十一月的老人院

距离上一次去老人院，已经有四个月了。这次恰好很少同学报名参加，所以我就报上名字了。这次只有五位同学去探访老人院，对我来说是有一点少。一踏进老人院门口时，一股药腥味扑鼻而来，让我有一些不自在。没什么出奇的，因为平时我也会有这种感觉。我们帮忙把桌椅排好，然后把钢琴搬到大厅去，因为有一位师姑要弹奏钢琴。接着，我们就把老菩萨们带到大厅去。这些，跟往常没有什么分别，都是会做的东西。

从他们的活动间，我慢慢地推着一位老奶奶的轮椅，带她到大厅去。从活动间到大厅的那段路，会经过他们老年人的寝室。而那些寝室像医院里面的病房，即狭小有简陋。简陋并不代表不美观，而是卧室里只有两张床，就没有其他东西了。我看了鼻子一酸，这些老菩萨们已经被孩子们遗弃在这个地方，身体又有病痛，卧室里又那么的简陋，真是令人心疼。每个老菩萨的卧室门外一定会挂着一个相片框，里头呢就会有些着老菩萨们的个人资料，而且还会附上他们年轻时候的照片。我一边走着，一边在观察这些照片。我发现，这些老菩萨们，今时今日虽然坐在轮椅上，有些神志不清，有些动弹不得，但是以往他们也是像我一样年轻活泼。照片里头，有些身穿兵装，有些穿着红彤彤的裙子，有些则穿着笔直的西装，潇洒地向镜头微笑。突然间我心里想，我会不会也有这么老的一天呢？此刻，我更加深入地了解上人所说的“无常比明天更先到”。我们今天可能是个健康的年轻人，但是，没有人可以预料到明天会发生什么事。也许，明天我们会发生意外？也许，明天我们会换上绝症？所以，要珍惜每一天，时时刻刻要生活在知足、感恩里。还有，趁我们有能力的时候，尽量去帮助有所需要的人们，希望人人都可以远离病苦。

当我们表演结束时，我们再度的把老菩萨们送到活动间，或是他们的寝室里头。我牵着另外一位老奶奶到她房间里，我转身要离去时，她问我：“我好无聊，你可不可以建议一些活动给我做？”我望了望她的寝室，本来要叫她看电视节目或是什么的，但我发现她寝室里除了床铺，什么都没有。我就随便说：“不然你睡个午觉吧！”她摇了摇头，很悲伤地对我说：“你不觉得很不公平吗？我不知道这个是什么地方，也不认识任何人，不知道是谁把我送到这里来住。”我愣住了。我第一个反应就是把她抱在怀里。虽然我觉得这位老奶奶有一点老人痴呆，但是她这句话深深地打动了我的心坎。我很用力地把眼泪忍住了抱着她，我说：“我真的需要走了，你一定要好好照顾自己，我下个月会再来。”我边走边回头望着她，她的眼睛里头的悲伤，让我的心不停地在流泪。这份感动，让我深深的体验到行孝的必须之处。我发了愿，我不会让我的母亲有这样的一天。

以往到老人院，我们都是嘻嘻哈哈地表演了，就草率的过了一个星期六下午。这份感动，是我从未体验过的。当初刚加入慈青时，也只不过一直在参加活动而已，根本没有真正去了解它的意义何在。近来几个月，我发现当我很用心的去做一件事时，我可以从中领悟到一些东西，从中获得那份感动，来让我有再次付出的力量。所以，我想告诉我的慈青伙伴们，加入慈青，一定会有挫折或是一些让你想退出、想懈怠的理由，但是只要你给自己一点时间，多用心地去做每一件事，无论是慈青活动，或是日常生活里，你会从中得到那一份想要付出的推动力。

Toronto + Niagara Falls

Ok, so, the Toronto + Niagara Falls trip. Sorry for the long wait. :) You will be entertained by photos instead of words, a rare phenomenon in my blog.

