Hobbies

I like to travel because I think travel will open my eyes. Travel will simply make me a more well-rounded human being. Traveling with all the challenges it presents and opportunities will let me discover who I am in a way that only the road brings. It can also develop skills that I didn’t know I will have. The satisfaction I will get when reaching the top of the mountain, saved a woman from drowning etc. Seeing the world provides a source of education absolutely impossible to get in school or work. You get to take in culture, language, geography and so much more. The only way to learn sometimes is to put down the textbooks and go in hands on. Grasp the experience and let yourself learn.

Moreover, I like to do volunteer service during my free time. Back in high school, I used to do volunteer service at least twice a week. I will visit some mentally handicapped children in Po Leung Kuk and play with them. I will also go to some elderly centers and do services.  I volunteer because I like helping people, I feel called to volunteer and share my talents and time with others. I enjoy meeting different people from different backgrounds and cultures while volunteering. Volunteering allows me to connect with the community and make it a better place. It can also broaden my network, meeting someone with common interests and develop my social skills.

Growing a Farmer- Second Post

Overall, this book is easy to read. Kurt used simple English to write this book. Thanks God that he didn't use those professional terms when describing the farm and the process of feeding the animals, if not I will not read this book. I like those chapter titles, it is very interesting and clear. I liked how the book was broken down into discussions of the different aspects of the farm. All of the different animals (sheep and goats, bees, cows, pigs) and the garden were each given their own chapters, and how Kurt outlined his journey learning about and dealing with each of them. I've never noticed that hand milking takes such a long time. I don't even know the process of producing milk. My favorite chapter was the slaughtering of the animal. I have never slaughtered an animal. The idea of killing an animal I raised does not appeal to me. The respect and passion that Kurt demonstrates for the animal changed the way I viewed the slaughter process. Being a farmer need to have a big courage when killing the animals, because they are lives and you are facing them for a period of time. I don't think I can do that.

It is so interesting to think about raising my own food, vegetables, chickens, pigs etc. Every time when I pass by some farms, I will imagine myself working on the field early in the morning under the sun. If I want to buy some groceries or find some entertainments, I need to drive all the way to the city. I immediately don't want to be a farmer because I just can't stand it. It is very hard to move from the city to suburban or rural area. I feel proud of Kurt that he can totally adapt the farmer's life in a very short time and the way how he goes for his dream.

How to Brew a Cup of Chinese Tea

CHA CHA CHA

Most of the time, Western Tea is consumed more casually. People throw a teabag into a mug and add hot water; when the tea is ready, they add sugar or milk according to their preference. But Chinese tea drinking traditions are quite different and much more complicated. For Chinese people, it is an art to serve or drink tea. During the whole process of making tea, people use a whole set of utensils to make tea; tea tasting involves smelling the fragrance and observing the color. In this article, we will explore the different types of tea and the procedure of brewing a cup of Chinese Tea. 

Types of Tea 

Black Tea

Black Tea is derived from fermented leaves and is a red or brown color. The leaves are oxidized before the leaves are cooked and dried. The most famous black tea isqímén chá, a medium-body rich amber tea cut into strips from Anhui.

Green Tea

Green Tea is derived from unfermented leaves and is a jade green color. Green tea is grown in Zhejiang province and the leaves are pan-fried, steamed or oven-fired after leaves are picked to retain the non-oxidized tea’s green color.

Oolong Tea

Oolong Tea is derived from semi-fermented leaves. Oolong tea can be sweet and fruity or woody or green with a light aroma. Once picked, the tea is rolled into small nuggets or long, curly leaves to seal in its essential oils which slowly oxidize and darken the leaves.

Compressed Tea

Compressed tea is made by steaming and compacting tea leaves into shapes like a disc. The most popular compressed teas are pǔ'ěr, a very dark, aromatic, smooth, full-bodied tea from Yunnan and tuóchá tea from Sichuan. Pǔ'ěr tea leaves are aged for many years to reduce the tea’s harshness and bitterness from the tannins.

