i'm blessed

many months ago when i planned my asia trip, i think i was pretty greedy because i wanted to try to see as many of my friends and spend as much time with them as possible.

in the past 2 1/2 days, i already feel very blessed by g, ey, and yl who went all the way to KL to meet me and spend time with me and pampering me. i was sitting there at this fancy lunch today thinking... "what did i do to deserve friendships like this?" so when they brought out the very pretty strawberry cake, i made a wish. and i told them... "i wish that our friendship will last for a long time and that all of you will be happy in life as well."

and it's not just these three friends who not only made my birthday and life special, but all of you as well.

and this is only the beginning of my trip. i know that i'm going to continue to be blessed and pampered by many of you.

from the depths of my heart. thank you.

Fearless by Max Lucado

Thanks to twitter, I got the news that Thomas Nelson publishing company was giving away free copies of Max Lucado's newest book Fearless. But since I was too late in getting the initial hundreds of copies, I found out that I can also get a free copy by agreeing to blog about the book after I've read it... (you can find more info from here)

so here goes...

Just like the previous books that I've read by Max Lucado, this is another insightful and interesting read. Max addresses our fears encountering the economic crisis, daily news of disasters and wars, and those closer to home anxieties over our loved ones, our own life, diseases, inadequacies and future. Max is an excellent story teller using various perspectives that grippes my attention through out the book. But I appreciate how he makes the Bible verses, stories come to life in using today's terms or parallels. He also gives us practical steps to take in confronting fears.

I think growing up, I wanted to make sure that I can overcome my fears by doing exactly what I fear. But over the years, with more experiences in life, it's becoming harder for me to overcome my fears. This book is a good reminder that although I might feel powerless in confronting my fears like before, what is most important is that I know who God and Jesus is and what He is capable of doing (and even what He has done in the past through out history). By soaking myself in His Word and His promises, getting to know Him more, rely upon Him more, pray more, being involved with the Body of Christ... all the basics of Christian living, that IS how we can confront fears and overcoming them.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone out there. I think even though I've finished the book, I'll go back to it time after time to just find some encouragement and hope facing the fears in my life.

I had a GOoD night :D

it started maybe more than a week ago, when i saw Loswhit's tweet or something on Israel Houghton's MV--Just Wanna Say somehow this song was just a hit with me ever since the first hearing. from there, i went into Israel's website and saw that he was going to be at Oasis Christian Center (gosh, there sure a lot of links just from a couple of sentences :P) on April 26, 2009 (which was tonight!) (but when i went back to the website after i first saw this event, it had disappeared...)

so i marked the date down on my calender and was looking for someone to go with me. i asked sharon from GMCI (cos i think she probably will enjoy it). but sharon realized that she will be chauffeur for her sister today and might be too tired to go with me... :( and i couldn't think of anybody else...

somehow... somehow, i really really really really really wanted to go.

i was pretty determined that i was going, but going alone is not something that i was really looking forward to.

(back track to a few days ago...) so after looking through Israel's website, i was also contemplating big time as to buying his new CD--the power of one. but i think it took 1 day before i decided that i would buy it. and i do not regret this decision at all... especially finding out how he and a group of artists/writers decided to put a part of their earning into some of the poorest areas of the world. AND the music was just awesome. it's not just gospel as i had thought but a mix of jazzy, hip hop, jamaican, pop and what-nots. exactly the kind of thing that i enjoy. and when i heard another song from the CD--every prayer, just hit another chord with me. i must have listened to it more than 15 times in the last 2-3 days. and not just listen, but sing, and cry along with it. it just brings such comfort and assurance that God DOES hear our every single prayer and that HE does care...

so... back to tonight. the service was at 6pm close to the downtown area. since i am not familiar with how the parking or traffic is like, i left the house early... driving down by myself. i had a little bit of a weird feeling... like "what am i doing" kind of weird feeling. but at the same time (still playing Power of One CD in the car), one of the songs talks about how God is always with us... and it was as if i was no longer alone... God was with me tonight. not just saying but really, he is there kind of thing.

well. got there without any problem. parked the car. walked to the theater and some people were already waiting outside of the auditorium doors. within 10 min, it was getting crowded. looking through the room, most people had friends with them... maybe about 70% black and 20% white and 10% others like me. most of them had pretty hip clothes on. the deco is pretty modern and trendy. finally by 5:50 they opened the doors and people rushed in.

