A 'tooth' extracted

For someone with a sweet tooth, to abstain from sweet food is next to an impossibility. Until the recent months, that was exactly how I had felt. I never imagined myself saying no to ice-cream, chocolate puddings, cream cakes and cookies. My friends used to joke about my fondness for sweet things. When the sweet congee was served at the end of a Chinese banquet, I was often offered one or two extra bowls, which I accepted with delight. At a buffet, no savory food could beat the desserts for a place in my heart. At a supermarket, the shopping basket was occupied mainly by packaged juice, muffins, wafers and, of course, my beloved chocolates.

But thanks to an ex-student, I have had the sweet tooth ‘extracted’. What has she done? Well, she simply set an example too good to ignore.

I had not met her for quite a while. Then when we happened to cross paths a couple of months ago, I was surprised to find her two sizes smaller. She told me she had given up sweet food. Though half convinced, I decided that there was no harm in having a try. And that was how I started my hectic journey towards sugarfreeism.

Now I can, with a certain amount of pride, report some success. For breakfast, I have oatmeal with corn instead of milk. Crackers have replaced cakes for my afternoon tea. I now walk past a bakery without stopping to stare at the serradura. I will not touch the bowl of sweet congee at a banquet. In brief, I reject all kinds of sweet food.

But what is the sacrifice for, you may ask. Honestly, slimming is what I’ve been trying to achieve. I’ve heard about females losing control over their weight because of a change of lifestyle after retirement. I will not let this happen to me. Even if I fail to lose weight, at least, I must prevent a constant weight gain. This is not only for the sake of a better shape. My knee pain from long years’ standing could worsen if I do nothing to reduce my weight.

Persistence pays. To my delight, I have lost a few pounds. Though the physical difference is hardly noticeable, I feel my health improving. Besides, I take pride in my success in overcoming food temptation. And, definitely I rejoice over the loss of the ‘sweet tooth’.

The Real America

I have an American dream because America is a country closely related to my life though I have never set foot on its soil.

For more than four decades I had been a High School teacher, and America was a curriculum focus of the Geography lessons I taught during the first twenty years. There was a time when technological teaching aids were unknown, and hanging maps and sketches were used instead. However, I preferred to match my teaching with a quick sketch of my own. In fact, sketch maps of the American regions were already imprinted on my mind. I still remember how my students used to marvel at the quickness with which I showed the location of the five Great Lakes and River St. Lawrence. I also showed how the Rocky Mountains act as a climatic barrier between Colorado and California. Lessons on Physical Geography, too, were made more vivid with sketches such as those showing how flood plains on both sides of the Mississippi were formed.

What I favored most, however, were lessons on the early colonization of the American continent. I took great delight in telling my students stories about how immigrants from the European countries underwent the long and difficult journey across the Atlantic with the hope of starting a new life and how they had overcome challenges and obstacles before they finally settled down to a life of peace and freedom.

Today prosperous cities are found where the first thirteen colonies once lay. But stories of the bravery and tenacity of the early settlers are never forgotten. In fact, this part of America, especially the Ellis Island on the Hudson River, is the location that can be seen as the REAL America. The Ellis Island is the base of the Statue of Liberty, assumedly a joint project of the French and American peoples, thus symbolizing the friendship between the two countries. It is also regarded as an icon of freedom and a welcoming signal to the immigrants from abroad. In fact, America is a country known for its invincible efforts to promote freedom and human rights, giving hope to people who find themselves oppressed and abused just like the first immigrants from Europe. The American people are also well liked for their open mindedness and friendliness in many parts of the world, disregarding racial variations. Therefore, when asked about the Real America, I never fail to cite the Ellis Island.

In addition, while preparing my students for TOEFL tests, I was exposed to lots of information about the American culture. The comprehension passages chosen to test candidates’ understanding of various fields of knowledge quite often included historical accounts of early American exploration and settlement. Not surprisingly, I was further impressed by how well the Ellis Island and its vicinity depicted the REAL America.

