May 20, 2006

Introduction

May begins with a lot of big changes. This does not involve me, but many people. First, my cousin Taki and Sheila are headed on their European vacation, backpacking from London all the way to Italy to scuba dive. One of my best friend, Richard Mar, got accepted at Osgoode Law school in North York, Ontario. Wow! I finally graduated and have had time to prepare for my vacation next month. I will be visiting my grandparents in Hong Kong. If I’m missing anybody on this list, tell me. I will post it. What? Jonathan? You’ve turned Christian and run a fellowship group ever Friday night? Since when? That’s new.

Artemis Fowl

If I say the words, ‘Encyclopedia Brown, Sherlock Bones, BabySitter’s Club, and Sweet Valley High,’ what do you immediately think of? These were perhaps the hottest paperback series in our childhood. Now, these titles have been usurped by other more glamourous writings. I once thought that literature was forever, but in terms of paperbacks, they last but one generation. Shame, shame.

This week, with my exams over, I went to peruse the children literature section and found a series to read upon. It’s called Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. There are currently about six books in the series, but it’s about a smart anti-hero who discovers a means to get rich via faeries and goblins. He is the complete opposite of Harry Potter. Stupid and brave versus genius and weak. Nevertheless, it is a very entertaining series. You can read more about the series here.

Return of Vivian

During last month’s crusade into Surrey Memorial Hospital, I ran into Vivian. It happened so fast, it was kind of surreal. The reason is because my brain’s neural network was unable to unknot a conundrum. First, I knew Vivian had left for Seattle when she graduated from UBC to further her pharmacy career. She was busily making billions south of the border when our Canadian dollar was worthless as our pine-beetle infested trees. Why, of all places, was Vivian making her return in Surrey, the #1 crime city in the world? Seattle, Surrey? Both start with “S”, but both dramatically different cities.

Well, it turns out, she moved back up here to get married.

“To Derek?” my friend Amos asked. Derek was Amos’ church friend. “Geez, he’s smart. He made Vivian make all the moolah, and he’s relaxing in Vancouver.”

Who is smarter? I am not interested in debating this point. However, Vivian Tien is back. Just in time for our 10 year high-school reunion. If you want to visit her, email me for her contact email. She lives in Richmond, and you’re never short of coffee or bubbletea joint down there.

Figure 1. Vivian Tien, the 2006 version. She just got married recently. She asks if Viet will be next?

Hooding Ceremony

May 16, 2006 was a proud day for our family. After four years of sweat and abuse, I finally obtained the glorious moment that I’ve been waiting for. Yes, it was graduation. People watched as members of the graduation class walked across the stage, got hooded by the Dean of Medicine, and then received their wooden shingle. With their buttocks planted back in their seats, the graduates had to listen to medical spiel for the last time. It lasted about 30 – 60 minutes, but who was counting anyways? To everyone that was there, congratulations! Proud of everyone! We all earned our MDs.

Figure 2. Anson (that’s me on the left) congratulates his father. “You finally made it!” I said. “Oh thank you very much,” my dad replies. My mom is standing in support (right). My father has been waiting long and hard for 4 years to wear my hood and graduate, unofficially of course. But who cares?

Conclusion

That’s it for this week. I’ll be working on my next update but you might not see one until I come back from my vacation from HK. Anyways, happy summer vacation to all.

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