as i see it

Film Stills of me on Hari’s set from Herb’s short...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:34:00 -0400

Film Stills of me on Hari’s set from Herb’s short film

My Maid Of Honor Speech

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:49:00 -0400

Hi. I am Melissa. But my friends know me as Mel. I’m the one who got married in Vegas, and as much as I would like to take credit for setting the scene for their engagement, well, it all leaded to today.

Over the course of these few days, a lotta people have been asking me how I met Sally. Well, now I’ll let you all know. I met Sally just over 10 years ago… randomly… at a mall… through a mutual friend. We instantly bonded at first sight. I fell in love. So Derek, I know how you feel.

We’ve never lived in the same country, we didn’t go to the same school. Our friendship is just purely based on us. And it’s a true testament to what kind of friendship we have. As cheesy as this will sound, I believe fate brought us together and we are meant to be in each others lives. So, sorry Derek, you’re stuck with me.

We have been through lots of good, and tough times in our lives so far. And Sally has always been there for me, where ever she is, and whatever she’s doing. She’s one of my truest and most valuable friends. So Derek, we trust that you will take care of our Sally. Because, she’s very special. And, she couldn’t have ended up with anyone less perfect for her, than you.

I am going to end with some words of advice:

Always listen to each other, and be patient with each other when you don’t at first understand what each other is saying. Tell each other how much you love each other everyday. And, never go to bed angry.

Congratulations again, on YOUR very special day. Today and onwards, it’s about the two of you.

If everybody can join me in raising their glasses again.. to Sally and Derek. Drink up!!

Saturday, 8th October 2011

This is one of most weirdest conversations i've ever had, with my friend, Joe, on facebook chat. A precautionary warning that i wasn't in the best of moods that day, so i appear to be quite mean and impatient. Convo took place in mid may. Thoughts?

