A CAPITALIST ECONOMY? A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP?
I'm back. China was an awesome trip. Christmas and New Year were in themselves nothing spectacular; as is my custom, I went to bed at 11:30pm on New Years Eve.
Buicks, Saabs, Audis on the road and Volkswagon Passats and Santana's for taxis; laptios and palm tops used on the buses and trains and DVD players for rent on the trunk train lines that I took between those cities. Waiters discussing how much the latest gadget costs and billboards touting Gucci, Bvlgari, Fendi and LV on the highways. Skyscrapers sprouting out in all those "small", "rural" (no more!) prefectures and towns worthy to challenge Singapore and Sydney. Can this really be China? Communist? It's a capitalist economy run by a military dictatorship! It's very hard to understand China! Though at least I can understand and express my needs with my basic mandarin! I'm glad I finally made this China visit. It's worthwhile, especially for the mindblowing concept of it!
Now, if you don't mind me, here are somethings I have to say...
TAKING STOCK OF 2005
What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Some firsts in my life; help plant a church in Japan - Hope Chapel Namba; took a no-guilt beach-bum vacation on a resort in Thailand (It's usually been a backpacking type trip); went on a mission to Myanmar.
Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for 2006r?
Not all of them, but some goals were achieved! (See later post).
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yup, Reuben and Esther have a little girl Rebecca.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan. Whoot!
What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
I don't lack anything I need. But there are too many thinks that I'd like! :-)
What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably one of the last days in June; I was going to move to Thailand and then later an option that could've easily moved me to Florida but on that fateful day, both equations were cancelled out and for good reason too.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn't plan for it but probably being involved in planting Hope Chapel Namba and taking various roles in it including the mission trip to Myanmar.
What was your biggest failure?
Maybe my not moving to Thailand. Or ruining a friendship. But, God has a way of turning those things around - already.
Did you suffer from illness or injury?
Nothing to major, thankfully!
What was the best thing you bought?
Maybe my airtickets around summertime.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
No one exceptional comes to mind.. :-(
Where did most of your money go?
That would be travelling!
What did you get really excited about?
I was really looking forward to seeing Gaijin-wannabe at Christmas.
Which song will always remind you of 2005?
This Is Your Life from Switchfoot's "The Beautiful Letdown".
Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? Thinner!
Richer or poorer? Richer, in experience only.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Played more tennis!
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate!
How did you spend Christmas?
With Gaijin-wannabe in China! :-D
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Gaijin-wannabe.
Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes I did. :-)
How many one-night stands?
Zilch. Never.
What was your favorite TV program?
None, I don't watch TV.
What was your favourite movie?
Notting Hill is always a favourite.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word but there was someone whom my affections completely turned around.
What was the best fiction book you read?
A hard fight between War Trash by Ha Jin and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Switchfoot and Sanctus Real.
What did you want and get?
New friends!
What did you want and not get?
I wanted to make it to Europe this year.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26, did nothing special. As usual in Japan, my plans were rained out.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being closer in location to my friends.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
What kept you sane?
Not what but who - G.O.D. Then, music.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This year I really enjoyed John Cusack.
Who did you miss?
One Laura Godfrey in England. One April Roberts in Australia. And, one Janine Boon (soon to be Lum) in Singapore.
Who was the best new person you met?
Gaijin-wannabe...
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Fear is not from God but from the Devil. God is not a God of wrath but of Love, and love does not fear.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have...
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose.
Audio: Soundtrack from Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.
Biblio: Beijing Doll by Chun Sue.
Cerebrio: MOE's called me for an interview for the PGDE (Secondary).
Buicks, Saabs, Audis on the road and Volkswagon Passats and Santana's for taxis; laptios and palm tops used on the buses and trains and DVD players for rent on the trunk train lines that I took between those cities. Waiters discussing how much the latest gadget costs and billboards touting Gucci, Bvlgari, Fendi and LV on the highways. Skyscrapers sprouting out in all those "small", "rural" (no more!) prefectures and towns worthy to challenge Singapore and Sydney. Can this really be China? Communist? It's a capitalist economy run by a military dictatorship! It's very hard to understand China! Though at least I can understand and express my needs with my basic mandarin! I'm glad I finally made this China visit. It's worthwhile, especially for the mindblowing concept of it!
Now, if you don't mind me, here are somethings I have to say...
TAKING STOCK OF 2005
What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Some firsts in my life; help plant a church in Japan - Hope Chapel Namba; took a no-guilt beach-bum vacation on a resort in Thailand (It's usually been a backpacking type trip); went on a mission to Myanmar.
Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for 2006r?
Not all of them, but some goals were achieved! (See later post).
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yup, Reuben and Esther have a little girl Rebecca.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan. Whoot!
What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
I don't lack anything I need. But there are too many thinks that I'd like! :-)
What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably one of the last days in June; I was going to move to Thailand and then later an option that could've easily moved me to Florida but on that fateful day, both equations were cancelled out and for good reason too.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn't plan for it but probably being involved in planting Hope Chapel Namba and taking various roles in it including the mission trip to Myanmar.
What was your biggest failure?
Maybe my not moving to Thailand. Or ruining a friendship. But, God has a way of turning those things around - already.
Did you suffer from illness or injury?
Nothing to major, thankfully!
What was the best thing you bought?
Maybe my airtickets around summertime.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
No one exceptional comes to mind.. :-(
Where did most of your money go?
That would be travelling!
What did you get really excited about?
I was really looking forward to seeing Gaijin-wannabe at Christmas.
Which song will always remind you of 2005?
This Is Your Life from Switchfoot's "The Beautiful Letdown".
Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? Thinner!
Richer or poorer? Richer, in experience only.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Played more tennis!
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate!
How did you spend Christmas?
With Gaijin-wannabe in China! :-D
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Gaijin-wannabe.
Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes I did. :-)
How many one-night stands?
Zilch. Never.
What was your favorite TV program?
None, I don't watch TV.
What was your favourite movie?
Notting Hill is always a favourite.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word but there was someone whom my affections completely turned around.
What was the best fiction book you read?
A hard fight between War Trash by Ha Jin and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Switchfoot and Sanctus Real.
What did you want and get?
New friends!
What did you want and not get?
I wanted to make it to Europe this year.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26, did nothing special. As usual in Japan, my plans were rained out.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being closer in location to my friends.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
What kept you sane?
Not what but who - G.O.D. Then, music.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This year I really enjoyed John Cusack.
Who did you miss?
One Laura Godfrey in England. One April Roberts in Australia. And, one Janine Boon (soon to be Lum) in Singapore.
Who was the best new person you met?
Gaijin-wannabe...
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Fear is not from God but from the Devil. God is not a God of wrath but of Love, and love does not fear.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have...
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose.
Audio: Soundtrack from Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.
Biblio: Beijing Doll by Chun Sue.
Cerebrio: MOE's called me for an interview for the PGDE (Secondary).
posted by The Chilibuddy @ 8:01 pm ::
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