Xiamen kudos

I like Xiamen. Had an excellent first impression just a few days ago. Flew to Xiamen from HK to speak at a conference on service-learning at Jimei University, together with 2 other colleagues. Our plane departed and landed without incident. Passed through immigration quickly. We had no checked-in luggage. So we came out quickly. The host university sent a young lady professor and a car to pick us up. So far so good. 

As soon as we got into the car, before we even exit the carpark, I felt something was not right. I was missing my small (airplane) bag! A bag I use to carry things that I need in a plane: a book, a tiny pencil case-sized bag containing SIM cards, USB flash memory, some cash, pens, earphones, a copy of my passport, … which I place in the seat pocket in front of me. When we landed, I must have left it in the seat pocket in the rush to get off the plane. 

I alerted my companions. They acted very quickly. The driver turned around and within minutes, dropped us off at the entrance to the airport, where he picked us up. The lady professor called the airport. She must have the relevant phone number at hand.  As we re-entered the airport, she had apparently already established contact with the right people who had the information.  I was greatly surprised that they seemed to have found it. They were asking about the contents in the bag: cash? What currency? Any IDs? … 

Just about 50 meters inside the terminal, we found the Lost and Found. And they had my bag. They quickly verified that I was the owner - I could name everything in it, and my name matched the IDs in it. Within minutes, we were back in the car and on our way to the university.  

I am, and we all are, so impressed. By the airline staff that found it and quickly turned it in, the airport system that transferred it to Lost and Found so quickly, the lady professor who had the relevant numbers at hand and connected to the Lost and Found so quickly, the driver who delivered us back at the entrance so quickly, the staff at the Lost and Found who handled things so professionally, my colleagues who were so calm and reassuring throughout. The quick action. The professionalism. The efficiency. The cheerfulness throughout. 

I like Xiamen already!

Audubon Zoo

Some people feel animals should not be locked up. Hence the zoo should be abolished. But a zoo is one way where ordinary people can come to see and study exotic animals in person.  Without it only a small number of rich and privileged people would be able to do so.  It is not a back and white issue, but a balance between a number of honourable objectives.  The Audubon Zoo is one of those [;aces where the animals seem to be treated reasonably well, housed in fairly large spaces that resemble to some degree to their natural habitat.  

Upon entering Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, visitors are entertained by these dancing flamingoes.  They seem to be moving, posing continually, in close proximity.  Sometimes it is not easy to figure out which legs form a pair, or which head and neck belongs to which body and legs. Are they being awkward?  Or actually elegant?  Should I learn to dance from them?

A siamang turns his head to look at us, without bothering to turn his body around.  Perhaps because we are far away across the pond. Is he interested in us?  Or just being alert to potential danger?

A low-land gorilla lies in a hanging, swing bed.  Contemplating a twig in its hand.  Many of us probably have done something similar.  Or would love to do the same.  Now another gorilla approaches.  The first one quickly vacates the swing bed, which the approaching gorilla takes over immediately in one move, without hesitation.  The second gorilla presumably ranks higher in their social hierarchy.  This behaviour is so familiar among humans, isn’t it?

A leopard states at us, through the wire mesh fence.  What would happen if there were no fence?

The yawning tiger, on the other hand, is definitely bored.  He is probably thinking: When will I be able to jump across the moat, and climb that wall, to reach those people who are staring at me all the time?

The lions - father, mother, and almost-fully-grown children, - are right there in your face. Separated only by a piece of glass.  The lions know it.  We also know it.  We can pretend to touch them, comparing paws.

A giraffe and a zebra stroll past each other, seemingly imitating each other, except that they are in opposite directions.  Do they do that on purpose?  Perhaps, being fed well and not having to look out for predators, this is how they pass the time and entertain themselves?

Those wild boars, with everybody calling them “pumba”, have very nice brown coats.  Quite different from the more common grey, fierce-looking ones  These almost look cuddly.  Probably not in reality?

A tortoise tries to escape from an enclosure.  But it seems hopeless.  It should know it too.  Why is it still trying?  Maybe it is not so impossible after all?  Perhaps it is just forgetful?