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:34:57 -0400

Joe: morning....hope all is well....
Me: hi. morning. you too!
Joe: nice....i guess we are not are far since it's morning...u in hk? anyhow hope health, life, love, work is all good ur way !!!
Me: yeah, i don't think we are too far away from each other.. longitude wise
Joe: hehe....
Me: life sux at the moment, but it'll get better
Joe: i think we all go through tat....but it sux only if u perceive it this way.....perceive....are we talking confuciously...not so confusion...lol
Me: it does suck tho. the question i wanna know is "can i do something about it?" sadly, can't really do anything about it right now. so, am bummed. and the celtics lost.
Joe: u can always do something....think about the festival....u c those feats...can u be part of one....?
Me: i am not following you
Joe: well no need to follow when u can lead... ;) but to become a good leader...one must believe....thanks mr jet li and my kung fu is much more kick ass
Me: are u high or something?
Joe: yes on life....natural, going with the flow, high...not through just weed....but many ways to get high....maybe i can feel high in the bowl of water in front me....it does come from the mountains ;)
Me: i'm more of a realistic character that refuses to go with the flow that i think is not flowing correctly
Joe: u can be real...but why swim against the current when u could go faster and be with it...
Me: maybe coz the current is going the wrong way?
Joe: of course a current that is a good flow
Me: and i don't want to go THAT way.
Joe: but how would u know u r going the wrong way since.....maybe not wanting to go means u r missing out on something....because that way or THAT way....is not my way....or someone else...it is yours to choose...to become....but no need for force...unless...of course....the way u see u do not like...but in peace....u can find that way without fighting it....lets go see the shaolin.......u ready? or maybe u wanna see another way to show u the way, it's ur way....not mine...i can only show u the way i have seen.....
Me: why are u showing me any way, by the way?
Joe: a way is wat for u? give me the meaning of what a way means. one word is not enough to explain the WAY...wei wei hehe
Me: i guess, my question is, why in the world do i have to be shown "the way?" and why do you want to show me the way? i said my life sux at the moment, i'm not lost.
Joe: it's ok it sux. maybe i can help u out. and help ur flow. good ur not lost....but maybe someone may perceive u r lost....others not....do u feel Love? i hope for you...then you are not lost....lost island is not cool....
Me: and why do i care what others perceive?
Joe: its ur choice to believe....in whom u care.... :) did not sleep much. i think i want to go back to the Dream....to live the Dream...soon. to live the dream when i wake up i mean. ;) hope to see u soon....maybe all the answers i gave you you could find them in Nature....Celtics lost...but still u can be a Winner....Manchester or Barcelona....? wat u think...A very nice bird that i Love....For you are pure...it's just All of us are.....have that light inside..may be dark at time. but if u see u can...ignite...One and many can carry to give and receive a great Olympic Flame....through the World....with T'ai Chi Ch'uan flow...through Feng Chui....wishes my best to H.K....and no Stress Birds.....let me know if u need a good flight path from China for that Flame....the wind blows tough pretty much everywhere... :)
The next day.......
Joe: morning melly....!!! hope all is well and plentiful ;)
Me: Haha. Hi, I am on the bus going to work.
Joe: enjoy the Bus ride...i hope it's the magic one !!! does the driver have an afro or does he know how to drive on a bicycle...with a spinning plate on stick with his hand?
Me: i live in HK. not in vietnam
Joe: lol....really....dont u guyz all eat rice...?
Me: this is asia. everyone eats rice.
Joe: so u all know how to spin plate on sticks while driving a bus...and some contortionist...i holding u upside down on top a bowl of rice...:) lol
Me: yeah, because that's what we asians do all day long. asshole.
Joe: nooo...i dont mean to be like that. i am just symbolising
Me: no. you are stereotyping. i can't be in this conversation right now. seeya
Joe: i was kidding no stereo type....enjoy ur flow...dont be mad at me for i sense ur mad at others for this. i am just saying asia all originates from the same place....and u all ate rice...and then began to create ur own dishes. from a bowl of rice
Me: as your friend, i would advise you to keep your assumptions to yourself. not only are your assumptions wrong, you are completely out of line.
Joe: it may be so...but i am not an analyst...for i try to learn. and apology teacher. i will learn ur past. have done so...but my memoirs are not plentiful
Me: since apparently, you know everything there is to know about being asian and apparently, you think i'm clueless.
Joe: no need to be agressive with someone trying to understand...friend... :)
Me: not everyone wants to be preached to, joe.
Joe: i did not mean to preach. i was kidding. anyhow....i never preach....
Me: then i don't understand your humor, and don't find you funny. at all.
Joe: understood. i think at work. it is best to be serious. for i will leave u work....and u shall have maybe a time to understand the humor ;)
Me: you don't think whatever you just said is preachy?
Joe: i feel sick now. speaking to u. for my flow is not well since i was happy but not to make u mad but make u see the past of some truth. maybe cuz ur married..for i do not see those pictures...the word friend...makes me believe that i cannot speak freely my love...for people....that is why i choose to live spiritually.....and dont want to offend ur flow. i wish well u flow with someone you could find it for with
Me: great. now u are penalizing me for being married?
Joe: never...no red card for love
Me: i do think u may want to work on your communication skills
Joe: but for i am not abritrary. on the field, i am a spectator that supports the world cup....and wish the best to the people whom i find the best. or love...
Me: what the eff are you talking about?
Joe: good luck in your work...for my communication is with birds...and...hope to communicate with All
Me: i'd rather you NOT speak in code
Joe: one day you will understand mel....its not a code. see the meaning. u r too much into the realm of others for your perceptionof a code could be enlightment for another
Me: so you're telling me, that you communicate with birds, and that is not code?
Joe: nope i do not wish to code with birds....freely...freedom of speech. wisely birds....can learn to be free without a code ;)
Me: so why not say "freedom of speech" rather than "for my communication is with birds"
Joe: they both mean the same. hehe
Me: uh. no it doesn't.
Joe: u r right. in ur languages it doesnt. in mine it does. we are each free to choose wat we speak freedom of speech.......? i know. u r doing well
Me: ok. wtf are you talking about and how the hell would u know that i'm doing well?
Joe: and to communicate with the world today....u gotta learn the code hehe
Me: yeah, i tried to continue this conversation with you, but i really can't, because, we can't communicate. therefore no point. seeya.
Joe: lady please no insults....in temrs of wtf
Me: freedom of speech
Joe: ;)
Me: i'm sorry, but that's the way how i talk
Joe: haha. u r right
Me: and if u don't like it, then don't effing talk to me.
Joe: i wish u would come to dubai and then maybe one learns how to talk differently. it's a good work experience...no wtf at offices...or some. hehe...jk. i have no idea how hk is. never been. so the flow may be different here than there. but the WTF, then...wtf, typo, at a lobby could of gotten arrested....i understood u....in terms of communications...never meant to insult...just well maybe it's hard to explain one's soul at different places....freedom of speech...but with a good feeling...and love for you and your loved ones....that's all...apology for making u mad....each soul has his soul...wish all more windows and trees....in hk
I had stopped responding by this point...
Joe: private eyes only........................................................only yours........after work........basically i don't like the Heaven and Earth Society...wasn't so Heaven and Earth on with Mom, uncles and even a lot of people in my family....they don't all come from Asia.....I'll fight it..with those Awake....Alone or Not....But i'll do my best to....For Mom...For family...For You and Your Family...Friends...Brothers And Sisters....Even people i don't know....For a Dragon that is poisoned cannot Love...and sometimes it's just people that get pissed at me for wanting to Fight me for those things i Write or Believe....simply at time by what they believe is their misrepresentation...and this is no Stereo Type....This is Real....I am letting you know that I came here to Dubai....to Regenerate....To Better Fight In the Future For All....but especially my Mom....the person whom gave me Life...my Life Giver.......Time to Jet....As One....To Heal The Sickness of Gaia....Gaia Phoenix Out....This is a coded Message....top secret for All the Love...
3.5 weeks later
Joe: hi....wasnt considerate enough to hear another's side of the story...will be all ears....anyhow hope u r all good back in HK....have a Peaceful night

i want to know why, with this school that teaches management...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:40:00 -0400

i want to know why, with this school that teaches management courses, has drawings that look like they’re drawn by some kid. and then it says Respest. Which is now my new word for disrespect.

