離婚

我家有個世交。他家兒子跟女兒都跟我們家的年紀相同。他媽媽看著我長大，她是我乾媽。爸爸是個好男人。舉家移民到美國後，撐起半頭家，當了個穿州過省的灰狗巴士司機。百忙中，他免費當了我的駕駛師父，助我順利取得美國駕照。最近聽說，他們要離婚了。天方夜談。女方說：我感到絕望。男方說：我感到毫無地位。我曾經參加過乾媽的生日派對，看到他們打情罵俏，當時覺得我爸太不懂浪漫。”老婆生日喔，當然最漂亮！“我聽他說過類似的話。聽說，現在他們不講話了。為的究竟是甚麼，我大概不會弄清楚，因為我們相隔兩地，溝通也不多。反正，我知道以後去美國不會看到他們打情罵俏。他們準備分居了。兒子上個禮拜回港，沒有跟我說過一句關於家裡的事。我自己也不想介入別人的事，所以也沒有多問。反正大人有大人的想法，我們當小的不應該過問。他媽媽我倒是想安慰ㄧ下，因為我從小跟他最多親，亦比較喜歡她。可是，大人的想法小孩子是永遠不會知道的，還是不要多管閒事。兒子呢，天性內向寡言，問太多也沒用。我只是有點不明白，家變了，多多少少會受打擊，他在香港怎麼會表現這麼沈靜？聽說他也沒有當過調停人。也許他覺得，涉及兩性關係的問題，總是比較難開口。兩個中國傳統家庭的人物，他們的內斂，真的過火的令人害怕。

無病呻吟篇

As raindrops hit the stainless-steel window frame, I was overlooking the soaked basketball court on the common playground outside my room, after reading several articles of the New Yorkers and a Chinese novel. A new telephone, installed by my nice dad when I was away from home, is sitting quietly with its cord hanging in the conditioned air at the end of my bed while the model train, replica of the one I rode to the lovely moutain Alishan in Taiwan, is leaning to its right over the air ticket that brought me to two countries just last month. I am back for four days. As a matter of fact, I have been busy going out with my long-known friend who came back from the United States after absence for five years. Just til tonight, after a light supper, he left for his uncle's place one day before departing his hometown. 11:57am. Thunder cracks the quiet night. It is time to sleep if I want to watch the EURO match between Spain and Portugal. Cut-throat battle. Who loses go home. But what? What match? My body is lazily, aimlessly resting on the chair, with my back bent and with my brain relegated into a sense of familiar emptyness. What am I doing? Another few months of travelling? A new job or a surprise. I am busy, yes. But I am also anxious. My friend once told me he had to link himself to Jesus because there is no meaning to life the other way. A nice job, good salary equal a kind of stability that he feels inadequate to live with. He thinks he can only find his life from believing in Christianity. Unfortunately, I am not a Christian. So, what do I need? Where can I find satisfaction? I am still looking for it - yet passively - Fragility continues its attack. Although my soul on the positive side, recovered just recently, tells me it may take some time, I still fear loneliness is actually my basic trait, and now I am back to it.

wadashino@Taipei

Although my weak heart is physically reacting to the second-hand smoke piped out from Taipei younsters immersed in their vitual world created by a Internet Cafe situated in Dunhua, downtown Taipei, my mind is pretty relaxed enjoying the laid-back mood in the best getaway spot for me - a half-Taiwanese who live in Hong Kong. I am away from my demanding, controlling parents, away from friends, my job, my obsessions, troubles, bad memories, even away from my Taiwanese relatives right here. I am travelling alone. There is something good about travelling alone. I requested it with a reason to ''explore the real Taipei by myself. My hospitbale relatives apparently agreed upon my theory and haven't called me for my whereabouts. I went to the entrances of two closed musuems, took a couple of pictures of the president house that I have seen on TV a thousand times. I spent two hours of in a bookstore, during which I was reading serveral books while sipping the iced mocha in front of the bamboo curtains blocking the late Spring heat. Well, can't I do the same in Hong Kong? It is different. While it is a different place, what you do feels different. Wandering at back alleys with my five-kilogram backpack, I did have a feel of travelling I like travelling alone. No schedules, no being considerate and no waiting. I talked to whoever I like. I entered to a condom shop under the close watch by the female staff before I walked off without any purchase but a smile. I met the real Taiwanese people. I met the real Taiwanese culture. Just three days ago, I was missing Korea. Sitting on the first-class seat in a airport limosine equipped probably with the best facilities in the world, I was listening to Korean music with my iPod while the bus strode through the dimly-lit Taoyuan suburb. Memories kept flashing back. Friends' faces were no less vivid in my brain than those in the pictures that I was also looking at. The buses' radio was beaming local pop-songs, apparently trying to outsound my iPod and my accumulated happiness flowing around my soul - It failed. Three days, and the reality is here for me to accept. Time rules. As I remember the smoke-free Korean PC bang in Shinchon where I read the International Herald Tribune for an hour and wrote my diary, a 19 year-old-like kid is now playing internet game. He just picked up a lit cigarette right next to me.

