A Second Life, by Sai Kit Yu

Moving makes thing better. I was born in south China, Canton 1961. I grew up in a small town, Kai Pin, but I never forgot living there. When I graduated from high school, I moved to Hong Kong in 1978. That was my first time to leave my home town. I lived in Hong Kong for 10 years, In 1987 I got married. After 2 years I moved to the U. S.

That time when I moved was a very big change for me. Everything began to start, like my family in 1990. My family had good news. My son was born, and 5 years later my daughter was born. When my son was 18 years old he went to UC Berkeley, and now he is a second year student there. When I was 40 years old my life had a big change, but this time it was very bad news. My family doctor told me my kidney got worst, “you should go to dialysis” he said. When I heard that, I felt like the world just stopped and my life was coming to an end. May 24, 2005 was my lucky day. On this day, someone donated a kidney to me, I’m very thankful to my donor’s family and I really enjoy my life now.

I never forgot my home town Kai Pin. I grew up in south China in a small town. In my childhood, in China all people were very poor, I didn’t have anything to play with, and so I always went to the river to go swimming. When I was 6 years old I could swim in the river. I went swimming almost every day. I don’t forget that river because I played in this river for 13 years. I welcome everyone to go to my home town to go swimming.

San Francisco is good for everyone to live. I live in the Portola District on Yale ST. since I moved to San Francisco, I have moved three different times. I’m now living in the house I have moved in at 1999. I live with my wife, son and daughter. When I got a new kidney I stopped working. I take care of my family, I drive my daughter to school every day, and then I go to school every day too. I cook dinner for my family. San Francisco is good for everyone to live in, it has good weather, good education, and good transportation, but the housing is very expensive. When you are in Civic Center, it is very hard to find a parking space. I hope our government can fix this problem.

I hope my dreams will come true. I stopped working for few years, so I think my short-term goal is to hurry and find a job. Before, I was a machinist, my position was Mill and Lathe set up, so I hope I will be able to find this some job. Before, my main goal was to be UC student, but after learning for a few years, my English did not change. English is too hard for me, now I change my mind, I hope to find me a good job and earn more money. I’ll buy a big house for my family. When I got a new kidney I had a dream ( usually the kidney can be used for 17 years ) I hope my kidney will stay with me whole life, I hope my dream will come true. Buddha, God, help me, if you can do it, I’ll believe in you.