How I started in IT

In the not-too-distant past (as it appeared to me), I finished my matriculation level (Form 7) study. As the result of my Advanced Level Examination was not good enough to earn me a place in the local universities, nor could I afford for an overseas tertiary education, I had but to look for jobs to start my working career. At that time, I thought Accounting was the best profession for me. I sent out mountains of application letters to all the major firms in Hong Kong for suitable accounting posts.
One day, I was asked to go for an interview in China Light and Power. I went to see the Head of the Accounts Department, Mr Nedderman. During the interview, Mr Nedderman didn't ask me anything about Accounting. Nor did he tell me anything about the accounting post I was applying for. He only asked me, "John, are you interested in working with computers?" I didn't have the faintest idea what computers were at that time, let alone I liked to work with them or not. So I hesitated, and said, "I don't know. But I'd like to know more." Mr Nedderman then took me for a tour to the computer room in China Light. It was a hugh farm of machineries. I was totally fascinated by the flickering lights of consoles and the fast rolling reels of magnetic tapes. Mr Nedderman introduced me to the manager of the computing department, and I ended up having an interview with him that day. I never saw Mr Nedderman again since then. A week later, I received a reply from China Light saying my application was not successful.
I felt very disappointed. But the meeting with Mr Nedderman had sparked my interest in computing. So I quickly re-focused. I did a bit of research of what computers were, and what were the major computing firms in Hong Kong. I applied to the two then giants: IBM (International Business Machines) and NCR (National Cash Register), and finally I got an offer from IBM for a post of Computer Operator. Thence, I started my 36-year career in the IT (Information Technology) industry: 2 in IBM, 28 in Cathay Pacific and 6 in Qantas.

Expect the unexpected. Sometimes things may turn out not as we wanted, but they may turn out even better. Prepare to re-focus and react. We can start from nothing, provided we learn and work hard.

Australian Encounters

If you have lived in Australia long enough, you probably have the following experiences:

. you wonder why the bus stop is always located at the junction of the streets where traffic is the busiest.
. you need to call up the customer services officers of utility companies at least 3 times to update your personal details.
. you are in a queue where the customer services officer chats at least 20 minutes with each person in front of you.
. you hear from the announcement the next train will be delayed for half an hour when you have already waited for an hour.
. you take the rail on bus (rail bus) to the City on Sundays, as train lines are shut down for maintenance.
. your kids go to Chatswood barefooted, and lick their fingers after eating ice creams.
. you see beautiful topless blonds lying in Bondi on a sunny day who will turn belly up when you walk across.
. the only thing that moves slower than continental drift is the traffic on Pacific Highway after you drop your kids to school in the morning.

Hong Kong Encounters

If you have lived in Hong Kong long enough, you probably have the following experiences:

. you eat the (almost) cheapest McDonald hamburger in the world (Big Mac Index, The Economist) for lunch.
. you travel on one of the most efficient train system in the world everyday; it takes you no time to change from one train line to another.
. you can't get off the train in Queensway as you move slightly slower than the incoming passengers.
. you hate that the only entertainments are shopping and dining only which you miss most when you are NOT in Hong Kong.
. you need a few seconds to think what to eat in Cafe de Coral, and the cashier has already asked the third person behind you for his orders.
. you shout to talk to your friend across the table at yum cha.
. you hit the lift button at least 5 times, thinking it will make it move faster.
. you have at least one gossip magazine at home at all times.
. you don't think you need to buy software for your computer.
. you queue up four days and four nights to get to the Book Exhibition in Convention Centre for an hour.
. the only thing that moves slower than continental drift is the crowd in Causeway Bay on a Saturday afternoon.

Toylet Story 2

If you go to a public toilet, chances are there are graffiti and dirty words and pictures everywhere.
I worked in Qantas from 1999 to 2005. I was in the Qantas Building near the Sydney Airport. One afternoon, I went to the toilet, into one of the tiny cubicles. I sat on the toilet pan and shut the door. Behind the door, there was a scribbled question:

'How do you find a blind man on a nudist beach?'

And the answer was, with a picture of a drooping man's dick beside it,

'It's not hard.'

Toylet Story

I had an artery bypass operation in 2006. I was in the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney for the surgery. The first 2 days, I was in a complete coma in the Intensive Care Unit under life supporting devices. The third day, I began to wake up. The fourth day, I was allowed out of the bed for simple movements.
I went to the toilet. After bowel movements, I tried to grab a few tissue papers to wipe the poo. Somehow the toilet roll slipped off my hand and fell onto the floor. It was just a few inches from my feet. I tried to pick it up. I kept on reminding myself that any minor accident at that time might be catastrophic. I moved in extreme slow motions. I stretched my arm. I bent down. I lowered my body in order to reach the roll. After 15 minute, I realized I was not able to pick up the toilet roll myself. Without risking further, I pressed the button and call the nurse to come in and help.

It might be little, simple and trivial. For a person needing help, a very tiny piece could be a most precious one.

Lose or Win? - Give and You Will be Given

I heard this story from the late Dr James Wong (Wong Jim). He said he heard the story from a Father in his secondary school, La Salle College (which happens to be my mother school too). Here the story goes.

Once upon a time, there was a man who went to the church everyday. He attended the mass, listened to the priest's preaching and prayed. One day after the mass, he went up to the priest and said, " Father, you asked us to donate and help people who are in need. I'd very much like to donate and help. But I'm a very poor man. I have only $10 left each day. And I'm a very sick person. I need to use this $10 to see the doctor and to buy medicine for myself. Father, I'd very much like to do what you said. But given my situation, what can I do?"
The priest looked at the man for a second. and said gently, "Son, can you try just for once not to think about yourself first, but to think about the people in need?" The man stood in silence for a moment. He then left the church and went home.
Next day, the man went to the church as usual. After the mass, the man went up to the altar, put his $10 into the donation box and went home.
A wonder happened. From that day, the man recovered from his long-time illness. He didn't need to go to see the doctor again. He didn't need to buy his medicine any more. Not only had he the money to continue to donate, but also he could save some money for himself.

This is not a story about miracles, not about anything superstitious. In fact, if one day you find you are able to do what you thought you could never do, you will have a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. If you feel happy inside you, your body will naturally become more physically strengthened. When you give out, it may seem you will lose the things you are giving out. But in fact, you will receive much more in return. The most immediate rewards are personal satisfaction and happiness. More often than not, there may be other things which will come subsequently in time, and which you may never even dream of.

This is Jesus' teaching:

"Give and you will be given"

The saying may be apparently paradoxical, but the story explains.

Sorry I was not able to retell the story as lively as James did. But I've tried my best to convey its essence.