wadashino@Incheon

Korean airport is a nice one. Although its style kinda copied the Chek Lap Lok's one, the hospitality of its staff suffice to challenge ours. People here would show you the way when you get lost. If they fail to make their directions clear, they would ask you to follow them. I have been to a cafeteria where I should buy a ticket before going to the food counter for pickup, but for a foreigner like me who doesn't speak any Korean, it is too hard to follow the rules. However, the lady at the food counter, strangely having plenty of time, went to the cashier and got the ticket for me. Right now, sitting in the brand-new, sleek internet lounge of the second floor, listening to the Korean announcements that I will not hear for the near future, I am calm with relief that I finally made it to give my present to the sassy girl. She has always dreamt of working for an airline. Today, I got to the airport early and watched her busy checking in customer's bag at the Asiana airline Diamond member counter. I became one to see her pull back her fallen hair from time to time, and I became one to witness her dream come true. I approached her at a less busy time, dropped a pack of chewing gum that she liked and got the reply within my expectation:``I'm sorry I have to work. Bye bye.'' She stood up a little bit, peeped at her manager, looked down then smiled. It is natural because I was interrupting their job so I walked off swiftly and explained to another staff who had tried to stop me going into the first class counter she was sitting at. I said: '' I was only asking for information.'' Maybe she doesn't believe me because I waved her intervention off when I passed the gate. An hour later, after checking in my own bag, I saw her having enough time to come to me for a fairwell chat. I gave her the present - two packs of Hong Kong snacks I bought from Keewah including wife's cake - because her mom cooked me a very nice meal for me. I also hid some pictures inside the box I took of the kids she liked from the orphanage. Of course, the picture of ourselves after the nice meal we had together. Again, she appeared odd and looked over her shoulders to her colleagues when she talked with me. I felt that the one minute talk kind of cleared the miscommunications I regretfully had with her. With her saying ''I will send you email.'' at least, I thought I managed to say farewell to every friend I treasure before I hop on the flight. My hope didn't end in vain.

travel idea

To me, the best thing about travelling is talk about your own country with a local friend. The best thing after travelling is talking about your trip in your own country with your local friends. What is better than showing a postcard of Victoria harbour to your friends in a bamboo rice restaurant while your inside self is missing Hong Kong subconsciously? Could it be more exciting to know a friend who just visited the same country one day before your arrival and to share on what food to eat and which institute to go for Korean learning? Both are ecstasies for me. However, the worst thing about travelling is to have your friends you treasure missing your fairwell call before you hop on the flight. It is also sad if you believe you will never be able to see a person again. I hope it won't happen to me. Really hope so. Korea, I am missing you. 3:45am at Swiss Motel, Bupyong, Incheon

心靈合一

患 老 人 癡 呆 症 10 年 的 列 根 不 認 得 妻 子 南 茜 已 有 好 幾 年 。 他 無 法 講 話 、 步 行 或 自 行 進 食 。列 根 逝 世 前 昏 迷 了 5 日 ， 在 上 周 六 下 午 約 1 時 ， 他 在 昏 迷 5 天 來 首 度 睜 開 了 眼 睛 。 南 茜 握 彌 留 丈 夫 的 手 ， 乍 見 列 根 深 深 吸 了 一 口 氣 後 睜 開 了 眼 凝 望 自 己 ， 那 一 刻 南 茜 感 到 列 根 是 認 得 她 的 。 女 兒 帕 蒂 道 ﹕ 「 在 他 一 息 尚 存 時 ， 他 睜 開 了 眼 直 望  母 親 。 那 雙 有 幾 日 沒 有 睜 開 過 的 眼 睛 ， 毫 不 混 濁 呆 滯 ， 反 而 清 晰 澄 藍 ， 而 且 充 滿 生 氣 。 假 如 死 亡 可 以 是 美 麗 動 人 的 ， 他 的 死 便 是 如 此 。 」 列 根 死 時 也 在 場 的 邁 克 爾 也 表 示 ， 當 時 南 茜 雖 然 因 為 丈 夫 離 去 而 哀 戚 ， 但 她 的 表 情 卻 恍 如 收 到 了 禮 物 般 。 他 說 ﹕ 「 爸 爸 在 塵 世 凝 望 過 妻 子 ， 便 仰 望 上 主 而 去 。 」 列 根 的 私 家 醫 生 不 排 除 列 根 臨 終 前 迴 光 反 照 、 重 新 認 得 妻 子 的 可 能 。 帕 蒂 道 ﹕ 「 他 臨 終 一 刻 教 懂 我 ， 沒 有 事 物 比 兩 個 人 心 靈 合 一 的 愛 更 堅 強 。 愛 ， 使 一 個 人 在 彌 留 之 際 睜 開 了 眼 睛 ， 跨 越 疾 病 的 障 礙 與 重 燃 漸 弱 的 生 命 之 火 。 」

What can be done in 13 days?

