Chin Flower

I Do...from the other side of the world

2013-03-19T09:40:00.004-07:00

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. - Hilary Cooper

My dear friend, Jeff, emailed me out of blue one day saying that he would be flying out to China to meet his future wife. I was in a world of confusion. Firstly, I didn’t know Jeff was getting a divorce from his current marriage let alone going to marrying someone else and she is half way around the world for that matter.

Before I get ahead of myself, I want to tell you something about Jeff. He is a gentle soul and always kind to others. I met him through a professional organization we belonged to. Jeff had two rough marriages and really God bless him for never giving up on love. All he ever wanted was to have someone to love him as much he wants to give his heart to completely. I always think Jeff a Phoenix without the fiery presence; on the contrary, he instills calm and tenderness with his compassion for humanity and his longing to care for another. His southern accent gives a touch of sadness sometimes. Jeff went through some medical issues a couple of years ago and we have not communicated too frequently yet he was always in my thoughts and prayers.

When Jeff’s email came through with this good news, my logic side became quite animated and alarmed. We had some intense discussion of his method of meeting someone through Internet. My own cynicism didn’t allow positive feedback about letting computer make life changing decisions. Jeff listened to my endless questions about his sound judgments patiently and told me that he would never know if he would find happiness if he didn’t keep trying.

Jeff was married this past month. He texted me a few of his wedding photos, I saw the tenderness on his face and the ultimate happiness he showed.

When I look around, other than myself, there are several couples I know are in an interracial marriage.

Remy & Courtney

My childhood best friend, Remy, has been married to her down-to-earth brainy American husband, Courtney, for 20+ years. Remy and I went to the same church and we were very active in church activities. She was always the hightlight in the groups and she shone with such glow all the time. I still remember we used to lie down in one of the church’s resting bunks sharing our infatuation and crush secrets about the boys and giggled senselessly over our imaginations. We would often try to figure and compare to whom we wanted to marry, “when” we grew up. But I knew boys’ eyes were always on Remy – how could they not? She was beautiful and sassy and always with a kind heart. When I learned that she married Courtney, I was thrilled. In my mind, I knew sooner or later, she would be moving to the states and I would have felt somewhat less isolated here. These days we check out each other on FaceBook . I am so proud of her for being a successful business woman!!

Sheila & Nathan

My niece married a young and adorable Nathan just this past year and they are such cute couple; Sheila reminds me when I was younger – daring and adventurous and very budget conscious!! She also arms with her the traditional values of hard work which she proved by getting college scholarship while she attended college in Texas. I am excited and happy to see their lives together unfold.

my cousin, Jasmine, married the scholarly-looking Gary. She has visited the states several times but just recently I found she actually had been with Gary for some time. They had a small traditional Chinese wedding in Taiwan where all the detailed and respectful rituals of bowing to the elders were carefully followed. I know Jasmine’s heart hangs in two places; she longs to be here with Gary, yet the pull of her childhood place is just as strong . I can’t wait until she moves here.

I look at all of us Asian women tying the knots with these western men, I know our moments in saying, “I do” were glorious and breath-taking!! What was it we saw in these men that made us give our hearts and souls to? More importantly, what do these men see in Asian women to make the lifetime commitment? Have they always wanted to marry Asian women or their vows were made deriving chance encounters?

Jasmine & Gary

廚房改裝

2012-08-28T09:26:00.002-07:00

對我家來說，廚房是家裡最重要的空間。我的廚房是在1943 - 1960 年間蓋造。它的形象和功用無法配合現代的生活。尤其在廚房和餐廳只見的櫃檯，30 年前可能非常流行這種設計(增加表面可以放東西的地方)，對我們而言，不僅是個垃圾堆收的場地，它造成廚房和餐廳進出的阻礙。

今年天氣比前幾年氣候暖了很多。和老公討論數次之後終於決定把這個看來老累的廚房全部改裝。幸好我以前在醫院是工程部主管，美國室內設計和工程勞工價格非常高。我就自己設計心裡想要的廚房。設計時間大約花了一月多然後我到店裡去定買廚櫃. 美國的 Home Depot www.homedepot.com 是個全國有名的傢俱修護工具中心，我前後花了五六千買廚房改裝所需的東西。

