My Italian Summer - Not There Yet

I've lived in Canada for more than 1o years, and I've met less than 10 rude people. Lucky for me at the beginning of the trip I just happened to meet the rudest person ever at the Vancouver airport. For whatever reasons I couldn't remember, I lined up in the wrong line. When the ticket lady at the counter realized that she asked me in a high pitch tone if I COULD read. I usually could come up with some kind of quick combat, but this time I was simply too shocked to speak. She works for the biggest and the snobbiest Germany airline. I will make sure I will NEVER have anything to do with them.

My flight to Vienna stopped over in Dusseldorf, Germany. I don't know why I was nervous about that (the ticket lady certainly didn't help!). It might have had something to do with the Olympic drama. Germany and France topped the chart of anti-China/Chinese as always. I was so nervous, and I wasn't even a Jew! Maybe God wanted to teach me a lesson or something, and I ended up sitting beside just about the sweetest German girl. She was a beautiful girl with blond hair and blue eyes, a fresh grad with a mater degree in veterinary medicine from Cologne. After the North American trip, she was about to start her job at Beyer. We talked about everything. Once she found out my stone-age crush on Klinsmann she grabbed all the sports magazines on the plane (they were all in German, and man oh man that guy was in in almost all of them), and tried to translate everything about him for me. At the end of the trip I was almost in love with her.

Traveling with in the European Union is way easier than within North America. I didn't see any German immigration officers at the entry point, and the customs officers were too bored to even look at you. I had 4 hours to kill, so I walked my German friend to her train station. After that I spent hours struggling with the European pay phones with no luck. Dusseldorf was a gray industrial city. Mountains of people were smoking outside the arrival gate. I could feel the weather was very mainland-ish. By the time I left it started to rain.

My Italian Summer - Getting There

I realize if I don't write it down soon I would forget. Right now I am sitting in front of my computer somewhere in the Midwest, USA. It was only couple of months ago, though it feels like a dream when I think about it now, or the past life. I don't want to forget. It has been the best summer of my life.

Everyone has a dream place, a place she/he has been dreaming of always but never been. Some people don't know where it is until they see it. Some people keep changing the idea along the way. For me, it has always been Italy. I have this rule with myself, that I am not going to have kids until I see Italy with my own eyes. It is my psychological and emotional bottom line of compromise with life.

During the height of all the drama, the wedding, packing, cleaning, moving, and all that crazy shit, my only sanctuary was planning the trip because unlike everything else that was going on this one was mine, and mine only. As a control freak and a chicken, I planed the hell out of it. The planning was almost as fun of going there, just imagining all the possibilities, the places and people I would see and meet. I also knew I would be in the strange world with strange custom and language. Knowing as much as possible might help me to save some trouble or maybe even my life.

The only sad thing is I lost my camera in Vienna. So I have nothing to show you visually before Rome. As how my friends from Vienna put it, "The only way to make it up is for you to come back again'. They were probably right.

Wedding

Before the tea ceremony there was the ancestor worship ceremony. After bowing to the sky, the earth and the ancestors, someone whispered 'they are married now'. This is the traditional Chinese way. With permission from the ancestors and the parents, with the sky and the earth as your witness, you are married. That's all you need.

Many people have asked me how it feels like to be married. It didn't feel any different at the beginning. After the crowd's gone and all the noise's subsided, the feeling's started to become clear. How should I put it? It is like sipping a cup hot chocolate on a cold winter day, soothing, warm and sweet...

Isn't that wonderful that the person you love loves you too?! Isn't that wonderful that now the searching is over?! Isn't that wonderful that you will never have to wonder if you miss out on each other?! Life will still do its best at throwing ups and downs at you, but at least you know you won't have to face it alone.

Yeah, that's how it feels like.







For more wedding picture please go here

Hilarious football moments (I say football and I meant it)!

Football is not easy. The good, the bad, the ugly, and even the great ones all fall on their faces...sometimes...

An Italian Summer

I couldn't believe it when I came cross this song online. Suddenly all the memories came back to life. There was a summer 18 years ago I woke up every night in this song. Till today it was still the happiest summer of my life. You young kids probably only remember Ricky Martin's Cup of Life. Call me old, but you have no idea how magical that Italian summer was...

