i just had a gd evening in EC (east coast) w EC. ha ha. lame, i noe. I usually hv gd times in EC. One of my fav spots. :)
it was surprisingly crowded, but bulk of the population there were non-chinese. they seem to b having such a good time out there, honestly, i'm pretty envious. wat is one thing we chinese lack compared to our frens of other ethnic races in sg? i'd tink its the family n/or community spirit.
DISCLAIMER: not all families, jus my ob. based on my family and those i've seen.
Lets just take my exp these two days n wat i see.
1. my experience on CNY's eve
knocked off home from work early. tried to help out, but wasn't of much help. :) finally dinner ready. sat down to eat quietly. my fav - steamboat. but i did not hv much to say (pple noeing me will go - r u kidding? nothing much to say? *laughs*) finish dinner, wash dishes. den watched a chinese show. at 10, adjourned into my bedroom to do my mails etc. read my bible. slept at 12ish. did not watch the CNY celeb tv show.
2. wat i saw at EC
COUNTLESS tents scattered all over, clothes hanging outside tents (they camping there for how many nites?!?). some kids sleeping in tents. cooking using mass tin. kids playing. adults sitting ard cooking or talking. one family even had a tv brought over!!! EC n i question how they get recept9ion. perhaps it was vcd they were watching, oh well, doesnt' matter.
I wish i get to do wat these pple are doing. tt's my dream kindof family. but alas... oh well... i suppose at tis moment its as good as it gets. :) muz b thankful.
meanwhile, EC n i continued w our ritual of getting drinks from 7-11/supermkts n sitting ard somewhere to talk. it was nice. sat on the sand in front of the waves, and nice starry nite tonite too! (in sg, its considered starry *chuckles*). talked abt many things. things i'm working on now in life, the future, school, our kids today, etc. it was nice just sitting there to chill. thanks EC for ur encouragement. yes, and i'm still laughing my head off at the "i cant imagine u holding a gal with one hand, and another guy beside u, and his face covered by a black dot cos i dunno who he'll be". *laughs* its a farnie pic. u're rite. neither can i.
wat hv come out of this? one more gd memory to add on to the list of memories i hv of east coast. looking at the stars i tell mayself not to be too myopic as well. the future holds the unknown. we all are uncertain and to some extent hold some fears, but i cannot allow the fear to overcome me. yes. its true. i admit it. i tink too much. nothing wrong w tinking. but certain things i tink.... do not quite add on to life. is it necessarily bad? perhaps not. but maybe i shld cut down on these 'philosopical' thots and work on wats there. :)
oh watever... which explains... the change of my blog title. :)
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Saturday, February 05, 2005
i'm good.
in case anyone thinks i'm depressed based on my previous post (or posts), let me clarify, i'm good. *laughs*
1. previous blog was just to straighten out my thots.
2. i only tend to blog things tt hit me more these days and
3. dun human beings rattle more abt negative things than positive?
it takes 1 bad experience for a person to make a complain, and about 1 out of 7 who had good experiences to make a compliment. so tis entry ... well... just to tally that out. *chuckles*
in actual fact, i'm better tis year than last yr. :) God has been patient with me. I noe there are pple who cared cos they prayed for me and reminded me to go to church or read my bible, 'non'-christian included.
i hv been very blessed tis yr. first, english was taken off my teaching load (and that means a LOT). i hv been assigned to a music group as CCA (rather than... urm.. the previous misfit, hee). i will prob b bringing my sch gals for international community service in june, which is wat i really really wanna do! in actual fact, i hv colleagues in sch asking me 'are you happier tis year?' apparently, they did see the difference. one of them even added i had a 'bounce' (literal, cos i bounce when i walk, lol) when i first came back from nepal. lol
all the above... blessings... but i suppose the most impt thing.... tt supercedes the above... wld be cos i hv decided to follow Jesus (again). nope, i'm not a siao onz christian, i'm not a super nice gal. but.... just to decide to follow Him, makes the difference and i noe there's nothing i need to be afraid of.
there are challenges. there are difficulties. my frens may hv left me. situation at home challenging. work.. challenging. my only prayer would be that... i'd learn to see and handle them the way, He wans me to.
so on the overall, i'm good. :)
1. previous blog was just to straighten out my thots.