改裝之前

在建造期間，我們發現前屋面一段木頭主要玎璫部份已被白蟻吃光，房子在這方看起來有些一邊輕微斜落。請了木匠專家來重新建造，但對此完成日期推後一個禮拜。在這段期間，每天帶家人在外吃飯，小孩非常快樂，每餐吃了50-80 美金，當父母的個性節儉，吃了不是不高興只覺浪費辛苦賺的錢一倆個小時內消失無蹤。四週過後，終於開始成形，廚櫃一個一個裝釘根據我的設計，冰箱，瓦斯爐，微波爐，洗碗機也準確安裝。上個禮拜天，我們的水工員把廚房的水龍頭接於水源，我們可以開始在新廚房燒煮清洗。

現在我們每天享用我們的新廚房，回想工程的過程，這些不方便和頭痛的事務到我眼前美麗的廚房地方，所有的辛苦都是值得。

過分，過糞 - 養豬簡單嗎？就綠化！

2012-05-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

養豬簡單嗎？對我們現代人來說，吃豬肉是簡單，養豬，是誰？

現代人會用很多高級技術的機械，當我看我自己的小孩，一上了電腦就開始展開大型的對打，我小兒子常常對電動玩具生氣吼罵, 問他食物是怎麼來的，他說我每個週末上超市買菜。可能我問他的問題不太仔細，

我再問：“那超市的食物是怎麼來的？”他睜大眼睛，回答，“媽媽，這事重要嗎？我快輸咯。。。(電動遊戲)。

看看這些小孩，覺的他們的同年跟我小時候所接觸的事物真的差太多了。雖然我小時只是和我的哥哥妹妹，鄰居的小朋友在家附近東跑西遊，我學會如何自己烤地瓜，用青蛙腳釣魚，如何種些花樹(因學校規定)，最深的記憶是每年在放暑假之前，學校老師要我們拿一堆絲蟾寶寶回家養，寫下我們養蟾的日記。今天它們吃多少，喝多少，什麼是後開始結絲？最可怕的後果是我們忘記餵養它們，或是這些蟾被螞蟻軍群一隻一隻扛到螞蟻洞裡當零食。每年我們發明不同的方法來保護這些肥胖的蟾寶寶，等暑假結束後我們拿我們所寫的養蟾經驗報告給老師打分。這種讀書過程，現在學生很難想象。雖然他們在電動玩具上看到各式各樣的動物，與前世後代怪物打仗，但他們和動物直接接觸機會非常有限制。

我有位來自加拿大的朋友最近拜訪中國大陸。他的目的是擴展他的事業尤其是廢物處理專門。我們常吃豬肉，但從來沒想過豬糞是如何處理。想一想，我小時外公外婆家養四五隻豬，豬糞挑來當肥料。我的朋友，Victor Van Slyke (維克范史來克) 發明一個聰明巧妙的方法來解決大型養豬商處理豬糞的方法。他不僅能把豬糞轉換成顆粒飼料，並且能將豬尿轉換成動物飲水。這種技能促進環境乾淨，更多益處是讓養豬商賺錢收利因為可以外賣顆粒肥料，減少用水，增高豬肉品質。詳細資料請參考公司網站：www.hogmanure.com

(有中文版)

維克范史來克先生

在臨近廣州WENS 食品公司門前于員工合照

在臨近北京与張經理站於新的養豬場

上海一街景

溫哥華會議 - 史來克先生在此講習

2007 在陽林商業交流會与農業畢業生,

Bruse 和 Angela，

這兩位勤勞義工幫忙我特別多。

俄亥俄州西北區翻譯人才會員假日團聚 - NOTA Holiday Lunch

2012-02-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

NOTA - Northeast Ohio Translators Association 俄亥俄州翻譯部會

每年NOTA 的會員在假日其中一起相聚吃飯。除了互相問候之外，我們也來談論翻譯市場的動脈。對我來說，最大的收穫是向其他翻譯人員學習一些新的市場擴張的一招，討論他們的成功和失敗的經驗。更多的是我們互相了解彼此家務改變，得到不少鼓勵和他人的了解。現代人太靠電腦和其他高技能物來打交通，面對面的時間越少，人情大度減退；小孩更是每天下課窩在家中看電視打電動玩具，難怪他們的于人相處的技巧無法發展動不動就生氣，對長輩無理，對學習無耐心。翻譯人員在今天就說明，在家當翻譯，管理小孩比較適當，因為不用在外開車浪費體力，這是當翻譯益處之一。現在和其他會員在一起吃飯，我們能互相體會彼此的生活為難經和分享成功的創就。

今天相聚的地點是在 Brio - 一個在此有名的義大利餐館。Brio 在俄州有數家，它的名譽由它的菜味香濃，菜量重多，和幽閒高貴的義大利露天式環境建造起來。它的酒項目也是多樣化，讓你享受義大利人對生活享受的態度是充滿酒食香氣和朋友歡笑。

