Ginkgo Leaves and a Butterfly

I love these ginkgo leaves. These are the only trees inside our school that make me feel that there is fall in Suzhou, China. All the trees here in our school remain green throughout the year except these ginkgo trees. I feel sad when they sweep these leaves away. I don't really think of them as rubbish in fact I think that they make the place beautiful by spreading gold in the ground.

Purple Envelope

I went to China Post yesterday at 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon.

I gave the letter to the man who was asking something or telling something when I arrived.

He looked at my letter and laughed. He also said that my letter was in "Yinyu" English and asked the woman to tell me something. The woman also got the letter and then without saying anything turned around, got her phone and started pressing. Then got a pen and paper and wrote something, so I figured that she was using a dictionary on her phone. She handed the paper with the two English words, "change envelope". I stared at my purple envelope and asked the man, "weishenme?" why? But he just said, "Ting Pudong" which means "I don't understand" and got inside and took something inside the box. He came back and gave me a brown envelope and doing some actions to let me transfer the contents of my purple envelope. I did it quickly so I could just put the stamps and go back to school. When I sealed the envelope, the man showed his watch and pointed at the door, saying something like "shabar le, ni...mingtian...san.." and making the sign of 3 so I guessed that means I had to come back at 3pm the next day, since mingtian means tomorrow, san means three. I'm not so sure with "shabarle" since but since he was pointing the door so I guessed that means they were closed. I said okay, "xie xie ni ", thank you and left with my two envelopes. I wondered why they didn't like my purple envelope. I bought it from Carrefour, and I wonder why they are selling purple envelope that is not accepted in China Post standard.

Short Story: Love, Wealth and Success

Author: Unknown


A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them.

She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she said. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" He said.

The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed.
"How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest"
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him.

Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"

Desiderata Narrated in Spanish

This is an amazing oral interpretation of Desiderata by Arturo Benavides, a Mexican actor. I believe that he did a great job in delivering this inspirational poem in Spanish. His voice is full of emotion that even if I could only understand a few words, I just can't stop admiring his soulful voice. Thumbs up! Gracias Arturo and RIP...

"Desiderata" (Latin for "desired things", plural of desideratum) is an inspirational prose poem by Max Ehrmann about attaining happiness in life. It begins: Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. Ehrmann first copyrighted it in 1927, but it was widely circulated in the 1960s without attribution to him. This copyright was renewed in 1954 by Bertha Ehrmann.
This prose poem is written by Max Ehrmann (1872 – 1945), a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana, is its author. It has been reported[by whom?] that Desiderata was inspired by an urge that Ehrmann wrote about in his diary: "I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift -- a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods." Conventional belief is that Ehrmann actually wrote the prose himself and copyrighted it in 1927.(wikipedia)

DESIDERATA

By Max Ehrmann (1872 – 1945)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

When Technology Fails

Angelita H. Cuevas

I spent my summer holidays in the Philippines trying to learn something new, and something that I really like doing.  I enrolled in Web Designing class for 30 hours and it was great. I learned how web designers create those HTML codes and CSS, but I couldn't make them myself. Well, using the software one doesn't have to worry about any html knowledge. It's just that some people spent their college lives learning how to do programming and created those codes and then someone had put them together in a software when we only have to perform simple tasks such us the basic clicking technique. It was nice to play around with Dreamweaver and Flash, so I decided to ask a friend to install the software in my laptop since she got the original copy. I left the Philippines with the software installed in my pc. I didn't expect that my computer would crash and lost that most important program. I was just glad that I was able to access safe mode by pressing F8 then I followed HP Total care advisor on how to retrieve the OS back to an earlier date. I was too scared that I would lose everything including the original Home Vista Basic since I was just not ready to do any higher technical task. I sent a message to my IT friend in the Philippines and he said that I can still access my desktop by pressing F8 that's how I got the Help care advisor. But it took me more than 4 hours to get my pc running. I only got the OS in it and lost everything.  I felt so sad, but it was not the first time that I had to say goodbye to my files. I already lost a lot of photos from my 2GB memory  card when one of my nieces or nephews accidentally erased the files in my digicam. I just  told myself that I can always take another  photos, and they're just inanimate objects, no feelings. With that I just learned to say goodbye, but with my computer issues, I just wanted to cry but again it's just a thing. No use of feeling bad since a computer or a digicam can't even return the feeling, no matter how smart these inventions are, they are not smart enough to feel what we feel. So with those successive technical failures, I learned two important lessons: BACK UP FILES if not, then LEARN TO SAY GOODBYE...As the saying goes, "It's no use crying over spilled milk."

