Good News For Hong Kong

Good News For Hong Kong

Between political unrest, Covid 19, lots of people leaving and the recent Tai Po fire, Hong Kong people have been through a lot. Sometimes when you get stuck, you need help from the outside because you can't see your way through the problems you are facing. In this article, I hope to focus our attention on the impact that an outsider can have. I have heard both locals and foreigners describe life in Hong Kong as a pressure cooker. People are constantly busy and when they do have time to rest, many of them want to retreat to the safety…
The GH6 at a “Rock Concert”

The GH6 at a “Rock Concert”

Okay it wasn’t a rock concert, but there were lights, fog machines, and lots of people. I was at the Justice Conference Asia. The theme this year was Re-imagining. It was amazing, and I will write a separate post on it. In this post, I want to reflect on how the GH6 handled the conditions and show you the 3 minute video I put together. Panasonic GH6 First I am relatively new to the GH6. I have owned it a little over a month and have not had a lot of time to play with it. It’s a M43 camera…
Finding Community in Hong Kong

Finding Community in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a busy place. Everyday people sacrifice relationship in favor of efficiency. Get more work done often translates into more money but fewer relationships. I know that this isn’t just a Hong Kong phenomena, but maybe I’m more sensitive to it because Hong Kong is my home. People work really long hours here, but it's not just work that gets in the way of community. As modern people who live in a modern city, we place a high value on food, convenience, and gadgets. These things aren't by themselves wrong. However, they do have a tendency to distract…
Spirited Away is Still Relevant

Spirited Away is Still Relevant

Years ago a friend in China gave me a video titled Spirited Away. It was in Mandarin and Japanese, and because at the time, I was studying Mandarin, I was really excited to receive it from him. I watched the film several times. I couldn’t understand all the words because my Mandarin was only so so, but I was captivated by the animation, colors, sound effects and characters. The basic storyline of a little girl, Chihiro, left alone to survive in this world stuck with me. Years later, I found the story had also been translated into English so I…
Kodak Is More Than A Camera

Kodak Is More Than A Camera

Rochester my home town is also the home of Kodak. It used to be that if you mention Kodak that people had fond feelings and were proud of Kodak. While today Kodak still exists and employs around 4000 people. It is nowhere near as large as it once was. At its height in 1988, Kodak employed 145,300 people worldwide. But how did Kodak get started? Over our summer home visit Tracy and I visited the George Eastman Museum to learn the answers to these questions and more. George Eastman, the founder, began producing dry photographic plates in 1880. Awhile after…
Old Friends Revisited

Old Friends Revisited

Years go by, but old friends still hold a special place in our hearts. My best friend growing up had his surprise 50th birthday celebration (He is the guy on the right). His wife Veronica organized it for him and contacted me on Facebook to let me know about it. Great job Veronica! I'm so glad that Tracy and I got to play a part in Stephen's special day. As you will see from the video, we ate well. It was delicious. Stephen is a special guy. He has been serving in Eagles Wings ever since he graduated from music…
The People in Our Lives

The People in Our Lives

We all need people in our lives not just passers by. Hong Kong’s EDB (Education Department Bureau) recognizes the importance of connections and encouraging NET teachers to return home to their home countries to reconnect with family and friends. Under the classic NET scheme, NET teachers can return every to 2 years and the EDB will reimburse them for the cost of their plane tickets. This summer was the first time for my wife Tracy and I to return back to the states together since we left in 2016. Friends Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about whether or not…
The Outdoors Is Fun

The Outdoors Is Fun

I don’t think everyone would agree with that statement. It seems that many young people and even adults are overly occupied on their smartphones. The outdoors is fun is becoming more of a traditional way of thinking. After all who has time to go outside for fun anymore. We are busy texting, chatting, gaming and even actually going to other places virtually. Too often our bodies get neglected. We were designed to move, to feel and to physically experience the outdoors. A person who enjoys being outside is more likely to gain the benefits of being outside. Let's not be…
She’s The Youngest 80 Year Old

She’s The Youngest 80 Year Old

Char’s words, "She is the youngest 80 year old I know still stand out to me. She said this as we passed each other in the food line at my mom’s 80th birthday party. It was a special night. Lots of people shared memories about mom and I learned a few things about mom and dad’s early years. It’s important to honor older people who are worthy of being honored. When we do so we bless them and we receive a blessing ourselves. We become more aware of how our lives have been enriched by being connected to them. My…
Having Something To Say

Having Something To Say

In this post I interview a friend on learning a second language. Richard has a lot to share about the importance of connecting with another person in there native language and we will explore that shortly, but first what about having something to say in the target people's language. Whether we are teaching English or studying another language. It's important that we have something worthwhile to say. I’ve spent about 15 years teaching English in both Hong Kong and China. As a “Foreign Expert” that’s what they used to call me in China, people used to really pay attention to…