Yesterday marked the 2nd anniversary since I left the company of more than twenty years. There are different types of relationship, not just with a
nother human being. There is relationship with a country, with a company or with an organization. Whatever it is, it takes some courage to get out of a long-term one.
The first year often feels more dramatic. That drama dims a bit when new experience starts to take its root. Time is the mother of forgetfulness. As things move further in their rear mirror, it establishes more clarity on how those past experiences have become part of the journey, which shapes our values, practices, and perspective more than we think.
Back working a full-time job provides some routine. It is quite an attractive experience, to work in a company hundred times less in number of people and hundreds times less in revenue, in a different industry. I am lucky in the transition from high tech to health care industry, with some real successes while not getting into long hours or commute nightmare. A
half dream comes true may turn out to be different from the imagination. There is something missing in reality, a different reason on different days. It is like a bird in a tree-hopping mode, before sensing the right place worth to settle down again. I receive a good advice to write a new description of a dream job, which I believe applies to all job seekers.
For many job seekers, finding a job is a full-time job. For those with a full-time job and looking for a change, itis like working one and a half job, probably cannot afford as much time on cover letter, company research or interview preparation. It is a distraction to existing position; on the other hand, a person, desiring better opportunities, is often more proactive, in better mentality and has higher standard in their output.
The MOOC (Massive Online Open Courses) continues to be the gold mine to find new learning and it seems surprising that it has not gone to the mainstream education yet, especially college cost is so formidable. Among the courses, the “United States Health Policy” offered by Harvard converts a seemingly laborious topic into rich content and enjoyable sets of lectures.
Among the few books read, this is the one that I would read again – “Man’s search for Meaning”, a 1946 book by Viktor Franki chronicling his experiences as a concentration camp inmate during World War II, and his psychotherapeutic method.
The highlight of the second year has rightfully been the almost month-long summer trip to Hong Kong; and all the gatherings with family and friends. It takes another adjustment to get back into the work groove as it ends.
views are not only about an offer. Interviewing is finding answers to the “competence”, “compatibility” and “chemistry” between the two parties. An effective interview provides laser clarity, and minimizes ambiguity to those questions. I am lucky enough to experience this top notch onsite interview at this world famous technology company. It is revealing, energizing and opens up the window of learning.
tuff that may not be readily available in the arriving cities; not any more, it is more that we need to bring money in case we miss something these days. Wait a minute, we don’t need to bring money or travelers’ checks neither, we bring “global” cards and the ATM machine would flush out the right currencies. Globalization and technology deserve credits for these conveniences. At the same time, technology occupies the luggage with more electronic devices and their accessories than ever before. It has not been long when bringing a laptop has been a practice more for the computer professionals on business trips. These days everyone is bringing some sorts of computer devices. For my household of 4, in our 2014 trip to Hong Kong, there are 1 Kindle Fire, 1 laptop/tablet, 1 laptop, 3 smart phones, 1 Nintendo, 1 iPad; a total of 8 devices, an average of 2 per person; and not to mention the 2 local phones that have been arranged. And these devices have their own “friends” as a big bag of adapters, power plugs, and bundles of cables in the luggage.
be of the size of water bottle and can be used as a defensive weapon when needed. Now it is more of a personal choice with size to fit in the pants’ pocket or with size more pleasing to the eye; the cell phone at times become more of an essential than the wallet used to be. On the subway, three quarters of folks, regardless of their ages, are busy on their phones – games, text, videos, movies and only once-in-a-while that they are talking on the phone. And in the subway, there is a frequent announcement to remind folks to not only pay attention to their cell phone while riding on an elevator. Is the phone (aka telephone) still being used the same as what the dictionary has defined it to be – an apparatus, system or process for transmission of sound or speech to a distant point, especially by an electronic device?
nguage helping them to meet new (girl) friends in China, or in their gratitude to the teachers and school. There are more interesting things to do on Friday evenings; the graduate students (and their family) are those coming to the school on Friday evening consistently for over 10 years. The video is produced by my daughter and it feels magical when the 3-minute clip gets the full attention of these hundreds of parents and students. Classes of all grades put up performance from singing songs, reciting poems, magic show, drama, or group aerobics. Preparing kindergarten or elementary grade students to perform requires lots of energy and crowd management skills as these cuties have different priorities and worlds of view from adults. Motivating the upper grade students is a more strenuous mental challenge for the teachers and students. The effort really shows in turning each of the performances into entertaining, unique and very special moments. The 2 hour+ ceremony concludes with parents joining the students in singing gratitude to their parents and cake cutting – how fitting with piety and food such a central theme for Chinese heritage.
eginning of summer holiday for many 8th graders. I did not have my own middle school graduation. I did not remember any speeches in the middle school graduation of my daughter; attending my son’s at the same school, three years later, bring some moments back.
students would shape our future. A few graduate students deliver their speeches; I like how one student says that his generation needs to solve the problems created by this and past generations; and how another student shares his learning from the movie of Star War. Their air of confidence impresses the most. Kids in United States are not seasoned with much hardship in their first many years, they have a rosy picture of what the future can offer them, and serve as reminders life is more worthwhile with passion, with contribution and with joy. Certificate presentation came after the speeches. Every audience waits for the few seconds of his/her loved one to walk up and down the stage. Most families put their hands together for each student. It is a lengthy session with some intermittent shouts from the audience for their own favorite friends and families. The principal concludes nicely with a short quote.
