I wish I had known my Gong Gong. I grew up reading, listening, and dreaming about everything West, too, and I even went to a Convent school. My Ah Ma self-taught me to read English; I like to think I inherited her determination and love for learning.
Your Ah Ma sounds like wonderful 😊It’s interesting how many of us in Southeast Asia grew up idolizing the west. I guess it’s only human nature to want what we don’t have.
I see! Makes sense. Where in Malaysia did you grow up in? I came from Kota Bharu then moved to the West Coast - Chinese school educated throughout but actively sought out English / Western sources and inspiration.
I'm from Taiping! I grew up sort of bilingual and learned how to read English in kindergarten. Then I went to a Kebangsaan Convent school, so though the textbooks were in Malay, we had English in everything else!
Taiping is nice! We’ve had to learn Bahasa too in Chinese vernacular schools. My paternal grandparents started their lives in Taiping after China before KB so our earliest memories in Malaysia was from there.
I just returned from 2 weeks in Fujian. Local friends showed us around the area from Fuzhou to Ningde. People were welcoming & friendly from village to city, food tasty & healthy - splendid, actually, the countryside gorgeous. The mid-size city of Changle seemed a place I could contentedly live. It was a wonderful experience. I wish you the same.
Amazing! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Sadly I haven’t had the chance to visit Fujian. Off to another city this trip. Would love to visit there and will reach out for your suggestions then. Do share pics and virtual postcards.
Honestly, because I use a cane I took few photos myself. I checked the photos I have but most were taken by others of this place or that person with me front & center. They aren’t really illustrative - or interesting. 😂 I was especially disappointed that none included Fujian-style sweet & sour pork. That’s a dish I’ve loved since a friend & chef from Fuzhou introduced me to 10 yrs ago. (Why isn’t this on your menu?!? It’s delicious! Oh, too hard to make, Americans want different sweet & sour, easy to make.) I ordered it every chance I had; no two alike, every one perfect, but no photos!
Thanks! I also love the excerpts you have been sharing from your record. The light and shadow you beautifully conveyed: “Tracing an absence- the shape of a cloud- already gone”.
Thank you for this! No wonder you resonate so much with tea, having such a strong ancestral bond to Fujian :)
Your grandpa’s poem is beautiful and his calligraphy as well! Do you have more of that somewhere?
I wish I had known my Gong Gong. I grew up reading, listening, and dreaming about everything West, too, and I even went to a Convent school. My Ah Ma self-taught me to read English; I like to think I inherited her determination and love for learning.
Your Ah Ma sounds like wonderful 😊It’s interesting how many of us in Southeast Asia grew up idolizing the west. I guess it’s only human nature to want what we don’t have.
I'm not sure if I idolize them, but initially due to exposure to English books and materials and songs, those are the only dreams I can conjure of...
I see! Makes sense. Where in Malaysia did you grow up in? I came from Kota Bharu then moved to the West Coast - Chinese school educated throughout but actively sought out English / Western sources and inspiration.
I'm from Taiping! I grew up sort of bilingual and learned how to read English in kindergarten. Then I went to a Kebangsaan Convent school, so though the textbooks were in Malay, we had English in everything else!
Taiping is nice! We’ve had to learn Bahasa too in Chinese vernacular schools. My paternal grandparents started their lives in Taiping after China before KB so our earliest memories in Malaysia was from there.
That's nice! This makes me feel we are linked somehow. Taiping has this magical tie for me :)
I just returned from 2 weeks in Fujian. Local friends showed us around the area from Fuzhou to Ningde. People were welcoming & friendly from village to city, food tasty & healthy - splendid, actually, the countryside gorgeous. The mid-size city of Changle seemed a place I could contentedly live. It was a wonderful experience. I wish you the same.
Amazing! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Sadly I haven’t had the chance to visit Fujian. Off to another city this trip. Would love to visit there and will reach out for your suggestions then. Do share pics and virtual postcards.
Honestly, because I use a cane I took few photos myself. I checked the photos I have but most were taken by others of this place or that person with me front & center. They aren’t really illustrative - or interesting. 😂 I was especially disappointed that none included Fujian-style sweet & sour pork. That’s a dish I’ve loved since a friend & chef from Fuzhou introduced me to 10 yrs ago. (Why isn’t this on your menu?!? It’s delicious! Oh, too hard to make, Americans want different sweet & sour, easy to make.) I ordered it every chance I had; no two alike, every one perfect, but no photos!
I'd love to read more poems from your gonggong. "百花開放笑相迎" wouldn't have been so good without "笑相迎"!
Thanks, Hyun Woo! His other book is on 唐诗百首，明史千枝. Hope to share more, probably could use your help to do a proper Chinese-English translation 😅
Oh wow, sounds even more fascinating now
Love your grandfather’s poem, thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I also love the excerpts you have been sharing from your record. The light and shadow you beautifully conveyed: “Tracing an absence- the shape of a cloud- already gone”.
Thank you so much 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for sharing this! 🍵
Thanks for reaching out. I am glad you enjoyed it.