Euro 2008 is on. The summer is still young, and the game is still beautiful as ever...

So Depressed

I have been so depressed lately...

I have been lying around...





I have been leaning around...





I have been hiding in my small shell...



I have been up side down...



I have been bending my head against the wall...



even tried meditating...








I have turned my back on the world...







... so depressed ...

BITCH! (please excuse my language this once)

I've seen the karma theory many times lately. You can find them after every piece of news of China earthquake on most news websites (CNN, BBC, CBC...). Google it up and you will see just in case you don't believe me (why should you believe me? I am from Red China). Every time I see it I tell myself 'don't get angry, don't get angry'. By now I am not angry at all. Most of these messages come from two groups of people, Fa Lun Gong and Free-Tibet. I am sure you have met them if you ever drive by Chinese consulates anywhere in the world at any given moment. The comments usually start with 'I am Tibetan. I am sorry for the victims of the earthquake, but I can't help feeling...'. Well, these tow groups are not exactly famous of their 'scientific approach', but it is not what bothers me. It is the coldness that they are almost happy it happened. There was a five-day stand off in NYC between Fa Lun Gong people and Chinese (actually FLG people are 100% Chinese too) over if 70K Chinese deserved to die (it is over all youtube).

What they are famous of is the greatest frase in human history 'Human Rights'. It is a bit ironic to me. It kind of reminds me of the case that someone murders abortion doctors in the name of pro-life. No, it is more like people who think it is right and are happy that others are murdered because they are abortion doctors. You can say I am a brain washed Chinese and I don't know human rights. Maybe you are right. Maybe I don't understand your definition of human rights. Personally I find it very hard to believe that the people who have no respect for lives would really give a damn about human right. To me the very basic human rights is to be alive.

The video below is the reporter from Sichuan TV station reporting the death tolls of all the districts. Aba District is a Tibetan self-governed district in Sichuan (kind of like the Native reserves in Canada). By 4pm of May 17th, 2140 plus died in that district. For those who claim to care so much about Tibet and Tibetans, this is the time for you to dig deep into you pockets and help out. Even if it is just for Aba district (you can put it as the restriction on your donation), we would still be very grateful. Living Buddha, care to share some of your CIA funded PR money? Oh, another humble piece of advise, if you would like to help out like Ms. Stone mentioned in the video, it would work out better to notify us instead of her.




As you could see in the video, the reporter was trying very hard not to cry on live TV. I feel China as a nation has been going through steps of depression. First it came the shock, then disbelief, stabbing heartache, anxiety and quilt for not being able to help. Everyone was on the verge of tears everyday. People were crying and laughing every time the new death toll came out and when one more person was pulled out alive. Now people are ultra-touchy; emotion is running high, and lots of people are angry. China, please hold on. We can't let some hell bent souls make us bitter. There are still millions of homeless, thousands of orphans... It is not the time to fall apart. Go China Go!

Mourning

National Mourning across China at 14:28, May 19, 2008


(please turn the volume down)

The busy nation paused for 3 minutes. The sound of siren and horn echoed through out the entire country. It is our way to say good-bye to the 50,000 plus family members we lost, to let the sorrow out, to turn it into hope and strength. We will remember the dead, help the survived, and build new, better and stronger homes and schools for the future.



ps. The Red Cross urgently needs more tents, formulas and medicine. Please help us...

Hope

Through the thick mist of devastation, hope is struggling to shine. The very next day the blood donation excessed the capacity of every hospital, and people have to be put on waiting list. Thousands and thousands of volunteers rushed to Sichuan. Everyone is donating money and everything they can spare. Donation of astronomical number is puring in from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Rescue teams from Russia, Japan, Taiwan having been working side by side with the Chinese soldiers. After more than 100 hours people are still pulled out of the rubbles alive, and many of them are children, the hope and the future of China.

This baby's mom was found kneeling above her child in protection. She did not survive. But she saved her baby. As long as there are moms who cares if there is God. I am sure he will grow up and become a person that his mom would be very proud of.

This is the girl who has both legs broken. That smile is the hope that keeps everyone going.

