...changed my life.
It was a couple of days before Christmas and I was shopping at the Vancouver Costco. I couldn't help but notice how "un-Christmas" the atmosphere was...parents yelling at their kids to hurry up and don't touch this or that...or worse, some kids were just being ignored and crying for attention. Civilized adults being rude to each other...and I remember thinking how pitiful it all was. I was in the store looking for a Wii - somebody told me they might be available there. I asked a clerk who very nicely told me I was out of luck - see I only had a vague idea of what a Wii is and no idea of how popular they were - making them scarce. Another Costco "customer" heard me ask and after the cleck left he approached me and offered to sell me one - for $500. After talking to this "gentleman" - it turns out he somehow managed to buy 10 or so units (not sure if they were from Costco or not) and was just hanging out at Costco to find people looking for these games so he could sell them one. He actually said things like "you'd better do this because I am your only hope" and "your kids will hate you if they don't have a Wii on Christmas morning." I suddenly felt really sad because I know for some people he was telling the truth.
On my way out I decided to get a Costco hotdog special. That's when I got the Christmas Spirit again. I was just looking around at all the people hustling, bustling, ignoring, yelling, pushing, shoving and then I saw her and her little boy. At first, I didn't take it all in - all I noticed was this woman's happy smile. And then I noticed her son was handicapped. He couldn't sit up by himself very well. He couldn't eat by himself and when he had food in his mouth, it would come back out. But at first glance you wouldn't know it. This Mom was using one hand to hold him up. She was breaking his food into small bits and feeding it to him and wiping his mouth every few seconds. She did this while she was eating her own lunch, whispering conversation to him and gently kissing his head now and then - and smiling both full of happiness and pride the whole time. I found that amazing especially in contrast with what was surrounding them. They were most definitely in their own peaceful and loving world. I watched them for a few minutes and reluctantly went on my way. Her love and peace had touched me, but I knew if I stayed longer and watched, they may have spotted me watching them and it could have made them uncomfortable or somehow taken away from their time there.
Now it's just over 2 months later and this is still on my mind - as it is everyday. I am more thankful for my kids and I am more at peace and more accepting of things when they don't work out the way I want. I try hard to be more gentle and kind towards others. I want to smile the way I saw this woman smile. I want that peace and contentment. I want to be able to love unconditionally. I have heard that before - but it doesn't really have meaning until you see it.
It's a 100 million to one chance that the person who I am talking about sees this, but I need to say thank you. I want you to know that you made a difference in my life.
Thank you.
[镜注] I want that peace and contentment too!
Monday, May 19, 2008
No meat for dinner this whole week
这片土地虽然姐姐妹妹们还未曾踏足，但追悼和思念的心应该是一样的。
函函对汶川地震的印象一如我对缅甸的龙卷风，这是不对的（我说的是函函）。我不想给她看悲惨的照片，又不知道更虔诚的纪念仪式，于是我对肉食爱好者函说：我们这星期不吃肉了，为了悼念地震中的死难者，吃饭前，你可以为他们pray.
这星期做菜倒是省事了，少了不少油腻。
函函对汶川地震的印象一如我对缅甸的龙卷风，这是不对的（我说的是函函）。我不想给她看悲惨的照片，又不知道更虔诚的纪念仪式，于是我对肉食爱好者函说：我们这星期不吃肉了，为了悼念地震中的死难者，吃饭前，你可以为他们pray.
这星期做菜倒是省事了，少了不少油腻。
Friday, May 16, 2008
三朵小花
昨日（5/16），当11岁的张吉万背着3岁的妹妹出现在记者镜头前时，这个小哥哥已经背着妹妹走了10多个钟头，在记者帮助下，将他们带到绵阳收容点。[镜注] 从小妹妹一点也不懂事的憨样，可知哥哥平时就是怎样罩着他的小妹妹的。
5月15日上午，北川地震受灾群众生活稳定，一四岁小男孩和姐姐正在吃志愿者送来的方便面。[镜注] 刚看第一眼时我就笑了：小姑娘还蓬头垢面的，就开始向小男孩送媚眼了。后来发现小男孩是她弟弟。这是个平时让着弟弟的好脾气的小姑娘。后面那位女士的笑容俺也很喜欢。
孩子们纯真的笑脸[镜注] 希望这次经历对这位小姑娘来说，是一次和很多小朋友一起住帐篷看星星看月亮，吃着各种好吃的方便面的美好回忆。
First school report
Melody is a charming little girl who has a great attitude towards school. She always seems happy and content. She stays very busy in the practical life area of the class, although recently she has begun to start to explore the other areas. In math she has been introduced to basic addition with the use of counters and in language, she is practicing matching letters to pictures for the beginning and ending sound in the word. We are delighted Melody will be returning to our class next year.