One can travel around the world in 80 days. I have spent 13 days in one single country. It might seem odd to some because the country I travelled is not in Europe nor is it a totally unfamiliar one in another continent. This is the 12th day of my trip in Korea and I have simply confined myself in the city of Seoul for 13 days and now i'm sitting in an internet cafe because there is nothing else to do. What a strange way to travel or what a luxury to some. My friend admired:``I wish I had the time to do the same.'' What can be done in 13 days? I saw a couple of palaces, visited several musuems and a huge mall, met my friends that i haven't seen for long, took care of some kids in an orphanage and overlooked North Korea from the demilitarised zone near the famous 38 line dividing the two Chosun countries. Bundang, Baekyeong Island, Coex mall, Sinchon, Bupyong, Juan's orphanage, Myongdong, Haehwa, Seoul Yeok, Guro, Guil, Yongsan, Anguk, Jongno-sam-ga, Insadong, Incheon Wharf, they have become familiar names. Tickets to the palaces, the worn-out subway map, words to flirt with girls my friends taught, the Korean version of Metro newspaper, the International Herald Tribune I finally got on the last day, the friction soaked with soap from the bathtub and the 269 pictures and video clips - I will keep them. The dinner with my friend's mother, lunches that I missed with my good friend I haven't seen for 5 years, the free video game, Asiana airline, Hite beers, the kids that gave me the warm kisses before crying when I left the orphanage, these will be remembered. Nana, songyoung, woosu, Yuna, Minzhu, crazy party in a soldier's motel, 2 litres of beer in 2 hours, singing ''Ji Mo Nan Nai'' (Chinese version of ''Are you lonesome tonight'') on the 12th day of the trip, waiting for phone calls, getting a huge bill on cell phone, reading a Korean newspaper, kimchi everyday, taking a nap on the grassland in front of the Seoul City Hall while families were enjoy their Sunday- and so much more. I like integrating myself into one culture when I am travelling, and so I did. Didn't I seem to have LIVED in this country for 13 days? Although I still know their language little enough to understand only part of an item's price, at least I know how to read their characters now, though the meaning is another question. This is 13 days in the country I had longed for visiting, and I will definitely come back. Okay, next stop - Singapore.

Shallow men & Sexy books

(Excerpt from Reuters) London - In a bid to lure men away from TV soccer games and into book shops, a British publisher will send out a sexy model to offer 1,000-pound prizes to males spotted reading a selected title. The publicity ploy aims to boost sales among men, who on average buy fewer books than women. "It's to sex up the book industry,'' says a British author.The so-called ''Good Booking Girl'' will canvass the streets this month for men older than 16 years reading versions of Nick Hornby's "31 Songs" that bear a special cover sticker. Meanwhile, results of a poll showed that 85 percent of women believe the chances of accept a date offer increase if the men talk about a great book. However, the poll also showed men had a different viewpoint. More than half of the polled men said said they believed that flattering a woman would suffice to impress her.

buddy

Yeah. First time for my entire life to sleep on a water bed. First time to see a condom vending machine and first time to stay in a love hotel which is so cheap (25 US dollars!) I remember the old movie by Michael Hui Kun-man in which he broke a water bed in a Kowloon Tong love hotel. I was trying to pose the way he did but how come it didnt' burst? What a wonderful day. I went to an island few kilometres from North Korea. My friend, who is a marine officer brought me around the military island and let me in some base camps! I took pictures with soldiers and I played pingpong in the camp. I saw a secret weapon pointing at the opposite side and shivered a bit while I saw a soldier carrying a rifle. I asked:``Is it real''? What a stupid question. His boss is a General but he is so friendly that he looks like my college friend~ We, 3 guys, went to the beach and carved ''I love U'' on the sand. The General picked up oysters fresh from sea water on the rocky coast and I ate them all. So sweet and salty because oyster is sweet but the water is salty though clean. I loved it. I also liked the way the General drove his manual worn-out car with a cigarette in hand whirling past uniformed soldiers saluting to him, my friend and ME. I stayed one night in a soldier's motel and we drank tons of beer before immersing ourselves into some men's talk revolving women, women and women. Man, no women for these men. Poor men. Who would be able to imagine I actually went to a military island where South Korean Army has laid mines and hid secret weapon against North Korea? Cold War? No way. What a wonderful time I had and again I experienced the hospitality Koreans has been showing me. Good buddy songyoung. Nice meeting you General Sid. Thx for planning a wonderful day for me. See you in Pusan without uniform~

