Hi I'm Tony and I'm a workaholic.

Thanks to Michael Quach, I was able to find a job in the office last week. It's a software development firm, which is nice, since I'm actually doing something related to my major now.

I didn't want to quit my job at the sushi place so I'm now holding two jobs.
It's funny how I get to find jobs so easily while actual Canadians are having trouble finding work. I would feel a sense of guilt but I'm a workaholic who doesn't have time to reflect on petty emotions now.

Here's my daily routine:
I leave for work at 8:35AM, spend the day testing the program. My job as a tester is to break the program and find every single tiny bug in there. And when I run out of things to find, maybe I can finally do some messing around with the code, which is so much more fun. Yes, programming is fun for me. They use vb.net btw.

And then at 5:00PM I leave to hurry to the sushi place, where I now cut lettuce, onions, 茄子, zukinis, lobsters, and the like. I also burn my hand with 120 °C oil while making tempura. Did you know we tear lobsters in half while they are alive? It makes them more fresh. They can actually stay alive for a minute or two in that state, pretty intense. Anyways, we close up and eat dinner at 11PM. And then I finally get to go home, arriving around 11:15PM. So that was Monday through Wednesday. It seems 14 hours isn't enough stress (I'm conducting a stress test on my self to see how much I can handle, refer to this blog post), I wonder how much my body can take before it breaks down... I'm going to ask my sushi boss to give me more night shifts.

This comic would be more accurate if there's a kitchen scene.

I feel like I have so much time today since I only worked one job. So I calculated and I'm making quite a bit of money, I like it. :D There really aren't any workaholics in this world, just people who either need or love money, or both. Why would you do nothing when you can make money? I have 16 hours a day if I count 8 hours of sleep. So I'm wasting 2 hours not making money every day!

PS. I'm not completely serious here. I won't kill myself, don't worry. I am working a lot now though...

My Epiphany

*tongue in cheek warning*
I was running late for Colluni fellowship the other day since we ate dinner late. I was still dressed in my sloppy-stay-at-home attire I had to change real quick. I started to put on my jeans and a random t-shirt. And that's when I realized:

"I need to take a dump."

I stood there for 30 seconds contemplating whether I should go to the bathroom or just hold it in. I decided to go take care of business for safety's sake. And then I did something I have never done in my entire life. I don't know why it has never even occurred to me or why no one I know has done it. This is what I did:

I put on my socks as I took a dump.

Yes, they were happening simultaneously, beautifully coinciding with one another, perfectly matching in rhythm. It's as if they were destined to be done together, a holy matrimony made in heaven. And then it felt like I heard an angelic chorus and a bright light shone on me. I reached an epiphany.

Nothing is impossible, all you have to do is imagine it and you can do it. The oddest of oddities can shatter the weirdest of impossibilities if only one would try it, despite "it" possibly being the vainest of vanities. What matters is removing the limit. And after doing so, you might just achieve something you previously thought to be unachievable... like putting on socks while taking a dump.

超人的夢境

我最近幾天都夢到一些奇奇怪怪的東西

像昨晚我夢到我是個世界級名廚, 去參加頒獎典禮

然後主持人介紹一個小孩子獻致詞

小孩上台竟然開始傳道, 而且還講的令所有人都啞口無言

講到最後他卻突然逼我們全部人都寫一張卡片給我們喜歡的人, 要馬上透過這張紙跟她/他告白

我看身邊的人都很聽話的開始寫, 有些人寫滿整張紙有些人只寫 suki desu

但每個人臉上都充滿笑容, 寫完把卡放進信封寄出去

我發現原來喜歡一個人是多麼幸福的一件事

但當我正要寫的時候一個女生突然出現說喜歡我

天啊! 怎麼會這樣!? 我那時心裡想的是另外一個人耶!

頓時我一大群朋友出現說要去打敗傳說中的大魔王

而且我喜歡的女生也在, 但她在吃火鍋, 我心就想怎麼那麼貪吃啊小姐?

後來好像有發生很多事, 我們也在魔王的城堡探險很久

而且很奇怪的我身邊只剩那個我喜歡的女生

而且我們竟然連武器都沒有, 我的白金盾呢? 我的炎龍劍呢!? 明明是我自己的夢我竟然那麼弱, 不甘心...

Anyways, 我們在城堡開始牽起手來 (因為有位拿者超大菜刀的瘋廚師開始追殺我們)

好害羞喔~ 這就是傳說中的RPG戀愛嗎!?