A boy with a broken arm saluting to the people who saved him. The first thing he said after the soldiers pulled him out was, 'I want some coke'! and the soldiers said, 'as long as you hold on, anything you want!'













Many Chinese families are ready to adapt the orphans from this earthquake. This little thing will end up having a much much bigger family, about 1.3 billion people. Do you think you can handle that?! :)

The word 'country' in Chinese is 国家. 国 means country, and 家 means home and family. Let's wipe off the tears. It is not the time to say 'oh how sad'. It is time to say 'how can I help?'. There are 1.3 billions of us. If we hold on tight to each other, we can get through this together!

Chengdu Diary

I have always been a big fan of NPR Public Radio. They are doing a wonderful job once again this time. The reporting is honest, open minded, and caring.

"All Things Considered" hosts Robert Siegel and Melissa Block are in Sichuan Province covering the massive earthquake. They continue to report on the aftermath and recovery efforts. The hosts were in Chengdu with producers Andrea Hsu and Art Silverman when the quake struck. They were preparing for a special week of China coverage that had been planned for next week. Follow this blog for regular updates."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/chengdu/

I shouldn't have read the May 14th's entry - Dujiangyan Parents' Search for Child, especially shouldn't have listened to the audio clip. I was hoping I could get through a day finally without tears.

One comment said,

Thank you, Melissa, for giving this tragedy a face, name, and story. It makes it much more difficult for those of us on the other side of the world to block it out and act as though it doesn't affect us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone striving to cope with this catastrophe.

Sent by Meg | 1:29 PM ET | 05-14-2008

I've learned my lesson. I admit I have been very selfish. I didn't care as much for the tragedy in Burma. The pain and suffering was just too far away to be real. Now it cannot be more real because it is physically hurting me. Some of you might not understand why I am so emotional over this. It is hard to explain. Chinese call each other Tongbao (同胞), which literally means 'people who share the same uterus, which simply means brothers and sisters. Chinese also call brothers and sisters 手足, 'arms and legs'. I cannot stop crying and screaming because my legs are broken and my arms are bleeding. Every Chinese is family no matter where they are, in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, or whatever nationality they hold. Family members fight sometimes, and that's what happens when you have a huge family. Chinese culture is very different comparing to some western ones for example ancient Greek. Chinese had had the definition of 'country' long before we had the definition of government. Government comes and goes and so does political and religious difference. Our philosophy has always been 'family first' and 'blood is thicker than water'. That's what has gotten us through 5000 harsh years. It is really shining through in the face of disasters.

Please learn from my lesson. Please don't wait until it happens to your family to give a damn. The new pair of shoes or new phone can wait. Please lend a helping hand now because their lives depend it.

Eat Bitterness

I couldn't stop crying when I was reading this CNN report. After all the Olympic drama, for the first time I see something about my people that actually sounds like the people I know, I grew up with, and I care so much. There are also videos available with the report here:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/14/china.vause/index.html


China's earthquake victims 'eat bitterness'

by CNN's John Vause

CHE JIA VA, China (CNN) -- In Che Jia Va, survivors of the deadly earthquake that struck central China wait patiently for aid. They don't complain.

Among them is a woman with back injuries who cannot walk, and moans loudly. Soldiers eventually found the woman and took her away.

Sheets of plastic protected some of these victims from the rain that came down after the quake. But despite a lack of food, water, phone service and supplies, most of the victims were undemanding and uncomplaining -- some playing cards to pass the time -- confident they would be looked after.

The only complaint we heard was questioning why the government did not give a warning that the quake was coming, the way officials did in 1976, when an earthquake virtually destroyed the city of Tangshan, northeast of Beijing, killing at least 240,000 people.

Many of the people we ran into were still in shock. "It's horrible. There is devastation everywhere," one woman said.

There is a Chinese adage: "Eat bitterness." Or as Americans would say: "Grin and bear it." The Chinese we saw practice that well.

We've had some of the nicest people help us out. There was a guy who had a packet of cookies and wanted to share them, because we were reporting the quake story.

A woman at a gas station, which has a $13 limit per purchase, let us buy $100 worth for our two SUVs. She just came up and helped. There actually were soldiers at the gas stations to ration it out.

