Talk #394

We Chinese has a strong respect for the teaching profession, they rank top among all the professions. So when Prof. SS Lau admonished the HK reunion-planning group about "moon lone" and "tsing si," we all listened attentively with heads bowed, and jumped into action immediately trying to make the reunion more "tsing si." By the way, due to my "Shanghai" accent, several Lighters asked about the meaning of "moon lone" and "tsing si." "Moon" is the "moon" of "moon tsa tsa." "Loon" means deaf. "tsing" means clear, and "si" means understanding. Now hope we are all very "tsing si."

Since I contribute to the Lighters website often, so the HK reunion planning group invited me to attend and report their meeting. However, shortly after the meeting started, I realize the problem: a Shanghainese tries to understand what is discussed in Cantonese and then report that in English to make it more "tsing si." Luckily, later I found out that my main job is to tell the Lighters all around the world how the HK planning group took Prof. SS's words into heart, works hard to make the reunion more "tsing si," but not to report the detail of the agenda of the reunion. For that, the planning group will do.

First the meeting had to start at 8 PM as WT Peng had to sign hundreds documents before he can come (he used the pen imprinted with 40th reunion logo, an excellent choice of souvenir by the Toronto reunion planning committee), and CC Luk had to wait for an all important phone call at 7:30PM at the office. Even then, Tse Shun Kai had to join us after a meeting that ended at 9:45PM at his office. CC Luk told me to make sure all the Lighters know how hard the HK people work, and still find time to work on the reunion project. Be sure to take a picture to show how little we ate to save the time (attached). When at a Chinese get together, one has to rush through the food, without bringing their spouses, you know they really mean business and work hard.

As we all know tourism and shopping are the lifeblood of HK, so the reunion committee planned accordingly. The total program has 4 parts on an a la carte manner. The first part, a 4 day tour to Canton, China. The 2nd part, a 2 day tour of HK. The third part, a full day shopping in HK, followed by a "Gala reunion dinner." The fourth part is a 7 day tour to Malaysia. This is in stark contrast with many indoor programs of seminars, talks and lessons at Toronto. Understand it is freezing cold and snows a lot there. Lawrence Wong has provide the crystal clear details and it has been posted on the Lighter's website. After reading that, I begin to appreciate Prof. SS Lau's explanation, "tsing si" means micromanagement. It is too much "tsing si" for me. I can only remember "tour, tour, shopping/dinner, and another tour."

If be sure to put some flowers in your hair when you come to San Francisco, then be sure to bring an empty suitcase and a full wallet when you come to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is such a magic city. When you return, "Presto!" you will have a full suitcase and an empty wallet. Do not take my words for it, come to the HK reunion, and find it out for yourself.