21. Career Choice

Chicken farm workers lived with us. There were “Mr. Chu,” a man in his thirties, and “Young Ho,” who was a couple of years older than me. There was another boy and I do not recall his name. They shared one room.

 

Since they had to wake up early in the morning, father allowed them to have an hour nap after the lunch. I sneaked into their room and played Chinese check during their nap time. They were good friends to me.

 

We bet candies. I brought them candies from mother’s room when I lost. Young Ho and Mr. Chu gave me candies from the convenient store if they lost.

 

I learned 'Go' game around then. There was a barber who used to come home and cut my hair. I assume father asked him if he knew anyone who could teach me Go. A Go player came home and started the lesson. At the beginning, father joined me. For first few days, father beat me. The instructor said that the adults always learned it quick since they were mature and had more life experience. But they would lose it quickly and never catch up with the young ones. He was right. I learned the moves quickly and father could no longer beat me.

 

I am good at learning new thing then and even now. I took Go lessons for a couple of months. While I was learning Go, everything looked like Go board. I saw lines with black and white dots all over the place.

 

After a couple of months, the instructor stopped coming. I think he demanded regular pay and father did not intend to make me a Go player. He just wanted me to kill time leisurely playing it. I improved my skills by playing against people whenever I had opportunities. I like Go and still enjoy playing it.

 

Go is a mind game. It helps you to control your mind. When I have other thoughts in my mind, I cannot focus and would lose the game easily. There are wisdom of life and the whole universe in 19 lines of Go board.

 

When you get too greedy or too cocky, you would lose the game. You have to be patient and look at the whole board not just one section. You compromise and wait. Eventually, an opportunity will come up. Life is the same. Impatience and rush would not solve the problem. You cut your loss, be patient and wait. An opportunity will show up.

 

One day, father came to see me at grandma’s house. He said I should learn a career skill. Maybe I was 14-15 years old. He offered me watch repair or painting. I had some interest in drawing. I used to copy and draw comics and enjoyed doing it.

 

But I picked watch repair only because I thought that was what my father wanted me to do. I had a reason for it. Father used to tell me about his childhood friend who was crippled and limped one leg. He learned how to make seal stamps when he was young and became a very successful businessman.

 

Also, people said artists did not make much money. They were usually poor. I did not want to be a burden to the family. As I guessed, father was happy with my answer.

 

There was a small watch repair shop in the neighborhood. I learned how to clean and do minor repairs from the shop owner. I was not fit for the occupation. I found I had a disability in my left hand. I could not properly bend my left thumb and pick up the object. It probably was due to the polio. You need to hold the tiny parts with one hand and use the tools to fix it with the other hand.  I could not hold the parts with my left hand.

 

A boy, 2-3 year older than me, was working at the shop. He was learning the watch repair, too. He advanced quickly and was able to make the repairs. I don’t remember how it ended. Nevertheless, I stopped taking the repair lessons.

 

I should have taken the drawing lessons. I regret it. I want to learn how to draw. Once I retire, I plan to take classes from the community college.