xhu

Bird that Flies

Flying Bird
  
     A flight has departed from the airport. John sat in the corner at the departure gate with his notebook. The security guard was kind of annoying this morning, insisted to check his bags, he remembered. He looked out the window and saw the big Borne airplane at the gate, standing in there under the morning sunrise with its black shadow on the ground of the airport. He was excited, "America," he said to himself.

     At the shuttle stop, John waited with his luggage patiently. It is the second time he is here, the last time was the job interview. After the Chief Engineer completed the interview, John realized that he will likely have the job. And now, he is here, alone, himself. The shuttle arrived, John got in, paid the fare to the driver. He then found a seat and sat down quietly. He got excited. Newly here, he knew. It looked very different here from Canada, everything looks so different. Trees you can't name are around, different.

     Shuttle arrived in Berkeley, John came out with his luggage. He found a room from Canada a couple of days ago from the internet. He found the place and lived in. "Finally, I am here," he realized. After making a phone call home, he took a shower, and went out for dinner. After coming out of the restaurant, he walked on Berkeley street, he felt lonely. The street looked a little messy, lots of people walked by. He went into a coffee shop in the corner, bought a cup of coffee, found a seat. He looked around, "lots of people," he found. The stereo is playing Sarah McLachlan, the rhythm he is so familiar when he was still in school. He relaxed and listened, quietly, and tasted his coffee. He sat for a while and picked a local newspaper to read. "It's getting late," he figured after little while. He stood up and went back to his place.

     John started on the third day after his arrival. His American life had begun. Berkeley is a nice town east of San Francisco Bay. He lived not too far from the company. The neighborhood is nice, people are friendly. Every household's got a small front lawn. California is a dry place, grass does not grow very much here. Sunday after church, he walks back home, occasionally he can see people watering their lawn. Church is a good place to go. John is a Christian, every Sunday morning after getting up, he always walks to the corner on Main Street, purchases a cup of coffee, and then walks to the church. He learned a lot in the church.

     John is an Asian, and obviously, he is smart. A fresh university graduate starts his career in a new high-tech start-up company in the Valley, even though John has some high-tech experience in Canada, it is still rare here. John is a mid-sized guy with little fat around his belly. He has very good shape as he just turned thirty. He has pretty dark skin and looks kind of handsome. He is cheerful and bright in appearance. No one knows why, maybe only himself, he prefers to be alone lots of times, and, with his coffee. John loves coffee and tea, he drinks them all the time at work. When he has nothing to do at home, he always makes a cup of Nescafe, lights up a cigarette, then looks outside the window directly into the hills around the Valley. It is nice and quiet here at night, he thought, he is used to it already. John is near-sighted with a pair of old titanium-framed glasses from Canada on his eyes, but his mighty eyes always look intense, just like an eagle. John dresses pretty well among guys in the Valley, a Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt and a pair of Docker Khaki with casual shoes makes him feel good. He likes it this way, casual elegance, Canadians say. He is energetic, like all Valley people, working very hard. His enthusiasm and hard working always makes his boss think to prompt him some day. Of course, as a new bee, it means he is on the right track.

     One day after work, John drove to a nearby cigarette shop, smiling to the old woman, "a carton of American Spirit." The woman passed him the cigarettes. He paid her and thanked her and walked to his Chevrolet. While driving, he remembered his colleagues would have a party tonight. He went to the place and had some time with them. Never enjoy the party, on the way he drove back home, he thought. It is not that much fun, a couple of colleagues play around, some food and jokes, and teasing each other like all Americans do.

     John smokes a lot. Nearly a pack a day. It is not so easy to get Canadian cigarette in the Bay area. He still remembers once he got one pack of Players in a shopping mall, he was so glad. It is the best. John shops once or twice a week, fruits, wine, vegetables and meats, this or that, never very much. Dinner is ordered at work by the company, they just want to keep them working hard without wasting their time. He usually goes out for lunch, with or without his colleagues. Local Asian restaurants and occasionally American style hamburger or Mexican food was the sensation.

     Working is progressive. One afternoon, John walked to the printer picking up the drawing he sent to the printer, and walked back to his cubical. He turned into his computer, the drawing slipped away from his hand. He picked it up, and his eyesights were caught by his books on the shelf. Suddenly, he remembered a technician asked him for one of his books. It is kind of strange, they usually don't ask me for books, John thought. Anyway, he found the book, walked to the guy's cubical, gave it to him. Maybe the technician will find the principles of what he is working on.

