Lili Han is currently a lecturer at the Translation and Language School of the Macao Polytechnic Institute. She graduated from Peking University and got her MA in literature from the University of Macau. She has published a children’s book ‘Climbing a Tree for Fish’ (2006), a volume of translations of the Ching poet, Nalan Xingde (2007), a collaborative volume of translations of the women poets of the Song dynasty ‘Pluck a Lotus for Pleasure’ (2009), an anthology of the Portuguese Poets of Macau (as co-editor, 2010), a two poetry collections ‘Winter Story’ (2009) and ‘Spring Story’ (2011).
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
I only want to live mindfully each day and seize the beauty of life. Prose writing, translating poetries, playing with children and cooking for my loved ones can make my day.
If you could invite any four people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be?
I would invite Jane Austin, Coco Chanel, Andy Warhol and Vladimir Nabokov. Living in different eras with diverse backgrounds and visions, the four would offer me great fun.
What are you reading now?
‘Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963’, of Susan Sotag, translated by Yao Jun Wei; ‘Shan Shui Shou Ji (Handwritten Notes on Landscape)’ by Bai Hua, ‘Ripples on the Surface—Selected Poems of Gary Snyder’, translated by Xi Chuan, and ‘Beautiful Dawn’, by Jiang Xun.
What’s playing on your headphones?
Keren Ann’s music. I have several albums of her’s stored in my mobile, like ‘La disparition’ and ‘Not Going Anywhere’. And also Carla Bruni, her songs are so adorable.
If your house was on fire and your family was safe, what would be the three first things would you save?
Some cash and belongings, books signed by Bei Dao, Hsi Muren and Yu Kwang Chung, and some African black wood carvings given by an Angolan friend of mine.
What virtue do you most admire in others?
Wisdom. Wise people always learn as much as they can and act nobody’s fool. They know how to appreciate others. They are full of humour and positive energy that can move people around them.
If you could travel to any place on earth, where would you go?
I want to go whale watching at sea, to get a glimpse of a blue whale or humpback whale jumping.
Do you have a favorite number?
23. It is said that the colour of 23 is pink. 23 means a lot to me and always has something to do with the people that matter in my life. Also, 23 is a prime number, which consists of 2 and 3, both of which are also prime numbers.
Choose one word to describe this city.
Hybridity, I’d say. Macau is not only famous for the humility and respect of its Eastern culture but also known for the passion of its Western mind.
