16 Things

This is the volcano I watched the sunrise in Bali

I learnt about the idea of "16 Things" from reading the blog of my good friend, Paula. Like you, I have also wondered why 16 and not 15 or 17, but I find it interesting and so here they are:

16 Things about Me (which people don't know):

1. My name on the birth certificate was not May Po (my Chinese name) but "5th sister" (literally in Chinese). There are different stories from different family members about how I got my original and my current names, but as of now, I have absolutely no clue what really happened then or how I got both names!

2. According to my father, I didn't speak until I was 2 years old when "I suddenly opened my mouth and talked and couldn't stop since then," said my father.

3. I learnt to play the piano by myself without having a piano teacher at first. When I was a kid, I could read music instantly and I played many songs by sightreading. I believe I was born with music in my heart.

4. I have a special feeling for Japan, the language and the zen culture. If there was a past life, I believe I could've been a Japanese.

5. My favorite person is my father; my favorite sports - tennis and swimming; my favorite food - hamburgers; my favorite cocktail - vodka martini on rocks; my favorite trip - hiking on a volcano in Bali at 2am in complete darkness to catch the sunrise at 5am, all I could see were countless stars above me; all I could feel was a strong big hand of my Balinese guide holding securing mine.

6. I had a major surgery in 2000 and I thought I'd die. I decided to be a journalist when I was left alone on the freezing operation table for 10 minutes when the nurses all disappeared after hearing the doctor was stuck in traffic.

7. I have kept two turtles since 2000. They're given to me by my sister Betty after my surgery.

8. I am a private person - as my friends say so - I like to be alone for most of the time. I have a few very good friends, and that's enough.

9. The most important thing to me in life is freedom.

10. I love to watch cooking programmes but I can't read recipes. I know every single word in them but couldn't make sense of the steps, not even for pancakes.

11. For all the meals in a day, I love breakfast the most. If there is only one kind of food left for me on earth, it would have to be eggs. There will be a breakfast served in my wedding or funeral, whichever happens first.

12. I was very active in secondary school years: I was a member of the basketball and volleyball teams; I was good at gymnastic and table tennis and played for the school. I was a conductor and I sang in the school choir; I was the English and the Chinese Emcee of almost all school events.

13. The happiest year of my life was when I was 22 years old when I lived in Edmonton. I was madly in love with a man who wanted to be a pastor (and he did and I left him for that).

14. I move house every year (which annoys my sister Betty and my best friend Susanna) and I don't know why.

15. I learnt to love my mother after my father passed away. Love is an amazing thing and it can change a person.

16. My dream job is to be a travel writer. I would love to travel and write, and just do that for life.

p.s. 17. I am alergic to noise and bright light; I will get an instant headache from them. That's why I can't put on my TV/music too loud or have too many light bulbs in the house. My mom thinks I am strange and anti-social because I always prefer very quiet and semi-dark space.

I Love You, Dad

Five years ago today I was in Canada because you were dying.

Today I spent time digging out the photos of that year, photos of you and me and all of us.

You had such a big smile that said friendliness, generosity, kindness, love.

I feel that I didn't know you enough when you're near. I let myself go away when I could understand you more. When I came back, you were far away in your own mind, and I couldn't understand you anymore.

I don't know what to make of it when I was told you're in heaven. It doesn't feel much better.

I only know death parts us all. For I can't see you anymore. Still, your talks, your big warm hands, your moves, your thick eyebrows, your frowns, your home-made dumplings, your squeezing orange juice in the kitchen, your striped T-shirts, your grey suit, your white ladder shoes, your handwriting, your way of calling my name in half Mandarin and half Cantonese, your smile, your love, stays with me always.

I love you.

p.s. I've written and published a features story about my father called "Dreams of Memories Lost". You can read it via this link under the Literary Journalism course materials at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at HKU (under Week Four).
http://jmsc.hku.hk/blogs/litjourn/course-readings/