90th Birthday Celebration in Hong Kong Part III: FOOD

Chinese and food: These two are inseparable. So at my 5-day birthday celebration among Chinese friends this held true to tradition every day. I ate very, very well in Hong Kong which might just be the best place in the world, to eat, even surpassing Paris.

It began with breakfast. My hosts knew that the manager at the Regal Hotel at which we stayed had been her former pupil. So, of course, she arranged for an-up graded room on the premier level with full access to the special afternoon tea, evening open bar , late night  complimentary cocktails and full breakfast.. Since HK is so international it was obvious that the breakfast counters featured not only traditional bacon and a form of hash-brown potatoes, but also all kinds of hot and cereals, porridges, congee, steamed buns, fish, Japanese dishes hot and cold beyond count., bagels and lox, fresh fruit of great variety. trays of pastries etc, etc,

One of the features of dining in Hong Kong is that it is done in private clubs. So I was elegantly hosted  for food at The Chinese Club, The Hong Kong Golf Club and the Bankers Club. I will here go so far as to actually list the specially prepared (and carefully printed out, personally dedicated menu) provided by Tam Kim Chu and her husband at the Bankers Club.  Here it is: Barbecued Whole Suckling Pig, Sautéd Scallops and Prawns with Vegetables, Deep-fried Crab Claws with Minced Cuttlefish, Braised Birds’ Nest Soup with Fish Maw and Seafood, Steamed Sabah Giant Garoupa, Roasted Crispy Chicken, Fried Rice with Shredded Chicken in Cream and Tomato Sauce, Braised E-fu Noodles with Mushroom and Abalone Sauce, Sweetened Red Bean Cream with Lotus Seeds and Lily Bulbs and Chinese Longevity Buns. Yes, that was one meal, all accompanied by outstanding, appropriate wine for each course!

Lunch at the Chinese Club and at the Hong Kong Golf Club were on a somewhat lesser scale but dinner at Hu Tong in Kowloon, overlooking the harbor and at Guincho A Galero in Macau were also at the very top of any list of fine dining. In Macau it was wonderful to enjoy Portuguese sausage as it can only be made in that former colony of Portugal..

There were two large birthday party meals each attended by over 100 and each featured wonderful more traditional Chinese food. At the alumni dinner the meal actually started with a huge birthday cake which was served before the rest of the meal. The meal was not served in traditional Chinese style with dishes in the center of the table and then on individual plates. Rather each entry was a separate serving brought to each guest on a small plate with just that one item. This went on for 12 courses, most of which I did not have time to eat as I busy posing for photos with guests from the respective tables.

I was greatly surprised by the sumptuous catered noon meal served at Concordia Lutheran Church after services on Sunday. It again featured a vast multitude of traditional Chinese dishes served cafeteria style. Two menu items were especially interesting. The first was actually proudly brought to me. It was a large bowl of charred mashed potatoes. This would never be seen at a traditional Chinese feast but the hosts figured I was an American and so they asked this dish to be specially provided for me and it was brought to me with great flourish and humor!

The other feature of this meal was the birthday cake, actually three of them. At a ceremony in the church after the regular worship service the ushers brought up 2 rather small and beautiful cakes which they asked Tim and me to ceremoniously cut. It was then served later at the dinner. However, at the dinner they brought me another piece of cake in a somewhat “messed up” condition. They explained to me: ”This piece comes from the big beautifully decorated cake we had ordered for you to be presented after the church service. However-on the way to church there was “an accident”. The whole top of the cake with all its decorations was totally ruined. ”They did salvage some of the cake and wanted me to at least have a little piece of that, too.

In between all this Tim and I were ready for a simple dish of noodles from a street-side stand. So we asked David Tzang to help us locate one. Well, that did not work out as planned. He and his wife knew of an old-fashioned noodle shop that had become so famous that it was listed in the Michelin Guide. It was so popular that the waiting line stretched half a block and the wait could be an hour or more. So Margaret had gone early, stood in line and in we marched immediately, sat in the crude wooden booths and with waiters whizzing by enjoyed our noodles-accompanied by wonderful pig knuckles which Tim enjoyed so much that it was later announced that he had eaten three portions of them.