Wednesday night
Reached Toronto quite late in the evening. Our car nearly ran out of gas, which created much panic in the car when we fumbled with the GPS looking for a petrol station. We checked in at the Super 8 Motel right in the heart of Chinatown, located upstairs of a dingy looking Chinese mall. Went to have dinner at a place named Laksa. It was just right next to our motel, and I bet you would be as excited as we were, just because of the name. It was a mistake actually, the food weren't nice, seriously.

Thursday morning
Dim sum at a restaurant called Bright Pearl. Everything was just so-so, but the 皮蛋粥 was worth trying.

The legendary 皮蛋粥.

Next stop was CN Tower, the tallest landmark in Toronto, or Canada I think. Nothing special, apart from the famous glass floor section.

A section of glass where you can step on it and look down to 1815 feet below you. Ok, I look dumb, I know.

Next, Mei Chen and Wei Chieh went to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Me, Shann and He Wei opted to just take pictures, and adjourned to the nearby Eaton Center Shopping Center. It was big, but One Utama still is a giant comparatively. We went for a late lunch at Gold Stone Restaurant, or should I call it coffee shop. It resembles those 茶餐厅 in Hong Kong, where you'll have a huge roasted pig, and chunks of roasted pork dangling in front of the shop. He Wei had a scare of his life, when his 烧肉饭 turned out to be a really huge portion, with A LOT of 烧肉 on it. You can practically see the fat oozing out from the pork.

Gold Stone Coffee Shop

We all agreed to drive 45 minutes away to another town called Markham, which has North America's largest Asian Mall, THE Pacific Mall. It turned out to be a big building with shops selling fake DVD's, fake clothing and lots and lots of bubble tea. It looks like those in Shenzen, if any of you have ever been there. We were indeed disappointed. PLUS, we were in the car for about two hours because of traffic jam. -_-"

The famous 168 Tea Shop scattered throughout Toronto. Their Mango Slush was fantastic by the way.

The next morning, we went to take photos of Harbourfront, Royal Ontario Museum and also Casa Loma, before heading off to Niagara Falls. He Wei has started to show signs of having a cold by that time.

The museum that I didn't get a chance to visit. :(

After checking into the hotel, which was called Diplomat Motel (cheesy name), we proceeded to hunt for a place to have dinner. We were driving around, then I suddenly yelled "Look, there's the Falls". Everybody was like "Wah...." :) We went into TGI Friday's, sat down, looked at the menu, then stood up to apologize to the waiter coming to take the order, then proceeded to drive to the nearest KFC in town. Everybody thought TGI was too expensive. *shrugs* Well, at least I found out that the vegetarian burger at Canada's KFC was pretty good. :) We then watched fireworks by the Falls, it was pretty. They had colorful lights shining on the falls at night, so they can change color every half a minute or so. We went to pay the casino a visit that night. Wei Chieh was thrilled when he saw the sign that says "No admittance to individuals aged 19 or below".

Group photo. And that's Auntie Anne's pretzel in my hand, cinnamon sugar. :)

Saturday
It was a packed day for us. It started with a HEAVY breakfast at a place with all-you-can-eat. We went to see the Falls in the morning, then to the Skylon tower, then the Skywheel (a Ferris Wheel that goes for four whole cycles -_-"), then the butterfly conservatory, then the Niagara's Fury, then the Journey Behind the Falls. Sorry, too many "then's". It was absolutely fun. The Falls is simply...breathtaking, is the word I would use. I would advise you to go. IT IS A MUST. :)

The Rainbow Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls from Skylon Tower. (Doubt if I got the names right)

Canadian Horseshoe Fall, also from Skylon Tower.

The Horseshoe Falls, up close.

Right at the edge where the river falls from the "cliff".

