A Sad Week
Following a memorable bday long weekend, the past week was by contrast rather sad…
Went to the airport to farewell an old family friend whom I know for over 30 years on Tuesday. Saw his parents and sister for the first time in many years, they obviously were sad to see their son (and 2y/o grandson) and brother return to Canada, grandma even couldn’t hide from shedding tears. The near empty airport made the scene seemed sadder still.
On early Thursday morning, the only pro-democracy newspaper’s office building was raided by over 500 police, over 400 computers and servers were seized, 3 companies’ financial accounts were frozen, and 5 of the top managing officials were arrested and denied bail. The police claimed publicly that the company had violated the China-imposed national security law without any proof of evidence or court trial. With the financial accounts frozen, the publicly listed newspaper corporation may cease to operate in a few weeks. I can’t imagine what will happen to our already declining city when the only pro-democracy newspaper that’s gutsy enough reveal the lies of our government cease to operate. Who else can shine light and reveal the truth in our darkened city?!
Many people are fleeing from the city as the dictator regime continues to rise in power and denies people of their rights and freedom. Is there anything we can do besides fleeing? God, can You help us? 🙏🏻
Memorable BDay Long Weekend
Didn’t realize today (Monday) was a public holiday until last Friday. It just so happened that many of my friends meetups and farewell gatherings were scheduled perfectly within the few days with no overlapping. Met up with 5 different group of friends on 5 separate meals and 3 of which served with alcohol! This certainly helped make up for a little bit of my steep social deficit caused by COVID-19.
Only a few friends remembered my birthday on Saturday, but it’s ok, I kinda feel too old to celebrate bdays since passing 40 anyway. And on the day when I turned 40, one of the biggest democratic movements officially kickstarted and took over the city when hundreds of teargas bombs and weaponry were used against armless protesters. It was the 2nd anniversary of the movement on Saturday and some districts in the city were filled with police officers patrolling the streets, not an atmosphere that called for joyous celebrations. Nonetheless, it felt kinda special to share my bday with the movement, the extra tie makes me feel even more rooted to the city I was born in.
After adhering to social-distancing habits and isolating myself for such a long period during the pandemic, I now cherish my meetup with friends much more. Our conversations seemed to be more blunt and straight-to-the-point. Our meetup time also seemed too short, the dinner gatherings would probably lasted longer if the restaurants didn’t have to close at 10pm under the social-distancing regulations.
In lieu of the current political and pandemic situation in the city, I’m truly grateful to meet and catch up with so many friends during this long weekend. God was gracious and made it even more memorable by letting me bump into a good friend heading to her friend’s bday party on my bday and letting me see (although briefly) for the first time in my life a full rainbow while saying farewell to an old friend returning to Canada!
Commemorative Week
Didn’t pick up my social activities as planned this past week. Was also hoping to pick up my regular jogging habit again, but the week had been mostly gloomy with scattered showers, will try again his week.
The past week had been filled with news regarding the 32nd candlelight vigil commemorating the Tiananmen Square Massacre. For the first time in 32 years, the Victoria Park’s soccer fields were emptied of candlelights on June 4th. Instead, under the persecution of the government authorities, candlelights were scattered to different corners of the city and making a bigger impact. Persecution can lead to bigger impact, that’s actually how the gospel spread during the early Christian history.
Didn’t feel like reaching out to friends during the past gloomy commemorative week. Like an annual ritual, I read news articles and watched videos regarding the tragic event 32 years ago. With the increased persecution this year, it seems like I can relate even more to the many young intellectuals who were persecuted or even died in Tiananmen. It still frightens me knowing that a government would be so cold-blooded as to shooting down its own people. It’s even more worrying to witness how that same cold-blooded dictator regime is gaining power in the city I was born in. Oh God, can You save us? 🙏🏻
Home Studio
Finally finished setting up my home studio, one of the biggest projects I included on my Q2 to-do list. The most time-consuming part was the piece of custom shelving I designed and made using paper tubes and 3D-printed joints. This Shigeru-Ban-inspired system of furnitures and accessories is probably my most satisfying work during this self-conducted half-Sabbatical.
The pandemic seems to be more or less under control in the city with over 28 days of zero local cases. I’ve just pasted the 14 days for my second vaccination shot to take full effect. It’s probably a good time to rehabilitate back to the society and start life anew under a “new normal”.
One of the top things to do in this seemingly post-pandemic time (at least locally) is to meet and catch up with friends to make up for the huge social deficit I’ve accumulated in the past year or so. Farewelled another old friend tonight before he moves back to Canada in mid-June. A friend at church told me today that he’ll be moving to UK in August, need to farewell him before he leaves too. Not sure how many more friends I’ll need to farewell as this long pandemic tunnel comes to an end, but the unraveling “new normal” doesn’t look too promising so far.
Super Hot Week
The news announced that today was the hottest day ever recorded in May. In fact, it had been super hot throughout the week. Read about the prison conditions and how there was on A/C despite the heat, I deliberately slept without turning on A/C on Thursday and Friday, slept poorly on the first night, but improved considerably on the second night.
Other than the annoying heat, not much happened in the past week. Met and caught up with a couple of friends whom I haven’t seen for years on Monday. Tried to arrange meetup with my 90+ y/o calligraphy classmate on Tuesday, but only got a reply of gratitude. Played with LEGO all day like a kid on Wednesday, which was a public holiday.
Started my 10th and possibly last sketchbook. Continue making slow but steady progress on my Shigeru-Ban-inspired paper tube furniture, I’m targeting to complete a relatively big piece for my home office this week.
Counting down to 7 more days till my 2nd vaccination shot take full effect…
