Resolution 2010

Guess I should start a bit of Resolution 2010 with a bit of review from 2009. 2009 has been a challenging year, with many fruitful memories.

In terms of career, I found my graduate job in a place called KEDA, as a System Analyst, where afterwards, I had enough of the boss and started searching for an alternative. In April 13 2009, after a holiday to Japan, I started a new job in a company called E-Mice Solutions (HK) Limited. This company allowed me to expose my technical research and analytical skills to the business level, as well as making a report for the HKSAR Innovation Technology Commission with my team leader, Chris. I learnt a lot about work politics, which is something very devastating, but also essential to bear in mind that such things exist. Nevertheless, I was being put into a situation where I was almost being framed up. This led my team leader to begin working for another senior manager, who is the shareholder of the company. Having said that, I learnt important things from the previous director as well, who can be called a bitch but then her skills in handling people demonstrated the necessity of what a manager should not do in the future.

In terms of church, I have finally taken promise in the Legion of Mary and worked my assignments in the choir as head organist. Having said that I am a head organist, I never like to be one. The fact the disputes carried forward from 2008 forced the choir to be reorganized. A committee team in the Choir was formed and Joe as the chairman. Things come into good practice with procedures established in the committee as well as the choir. Of course, Patricia continues to be the conductor and we have been a good team, helping choir members strengthening their faiths. As for Legion, a few more members joined and this brought more happiness in the team as well as longer meeting times. Fr. Gabriel left for Sydney initially but then he was brought to Mainland to learn Putonghua. Fr. Edward Chau replaced him as SD afterward and his allucutios were always appealing and a good means of refreshing our faith.

Family life has been sustained but work really reduced the time for me to be with my parents. This resulted in multiple trips to Japan during the year (and also twice to Beijing). We had a good time together but slowly as their son you will find that your parents are somewhat getting old and as the only child, you really have to think for them more.

All these lead to my Resolution for 2010:
(1) Read the bible on a regular basis (once a month, to start off)
(2) Continue to lower my temper
(3) Learn to "swallow the grieves" when I am being scolded at work
(4) More time to share with parents and friends
(5) Continue travelling (Next stop: Karuizawa!!!)

Julie and Julia

Had a chance to go for the movies this weekend and my parents have opted to watch the movie on gourmets and cooking. Not knowing what the story is about, I just jumped into the IFC Palace and watched the movie. Now for those of you who may have issues with understanding French, fear not! (despite much French has been spoken and no translation was transalted!) The story covers on the gourmets of French cuisine and how French cuisine can be cooked easily, as taught by Julia Child. Julie Powell hoped that she will attempt Julia's way of cooking the 500-ish dishes in 365 days. You know what? Cooking French cuisine isn't that simple at all! But she made it!

This movie, despite being a Hollywood and involving the multiple Hollywood features inside the film, delivers to me the following messages:
- work hard and you can survive
- life is not just about working in the cubical - there is more out there
- Food is a matter of bread and wine and a means of enchantment, so Bon appetite!

Everyday we should thank God for the challenges and graces he gave us. Everyday we fight with the challenges hoping to just get it done. Everyday we feel something - no matter happy or sad. Yet more importantly, we should treasure who we are with everyday and forgive them for their sins. A cup of wine or a plate of entree will rejoyce to you when you are enjoying life! So again, bon appetite et joyeaux votre vie!

Retreat 2009 31/10~1/11

People in Hong Kong celebrate the 31st October as Halloween, which is also known as the day of the phantom / the change of weather / etc. I have opted this time to learn a bit more about praying. Staying in the Retreat House in Stanley not only allowed me to understand that grieves that I face now is a challenge, and we should face it happily. I recall this was being told in the Sound of Music already but never do I know the importance of facing the challenge in an optimistic mood. Not only should we demonstrate our confidence to complete the task, but also should be smile all the way through. This doubles the power of confidence and is important for me to balance between work and my faith.

This reflection is very useful for my work life and I hope I can smile through all the challenges coming forward...

Practice makes perfect leisure and peace

Current practices with multiple songs gave me the chance to be closer with my home piano, which has been tuned by Tom Lee Music currently. This Yamaha piano is the second home piano I have since birth. The solid and grand sound played allowed one to play songs as if you are in an orchestra but little do I have the chance to play good songs in such mood now. However, thanks to God, playing “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “Beauty and the Beast” allowed me to master my skills. Although I am not keen on playing each note on the piece accurately with flying colours, nor am I looking for the correct played rhythm, the melody I have created from this piano allowed the house to be filled with that hour-practice of dynamic and joy.

Music does allow one to be lifted away from the stress one may encounter in work, in life and from oneself. It is a cure which can have a similar effect to an expensive massage one pay and relieves your mind for that little while.(However, I am not saying one can substitute the massage from playing the piano!). So next time, stressed and painful, perhaps a piece of music played from an instrument is the best drift from the real world…

However, a kind reminder here… music per se is not something that makes you avoid something from happening. It, on the other hand, gives you the strength to handle the problem you are facing. Recall the song Climb Ev’ry Mountain from the Sound of Music, this is how we should face our live till we find our dream!