Teacher： Mrs. Burden
--我最得意的是这句 "always seems happy and content"
Teacher： Mrs. Burden
--我最得意的是这句 "always seems happy and content"
之间
因着做过医生的缘故，我以为我已经参透了生死的一大半。
第一次上解剖课之前，同学们相互恐吓说今天中午的红烧排骨怕是吃不下了。
等到摘下口罩，洗完手，肚子饿了，一个也没含糊的往食堂直奔，奔着一周一次的红烧排骨就去了，似乎谁也记不得上课之前说过的话。
毕竟年轻，禁不得饿。
再后来，考试临近，独自一人深夜呆在解剖室，与十几具浸泡了若干年的尸体为伍，用镊子扒拉扒拉这个，捅捅那个，仔细辨认着血管和神经，除了刺鼻的福尔马林熏得泪眼汪汪，倒也没别的不适。
怕不怕的，只是一种心理状态，可以约束的，可考试过不了，那是件很恐惧的事情，因为不知道将会发生什么。
再再后来，做医生了，死人的事情每星期见好几回，有时在医院值班，深更半夜被值班护士叫起给脑死亡已久的病人作心外按摩，至今还记得按摩一具没有生命的躯体的感觉。这个时候，医生永远要保持非常中性的面孔，不能显示你的任何情感，无需说太多的话，有条不紊的做着该做的事情，这样才能稳定家属的心。有几次我先在值班室里静静呆一会，把眼泪流完了，再出去见我的病人。
在生死之间穿梭久了，以为习惯了。
但是我忘了一点，我的病人临终时都很安详，没什么痛苦，因为很多就这么昏迷着过去了。
灾难临头的瞬即，每一位逝者以他特有的姿势，面容，讲述着不一样的故事，个个淋漓着鲜血，我想我若是在现场，只怕是又要遭遇一场洗礼。
我为牺牲自己换来孩子生命的母亲泪流满面。我想我永远无法穿越这样的生和死。
真的希望自己相信上帝是存在的，是怜悯的。
[故事]
抢救人员发现她的时候，她已经死了，是被垮塌下来的房子压死的，透过那一堆废墟的的间隙可以看到她死亡的姿势，双膝跪着，整个上身向前匍匐着，双手扶着地支撑着身体，有些象古人行跪拜礼，只是身体被压的变形了，看上去有些诡异。
救援人员从废墟的空隙伸手进去确认了她已经死亡，又在冲着废墟喊了几声，用撬棍在在砖头上敲了几下，里面没有任何回应。当人群走到下一个建筑物的时候，救援队长忽然往回跑，边跑变喊“快过来”。他又来到她的尸体前，费力的把手伸进女人的身子底下摸索，他摸了几下高声的喊“有人，有个孩子 ，还活着”。
经过一番努力，人们小心的把挡着她的废墟清理开，在她的身体下面躺着她的孩子，包在一个红色带黄花的小被子里，大概有3、4个月大，因为母亲身体庇护着，他毫发未伤，抱出来的时候，他还安静的睡着，他熟睡的脸让所有在场的人感到很温暖。 随行的医生过来解开被子准备做些检查，发现有一部手机塞在被子里，医生下意识的看了下手机屏幕，发现屏幕上是一条已经写好的短信“亲爱的宝贝，如果你能活着，一定要记住我爱你”，看惯了生离死别的医生却在这一刻落泪了，手机传递着，每个看到短信的人都落泪了。
第一次上解剖课之前，同学们相互恐吓说今天中午的红烧排骨怕是吃不下了。
等到摘下口罩，洗完手，肚子饿了，一个也没含糊的往食堂直奔，奔着一周一次的红烧排骨就去了，似乎谁也记不得上课之前说过的话。
毕竟年轻，禁不得饿。
再后来，考试临近，独自一人深夜呆在解剖室，与十几具浸泡了若干年的尸体为伍，用镊子扒拉扒拉这个，捅捅那个，仔细辨认着血管和神经，除了刺鼻的福尔马林熏得泪眼汪汪，倒也没别的不适。
怕不怕的，只是一种心理状态，可以约束的，可考试过不了，那是件很恐惧的事情，因为不知道将会发生什么。
再再后来，做医生了，死人的事情每星期见好几回，有时在医院值班，深更半夜被值班护士叫起给脑死亡已久的病人作心外按摩，至今还记得按摩一具没有生命的躯体的感觉。这个时候，医生永远要保持非常中性的面孔，不能显示你的任何情感，无需说太多的话，有条不紊的做着该做的事情，这样才能稳定家属的心。有几次我先在值班室里静静呆一会，把眼泪流完了，再出去见我的病人。
在生死之间穿梭久了，以为习惯了。
但是我忘了一点，我的病人临终时都很安详，没什么痛苦，因为很多就这么昏迷着过去了。
灾难临头的瞬即，每一位逝者以他特有的姿势，面容，讲述着不一样的故事，个个淋漓着鲜血，我想我若是在现场，只怕是又要遭遇一场洗礼。
