Old : Thursday Challenge.

Great-Grand Father Chan Kwong Kwok 

 At 18, Great-Grand Father Chan Kwong Kwok was a Xiu Cai (an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree). He was the only Xiu Cai in the village. Unfortunately, because the family was poor, he could not pursue his further studies to the ultimate the Zhuangyuan(状元),

Great-Grand Father was headhunted and offered the position of the “governor”, the head of this big company Kong Nan Seng Agricultural Co, in August, 1907. The directors of the company scouted Great-Grand Father because they found him well educated and an upright man of high calibre.  

My brother Dr Henry Chan Chok Khuang. He is the leader for the Heart of Borneo (HoB) for WWF in Malaysia and Indonesia

Whether I go to Kuching, in Sarawak. He takes me into the jungle to see orang utans.

My brother Dr Henry Chan Chok Khuang. He is the leader for the Heart of Borneo (HoB) for WWF in Malaysia and Indonesia

I was eleven years old when Henry was born. Aunties said that he had a high fore head and he looked like Great Grand Father. They predicted that he would become a high official of the king like the old days.

In deed, 150 years after from when Great Grand Father was scouted, Henry has an important job, and our Great Grand Father would be very proud of him.

The theme for this week is Mood. The whole family is happy for Henry's achievement.

"MOOD" (Things Happy, Sad, Exciting, Boring,...)

Combined WITH LAST WEEK'S old.

"OLD" (Vintage, Antique, Rusty, Secondhand, Long ago, Aging, Senior,...)

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Big brother and the chain of Christmas lights.

Last Month, I went to Wellington, at a club house, I saw these decorative lights and they took me back to when I was a young child living in Padang Road in 1960-1966. These were government quarters and the houses were identical.

The kids growing up there either went to the local school, St Mary School, or Methodist School in the town. We went to the latter. While we played, there were some sort of competitiveness.

Dad was the first to buy a Christmas tree. He had studied in London and saw how the English celebrate Christmas. Then he bought a chain our coloured light bulbs which he hung on the balcony. The lights did not "Flicker/twinkle" to our disappointment.

Big brother came to the rescue. He called us younger ones to tell us he had made it work. We went to the balcony and indeed the lights flickered. We were delighted. What we didn't know was he was switching on and off at the switich.

Dad saw him, and stopped him, "Silly boy, you do this and you burn the bulbs."

It was many many years later, that Dad bought chains of chasing lights, and I remember that first chain and big brother.

Every Christmas, I tell this story to my kids.

ABC Wednesday Letter B for Borneo.

My brother Dr Henry Chan Chok Khuang. He is the leader for the Heart of Borneo (HoB) for WWF in Malaysia and Indonesia

Whether I go to Kuching, in Sarawak. He takes me to see orang utans.

The Heart of Borneo is a conservation agreement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature to protect a 220,000 km² forested region on Borneo island that is known as Asia's last great rainforest. The agreement has been signed by the governments ofBrunei, Indonesia and Malaysia in Bali on 12 February 2007 to support the initiative.^[1] The region provides habitat to 10 endemic species of primate, more than 350 birds, 150 reptiles and amphibians and 10,000 plants. From 2007 to 2010 a total of 123 new species have been recorded in the region.^[2] With Borneo rhinoceros was the most threatened conservative fauna with prediction less than 25 individuals remaining.^[3] A status report from 2012 found that the lowland rain forest within the area is deteriorating and under threat.^[4]

http://www.heartofborneo.org/

Want to Get Involved?

We need your skills to help us change the future of rainforest conservation on the island of Borneo.

If you want to join an expedition, conduct research, volunteer with us, raise funds, or just join our community to find out more:

GO HERE AND COMPLETE OUR REGISTRATION FORM

Or just pop in your email to sign up to our Newsletter

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz/

Mugwort Leaf, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, 艾叶,

(Mugwort Leaf, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, 艾叶, My friend from New Zealand 

Chinese got some from Avondale and gave them to me. May be it the is cold 

weather that they are not growing well.

My mother used to cook with this. In Cantonese, we call this NGAI.

ABC WEdnesday: Letter B for Book launch

 David Fung, the author

 Mr. Niu Qingbao, the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland.

 My old doctor Dr Chong , one of the sponsors who were given a copy of the book in his yellow bag,

Last Sunday, I went to the Book Launch - "Turning Stone into Jade" by David Fung, celebrating the History of the New Zealand Chinese Association.

At book launches, there are speeches by the author, VIPs, sponsors, those selling the books and CDs. 

It reminded me of my own book launch in 2013.



http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz/

Wellington and my books

The is the Icon of New Zealand, The Beehive , the parliament of New Zealand. All five of my books are circulated in the National Library of New Zealand.