On the other hand, it is agreed that attention is now focused on America’s dynamic achievements as a Super Power over the past decades. Undeniably, success has been attributed to the efforts of so many who have been educated on the valued principle of freedom for all and acceptance of varied cultures and origins. In this, the Ellis Island, a favorite site for school visits, never fails to play its part.

I have retired since last August, but my attachment to the American culture has not lessened. Instead, I still find it enriching my life. With more time at my disposal, I now read voraciously, both for pleasure and for information acquisition. My favorite books happen to be among the New York Times best sellers such as Jodi Picoult’s and Michael Connelly’s. I take delight in comparing the American teenagers’ problems with those of ours in Macau. I also get thrilled at how skillfully the American lawyers handle a court case. Moreover, I watch CBS news very often. While keeping me well informed, the videos also help me maintain the American accent of my spoken English. Last, but not least, I visit the site of ‘United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ practically every morning for the daily reading of the Bible. I find the audio readings and the video-taped reflections very conducive to my growth in faith.

Yes, I do have an American dream. I hope God will bless me with the opportunity to find myself in a place which I have cherished in my heart for decades. Will the Ellis Island be the same as I’ve seen it so many times in pictures and videos used for my teaching aids? Will my dream materialize before my health fails with the growing age?

A Clean Romance

 

I used to raise my eyebrows at the rising popularity of Korean drama series. Who cares about the dragging stories starred in by actors and actresses who show signs of plastic surgery? But now the night hours find me glued to a much talked about drama series named ‘You who came from the stars’. I am so captivated that I view the episodes one after another, though, consolingly, I still manage to refrain from more than one per day. So what makes the drama so fascinating?

Frankly, handsome guys and pretty girls are a great attraction. Gianna Jun’s face is simply adorable, never with too heavy makeup on and often wearing the lovely, naughty expressions that would seem repulsive on someone else’s face. It’s fun watching her acting like a fastidious child, which again is exclusively her style. Kim Soo hyun, on the other hand, captures attention not with the face but with the dignity and thoroughness he carries. He wins more hearts with his coolness and aloofness rather than with his smiles, which are treasured, though, for their rarity. He also makes mouths gape when he works magic with his eyes, causing books and cups to be flying around, saving a girl from under the wheels of a running lorry. How we wish for a superman like him, and then he sure looks more attractive than the traditional Superman! Besides, their costumes are also fascinating. Being a super star, Jun, as well as the people she moves around, is usually seen in glamorous attire, giving the viewer the feeling of being at a Korean fashion show. Kim’s signature hair style and classics clothing, too, add much to his charm and are adopted by many in some Asian cities.

But there is far more the drama series can boast of apart from pretty faces. The story plot itself is appealing, with elements of humour, romance, horror, suspense and mysteries. Kim’s attachment to a lady in his memories, which he later transfers to Jun because of her resemblance to the former, is a storyline that keeps the whole drama series alive. Knitted between the lovers’ encounters and later engagement in everlasting love are details related to a cunning murder that involves several characters, holding the breath of the audience until the very last moment when the mystery is solved and the cunning criminal gets arrested. There are tear jerking moments when the murderer’s brother, kneeling and sobbing, made known to the father the cruel truth. When the two lovers are bidding each other farewell, unsure of a reunion possibility, the viewer feels heart- broken, too.

One thing I personally appreciate greatly is the absence of violence and sex. Despite the cruelty with which the murderer ended his brother’s life and later his girl friend’s, there are no upsetting scenes of bloodshed. And the intimacy between the lovers is limited to light kisses, which are made amusing with Kim falling sick with a fever afterwards. I am delighted at what I would call ‘a clean romance’ and hope this can convince people to stop considering sex and violence a guarantee for film popularity.

The drama series is very entertaining and is a welcome break from the drudgery of many of the local made TV shows.