it was Oasis's 25th anniversary so it was kinda interesting to hear of how God has worked through their lead pastors Philip & Holly ever since the beginning. and i am thankful along with their church members of the kinds of impact this church is making for the Kingdom of God.

but i kept wondering if Israel is really going to play ... or is he just going to play a song? or what? finally ... it was announced as a part of the 25th anniversary celebration, it's going to be an hour of worship with Israel. everybody got very excited and a whole bunch of people rushed down to the front.

then it started!

it was a simple chorus to "here I am to worship" and it just took off. song after song after song.(it was a good thing that i bought the CD and have been "practicing" these few days :p) somehow that 1 hour flew by really quickly... and i think it's been too long since i really sang like that in worship... and maybe i've not danced like that since those college days at the clubs. i was really into the singing, clapping, and dancing. i was also totally amazed at Israel's guitar, vocal, worship leading, everything skills. and the stories he shared/preached about his life, receiving love from God... i was totally ministered to and felt like i was on a date with God ... but along with hundred of people in that auditorium... all singing their hearts out, reaching out their hands to God. praising God... enjoying time with Him and a pretty awesome worship time together.

i've not written something this long on my blogs for a while. and when i got home, my brain was still going at a zillion miles per hour with all the excitement of who God is. there have been different times in my life that i am just obsessed about going to a certain church or some kind of conference. tonight was one of those moments. and i just know... it was a GOoD night for me. simply awesome.

Focus

I've had a few days of "rest" after our intensive cohort meeting for two weeks. When I bought the plane ticket, I was thinking that there's a Chinese church in Honolulu that my dad had mentioned that I can share with their English/youth fellowship. I also thought I can spend some time with my uncle (dad's oldest brother) and aunt. But a couple of weeks before I came out to Hawaii, I found out that my dad didn't remember which church that he talked to. My uncle was going on a business trip. What I had assumed that would work simply didn't turn out.

So these few days I have been "alone" since I have no other friends on the island. I also get anxious/nervous in a new, unfamiliar environment with unpredicted possibilities. (Small things like whether I can find a parking space in a popular tourist destination would make me uneasy.) Although I was going out to places, I can't really enjoy hiking in the mountains with beautiful views or the beautiful water and waves of the ocean. And when I went to Hanauma Bay, this place that's famous for corrals and tropical fishes, I was worried most of the time about being stung by jelly or lost in the current. Life just seem to suck and horrible. It's like one of those jokes about having a great bottle of wine just to discover there is not cork screw to open the bottle.

Despite my inability to truly enjoy this pretty awesome and dream vacation destination for many people, I still went out everyday and tried.

Yesterday when I was walking down this beautiful beach, I complained to God. But today when I walked along the same beach, it suddenly dawned on me. I can't believe that I am being so unhappy about one thing in my life and forgetting everything else that I have been blessed with. I started to give thanks and count my blessings--for having family in Hawaii that I can stay with and save a lot of money from hotel stays; for being able to borrow my uncle and aunt's car to go to the beaches these few days; for dad who paid part of my plane ticket; for eyes to see such beautiful sceneries; for legs to walk up and down the beach; for good health; for opportunities to study and learn things that I really enjoy... Although I still wish I had some company, I know that this is my lot in life at this point of time.

It is a matter of focus... of where I put my focus and perspective.

humbled

yesterday morning when i took mochi (my sister's dog) out for his walk, i saw this man digging through trash looking for cans and bottles. as we passed by him, i said "good morning" and looked into his eyes. i think i was trying to "see" the man and related to him as a fellow human being beyond what he was doing.

ever since i moved back, i've seen homeless people on the streets of our neighborhood and always wondered "what can i do to help?" after talking to some ladies at church, there were cautions that sometimes it can be dangerous for women to talk to these people, but ultimately, just pray and see how God wants me to do.

last night when i was driving home from the office, i saw a small group of people standing on the street corner with the signs "vote yes for proposition 8" (voting yes for this proposition would revoke the legalization of gay marriages in the state of CA.). they were making noises and it was dark already. even with my loud music playing, i could hear the sounds they were making. but i just thought... people are so willing to stand on the street corner to express their views on some law, but what are we as Christians doing to express publicly the kind of self-less, unconditional love of Jesus Christ, which he expressed to those "sinners" around him when he was here on earth?

so back to the man i saw yesterday digging through trash. i saw him again this morning digging through more trash dumps looking for bottles and cans. somehow a thought moved me to gather some of the cans and bottles in our house and give them to him. i hesitated a few times by walking outside of our garage to see if he's still around... finally, i just picked up the bag of cans and bottles and walked to the man.

