Cheng Gong award (last one of the 2018-19 year at DMLIS)-goes to....

Pre-Note: No, this is not another ego stroke for me.

This is actually post-winning the award here at our campus, I need to give it out.

I am giving it to someone who is very important to me and here is how I am going to share it with the staff at our meeting at the end of the month before flying out.

"Ain't no mountain too high, ain't no valley to low, ain't no river wide enough baby-if you need me, call me-no matter where you-no matter how far-don't worry baby, when you call my name, I'll be there in a hurry-you don't have to worry.

We are going to play a quick game-"Guess who?"

This individual comes from place-in Canada-Guess?

This person is great at Basketball-Guess?

This person teaches P.E.-Guess?

They love beer-Guess?

Now, hold your guess, for the answer,

Well, these are things that makes this person...this person in most of our minds. But the thing about this person that resonates with me the most is a bit of a conversation from a time together in a group.

"9 days is difficult, you should be in pretty good shape, it says on the website, I recommend 12 days" said Paul as he looks at someone else in the room as if suggesting that they were, well, not in shape. No, it wasn't me.
"Carm, when you made the plans, did you not consider the fact that you probably won't make it home for Spring Festival?" asked Kenny.
"Nah man, we are going to do it 9 days-we can do it in 9 days-its easy, well I read it was". Carm nervously shares
"Well, if our medical insurance doesn't cover helicopter rides down a mountain-looks like we are leaving you up there Jer." Kenny suggested.

To answer-No, and No-didn't need a helicopter and no, MSH doesn't cover helicopter rides during trekking expeditions.

Kenny, a true friend walked through hell with me and back, been there as a co-worker, someone who actually had humble beginnings in N310 back in the day. To growth through AQ's and years of experience, future HOD of Boy's P.E. someone who is a great rapport with the students, and one of the those people who is generally striving for success. A model to anyone new or returning.

Cheers!"

Thank you Meghan Hanbury,

A shout out to my former supervisor/department head back one of the BEST gigs I had as a student back in the day. Working at Lakehead University, there was quite a few jobs I tried my hand at, and the Phon-A-Thon was one of my favourites (hands down). Was a very fair gig, lots of room for part-time work and even more room for social gatherings before/after. Everyone you work with is awesome and all you need to do is have a pleasant conversation with someone who already graduated from Lakehead. Sweet? Totally!

Well, over the years (as you will see), I have kept in touch with Meghan (my supervisor/department head). Not only is she an amazingly understanding facilitator, but also just a wonderful person. Thank you for always keeping me in your thoughts Meghan, means worlds!

Hi Carm,

"So glad that you approved and I’m looking forward to being able to show you the final product.

If you’re specifically looking at Alberta, would you like me to put you in touch with the Calgary Chapter president?  I’m sure she’d be more than happy to answer your questions about the province and maybe even offer some hints about job hunting?  There are so many grads located there.

Sounds like sending a package won’t work out at this point in time.  But we will compromise by sending you a housewarming package whenever you move back to Canada.  I’m so glad that you like that we’ve kept in touch.  You were definitely one of our stand-out students in the Phone-a-thon and you were such a great volunteer.  I’ll always remember your family being the first ones in the door at Convocation and they jokingly asked if I knew you.  That was such a great moment. 

It was also a privilege watching you grow during your Lakehead experience and head off on an adventure to China.  I’m sure it has felt isolating at times but it’s certainly a journey to be proud of.

All the best!"

100 Days of Life, Thanks for Coming!

In China, it is common practice (less now I guess as traditions begin to change), that the new born celebrates 100 days of life. For a number of reasons this is commonly practiced. It is said by my wife's family that the celebration was to "lock-in" 100 years of life in the life of the new-born.

I think this is a lovely idea, but realistically speaking, I understand it as, the child survived 100 days of life after birth and is more likely to live a healthy life than the potential risks and dangers it would have normally met in the first 100 days of life.

For this celebration we had friends meet up and celebrate over a few drinks and dishes with our son at a local restaurant in Jinshitan. My Mother-in-Law was in town, as she was presenting Sam with a "gold lock" (a pendent) that essentially locks in 100 years of life. Interesting thought. I think its always fascinating to learn and observe new cultural traditions and what not as well-just really really wish my parents and family were around.

