2008 年 5 月 17 日 星期六 【晴】

Departing tomorrow, still didn't pack up yet...

For the trip to Vienna, I have the honor to be our viola section leader.

再次踏上首席之位... 感覺奇奇怪怪的...

Our viola section leader has his recitals & exam these few weeks, and so he wasn't able to make it to our rehearsal. The conductor doesn't allow him to take the lead. And so I was moved up to lead. It's stressful. In representing China & Macau, in staging in Musikwiren, Vienna, in being broadcasted in 25 countries for our live performance, I already feel pressured. Now, I am needed to lead one of the section, haha... my burden has become a little bit heavier!

Leader?
I know every violist here is very hard-working and have been playing very well. I feel that I am the worst among the group. Oh, my Daddy has bring me out becoz I am the weakest!!! Hahahha...

Besides I am one of the member in the "custom committee". The committee is to direct the group to the right path - which departure gate, what to do at custom, security checks. I have never been to London Heathrow Airport, and none of us have, so it is kinda "NEW" to all of the committee members. We are leading 104 people in and out of the custom, so hopefully things go smooth!

On the other hand, 104 of us are divided to 17 groups, so we can better handle people. I am being assigned as the leader to group 6, and there are 6 members. One is a staff and one is a staff assistance.

Indeed, there are members who are more dominant, I found it difficult to lead in those cases. And sometimes I sensed that there will be conflict if I stand on my ground.

>>May 18, 2008 at 3:36:31 AM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 11 日 星期日 【晴】

Final stage of preparation to depart for Vienna!!!

This morning I was searching information for Heathrow Terminal 5. It's said that it takes 2 hours to change from terminals in the Heathrow Airport (with all the procedures). I found some information, I wanted to print, but this computer is not connected to the printer. Papa said it uses Windows Vista, so he didn't install the printer drive.

I copied the file and open his Asus notebook. It was printing, and it stopped... the notebook ran out of battery! And I can't find the charger & the cable. It switched off.

Come on! Don't kill me!

>>May 12, 2008 at 4:37:58 AM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 8 日 星期四 【晴】

青交將展維也納音樂之旅
http://www.macaodaily.com/html/2008-05/08/content_169873.htm

>>May 11, 2008 at 1:58:27 AM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 7 日 星期三 【晴】

My time has come!

We went back to YSO after visiting the Chief Executive of Macau, Mr Edmond Ho. Since the expenses of our trip is sponsored by the government, we need to meet him in person to report our itnenary and say a "good-bye" to him before we leave. And certainly, to thank his support!

One of the crew here in orchy asked me to go dinner with them. At first I thought I will go home for dinner and return to YSO later to finish some work. However, I recalled that mom's cooking isn't very good, so I would rather dine-out, hahaha~ You know what, they brought me to a Japanese Restaurant! The bill was $516 for 4 persons! The crew treated me this meal, so I don't have to pay anything! Anyway, it was a very very nice dinner!

It's 1:10am now~ still in YSO. Hahaha, like last time, I am called to help in preparing for the trip.

>>May 7, 2008 at 5:07:06 PM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 5 日 星期一 【晴】

Basically I am resting at home in the morning, visiting the hospital in the afternoon, having rehearsals in the evening and watching TV at night time. All these happens daily if nothing special is forced into my schedule.

Grandpapa isn't looking very good these days. He doesn't has much energy to talk/to move. I don't know how to approach him in talking about Jesus. Anyhow, yesterday I bought him a calendar, there are quotes on every pages focusing on FAITH. I hope that he, or maybe other relatives are curious enough to have a look...

I heard something from my aunt, something that shocked me. She said we can send grandpapa back to KW hospital (the one he had his surgery), and they will be able to "make" grannny strong & look healthy again. The doctor will, if the cancer cells spread to the liver, remove & made a new liver. If the cancer cells spread to the lungs, try an artifical lung. She said that a patience at his last last last stage of cancer, can still live for another one year with all these "artifical" thing - such that, keep having surgeries and transplantation & stuff...

At this moment granny is staying in the piblic hospital. It was owned by the Portuguese and has a Catholic based background. There are some good points and some bad points, and KW, as a private hospital, has some benefits too... Yet to the least, the public hospital extempt us from any payment since grannny is 88 years old.