而且還是十指緊扣喔~

印象中她的手好小好細, 我都怕一不小心就弄傷她的手

但我還是握的很緊 (因為瘋廚師還在後面)

加上我不想放開, 我不想放掉這麼難得的機會
不對啊, 身為一位勇者她手應該不會太細才對, 算了, 夢畢竟還是夢...

後來我就醒來了

還沒存檔耶... 這樣我下次沒辦法從那裡繼續... 真可惜

Quality Control

It always seems that more Chinese readers read what I write anyways, so screw English... at least for now.

最近一直在工作, 一天12小時的在日本餐廳努力賺錢
下禮拜如果萬事順利了話會更忙
嗯, 太好了, 我想知道我自己到底能被操到什麼程度
這就是所謂的product stress test 吧
如果不去測試一個產品所能承受的psi, 它能持續運作多久, 以及其他品質控制會做的種種,
產品的最高效能就不會被提升, 客人也有可能不會滿意...

這就是我想把自己搞到累垮的原因, 但看來stress還不夠...
我這樣的思考模式會很怪嗎? (No, 我不希望你回答)
我這樣做是為了提升自己, 不是masochistic (我知道有人一定會這樣說我)
真的, 請相信我

嗯...
I will cut better, I will cut better, I will cut better...

昨天去考加拿大的駕照, 一次考上! Muahahaha
楓葉卡也在幾天前拿到, 醫療卡也去申請了
我身上屬於加拿大的ID已遠遠超過台灣了

In other news, at small group and fellowship yesterday, we talked about how to serve in a greater capacity.
In order to serve better, one has to be put in a position where one has the need. This further illustrates my long time view of how leaders are grown, not born. If you want to lead, put yourself in a position to do so and God will do the rest. If you don't have God in your life and the Holy Spirit leading it, ask yourself why and what you are missing out on.

啊! 我昨天做了很奇怪的夢, 下次在寫吧

New Uniform + Random Happenings

So we got new uniform at work a few days back.

Oh, for those that don't know yet, I've started to work a while back (almost right after I got my social insurance number). I work in the kitchen at this Japanese restaurant, the type that sells sushi, udon, and other miscellaneous Japanese food. I'm officially working as part-time even though I'm putting in full time hours. I think this allows the owner to not buy me insurance or something. Hope I don't lose a finger anytime soon, I already have a crack in my nail from bad cutting.

Speaking of cutting, I have never cut this many carrots, cabbage, potatoes, etc. in my life. And yet I still suck at it... I don't think I'm THAT slow, it's just that those guys are way too fast. According to "shifu", I'm only gonna cook when I get better at cutting.

Anyways, we got new uniform yesterday. It's this white jacket with black buttons and black sleeves. With this we actually look like chefs in a hotel as opposed to mere kitchen workers in a small restaurant. The black lower apron didn't change, but no one can see that anyways. Oh, one thing I should mention, I'm still wearing the "trainee" uniform, which sucks. It's not like I can't cook, he just won't let me, at least not the "hard stuff". If you come at lunch though, I make the easy stuff and you can try it.

On an unrelated note, a few of us from church went on a retreat last weekend. We hung out, played foosball half-watched two movies, went to the pool, and discussed predestination. Fun stuff. Hard to swallow at times, but awe-inspiring nonetheless. Oh, I heard Tears in Heaven on the guitar again on the retreat, so it's not just Conan who plays it... After going home and practicing, now I can play it too.

Side note: My dad hurt his lower back/hip a few days ago (閃到腰). I just got off work and saw him on the floor, apparently he could not even move. From his contorted figure, I could tell he was in agonizing pain. He's better now, but pray for him. He also audibly prayed to God for the first time, that's pretty sweet.

工作心得

為什麼沒有男性絲襪?
男生需要站一整天腳就不會酸是嗎?
化妝品啊, 假睫毛也是, 適合新新都市男孩的假睫毛勒?
我並不是想用, 但我希望至少可以有選擇...
男女根本一點都不平等嗎...