2. i only tend to blog things tt hit me more these days and
3. dun human beings rattle more abt negative things than positive?
it takes 1 bad experience for a person to make a complain, and about 1 out of 7 who had good experiences to make a compliment. so tis entry ... well... just to tally that out. *chuckles*
in actual fact, i'm better tis year than last yr. :) God has been patient with me. I noe there are pple who cared cos they prayed for me and reminded me to go to church or read my bible, 'non'-christian included.
i hv been very blessed tis yr. first, english was taken off my teaching load (and that means a LOT). i hv been assigned to a music group as CCA (rather than... urm.. the previous misfit, hee). i will prob b bringing my sch gals for international community service in june, which is wat i really really wanna do! in actual fact, i hv colleagues in sch asking me 'are you happier tis year?' apparently, they did see the difference. one of them even added i had a 'bounce' (literal, cos i bounce when i walk, lol) when i first came back from nepal. lol
all the above... blessings... but i suppose the most impt thing.... tt supercedes the above... wld be cos i hv decided to follow Jesus (again). nope, i'm not a siao onz christian, i'm not a super nice gal. but.... just to decide to follow Him, makes the difference and i noe there's nothing i need to be afraid of.
there are challenges. there are difficulties. my frens may hv left me. situation at home challenging. work.. challenging. my only prayer would be that... i'd learn to see and handle them the way, He wans me to.
so on the overall, i'm good. :)
making sense of the world ard me....
the past four hours has inflicted many emotions and thots, virtually on a rollercoaster ride, so much so that i'm totall confused now.
it was supposed to be a wonderful day. scheduled to meet my bong for breakfast, den a close (?) fren to watch a series... and perhaps hit the beach, or watever.
meet my bong i did. it was a good time sharing. i felt encouraged.
wat happened thereafter was a total nitemare. i was late. so my fren was totally pissed w me. there was some miscom involved, thanks to either my stupid fon or the service provider, probably the former. partly i lost track of time, so i did not respond in time. the afternn appointment was cancelled, by an sms. surprisingly, my stupid fon became super-efficient in delivery that msg to me. wat a cruel joke of life. its been murphy's law for me yesterday. looks like the law still holds on me today.
travelled home. trying to reconcile wat a christian way of handling daily issues like that should be.
made my way home anywayz. got back to.... thot of working on the 'awards' i wanted to make for my students, at least something constructive. before i cld do that... same old conflict w my @$&*#( sister. and i was insulted, again. tis time round, called 'deaf'. as if that wasn't enough, she got my mom into the picture and made me seem like a complete idiot. i was tempted to make a nasty response, but see there wasn't any point to it. just kept quiet, and let things be.
i must admit, i'm particularly emotional today. i'm just totally confused with watever had been happening lately.
*breathes in deeply* just trying to make sense of the world ard me now. *smile* bong says i tink too much. i think, its more like i feel too much. shites, i need to get out of this stupid emotional phase man. i'm tempted to give up and fall into the depths, but there are many more bigger and impt things out there to settle.
meanwhile, how did Christ tackle all these emotional crazes? or does He even go thro these? how do i look at things in life with His perspective?
it was supposed to be a wonderful day. scheduled to meet my bong for breakfast, den a close (?) fren to watch a series... and perhaps hit the beach, or watever.
meet my bong i did. it was a good time sharing. i felt encouraged.
wat happened thereafter was a total nitemare. i was late. so my fren was totally pissed w me. there was some miscom involved, thanks to either my stupid fon or the service provider, probably the former. partly i lost track of time, so i did not respond in time. the afternn appointment was cancelled, by an sms. surprisingly, my stupid fon became super-efficient in delivery that msg to me. wat a cruel joke of life. its been murphy's law for me yesterday. looks like the law still holds on me today.
travelled home. trying to reconcile wat a christian way of handling daily issues like that should be.
made my way home anywayz. got back to.... thot of working on the 'awards' i wanted to make for my students, at least something constructive. before i cld do that... same old conflict w my @$&*#( sister. and i was insulted, again. tis time round, called 'deaf'. as if that wasn't enough, she got my mom into the picture and made me seem like a complete idiot. i was tempted to make a nasty response, but see there wasn't any point to it. just kept quiet, and let things be.
i must admit, i'm particularly emotional today. i'm just totally confused with watever had been happening lately.
*breathes in deeply* just trying to make sense of the world ard me now. *smile* bong says i tink too much. i think, its more like i feel too much. shites, i need to get out of this stupid emotional phase man. i'm tempted to give up and fall into the depths, but there are many more bigger and impt things out there to settle.
meanwhile, how did Christ tackle all these emotional crazes? or does He even go thro these? how do i look at things in life with His perspective?
