Thank you, Lihua, for the kind review on Google. 💖
It brings the greatest satisfaction and joy to a doctor when a patient can find relief from their suffering. 😊 I would definitely work even harder! 💪
從多倫多回來溫哥華的機程，機長突然宣布叫大家望向右邊窗口可以看到極光！還邀請大家上前去控制室前窗觀看。活潑的團隊確為這趟旅途添加了不少生趣。
On the flight back to Vancouver from Toronto, the captain suddenly announced that everyone should look out the right-side window to see the Northern Lights! He even invited passengers to come up to the front near the cockpit for a better view. The lively crew really added a lot of fun to this journey.
Although my checked luggage is still missing, there are always good people and nice surprises to come across.
C'est la vie.
20年一遇，
Once in 20 years,
I could see the Northern Lights from home!
Amazing!
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
(Psalm 8:3-4)
Recently, I stumbled upon a gem at the Vancouver Public Library. This book, Exiled Hong Kong Children, was published less than a year ago, and the library already has it available for borrowing. It documents the immigration stories and parenting philosophies of 30 families. I found much resonance in their stories.
In ancient times, Mencius's mother moved houses three times for his education. Similarly, many immigrant families leave their homelands in hopes of creating a better environment for their children to grow up in. However, the transitions are often abrupt and intense, requiring significant adaptation. Both adults and children undergo growth, not only because of the challenges of a new environment but also due to changes in family dynamics and the reevaluation and reshaping of values.
Indeed, every place has its pros and cons. As humans, we are not omniscient; we can only make the best choice within our limitations. The gains and losses after these decisions are difficult to quantify. After all, we can’t peer into an alternate reality where we chose differently. The best we can do is take responsibility for our choices and continue to walk our path with conviction. So far, I firmly believe we made the right decision.
To say that the decision was made solely for our children would be too heavy a burden for them. Especially since, at the time, they were young and innocent, unable to influence the adults' decisions and left with no choice but to follow. I tend to think that it was my restlessness and desire for change that prompted this move. It was a decision based on our personal values as adults, and naturally, this choice has shaped our children’s lives in profound ways.
I am deeply grateful for the trust and willingness our children have shown throughout this journey.
I am also thankful that our family’s adjustment over the past two years has been unexpectedly smooth. This brings me to the topic of identity raised in the book. "Am I a Hongkonger?" This question feels both distant and close. Of course, when asked, I naturally respond that I am from Hong Kong. But the longer I’ve been away, the more distant it feels. Last Christmas, when I visited Hong Kong, I felt slightly out of place, more like a passerby.
Here in Canada, though, we are still newcomers without roots, requiring more time and effort to settle in. Perhaps the saying “Home is where the heart finds peace” rings true. No matter where we are, life on earth is but a temporary journey, and in the end, our ultimate hope is to return to our heavenly home.
今日仔仔突然說要搬去Ontario ，
，
Today, my son suddenly expressed his desire to move to Ontario.
I was puzzled—why would he suddenly want to relocate? After asking him more about it, I learned that he had heard the hottest news at school: Ontario would be able to see a total solar eclipse, while Vancouver would only get 28% coverage.
Watching him hold a flashlight and two balls to explain how an eclipse happens, and giving a detailed rundown of the different types of eclipses, I couldn’t help but feel both amused and impressed. He emphasized that a full eclipse is the best and most exciting one to witness.
I truly admire his pursuit of perfection. However, my dear child, I understand that there is a significant difference between 100% coverage and 28%. And I agree—Vancouver didn’t feel much excitement about this eclipse. 🙈 Still, moving just to see a special natural phenomenon might be a bit excessive, don’t you think? Why not just take a trip instead?
The thing is, we already missed the opportunity this time, and it’ll be another 20 years before we can see a total eclipse in North America again. 😅
(Image source: from the web)
，真人發音很難聽懂。），再來自學一下～
Canada’s official languages are English and French. Everyday items and bank letters typically come in both languages, so since deciding to settle here, I’ve been eager to learn French.
I discovered a language learning app called 'Duolingo' through a self-study French group named 'Maple Valley French Self-Learning'. I've been using it casually, without a serious study plan, so my progress has been at a snail's pace.
After receiving my Permanent Resident status, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are free language classes for new immigrants that include French! :) After waiting for six months, I finally secured a spot for the assessment.
The test was two hours long, covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking—similar to the IELTS exam. I received my results today, which revealed the impact of my slow-paced self-study. My reading and writing results were surprisingly decent, but as soon as I heard real French speakers, I struggled to understand them and naturally couldn’t answer the questions. Clearly, I was somewhat lost in conversation 🙈. I definitely need more immersion to improve my listening and speaking.
Besides giving me real conversation practice, the evaluator noticed my difficulties with listening and recommended another self-study app called Mauril. It offers a variety of everyday videos that teach French from beginner level upwards. Starting from the basics, I honestly felt like I hadn’t learned much at all 😂—real spoken French is tough to grasp 🙈.
While I'm waiting for a course placement (which might take another six months 😂), I’ll keep up with my self-study! 😊
P.S. Here’s my Threads account, where I practice French: https://www.threads.net/@tcmp_crystal"