我为牺牲自己换来孩子生命的母亲泪流满面。我想我永远无法穿越这样的生和死。
真的希望自己相信上帝是存在的，是怜悯的。
[故事]
抢救人员发现她的时候，她已经死了，是被垮塌下来的房子压死的，透过那一堆废墟的的间隙可以看到她死亡的姿势，双膝跪着，整个上身向前匍匐着，双手扶着地支撑着身体，有些象古人行跪拜礼，只是身体被压的变形了，看上去有些诡异。
救援人员从废墟的空隙伸手进去确认了她已经死亡，又在冲着废墟喊了几声，用撬棍在在砖头上敲了几下，里面没有任何回应。当人群走到下一个建筑物的时候，救援队长忽然往回跑，边跑变喊“快过来”。他又来到她的尸体前，费力的把手伸进女人的身子底下摸索，他摸了几下高声的喊“有人，有个孩子 ，还活着”。
经过一番努力，人们小心的把挡着她的废墟清理开，在她的身体下面躺着她的孩子，包在一个红色带黄花的小被子里，大概有3、4个月大，因为母亲身体庇护着，他毫发未伤，抱出来的时候，他还安静的睡着，他熟睡的脸让所有在场的人感到很温暖。 随行的医生过来解开被子准备做些检查，发现有一部手机塞在被子里，医生下意识的看了下手机屏幕，发现屏幕上是一条已经写好的短信“亲爱的宝贝，如果你能活着，一定要记住我爱你”，看惯了生离死别的医生却在这一刻落泪了，手机传递着，每个看到短信的人都落泪了。
Thursday, May 15, 2008
三件事
早先听说有一部分加拿大人喜欢纳税，以纳税为自豪，颇有些不好理解，尤其是，众说周知，加拿大有“大家拿”之美名。
后来纳着纳着，也就纳习惯了，似乎也纳出来了一些些自豪感？再后来当吃饭穿衣买锅之外的余钱渐渐多起来时，各种名目的捐款也渐渐浮出海面，一时不知所措，后来终于明白，这捐款也跟投资一个道理（当然俺也没啥投资，做菜的锅子算不算哪？），要有目标，于是我就近选择了姐姐妹妹的学区，和隔三差五去的教堂，别的一概婉拒，除非disaster relief fund 之类的突发事件。这样一来，拒绝登门造访者和来函来电，俺的底气就足多了。
古人云：人生不能避免两件事，一是死亡，二就是纳税，如今看来，还有第三者，那就是捐款。
--俺喜欢后两者超过前者。
后来纳着纳着，也就纳习惯了，似乎也纳出来了一些些自豪感？再后来当吃饭穿衣买锅之外的余钱渐渐多起来时，各种名目的捐款也渐渐浮出海面，一时不知所措，后来终于明白，这捐款也跟投资一个道理（当然俺也没啥投资，做菜的锅子算不算哪？），要有目标，于是我就近选择了姐姐妹妹的学区，和隔三差五去的教堂，别的一概婉拒，除非disaster relief fund 之类的突发事件。这样一来，拒绝登门造访者和来函来电，俺的底气就足多了。
古人云：人生不能避免两件事，一是死亡，二就是纳税，如今看来，还有第三者，那就是捐款。
--俺喜欢后两者超过前者。
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Abraham Lincoln
1. Experiences/Influences
Abraham Lincoln’s first goal was to become president. The first step he took was that when he was 23, he decided to run for Illinois state legislature, but was defeated. After 2 more years, Lincoln ran for state legislature again. This time he placed second and was one of the four elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Lincoln was also advised to take up the study of law. He accepted, and had been elected to a second term in state legislature. He also took a job as junior partner in John Todd Stuart’s law office.
