One of the things I learned in Goa was that no one owns the beach. There are a lot of beach resorts there but they don't own the beach and cannot fence off their own private portion. I noticed the same thing in Colombo as I took a long walk along the beach.
There is a certain calm in all the turmoil of the waves and I could feel it as I walked barefoot on the sand.
The place where the two great elements meet, a border, a no-man's land full of people - all kinds of people. From the foreign holiday-making family to the father and son fishing on the beach for a living, they were all there.
The best part was of course when the huge rain clouds came in off the sea trying to obscure the setting sun. Beautiful.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Fine Line
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- Matthew 5:15-16
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 6:2
- Matthew 5:15-16
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 6:2
Monday, July 14, 2008
China University Football Tournament
Three Gorges University was the host for this year's China University Football Tournament.
It was a fun few days for us as we went to every match of our University to cheer them on. The team coach was so pleased by our vociferous support that he sent up cartoons of cool drinks every game and provided us with drums and loud speakers. Every substituted player would bow and cheer us a they left the field and of course played extra well... or so we like to think anyway!
Our university team is really good and in fact were the defening Chmapions. They didn't let their supporters down either and reached the finals. For every match we had our own half-time shows with Mexican waves and lots of songs with improvised lyrics including my own rendition of "We will rock you".
For the finals we were out in full force with painted faces and printed banners proclaiming our loyal support to our university, "San da" [short for "Sanxia Daxue" the original/Chinese name of our University]
And yes we won the finals too! Our favourite defender was chosen the 'Player of the Tournament' and we got to take pictures with the Trophy... the only sad part was that it was raining and the camera was no good, so none of the pictures came out well. Oh well, who needs photos!
"Go San da; San da, Jia you!!!"
It was a fun few days for us as we went to every match of our University to cheer them on. The team coach was so pleased by our vociferous support that he sent up cartoons of cool drinks every game and provided us with drums and loud speakers. Every substituted player would bow and cheer us a they left the field and of course played extra well... or so we like to think anyway!
Our university team is really good and in fact were the defening Chmapions. They didn't let their supporters down either and reached the finals. For every match we had our own half-time shows with Mexican waves and lots of songs with improvised lyrics including my own rendition of "We will rock you".
For the finals we were out in full force with painted faces and printed banners proclaiming our loyal support to our university, "San da" [short for "Sanxia Daxue" the original/Chinese name of our University]
And yes we won the finals too! Our favourite defender was chosen the 'Player of the Tournament' and we got to take pictures with the Trophy... the only sad part was that it was raining and the camera was no good, so none of the pictures came out well. Oh well, who needs photos!
"Go San da; San da, Jia you!!!"
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A Song A Week VIII
Someday - Michael Learns to Rock
This is one of the more famous English language bands in India. I don't know why this band from Denmark is not more popular in other parts of the world... sad.
This is one of the more famous English language bands in India. I don't know why this band from Denmark is not more popular in other parts of the world... sad.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
HSK
Finally I decided I had waited long enough and so enrolled to take the HSK [Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi] Chinese proficieny test, in June. We are supposed to pass HSK level 3 before we graduate. There is some kind of a scheme running among the students where you enlist the help of students who have already passed the test and now more and more students are getting through with levels 4, 5 and even 7.
But some of us decided that since we have to carry this certificate with us for a while [all our life], we'd rather do it by ourselves. So far only one Indian student from the University is reported to have passed the test on their own merit.
Anyway there were about 100 students who took the HSK on June 22 in Wuhan, the capital of our Hubei province. The test is in 4 parts - listening, grammar, reading and cloze test. The results are already out. I didn't make the grade, so the prophecy was not true. I have a good total approaching level 4, but not enough in the grammar and the cloze parts. Guess we all make our own destiny :)
But some of us decided that since we have to carry this certificate with us for a while [all our life], we'd rather do it by ourselves. So far only one Indian student from the University is reported to have passed the test on their own merit.
Anyway there were about 100 students who took the HSK on June 22 in Wuhan, the capital of our Hubei province. The test is in 4 parts - listening, grammar, reading and cloze test. The results are already out. I didn't make the grade, so the prophecy was not true. I have a good total approaching level 4, but not enough in the grammar and the cloze parts. Guess we all make our own destiny :)
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