The Web and I 10 Years Ago

I am a big fan of this latest inventions, in fact I can say that all of the computer technologies are here to make our lives easier. With the development of information technology even someone like me who doesn't have any background in computer hardware and software can greatly benefit from this new era, The Computer Technology World. I remember just having one computer subject way back in college and it was just offered for one term that 's about five months with at least 20-hour class for the whole term. If I think about the number of hours I would think that one can learn much specially it was just basic computer manipulation, like getting to touch the keyboard, the monitor, CPU and other stuff. But the problem was I only attended twice as far as I could remember. One time when the class was held in the computer lab and we were asked to open an blank MS Word document and type anything we like. The next time I attended the class was when the teacher was introducing how to insert a picture on the MS Word, after that I didn't know what happened. I had to drop the class since it I couldn't work and go to class at the same time. I chose to keep my part time job. I had to retake the subject and the next time the professor was more into lecture type, giving notes and letting us memorized things. He only used the computer lab only a few times and I could say that any programs on that computer were strange but one thing I like the most was the blue icon with a small letter "e" with a small yellow belt around it, the internet explorer. I stayed more hours in our internet library since the student assistant was my friend so I can  use the computers for free.  That was not fair for other students but if I didn't do that I wouldn't have a chance to get into the web. I couldn't use the internet often since the Jesuit would charge us 50 cents for an hour. Anyway, I would only use the computer lab when there were less students. The first email account I got was from eudoramail. The first search engine I used was lycos. I didn't know about yahoo or google that time. I like the idea of finding things from the internet. I also met few online friends using http://www.robs-place.com and pinoychat.com. I enjoyed what I got from the internet so much that I even read the summary of stories we discussed in World Literature. I remember giving the summary of Oedipus Rex in class emphasizing the theme of the story since I have already read it online. It's amazing how information technology makes my life easier and from learning MS Word to learning other programs is something that I am always grateful for all those brilliant people who don't stop innovating.

A Pretty Face with an Amazing Voice

I love this pretty little girl. My students love this song too but they prefer "Westlife" version. Yes, back in high school and college I also love this group and spent most of my weekend watching MTV because of them. I love the way Connie Talbot sings it since she is so young and the message of the song really fits her.  I love her smile, it's just perfect. This is one of my favorite songs, a  source of inspiration.

"I believe in angels, something good in everything I see." I guess this is true for every person as well. No matter how bad a person is there is always something good in him, it's just that sometimes we prefer to see the dark sides which is easier than looking for something good. For most people, finding mistakes is a common thing, but appreciating someone for a job well done is something that only preschoolers would always hear from their teachers. I can still remember my first grade teachers' lively and sincere, "very good" remarks specially that cute red script on top of the paper. I used to collect them and my father and mother would pay all my "very good" and "100" papers at the end of the week. I was motivated to get more "100s" and "very goods" not just for the sake of money, but the fact that my mother really kept them and sometimes showed them to friends and relatives. If only I could turn back time, I would love to be in those days again.

Nice Thoughts

I got these photos from a forwarded email, and I love the messages in them.

This is really true!

We only have one life and if we spend all of it worrying about

what others might think about us then I guess we won't

have much time to enjoy the beauty around us.

Yes, I am glad I have found this kind of friends.

We can spend hours talking about socks...hehehe

To Jerry, Leah and Neriz...thanks for being there all

the time!

Yes that's why we have some people study and

write stories about the past for us to remember

that our present and future are parts of our

forgotten past...yeah forgive and forget.

Words are mightier than swords!

I know one who thinks I am an Angel, but I no longer

have the copy right hehehe

I agree. I just wonder,

"does silence really mean YES?"

