Tag: #experiencetoday

visit https://experiencetoday.org

foodtherapy
English articles

Food Therapy

experiencetoday

A friend of mine took a new job which is very fast-paced. Every time I called her, She thought she could hardly survive one more day in the new company, so she has been nagging about it from time to time. Anyhow, she finds her way to de-stress from this hectic job. 

No matter how late it is when she is back home. She spends an hour preparing her dinner and another hour to enjoy her meal. The dinner she prepared is nothing fancy but a proper meal for the family – three dishes with a bowl of rice. I’m amazed how she has such an energy to do so when she’s home at 8 p.m. I would have starved to death. The thoughts of comfort food give her the mental power and energy to do so, even the dishwashing. “I love my plates and kitchen spotless clean”, she said it with great excitement. 

Talking about food therapy, I decided not to bring a heavy lunch box to the office every day, but buy take-out from time to time. The new workplace is quite a distance from the subway station and restaurant areas, therefore going out for lunch is such a rush, and there are not many good options. 

Canteen meals are typically oily and not very appetising. Luckily the nearby cafe now offers some pre-order choices. If I really yearn for Thai or Vietnamese food, I always encourage my colleagues to order via a food app together. Trying out a variety of food motivates me to have a more pleasant and productive afternoon. People who are chunky should love themselves for loving good food.  

This simple change of routine definitely makes me happier. I let go of saving every penny by bringing lunch boxes. Unlike a friend of mine, I still do not like to invest a lot of time in cooking dinner. Having more free time to enjoy stretching, exercising, watching TV or even being idle can improve my well-being. 

Recently, people stocked up on sea salt because Japan released nuclear wastewater into the sea. A psychiatrist related this phenomenon to seeking security. Another example is the stocking up of amenities and food during the pandemic. 

My friend’s storeroom is a semi-grocery store. Why does she need 5 chocolate bars, and 5 bottles of detergent while our living space is so limited? She told me that the storage gave her comfort and she was not scared when supermarket shelves were emptied by the crazy crowd. Another friend of mine has an apartment full of canned soup and food, too. 

Even though supermarkets and grocery stores are nearby in Hong Kong, human beings very much need a high level of storage to feel secure and safe

With the typhoon approaching, I purchased more snacks and food to reach that security level and to feel at ease.

samanthajones
English articles

And Just Like That

experiencetoday

I was a fan of “Sex and the City.” I feel empowered and so free watching the series. That sort of man-seeking mentality could never happen in Hong Kong. Four beautiful women who are fearless about chasing love or sexual experiences without being afraid of being judged. Not to mention, they also have a very successful career.

When I watched season one of “And Just Like That,” the sequel to the series, two years ago, I felt something was missing—the witty, charming, and remarkable Samantha Jones. The character Carrie is a little dreamy and fake, as I doubt how often writers are so rich and dress so flashily in couture and high heels. But then it gives me joy to see fabulous couture that I could never afford or wear.

It’s always joyous to see Charlotte in a branded outfit. She looks like a modern version of an adorable, forever young fairy godmother who can manage her family life very well with her husband and two daughters who are full of distinct characters. She talks in a sweet way about a kind mother who tries to convince others of what she thinks is right. When she refocuses on her career, her husband Harry complains about hardly having time to run errands for the family. I love the way she tells Harry to try hard as he’s only doing the “bare minimum.”

Many women either sacrifice their careers for love or try hard to manage both in their lives. The shout is just a wake-up call for many men to think again about how hard women can be—having a child, raising a child, doing a job and chores, and maintaining a love life. 

Miranda is almost the one I like to skip watching. She is tall and has the skeleton for great dresses. It is saddening to see that she appears to be depressed and in doubt in many scenes. She’s a successful lawyer but struggles with her love life and career. It is a bit unbelievable, especially that she questions her sexual identity at the age of 50, not when she was young. 

So it’s a great surprise and a fantastic moment to finally see Samantha in the finale of season two, even though it’s very brief. Samantha looks fabulous after all these years. She is the one who makes me believe she stays true to herself. 

She is such a classic role model of the modern-day woman—so confident and capable of conquering the world, and she dares to speak her own words without caring what others think. 

I’m glad that I continued the “Just Like That” journey and watched the whole two seasons. It reminds me that women in their 50s can still be wonderful, try a new path, and dare to dream and love.

English articles

Everything Everywhere all at once

experiencetoday

I was never interested in sci-fiction drama. The movie “Everything Everywhere all at once” is a surprise exception. I felt dizzy sometimes watching the scenes jumping around different universes, but I found it the director meant to tell us to be kind, to be brave, and to love each other. 

To find peace in this complex and chaotic world, it is tiresome to keep fighting and create emotional conflicts.  

Because of the information explosion, our life had never been that busy. Many of us tried to keep track of the internet updates, gossip, 24/7 work life, family life and personal issues. Having a part-time job or a side interest while studying is a must as young people want to start the race early. It is so important to obtain as many skill sets and experience right before your 20s. Isn’t it university life should be fun and carefree? Not anymore.   

