Above the Equator

I think I might have COVID again. Just before boarding SQ832 yesterday, I started feeling a sore throat coming on. Right away, I thought about the MOM’s email reminding all employers in Singapore to take steps to protect their employees from COVID. It’s true—cases have been on the rise lately in Singapore. Today marks the first day of the company’s global account manager meeting, but I’m feeling completely wiped out. It honestly feels like five knives are stabbing my throat, and I can barely keep my eyes open.

SQ832. After a five-hour flight from Singapore to Shanghai, I arrive in my second hometown once again. I spent 19 years in this city, starting with my first year at university and continuing until the strict COVID lockdowns. It was here that I met my wife, and by the time I left, we had two beautiful daughters. I have a deep affection for this city, although I find it challenging to connect with the country and its society. In my opinion, Shanghai has the most elegant atmosphere among all Chinese cities, largely due to its colonial history. In no other Chinese city can you find so many people who genuinely cherish freedom, in terms of both material enjoyment and spiritual enlightenment. However, I do not often see this in other places, even in my first hometown. Anyway, the first meal I had after landing was, of course, Reganmian, or “hot dry noodles.” That dish represents the taste of my first hometown and brings back fond memories of my childhood.

  The final exam at SMU wrapped up this morning! The two-hour-long “Advanced Obligations” exam turned out to be easier than I expected — I’d say it was quite manageable. I think I did reasonably well. With that, all the requirements for the LLM program are now complete. All that’s left is to wait for the final grades from my last two courses to be released. Today was also the SOTA (School of the Arts Singapore) Open House. Xara attended the event with great enthusiasm, arriving at 9:00 a.m. and staying until 2:00 p.m. It’s clear she’s genuinely interested in the school. I truly hope she gets the opportunity to be admitted.

  Shirakawa was precisely what I had in mind for Japan’s snow mountain. After seeing only city views in Singapore, it was overwhelming to be surrounded by such breathtaking beauty. I felt deeply grateful for bringing my family here to witness this incredible sight.

Every time I visit a castle in Japan, I am amazed at how completely all the ancient Chinese architecture has been destroyed. If historians were to study how these ancient buildings were destroyed, I would guess that there were three peak periods of destruction: 1 ） after the Mongols invaded China in the 13th century; 2) during the Qing dynasty, many Ming-ear structures were destroyed; and, 3) during the political movements initiated by the CCP in the 20th century. All of the above rulers tried to destroy the roots of Chinese civilization.

  Kanazawa Castle is an essential part of the city’s history. For over 280 years, it was the home of the Maeda family, which governed the Kaga Domain—present-day Ishikawa and Toyama.