Alexander Turnbull Library - National Library of New Zealand Alexander Turnbull Library - National Library of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand	b ook	304 miles Map It	Library info Add to favorites
5.	National Library of New Zealand National Library of New Zealand - Wellington Service Centre Wellington, 6011 New Zealand 1. From China to Borneo and beyond by Ann Kit Suet Chin  Print book : Biography Language: English   Publisher: [Auckland, N.Z. : Ann Kit Suet Chin-Chan, 2013] Database: WorldCat 2. Diary of a bereaved mother by Ann Kit Suet Chin  Print book : Biography Language: English   Publisher: [Auckland, N.Z. : A.K.S. Chin, [2011] Database: WorldCat 3. Cry of oppressed women by Ann Kit Suet Chin  Print book : Fiction Language: English   Publisher: Auckland : Ann Kit Suet Chin, 2014. Database: WorldCat 4. Mail order bride by Ann Kit Suet Chin  Print book : Fiction Language: English   Publisher: Auckland : Ann Kit Suet Chin, 2013. Database: WorldCat 5. Hai wai hua ren de Zhong Guo hun = From China to Borneo and beyond by Ann Kit Suet Chin; Kong Sing Ting  Print book Language: Chinese   Publisher: [Auckland] : [Ann Chin], [2015] Database: WorldCat

Remembering my Sister-in-law Karen.

Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer Ánna Pávlova. Colloquially referred to as "pav", it is a cake similar to meringue . Both New Zealand and Australia claim that they first made the Pav to honor the dancer when she came to Down Under. This Pav is made by my New Zealand born Australia Sister in Law Karen.

On Sunday, I went to the 80th anniversary of the New Zealand Chinese Association. I looked around and saw some part-Chinese, part-European Children. I thought of my European Sister-in-law Karen and her 3 girls. Pavlova was on the menu. Karen's signature dessert was Pavlova.

Sadly in 2013, Karen grew wings and flew to heaven leaving behind her 3 surviving daughters, Katie, Sarah and Emily and her husband Charles and the whole clan of the Chans and Taylors.

Yesterday, her daughter Sarah post a photo of a dog which shared the same birthday with her Mum Karen.

Rasinah, president of Rotary Kuching Jaya.

 Rasinah with her older son Yameen, I remember him as a young boy.

In the mid 1977, newly returned from Canada, I went to teach in Kuching High School. I didn't know any one, and Yuch Ling came to be my friend. We became very good friend and we sometimes walked to school. 

I left in 1978 to New Zealand and saw her only once in the 90s.

Recently,  Rasinah Chai sent a friend request. As usual, I asked her a few questions  and I asked her if she knew Chai Yuch Ling, and she said she was her.

I was so happy like the woman who found her last penny. We chatted and she has become a Muslim. She shared her bereavement. To my shock, her healthy and tennis playing husband Matasan had died.

We kept in contact and recently she was installed as the president of Rotary Kuching Jaya. I am so proud of her, She has blossomed into a woman of integrity and ability.

I asked Rasinah her duties. To set up projects to help the poor n needy, especially in the rural areas. We have set up a lot of hydro projects to bring in clean water to the long houses in Bakalalang n Belaga. Smaller projects are helping rural school children with their English.

Good on you, Rasinah, I know you will make a great president. I am so proud of you.


 

80th anniversary of New Zealand Chinese Association

It was a double celebration. The New Zealand Chinese Association celebrates 80th year, and the launch of the book, "Turning Stone into Jade," The History of the New Zealand Chinese Association.

As the author David Fung tells of the twist and turns of writing the book, I can imagine what a monumental job he had done. I applause him for this.

80 years ago, the Chinese overseas felt very patriotic towards Motherland China, hot on the heels of the Japanese invading China, the Chinese overseas raised funds to save their motherland. I am proud my grand dad did this, and was a wanted man in Borneo by the Japanese. I am equally proud that statistically, the New Zealand Chinese raised most funds per capita.

This function is also an opportunity to meet up with friends. Percy, hope to see you kicking and playing rugby soon. A surprised meeting with Dr Andrew Chong who was my doctor for 10 years.  Connecting with Mr. Niu Qingbao, the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland, and my previous landlord, Pastor David Yan.

Heart of Borneo (HoB) and my brother Henry.

Last week I wrote the story of a brick house and associated it with my second brother Joseph Chan Chok Hiu. I wrote about him being the little Kitchen God, and had been blessed to be born in a brick house, and my grand father said Joseph would do very well. In deed he had done very well.The Kitchen God had taken care of him very well.

This is my youngest brother Dr. Henry Chan Chok Khuang and his lovely wife Elley Lina. I am very proud of Henry as he works for humanity and we share a lot of ideals.