尾牙宴- New Year's Eve Feast

2012-01-31T06:40:00.000-08:00

中国人对于吃尾牙是很讲究，不仅是为新年做准备欢迎，更是为旧年感谢有欢送。
在美国华人区内也有很多不同的庆祝方式 - 但是看中国城天小，庆祝式也因此伸缩。更重要的是，美国冬天下雪，有时雪大无法在外开车。今年我们好运，开车到克里夫兰华人区的宝龙酒家餐馆养茶(美国称 Dim Sum)。宝龙算是我们就喜欢的中式餐厅尤其它的菜最近中国味。它的价钱还好，比其他餐厅来说，吃的划算。这家餐厅已在克里夫兰站立大约15 年，而且很多地方有名的人物经常在此光临。

中菜配咖啡合= 美式尾牙宴

我的兒女在寶龍餐廳“曝光”

Sandusky, OH

2012-01-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

散達思極城, 俄海俄州，美國

兩個禮拜前我開車到 Sandusky, OH (散達思極城) 去做中英翻譯。從我家開車大約一個小時。 Sandusky 是個古式的小城鎮肩並肩 Lake Erie。在早上翻譯後，兩方的律師同意中餐休息45 分鐘，我藉此機會在這城中心逛賞.

根據2009 年城市調查資料，(Sandusky Ohio City Data - 2009) 22% 的住家事東方人。

Post Christmas 聖誕節後......

2011-12-28T14:51:00.000-08:00

For once, we didn’t have to return any Christmas gifts. My son and I toured the South Park Mall in this snowy cold weather mainly to catch the movie, Sherlock Holmes. We had some fun walking through the mall and sort of exercise people watching. S.P. Mall was busy as usual but this time, not too many happy faces. We tagged along some people that dropped in different stores to either exchange gifts or turn the gifts into cash. I shouldn’t have been surprised or appalled by such behavior, after all, I was one of those post Christmas moms who just didn’t like what I received and stood in the line waiting my turn to validate the gifts to things that were more beneficial to me.

And I didn’t have my happy face on then, either.

The honest truth about Christmas gift giving in our house has been a rather educational event this year. You see, now I have more time being at home, I am more conscious about our money’s outflow. The staunch Chinese mom being extreme “frugal” has its merit and I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes I did go a bit overboard on money saving. For example, I will labor over coupon clipping process and price comparing strategy from weekly merchant flyers to make sure I get the best price bargains when I do my shopping; it has saved more than $100/week on an average shopping trip not to mention the dinners are more desirably prepared. This Christmas, armed with limited budget I wanted to spend, and after consulting with my loving husband, he turned me loose on the shopping excursions. <Chances are, it was probably very difficult for him to remember what I said, wanted, and the rules went with the shopping budget, he just said ok.> Each year, I put up a Christmas wish list on the refrigerator to the kids to put their names and items they wish to own – and this year was no exception. The deadline to take the list down was two weeks before December 24^th and after that, they would be out of luck trying to squeeze one last minute after-thought “must have” stuff. This year, kids didn’t ask much, in fact, my middle child said she didn’t really want anything <hinting at that IPod might not be a bad idea but knew that she wouldn’t get it>, she mentioned a few girly items she would like to have (that wouldn’t break Santa’s bank account). And as usual, we exchanged and opened gifts on Christmas Eve and the smiles on each child’s face were brighter this year than previous ones. My husband, too, was thrilled with his new TomTom GPS that comes with lifetime unlimited map updates. Of course, Santa came in the middle of the night and that’s why there was another gift opening event before we ate sweets for Christmas breakfast, there were more thrilling shrieks of pleasures from my kids than ever – my oldest daughter got her white wool coat and several gift cards to her favorite stores; my middle child received her favorite perfume and a few gift cards to her frequent visited stores, my son had his games and M&M pack; my husband is a fan to Brown Bag Burgers so there, he was behaving well enough to receive a few gift certificates from Brown Bag, xoxo from Santa.

Looked like there wouldn’t be any gift-returning trips at all.