Yes, everyday is a blessing...family, friends

and someone special...

Hallmark Moments

I'm going to use Hallmark words here and I hope that they're not going to sue me for using their property :) I just  love this message so much because this is from the man I love so I guess they would understand that I like to share my hallmark moment with my family and friends. I really believe that the words from the card and his words are just one.

(Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Thank you so much for choosing this message, I love it)

"I'm in Love With You"

by: Linda Lee Elrod

There I was-

one minute getting to know you,

enjoying you, and wondering

where it would lead...

and the next, thinking about you all the time,

knowing that I never, ever 

wanted to be without you!

I guess that's the way life is.

You're going along

doing your everyday things,

and out of the blue,

 life surprises you

with something amazing-

something you had  no idea

how much you wanted.

That's what you are to me, you know,

an amazing gift...

Falling in love

was something I hadn't expected,

but being in love with you

is something I couldn't stop,

even if I tried.

What I'm trying to say is-

you're "it" for me,

now and forever.
-FJR-

My First Red Roses

Was I surprised? I think this would be an understatement. It was indescribable and I had to find some words since people were looking at me and waiting for my reaction. I just stood looking at them saying WOW...amazing. It's just that it's my first time to receive this kind of presents, and not just from anyone else but from someone I love so much. I can't even think straight and I just kept staring at them for a few minutes. Today, is one of the days that I will always remember for the rest of my life for unexpectedly my 12 red roses arrived. As my friend said, "You should know that these are red and that means love." I love him so much and he knows  how to make me fall for him more and more each day.

 Today, I feel so lucky and I even feel beautiful just holding these flowers. It's so great to be in love and to be loved in return. There are no perfect words to describe how grateful I am for his sincere love. I just pray that we have right now will continue to grow and someday we could be together.

Now, now this bedside table has a purpose. I love to see them here. 

This is my desk where the delivery man put these lovely roses while I was out walking with my colleagues.

Te Quiero "I love You"

Francisco Javier Rodriguez (FJR), my sweetheart this is for you:  Happy 1st Monthversary!

Te Quiero (I Love You)

You said hi and I said hello.

That was a few months ago.

We became friends.

You are so sweet,

So I was afraid of falling for you.

The days have gone

And I started missing you.

Something has changed

and I thought I would lose

a great friendship with you.

One day you said,

"Te Quiero" and I thought

it was meant to say "I like you"

You said it has double meaning,

I took my chance and chose the other

meaning so I had the courage to say

"I love you"

That's how we started this great LOVE,
with your simple,"Te Quiero"

I LOVE YOU...

Our First Monthversary/Monthsary 10-10-09

The word monthversary is a bit foreign to me. I have heard it back in the Philippines in people called it monthsary. I also thought that this word is just a Filipino English word that is not registered in some standard English dictionary. I also never had the experience of celebrating this event so when I received my boyfriend's greeting this morning I smiled because I was surprised and at the same time so happy that he remembered. I remembered the date because it was a very special day for me when he asked me to be his girlfriend and started calling me his "baby".After that day, we keep in touch every single day. He calls me every morning to wake me up and sometimes I call him or just send an SMS to wake him up. A day would not be complete if I won't hear from him, or even just see him online without sending a message would be enough, just to know that he's there. One month has passed and I could say that all those days, my love for him grew stronger and I could not even find the right words to express sincere love for him. I know that this is the real thing and I believe in everything he says and I feel so lucky to have a boyfriend who is so romantic, so thoughtful, honest, faithful and most of all a best friend. I can't wait to be with him and spend every single minute of my life with him. I love him so much...

Shanghai West to East on Foot

(click the map to enlarge)

We left Suzhou at 10pm and luckily we got the bullet train to Shanghai which only takes about 35 minutes. The metro was already closed when we got there so we decided to take a taxi going to the east (Pudong area) since our hostel is located in Dongchang Street. It took us more than 20 minutes to get there. We left our things and decided to spend the night in the street since we don't have so much time. We took our notes about night life in Shanghai and my friend got the name and address of famous resto bar in Shanghai which stated that they have a live band. Before we went back to western part of Shanghai we had a nice dinner on the street, vegetable barbecue, they're yummy.