everything just got a bit too personal

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:40:41 -0500

i’m taking this HR course for work, and it’s 10 classes, 3 hours per class, 2 written “exams” and then, i get issued a certificate… and then i get a raise. not bad. for HK$3050 and 30 hours, yeah man, i’ll do it.

so… i’m sitting there in class and the teach starts talking about various people from HK’s society. He mentioned this high ranking civil servant, who is most well known for her position as the Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower. He starts criticizing her. He’s sorta mentioned her 3 out of 6 classes so far. And then, he mentions the Chief Secretary for Administration and i guess, he was most well known for his position as the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong… and is in the running to become the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong…. and the teach starts criticizing him too.

Apart from mentioning people, he starts to mention companies. A bakery company, several real estate development companies and their owners… names that HK people hear all the time. After sitting there, and listening to people make negatory comments on people they don’t even know, and companies they don’t really know about, it’s making me very uncomfortable.

First of all, that Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower - that’s my friend’s mom you’re talking about there buddy. Secondly, the Financial Secretary guy, he came to my wedding banquet and he went to my brother’s wedding too 6 years ago. Nice guy! The bakery company he mentioned - yeah, that’s owned by my brother in law’s family. And the real estate development companies - well, depends on which one, but uh, one owned by my friend’s dad, the other.. another friends’ family, and well, the list kinda goes on.

I don’t belong in that class, i don’t belong among that group of people. And then, I felt really bad, coz i just downgraded everyone to a different caste than i was in. I mean, we’re in the same class, but we’re not in the same class. The mindset is even totally different. I mean, the teach, clearly stated that his Chinese wasn’t really strong, but allowed us to write in Chinese phrases for our written “exams”.. and when i say “exams” what i really mean is a 300 word essay that we take home to write and then hand it in 3 weeks later. So, I handed in my paper 1 week early, because i was heading out of town the next weekend to do my last wedding event. I handed it in just incase i couldn’t make it back to HK on that Monday. and, the next week came, and I made it back… and only 2/3 of the class handed in their papers. Only 3 of them maybe, were in English, the rest were in Chinese. A few people didn’t show up to hand in their papers, and the rest had excuse after excuse to why they couldn’t hand in their papers. “I have no time to do it”, “i’m still writing it”, “i haven’t finished it yet”… oh god, it was way worse then the excuses i used to give in highschool. it’s a 300 word essay people. and, to be honest, a 300 Chinese word essay is a lot longer than a 300 English word essay.

The teach then talks about boring HR material… and i’m sorta half listening coz i think most of this stuff is common sense. I don’t want to say i’m too smart for this class, but i sort of am. you should hear some of the questions that my classmates ask. let me tell you one thing for sure: ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE STUPID. For example, the teach mentioned that you can not discriminate applicants because of their sexual orientation, this is an obvious one… and then the teach sorta mentions how he just doesn’t get 2 men being with each other. And then… the girl behind me raises her hand and says “so, what if they are lesbian?” sigh……seriously? how gayly different are gay men and gay women apart from the obvious?

I keep saying to myself “just 4 more classes left, and then, i’ll get my raise, and then i won’t ever have to listen to these stupid comments ever again.” The teach does use English terms, but i can assure you that no one else but me understands what he’s saying. He wrote 2 sentences on the blackboard and asked the class what is the difference:

1. He has lived here for 10 years

2. He has been living here for 10 years

No one could answer. The teach waited for about a minute, and then said “Melissa, please tell the class what’s the difference.”

So i explained that he has lived here for 10 years meant that he lived there for 10 years and doesn’t live there anymore, and he has been living here for 10 years means he’s been living there for a decade and still lives there.

He told me I was 80% correct.

80% CORRECT?! how the hell can i be 80% correct? and then he repeated what i just said… 80% my ass!

and then, in the last class, he gave us back our papers, and i got a 75. A 75?!?!?!?!?!?! he said my paper was TOO simplistic. I beg to differ sir, as I did everything you required, i nominated a provision, I explained why it was outdated, and I gave a solution to how it should be amended, AND i gave you an example too. I feel like he gave me my own curve because i played it safe. You know, while i was reading up on all the employment ordinances, i could understand why ppl thought it was outdated, but also understood why we can’t really change it. So, i went with the most obvious one.

All in all, I guess they have to talk of government officials as my class is about employment law. I guess it does makes sense to talk about examples and people that we’ve all heard on the news and products that we HK ppl consume. But, as a politician’s daughter and the fact that I grew up among a certain social class that is now becoming a huge part of HK society as we are 30 now and taking over for our parents, I just have to learn how to sit back, and ignore what the general public has to say about us behind our backs.