Favorite photo. Horseshoe Falls right behind me. :)

In raincoats for Niagara's Fury and Journey Behind the Falls. Wei Chieh is so adorable. :P

Sunday
Didn't do much that morning. We went to a place where they make wine nearby, it has some French name that i forgot. Mei Chen and He Wei bought their famous ice wine as souvenirs, or they are going to drink them? Not sure. We said goodbye to Niagara Falls, and stopped halfway for lunch at a randomly found place. It was called Bamboo, and they serve rather delicious lunch buffet. It was snowing when we drove back. And we got stuck for three hours at the border between Canada and US, because of a traffic jam and an hour at the immigration office. -_-

Well, it was a really fun trip I should say. I really enjoyed Niagara Falls, though that was my second time there. :) The creation of Mother nature just amazes me. Photos wouldn't tell everything, because you would have to see it, feel it, and hear it for yourself. Trust me, it's worth a visit. :) Did I mention that our whole trip cost us $280 per person, for four nights including fuel? I personally think that was cheap.

Too Much To Do, Too Little Time

I just came back from a five day trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls. So much school work to catch up on. This will be my last week of classes, cos all my exams will end on the 9th. :D Will blog more about the trip and some updates after my exams. Be patient ok? :)

Before Thanksgiving...

Tues 11/18
- 417 hw due
Wed 11/19
- finish up as much of fly report as possible so I can ask questions at professor's office hours
Thurs 11/20
- 417 hw due
Fri 11/21
- fly 10 pages report due
- anthro quiz
- Tzu Ching meeting at 6pm
Sat 11/22
- 35 page translation due (chinese-english)
- UMIMSA meeting at 4pm
Mon 11/24
- anthro final 15 page paper due
Tues 11/25
- genetics hw due
- 417 hw due

i.e. I am EXTREMELY busy -_-"

排球

最近，我又重新爱上了排球。爱看，也爱打，但可惜是自己打得不好。前两天去看我们大学的女子排球队比赛，太好看了。很兴奋，因为球球都打得很好，好久没有那种感觉了。上个星期参加了排球比赛，对手是东南亚国家的学生们，有来至泰国，印尼，越南，以及新加坡的学生。我们输给越南那场是最可惜的，因为我们已23对25输给了他们。而且，重点是最后两个球败在我手中，是因为我的错，我差一点在球场里流下眼泪。但是，都已经属于过去了，我不会在耿耿于怀，反而我应该努力练习自己的球艺。 ：）要对我的队友们说声谢谢，那些有拨时间来练习的，我会特别感激你们。我觉得这次就错在我们队员之间不够有默契，多希望我有固定的队员，所以每次练球都可以培养默契，但是真的很难。。。

回想起我十岁就开始打排球了，当时连排球都没有看过。我们的体育老师是我们学校的排球教练，所以他从每个班级挑了两位最高的女孩子，训练我们成为校队。我从四年级到六年级时，是全校最高的学生，当时的男孩子都很怕我。哈哈。十二岁时，我就有现在165公分的高度了，但是从此就没有再长高了。

每个礼拜五我们都会练球，球场是户外的，所以我当时皮肤很黝黑，完全像一个男孩子。哈哈。我曾经去比赛时，对方的球员来问我到底是男还是女，尴尬！以前的教练非常的严格，还记得每次练习开球时，没有过网就是做push up五下。每次比赛时，他都会在场外乱叫，乱骂。

有一次，我们比赛时打赢了，他还是照样骂我们。骂完后，他转身就走。我们就扮鬼脸，有些还比了中指给他。教练突然间回头，他说 “我的头后面其实有长眼睛的，你们不知道吗？” 就这样继续被骂。

打球的那些日子，是我非常怀念的。我们球员之间都很好，常常都会在一起。但奇怪的是，我小学的好朋友，都不是我的队员们，哈哈。唯一不好的是我小学打了三年的球，骂粗口也骂了三年。想起时，还有一点不好意思。幸亏都改掉了。:)

上了中学,背后一直都很痛,所以就没有再打了. 排球让我学习了团队精神, 因为不合作那球根本打不好, 还有就是纪律. 我曾经在家里每一天原地dig一百下的球. 这里有一点像在写作文, 题目是 打排球的好处, 哈哈. 没有啦,这些都是真的, 打的时候没有觉得到, 但现在长大了回想起时, 真的好像有从中体会到一些什么的.

