I never look back, darling. It distracts from The Now.

I was re-watching the movie Mr. Incredible the other day, and this line from this funny little supporting character, Edna Mode, really strikes me: "I never look back, darling. It distracts from The Now. " Well said, Edna. But in reality it is easier said than done.

How can I not look back, darling, when you're always in my mind?

I miss you.

享受寂寞

寥落的風裡，你在為誰獨自徘徊；寂寞的夜裡，你在為誰輾轉難眠
那些牆上古老的風霜印痕，那扇朱漆大門背後，曾經有過怎樣的故事
一縷清風滿城寂寞，你唱的是自己的悲傷和快樂，原來享受寂寞也是一種生活的方式

My Popo

Dear Bloggy,

It feels a little strange for going back home for a business trip. But that's what I did. A few weeks ago I went to Taiwan and Hong Kong for SMB events organized by Google. We were to promote our advertising solution to the SMB owners in the area. And one good thing about going back home for business trip is that you can finally get your family to eat some proper food.

My PoPo is probably one of the kindest person in this whole world. She lived in the "So village" near "Deep water Bo" for almost all of her life. When I was small, my parent would bring me to her place during the weekend so that she could see her beloved grandchild and take care of me. When I was really small, she always brought me to play in a park near the village. I remember there were lots of "Egg machines" which I would insert coins, turn a handle, and out come a plastic egg with toys inside (Later on I found that if you shake the machine while turning the handle, you could potentially get multiple eggs. This is a design issue. Don't think this technique would work with the latest models anymore) There were a number of toy shops and I just love the little toy cars there. When I got a bit older and get bored of the park and the toy cars, she would bring me to an arcade (not a good idea actually) and I would play video games all day. I remember there was one time which I got so attached to the games that I refuse to leave. Fearing that I would be bullied by some bad guys or something, she just stayed there with me. On the next day my mom told me that she was hospitalized because she hold on and not going to toilet for too long. I am so sorry about that :(

She gave born to 7 children (my mom being the eldest). Although I am not familiar with many of them (except my 4E who I lived with while I was working for IBM in Canada), as far as I know all of them love my Popo. I guess it is understandable. Who wouldn't love someone so adorable and with so much love who spend most of her life and sacrifice so much in raising her 7 kids?

I will visit her every time I go back to HK. I always want to bring her to some decent restaurants so that she could have better food (she is way too skinny) But she would refuse every time, saying that it makes no difference to her. Of course, she just don't want her grandson to spend extra money. But this time I managed to get her in a western restaurant by her own choice (and I never knew she likes western food!), reassuring her that I could reimburse every single meal (though I won't reimburse the whole bill). But she still picked the most affordable items on the menu. Only after I told her that the company have 15B US in cash and that it won't make a difference whatsoever in selecting the chicken or the prawn that she chose the prawn.

She always think for someone else, and put herself and her needs in the lowest priority. I don't know if this is good or not. But it doesn't matter. I love you Popo!

Proud to be a Googler

Dear Bloggy,

Still in office but I feel that I'm working the most meaningful overtime in my life :)

We just got news that the earthquake-affected area needs 2.6M tents urgently, as it is raining there and the people in suffering need something to cover up. I was just helping on an urgent effort to send out bulk emails to all our AdSense partners. We are asking for their help to post this 2.6M tents request on their sites, so that people could see it and offer their help. I do feel that we are truly, no matter how small the effort, helping people who are in need and making a difference.

This afternoon I volunteered to a Junior Achievement event held in TsingHua. The session is about "Career Goal" and we shared our experiences with the students there. Many of them are unsure what their future career direction should be and need guidance from. Talking to them, I feel like talking to myself a few years back, who were puzzled about career and life in general. :p (but it is not like I'm not puzzling about career and life now :p)

So all in all, I feel pretty good about myself today :)

A cup of loniness

Dear Bloggy,

Haven't written to you for so long. How're you doing?

Some TsingHua colleagues brought me to a local restaurant at the TsingHua west gate. The place is famous for its chicken wings and its other BBQ meat. Food is so tasty! :D Guess we can go to these places only once in a while as it is quite dirty. (Don't think my immune system can handle the germs If I go there too often) But then food is real cheap and so tasty! Special thanks to MingJuan, PanRong and Andy who brought me there! =D

We've also walked around the TsingHua campus and I can't believe it is sooooo big. We've walked for almost 40 mins and only covered about one third of the campus. But if you slow down and 'feel' the environment, you would notice the kind of history, the serenity, and the pride it carries as the most prestigious University in China. After a 40 mins walk in the campus, I feel that even an ignorant like me could suddenly turned into a well-read person. :p

Now I am in "The Bridge" again. It is a cozy coffee house and has become my favorite hangout place after dinner. With a cup of coffee, a book, and a laptop, I could spend a few hours here enjoying the night after a day of hard work (ok, I admit it isn't all that hard). I used to feel lonely here in Beijing, and sometimes it still is. But God has always been good to me. Now I have many good friends from fellowship and from office. Thanks also for the creativity, hard-work, and endurance of so many great engineers we now have the technology to connect with our friends all over the world even though we may not station in the same city (who says engineers aren't cool?!)

Solitude, I think, in itself is neither good or bad. It all depends on how you choose to perceive it. It is like a cup of black coffee: bitter when you first taste it, but then after a while, you suddenly found yourself enjoying it.

Now I'm starting to know how to appreciate the beauty of this city. I'm starting to loving it.

Conference @ Sydney

Dear Bloggy,

I am in Sydney now for a 2 days conference. Nice city. Weather is real nice and buildings here look good. Australian really know how to enjoy life.

Listen to the executives speeches including our CEO. Some of the points made are quite interesting indeed.

Drank quite a lot in the rock party and should get some sleep. Overall it was a great day and I throughly enjoyed it and I'm also glad to get to know new people and get to know my colleagues better. :)

Alive again :D

Dear Bloggy,

Now that I have fully recovered from my 2+ weeks of illness I feel that I'm alive again :) Good news is that I've finally found a decent swimming pool which is really close to where I live and work. :D I've also hired a swimming coach to fix some of the bad habits I have, and also to learn how to turn.

I would also need to thank God as I've been praying to have a fellowship. I haven't been to any fellowship since I went back to Hong Kong from Toronto, simply because there were just so many things more interesting than going to a fellowship. So I guess that's a reason why I'm in Beijing and feeling lonely all the time after work and during the weekends. Now I'm so looking forward to go to a fellowship and see my fellow Hong Kong Christian friends there.

Just came back from a prayer meeting. There were just four of us but I've always long for this kind of sharing since I left TCAC.

Thank you Lord. He DOES listen to prayers. :D