Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Not This Time

So I don't think I can make it to Passion's Regional this time... "Oh, did't you say that already last time?" you may ask if you have read my last post. Well, yeah, but as I said, things are always changable as the weather.

At first, I got Passion's invitation to Dallas on Feb 15-16.I didn't have a passport so I applied immediately. Then I was told it would take 15 workdays to get the passport. Combined with the visa interview wait time at the embassy,I would say two words for sure," No way!" I looked at my calenda and cried for like a few mins, it's kinda hard not to cry cos I missed such a good opportunity! But I wasn't really disappointed.Oh, well...I emailed Pasion back and told them I probably couldn't make it in time.That was the end of the story when I post last time.

As there is an encore to every concert, there is an encore to this drama.In the next few days, I told a few friends that I am not gonna make it in time. But they said it was unusual that I got the invitation and I probably shouldn't give up
that early. "I don't know" is all that I had in mind. So I prayed and waited for God's answer. Ha...the next day, the drama did take a turn. In the morning at about 8,I called the emabssy to see when the earliest interview time would be - Feb 13. No,thanks! I didn't have my passport yet anyway. Then at 10:30, my father called and said my passport arrived. Wow! He told me my passport numbers and then I immediately called the embassy again. The interview time - still Feb. 13! "I can't book the time for you now. I am afraid you gave a wrong passport number. A Chinese citizen can't have a passport number that starts with a J",said the lady over the phone. "Oh, ok, thanks, I will check again!" I hung up and called my father again to check. Oh, it was actually a G and not a J. But at this momnet, my embassy calling card ran out of mins (54RMB for 12 mins - crazily expensive!) Then I went to the CITIC Bank to buy another phone card and called again. " The ealiest interview time is Feb 4..." said the lady. "WHAT! Feb. 4!" I couldn't believe my ears! I thought God made the miracle happen! After reserving the interview time, I sat down with a little relief and then emailed Passion again and also told a few friends I might make it this time. They were all very happy for me. Later, Passion emailed back and said they might change my trip to Washinton DC on Feb 22-23, but they hadn't decided. So, I crossed my fingers and wished "Please, NO!" Well, last night they emailed again with a final decision that they decided to want all their guests to attend DC regional instead of Dallas. School schedule contradiction + my father's concern= No way! At this point, I think I can draw the closing curtain to this drama - Not this time!

Honestly, I can't fake and say I am happy about this, but I am OK! After all, Passion is coming to HK in Oct. Trusting that God always knows the best,I am trying to be patient...it is not easy though.

Thanks to all my friends (esp. Jesse, Chao,Jade and Amber!)who have given me so much support thus far! Love yal!:)

Never Go Down - 张学友



Listening to this English song "Never Go Down" by 张学友, I just have to say "OH-SO-GOOD!". It is the kind of Jazz song that I would play over and over again. It protraits a person walking alone at night and ...Hmmm...I'd better not sketch the whole picture yet, and let you draw your own as you listen to it. Enjoy!:)

I found a link to this song: http://music.360quan.com/u/f6f47/play/2868

Never Go Down

Alone in the city Ain't no streets of gold
Wallowing in self pity In a world so hard and cold
Walking the streets in vain To a find a friendly face
But all I got was pain
And I was lost without a trace
Scared and alone I didn't have the strength to carry on
I thought that I would never win this fight
Took solace in my loneliness
But now I see the light
Cozoh l I'm never going down again
I said I-Oh-I
I'm never going down again
I've danced with the devil I have prayed to the Lord
Drewned in a sea of sorrow
My joie da vivre was overboard
Too many broken hearts
So much gone undone
But I'm trying to find the spark
And all the darknee overcome
Looked to the sky
I was searching for salvation from on high
But hope springs eternal like true love
And I made a vow somewhere somehow
That I would rise above
Coz ll I'm never going down again
I said I-Oh-I
I'm never going down again

Monday, January 14, 2008

Changable As Weather

How is the weather forecast made on BBC? Is greenhouse effect the only cause of global warming? What is the trend of the changes of global climates. Whose responisblity it is to tackle the climate problems?

I found out all the answers last night. Anna and I attended the Cafe Scientificque Night hosted by the British Council at the Green Island Cafe. They invited Bill Charles to give a speech and it was amazing! Bill was a meteorologist from the U.K. and the Editor in Chief of the BBC weather forcast program before he retired. He has taught us so much last night. It is intersting to learn that the weather man we see on BBC is actually a meteorologist himself and he has to be, because there is very limited time between recieving datas and broadcasting. Once the weather man receives the data, he must analyze them, draw the weather map and then think about how he can put it into simple language so that anyone can understand(In Bill's word, it is called "bus-stop" language). The whole process is mainly done by the same man.So he must be a meteorologist and a broadcaster at the same time.

Smart and famous as Bill was, he wasn't snoppy but very nice. He answered our questions patiently even after the event ended. Anna and I were honored to take a picture with him. :)



Changable as the weather is my plan to attend Passion's Dallas Reginal in Feb. My mind was blown when I got their invitation, but I am sad to find out I can't make it in time for the conference because it takes over a month to get a visa. It's a pity but I am certainly not disappointed cos God took me through so many last-minute dramatic changes last summer that I've learned to trust His plan. At least, I have applied for a passport which I probably wouldn't get if it were not for this invitaion. If God wills, I am sure there will be a future opportunity. :)

Saturday, January 5, 2008

A for "Apple", B for "Boy"...I for :)

I went out of the classroom after study tonight and headed back for my dorm. The night greeted me with cold fresh air and tranquility. I looked through the redbud trees waggling in the wind, and saw pieces of lamp light sparkling like gold. Another charming winter night to embrace...

Just when I stopped trying to breath in the night, I heard a woman's voice from behide, " Aaaaa is for ?" Silence... "Bbbbb is for ?" Silence... "Cccc is for?" "C is for Cat,Babe!" a man said in a soft voice. "Ahh...C for Cat" a cute voice followed. I turned back and saw a man holdinhg a little girl (about 3 years old,I think)on his shoulder and a woman was walking beside him. I smiled and watched them walk past me, with my memory brought back to my childhood -I used to sit on my father's bicycle rack and followed him as uttered those few English words he knew -"I am a worker." I heard that again in my head and repeated...

"Iiii is for?" the woman's voice took me back to the winter night. " I...i...I is for Ice-cream!" the girl shouted cheerfully. Hahaha...laughters and applauses.

Good job,girl! :)

P.S. With that in mind,I'd like to share a song that keeps me smiling this week. - 摇瑶(a song written by 张学友 for his daughter.)
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/fRidtWb9HWg/