Things you need for brewing a cup of tea:

Tea pot- ideally a clay one but porcelain also works

Tea strainer- if not built into the teapot 

Kettle (stove top or electric)

Tea pitcher

Brewing tray

Deep plate or bowl- large enough for washing the teapots and cups and discarding used tea leaves

Teal towel

Water 

Tea leaves

Tea pick- to unclog and clean the teapot

Tea leaf holder

Tongs

Scent cups- narrow snifter cups for appreciating the tea's aroma

Tea cups- handleless cups for drinking tea 

Brewing Method

1.  Complete the first stage of the tea ceremony which involves warming the teapot and heating the cups. To do this, first heat the water in a kettle. Then, place the teapot, snifter tea cups and regular tea cups in the bowl and pour the heated water over them to warm up the tea set. Then, remove the teapot and cups from the bowl. The tongs may be used to handle the cups if they are too hot to handle with your hands.

2. Complete the second stage of the tea ceremony in which the tea is actually made. Using the tea leaf holder, scoop the loose tea leaves from the tea canister. Then, pour the tea leaves into the teapot. The amount of tea and water will vary on the type of tea, its quality, and the size of the teapot but generally one teaspoon of tea leaves for every 6-ounces of water will do.

3. Place the teapot into the bowl, raise the kettle at shoulder height and pour the water into the teapot until it overflows. After pouring the water, scoop away bubbles and tea leaves and put the lid on the teapot. Pour hot water onto the teapot to insure the temperature inside and outside the teapot is the same.

The temperature of the water 

You should use bottled or spring mountain water to brew the tea. Avoid using distilled, soft or hard water, otherwise it will affect the taste of the tea. The amount of tea and water will vary on the type of tea, its quality, and the size of the teapot but generally one teaspoon of tea leaves for every 6-ounces of water will do.

• White and green tea: 78-85C
• Black tea: 99C
• Oolong tea: 85C-100C 
• Compressed tea: 100C

4. Stir and then pour all the tea into the cups to warm them. This tea is not for drinking but only for waking up tea process. Now is tea is rinsed so now add the hot boiling water once again into the teapot. Brew it for one minute and now pour the tea into the cups and it is ready to be tasted. 

You did it! Remember don't brew for longer time as it can mar the taste of the tea. Now just take sips and be lost in the ultimate taste and storms of aroma. 

Work cited

"How to Brew Chinese Tea". Canton Tea Co. Web. 13.Feb.2016 <http://www.cantonteaco.com/how-to-brew-chinese-tea>

"Culture tea traditions".ITOEN.Web. 13.Feb.2016 
<http://www.itoen.com/cultural-tea-traditions>

"6 types of Chinese tea".Web. 13.Feb.2016 <http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Arts/7thingsabouttea/en/ch3_1_0.htm>

"Guide to brew Keemun Black Tea". Teavivre. Web. 13.Feb.2016 <http://www.teavivre.com/info/how-to-brew-keemun-black-tea/>

Growing a Farmer

A fascinating book about a man who had a dream of a farm, and how it worked out in reality. It was quite detailed and descriptive about farm-work (slaughtering animals, making cheeses, running of the dairy, etc) but most of all was his intense passion for his lifestyle: simple and of his own hands, getting away from industrialized food and living. Very good read.

I'm not a fan of farming or animals. But this book is an interesting one that can let us know more about the rural life and how to run a farm. It's very surprising that he didn't eat the food from his restaurants. It's interesting to know more about how the food is produce, process and make before sending to the restaurants. I think it will be very hard for me to give up urban life and to develop a small working farm. I think there are a lot of risks in it. Since Kurt doesn't know anything about farming or agriculture, he should find a friend or consult some experts before making some important decisions. Kurt started his farming career at the age of 47. I think it is a very good timing because he already earned enough money for living and now he can go for his dream. He doesn't need to worry about his family anymore. But for my age, I think we need to be more realistic, at least we need to do something to earn a living first in order to go for our dreams in the future. I hope I will have a chance to go for my dream soon.