In a critique written by the LA Times, it quoted the director Kwan stating, “The internet had started to create the alternate universes. ” The movie was part of a product of the “contradictions and emotional whiplash” of being very online at the time. 

There was a time when I felt like I could keep up the speed Internet expanded. A professor told me, “Just say I don’t know, and I am only focused on my strength and interest area.” 

Yes, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you do not know certain things. We could call ourselves “Master of the Universe” 20 years ago when information was confined to newspapers and books. Not anymore. Maybe our strength, nowadays, is to learn how to ask and where to seek the information that we need, instead of adding all useless information in our head. 

To avoid information overload, I feel alright not to keep track of all the news, especially bad news. It is smarter to filter and digest useful information, make connections and take part in activities that are meaningful to me.   

Life is too short to get upset when you feel bad about not knowing the latest gossip or Netflix movies.  I stopped joining the information race but became focused and open to new ideas and creative thoughts.

Chinese articles

與植物和寵物對話

experiencetoday

一年多前，我嘗試租園圃種植，有園友說：「收割臭草時，要跟植物說聲，我要收割一些帶回家，放在糖水烹調，否則臭草會死去。」又有人打趣說，她出行時，會跟家貓說聲:「我出外旅行啊，是會回家的。」這樣才會讓貓貓不會感到被遺棄。養狗的朋友也知道要與狗狗溝通，安撫牠，才開始為牠們洗澡。

話說我以前同屋朋友養著一隻白色鬆毛貓，客廳是共用的。那頭白貓最愛鬆毛鬆翼地走來走去，梳化是他磨練腳甲的好地方，也知道我不是她的主人。

白貓得到貓奴的寵幸，留主子在家時，通常會開著抽濕機。事實上，貓十分聰敏，他懂得跳上抽濕機按一按抽濕機的開關制，十分享受風自機頂吹出涼風的感覺，他就停在抽濕機機頂的風口位置，就像我們吹頭髮般，把毛吹得蓬鬆。

屋向北，冬天時，有點冷，我房間沒有暖爐或暖風機，年青呀、 蓋被取暖啦! 當然，貓奴特別關心主子的冷暖感覺，外出時，也會特意為主子開著暖爐，貓貓差不多貼著爐邊安靜地取暖，擺出洋洋得意的表情。

朋友都知道我家有貓，因為衣服真的難以完全脫「毛」，尤其是冬天的大衣，惟有與貓毛同存。白貓的神情有時有點兒兇，也有點裨氣。有時會把門口的鞋亂放在客廳，令我們知道他生氣。最難忘的一次是，同屋在公司趕稿，一夜沒有回家，主子除了亂抛我們的鞋履外，也隨意在家便便，以示威勢，情景不堪入目。當年手機拍照不盛行，否則應立即與同屋分享他作的「好事」。現在想回來，如果朋友跟他「溝通」，他會否聽話、會乖巧一點?有人問我，為何沒有想過成為素食者。我對他說:「我深信植物也是有生命的，不過由於不懂發聲，可能會變得弱一點，又或如臭草，收割後，死掉了。」最近學習種植，才懂得大部分的植物比動物需要更多的照顧才能茁壯成長。

Chinese articles

工作的心理學

experiencetoday

人在高處，日子久了，如果公司的發展平平而沒有新添服務，員工的工作長期如此，會變得機械式，或許工作會失去心中的那團火，相對的技能也只能靠自我增值而提升。至於高層則可能只顧著生意，沒有留住為公司長期服務員工的心，因為新入職的員工薪金往往比較低，他們只想不斷降低成本而持續收益平衡。部分高層只會為自己的利益著想，從人事和福利的更改著手，如增加自己級別的年假和保險的福利保障，令自己獲益，一眾員工看在眼中，自然不是味兒。

還記得，疫情時，一間大型醫院，高層自動減薪，與員工共渡時艱。一些事故發生，也會奮力站起來，站在員工的觀點發聲。沒有氣量的管理層或者沒有這份瀟灑和膽量。畢竟員工是公司的重要資產。高層用人也要公私分明，若要請家人，也應利用合理而公平的渠道，不要令其他員工有感不公。

現在工種闊了，工作模式多了。年輕人選擇工作，不妨不要心急，除了以個人興趣、公司文化和工作的職責出發外，我個人認為公司的發展和前景乃十分重要。一天工作八至十小時，公司的環境、同事和上司是否合得來、互相支持，實在重要，當中，如果有學習的地方和能累積合乎自己意願的經驗，就必然會加分。

有家庭的人士或會著眼於金錢，有一定的妥協，放棄興趣，接受一份未必是理想的工作，也不管高層和上司如何，默默接受，若上司不太支持自己，長此下去，其實對身心健康無形中造成壓力。不過轉化心態後，若視之為一份好工，就好像問題消失了，畢竟他們以家庭為先，希望養活子女，為下一代帶來穩定和富足的生活。

