I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?
I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride
A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming
A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you
Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky
A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be
A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you
A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Trip to China
After bragging to people that I do not usually have jet lag, I woke up 5:30am in this morning, had not been myself ‘till a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.
The trip to China was of a mixed experience.
Hong Kong
I was so eager to see Hong Kong, a place with many stories, either in a format of movies, news, or books, has attracted me in many years. The first day Cynthia and I set up to explore the city, going by subway, taxi, buses, tram, and walking. The city is full of people. Although the crowdedness comes no surprise to me, a person growing up in China, its magnitude was still amazing. The city runs quite dynamically, in an impressively efficient, well orchestrated way. Off modern buildings and boulevards are small streets where most of the working classes live. Those small stores, restaurants and small sale stands reminded me of Chinatowns in US. Hong Kong is a city very commercialized and westernized, and hard to see real people stories behind the prosperity. The second day was spent for shopping. Shopping is a major attraction for visitors for its abundance in goods with good prices because of no import tax. I was not so impressed, many of those are US brands, but of course with less variety and more costly. My sister and her husband were crazy though, shopped from morning to 9pm, spent a good fortune on watches, perfume, purses, camera, jewels…
I treated everyone at PizzaHut for lunch, a real restaurant with full service in Hong Kong (also in Shanghai), the Pizza came with very different flavors, but better. We were also surprised to see McDonald selling noodles there. Yiling, my sister’s 7 year old daughter is a natural born comedian (she must get that from my brother in law who has quite good sense of humors). Her funniness comes in an innocent and cute way, so spontaneous, and cracking me up constantly. Cynthia is so fond of her.
Shenzhen
We took the train on 7/29 morning, crossed the river and arrived in Shenzhen 30 minutes later. My college friend picked us up and drove us around the town. Instead of going to Macau with my sister’s family, I chose to show Cynthia Shenzhen, a city built from scratch 30 year ago as “the first experiment” in China economic reform. Shenzhen is more spacious and better architected than Hong Kong, modernized yet picturesque. Seeing Deng, Xiaoping's portrait on the street, I became quite emotional by thinking of the changes that have occurred in
China in these 30 years. China could have become another North Korea without him, a person with great mind, vision and boldness. I told the story to Cynthia, but was not so sure how much she appreciated it. We also spent several hours touring “the window of the world”, a park with miniatures of all famous places around the world. It is built with delicacy and nicely landscaped, much better than it was in 1993 when I visited the first time. Cynthia recognized most of the places that she learned in her world history class.
The second day we shopped at a mall with small stores operated by individual owners. A shopping setting I am not sure there is an equivalent in US-with some similarity to flea market, but not quite. Cynthia bought some knockoff stuff, we tried to bargain, but inexperienced, we did not get good deals in the end, i think.
The trip to China was of a mixed experience.
Hong Kong
I was so eager to see Hong Kong, a place with many stories, either in a format of movies, news, or books, has attracted me in many years. The first day Cynthia and I set up to explore the city, going by subway, taxi, buses, tram, and walking. The city is full of people. Although the crowdedness comes no surprise to me, a person growing up in China, its magnitude was still amazing. The city runs quite dynamically, in an impressively efficient, well orchestrated way. Off modern buildings and boulevards are small streets where most of the working classes live. Those small stores, restaurants and small sale stands reminded me of Chinatowns in US. Hong Kong is a city very commercialized and westernized, and hard to see real people stories behind the prosperity. The second day was spent for shopping. Shopping is a major attraction for visitors for its abundance in goods with good prices because of no import tax. I was not so impressed, many of those are US brands, but of course with less variety and more costly. My sister and her husband were crazy though, shopped from morning to 9pm, spent a good fortune on watches, perfume, purses, camera, jewels…
I treated everyone at PizzaHut for lunch, a real restaurant with full service in Hong Kong (also in Shanghai), the Pizza came with very different flavors, but better. We were also surprised to see McDonald selling noodles there. Yiling, my sister’s 7 year old daughter is a natural born comedian (she must get that from my brother in law who has quite good sense of humors). Her funniness comes in an innocent and cute way, so spontaneous, and cracking me up constantly. Cynthia is so fond of her.
Shenzhen
We took the train on 7/29 morning, crossed the river and arrived in Shenzhen 30 minutes later. My college friend picked us up and drove us around the town. Instead of going to Macau with my sister’s family, I chose to show Cynthia Shenzhen, a city built from scratch 30 year ago as “the first experiment” in China economic reform. Shenzhen is more spacious and better architected than Hong Kong, modernized yet picturesque. Seeing Deng, Xiaoping's portrait on the street, I became quite emotional by thinking of the changes that have occurred in
China in these 30 years. China could have become another North Korea without him, a person with great mind, vision and boldness. I told the story to Cynthia, but was not so sure how much she appreciated it. We also spent several hours touring “the window of the world”, a park with miniatures of all famous places around the world. It is built with delicacy and nicely landscaped, much better than it was in 1993 when I visited the first time. Cynthia recognized most of the places that she learned in her world history class.The second day we shopped at a mall with small stores operated by individual owners. A shopping setting I am not sure there is an equivalent in US-with some similarity to flea market, but not quite. Cynthia bought some knockoff stuff, we tried to bargain, but inexperienced, we did not get good deals in the end, i think.