>>May 6, 2008 at 8:48:08 AM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 2 日 星期五 【晴】

Finally I met Mr Jardim today. We are starting the intensive rehearsals this afternoon, and probably will last until we finish the performance in Vienna. I am happy to have Mr Jardim conducts. He is full of passion and is very creative. He is from Brazil, but has been living in Macau for 10 years. I can see that he tries all his best to communicate with us what he wants: How to handle the music, how to bring out the melody. Sometimes he speaks directly, like today, he said, "this orchestra is very difficult to conduct", you know what... it's meaning we are playing badly...

We celebrated Hoi Sir's birthday during the rehearsals. It was great! He mentioned that there will be a possbility that YSO with co-join to perform in Hong Kong for the Olympic Song. Woo~ having thosands and thousands of channel broadcasting the ceremony, and YSO will be on TV once again, hoho~ it sounds great and definately exciting! It will be in July~ Dad has asked my consideration to stay in Macau. There's only one thing that I enjoy being in Macau - it's YSO! It's fun & I'm loving it.

>>May 3, 2008 at 2:35:51 PM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 1 日 星期四 【晴】

Tonight I have dinner with my friends. It's the first date (for friends) since I returned... hahah~ I've got Penny/ Zaku/ Michelle and Jackie, plus two of their friends tonight. There's a bit of change in us, Jackie has her babe by now, she looked more like a madam. Zaku is not as skinny as before, and Penny has his new girlfriend. I was quite sad to see Michelle smoking and getting all sorts of coarse lanugage when ever she speaks. She was once my tutorial student in 2002. Penny & Zaku said I am THINNER, (in a pity voice). At once I recalled that my face looked quite round and fat in 2004.

Indeed, I didn't enjoy the night. Maybe I am too serious, I feel that our conversations were full of very nonsense-stuff. We didn't get into deep sharing. And perhaps, maybe... I saw something that I do not want to see.

>>May 3, 2008 at 2:24:54 PM GMT+8

2008 年 4 月 30 日 星期三 【晴】

Looking forward for Friday... it's the only only day OFF from the orchestra!

>>May 1, 2008 at 11:40:37 AM GMT+8

2008 年 4 月 29 日 星期二 【晴】

Mom & sis had an argument last evening. There were tears, misunderstanding & different point of views. I cried too, I don't want to see this kind of conflicts, so fearful. The argument was about me, sis suggested that I will stay in Macau 'til... the death of grandpapa. But mom insisted that I need to go back for work.

I didn't say a word.

30 April
Last week I sent an e-mail to GiA and asked about the mission team thing. I am glad that they replied me today. So nice to keep in touch with CCBC ministry. Haha~ I called Alex to talk about it this afternoon.

I didn't go to the hospital today. Mom & sis asked why. Honestly speaking, I haven't finished my preparation for the orchestra concerts! Our president of the orchestra sent us a letter, he wrote some insightful words. One of which stressed me a bit: "we have the honor to represent China to visit Vienna for music exchange. But please remember, the burden for all of us is very heavy!"

Who are we to represent China? There are many many orchestras in China/ Hong Kong/ Shang Hai, etc which are more experienced than us, yet we are chosen.

Tomorrow we have a full day rehearsal, and I know I won't be able to make it to visit grandpapa. In my heart, I think I need to fulfill my responsibility as a musician, to prepare myself. On the other hand, I know, this is my last 19 days in Macau.

Dad also asked if I will consider taking Macau for good. He has changed a bit, he knows that he need to let me make the decision.

As my departure for Vienna approaches, there will be OVER TIME rehearsal with YSO. May God lead me during this time!

>>May 1, 2008 at 11:38:34 AM GMT+8

2008 年 4 月 28 日 星期一 【晴】

The doctor called me today and asked if we agree for grandpapa to go through a gastroscope examination. Since yesterday I was the one to bring grandpapa to the emgergency, they got my number and I am now the contact person for the hospital & the family members.

Well... gastroscope examination? I have no SAY to it, and so I called all sons & daughters of grandpapa to see the doctor this afternoon. I was very pleased that everyone turned up, though not all on time! Hahaha~ at least everyone is caring grandpapa!

We met grandpapa and the doctor. He definately looks much better than yesterday when he was resting at home. But as for the gastroscope examination... it is painful, isn't it?

>>April 29, 2008 at 10:57:50 AM GMT+8