找新工作期間，曾遇到一位強勢的女士跟我說，做溝通行業，24小時都念掛著工作，一些人可能可以停下來，但我不可以。首先，我對她的無禮，十分反感，不能想著每天要跟著這樣不重視別人才能的上司共事。與此同時，這亦令我回想起美國知名的心理學家Adam Grant說過：「我們熱愛工作，也毋須讓工作完全佔據我們生活。」

我們生活中有不同的崗位，人生不應只有工作，子女、父母、自己的愛好和休息都是如此重要。把時間劃分不同區間，也不代表我們對工作沒有熱誠。其實平衡的生活會為工作注入動力和靈感，令身心得以休息，避免過勞。 

English articles

Going back in time: Press Play

experiencetoday

Going back in time creates a million storylines, including love interactions between couples. In the movie Lake House, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock built an incredibly deep connection through the exchange of letters, despite the fact that they lived in different years.

The Time Traveller’s Wife challenged a couple in which the husband randomly travelled through time without control. Their love life was unconventional. The husband missed important occasions, and the wife was frustrated sometimes. They met each other in different eras and appreciated each other’s beauty. There was a perfect man, but he was not always around.

Can we change our fate by going back in time? The science fiction romantic film Press Play talks about the love story of a cute young couple. They were set up by the young man’s stepsister and met in a record store where there was a wall of unwanted cassettes. People created their own cassettes with a collection of songs in the old days, usually the songs we heard on the radio. 

I was earnestly waiting for my favourite songs and then pressing the record button when I was young. It took a few weeks to make a mixtape. But the tape gave me great joy. 

The couple created their own mixtape by recording the songs they listened to together and what they loved to celebrate. Unfortunately, the young man was killed by a car, leaving the girl with a broken heart.

A few years later, the record store’s owner gave the girl the mixtape, and she realised once she pressed play, she was transported back on her date briefly with her love, whom she could still not forget. She tried to save him several times. He just died in different ways. Even the owner persuaded her to resolve with such ideas and just enjoyed seeing her “boyfriend” again.

After a few attempts, her “boyfriend” gave up the idea of trying to escape the next death incident. Why? 

We do not want to let go of some fond memories that keep our hearts warm and make us feel great love. We live for the pleasant moments. Love, drive, joy and objectives keep us alive.  

For the last song she pressed play, the girl decided not to meet the guy at all. Can he be saved this time?

Chinese articles

開放的態度

experiencetoday

近年，記者愛上報道精神健康的新聞，個別病人因未能短時間得到專科診症而病發，引來慘劇收場。香港經歷了兩次社會運動、在疫症期間採行嚴厲措施，近年來無論是內部經濟、教育制度、管治和工作環境都出現許多變化，以至政府不得不正視大眾的精神健康。

部分香港人選擇離開，反正都是一個大改變，在世界另一角落重新開始。不過，雖然近月病人似乎只需等候數個星期，便可以得到專科醫生的診治，但跟從前相比，醫生卻未能花時間對待新症，只能輕輕一談，給病人藥物而已，全人治療的目標實在難以達到。

從前，醫生會用一小時了解初次接觸的病人的病歷、心態和經歷，如今，不足二十分鐘，有點令人失望；舊症更只花五至十分鐘。近年，公私營的醫生看診都有縮短時間的傾向。私營醫生可能希望善用時間多賺取金錢，公營就要達標，當然仍有一些醫生真的用心幫助病人，多問診了解情況，這就是病人是否與醫生「夾」得來的道理。

我認識一位中醫，笑容滿面之餘，也會花時間跟病人傾談，有時醫治身體的不適，無論是普通科或是專科，一個温馨的問候和語調帶點關心和鼓勵都是無形的醫治。有朋友說，我每次都期待覆診，跟醫生傾談的機會。 

試想想，你想認識一位新朋友，用十多分鐘的言談，你會了解他多少呢?就正如見工一樣，從學歷表得知一些經驗，但十來分鐘的交談，其實只可以說大家憑感覺請人和選擇工作。

說回那天我在院覆診等待取藥時，見到一位高瘦的男士走在我面前，三四十多歲，樣子斯文，但他的舉止和發問的語速，令我聯想起他的心靈出了問題，他站在我的跟前是有一點太近、令我有點不自在。是的，我只是憑感覺，因為我從來沒有認識他，他向我問道：「消費劵是否今個月發嗎?」我只好快快回答說：「上月發了。」然後，我轉過頭來，走到另一角，是身體感到有點不自在的反應吧！一個陌生人在藥房的言行舉止與別不同，又問我這樣的問題，心裡實在感到奇怪。

離開診症大樓時，升降機塞滿人，竟然又遇到他。這次他向其他人問可否給他水渴，難得的是，大家都有著開放的心，視他如常人，冷靜地告訴他到大堂後再詢問吧！不知道是否媒體的教育告訴我們要善待人，還是常在醫院出入的人對不同類型的病人已經習以為常。 