"excuse me, sir. would you like to have these bottles and cans?"
he looked at me with grateful eyes and took the bag.
he said... "have a nice day" and smiled.

as i was walking back to our garage and got ready to drive out to work, all these emotions rushed through me. somehow, i felt pain and wish i can do more. i felt joy thinking that i've done something finally to help a fellow human being who is struggling in life. as i thought more, i became very humbled by this whole event that had taken place because i know there is nothing i can brag about. what i've done probably can never solve this man's problems. but i can only be grateful that somehow God has provided an amazing life (both materially and spiritually) that some others just don't seem to have. who am i that HE cares for me in such ways?

i am humbled...

i love this country :D

went to vote this morning without much wait. somehow last night my heart felt very heavy and there were a lot of anxieties within me because we are not only voting for the next president of the United States but living in california, there are also many propositions and other things to vote for. it was as if all that commercial about "your 1 vote counts" is adding pressure for me... my one vote (literally) is going to change the world. i guess it does make a difference but at the same time, the majority voice will prevail at the end of this voting process. i was going to wait till the last minute to cast my vote today, but since there wasn't a very long line (the polling place is right next to our home), all three of us went and got it done within 30 min.

this is the very first time that my parents and i are voting. i think there are also many "new" things in the voting process that amused us. well... for one, we were pretty surprised that they didn't check our IDs to make sure we are those people registered. the american system is still based on trust. my mom said if it's in taiwan, there would be no such thing. everyone's ID must be checked and confirmed before they can get a ballet to vote.

besides this whole honor system observation, all the volunteers at the poll were enthusiastic and helpful. i am especially touched by how helpful this elderly gentleman was. he even gave me 2 "i voted" stickers because i told him i was going home and change after i voted.

well... i guess we'll wait for the results to come out tonight and many things will be different. but to be involved in this election this year, i am suddenly very proud that i am a citizen of this country and can be a part of this society that upholds freedom and respect for human beings.

God bless America!

living in the pressure of the bad economy

my parents are full-time christian workers before i was even born. this life style of faith, dependence on God is nothing new. when i started to raise support for my own finances, i did go through a points in my support raising history that freaked me out until i cry to God and said "You got me here. You have to be responsible for my needs..." and every time He comes thru without fail. just like the Israelite wondering 40 years in the desert with no lack in food, water, clothing, Yahweh is the same yesterday and today.

but this month has been tough for me.

my financial support account is slightly red but i am pulling all the strings, asking for help like i should. with the bad news of how bad wall street and the big banks are not doing well, people's pockets are tight. that thought did cross my mind..."would it affect my finances? would people give less because of the bad economy?" but also "would God continue to provide? isn't He the source of all? everything belongs to Him?"

actually... it's not so much of the "big" things but the small things that are getting to me these few weeks. i was sick when i was in Atlanta. had to go into the emergency room (ke-chin), then go to another clinic to do some additional blood test (ke-chin-chin), had to get medication (ke-chin)... then i also got my book list for ethno module 2 (which is a list of about 16 books... ke-chin, ke-chin, ke-chin).

THEN... my eye glasses broke out of the blue yesterday morning. so i went to get a new pair today. i knew it's going to cost me and i even went to a Christian optometrist that my parents go to but still after all the wonderful discount, i still had to pay an arm and a leg for a new pair of glasses. (ke-chin)

on the way home, emotions were running. tears came down. i was grateful for the discounts and the fact that i am fully supported financially. i am far better than many people living in worse conditions. it's not like i have no money in the bank (although not much) or won't know where the next meal is coming from (we have plenty of food at home). but still... i think i felt that anxiety and fear many people must be feeling now. wondering if we will actually survive this scary time for most people.

with experience and the history, i know it will be better and maybe today will be forgotten. but for now, i am grabbing on God like nobody's business and trust that He does care.