The racoon seems busy, scanning the ground seemingly looking for something to steal.  It looks sneaky, ready to pounce anytime, slim fingers eager in waiting..  Funny to watch though.  

Alligators seemingly just float in the pond, randomly.  As soon as someone drops a morsel that could be food, everybody springs into action.  We are not supposed to feed the animals. Perhaps nobody told the child who dropped it.  Perhaps he doesn’t care?

The animals here seem healthy, well-fed, fairly happy, and ready to engage.  If there has to be a zoo, it should look somewhat like this.  

IARSLCE 2026 New Orleans

The international conference on Service-Learning is the reason why I am in New Orleans at this time.  IARSLCE is International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement, which runs a flagship international conference each year, since 2001.  The majority of the annual conferences are in the USA.  In recent years, they have also been held in other countries, including Ireland and South Africa. 

The majority of the participants this year, similar to past conferences held in the USA, are from the USA.  Approximately 15 countries and regions are represented.  A dozen coming from Asia-Pacific, a handful each from Europe, Africa and South America.  The financial and time costs associated with the long distance travel is likely a major reason why there are few international participants.  

Social justice and participatory research have been receiving quite a bit of attention in the IARSLCE community.  Others are continuously working hard to raise the quality of the research, and the participation of science and engineering disciplines. 

In the past several years, significant efforts are being made to internationalise IARSLCE.  To that end, there is now an Asia-Pacific Community of Practice (APCoP) as a group under the umbrella of IARSLCE.  APCoP has been organising its own regional conferences.  The IARSLCE main conference itself will also be in Hong Kong in 2027.  

New Orleans

I am here to attend a conference.  On service-learning.  Hence there isn’t much opportunity to do touristy things. Yet, a lot of interesting scenes present themselves.

Street cars, of course.  I can take the street car to and from the conference at Loyola University. 

Even watched a wedding parade from the street car!  What a pleasant surprise. And such fun. We cheered them from the street car.  They cheered back.  

Pumpkins and more pumpkins. 

Halloween decorations and the people who admire them. 

Big big oak trees.  

The city has character.

Fox in backyard

The sun was setting and the air was cool.  We were in my brother-in-law’s kitchen waiting for dinner.  Suddenly I saw something fuzzy in the backyard. Is it possible?  That fuzzy thing looks like a fox! The size of a medium sized dog, or big cat.  Pointed snout. Big ears. Big long bushy tail.  Those are the distinctive characteristics of a fox, aren’t they?

It seems to be looking for something. Poking its nose into the tall grass.  Rearing up on its hind legs and then plunging its two front paws into the grass.  As if trying to plunge through the earth to catch some little rodent underneath.  Behaviour I have seen animals  do in the snow, in documentaries.  

It continues strutting around for a good 10 minutes.  Then it disappeared into the distance.  

It was such great fun watching the fox.  A red fox, I believe.  In Metropolitan Toronto. 

  

My father's Cow Horn Art

My father made many wonderful things using cow’s horns, from the abattoirs.  Where he used to work on the machines first as a semi-skilled technical person, and later as a foreman. 

I believe he started simply by polishing them as decoration.  

Then as vase for plants and flowers.

Then as beautiful sharks.  Big open mouth, strong body, powerful fins, intricate patterns.  My favourite. 

Then sail boats with one sail, two sails, …

Then as multi-mast ocean going junks. 

He is my hero. Then, now and forever. He has been the inspiration for many things I do. 

Jogging in Toronto

North York in Toronto is a fairly good place for jogging. There are quite a few trails throughout. 

Yesterday I started at a random trail near Lawrence and Don Mills.

Continued onto the trail south of Edwards Garden.

Finally returning to the starting point. 

All along, so much colourful wild flowers.

Red, yellow, purple, green, …  Poison Ivy!

Little brooks, sandbanks, …

Perfect temperature.

Sunshine. 

So pleasant. Except that towards the end, all the entrance from the trail not Edwards Garden were blocked.  I had to scramble through bushes to get back onto the street. A little worried for a few minutes. 

Still a very enjoyable jog.