90th Birthday Celebration in Hong Kong Part II: Site Visits

It was to establish and support Lutheran Schools that took me to Hong Kong back in l956 so it was high on my agenda to visit a few of them now 52 years later. Therefore the morning after we arrived we were off to Concordia Lutheran School in Kowloon. The school had started with just a couple middle school grades housed in a storefront. Then we received a grant of land from the government and a $100.000 grant from the Lutheran Women Missionary League to build a stand-alone structure. That was my first assignment upon arrival those many years ago. We built a Kdg-12 school, later added classrooms, added an evening school and enrolled some 1,500 students by the time I left. I was principal of that very large operation completely staffed by Chinese personnel. It was a premier school with the highest rate of successful takers of school government-sponsored high school leaving exams in the history of Hong Kong.

Things have changed dramatically. It is now only a Grade 6 to 12 school. The evening school is no longer necessary. It is completely funded with government grants. It continues to have high standards and a tough academic program. Its enrollment is 750. It has a new US$7 million campus complete with all kinds of science and language labs etc. etc.

The faculty and staff were eagerly awaiting my visit. Together they had arranged for a group of top students to meet with me and tell me about their school. Their presentation was all in English, fully illustrated with computer-generated projections. The students told me of current things that were never on the table in my day: optional sequences for high school students, courses in tourism and hospitality, courses taught in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. The students proudly told me of academic teams, sports programs, religious clubs and musicals, sports teams, inter-school visits with schools on the mainland of China and on and on. Very impressive.

They had a carefully prepared session in which I was interviewed. I was pleased to respond to their questions regarding original visions and dreams and about differences between then and now. Finally the interviewing student said “Just one more question, “What is your opinion of President Trump?” That was the question they really wanted to ask!

The next school we visited was Saviour Lutheran School for Special Ed. What a treat. It had always been a dream of mine to reach out to this neglected portion of the population. I was there to help find the site, raise the construction money and get the building started but had to leave before completing the construction and I had never seen the final product. Now there has even been an addition to the building. Kids with special needs ages 6-16 are enrolled. The program is excellent and professionally conducted. A group presented a short musical program for me, including the singing in English of “Jesus Loves Me This I Know For the Bible Tells Me So.” I left emotionally overwhelmed.

Then primarily for son Tim we went to the site of the home where he lived from birth to age 5. Of course that building has long ago and been torn down and replaced with higher density housing. The squatter hut village just a block away has been replaced with high-rise apartment buildings.  But Tim tried to look over the fence to find where he had played on the slide and climbing bars.

A quick trip to where Tim had been born: St. Teresa’s Hospital. All replaced. Good thing as when Jane went there for his delivery the labor room was on the third floor, there was no elevator and we woke a night watchman to let us in. Jane’s water broke on the way up the stairs and Tim arrived before the Dr. did. But he survived very well and the new building is helping many others do the same today, but I bet there are none named Tim.

The next day I was off to Hong Kong International School. This is another school which I planned, got approved, designed, and was building when a family medical emergency forced our family to leave. Now it is one of the top schools in the world. The recently dedicated lower school is THE BEST I have ever seen anywhere. It even has a full-size swimming pool with a bottom that can be raised or lowered automatically so children can be in water ranging in depth from 1 inch to 8 feet. There is a full-sized kitchen for children to learn, all play equipment is specifically designed for this school. The entrance features an incredible tiled mosaic with tiles made in Italy and laid in place by the kids. It meets all the demands of parents who pay up to $25,000.00 in tuition for their children to attend!. It blows my mind and while everything else that I designed has been replaced the startling cross in the center still sends a message of love and respect for all.

When I spoke to some of the staff on the theme of excellence and learning they announced that the bursary to allow teachers from all over to come and learn here had been named in my honor.

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90th Birthday Celebration in Hong Kong Part 1: Celebration

I am not sure how my friends in Hong Kong heard that I was due to celebrate my 90th birthday on December 10. But when they heard they immediately determined that part of that celebration needed to be in Hong Kong with them as hosts. So they made all the arrangements and I gladly accepted being there November 1 to November7. Jane felt the trip would be too much for her (and she was right) so son Tim accompanied me and that was also a good decision as his youth and internet skills made for very smooth international and local travel.

When I accepted my friends’ kind invitation I had only one instruction:” Keep it simple.” I suggested 11 names of people with whom I thought it would be extra nice to have a good Chinese birthday. We would eat in a room at the hotel and they would come get me for my dinner. I was told to be ready for dinner on the day after my arrival.

