All entries for Wednesday 19 July 2006

heat

Global warming
Guess I complaint too much about the summer being gloomy at England, and finally now we have some intolerable heat!
It is said that the temperature in London today is 38 degrees and 41 degrees in the tube. I was really wondering how can people survive like that.
Guangzhou is also extremely hot in summer, but we have air–conditioning almost everywhere. In Hong Kong, the temperature indoors has always been kept under 26 degrees. Last year there was even an issue of whether there should be more environmental awareness with regard to the use of air–conditioning. I am totally for the environmental protection and natural way of life, but I really got very frustrated by the heat today. 
I am flying back to GZ in about ten hours, and I bet the weather there will be more "LOVELY", hahahaha. But I am really happy to go back. And i am really looking forward to the summer in CA.

Xiu Wang : 19 Jul 2006 23:56 |  Tags: Life |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Growing

Growing up
Today is a flatmate's birthday. The whole kitchen is full of balloons and beer. Everyone was laughing and drinking. I don't remember when my last birthday party was…Well, it has really been quite a few years that I actually make my birthday something special. It was always my parents who arrange birthday parties for me when I was still at home.
Ever since I went to the university, it seems I never actually bother to think about my birthday again. Not because of the stupid reason that women hate being reminded of their age, but rather because I really do not think it is something important. The day when we are brought to the world is definitely significant, but the date itself does not mean much to me. In fact, there are so many things that happen in our life everyday that make us grow up. The most important instant that we suddenly feel grow up actually seldom happen in front of the birthday cake.
A friend once argued with me on the importance of birthday. He believes that it is the most important day in one's life because it marks one's existence. You celebrate it because you celebrate your life.
He made me rethink all the celebrations we have, and maybe all the festivals we create. It is really amazing that it becomes harder to tell which one comes first, the significance of the event, or the ritual of the event itself. We might not grow up significantly on the birthday, but we do realize our growth more clearly when we have this date in mind. We can not guarantee love with a marriage, but usually it is the anniversary that becomes a constant reminder of how much years that we have been together.
Maybe I have to agree that birthday is very important. In fact, all rituals are sacred in themselves in that their importance are not actually defined by us, but rather the other way round: they define and consolidate our values: life, love, friendship…all these abstract things that makes who we are.

Xiu Wang : 19 Jul 2006 00:23 |  Tags: Thoughts |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem