Mr Chan is a very quiet person at home. He either sleeping or TV is his only entertainment. The only thing I aware about Mr Chan is he likes to hold Mrs. Chan’s hand wherever he goes.
Recession 1997,Hits hard on my family, Mr Chan lost his job and I just finished my Form 5 and looking for opportunity to further my study.
Mr Chan leaves us back at hometown and came to KL to work in order to support the family, in order for me to further my study.
It’s still fresh in my mind how exhausted Mr Chan looks while he waited for me to pick him up from the bus stop. He rushed from work and travelled a long journey on the bus just to spend the weekend with me. I felt so bad when I saw Mr Chan in such tired look. We don’t communicate much, he only asks about my study. I am lack of words to tell Mr Chan how much it means for me. And of course from a typical conservative family, we never know how to say “I love you” and “thank you”.
Middle of 1997,Mr Chan got an offer with much higher pay, but it’s far far away from home. To travel it takes 2 days. I thought Mrs. Chan will never let Mr Chan go. But Mrs. Chan insisted him to go for me and my brother’s future.
September 1997,There he goes. Mrs. Chan was holding herself back real hard. I remember during that cloudy day, Mrs. Chan put on her shade and tears shed while she wave to Mr Chan.
In a total foreign country, foreign language, new environment and new culture Mr Chan forces himself to adapt in. Mr Chan is a family man who spent most his time at home. I don’t know how he copes with all the homesick, his lovely wife and all his children not around with him.
1998,We missed Mr Chan a lot and I know he did too. I started to communicate with Mr Chan using email. Short letter of asking how is he over there. His reply is always the same. Talk about study and weather. Again he is the man with few words.
Millennium 1999,That’s the 1st time the Chan family reunite after such a long period of separation. When I saw Mr Chan at airport, I was too excited and ran up to hug him. He was shocked of course his only response is laugh. We had the most wonderful holiday at this foreign country. Christmas, my birthday celebration and millennium count down was with the whole Chan family. That’s also the 1st time I received bouquet of flowers from Mr Chan. Nothing can be compare for the precious family time we had.
2000,Mr Chan still with his standardize email format. But I keep on emailing him telling bout my life, my friends and my study. I know email could somehow help him to ease the feeling of homesick.
2004, Finally I have graduated. We all asked Mr Chan to come home. And finally he is back for good.Relationship with Mr Chan is getting closer now. We can joke and talk like friends. We also enjoy beer and wine over the table. He loves coffee so I will bring him to Starbucks to favor his latte. He always asked bout the price and I always lied to him bout it.. I know if he know the price he will probably tell me he don’t like latte.
Present,Mr Chan’s healths are kind of worrying. Not only one but few sickness came at same time. I hope for nothing but to pray hard that he will be healthy. No words could express my gratitude for Mr Chan and Mrs. Chan for what they did for us. Just both of them stay healthy and happy.
Love you two with my life.
Souless Sign off
