This Man Is An Island: Sort Of, Not Really.

Do you remember those precious moments in your life when you stayed at the center of every ones attention, and it seemed that the purpose of others was based solely on your reality, your life. Yes, that was childhood, although some stay in that stage for decades until they are suddenly surprised that they are alone, and nothing but loveless, speechless air surrounds them. If you know someone stuck in such a rut, send them abroad. Studying abroad or simply leaving home for a good while teaches you two things: first, it teaches you how important you are in the lives of others, and secondly, it proves to your ego that your friends and family don't vanish out of existence the moment you leave home, like High School students that forget that their teachers actually don't sleep in their classrooms waiting anxiously for the next school day. Now, I never considered myself the peg that held anything together; but I must admit it is very strange watching my family and friends continue their lives without me. I imagine it is similar to what the B-Ball coach with the short temper feels when he is forced to go watch the rest of the game from the locker room.

This feeling is greatly invoked through pictures on Facebook and blogsites, and e-mails have there place as well. I feel like an island, left to drift out in the pacific, while the rest of you look on, concerned yet joyful. Well, that's my philosophical rambling for this blog. I know you're feelin the Kango, right?



Now, I've been active in several ways since we last spoke. I participated in a Youth Summit that was responsible for drafting a proposal that outlined the necessary steps needed in order to achieve Universal Suffrage in Hong Kong. Right now mainland China appoints the Chief Executive to Hong Kong. To be honest, I found this issue very difficult for several reasons. The HK people are just asking for what was promised, which was full governance of themselves until they reemerge back into China completely. My first issue is that the British didn't start promoting Democracy in the region until the 80s, remember the British controlled HK for 156 years. How fitting that they began such movements about a decade before returning HK back to China. Does anyone see the connection? Let me help you. HK is money, and if I want to keep my business interest intact, then I need to find away to keep HK separate from China, even though I can no longer be in control over HK. Oh, yeah, democracy, why didn't I think of that a century ago! Sounds a little like Lincoln and the Emancipation right. You can wikipedia HK history if you would like. Anyway, I didn't do much talking out fear that I would be blacked listed by the Chinese government as a western troublemaker. I kept my mouth shut, stop being surprised, it happens sometimes.
The Conference was held at Hong Kong Baptist University, and we all stayed at the University Hostel down the street. In the lobby, there is a plague that commemorates HKBU's relationship with several US colleges and universities. Guess whose school was listed?

LOOK! LOOK! LOOK! IT'S MY SCHOOL. But, it doesn't stop there, my brother's undergraduate Alma mater, and the place where my mother received her master's is listed as well (Samford University). I was a little freaked out about the plague.

The photo above is of me and my colleagues wrapped around Dr Glenn Shive, who is responsible for raising the money for our program. Without him, I would not be in HK.

Moving on to more festive things, Oct 1 was National Day in HK. My friend Shanita and I decided to step out and go see the fireworks on HK Island.

Sad enough, even though the pictures show alot of people, we didn't get to watch the fireworks from a good spot. We sat on the street with all the locals awaiting 9:15pm, and suddenly we hear noises but don't see anything. Then everyone started rushing down the street, because somehow hundreds of people had placed themselves in front of a big building that was blocking the firework's show. Once we made it down the street a little bit, we could only see about a third of the show, and the building was blocking the rest. All in all, it was a great time.

I knew that I would learn alot about culture, particularly Chinese culture, but I didn't expect the diverse group of colleagues that I share this experience with. My friend Sarah took me to a authentic Korean restaurant where I dined on delicious Korean cuisine. Yes, that circle in the table is a grill, where we cooked the beef and pork that we ordered. Apparently, Koreans eat alot, because we only ordered two meet dishes and a rice dish, and got like ten other items that just come with the meal like Quincy's rolls. Yeah, I know I took you back with the Quincy reference.

Okay, after dinner we headed back to the train station (KCR), and stumbled on an interesting sight. IT'S WOODY!!!!!! I don't know why, but it is there.

This week was a week of beginnings. I started my two tutorial sessions. One focuses on reading aloud skills and reading comprehension, and the other is my very own concocted from scratch creative writing tutorial. In the reading aloud sessions, I have four students, and I had them read the poem Invictus (for all my Frat Brothers), and a passage from a random Novel. While I was waiting on my class, one student came in early, and we had a little chat. She asked where I was from, and I smiled and asked her where she thought I was from. She smiles and reluctantly says, Africa. I begin to laugh and say, "well not exactly."

As for my Creative writing Tutorial, my first session was great. We discussed reasons for writing, why I write. We spent time trying to use our senses and put those sensations on paper, among other things.

Below, these students are trying to put one of my poems back into order. I will keep you posted on my teaching career. I would like to be more detailed, but I am in my office at 9pm at night, tired of looking at this computer scream.

Life has picked up a bit, and work has really started now. Next week, I begin working with the Primary school, doing Drama club and a Nature club. Yeah, don't know how that happened. Anyway, I miss you all. Big Thanks to Pat Cole who sent me a copy of "Southern" magazine, and to my mother who sent me clippings from the Bham news about BSC's first football game. The world can't get any brighter for me, but I said that in London and Mozambique, and even in college. I know so little about God's mercy and hand on my life. Until I blog again. Be whatever you are suppose to be.