Christmas was a full 40 days. Since there is no Thanksgiving holiday break here, it seems like 2 weeks was adequate break after Hallowe'en before the next batch of major decorations.

Though I do like Christmas music (especially hymns in a contemporary style), going to some malls is pretty annoying when they have the annoying children's voices of songs like "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" or "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" (if you know which recording I'm talking about).


[IFC Mall, Central]


[Telford Gardens, Kowloon Bay]

On an aside, despite the overdone consumerism that is found here, I don't know if it's better than total censure of all Christian foundations of this holiday season... I shared about the politically correct nature imposed onto teachers back home, and a comment was made that it seems even worse than China in that respect of censure... scarily, and sadly, quite true.