Soon after, Abe had an eye for the Congress. In 1846, Lincoln was elected to a seat at the Congress. But his 2-year term was a disappointment. No real action had been taken. He returned to full-time study of the law.
Before Lincoln would become president, however, another problem was rising: slavery. It was something Lincoln disliked, and became another goal for him: to abolish slavery. He held 7 debates with his long-time rival, Stephen A. Douglas, for the Senate. Lincoln lost the election, but the debates had catapulted him to national prominence. He was even mentioned as a possible president, an idea he took up. Later, he ran for it, taking the advice of Grace Bedell, who suggested he should grow a beard to boost his chances of winning. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
Now his only goals were about slavery and the departing South. All compromises Lincoln tried to make failed, and the South was ready for war. Finally, it started when President Lincoln sent supplies to Fort Sumter. He set yet another goal: to end the war as quickly as possible.
It wasn’t easy. Lincoln could not find suitable generals.
Meanwhile, President Lincoln came up with an idea for the slavery problem. He wrote an Emancipation Proclamation, stating that if the rebels didn’t return by January 1, all the remaining Confederate slaves would be freed “thenceforward and forever.” However, the rebels did not return to the Union by the deadline. The Southern slaves were freed in America.
Many slaves joined the Union, but Lincoln still couldn’t find a good general. It went on, until he met Ulysses S. Grant, the general he had been looking for. He appointed Grant general in chief of all Union armies.
Down in Georgia, General Sherman finally pushed his way to Atlanta, setting the city in flames. Soon, after a string of Union victories, the South surrendered. 5 days later, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, so ending the Civil War was the last major goal the president would ever accomplish.
2. Character Trait
I think Abraham Lincoln was a confident person. It takes confidence to deliver supplies when you know it might start a war and to keep plowing on without surrendering even when everything is going downhill. During a debate, when a rival called Lincoln “two-faced,” Lincoln responded, “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” He learned to laugh at his looks, and brushed aside any insults or ridicules in the news paper, though he kept pieces which praised him. Lincoln was also a very confident man ever since he was young, because he would run for important positions and (over time) was not scared of public speeches and debates. Lincoln even ignored the multiple death threats that arrived in his mail every day after the war, believing that they were only meant to scare him, until he was shot at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. One thing he was renowned for is his jokes, which he told as greetings, and made him a very confident person. We know him as an American hero who freed the slaves by starting a war, which took confidence. And it also made Lincoln very confident when he declared the Emancipation Proclamation, making the slaves forever free, although there was a risk Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware, who were loyal to the Union, but held slaves, would secede. All this made him very confident, and also thoughtful and caring, because the main point of the Civil War was about slavery and keeping the United States together, and you could see that he cared for people and the nation.
3. Personal Successes or Contributions to our society
The thing Abraham Lincoln did that he was most renowned is that he freed the slaves of the South. This may have changed our lives a great deal, for if the Emancipation Proclamation had never been announced, why, people might not realize the cruelty of slavery for a while, and about the only place you would see blacks are in the South plantations for a time. He also brought the North and South together, when the South had seceded. If he didn’t, you might need a passport to get into states like Texas or Georgia, instead of just airplane tickets or car drives. Lincoln had changed the lives of whites and blacks the same. Had he not come along, you would most likely still see WANTED posters everywhere on stores and buildings, and the sound of a whip would still break through the air of the South much longer than 1862. Who knows? Maybe the act would spread throughout the entire United States, to Mexico, and even Canada, if not stopped as early! But no. The United States is still completely united, and slavery has become illegal. Abraham Lincoln has changed the course of American history.
4. Reader’s Personal Reflections
What I found admirable about Lincoln is how he could take action and gain confidence rapidly. No insults would do more than slightly rile him, he just went on to end the Civil War, halt slavery, and run for any position he thought he might like. I don’t know if I can truly ever achieve that, but all the same, his life taught me some lessons. It is all right to speak up for things that others have another opinion of, especially now we have freedom of speech, for you have a right to feel how you feel, and say what you want to say. This is America. And also, laugh at your imperfections.