最近開始在一家日本料理店工作, 而且在廚房, 以後我廚藝會大大增進吧 :D
我發現站一整天真的會累, 大概是我從來沒有站那麼久沒休息過吧
12小時有點違法吧...
回家時小腿超硬的, 我覺得可以去跟大理石比

嗯, 累歸累但我還學習到蠻多的
這是一些我和師父的對話:

他: 你切太粗了, 很醜啊. 小心點, 慢慢來
我: 喔, sorry
他: 動作太慢了, 在餐館業要動作很快的...
我: sorry
OS: 我沒辦法像你一樣快狠準, 對不起我那麼沒用 T T

他: 刀子和你又沒有仇, 不要那麼用力, 這樣刀很容易壞的
我: 喔, 好的
下次劈魚頭時...
他: 不要用兩隻手, 用力就好
我: 我... 切... 不動
他: 哎呀, 長那麼高大是幹麼的... 像這樣
師父很man的示範單手劈超硬的魚頭

他: 你有沒有兄弟姊妹啊?
我: 有, 一個哥哥
他: 我們距離越來越遠了
我: 但我有很多表姊表妹
他: 我們距離又變近了

師父我會加油的... 雖然好累...
被罵是正常, 被罵是為了要成長, Tony你沒有那麼沒用, 要有自信點
Tony你不會被打敗的, 你切的菜沒有那麼醜... 這都是學習過程
Tony你真的沒有師父說的那麼沒用, 相信自己, believe... fighting!

之前是早上十一點到晚上十一點, 雖然closing完都十二點多了... 回到家也不知道幾點了...
還有昨天因為洗碗的沒來所以我沒有休息的洗了六個鐘頭的碗, 我的手要爛掉了~

現在師父說我晚上幫不上忙 (晚上菜還不讓我做, 中午也不太會其實), 所以幾乎都是五點就下班了, 除了特別忙的幾天
這樣我晚上就有空去starbucks工作摟... 趕快找...

PS. 師父跟我要台灣女生的照片, 我手機就那幾張所以就選了XXX的照片給他看
請原諒我, 師父逼的

I'll semi-translate this later...

Who am I?

I am Tony.
I used to be an international student in Canada but as of yesterday I have become a permanent resident, which means I'm a local student... I think.
I like eating, sleeping, playing, and thinking. Je pense, donc je suis.
I seem to have an affinity for languages; besides the myriad of computer languages in my arsenal, I know a few other "common" languages.
While it may seem like a blessing, often it confuses me. It changes who I am.

從小就生活在多文化的環境中: 東亞, 東南亞, 印度, 北美, 歐洲, 澳洲, 大家都有好多不同的特徵.
有時候發現自己融合了他們的眾多習性會讓我微微一笑.
像我這"gentleman"的個性 (可以叫個性嗎?) 是到台灣才發現我擁有的, 幫別人開門拿東西應該很普通啊! 一定是現在台灣年輕人太以自我為中心了...

腓2:4."不要自私自利，也不要貪圖虛榮，只要謙卑，看別人比自己強"

如果全世界的人都這樣多好...

Peut-être je devrais utiliser fraçais aussi. On pense que je parle français couramment après tout. Malheureusement, par rapport à mon anglais, je suis comme un bébé en français, un gros bébé asiatique... qui pese environ 65kg... J'adore les bébés.

That proves it, I am completely different when I think in different languages. The question is, who do I like the most? No, who do people like the most? Actually, who does God find the most pleasing?
I cannot be multiple persons, I cannot make everyone happy. What one person can understand another can't. So does that mean I translate everything I write? Do I ignore my uni-lingual friends and write in Chinese or do I use English even though that means a big majority of my writings will be either skipped over or misunderstood. I don't mean to show off or piss anyone off, but it's hard to stay in one language... It's like I phase in and out of different worlds constantly...

我真的希望我世界各地的朋友都可以看的懂我寫的每一篇文章, 但這好像不太可能發生. Tower of Babel 真的是好事嗎?
當然我也希望全世界的人都可以信主, 看到祂的真實, 接受祂的禮物... 但這種想法太天真了嗎?
現實難道真的就是要拋棄一樣東西才可以擁有另外一樣嗎?
我不放下台灣就沒辦法好好在加拿大生活嗎?
他們到結婚生子又闖了一番事業才肯回台灣是他們的事, 其實這已經不叫做"回台灣"了, 這變成"去台灣度假".

I don't want to wait until I'm old to go back to Taiwan. I have food to taste, places to visit, girls to meet, people to save...
I love Taiwan. I love the people there... especially those I know... and some more than others.
The same goes for my friends here, which means I am again stuck between two worlds.

This probably makes no sense to most of you even if you can read all of it...
我自已都不太懂自己要什麼...
至少我有一個固定在耶穌裡不會改變的身份. I am His ambassador. 我是祂的兒子.