japanese culture

``This seems to show that vigorous women are increasing," said a Japanese official while commenting on a murder carried out by an 11-year-old girl. He was vigorously criticised after he said the case signifies a rise in female assertiveness. He said: "Men have committed thoughtless, harsh acts but I think this is the first for a girl. Recently the difference between men and women is shrinking.'' He used the term "genki" to describe the killing, which means spirited and healthy, as a lawmaker did to describe a group of men who carried out gang rapes. The girl reportedly planned to kill her classmate with a paper cutter because she was annoyed by her comments about her appearance. Japan has lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14. What a culture.

drunk

I am now very drunk. Went to a pub with my friend. drank tons of beers and can't even walk staight lines. I like getting drunk. The evil is far away. My obsessions are pretty much gone and I feel really relaxed. The best thing about benig drunk isw being able to use the cyber cafe with ease. Just show y our drunk face to the staff and tell them you don't know how to u se the computer. The koraens are nice and hospitable enough to teach you how to use it. Thx, woosu, for being with me tonight and giving me a wonderful night.

Candlelight vigil

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Beijing massacre. A candlelight vigil will be held tonight in Victoria Park, Hong Kong, the only city in China which allows demonstrations to commemorate the killings of peaceful student activists asking for a democratic political system in the Communist country. Organisers have expected a high turnout, probably hitting 70,000, or 1/100 out of 7 million people residing in the tiny city in Southern China. The Chinese Communist party has defended the Tiananmen crackdown as necessary to maintain stability, and it has resisted calls to reassess its decision to send in troops. It has formally acknowledged errors before, including Mao Zedong's destructive 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, but the Washington Post said Tiananmen is particularly sensitive because a reversal could prompt fresh demands for democratic reform. Tonight, Victoria Park in Wanchai will see waving candles and people chanting patriotic songs. Adults will bring their kids, university students will go in groups, tourists will open their eyes with their maps in hand. Tomorrow, local and international newspapers will print the pictures, so familiar that as if it had become a ritual, of the event happening every year in Hong Kong, to remind our genearation and the next that something has happened in our own country. Note: Hong Kong's population is mostly homogenous. 95% of the population is ethnic Chinese. In 1989, 1 million people took to the streets to support the students going on hunger strike in Beijing.

smell

Humans have five senses - sight, smell, sound, taste, touch. But which sense actually first comes into a new-born baby's mind? Nobody can remember the face of the doctor who pulls you out. Nor can you even remember how your mother looked like the moment you were brought to this whole new world. When people are talking about after-life, it seems there are less people who care about baby lives. Well, it could be kind hard to answer this question because no mother would allow a scientist to wire up a new-born baby, still wet, with electrical cables used to connect to the brain. That would look horribly dangerous, well, not for the baby but the mother. It is okay the question could never get an implausible answer, but Music make people grin and cry. Tragedy can be remembered by either sight, sound or even the taste of banana if one was eating it in his bathroom when an disaster happened. For me, smell by far is the most effective way to trigger long-time memory from my brain. The smell of banana sometimes reminds me of my exchange life in Vancouver (I had one each day as my breakfast because my homestay family didn't buy me too much of food). Images of anectodes happened in an old house in Taiwan always pop up when I walk in the aisle leading to our family base.

how to learn a language

Language learning necessities: 1, TV --> keep it on even you are sleeping because your sub-conscious mind will absorb the sounds and turn it into memory. News is more appropriate than drama as it is pretty impossible for a non-native speaker to speak colloquial dialect. 2, Friend --> you gotta know how to pronounce the basic sounds of a language but you will never grasp it until you are heard by a native-speaker, interactively. TV wouldn't help because once you got to know he sound it is over and you will never know if you actually got it. 3, Newspaper --> if the language involves alphabets, just pick up a book or newspaper and copy until your fingers are burnt. Copying the characters are the first thing to learn in a lanuage. 4, Grammar --> once you advanced to the intermediate level, of course you want to speak comprehensable sentences. grammar books are therefore indispenable. go step by step. Speaking a language fluently will impress any boss even though you are repeating the same words. 5, Girlfriend --> 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Cost to learn a language: TV:free;Friend:free;Newspaper:1-2 bucks;Grammar books:max 30 bucks. Girlfriend:Priceless. There are some times money can't help, but for everything else, it gotta be cheaper than hiring a language teacher.