[Feb 9, 2002 Prologue] The secret angel project is a current staff activity at CCCMKC.  It belongs to one of those so called " soft management " programs that probably originates from the West. I don't know who proposed the idea, it might be along the Dayan line or from Susanna YH KO, KY Cheung and Janet HO who have got an overt mission after they attended a professional workshop last academic year. Anyway, the " game " is interesting and it allows rooms for innovation.

The project might not achieve its intended purpose - that of promoting cohesion among staff members. However, the outcomes are obvious as we witness the mushrooming momentum it has generated over the past few days - a rush of goodwill display before the Chinese New Year starts.  The staff room is filled with fun, eager expectation, overwhelming joy, thanks for kindness and a sense of mystery. So what is it all about ? The " official game " requests every staff member to act as a secret angel of a randomly assigned colleague. Then over the next  few months, the secret angel has to deliver something, material, spiritual or otherwise, to his/her " colleague-to-be-cared-for " without being noticed. The rule says that the identity of the angel has to be kept secret till June 2002.

Sometimes secrets are meant to be told, I think some secret angels would soon surface up. I must confess that I have done nothing yet, I am not the quick-connect, explosive type. Only care and concern that spring naturally touch my heart. I prefer solitude rather than artificially imposed togetherness. Small in-groups that divide a community because of differences in age, sex, personality, past personal experience and value (especially this attribute) are sociological constants in any human organization, just like pi in mathematics. My pessimistic view may not be shared by members of the staff development committee, it does not matter. Let us wait and see.

I construct this sub-page for two reasons. First, to show that IT is about connection and sharing. IT connects people and shares ideas/feelings. " I " (information) is the master, " T " (technology) is the slave. Second, I want to show my gratitude to my secret angel.

[Feb 7, 2002] Well. I got my first mysterious gift this morning. You may think that I have got a mug. No. It is the packet of fresh milk on the left. My administratively assigned angel knows that I am thin on the outside whereas my belly only welcomes SLIMILK. A 2% low fat milk drink (as indicated on the box) is fit for me. I must thank my angel for his/her considerate act.

Milk is a wholesome drink. This nutritious white liquid is made in the mammary gland of a mammal. It is the best diet for a new born baby, well balanced in nutrients and enriched with protective antibodies. The milk packet was consumed within minutes. I have taken enough Calcium to defend against osteoporosis (骨質疏鬆症). I must thank my angel again.

[Feb 7, 2002] In the afternoon, I got a second gift (what a lovely calculated move) from the same angel donor. While I was troubled by the enrolment problem of the dolphin watch, a tiny dolphin (with a stationery clip at the back) seems to be a timely item of consolation.

[Mar 2, 2002] I think that I may return a gift to my secret angel publicly over the next few weeks.  If I simply leave it on the table of the staff common room, he or she could get it in whatever ways deemed appropriate. Afterall it is a game. A virtual gift first :

[Mar 25, 2002] I received another secret gift from my S.A. (= secret angel). It is a whole cyclinder of fine tea flavoured with jasmine flowers. My S.A. advised me with a note which says that drinking tea rather than coffee is a healthier habit. He/she is right. It is a few days short of the Easter vacation, in return I will prepare a gift for him/her and put it on the table of our staff common room. I hope that he/she could pick it up before the holidays begin. While I am using the hybrid term he/she, I strongly suspect that my

is a female, an experienced teacher who is happy most of the time. In fact I have a few more guesses, but I wouldn't put it here yet. Time will tell whether my intuition is correct. May I take this opportunity to thank my S.A.. There are two reasons why I don't drink tea more often in CCCMKC. First, the freely provided tea in the staff common room, sorry to say, is of very poor quality. Second, the pace of life at work is too fast for a genuine enjoyment of tea.

My secret angel recently sent me a lovely box

of Jasmine tea. Please click below to see more. (May 2002)

LINK to the JASMINE TEA PAGE