2016 in Review

We will welcome a new year in a week’s time. I started 2016 in Quelimane, Mozambique where I waited for a month and a half for my new passport and visa to continue my journey in Southern and East Africa. I had originally planned to go on a couple more safaris in Tanzania and Kenya after visiting the Indian Ocean Coastline in early 2016. I had to deviate from my plans due to a lack of time and money. Perhaps I saw all I needed to see in terms of wildlife in Africa the year before. The three weeks in Ethiopia at the end of my trip rounded out my African visit with a strong cultural and historical component.

The Visit of Queen Sheba to Jersusalem

Before the journey, I researched the possibility of volunteering for a month or so. I could not find any meaningful project for duration less than three months to take part in. Well, because of the robbery that happened in December 2015, I stayed in less number of cities for a longer period each time in the latter part of my African visit. I was able to savor everyday life in each place, chatted more, and at times helped the locals with whatever resources that I could garner. Consequently, I contributed to improve other people’s lives in a more meaningful manner.

A village outside Quelimane, Mozambique

Despite the lack of funds and communication means, I was able to resume my African visit with some modifications in February. I experienced Africa in ways that other visitors could not even imagine. The challenges and adversities also linked me to my Creator closer than ever. I had no access to my Canadian bank accounts since they were frozen after the robbery was reported. My brother would wire funds to me via Western Union periodically. My spending might have constraints but I was liberated from my mindset and worries. Divine Providence took over. All I had to do is to surrender to God’s plan, and went along with whatever I normally would not agree.

I returned to Vancouver in early April. It did not take long for me to sort out my banking affairs. I repaid my family the money that they lent me as soon as I could. Then I gave away more things, and moved my stuff to the smallest locker in the storage facility.  Hopefully when I leave Vancouver in 2018, I would not need to rent a locker anymore. I am getting closer to the ultimate goal of owning no more than two suitcases of clothes and a few boxes of personal belongings.

There is a severe shortage of rental units in Vancouver; however, I was able to find a furnished basement suite in a well-kept house in East Vancouver. Since there is cable in the house, I watched a lot of Chinese programs on TV. My Chinese language skills have improved a great deal as a result. I also tried out a lot of healthy fusion recipes. The Catholic Church is a 15-minute walk away. In addition to the obligatory Sunday mass, I participated in bible study on Wednesday evenings. My daily routine also includes a 30 – 60 minute walk.

There were many first times for me this year. Because I did not have to be my mother’s caregiver, I had a lot of spare time on my hands. I participated in many research studies and volunteered at community events in the summer. I no longer had to do things for other people. I visited places in Metro Vancouver that I had not visited before. It had been a long time since I read a book at leisure. Well, I read four non-fictional books this summer. Ah, I now know what being retired is all about.

Ships to Shore Festival in Steveston

My general health is good except for the eczema problem that seems to linger on. Maybe I have been away for too long and became allergic to the moist climate of Vancouver. I am not too worried about this skin problem because I will be embarking on another epic journey along the routes of the Silk Road in about three months’ time. I am grateful for all the wonderful gifts that God has bestowed upon me this year.

Sex, Drugs & Video Games

What do sex, drugs and video games have in common? All three activities are highly addictive. In modern societies, people do not have to devote most of their time for survival. We have become lazy, bored and obsessed with these activities more than ever. Pornography is an 8 billion USD industry in the U.S. in 2012 according to Time Magazine. The UN estimates global illicit drug industry to be 400 billion USD per year in 1998. The U.S. gaming industry is roughly 20.5 billion USD in 2014 according to Wikipedia. Unfortunately, I could not locate figures for Canada.

On December 12th, 2016, the federal government passed Bill C37 which emphasized a strategy of harm reduction for the hard-core drug addicts. It is now legally easier to set up more safe, supervised injection sites (a.k.a. consumption sites). There is also a great push to decriminalize and even legalize marijuana at all three levels of government in Canada. Increasing amounts of resources are deployed to rescue the Opioid overdosed addicts, so much so that the City of Vancouver proposed to raise property tax to fund more consumption sites and wider distribution of Naloxone kits. Fentanyl overdose deaths are at a crisis level in Vancouver.

The pornography issue is just as worrisome in Canada. I was brought up to think that men and women could be platonic friends; men and women could connect at intellectual or emotional level. Not any more. Back in the pre-internet age, when men had sexual urges, they would read dirty magazines or find themselves prostitutes to satisfy their need. Today sex addicts prey on children, place obscene pictures/videos on social media or have cyber sex with other online users. I was informed by a long-time male friend that Canadian men usually do not want to marry their sex partners. They are also too cheap to pay for sex and/or are worried about getting sexually transmitted diseases from hookers. Women are treated as no more than sex objects.

Children are not the only ones that would spend all their waking moments playing video games. Pokemon Go was a big hit for a short time in the city, and managed to get some people to go outside. Otherwise, video games normally render the players inactive and anti-social. The most obvious side- effect of continuous video game playing is neck strain. The other effects include accidents caused by lack of attention, absenteeism, lack of reality perception, overloading of senses resulting in psychological problems, etc. A more far reaching effect is the production of "Zombie" generation who is deficient in human characteristics.

A few decades ago, we were taught to pursue material things, and work hard to forget the hurt and pain inherent in a competitive society. Many of us cannot find purpose in our lives, and use these vices to fill our empty lives. I think if we can figure out what we like to do, we can substitute these three addictive activities with less harmful hobbies. For example, women can knit sweaters, and men can make furniture for the poor in lieu of sex, drugs and video games. Better still, we should maintain a balance of body, mind & spirit by getting to know ourselves really well.