I must say that this has been one blessing year for all of us – we have learned to scale back on our spending and become more compassionate about others needs. I still remember when we had two incomes; I could barely keep track of what we spent on anything other than the fixed expenses such as mortgage, car payments, and utilities. Most time, the immediate need to satisfy our empty stomachs at the end of the day prevails the conscious choice to cook at home and one thing we all know, it is very costly to dine out in this country. Now image that a family does that twice or three times weekly because both parents are working more than 10 hours a day that home cook dinners no longer a pleasure to undertake. I am not saying that we don’t eat out any more. We do, however, with careful choices and timing and more money conscious about what and where we desire to spend our money. We have become more disciplined in making sure taking care of what’s more important, mainly, having dinner together at home, more often.

As I reflect on how this year has passed, I looked at my son with content smiles, he is no longer a small child and I still have the pleasure of being with him during his Christmas break. What a blessing to both of us!!

聖誕節快樂

2011-12-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

祝大家聖誕快樂平安！

霜地博物館 (Frostville Museum)

2011-11-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

博物館網站

在美國，你若不會開車或是沒有車，生活品質因無法盡快行動會受到影響。因美國土地龐大，且美國人對商業和私人住宅區清晰分開；他們非常注重個人權和生活範圍，所以呢，很少看到商業樓頂又有住家尤其是在郊區。美國人喜歡擁車開車，這是代表個人自由的象徵。

我們幸運，在我家過個橋就是個古式建築博物館(Frostville Museum)。走路大約5 分鐘。在2005 年開始，歷史俱將這些兩百年多的建築物一家一家從另外城市搬來此地。最明顯的建築就是這教堂。今天我有個機會和歷史具的財務負責人兼附董事大尉(David) 和前任董事保羅 (Paul) 談談這教堂重修的過程。他們說從來2005 年開始，很多義工幫忙修蓋教堂，拆除壞的石膏板, 安裝新的彩色玻璃窗, 打蠟原木地板和教堂座位，他們捐獻屋數時間把這教堂復原如同它成立的狀況。在2008 年八月, 歷史俱將此教堂重新貢獻開放。現在任何人都可以在此舉行婚禮；尤其附近風景完美，在此婚禮舉行了很多。婚禮所照的相片如同從神話故事畫出，令人驚嘆嫉妒！在教堂頂樓有個手拉的大鐘樓，每次聽到這鐘響，我的心境就覺的飛到一個世外桃源的仙境，平靜的感覺無法描述。David 和 Paul 很謙虛的說教堂的建修還是要繼續因為很多部份還需要仔細處理才能完全將這教堂的原目驕傲的顯示。從他們的眼神中我體會他們對古物建築的熱愛和貢獻。他們說經常想象以前人如何生活，如何崇拜，建修古物供給他們一個物價的機會和過去的人事接觸。

我們進入木匠屋觀賞。這個建築物於1831 年所蓋聯邦式的房屋。今天這裡有許多女義工幫忙介紹講理18世紀人類在家吃喝睡的方式。這個房子有五個火爐, 樓上是主臥室，地下室有個大火爐用來取暖和烤食物。樓下有個客廳，飯廳，廚房。他們煮飯的方式讓我回想到我的外公外婆的家, 在台南嘉義梅山, 他們有個由石頭造的大廚房，有時他們用廚房熱水來保暖。

霜地博物館還有其它的建築物, 我們希望他們能快把個18 世紀的學校搬過來。來觀光是免費，歷史俱只收獻金。你若是個念古的人, 這裡是個起頭懷古的好地點哦！

霜地博物館

教堂

教堂木石講道台

教堂前

<左>大尉(David) 財無管理兼附董事

<右>保羅(Paul) 前任董事

彩色玻璃窗

木匠屋

學校地

古式琴

娜妮(Noreen) 義工

義工彈古吉它

主臥床

織布機

嬰兒房

黛比(Debbie) 義工

寶寶床

比利(Bill) 和老式的爆玉米花機器

聖誕樹

聖誕樹裝飾品

美日美月

2011-11-12T20:15:00.000-08:00

這是我的家了。

在美國將近25年我們終於感到這是個最完美的地點。

我住在“鴻世地。坲思” (Olmsted Falls) 這是俄海俄州的一個小城市。根據當地政府的地區資料，鴻城只是一個小城鎮。但就如女歌王，鄧麗君的名曲, 小城故事多, 我想在此和您分享我的生命旅程；我的故事。更是的，不論你在世界上那裡, 你能嚐味到一個美國家庭狀況以及我家附近的美麗自然風景。美國人生活並非像好萊塢影片式的誇張，相反地，家庭日常生活和台灣，日本，歐洲，都非常相似，只是人種和語言不同而已。

有空時，請來此拜訪哦。

鴻城網站
鴻城資訊

Rocky River - 在我家旁邊的落機河