In the dim back-alleys of Central, on Hong Kong Island, under the towering skyscrapers of capitalism, simple merchants sell their wares.

You thought I forgot, didn’t you?

Well, I did. At this point I know only that it is 2007. The day, and the month, are complexities I can not comprehend in my harried state of mind.

To you, my mother, I wish you a happy birthday. You were born on June 26 some time during the 20th century. You were 34 years old for so many years of my youth I have no idea of your present age.

Eat a piece of this virtual cake. I will raise a real glass to your visage later.

Happy Birthday!

Mario has been my student for more than a year. While extremely bright, it is sometimes difficult deciphering the mish-mash of English, Cantonese and Mandarin that explodes from his mouth when excited.  In the parents’ day performance of last week he played the Big, Bad Wolf of Little Red Riding Hood fame. On the cusp of coolness, he fought me tooth and nail over wearing the above cape.

Funny, I would pay to wear a cape.

Last week was Parents’ Day at my school, a monumental undertaking involving 800+ students, 16 international teachers, countless Chinese staff, and many parents. Above are 4 of my former Grade 1 “babies”. Toothless Rick (more on him in a future post) introduced himself as 10-year-old Luke. The three-day performance now out-of-the-way, I can coast thru the next week, and live to see the end of the term.

Three things newcomers to China should know:

1. Rice is eaten often.
2. People speak Chinese
3. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a security guard.

In my upscale community there are guards everywhere. Parking lot guards dressed in blue, police officers from a multitude of departments (also in blue or possibly brown), and the bao’ans (security guards) attired in brown. They have a rotten job, and take guff from all and sundry. But they can march, sometimes in-step.

an amigo, bongo mirror, wrote a post about being up at night. i’m often up very early in the morning, and this is what i see.  for a larger image see here