     Life is like usual. Working, church and having some fun takes John's life. John likes to read. Sitting down with books and magazines in Starbuck in the weekend with a cup of coffee is his only luxury. They make him understand more things. John feels lonely sometimes, therefore he started to explore the Valley, mountains, parks and gardens. John likes Asian gardens very much. A tour to a local Japanese garden with Henry, a friend from church during cherry blossom season reminds him to go back there sometimes. John loves mountains and hills, mountains in Castro Rock makes him remember a trip to Yellow Mountain in central China, an unforgettable trip with his parents when he was in primary school, it was beautiful there. But in China, mountains are higher. John's parents are fine in Canada. He misses them sometimes. When John's mother visited him last time, he brought her to Santa Cruz, they had a very good time there. He still remembers the young maple trees in Santa Cruz, and, there are so many of them in the Valley. He misses Canada sometimes.

     Henry is an interesting guy. John went out with him a couple of times. Henry looks mature, a dark-red jacket and Khaki is his fashion. He works in a commercial company. John thinks he's got a sense as a business man because his way of talk reminds him of some business people he knows. There are many of them in the Valley. Henry is faithful.

     Business in the Valley is as good as usual, John found. Valley people walk in and out, drive back and forth. Busy. When the milestone, deadline and schedule are approaching, John's work is more and more important. He works harder and harder, this or that, like all Valley people. Sometimes he went out with his colleagues for a drink after work. John's colleagues talk a lot, John, he likes to listen. Sometime John talks too, always work related. When he is alone at home, he still makes a cup of Nescafe, sat in front of the windows, mountains in the Valley in the evening is beautiful.

John has a girl friend, Yuan. He met her in China in a vacation. Yuan is a pretty girl. They write and call each other very often after John went back to Canada. After John graduated from college and went to US for work, they are planning to get married. John had some experience with girls. Yuan is his second girlfriend, formally. There isn't much in relationship, John found. He is a little nervous about getting married. He worked hard for the money, because he will get married, sooner or later.  Yuan has a very strong Buddhist tend, John is a little worried. Maybe she can be converted to Christian, John thought.

My diary
Sunday, April 22, 2001
Rainy

I woke up in the early morning and went to the Japanese garden. It looked better when it rains. I drove there and walked around in the garden. If the teahouse had been open, tea ceremony would have been a joy. Trees and flowers are blooming, it was mid-spring. How is Canada now, he wondered. Was it in spring? My heart mumbled. I walked towards a bench, sat down and lighted a cigarette. Thoughts took me. How is she now? Soon getting married, what will she bring to me? What will I have for her? Will I love her forever? I don't know. I finished the cigarette and drove back.  

     Time goes by fast, it is near summer now. Work is like usual. Everything is like usual. John still goes to church twice a week, Sunday service and Friday night Bible study group meeting. He met lots of people in the church. Like most of the Mandarin speaking church in North America, there are people from Taiwan and Mainland China. John is originally from China, he became a Christian after two years he arrived at Canada. John knows lots of church people in Canada and US, most of them are from Taiwan. Last time when the cell group went to the BBQ in the central park, they had lots of fun. Playing some volleyball with these friends was a nice experience. John studied lots of Bible, he always tried hard. His spiritual life is pretty good. He felt it is better here in US than he was in Canada. Henry knows lots of Bible, and as well some other cell group leaders. Henry is three years younger than John. He is enthusiastic on things. After graduated from the graduate school from a state college, Henry found a job in the Valley. Last time when they visited a local rhododendron when Henry thanked Lord for his new career, John had a strange feeling that Henry may become one of them someday. John is impressed by his enthusiasm. Like other young people in the cell group, John likes azalea. Unlike others, water lilies grown in the garden don't impress him much. John is also faithful.

     It's been a while Yuan hasn't called him. John missed her. He called her the other day, they talked a lot. John has decided. After all, it's been a couple of years. John called his parents and told them his decision. They were excited, John could tell. John has a very traditional Chinese family. His parents live in Shipley, Canada. Both of John's parents are good and hard working people. John has a younger sister, nearly ten years younger than him. What will she think when she hears about the news? John wondered. She knows Yuan too, even though not very much. John started to get busy in his spare time on shopping. After a couple of conversations over the phone, the whole family decided to go to China. Yuan and her family are happy.

     When John walked out from the travel agency in the Lion city, a known local Asian mart. He turned into a restaurant, ordered a dish. He had to go back to office quick. "Badly wanted to see the simulation results," he thought when he ate. He was going to have two weeks vacation for the trip to China, and he had to make sure things are fine at work and had to make smooth transitions. It was early summer and it would soon be that trade show. He heard the company might launch the prototype there.

     The flight took off from runway in San Francisco International Airport. John pulled out the safety belt when the plane navigates in the sky. He found his travel bag under his economy seat, took out his notebook. He thought for a little while, put the notebook back into the bag. He then laid back on the seat, and slept.

沙雁