October

October is truly a "Family month" - mother-in-law visited, and hence the food photos about, followed by my mother's visit in the second half of the month. We are blessed indeed.

Graduation

Today my sister graduated with a conjoint LLB/BA. It's been a long hard road but she made it. What a joyful occasion. We felt proud, and we made our parents very proud indeed. Offspring of a long line of self made businessman, our academic achievements are something quite beyond our parents imagination.

We sang the NZ anthem before the end of the ceremony and I, as usual, got a bit emotional. This country has given me, and us, so much opportunities. It's a bit cliche but this is indeed a land where people will give you a fair go. You of course have to work bloody hard, but such egalitarian worldview is not a norm in most societies.

The anthem reminds me of the irony of the failed introduction of 'national education' to primary schools in HK. There has never been any form of national education here (unlike Singapore), but most of us are moved by the anthem and have strong feelings towards our flag - I strongly argue that a sense of national identity cannot be formally taught in school or even cultivated.