Sorry-ology

Congratulations! I am very proud of K, who just passed his viva yesterday! You are now Dr. S! Your hard work paid off and you can move onto another stage of life. Some other friends also received their PhD degree this year. Congratulations to A and O!

Congratulations to the graduates Most of my students graduated from the university this and last year. The class that I tutored just completed their undergraduate education a few days ago. I was sorry that I couldn't make it to this important rite of passage for them, both times. I have been viewing their pictures and feeling their happiness these days. I hope I was helpful to them in the year when I worked closely with them. Inexperienced and reserved as I was, I made mistakes and failed to offer good advises. They gave me good lessons, however, lessons on life and attitude. They were such a variety of individuals, of whom each had a different personality and challenged the bookish me in a different way. Thanks to them, dear graduates.

Sushi L, a little sister in my flat, knocked on my door tonight and gave me a lot of sushi! It was very nice indeed, an innovative blend of a variety of ingredients, and a good taste even without sauce! Cute shapes too! They were just like small, smiling, happy faces. Thank you, L and F! (Sorry that I did not come to the kitchen to express my gratitude properly, as I was already in my night gown even though it was still early...) L, you should be more proud of your own cooking! I do not even know how to make sushi! You are brilliant! I believe you have found the best seasoning in the world! ; )

How many steps will it take? In order to recycle some numerical tags, I made a decorative work on the board in my room.

Travelogue II: Chicago, 7-11, May, 2006: McDonald's A. and I traveled together in Chicago. It's the first visit to this city for both of us. The city-scape of Chicago did not attract me at first sight because it appeared to me to be a world of machinery giants, while York, where I have got used to, was such a cozy town of miniature. Although this city of skyscrapers is really not my cup of tea, my 4-day stay did allow me to appreciate it, an extensively developed space that parades a very metallic and edged beauty of modernity. An intimidating friendliness, I think. Modern theorists have commented that some international chain-stores successfully create images of a universal nostalgia for every global citizen. That is, whenever and wherever you travel, no matter how exotic the place is, once you see the signboard of, for instance, McDonald's, Starbucks, etc. (sorry that my examples are extremely limited, please help me with the list if you come up with any idea), your...