They came to my room at the appointed time. When I was escorted to the dining room I was greeted by a roomful of celebrants, 112 person-strong in a brightly decorated room. They were all waiting for me. A very large birthday candle on a very, very large birthday cake was ignited and the group broke into a joyous version of Happy Birthday, first in English and then in Chinese and the celebration was on

In the midst of an incredible ten course meal accompanied by free-flowing wine the program flowed- very ably emceed by Paul Chan Sing Kong-almost all in English! There was a “Biography of Mel Kieschnick Contest” at each table. Then each table selected one word to describe me. A spokesperson from each table came forward and explained why that word was chosen. Key words included trust, leader, farmer, inspiration, mentor, visionary  etc. etc. Each speaker at the podium brought with him/her a gift (more about that later) and made a 3 minute speech which the master of ceremonies had a very difficult, yet humorous time controlling. After each little speech the entire table of 12 persons came forward and a group picture was taken-and I had the opportunity to greet for a second or two each of the 112 wonderful guests. Of course, I was expected to make a speech, which I joyfully did. 

The evening ended when I was presented with a very large artistically designed Happy 90 Birthday Card with many hand-drawn birthday candles and a very large folded poster which contained a picture of each table with each of the guests having signed their name.

After a rousing “ Old Lang Syne” sung twice and an even more joyous” Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”, the glorious party came to an end.

The second party, too, was a surprise. One of my hosts John Chu had told me that he was accompanying Tim and me to Concordia Church on Sunday morning for Sunday morning worship with that congregation. I was especially pleased with that as so many years ago I had worshipped with that congregation, helped write its first constitution

We got stuck in traffic crossing the harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and arrived at church late. The service was already under way. Of course we were escorted to the front row. The entire service was in Chinese but they had prepared an English Order of Worship and an outline of the sermon to help Tim (and me follow). After the service there were speeches and then opportunity for my former students-including also 4 who (some with tears in their eyes) told me they learned to read and write in a simple little evening school I had organized some 50 years ago, Then a big congregation dinner followed. The catered food (Chinese) was wonderful. Naturally there had be another gift-giving ceremony-and hundreds of photos as everyone had a cell phone camera and was anxious to record one more memory!

Reflections on a Long and Blessed Life No. 61: Teaching in Hong Kong

I have always said that my profession was “ teaching”. I realize that I often spent much more time in administration, planning, supervising, consulting, grant writing etc. but if you ask me what I really am I would say “I am a teacher.” When I spent some 10 years in Hong Kong I spent a great deal of that time teaching.

I had barely gotten off the plane when I first arrived in Hong Kong when Miss Behling informed me that I was scheduled to teach the next week. The Lutheran Church was requiring in-service training for its entire staff. Every Wednesday night the teachers from our various schools gathered for in-service classes. My first was “Basics of Christian Education.” Naturally I taught through an interpreter and I had an excellent one: Mr. Isaac Ma. He translated my lectures sentence by sentence. Regretfully my teaching method was almost exclusively by the lecture method. To this day I admire those members of my class who sat through that –especially since they came there after themselves having taught all day and then returning to their classrooms again by 8:00 the next morning.

Concurrently I taught a similar class at Hong Kong College. I taught there partially because in return for my teaching in the college the college provided free space for us to conduct church services on Sunday or special church holidays. The students were all refugees of all ages and probably came to class as much to learn English as to learn about Christian education. Mr. Ma was my interpreter there. One of my strongest memories there relates to a student who objected or questioned almost everything I said (very rare in those days.) He eventually came around. In fact he became a Christian and later a professional church worker in our Lutheran Church.

On Thursday night I taught a class for Sunday School teachers. I really enjoyed doing this as the class members were very excited to be learning and then teaching the Bible stories. Teaching this class also assisted me in being supportive of my wife Jane who was playing a major role in producing the Sunday School curriculum. Our Sunday Schools became very popular and before long we were printing 1,000 Sunday School leaflets each week.

Friday night teaching was also wonderful. This was the Bible Study class for missionaries and spouses. We really kept our Friday night reserved specifically for getting together and study. We spent the first hour in Bible study and then the second hour discussing another book, magazine article or special topic of interest. We did this while also enjoying some refreshments. We moved from member home to member home to do. We took turns leading the class –and I learned a very great deal from all the men and women who shared the teaching roles.