As my producer, Wen-Chun Fan, and I did our best to navigate around roads blocked by mudslides and chunks of debris, we saw the aftermath of Monday's 7.9-magnitude quake, the epicenter of which was about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province.

The quake was so powerful that homes in Che Jia Va didn't simply collapse. They were smashed apart, and under some of the rubble are the people who once lived there.

Local officials say the focus now is not on finding the dead, but rescuing the living. Survivors huddle together in makeshift tents with nowhere to go. I wonder how structurally sound the remaining buildings are, and realize the impact of the quake will be felt for years. Watch Vause describes how aid is getting to China after the massive earthquake. »

Perhaps the most poignant experience came while we were talking to the local party secretary in Che Jia Va, who gave us directions and pointed out various landmarks -- all the while keeping a stoic face. The town was once home to 13,000 people, and 3,000 are still missing, he says.

As he shows me the damage to his community, I ask how many have died. Tears flow down his cheeks, and he makes no effort to wipe them away. He says that as many as 500 are dead, including his parents, his wife and their two children.

In the midst of his anguish, there is a call over his radio. He's needed again, and he runs off -- with apologies -- to go back to work.

Wedding Registry

I am getting married on June 27th, 2008. We are given very limited invitation cards. So you might have or haven't received our wedding invitation.

This wedding registry might seem a bit odd. We apologize for all the possible inconveniences it might cause you. As you probably have heard already about the devastating earthquake in China. Eugene is Chinese Canadian and I am 100% made in China :P Right now the land of our ancestors and its people are suffering a great deal. We've decided to take this chance to help out a little bit in our and as well as in your honour. We can't think of any gift more meaningful for one of the most important days of our lives.

Whether you are invited or not or just a total stranger who accidentally came across this blog, please give a thought. The population of China is 1.3 billion plus. Please consider this as 1.3 billion 'Thank You'.

-------------------------------
This is done through Canadian Red Cross:

1. Go to: https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/inmemory/index.php

You can also get there by going to http://www.redcross.ca/ --> Donate Now --> Donate Online in Memoriam or in Honour

2. Gift Type

Gift type: in Honour of (not in Memory of, not yet :P)

Name: Weijia and Eugene

The Honourable Occasion: Wedding

3. Choose a card type you want to send: eCard (I am sure you would like to save some trees :)

4. Send eCard To

Salutation: Mr. and Ms

E-mail address of recipient: vivi_cao@hotmail.com

Message text: your message

Your Name: your name

Your E-mail address: your e-mail address

5. Select an eCard: anyone you like

6. Send Traditional Card to: disabled if you choose e-card

7. Donor Information: your information

8. Fund and Amount:

Fund Designation: China Earthquake

Credit Card Information: your card information. Minimum online donation is $5. It is tax deductible (save the receipt).

9. Submit - you are done, YAY!

China Earthquake Posters

China Earthquake Poster by Elysee. Feel free to distribute. Thank you!

For Japan:


For Germany:

For France:

For Australia:

For North America:

Please Help Us

My parents say I was never much a crying baby. But in the last couple months my tear threshold has dropped to the dirt level.

30 years ago we lost an entire city Tang Shan due to earthquake. It is happening again and even worse. Sichuan is one province in the southwest China. You probably know it because of its famous spicy dishes. My mom's home town Chengdu is less then 90 km from the center of the earthquake. It was hit hard but it was nothing compareing to the ground zero (Wenchuan county). So far more than 12,000 people died，26,206 injured，and around 94,000 are still buried under the collapsed buildings. The 7.9 earthquake came around 2pm in the afternoon when most students were still in school in classrooms. That's why the dead toll of children is unbelievably high, and so unbelievably heartbreaking.

I am pleading. I am pleading for your help. I have donated $500 to Red Cross Canada's China Earthquake Fund. That's all I can do since I cannot be there digging with my own hands. To me it is family tragedy. To you it is much appreciated generosity. Minimum donation is $5. They are all tax deductible:

From US: http://www.mercycorps.org/
From Canada: https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/index.php

If money is not your style, please keep us in your mind when you pray to your higher power.


















The rescue centers of the giant panda are right at the center of the earthquake as well

Please help us...