Home
We arrived home on 7/30, after 4 days on the road. Mother is so old and frail, and it hurts me by seeing her sitting there, with all white hair, frigid frame, thin but puffy face, and trembling hands. “Mama…” I hugged her, but shortly let go after finding her uneasiness. After talking to mother for half hour, her early dementia became apparent to me. It is likely a mixed result of medications and vascular dementia. Her controlling personality is still there though, less fierce, and mixed with bad memory. It is easier to handle, but sad to watch. Father had angioplasty last year, and it was a relief to see him still in good shape and spirit.
Home is almost the same as last year, still neat, but less lively. The fish tank is pretty, well decorated, but empty. The curtain color starts to fade, and flower pots, used to circle around the whole balcony, have only three left. A lady comes every other week for deep cleaning, but many of the routines become quite a task as aging deepens.
Mother was excited, yet agitated by having all of us in her place. She paced back forth, could not sit still. I agreed to take one precious day at a Spa club, where we spent 1 day and 1 night to relax, and also to leave her alone. I also finished editing Rob’s manuscript there, what a vacation treat!
In the mornings, Cynthia and I walked with father to a park nearby, it is a beautiful park with many retired people dancing, practicing Taiji, and fishing there. We ran on the pavement, and father walked, then we met 30 min later. It was the quality time with father, we chatted, not necessary anything important. Father is a saint to my eyes, he does not complain, truly cares about mother, understands her illness, and tolerates her difficult personality, in so many years.
(to be continued)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
20th year reunion
I had a nice chat with a long lost friend last night. He has been my admirer for many years. I own his admiration not as a woman-woman, but a career woman. It still makes me feel good though.
It is so hard to carry a good conversation in Chinese these days. The English pops up constantly, when I realize it, try to convert them in Chinese, can not find proper words!!! Seems living in the twilight zone, belong to neither. Lost my sophistication in Chinese, and still superficial in English, I can not express myself in a way I want, what a loser!
After receiving the flyer from Wenqi about the reunion, I lost a couple of nights of sleep. Here are some of my thoughts:
Twenty years ago, young and vulnerable, we cried at the train station, saying good bye to each other and farewell to the college life. Leaving our young love and memories behind, we took on our separate journeys, with each other's blessing. With open hearts and arms, we embraced the uncertain future with anticipation and ambitions...
Life has taken on its course after we left each other:
Most of us follow the flows-falling in love, gotten married, raising children, while pursuing a career…
We have been challenged, we have overcome obstacles…
Many of us have led a successful life and lived a life beyond our dreams;
A lot of us seem “ordinary” but have done “extraordinary” things to our patients, communities, families and friends.
We had tears, we made mistakes, and we were heartbroken at some points…
A few of us lost their lives to dreadful diseases…
20 years later, we looked back at our life, as reading through a book- the college chapter is so memorable and unforgettable. A life period with hard work and competition; youth and innocence; uncertainty and insecurity; mistakes and embarrassment; frustration and accomplishment; friendship and budding loves, we cherish it.
The friends we make in college stay with us for the rest of our lives and the time we shared is forever part of ourselves and can not be denied. We are together today, to memorize the old golden time; to share our stories after being apart; to celebrate our friendship; and to tell each other how much we care!
Cheers, Class of 1989.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Lake Conroe
Cynthia is in MA visiting her friend-I hope the meet is as exciting as she anticipated.
I went with Dandan to Christine father's lake house-A house sitting on the gorgeous tranquil Conroe lake. We sailed on the lake; it was simply beautiful, and relaxing. Immersed myself in the sun and wind, I fully enjoyed it.
I talked to the old man-James; he certainly has had a colorful life-raising family while pursuing education all the way to PhD; a soldier turned scientist and full professor; being with countless beautiful women, and married three times…
He was joking: the first wife is the wife to raise family with; the second wife is the young/exciting/wild trophy wife-would not last long though; and the third one is the "status" wife-with a social status; if it does not work out the third time, the fourth one would be an "Olympia" wife, real gold.
I went with Dandan to Christine father's lake house-A house sitting on the gorgeous tranquil Conroe lake. We sailed on the lake; it was simply beautiful, and relaxing. Immersed myself in the sun and wind, I fully enjoyed it.
