June 23

In Beijing. Nothing special has happened actually. My aunt was here with me. She cooked some good dishes, including abalone.
I bought some ice-creams for colleagues, who later treated me a night meal after work.
Nothing special, but satisfied.

School life – Episode Five, Rise in chocolate ration

The new year was approaching, and the Globe International School wanted to make up some good news. Remember, just make up, and no one was sure whether the good news would really happen at the end as the school management claimed.
Students of the school receive chocolate ration each month.
The big brothers of the school, which are nicknamed by some students as Gang of Four, and the supreme leader announced on the eve of the new year that the chocolate ration for each student will be increased.
Everyone in the school wants more chocolate, and they are all excited about the announcement.
However, right after the new year holiday, the Gang of Four made another announcement.
“For better management of the school, and to encourage you to work harder, we have imposed a work quantity for you. That means you have to hand in more homework and writings. Those who have done homework more than the quotas we have imposed will receive more chocolate, and those who have done less will of course receive less chocolate.”
Again, the students are all confused. Writing is an abstract thing. Sometimes it takes a week to write an excellent piece because of the extensive research work and it is not easy to write beautifully and vividly.
But the students are willing to work hard, and most of them have handed in more than the quotas.
That means the school will have to give more chocolates, and it is of course a burden to the school. Where can they find more chocolates to give out?
So the Gang of Four announced another policy. The homework and writings will be graded. Only those who have an A grade will receive full chocolate ration. Students with B grade will see their ration reduced by 10 percent, and a 20 percent ration reduction for C grade. Therefore, no one is sure whether they can get more chocolates at the end.
If it is a burden to the school, why does the management announce the chocolate rise?
The answer is not difficult to guess. By announcing a chocolate rise, the management can surely tell people that they are a good and healthy management who do want to give students more. Some students cannot get more chocolates just because they are not up to expectations. It is the students fault, and there is nothing wrong with the school.
The truth can really be distorted and manipulated.

My church in Beijing

I have been joining the Beijing International Christian Fellowship in recent months. I cannot join all of the activities because of my work schedule.
Basically, I have joined two fellowship groups of the church. Most, or probably all, of the members are from Hong Kong.
One of the characteristics of an international church is that you can constantly see people moving in and out. There are newcomers to the church almost every week, and, of course, people leaving Beijing, either go back home or other cities because of work requirement. I have been in the church for a few months, and three people I know have left already.
This is an international church, which is established for non-Beijingers who come to the capital for studies and career development. And it is normal for people coming and leaving.
The church has congregations/ worships in about 10 languages, such as English, Putonghua and Cantonese. I go to the English and Cantonese worship.
The sermons over the week are about shedding lights and salt in workplace. I do believe it is an important message that I should learn. I occasionally lost temper at office. I think I should somehow control my temper.

P.S – I have not written for this blog as frequently as I used to. This is not because I have nothing to write about, but I do not know how to put them into words. I still wish to continue my school life story, and I will go to the remote part of Beijing for weekends. Hope I can take some pictures and write about the trips.

司馬台長城 Simatai Great Wall

Spent a weekend with colleagues to go to the Great Wall (Simatai section). I had once thought of not joining them because my boss also would go there (Sorry, I do not want to meet my boss on days off.) Luckily, he and his family could not climb up very high, and they waited for us at the cable car station.
We spent about two hours walking up to the top of the section. The route is quite challenging because there are many big steps and steep slopes. But we can finally make it. The scenery is of course nice.
I have been to the touristic Badaling Great Wall. Badaling is not attractive. It is only a crowded place with loads of tourists, and it is heavily renovated.

在對上一個週未，與同事去司馬台長城。其實，因為老闆都去，我當初是想過不參加這活動(實在不想在假期看見老闆)。幸好老闆與他的家人沒有登頂，走到一半做到纜車站休息。
我們用大約2小時登頂。這條路線是挺難行，而且有陡峭的山坡。但這裡的風景比八達嶺好得多。
八達嶺只是一個人多的地方。八達嶺長城，經過多年的修復，已經沒有古代的風味。