無論如何， 我們沒有許多機會深入了解途人，只能抱著開放的心、不要胡思亂想猜度別人吧。

Chinese articles

找一個沒有電子裝置的空間

experiencetoday

為何跟朋友閒談、聊天，總是精力多一點? 身體的構造很奇妙。每當我沒有力氣的時候，朋友打電話或視頻聊天，就會忘記倦意。我留院時，姑娘跟我問診，我也不知道為何會清醒了不少，剛剛我的眼睛還掙不開來。

溝通和分享是生活和生命中的重要一環。十多年前，facebook創辦人Mark Zuckerberg發現同學間迷上互相連繫的玩意，並將之轉化為一盤生意。當我碩士畢業時，一位同學問我有沒有facebook，之後我們便成為了網上朋友，在網上分享一些照片和感受等等，其他朋友還以為他是我的男友，真搞笑！

不過，社交平台始終是一盤生意，我們分享的相片、人和事都會在網上留痕，難以忘滅。

近日，英國BBC新聞網有一則有趣的新聞 — 《為何Netflix 得知自己是同性戀者？》一位記者自言曾有一位男朋友，拍拖多年，心裡沒有性取向的疑惑，拍拖亦不是她人生重要的事情。然而，隨著她收看Netflix的劇集越來越多時，Netflix便向她推薦不少關於同性戀者的劇集或涉及雙性戀角色的劇目。

是不是她看了一些相關的影片或劇集，所以才有這樣的推薦？不過與她年紀、背景相約和網上看劇歷史差不多的朋友，Netflix給予他們的推薦劇目卻不一樣。

Netflix 建議她看You Me Her的多元戀愛喜劇; 而Spotify亦顯示了相關性取向的Playlist 給她。

之後，她才認定自己是雙性戀者，但大數據和人工智能比她早多個月知道她原來也愛女生，她實在感到十分疑惑。手機、電腦和網上程式似乎一直在留意著我們，比你身邊的另一半更關切地聆聽和看著你。

最近，我愛上在家走走路，在游池游水或按摩池放鬆身體，沒有電子用品的時候，我可以專心一點，當然跟友人一起在水池放鬆就更好，身體也會多分泌多巴胺(dopamine)、腦內啡（endorphin)、催產素（oxytocin)和血清素(serotonin)。思緒有點紊亂時，在池中游游20至30分鐘後，內心在涼快的水温和持續深呼吸底下，會平靜下來。


有人告訴我，他們在忙碌的教書和研究生涯中，跑步時得到平靜安穩的感覺，有人愛獨自跑步； 有人愛與其他跑手一齊練習。原來，不按手機和沒有電子裝置的空間，平淡一點，也可以從平靜中找到快樂。

Chinese articles

過時．過節 Hong Kong Family

experiencetoday

得知《過時．過節》這套電影一段日子，但沒有特別的衝動去影院看，難得Netflix在港不再給多個用戶分享，我便把心一橫，在這個炎夏多留在家的日子，訂閱另一平台，打算在一個月內，不時看一看心儀的電影，輕鬆一下。

從前，每看一套電影，都帶來一些思考的機會。

《過時．過節》滿載許多情感。一般草根家庭都受著經濟和供樓的壓力、中國人壓在心底內不願溝通和表達情感的常態，以至社會一些規律給大家一個框框。

回想起，父母也不會拖手、不會在子女面前親吻，在我的眼中，這就是平常，有時他們口邊說要離婚，父親有一點裨氣，十歲、十多歲的我不知道如何反應，但當老父病了的時候，看到媽媽對父親的關心，小時候對他們關係的疑惑原來是有點傻。

我當然沒有像電影中的兒子一樣逃離家庭。跟父親分離8年真是一段很長的日子。沉默的父親轉行為著這個家，支持妻子為供樓的使命。子女也長大了，他竟然在做冬前一天提出離婚，為的是不想強迫自己達至妻子想他温柔和貼心的期望，亦希望兒子搬回家中，陪伴妻子。

另一邊廂的是，兒子從網上認識的一位年長網友，對孫兒的離去感到遺憾。表親的婆婆一直希望與移居遠方的兒子再次見面，命運就是這樣，當機票訂好了，竟然難逃命運的排，身體不適而離世，與媽媽緣慳一面。

中國人的拘謹而內斂的文化在電影中，顯露無遺。內心的壓抑固然可能會令自己錯過了理想，要收在內心的情感也可能會令父子再沒有機會復合。

幸好的是，婆婆的說話給人釋懷的感覺—做冬多少人一起吃飯，也沒關係。女兒告訴父親每天扮上班，萌生爭取到海外工作的夢想。兒子和父親終於嘗試溝通，不吃冬至飯，也沒所謂。