He is leader for the Heart of Borneo (HoB). The Heart of Borneo Leader for WWF in Malaysia and Indonesia since March. He is based in Kuching but he travels a lot.

https://www.facebook.com/BorneoRainforests 
https://www.facebook.com/wwfhob
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/

Photohunt 2: Ladies in elegant Chinese Cheong sum aka qipao.

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Ladies in elegant Chinese Cheong sum aka qipao.  My friend's mum commented when he was putting an albun for our pastor, she said she didn't see my photo, because I was always behind the camera.

Then I found this photo.

Photohunt: elegant

On my book launch in Oct 2013, I was dressed in an elegant black dress, teamed with a black Malaysian Kebaya top.

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

genealogy: Kongs and the Lais.

In my From China to Borneo to Beyond, I wrote in my Mother's family, the Kongs always married the Lais/Leas. I found an old classmate Frankie Lea is indeed related to me.

The Japanese came, and the fear of being captured by the Japanese to become their comfort woman, my mother was quickly married off to my Dad, a Chan. It was there wasn't a right age Lai at that time.

While chatting with a Face Book friend who is also a Lai. I wonder if thorough investigation in our genealogy might reveal that we are related too.

海外华人的中国魂 从中国 synopsis

海外华人的中国魂 从中国
Hai wai hua ren de Zhong Guo hun = From China to Borneo and beyond / Zhu: Chen Jie Xue ; Yi: Chen Kang Sheng = [written by] Ann Kit Suet Chin-Chan/Chen Jie Xue ; [translated by]Ting Kong Sing. Other title: From China to Borneo and beyond. Authors: Ann Kit Suet Chin, Kong Sing Ting Publish info: [Auckland] : [Ann Chin], [2015] Edition: Chinese edition. ISBN: 9780473309626 Description: 324 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm. Subject: Family, History, Chinese, Chin, Ann Kit Suet, Chan family, Kong family, 20th century, Malaysia Language: Chinese http://search.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/?itemid=|library/marc/supercity-iii|b3012370 洁雪 时间段: 1907 至 2006 的 100 年第四代华侨的 作者反映了一群中国人因为鸦片战争以及中国的激进的英国的殖民统治如何被迫逃离祖国去马来西亚。大多数人受到头猎人/当地原住民的威胁而被迫生活在极其困难的工作条件和炎热潮湿的环境下 。这些中国人不被接受为当地公民。当马来西亚从英国获得独立, 他们被视为二等公民。在 1969年发生的种族歧视暴乱事件，当地马来人与中国人打仗。这些中国人不允许返回祖国。当作者移民到了加拿大和新西兰，这些国家让他打开眼界。驻新西兰的中国人必须交一种中国移民法案通过议会而引入的£10 “人头税” (等于 2013 年的 NZD1630)。人头税之后还增加到£100(NZD18400)。作者因中国人在马来西亚和新西兰的不公平对待感到愤愤不平。这是她写书的动力,目的是为了把华侨被压迫的这个故事告诉世界和后代。“这次写作经历让我成熟，让我开始欣赏中国丰富的文化遗产。我后悔小时候忽略了学汉语，主要因素还是马来西亚的教育系统。我为了弥补错过了机会通过学习尽可能多了解关于我的家人和中国的历史。”
My Chinese edition book is now circulated in the Auckland City libraries New Zealand National Library in Wellington. The author, a 4th generation Wah Jiao (Overseas Chinese) reflects on how a group of Chinese were forced to leave China because of the Opium war and the aggressive colonisation of the British of China. Most of the people were forced to work in extremely difficult, hot and humid conditions under the threat of head hunters/ the local natives. These Chinese people were not considered to be citizens of the land. When the land gained independence from the British, they were considered second class citizens. In 1969, there was a racial riot where the local Malays fought with the Chinese. The Chinese were not allowed to return to China. When the author left for Canada and New Zealand, her eyes were opened. In New Zealand, the Chinese were subjected to the Poll tax, The Chinese Immigrants Act was passed by Parliament, introducing a ‘poll tax’ of £10 (equivalent to $1630 in 2013). and the poll tax was increased to £100 ($18,400). The author felt indignant with the bad treatment of the Chinese in Malaysia and New Zealand. This motivated her to write her book, to tell the world, and future generations that the Chinese abroad/ Wah Jiao had been oppressed. “Writing my book helped me matured that I began to appreciate my Chinese rich heritage. I regretted growing up I ignored the Chinese language mainly because of the system in Malaysia. I made up for it by learning as much as I can about the history of my family and of China.”

Farewell Pastor Albert Ng

5th July 2015, at Mt Albert Baptist Church