I talked to the old man-James; he certainly has had a colorful life-raising family while pursuing education all the way to PhD; a soldier turned scientist and full professor; being with countless beautiful women, and married three times…
He was joking: the first wife is the wife to raise family with; the second wife is the young/exciting/wild trophy wife-would not last long though; and the third one is the "status" wife-with a social status; if it does not work out the third time, the fourth one would be an "Olympia" wife, real gold.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
July 4th-The Herman Park night
The music floating in the air admixed with night breeze, people relaxing on the hills, youngsters having fun in groups; children running around with fluorescence lights-the fireworks came in the end, exploding in the sky with the “America is beautiful” song playing- it was a heart-touching night. Tear welled my eyes-what a great country, and will always be. It was a night very special for us- the first July 4th after we have become American citizens last year.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Days passed by
4/28/09
Despite a very busy schedule, I have determined not to over-stretched myself. No work after hours on week days. Weekends, may be half day. Jack encourages me to run 5K with him, I am preparing for it seriously, it takes me 31 min to run, I need to improve my speed, make sure not the last in the flock.
5/26/09
I had a wonderful Memorial long weekend. My friend Dandan got married. I took her for a foot massage, as a bachelorette treat before the wedding. The wedding was nice, small, but intimate. My friend Dandan is genuinely happy, she cried while walking down theaisle.
Jack and I went to a show, featuring of 60's musics, it was fantastic.We danced under the stars, "tonight our spirits will be climbing, to the sky lit up with diamonds..."
With Cynthia, my technician Ying, and another girl, we did shopping yesterday. We had food in the mall by the ice rink, then we askedfor a make over for Ying. She never puts make-up, a dramatic effect onher. She was elated.
5/31/09
Last night, we had the graduation party for fellows, a total of 37 fellows in pathology, what a number! The speeches were very short, left us tons of time to dance. The party was within MD Anderson, in a ballroom, and the dance floor was on top of the roof! Music playingin the breeze, we danced with fellows and faculties under the moon andstars, I can do the Western twist/sexy moves fairly well. we had a blast!
I took Cynthia, she is very reserved, like in my teenager days. I justwant her to see what is out there, try to take her to as manyoccasions as possible.
Yes, I am so grateful for the acceptance of women like me in our 40'sin this country. I don't feel old, but in another phase of life. Indeed, we are not old, neither physically nor psychologically.
6/17/09
I broke up with Jack.
I finally fed up by his messy schedule. He is a person who tries to make everyone happy, no lines, can not say "no", but can not keep up his words.
This short relationship brought me a lot happiness, a lot joy, butalso a lot frustration and hurting.
I am out, can not do it anylonger.
One can be hurt in a relationship, either by a jerk, a mean person; a person who is not into you; now, this super nice one lack of lines.
Despite a very busy schedule, I have determined not to over-stretched myself. No work after hours on week days. Weekends, may be half day. Jack encourages me to run 5K with him, I am preparing for it seriously, it takes me 31 min to run, I need to improve my speed, make sure not the last in the flock.
5/26/09
I had a wonderful Memorial long weekend. My friend Dandan got married. I took her for a foot massage, as a bachelorette treat before the wedding. The wedding was nice, small, but intimate. My friend Dandan is genuinely happy, she cried while walking down theaisle.
Jack and I went to a show, featuring of 60's musics, it was fantastic.We danced under the stars, "tonight our spirits will be climbing, to the sky lit up with diamonds..."
With Cynthia, my technician Ying, and another girl, we did shopping yesterday. We had food in the mall by the ice rink, then we askedfor a make over for Ying. She never puts make-up, a dramatic effect onher. She was elated.
5/31/09
Last night, we had the graduation party for fellows, a total of 37 fellows in pathology, what a number! The speeches were very short, left us tons of time to dance. The party was within MD Anderson, in a ballroom, and the dance floor was on top of the roof! Music playingin the breeze, we danced with fellows and faculties under the moon andstars, I can do the Western twist/sexy moves fairly well. we had a blast!
I took Cynthia, she is very reserved, like in my teenager days. I justwant her to see what is out there, try to take her to as manyoccasions as possible.
Yes, I am so grateful for the acceptance of women like me in our 40'sin this country. I don't feel old, but in another phase of life. Indeed, we are not old, neither physically nor psychologically.
6/17/09
I broke up with Jack.
I finally fed up by his messy schedule. He is a person who tries to make everyone happy, no lines, can not say "no", but can not keep up his words.
This short relationship brought me a lot happiness, a lot joy, butalso a lot frustration and hurting.
I am out, can not do it anylonger.
One can be hurt in a relationship, either by a jerk, a mean person; a person who is not into you; now, this super nice one lack of lines.
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