那麼做妻子的毛舜筠是否輸家？雖然當年她提供離婚，但最終供樓的願望完成，一家人似乎一個又一個地會離巢，連她幫忙做家務的一家人也打算移民。她內心的滋味很難受，但卻也難以宣之於口。

現代人情感的流露較直接，也許會變得過火，與電影中傳統的一家成正比。

故事未必說出香港單一的故事，在遠方的角落也有著不少這樣的家庭，家庭成員充斥著不少予盾，互相不了解的故事。

冀望大家多了解、多溝通，家庭生活多一點温馨。

Chinese articles, Uncategorized

婆婆的一滴眼淚

experiencetoday

有一段時間，沒有參加探望長者的活動。香港的夏天炎熱，加上濕度高，平日多留在有冷氣的地方，故此在３３度高温下做運動、行山或長時間走路真的不容易，尤其是今年夏天，有數天高達３６度，美國和歐洲多國更升温至４０多度。熱力在石屎地上吸收後反射，蒸氣除除向上湧上，陣陣熱氣逼人，真的叫人有點難受。

幸好的是，那個周末早上下雨，還有一點點風，感恩的是義工們都可以在長者鄰舍中心等候，我和另一位義工到長者家探訪，長者都把冷氣開了，最後一位長者只在門前短暫碰面，這次探訪總算是個愉快的經驗。跟我一起探訪的義工是一位學生，初次嘗試探訪，我佩服她的勇氣。

與以前的探訪有別之處的是，我們代捐贈者把超市禮卷送給她們，更鼓勵她們與我們同行一同購物。

最終，有一位長者換了衣服，去惠康買東西，真的估計不到的是，她們都愛喝咖啡。一盒即沖咖排和兩條廚房紙，再加冷鮮魚，便100元。她在超巿遇見朋友，十分高興。

我也看到她眼裡有淚光，我的心感到十分温暖。我常常對長者說，多謝她們陪伴我。父母對每個人都十分重要，當他倆離開時，我的內心有時感到空虛，對父母的懷念仍在，有時看到長者高興地運動和聚在一起，我為他們感到高興，探訪他們更給我與老相伴的感覺，多了一份陪伴感覺，她們衷心和善意的感激，也給我一份暖意。

Chinese articles

瓶栽

experiencetoday

最後初級園藝班的一課很是有趣。由上一課到園圃觀賞開始，由於臨近買花的花園街，同學自然組合，一同去買植材、苔蘚、網紋草和玻璃瓶等。每人花費約60多元。我組決定不選多肉植物，我比較喜歡有草的植物，花不太適宜入瓶，因為需要多一點陽光。

我跟兩位同事一同購物，其實是為連同我四位同學實習堂作好準備。我平日座位旁邊的年輕輕男同學不見了，原來他患上心肌炎，幸好，他出院了，他帶著小玻璃樽上課。我們鼓勵他與另一位較年長的同學合作，給她一些植材的費用，大家一同創作，好好享受做手作的快樂時光。

上課時，我已有一定概念，就是有一頭小貓，在白色的小石路，周邊有紋網草陪伴著，相信貓會十分喜歡這個凉快的環境。

我的玻璃瓶約15寸，11寸高，比較矮身，植物不應高過瓶口，故此是有一定限制，但總算有一定的創作空間。

底層是一些排水性良好性的沙石。我們買了蛭石，內部氣孔多，保水性好、熱傳導能力較小。有同學用一些較大的石子作底層。老師建議很薄的一層便可以，大概2mm吧，但需視乎瓶的高度，然後放了約5-8cm的培養土，最好不要買有充足養份的土壤，但大部分現有的土壤添加了養份，盡量吧！

再用筷子幫助網紋草入土，但要分隔一點，我也向旁邊的同事取了一小撮草本綠草，不知道什麼名字，但矮細，點綴植物真是一流，加了苔蘚和白石後，感到有點不足，最後還是厚著面皮，向同事再拿一點苔蘚。老師自製的器具很有用，可以壓住泥土，讓植物較穩固。玻璃瓶背面位置，我加了一些蛭石，令白色不至於太耀眼。我十分喜歡這個作品。雖然老師較欣賞兩位男同學的作品，但許多同學也前來拍照。

有同學準備作一個海灘，回家後準備放一些藍色的裝飾石。

我們四個同學玩得開心極了，大家先來一張合照。這個瓶栽與別不同。花園街售賣的都是密麻麻，但我們所選的瓶子是各自選購，會讓植物多一點空間長大一點點。

冷天時，可以把瓶子蓋上，保温吧！

澆水從旁邊慢慢加水，排水層濕透便可以。

我真的希望他可以陪伴我。不過，現在學會了，也可以隨時創作，

Chinese articles

挑一份能愉快的工作

experiencetoday

一位同事跟我說上司的改變，或許她對下屬的期望很高，但又出手很低，形成落差。

事實上，除了一位副經理，我們都只拿取微薄的薪金，低於全港人工的中位數，然而我們默默做著的工作和質素，已經是超班了。

她以甜食攻勢，差不多每個月，都給我們同事一些甜吃，大概是希望我們多留一點。

回想過來，我畢業後的工作的短時期緊張，但很開心，同事早上一起打球，下午回報館開工。下班後，也會不時去吃宵夜，無憂無慮，直至某報館的一班高層進駐，令財副組的同事都不想久留。