We took a taxi to Hengshan Lu or Hengshan Road. It was not difficult to find since the moment we got into the place the road was full of bright lights, different colors. Those were the kinds of light that we don't like. The plan was to find a good bar where there is live music where we could relax, but all the bars there are for drinking and dancing. We checked two bars and they were just the same, they smell cigarette and alcohol and the many people looked drunk. We left those places and I was glad that my friend found a bowling center in one of the buildings that we visited. We spent the entire night  playing and I realized that bowling is really fun and addictive.

Trying hard to hit at least ONE pin.

My friend is so good with it that she always hit all the pins with just one throw. When it was 5:am we decided to go back to Pudong area. We thought about experiencing real Shanghai so we decided to take a walk from Henshang Road turning Northeast to Changsu Road then the turning west to the very long Nanjing Road. We spent most of our time taking pictures of the street and the great buildings so we didn't feel tired during our walk. We always consulted our map and at one point a man approached us and told us what bus to take going to Nanjing East Road to go to HuangPu River. We didn't follow his advice instead we continued to walk down the road. When we arrived at the end of Nanjing Road, which is Donshandong Yi Road, we felt a little tired. We thought about crossing the river through Bund sightseeing tunnel. I was expecting too much since I heard from a friend that there are sea creatures show there. We paid 40 yuan/rmb per person. Then we took a cart which looks like a cable car.

 We spent about 5-10 minutes in the tunnel and all we saw was colorful lights and some big screen which showed sharks, turtles and other sea creatures. There was also a voice saying about "meteor shower" which was just the light blinking. Talking about disappointment, then that was the perfect example. I was expecting that I would see something real. If I knew that we would only be seeing Christmas lights and big tv screen, there was no way that I would take the tour through that tunnel. But anyway we just thought about the ride going to the other side of Shanghai, back to where we stayed. It was the longest walk that I ever did here in China, it was about 6 to 7 hours.

We spent a few minutes looking at the other side where we have walked and took some more photos of Shanghai Puxi area. The view was magnificent since the sun was so bright and the sky was so clear. We had a good view of their great skyscrapers. Shanghai is such a modern city with a touch of real China.

 Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai

Suzhou: Venice of the East

Riding on a boat with my friend. we started at Shantang street near Shilu then ended up in Tiger Hill entrance. We had to take a bus going back to the city center and since we can't read the sign we asked a policeman about what bus number to take. Instead of telling us the number he took us to the bus station and spoke to the driver telling him to drop us in the city and that we were foreigners. In China, I always feel confident to go around even if it would mean getting lost because I am always sure that someone will be able to help in spite of the fact that I don't speak their language and I don't speak any Chinese except, "Ting Pudong"...that's not pudong airport in Shanghai, but it means "I heard but I don't understand."
(Date is shown as Day/Month/Year)

Shilu Plaza.

on a boat

another boat going on the opposite side

Suzhou Alley

It's fun to take a ride and see other boats coming and also the Chinese architecture beside the alley.

Tiger Hill Entrance

Happy 60th Anniversary China!

Today is the 60th anniversary of Peoples Republic of China(PRC). I'm watching a live CCTV 9 show showing different floats from different provinces of China. The even is so nice, I like the soldiers marching part. Tiananmen Square is packed with thousands of people and foreigners from all over China and other countries. Red balloons filled the sky when all provinces had shown their floats. Happy 60th year anniversary China!

Time

Time is so precious that every second spent with someone special is worth more than any precious stones in this world. It's funny how time stood still when you're spending it with someone so special that 4 hours just feel like 5 minutes. How can the time passes so quickly when you're with him and how can the time runs so slowly when you're waiting to be with him? Is it possible to invent some magnetic satellite to control the motion of the earth and make it revolves faster? Perhaps it would be possible to control the future? It is still a big mystery but one thing for sure I am always looking forward when the day in the calendar changes to the next. It seems so slow but it's worth the wait. Each brand new day brings a new smile, a new hope and I will always be grateful for the moment when he said "Te quiero" and then I said, "I love you". I believe that it was the best time of my life...Sept. 10, 2009