-By Hannah Wang
Abraham Lincoln’s first goal was to become president. The first step he took was that when he was 23, he decided to run for Illinois state legislature, but was defeated. After 2 more years, Lincoln ran for state legislature again. This time he placed second and was one of the four elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Lincoln was also advised to take up the study of law. He accepted, and had been elected to a second term in state legislature. He also took a job as junior partner in John Todd Stuart’s law office.
Soon after, Abe had an eye for the Congress. In 1846, Lincoln was elected to a seat at the Congress. But his 2-year term was a disappointment. No real action had been taken. He returned to full-time study of the law.
Before Lincoln would become president, however, another problem was rising: slavery. It was something Lincoln disliked, and became another goal for him: to abolish slavery. He held 7 debates with his long-time rival, Stephen A. Douglas, for the Senate. Lincoln lost the election, but the debates had catapulted him to national prominence. He was even mentioned as a possible president, an idea he took up. Later, he ran for it, taking the advice of Grace Bedell, who suggested he should grow a beard to boost his chances of winning. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
Now his only goals were about slavery and the departing South. All compromises Lincoln tried to make failed, and the South was ready for war. Finally, it started when President Lincoln sent supplies to Fort Sumter. He set yet another goal: to end the war as quickly as possible.
It wasn’t easy. Lincoln could not find suitable generals.
Meanwhile, President Lincoln came up with an idea for the slavery problem. He wrote an Emancipation Proclamation, stating that if the rebels didn’t return by January 1, all the remaining Confederate slaves would be freed “thenceforward and forever.” However, the rebels did not return to the Union by the deadline. The Southern slaves were freed in America.
Many slaves joined the Union, but Lincoln still couldn’t find a good general. It went on, until he met Ulysses S. Grant, the general he had been looking for. He appointed Grant general in chief of all Union armies.
Down in Georgia, General Sherman finally pushed his way to Atlanta, setting the city in flames. Soon, after a string of Union victories, the South surrendered. 5 days later, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, so ending the Civil War was the last major goal the president would ever accomplish.
2. Character Trait
I think Abraham Lincoln was a confident person. It takes confidence to deliver supplies when you know it might start a war and to keep plowing on without surrendering even when everything is going downhill. During a debate, when a rival called Lincoln “two-faced,” Lincoln responded, “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” He learned to laugh at his looks, and brushed aside any insults or ridicules in the news paper, though he kept pieces which praised him. Lincoln was also a very confident man ever since he was young, because he would run for important positions and (over time) was not scared of public speeches and debates. Lincoln even ignored the multiple death threats that arrived in his mail every day after the war, believing that they were only meant to scare him, until he was shot at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. One thing he was renowned for is his jokes, which he told as greetings, and made him a very confident person. We know him as an American hero who freed the slaves by starting a war, which took confidence. And it also made Lincoln very confident when he declared the Emancipation Proclamation, making the slaves forever free, although there was a risk Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware, who were loyal to the Union, but held slaves, would secede. All this made him very confident, and also thoughtful and caring, because the main point of the Civil War was about slavery and keeping the United States together, and you could see that he cared for people and the nation.
3. Personal Successes or Contributions to our society
The thing Abraham Lincoln did that he was most renowned is that he freed the slaves of the South. This may have changed our lives a great deal, for if the Emancipation Proclamation had never been announced, why, people might not realize the cruelty of slavery for a while, and about the only place you would see blacks are in the South plantations for a time. He also brought the North and South together, when the South had seceded. If he didn’t, you might need a passport to get into states like Texas or Georgia, instead of just airplane tickets or car drives. Lincoln had changed the lives of whites and blacks the same. Had he not come along, you would most likely still see WANTED posters everywhere on stores and buildings, and the sound of a whip would still break through the air of the South much longer than 1862. Who knows? Maybe the act would spread throughout the entire United States, to Mexico, and even Canada, if not stopped as early! But no. The United States is still completely united, and slavery has become illegal. Abraham Lincoln has changed the course of American history.
4. Reader’s Personal Reflections
What I found admirable about Lincoln is how he could take action and gain confidence rapidly. No insults would do more than slightly rile him, he just went on to end the Civil War, halt slavery, and run for any position he thought he might like. I don’t know if I can truly ever achieve that, but all the same, his life taught me some lessons. It is all right to speak up for things that others have another opinion of, especially now we have freedom of speech, for you have a right to feel how you feel, and say what you want to say. This is America. And also, laugh at your imperfections.
-By Hannah Wang