是的，生活和工作總有變數，我讀書時學習新聞是公正，我也算是一個直正的人，不希望向這些壞勢力低頭，我們全組人都陸續離去，不感可惜。

年輕時，輕輕的人走了，沒有包袱，沒有憂傷，只是隨心而活，隨心而工作，也沒有怕這些惡人的不是，只是怕被人追求。

年輕不𢤦得如何對待追求者，我好像要上一課，學習戀愛和相處。

今天，我順著心意，愛我的人沒有太投入，總是忙著工作和其他事，也在遠方，學習跟其他人和朋友享受時光吧！我把我的愛給予長者和值得交往的友伴，感覺舒服多了。

English articles

Glastonbury Festival

experiencetoday

Glastonbury Festival never popped up on my Youtube until I was rickrolled one day. 

It is not the good old Rick Astley singing “Never gonna give you up” in his original cheesy music video like 30 years ago, but his live performance at Glastonbury Festival 2023. 

I clicked the start button right away. My eyes were immediately drawn to him standing tall in his pale pink suit on stage. It was his first appearance at the Festival, and the audience adored him. His signature tune gained momentum with his strong stage presence. Two dancers led easy dance steps, joined by ordinary security in front, making the live show more engaging. 

There are no signs of ageing on his face. He is no longer a young lad but a mature performer whose performance blew the roof off the joint. His renditions of Smiths’ songs are so memorable that I played them night after night like a lullaby. 

Rick retired from the music industry for a long time until a young man found his music video so cheesy that he decided to mock it. To everyone’s surprise, the “Never Gonna Give You Up” song became viral. As a result, the record company relaunched the official music video to ensure that people rickrolled to it. Rick’s name is no longer unknown in the universe, and his fame is bigger than ever.  

Despite no control over Rickrolling, Rick’s music career is back. He was invited and paid for appearances at events and festivals. He was interviewed on talk shows, and music magazines, sharing his Rickroll experiences. 

Rick sang in the noon time slot at Glastonbury, and to his surprise, was welcomed by a big crowd. His performance was outstanding and named the most impressive performance at the Festival.

English articles

A love story during Lockdowns

experiencetoday

Modern dating has changed all the old-school rules. When I meet someone during my travels, I cannot figure out where the relationship is heading. During my travels, I became confused about friends’ “chemistry” as chemistry may simply be a need for closeness and happiness.

Nowadays, with instant messaging tools, I have plenty of time to wait and see how the relationship develops. I am happy to let time decide.

Many say married couples have trouble during lockdowns. They interacted less with friends and colleagues but stayed in a confined environment. Stress was built up over time.

Imagine a young girl and an energetic man who start dating and decide to travel together on their third date from New York to Costa Rica. Both say yes to low-fare tickets. What a promotion! The plane was almost empty on its way to a holiday destination. It was March 2020, and everyone knew why the plane was empty.

The pair had plenty of fun in Costa Rica, but their return flight was postponed by the airline. They felt stuck in a hotel, so they moved to a B&B where they could enjoy cooking, swimming in a private pool, or relaxing on the beach. Unfortunately, their return flight was unforeseen due to the pandemic situation.

Their dates have become infinite. Both of them knew they should stick together until they reached home. Awkward feelings arose when the pair had to spend day and night together in an unfamiliar place. They used up all the topics they could discuss.

A month later, the pair decided to circle around Costa Rica and forgot about their bills during the road trip. The rental car was dragged diagonally into a bog. If no car passed by, they could have starved to death in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, it is a friendly country. The villagers pulled the car out of the bog with all their strength, regaining freedom.

Their adventure was documented by the guy’s social media stories, which caught the media’s attention. An online interview was followed by an interview, and the guy suddenly told the press that he was in a relationship with a girlfriend. It caused confusion as “the pair” were not a real couple. They spent happy times together. They let their guard down and lived like a couple. However, they never discussed their relationship.

A few days later, the flight was called off. The government arranged a chartered flight to pick up citizens back home. They felt it was a definite chance to get back to reality.

So, how was this relationship going to evolve? Yes, they continued dating and moved in together. A happy ending.

Interested? Enjoy popcorns and this Netflix movie with your loved ones.

English articles

Sweden beat Finland in Eurovision

experiencetoday

Eurovision fans in the UK reacted the same as football fans. Every time Sweden is awarded 12 points by the jury, the fans screamed out “Cha Cha Cha”. Their support for the Finnish song was evident. If the Finnish song won, that would make history as the song is written in Finnish.