人在福中不知福 (being blessed and yet not realizing it)

Last Saturday happened to be my mom's lunar birthday, which coincide with my birthday (which is not my lunar date but the date on the common calendar we use). It is her 60th birthday and it's a big deal for Chinese (or people of any culture I suppose). A few months ago, we (the family) wanted to plan a surprise party for her, but as there are some complicated matters to consider, we told her of the celebration before hand. at the end, we decided not to have a huge celebration with some sort of formal meeting, but invited some of my parents' and our organization's friends for a Chinese dinner.

As we were thinking of the guest list, my dad asked if I have any friends that I want to invite. My reply was..."I don't have any friends here in LA..." but as we sat down at the dinner table on Saturday night (at the "kids" table ), my older sister, Katherine asked everybody to say something nice or some kind of blessings for my birthday. Being Chinese, it is usually hard to take in compliments from people, but I've learned to appreciate what people say and just be grateful. so I listened without the usual reply... "nah... that's not true... blah blah blah..."

Katherine started the whole thing by appreciating me being there for her when she needs it the most. Then the two ladies from our USA CMI office followed by saying how they appreciate having me around. and others also said nice and complimenting things, blessings.

I listened and realized that I've been wrong. In this past year, trying to adjust to the life here, I was expecting the exact same types of friends that I had in SG. Honestly in that sense, I don't have friends. BUT... I do have friends in LA. In the past year, I've shared life with these ladies in the office. They've listened and prayed with me. I've done the same for them. They are my friends here in LA (not to mention the ladies from my church who have been very caring and supportive to me as well).

Even as I am writing this in Atlanta (visiting for 2 weeks), I still have many dear friends here in this city... I am blessed.

of salvation and condemnation of God

the day before i left Egypt, i was reading John 3 on the story of Nicodemus. somehow i've read thru this a million times but these verses jumped out

v. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (NIV)

i guess i am one of those people who thinks it's rather unfair for people to be "condemned" based on their choice or being born into a certain religious belief. when we share the Gospel with someone and he/she might say "that's nice, but i don't think it's for me" or "all religions are the same. i believe in God and so do you. there's no need for me to become a Christian or anything like that..." to me... how can a loving and just God condemn someone because they choose to believe another "religion" and not Jesus Christ?

but the Bible seems to be telling me... it's not that they choose to be condemned but it's the fact that we have all been condemned. there's no choice involved here. it's just a straight fact. no one should or have any way to obtain salvation.

although it seems kinda sad and hopeless (i love movies and stories with happy endings), i think the more it seems "salvation through Jesus Christ and Christ alone" (for those who have been saved and have a growing relationship with God) is simply amazing. i hate to use the cliche word--grace, but that's just what it is.

then today in John 6:64b-65...

For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

i am not a Calvinist or Armenian. i believe the Bible contains and teaches both at the same time (somehow). but for the above verse, it emphasizes again the fact of human inability to truly "choose" for him or herself.

maybe that's the hardest of all to accept as human beings... it's the fact that i have no absolute control or the ability to decide (not saying we are idiots and puppets because we also do have a mind given by God). for salvation, it simply requires God's enabling and enlightening for a person to believe in Jesus Christ.

my apple battery woes

a couple weeks ago, i downloaded a widget for all kinds of cool stats on my mac (i think it's called istat). at first, the battery stats showed something like 90% functioning. over after a few days, i looked again and strangely it has changed to 50-ish%. i thought i have been working too hard on my 50-page paper and have turned delusional. but that same horrible number showed up a few days in a row and then stayed.

it was then that i realized that my battery capability has gone down the drain dramatically. this thing is only barley 1 year old. if i don't plug it in, i can only use the laptop for about 1 hour. it gets used up pretty fast and scary.

thankfully, i had purchased this laptop with a three-year extended warranty. but that was from sg. i wasn't sure if the NTU offer applies internationally (because when i read the paper works from the time of purchase, it's not very clear). i was running through my brain of what other possibilities i might explore if apple doesn't recognize the warranty here. i thought maybe i will have to mail it back to singapore and get somebody to exchange it for me... or wait until i go back to singapore to visit... or just live with a faulty battery.

