Thread, *OT* I am hoisted on my own petard;
I am afraid this post isn't about Kudlow, though Jay, the link was interesting and the speech he made more so. I have read some other things there and will likely continue. I'll add my thanks for the link. Nor is this about the historical groundwork for the stunning events of today. This is a personal vignette.
Living and working in Asia is one kettle of fish. Inter culture marriage is quite another. Related for sure but leagues apart in challenges.
My lovely Malaysian wife, of Chinese lineage, is a thoroughly modern woman in every sense. But for quite some time I have been aware that underneath the veneer of cosmopolitan modernity, there is at least an acknowledgement on her part of old customs and beliefs. This has always intensified my infatuation for her. Still, I tend to argue the pragmatic, science based, beliefs of the modern westerner. No Feng Shui for me, thank you.
But I will sometimes, unwittingly, do something that matches my wife's and her mother's understanding of Feng Shui. When this happens, I invariably get a comment from either of them along the lines of "good luck" in an approving manner, or, if the reverse, just a frown of slight disapproval. I always respond with a scoff.
Saturday I re-potted two mandarin orange trees and moved them to the front of the gate to our driveway. I put one on either side of the entry. I did so, because I thought they would look nice there and would get more sun. Both are in bloom and are forming small green fruit.
Today, (Monday morning) my wife drove to immigration with my passport to pick up my renewed work visa. It had been in for approval for the last three weeks and we were notified it was approved last Friday. She received a pleasant surprise. We had expected to pay a sum roughly equivalent to $ 2,400 for the visa. These fees are imposed by the government on a sliding scale based on profession. Laborers, for example, pay a fee roughtly equivalent to $80. Maids pay $200.00, and so on. Arriving at the window she learned that the government had suspended fees for my classification. She called me immediately, and elatedly told me the news. To a Chinese, found money like this, is a very big thing to celebrate. As she breathlessly told me the news, she added editorially that my upcoming fishing trip to Burma would seem free! (We had just spoken about it last night as we reviewed near term budget). Then, through the ear piece of the phone, I could hear her mother's rapid fire Cantonese. My wife passed on the comment. "Mother says it is because you improved the feng shui of the orange trees". (These plants are loved for the "gold" like coloring of their fruit and are said to bring good luck in money matters. Putting them at the front of the house is tantamount to inviting "money" to flow in.) How could I scoff at such good, precipitous news? <G>
Then, more on topic, I wonder why the authorities have done this?
Best,
Stitch
|