Finland has participated in Eurovision 56 times but only won the trophy once with the English song, “Hard Rock Halleluja” in 2006. Käärijä’s song “Cha Cha Cha” is in Finnish. Though it’s not the typical jury favourite, the song is dancy and memorable, and the staging is superb. This boosts our energy for 3 minutes and the rest of the day.

Besides, the contestants’ personalities count. Although Käärijä struggles with his English, he is cheerful, open, and sometimes awkward in his way. Käärijä is extremely friendly and approachable. He connects with other artists, Eurovision fan channel hosts, and his fans. Everyone enjoys his videos and shorts which have become viral and influential.

He apologized for not winning the contest. His result demonstrated that it’s not necessary to write a song in English for excellent results in a competition. It is just Loreen who is so famous and an iconic figure in the song contest. She has equally many fans and won the juries’ hearts.

The jury can be a balance of fans’ choices as many ethnic songs have their beauty but are not appreciated by fans. Jury votes are controversial. Nordic countries are more likely to vote for neighbouring countries. Eastern European countries are doing the same, but that may be affected by culture and music taste. Neither jury nor televote can be 100% fair.

Expanding the voting to the rest of the world is a smart move to involve more stakeholders to say what songs they like. However, voting is not free. The organiser wants contributions and states that it’s a way to avoid spam and manipulation. Despite that the audience can vote for as many as 20 participants, very few people prefer to spend that money supporting many entries.

Käärijä should still be proud of his achievement, coming home with first runner-up honours. It is the second-best result Finland has ever achieved and the most successful Finnish song entry ever.

After the grand finale, some more Eurovision commentary videos will help get over the sadness.

Till next year 🙂

English articles

The “Yellow” sun

experiencetoday

It was winter 2003 when I entered the Tate Modern Museum. A sun that was so close, so gigantic, and so warm surprised me.

I watched the latest documentary on Netflix – Abstract: The Art of Design, in which the artist of this weather project Olafur Eliasson explained the power of “yellow” which he used in his installation “The Weather Project”. It featured a huge, glowing yellow sun mounted on the museum ceiling. Surrounding the sun was a misty haze that relaxed me. That was exactly what I saw in the museum at the time. How lucky I was.

I could not say it was sunset or sunrise. But the experience was so intense that the sun warmed my body and soul no matter how cold the outdoor temperature was. I happily lied down on the floor with my friend and many others, focusing and enjoying the calm moment. I could not think of a more wonderful thing better than the unreal sun. It is close but safe. It is big but not too bright.

I could have stayed there for hours if I did not have a busy schedule. “Is that modern art?” I wondered at the time. I don’t think it’s so abstract that it’s unapproachable. Contemporary art can penetrate our normal everyday lives and become part of our daily experience.
With meditation becoming popular, I will say meditation under this sun art should be an ideal experience.

English articles

The Coronation

experiencetoday

Today is the big day for the Brits. King Charles has been crowned and Camilla is now Britain’s crowned Queen after the grand ceremony. Despite the tragic memories we still have of Princess Diana, there is no doubt that the King and Queen are such a special couple. They are friends, soul mates, and they have loved one another for decades. 

The last coronation in the UK was 70 years ago. I was not born yet and I remembered the days Hong Kong was a British colony. Many things carried the royal symbol, so I was nostalgic watching the coronation procession tonight. 

There was boundless excitement on the day. The King and Queen are definitely in high spirits and look gorgeous in white elaborate outfits. The young Prince Louis at 5 stole hearts with his cute expression in a carriage and waving to people on the balcony. 

I could not see Harry among the royals on the balcony. Somehow I found it a blessing, and it’s even more comforting not seeing Meghan attending the ceremony. 

So many guards were involved in the procession. The tall black fur hat elongates the guard’s body. The red tunic and gold buttons make them so classic that they can be easily recognized from a distance. I saw similar guard outfits in Canada during national day events. Today, the celebration in the UK was so massive that it created a joyous atmosphere for Brits and older generations like me living in Hong Kong. 

It is so delightful that I forgive how much money the royals spent on every ridiculous thing that made the celebration so remarkable and memorable. Yes, that costs a fortune. There is no doubt that it has brought great delight to people around the world. 

Now the national anthem has been changed to “God saves the Queen” from “God saves the King”. The coronation proves that the British monarchy will be unharmed for at least the next 10 years.

English articles

Sweden’s pop song formula

experiencetoday

What made artists enroll in Eurovision again and again?

Loreen, the previous solid Eurovision winner, may retake the trophy in 2023. While I personally wish for either Spain or Italy to win, the chances are slim. Euphoria is such a Eurovision all-time hit and Loreen has become an iconic Eurovision star. She looks amazing with a perfect body and a likable personality. Her well-established reputation can easily influence juries and appeal to fans. Her latest song Tattoo does not surprise me and sounds like a formula-made pop song.  

Italian Eurovision songs are always deeper and richer, both in their sound and lyrics. The Spanish entry embeds traditional folk sounds in pop, so distinctively different that the artist may not win public votes. 

