Old Soul

Chris was an old soul even when I first met and taught him in prep school. A college graduate now, he talks about his two years studying in China with joy, respect, and appreciation of the culture that's rare among young people with lucky lives.

Over a long lunch cooked and served expertly by a Singaporean Chinese (on introducing Chris to Irene at Crossroads Cafe, she said, "Robley! Don't order! Let me just give you food!"), we talked and I learned. By the time we had taken a short tour of the college and strolled around the lake, I knew we'd need one more sit-down before he drove home.

Dessert selected (chocolate for both of us), I admired his ring, a soft yellow-gold wonder that fits his finger well. "All jewelry in Hong Kong is a social status indicator," he told me. "This ring isn't popular now. Young people wouldn't wear it, but the older generation purchase these soft gold rings because they believe if you can wear one, you obviously aren't working. And if you aren't working, you've made it."

"What about the characters?"

"The symbol on front is fu, which means good luck and fortune. Fu dao le means fortune comes, which is why every time I see a Chinese person, they tell me to turn the ring around so the character is facing me."

Chris doesn't need Chinese superstition to find good luck and fortune. He has already has it -- in his character -- and with it, he will make his own fortune. 

May good things always come to him.

Winner! Winner!

chicken Singaporean Chinese dinner!

Although it arrived nearly two months after the fact, I welcomed the decorated winner's envelope hand-delivered to my door yesterday evening by RP, who works at the College. Inside, my prizes: a gift certificate to use at Crossroads Cafe (my choice of local restaurant) and a nifty handmade, reusable coffee cup sleeve.

From among 300 submissions, two of my photographs were selected as winners in the inaugural Sustain Sewanee photo contest. I am pleased, and as a friend told me, I was famous before I knew it!