so i made an appointment with the "genius" at the apple store genius bar. it seems that they are pretty busy. to make things worse, i got out of the house later than i wanted to. not sure about parking, i grabbed a pretty good parking space that was free (since this is in the pasadena area... i knew parking is hard or expensive or both). i was walking on the street in the wrong directions. called my mom to get some help but she was getting pretty confused too. anyway... i found it at the end (but walked for a good 10-15 min). thankfully, since i had an appointment, the "genius" helped me. he gave me the initial talk that batteries do not last forever. they diminish their capabilities after many usages... blah blah blah. dude. i researched the web before i came. (i think he was just buying time). to cut the long story short, without any more questions, he got a new battery. did the paperwork. and put in the new battery.

moral of the story: make sure you buy the extended 3 year apple care. or else you might be like me... just a few days or months after the 1 year warranty wears out, you might find your computer destroyed (my poor ibook).

my first croc

been looking for comfortable sandals to walk with. actually shopped in san diego and san jose area and didn't find anything that is both good quality and priced.

last week i got an ad in the email that there's free shipping from endless. since i've been looking on amazon to find suitable crocs, i thought the price was pretty good and bought it.

got it yesterday and surprisingly it is so lightweight. according to the website, it's some kind of special material that also prevents bacterial growth. will try it out and see how good it really is...

heaven and rewards

was exercising this morning and doing my bible reading on the stationary bike this morning. this thought came... "what happened to the answers from the bible regarding rewards in heaven?" (referring to this blog entry but i guess it's for clichephrase's contacts only...)

basically my friend posted a blog entry about rewards in heaven (what kind? how will we be rewarded? by having big mansions? crowns? and how would that motivate/effect us here on earth?)

so i decided to do a search and list the bible verses in New Testament... (according to my own discretion regarding the relationships between heaven and rewards) (quoted from NIV)

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 6:1 [ Giving to the Needy ] "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matt 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matt 9:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 6:23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
Luke 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

1 Peter 1:4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,

i did a search on the word "heaven" in NIV and NASB and 278 entries showed up. according to my judgment, there are only about 12 that are sort of relevant to rewards. that's a very small percentage compare to what the New Testament talks about heaven. so it seems to me that rewards and heavens is not a hot topic that Jesus or the disciples focused on. heaven... it's more about other matters. and even when it talks about being rewarded in heaven, it has more to do with how much a person sacrifices (in various ways) for God/Jesus, not so much related to our material giving...

but i think the most obvious bible verses that taught us the concept of heaven and rewards are those highlighted in red.

wild parrots

went out for a jog this morning. along the way, i heard this strange bird noise, unlike those "normal" birds. so i stopped and tried to figure out what kind of bird was making that noise. and woo hoo... those are wild parrots roaming around this area. so cool.... here's a website with their pix. they look exactly like this. :D

wild parrots website

my voice within

went to Hollywood Bowl for my 3rd concert of this season last night. it was Julie Andrews presenting "the gift of music". the first portion of the concert consisted of songs from Rogers and Hammerstein's musicals. 2nd portion was a newly composed (i think) musical based on Julie Andrews and daughter, Emmy's children's story book--Simeon's gift.

it was really weird to "see" Julie Andrews in person (since she is such a familiar face from The Sound of Music and Princess Diary... and voice...). I had thought that she went thru a vocal cords surgery and couldn't sing anymore but she did. although her voice was hoarse and she couldn't reach very high notes anymore, her presence and expressions are still excellent. She is also an excellent story teller.

and for the 2nd half of the concert, it's kinda a typical children's story with this educational focus on music and also knowing who you are. the songs are nice but not memorable (seriously, i can't sing any of the songs back to you from the show... unlike littler mermaid or something). but the story did resonate something within me.

i guess because the main character, Simeon, is simple minstrel. for the purpose of finding something that would allow him to justify marrying the princess, he went on this journey hoping to perfecting his craft and write music that is beyond the simple tunes he used to sing. along the way, he learned many things but ultimately the noises of the city beat him down and made him very discouraged about his dream. he then decided to sell his lute and return to the village in order to say goodbye to the love of his life. but on the journey back, he encountered three animals that reminded him of his passion for music and eventually for him to find his voice again. and as in all fairy tales, his music was so wonderful, it did earn him the right to marry the princess. he then continued to compose wonderful music for the rest of his life. and thus--Simeon's gift (to the world, i suppose)

i guess since i have composed some songs before (i think those were mainly therapeutic for my own sake). the songs and lyrics just flowed out of me. it never took a long time for me to compose anything in the past. but in the past year or so, i've stopped. partly because i am searching again of why i compose and to whom do i compose my songs for. (or maybe i am coping with my stresses in different ways?) i think also because i am doing this ethnomusicology program. with all the learning and reading, i hesitate in composing because i don't feel that my songs are really reaching many people (of course my friends and family have been encouraging about this and i do appreciate all your support). but i do know that music IS a gift and i should utilize it.