Over the years, several singers participated in Eurovision multiple times. 

Irish singer Johnny Logan won Eurovision in 1980 with “What’s Another Year”, and again in 1987 with “Hold Me Now”. He also wrote the winning song for Linda Martin in 1992. Eurovision turned him into an internationally known artist. 

Alexander Rybak represented Norway in 2009 and won the contest with his song “Fairytale” in high energy. But his entry “That’s How You Write a Song” in 2018 sounded naive. With respectable results, he remained the fans’ favorite. 

Corry Brokken and Udo Jurgens have also won the contest twice. If Loreen wins again, people may change their opinions on Sweden’s pop song formula.

English articles

Staging

experiencetoday

Eurovision rehearsals continue. I hate that Tiktok got the exclusive snippets, we have zero access in Hong Kong. Luckily some fans uploaded those snippets to other channels. 

The stage consists of a huge structure, highly engineered, and automated. It is like a “dream come true” platform where highly creative work is made possible with LEDs, lighting, and enormous backstage manpower support. 

The moving staging enables the performance of the song with diverging backgrounds. An upbeat song is made more energetic by the silhouette of the artist on stage. A white seashell mimics a cocoon where a singer is awakened by a strong dance beat. Golden, tight, shimmering jumpsuits gives an unexpectedly fresh look to the young band. 

That is Eurovision’s amazing part. I once desired to be part of the team if I had stayed in the production field many years ago. Sadly, the pandemic put many production houses dormant or even destroyed them.  

The first Eurovision rehearsal has just begun. Snippets of the performance were revealed on Tiktok, showing the artists’ costumes as well as the artists’ costumes, dance moves, and staging.

We, the fans, try to get hints of how the performance will look on all channels, and how the influencers feel about the rehearsals. 

Eurovision audiences do not only judge the song by the quality of the voices, but by the energy, the melody, the high notes, and the lyrics. However, many times, the dance steps or backdrops are so memorising that can surprise us a lot. 

Sometimes I was surprised by the fact that I like  Gen-Z songs like “Breaking my heart” by Reiley, and “Samo mi se spava” by Luke Black, but then I gradually open up to songs with ethnic elements like “EAEA” by Blanca Paloma and “Soarele şi Luna” by Pasha Parfeni. It didn’t happen at all a few years ago.

This year’s Eurovision will be unpredictable due to the unknown nature of the jury votes till the grand final. Songs that are more artistic may have been eliminated in the first round already. 

Will global public voting affect the result? Although the song contest will be broadcast outside Europe, fans may not be motivated to vote for the artists. 

Will that be less obvious because of unfair jury voting? Let’s hope we won’t see Greece and Cyprus exchange the douze points again this year.

English articles

Eurovision

experiencetoday

April is always a great month with holidays and Eurovision pre-parties. Early to mid-May is the highlight of the month. This music event is the biggest of all kinds and has given me excitement for years. It is more than a music competition, but a visual presentation of original songs. It celebrates alternative cultures. Many singers, groups, and bands try to convey deep and meaningful messages in their songs – self-love, female power, being confident to be yourself, and the hardship of being artists without insurance or being ripped off. Staging is massive with a week of rehearsals.

This takes up a lot of valuable time for artists to take part in. Hence, not many established artists want to spend so much time participating. It can be very frustrating if a well-known artist does not win the competition.

With the change in the voting system this year, the two semi-finals will solely be decided by public votes, not only by those in the participating countries but for the first time by audiences around the world. Job well done! That’s really a major change. Eventually, the results could be a shock for many people.

The competition is more or less back to normal after the pandemic. No COVID rules, no restrictions on the number of audiences. The complete ambience is back! The official Eurovision organiser creates a lot of interesting content. I personally like the artists’ top 5 picks of their favourite songs in history, say, it’s natural for an Icelandic singer to pick a few past Icelandic entries, or Mimicat, a Portuguese singer, to select Portuguese songs in her Top 5. A few participants chose their own songs to be in the Top 5 as part of their promotion strategy.

Another fantastic official interview series is about the artists’ favourite pictures. Not a bad one. I like how the producer kept the interviews short, spontaneous, and to the point. After all, there are almost 40 entries. Information can be overloaded and repetitive these days with photo galleries, video clips, social media clips, youtube clips, shorts, and interviews on tik tok, youtube, and official platforms.

Staged in Liverpool, this year’s Eurovision is particularly welcoming, friendly, and accessible. Maybe there aren’t any language barriers, maybe it seems to be supported by a famous King and Queen. The world has returned to “normal”.

It is unbelievable how much delegations have devoted their energy to promoting their artists and getting exposure on social media. Checking out videos can be fun. For example, Käärijä, the rapper from Finland, shows off his unique personality in the video about what to pack for Eurovision. Some of the dance steps were revealed a bit before rehearsals.

The event is extremely competitive. I would like to see if the number of views of individual videos reflects the semi-final results.

Stay tuned!