Booking a ticket for a tour...

Is it wrong to book tickets for your own when are travelling on a tour? How much I wish that I am seated in front of a plane even when I am travelling on tour. Sitting at the back of the tour simply doesn’t feel good. When you are going through air turbulences, you will be affected most. The more front you are seated, the better off I think I am (at least). However, this time, I have a very good experience such that I have opted for a tour that I wanted but then I cannot go totally because I want a ticket that I issue myself. So ladies and gentlemen, to play save, don’t buy an air ticket of your own and join a tour!

What’s more, I find that Cathay Pacific does not really help passengers that much – particularly when it goes to money. I guess this is the corporate style. Even for myself, working in a corporate, I do have that attitude while facing my clients (or even internal staff!). The monetary world has driven us to the state where we only pay attention to that. Yet, my own consciousness has reminded me that I have to thank the world for what it is given already. And most of all, money isn’t everything! It limits your spending power, which is related to the utility, but with enough money, you live, and you can enjoy your surroundings. The eagerness to jump around and explore is the consequence of money and technological development of cars and planes yet mankind simply cannot get away from the attraction (particularly myself!). So, we are doomed to be in the viscous cycle of getting money and getting utility. How many days should we just sit down and enjoy the sun and mountains? How many days do we want our cell phone to be shut down so that no one calls in to disturb our communication with God? (or for non-religions – nature).

Perhaps I should calm down and rethink the importance of life but how can I do so? Or should I just “go with the flow”?...

Counting down

Yes I know I shouldn't be writing but I really want some sort of relaxation. Day by day you get into the office and work your butt off and at the end of the day, endless work continue. To do it in the western way, I would have taken a break off right away but the thing is you have to work when you are in Asia. Worst still, not to recall how bad Mainlander's etiquette can be, I would really want to escape to somewhere where Chinese will not really touch. The best choice - Japan! Here are the reasons:

(1) Japanese are very good with language, such that they only speak in Japanese and not English. Due to globalization, this is dying down but they are still striving to live purely on Japanese.
(2) Chinese only go shopping and visit "the most important" attractions. We, as Hong Kongers, visit places which are important but also of true meanings. Of course I am not saying that going to very famous places are not good, my arguement here lies in the appreciation ability.
(3) Good food! Well, Japanese food are not that fatty.
(4) Clean! Well, this is something even Hong Kong should learn. They never spit, they never litter but they don't have litter bins on the streets! Reason for this: ethical citizens!

Although the Japs did kill a lot of Chinese, we, as Chinese are acting as brutal as the Japs did to us many years ago. Chinese in foreign states are, mostly, quite misbehaved. Moreover, many Mainlanders think that they are "all that" and so they think money is the key. Note here I am not saying that money is not important but it definitely isn't the most.

Come on Chinese - let's all be a little bit humble as the Confucius thoughts always say that we are...

Still, counting down to my Japanese trip and really looking forward to flying with Cathay Pacific again. (no marketing means here!) :)

A Reflection on Chinese on board Air China

By coincidence I got a chance to fly a non-Cathay Pacific flight to Beijing and fortunately or unfortunately I was able to experience the flight was an Air-China flight operated by Air Macau. Experiences during this 3-hour flight was really fruitful. Here are my thoughts:

- Seats size for Economy class is almost universal. Being in Asia doesn’t mean your Economy seats are bigger or smaller. However, people keep on complaining about the size of their seats. To be honest, Chinese aren’t that big in size but their mouths just keep on shouting and complaining! Reflection on this: What about those big guys from the western world?

- Not disturbing others on board is an etiquette where something where all flight that all should maintain their etiquette. This includes not pushing, not kicking, and not verbally disturbing. On board this Air China flight exposes me to the breaking of such etiquette! I was seated in a row, next to two ladies and behind them was a “kind of crazy” woman stabbing around saying that she can’t sleep on board. The thing is: (a) it is a short haul 3-hour flight. How much sleep can you get?; (b) every Chinese is of similar size, how can you make such a fuss? She isn’t really that fat. Just a normal sized middle-aged lady; (c) she shouted and laughed so loudly

- On board I was unfortunately seated closed to a person suffering from fever. Passengers on board all moaned of this. Now, one thing for sure. If you are suffering from fever, don’t fly! Second, if he is on board then for your health, stay onboard!

- Food served on the flight was either Fried Rice or Fried Noodles. If for whatever reason one is flying Air China again, please opt for Special Meals. I did that and I was lucky to escape from the horrible rice and noodles!

And still the old saying goes. The flight may differ by a few hundred. But for a better passengers, better services, and above all, better hygiene on board, fly the two Swire-operated airlines!

October addition: Thanks to Jess, this is another proof that Air China is not a suitable flight to fly on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6e7HSeq3OY&feature=player_embedded#)