In my second year I added a class on Teaching Religion. This, too, was very satisfying. I taught it to all the elementary school teachers and I gave them lessons plans for them to use in their classes the following week. This class was very interactive with the students (teachers) doing demonstrations, critiquing each other’s teaching etc. I was determined to do this job right-for a very special reason. When I announced that the Chinese teachers in kindergarten through grade six would all be teaching religion a veteran missionary spouse confronted me very sternly with the words “Mr. Kieschnick, you are sewing the seeds of the destruction of the Lutheran Church by your actions!” She was convinced that no new Chinese Christian should be permitted to teach and that only missionaries had this right and skill.

Soon I was also teaching in the Bible Institute and later Concordia Seminary as well as the American Lutheran Church’s  Sha Tin Lutheran Seminary. I have made previous reference to my disaster in that last named teaching assignment as I was teaching General Psychology, was teaching it in my very poor Cantonese, and the only texts available were very behavioristic translations from the Russian.

Now as I near my 90th birthday I do very little teaching. I have sternly requested my wife to let me know when my Sunday Adult teaching in my local parish is not up to standard. So far she tells me I am still getting a passing grade, so I will carry on for a bit longer. Teaching is enjoyable and personally rewarding. And hopefully the class members find that this is true for them as well.

Feeding the Homeless

A couple nights ago I went to downtown San Diego to feed some of the thousands who live on the streets in that area. I stood at the end of the serving line offering a cup of lentil soup for each of the more than 200 persons who marched in front of me. I looked into the eyes of each one and asked if they would like a cup of soup. It was all a very moving experience and as I reflect upon it several thoughts and questions flood over me.

1. Each of those persons has a life story. I suppose that a mother rejoiced at the birth of each one of them. Did they go to school?  Serve in the military? Do they have any current family contacts? How did they end up on the street homeless and hunger ? Where will they be 30 days from now?

2. I was struck by the large number of women in line. I have been serving at this location occasionally now for some 15 years and I noticed how each year the number of women increases. I noticed especially how the women still tried to dress as best they could- While many of the dresses were obviously well worn they were clean and some effort seemed to still be made to have colors match. Some of the women even wore a bit of lipstick. Most looked me in the eyes but a few diverted their look. Life on the streets must be especially difficult for women.

3. There were people of all ages. I was struck especially by a young man of about 18. He seemed quite self-conscious and appeared to be ne  to street dwelling. I did not see evidence of drug abuse and I could not help but wonder, ”How did he get into this position?” Similarly, a person of about 25 who also seemed new to the situation appeared. He was neatly and nicely dressed. I had the feeling this was all anew and very uncomfortable experience for him. Of course, I also saw some faces of people who have been on the street for a very long time.  I was reminded that study after study shows that there are several different groups that make up that population. There are those who have just recently lost their jobs and or their homes. Others are veterans with pts syndrome. Some are perpetual drug abusers, some choose street live, others are trying desperate to get off the street. Some have to choose between eating and paying rent.

4. I was very saddened by the fact that many had no, few, or terrible teeth. I learned that tooth disease is the most prevalent illness of the homeless. And I was saddened to be told that the American Dental Association formally declined to have any part in any of our country’s affordable health plans-so all these people re ineligible for any kind of Medicare or other aid for dental care

5. It was obvious that homelessness knows no gender, racial or ethnic boundaries. There were men and women of all ages and skin color. But I did notice that there was only one person ( an elderly female) who was false assumption based on my many years working with the Chinese that the Asian’s heavy stress on education, family and the work ethic result  in fewer Asians among the homeless?

6. I also noticed the extreme friendliness and gratitude  o our homeless guests. All but maybe four out of more than 200 failed to say  “Thank you.” One gentleman with near tears simply said “Thank you.  This is my first mal in four days !”

One final word: the sponsoring group was the Third Ave Charitable Organization affiliated with First Lutheran Church. They really know how to do this right. They prepare a healthy good tasting and attractive dinner. They respect each of the homeless guests. They organize the process so that flows seamlessly. Thy carry the trays of those unable to do that for themselves. They carefully control serving size and the allow people to return as long as there is food. They welcome, respect and join in prayer with those dong e serving.

As I go home from the event I say a prayer of thanks for the many of us, the hungry and the well fed are brothers and sisters. And the words of Jesus ring in my ears, “I was hungry and you fed me.”