December 1998
We hope this holiday letter finds you and your loved ones in good health and high spirits. As we prepare to spend our first Christmas together as a married couple, we would like to share with you some of the highlights of a very memorable 1998.
Mae-Ling: After working at Apple for 5 years, I
received my sabbatical and embarked on an adventurous trip around Asia in February and
March. I spent 6 weeks exploring the sights and tasting the flavors of Singapore,
Indonesia (Bintan Island), Japan (Tokyo, Nagano, & Kyoto), Thailand (Bangkok &
Phuket), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Taiwan (Taipei). It was quite a thrill to witness
"Olympic fever" first-hand in Nagano, from the tourist frenzy to buy Snowlet
(the Olympic mascot) souvenirs to the heartwarming victories of local Japanese athletes.
In April, my Apple job in Hong Kong ended, and the timing was right for me to move back to
California to be with Alan and plan our wedding. To my pleasant surprise, Alan had
secretly master-minded a fabulous birthday and homecoming party for me!
Alan: At the beginning of the year, I was pleased to
hear that my consulting firm had promoted me to Director. In addition, I started working
on a new project that requires me to travel to Southern California 3-4 days a week. I have
also added an exercise regimen to my weekly schedule, greatly improving my general health,
and so far there are no complaints from Mae-Ling about the results. As for M Society West,
the Asian American professional organization, I have passed the mantel on to new
leadership, giving me some free time to spend with Mae-Ling!
The Wedding and Receptions: Our wedding in Hawaii and
receptions in Hong Kong, China, and California - they were all a dream come true! One of
the most memorable wedding day moments occurred when Mother Nature decided to pour (not
sprinkle) rain exactly at 4:30pm when our outdoor ceremony began! About 70 guests
scrambled for cover under the quartet's tent; the wedding party ran back towards the hotel
to find protection under the poolside umbrellas; and as for the bride, Mae-Ling never felt
a drop of rain and calmly waited for Plan B. Miraculously, the sun reappeared from behind
the clouds within 20 minutes so the ceremony resumed on the lagoon lawn of Ihilani Resort
and Spa. Our minister noted that the rain was a sign from God who had fertilized the
"field" (Tien in Chinese means "field") to encourage seeds to blossom
during our new life together. Surrounded by our family and friends on June 22
(coincidentally, Alan's birthday), we did feel blessed on that special day! We were also
touched by all the joyous activities at our other receptions. For more stories and
pictures of our celebrations, please visit Alan's web site: http://www.itien.com.
And how is married life? We're happy to report that being husband and
wife has been delightful! But, we must admit the honeymoon period can have its challenges.
Mae-Ling has been learning to live with Alan's ultra cleanliness and anal organizational
system, while Alan has been reluctantly giving up his "perfectly good" bachelor
stuff to be replaced by "our" stuff.
Looking forward to 1999, Mae-Ling will be pursuing another dream - to
launch her own party planning business! Starting in February, Alan will also be switching
projects - to lead his company's new e-commerce partnership. Later in the year, we will
celebrate our 1-year anniversary by going on a Mediterranean cruise. As a final note, we
predict 1999 may be the last year to enjoy our freedom before the Tien family grows..!