Regardless, as practiced in traditional Chinese culture, the man in particular needs to give a speech. I wrote one and it was met with some criticism, my view on the purpose of the celebration was "wrong" apparently (I still had a good time, and delivered my speech), the wife liked it, that is all I care about.

Here it is for you to observe, just another thought about "culture" and history really.

I am giving this speech today in recognition of our son’s 100^th day of life after birth. I want to start by saying that there was a time when the first 100 days of life were anxious time, not for the reason of no sleep or having to work the next day.

wǒ jīn tiān fā biǎo zhè ge yǎn jiǎng shì wèi le jì niàn wǒ men ér zi chū shēng hòu de dì 100 tiān 。

 There was a time that it was a concern of life and death.

céng jīng yǒu yí duàn shí jiān , zhè shì duì shēng sǐ de guān zhù"

This celebration was a symbol of thanks to all those who helped shelter, put food in the mouth of the child and ultimately loved the child.

zhè cì qìng zhù huó dòng shì gǎn xiè suǒ yǒu bāng zhù bì nàn 、 bǎ shí wù fàng zài hái zi zuǐ lǐ bìng zuì zhōng ài hái zi de rén de xiàng zhēng。

Times may change, but the meaning does not.

shí dài kě néng huì gǎi biàn , dàn yì yì què méi yǒu 。

If I said there wasn’t a time where Lily and I were completely certain of everything-I’d be exaggerating.

rú guǒ wǒ shuō méi yǒu shí jiān lì lì hé wǒ wán quán què dìng yí qiè -- wǒ huì kuā kuā qí sī de。

But with the help of many of you in this room, we were able to provide comfortably.

dàn zài zài zuò xǔ duō rén de bāng zhù xià , wǒ men néng gòu shū shì de tí gòng fú wù。

With advice and guidance especially from Lily’s Mother, Ren YuQi-we were able to grow as parents and as a couple.

tè bié shì lì lì de mǔ qīn de jiàn yì hé zhǐ dǎo ,-Ren YuQi, wǒ men néng gòu chéng zhǎng wéi fù mǔ hé fū qī。

Every family has its quirks, ours is named Sam. He keeps our life interesting. My parents always told me that parenthood is when children experience the mischief that their parents experienced.

měi gè jiā tíng dōu yǒu zì jǐ de guài pǐ , wǒ men de jiā tíng jiào sà mǔ。

·         My parents also tell me I was good a kid, I slept all the time. *

wǒ fù mǔ yě gào sù wǒ , wǒ shì gè hǎo hái zi , wǒ shuì dé hěn duō "

I’d personally like to mention that my family couldn’t make it here for any of this experience

wǒ gè rén xiǎng tí yí xià , wǒ de jiā rén zài zhè lǐ wú fǎ cān jiā rèn hé zhè xiē jīng lì

-for what is not just the happiest experience in my life but the most beautiful experience a family could go through.

wǒ yì shēng zhōng zuì xìng fú de jīng lì , dàn què shì yí gè jiā tíng suǒ néng yōng yǒu de zuì měi lì de jīng lì。

That is the hardest part, for me personally.

zhè duì wǒ lái shuō shì zuì kùn nan de

 I am emotionally wrecked much of the time, its hard on my family-especially my wife who listens to me complain. I would like to make a toast to her especially for not just putting up with one child, but two.

wǒ xiǎng wèi tā jìng jiǔ , tè bié shì yīn wéi tā bù zhǐ shì rěn shòu le yí gè hái zi , liǎng gè hái zi

A toast to my mother-in-law, I know we have a different understanding of what parenting looks like.

wèi wǒ de yuè mǔ gān bēi

But from the bottom of my heart-with these people as witnesses. I am thankful for you coming and being here today on this special day.

wǒ gǎn xiè nǐ jīn tiān zài zhè ge tè shū de rì zi lái dào zhè li。

You were here when it was not easy for Lily, or I.

dāng zhè duì wǒ men lái shuō bìng bù róng yì de shí hou , nǐ jiù zài zhè lǐ

You provided help, love and comfort.

nǐ tí gòng le bāng zhù 、 ài hé ān wèi。

I may not be as verbal with my gratitude as I used to be, but I guess that makes it that much more meaningful.

 wǒ kě néng méi yǒu nà me kǒu tóu de gǎn xiè. tā shǐ tā gèng yǒu yì yì。

The bold characters beneath the English is the Chinese PinYin (easier for me to read than th actual characters).

Cheers to you Sam, 100 days to 100 years.