History was just made this morning. My parents traveled internationally, by themselves, and landed safely in London Heathrow airport. If you don’t believe me, here’s the proof!
Why is this a historic moment? Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Burma, Canada, Family, United Kingdom, USA
Where do you think the picture below was taken?
It may look like China (and, indeed, Betty and I took pictures like this in Suzhou earlier this year), but this was in fact taken in San Marino, California at the new Chinese garden exhibit at the Huntington Library.
I recently came across two very interesting news articles that highlight the question of national pride for ethnic Chinese in countries outside of China:
- LA Times article about the celebration of the founding of communist China in Southern California.
- CBC article about the Chinese government funding a Chinese language course in the Greater Vancouver area of BC, Canada.
The question that I want to pose is: is it unpatriotic to the US (which I am a citizen) if I were to be proud of China (which is where my ethnic origins are) and its latest accomplishments? This is something that seems to come up quite a bit (esp. if you read the seemingly racist comments by some readers of the CBC article).
Tags: Burma, Canada, China, Christianity, USA
For many of you who do not know, ever since I lived in Vancouver, I have grown to love the nature around me. In my last place, my landlord — a pastor and his family — had a compost bin in his back garden. We would fill the bin with all sorts of rubbish (vegetable clippings, tea leaves, egg shells — I even threw in some pork bones which I later found you are not supposed to do) and, after a few months, it would all turn into this very rich soil (bones included). Aside from the fringe benefits of having stuff to plant with, it was also a means to minimise the amount of waste thrown out for the garbage trucks. Afterall, things that could be composted are usually tightly wrapped in plastic bags and added to landfills – a place where worms, slugs and other friendly critters could not help in the decomposition process. Read the rest of this entry »
Over the past three decades, I have lived for extended periods of time in three different countries. Each, however, have been English speaking. The first being my beloved U. S. of A. — my homeland and my place of birth. The second being Canada, where I found my beloved Betty. And now, I find myself in the third, England, where I have lost my beloved sanity in pursuit of a PhD. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Canada, Dissertation, United Kingdom, USA
I have never missed a Thanksgiving celebration. I have always remembered the holiday as one celebrated with family — often my family with my mom’s side of the family getting together for a Burmese-American Thanksgiving fusion dinner. Even when I was in college in San Diego, I remember sometimes going with the youth group I worked with on Thanksgiving day to serve food at the local shelters — but by the afternoon, I was driving up two hours to be at Thanksgiving dinner.
But then, when I moved to Canada in 2006, things changed. Not only was the last Thursday of November a full day of classes, Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated a month and a half earlier. A few friends and I decided to still celebrate American Thanksgiving — in Canada.
The next year, of course, we did the same. This year, I have moved again — this time with my bride and to England. Though the number of Americans here are far fewer, we still celebrated God’s goodness!
What I think is very special for me is the fact that Thanksgiving is a time of family. And, as I have lived away from home for many years, I appreciate the fact that God has given me surrogate families wherever I have gone. I am truly thankful for God’s blessings.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tags: Canada, Relationships, United Kingdom, USA
November 4, 2008 was a historic date.
For me, as an American living in the UK, I am pleased with the democratic process that has chosen Barack Hussein Obama to be the next president of the United States, the first black president. I heard on CNN a report that many Iraqis believed Barack would never be voted in since all elections were rigged — I guess they were proven wrong. But more than a race, the voice of America has chosen a replacement of a former administration, demanding a change to the previous regime. Whether or not the change will be substantial enough, only time will tell. But, the people demanded and the people were satisfied.
For me, as a Californian living in the UK, I am pleased with the democratic process that has voted for Proposition 8. Preliminary counts say the result is “Yes”, though millions of absentee ballots still need to be counted — mine included. However, Los Angeles County has already suspended the issue of same-sex marriage licenses. This is due to a California State Constitutional provision that says a proposed amendment “shall be submitted to the electors and if approved by a majority of votes thereon takes effect the day after the election.”* Again, seemingly, the democratic voice has spoken.
But is this the democracy we want?
Tags: Canada, Christianity, Ethics, United Kingdom, USA
Hi everyone!
We are finally here in the UK, finally here in Birmingham. It’s been a long journey, leaving Vancouver on September 1st and embarking on an 18-day journey here to Birmingham. God has been very good to Alex and myself. He has blessed us with so many wonderful memories that we will treasure forever with the friends and family with whom we met up with along the way. Of course, we remember and treasure the dear friends and family we left in Vancouver too!
So how does it feel to finally be here in Birmingham? I can only speak for myself, Alex will have to share his thoughts in his blog entry. I have already been asked many a times why I would return to such a country as England, always so wet and so dark in the winter and so gloomy here. I have been quite surprised actually by all the negative comments I hear about this island. Perhaps many people are fed up, for whatever reason. The only thing I want to say is that grass is not always greener on the other side.
Tags: Canada, Relationships, United Kingdom
September 1, 2008 is the two year anniversary of my arrival in Vancouver, BC from California as a new student at Regent College. It is also the day I leave Canada, with my bride, to another new country — England. Though considered by many Americans as the “America’s hat” or the “51st state,” I have grown to appreciate this country for its own goodness. As I leave, I leave with many things — the most important, being a love for a place that is not my own. Here are the top 10 things I have learned from my pilgrimage in the True North:
Tags: Canada, God's creation, United Kingdom
It’s early in the morning right now. I still have to get ready for work. But the sunshine is out and it is a glorious day. I was reminded last night of how great this world is that God has created for us, and it is true. We live in this most magnificent city, so close to God’s natural wonders in His mountains and sea and islands. I always missed these visual signs of God’s greatness when I was living in the UK. But then I suppose when something great is always there and in front of us, it can be easy to just not see sometimes. Whereas from afar, I have to take the effort to remember.
So it’s the last few weeks before we leave Vancouver now (well, a month and a half still, I suppose). I’ve never been good with transitions. Especially the times before the change, when I know the change is impending. My last physical move was about two years ago, and that was a short transition time. I secured my job in Vancouver, gave one month’s notice with my UK job and then left England. The time was so packed. It didn’t feel like I had enough time to say good-bye.
But this time, it feels different. I am now a “we”, so it’s not just myself who is going through this transition. We’ve also been saying that we’ll be moving to the UK for a long time now. Even though things were not always decided yet. Even now, with less than two months to go, things do not seem to be so decided. And me, with a small faith, often have trouble getting used to everything. It is, of course, through these times that I can recall all the moments in my past where I believe God had been so faithful to me, when I didn’t know what was to come. I do remember these times, but it’s still not so easy sometimes.
Though now on such a day, I can look around me and remember. And know that if God can create and take care of such a beautiful natural world as I see here, then how infinitely more will He care for us!
Tags: Canada, God's creation, United Kingdom
On May 10, 2008, we entered a commitment in Christian marriage before our family and friends in Vancouver, Canada. Through the lenses of our good friends and photographers Jon Chan and Cindy Lowe, we wanted to share glimpses of that special day with others.
Thanks to our families who have loved us, our friends who have supported us, and our God Who has embraced us through it all!
Blessings!
Alex and Betty
P.S. We have yet to receive photos from our reception in LA and will post them once we get them.
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