i am not sure which part of the journey i am on right now... maybe just keep walking

ouch

i bought 2 lavender plants today and planted them in my uncle's house (because that's also our office). the ground was rather hard with lots of pebbles and rocks (i think maybe when they built these town houses, they just dumped all the junk into the back yards and that's where all these nasty little things come from)

i used a little shuffle. i was digging the first hole for the first plant. dug and dug and dug without wearing gloves (since it was easier. the gloves were too big). suddenly i noticed that some skin on my palm had come off. i just kept digging and planting the two plants.

now it really hurts.

Ice cream!

the july 4th weekend was filled with fun and food. (also lots of sun)

after dinner on saturday, we went to Fosselman's ice cream co in Alhambra. and this is the kind of stuff that i was hoping to find many months ago when a craving for really good home made chocolate ice cream like the kind you find at daily scoop that was walking distance from where i used to live in sg.

above picture is my chocolate raspberry cream on a sugar cone (with my little sis in the background and picture taken by my thai-american bro, nat.) (awesome pic, nat!)

the price is not bad and there were lots of people going thru the store even at 9:30pm (when we arrived). i will be going back again (probably need to jog for like an hour before i go again). and if you are ever in the neighborhood, i highly recommend trying out their yummy ice cream.

EAST graduation photos are up!

Just went to check the EAST website and found the graduations photos up.

There are some pretty nice shots there.

It doesn't allow me to post the exact link to the photos so you have to go to

http://www.east.edu.sg

then click on "photos" in order to see them.

Pauline Epistle June edition (Chinese)

Pauline Epistle June edition (English)

travels--HK to Shanghai

from june 5 to 10, i was in shanghai. after taiwan, i flew to HK (cos i was flying cathay pacific). because i want to save money and experience what the everyday mainland Chinese go thru, i decided to take the train from HK to Shanghai. it was a 20-hour train ride. but a pretty good experience.

i learned a few things...

• bring your own cup (they provide hot water only)
• bring your own food (they are slow in selling the train food and i thought it looked pretty oily)
• people were pretty friendly to one another
• men can snore very loudly at night
• it was a long journey (duh!)

before i went, everybody was warning me to be cautious so i was super cautious. i didn't talk to anybody but just listened and watched the interaction of people. i thought most of the passengers were mainlanders (in the hard sleep section ... 6 to a cabin) and some adventurous westerners. there was an old man who didn't seem to prepare any food so those in his cabin offered him bread. i thought it was a very communal experience.

after arriving to shanghai, i spent the next few days with jw's family. (jw is a friend from my previous church.) i was very touched by their hospitality and how well 6 people can be cramped into a 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment without any conflicts. i think they were amused to have a taiwanese living amongst them so jw's father would explain some of the china communist traditions, notable heroes, poems, etc. i think it is beneficial for my research on chinese american music (since i've not narrowed it down to chinese from which area).

because it was 'dragon boat festival', there was an extended holiday for that weekend. i think we went for a very avg chinese kind of weekend stroll in the public parks. it was interesting to see all the families with their young children (maybe pre-elementary school age) with their parents and grand parents.

i think the timing for my trip is pretty providential. before the trip, i already heard that my 3rd aunt's husband was hospitalized. but i think we all didn't think he would stay in the hospital for over a month. i got to visit him in the hospital and prayed along with the family for quick recovery. (thank God that he's gone home from the hospital but need to continue to pray for his full recovery) and because it was 'dragon boat festival', i also had a reunion dinner with my extended family. i've not had a chance to meet some of these relatives who's been living in shanghai all these years. it was good to finally meet them. i also had brief moments to catch up with those cousins that i'm more familiar with (thank God for family!)

hmm... this is getting pretty long. for coming back to HK, i decided to take the plane to shenzhen. that was also quite an experience... i guess i wont elaborate on that now.

for shanghai pix, you can go here.