发泄

除了用文字，我找不到另外一个更加文明的方式来发泄了。我实在是受不了许许多多在我身边的人的做事方式。我在这里要先申明，我不是要说我是完美的，我只是想把我的看法写出来，发泄我的不满。若有任何一个人认为我是错的，我随时欢迎你留个言，或打电话来反驳我。:D

首先，我最不满意就是做东西最后一分钟的人。我最近也是这样，paper十点早上要交上，我五点早上才写，所以我以后会尽量避免。但是，如果那是你的功课，你没交上，损失的是你自己，不会影响其他人。那没关系啊，不会害死别人。那如果你是要人家帮你做事，而那件事根本不会让那个人受益。小姐，你是在欠我人情eh. 你是要叫我帮你做吃力不讨好的东西，你怎么可以在星期五晚上八点钟发那张email, 然后星期六早上要准备好那些东西?你有没有觉得你有一点过分?我知道我好欺负,但是你真的过分了.你让我觉得你是个很没用的领导者,星期日开会所说的东西,你星期五才来summarize and recap,会不会有一点太迟？

二，我最不满意不负责任的人。明明第二天有球赛，前一晚的练习你缺席，原因是因为你要去购物。更严重的是，你至少也要打个电话跟我说啊。大家不来练习，根本不会跟我说，还要我打电话去请问你，你觉得这样ok吗？若换你们做队长，换你们做社长，你会喜欢你的属下这样对你吗？做东西要有交待，知道吗？你们没有做过负责人，你们不懂我们的苦衷。

三，我很不满意跟贪小便宜的人。我不知道这个算不算贪小便宜，还是只是因为我笨。有很多人拿了政府的奖学金出国念大学，明明签了合约要回去替他们工作，但是毕业后，根本没有心要那么做。说政府工作薪水少，说政府工作很辛苦。但是，你当初拿这个奖学金时，你根本完全了解这个交易，他给你钱念书，你替他工作。但是，毕业后你就一直想要跑，这样的心理对吗？或许你会觉得政府没有工作给你，但是，你有这样的心理是你错在先， 是你要用了人家就逃跑。或许你会认为我们的友族同胞亏待我们的人，但是，你怎样说还是欠人家人情啊。你用人家的钱，就不能讨厌人，若你那么不满政府，你根本不应该接受它给的利益。说到底，人家也是给你一片土地，安全平安的长大，没有战争，没有天灾。你还要什么呢？你看看别人的国家，人家吃泥土长大好不好？这不是你应得的，要记住。世界上，没有任何一件东西，是你应得的，记住。还有，这个世界上没有完全公平的东西的。无论你住上哪一个国家，不会每一个人都有同样的待遇。有饭吃，有家住，你就要谢天谢地了。可能我是很容易满足的人，很笨的小孩。但是，要记得，不知足是一切痛苦的根源。

四，我很不满意不注意卫生的人。为何有人可以穿没有洗的白衣服出门?那个白衣服，已经变米黄色了！！！！！我的天。然后，还可以很明显的看到头皮屑，牙齿上有深黄色的污垢，没有穿袜子，没有绑鞋带，没有洗澡！！！！！！可以有一个人去告诉他吗？

很长了，暂时这样子吧。我不是要刻意伤害任何人，在此先附上一句对不起。

久违了

对那些有常来我部落格浏览的朋友们，久违了。 :D 我之前还口口声声说会常来法帖子, 我骗的. 哈哈哈. 没有啦, 只是最近真的太忙了,常常会在lab，所以真的没有时间。虽然没有考试，但是很多功课。所以，希望你们不要对我抱那么高的期望啦。