Monday, January 31, 2005
Home early
today because i got so SO SO upset w two gals that i literally felt like slapping them and like @$&*#(8... so upset that i got a headache.... so hv to come home....
honestly, it wasn't worth being tis upset i admit. i dun even noe wat hv gotten over me. maybe just stressed. or took it upon myself too much. or expected too much from them. *chuckles* my colleagues told me it wasn't worth it, dun be bothered with them... that it was no point... over gals like them.... but.... i seirously tried.... i took time off for them....
frankly, it was easier to sign the papers for them and just release them. "Good riddance" was an adjective used by someone else. Yes, it was easier, but that wasn't the point! They have to learn for crying out loud... Maybe it is easier to just not care. My life will be MUCH EASIER.... less traumatic....
Watever. I shall continue to irritate them and myself. Will be meanie and carry out disciplinary action tom. If I have to become such a meanie to carry my message across, so be it.
Current state: VERY SUPER DUPER EXTREMELY Crossed
honestly, it wasn't worth being tis upset i admit. i dun even noe wat hv gotten over me. maybe just stressed. or took it upon myself too much. or expected too much from them. *chuckles* my colleagues told me it wasn't worth it, dun be bothered with them... that it was no point... over gals like them.... but.... i seirously tried.... i took time off for them....
frankly, it was easier to sign the papers for them and just release them. "Good riddance" was an adjective used by someone else. Yes, it was easier, but that wasn't the point! They have to learn for crying out loud... Maybe it is easier to just not care. My life will be MUCH EASIER.... less traumatic....
Watever. I shall continue to irritate them and myself. Will be meanie and carry out disciplinary action tom. If I have to become such a meanie to carry my message across, so be it.
Current state: VERY SUPER DUPER EXTREMELY Crossed
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Of different professions...
Two professions came to my mind this two days as I look around me.
1. The Security Guard
Friday morn, I saw, the dark siluette of my sch's security guard at the gate, directing the gals to enter from the small gate instd of the one for the cars. I always enter by the other gate, so neva got to see him, or to notice his early-in-the-morn usual motions.
Friday afternn. I was busing home. Took a diff route. Passed by a condo. I saw a security guard sitting just outside the guardhouse on a stool.
I thot to myself, these pple, how are their jobs like? How do they pass their day? What goes through their minds each day as they go through the 'mundane?', 'fruitful?' hours.... mins.... secs...... Was this the job they really want to hold? If so, good. If not, why? Education? Age? given most of them are the retired pple....
2. The 'Pirates' in JB
I was in JB w a fren today (identity will not b disclosed given contents of tis entry). In our 'Katong' area, as expected, as we pass by these 'pirates' they will go 'Ms, wan to watch shows? Come tis way.. we have many shows.'
My fren had to buy dvds for my fren's fren. So we popped in some of these just to do some price comparisons. Much to our surprise, when we gave the name of the shows, they went 'Come inside here'. The door opens... and WOW! i mean... WOW! *laughs* {There's even a cam checking on activities outside} Tis repeats itself a second time at another shop. Did my fren manage to get the stuff? How wld I noe? I went to the bathroom.
We cont'd shopping. Suddenly, the shutters of ALL these 'pirates' shops are down. THey start sitting outside, talking on their mobiles. Business was as usual . They still ask passerbys the same qns. When anyone show interest, up goes the shutter. Prospective customers step in. Down comes the shutter. After some time, up goes the shutter. The customer/shopper exits. Down comes the shutter.
There was a sign on one of the shops saying.... Hiring employees. I wonder.... how are the lives of these 'pirates'?
As for me, I'm still a teacher, leaving my life. Monotonous at times, crazy at times, depressing at times, happy at times, contented at times...
How many possibilities and permutations of lives can there be out there? Only God knows.
1. The Security Guard
Friday morn, I saw, the dark siluette of my sch's security guard at the gate, directing the gals to enter from the small gate instd of the one for the cars. I always enter by the other gate, so neva got to see him, or to notice his early-in-the-morn usual motions.
Friday afternn. I was busing home. Took a diff route. Passed by a condo. I saw a security guard sitting just outside the guardhouse on a stool.
I thot to myself, these pple, how are their jobs like? How do they pass their day? What goes through their minds each day as they go through the 'mundane?', 'fruitful?' hours.... mins.... secs...... Was this the job they really want to hold? If so, good. If not, why? Education? Age? given most of them are the retired pple....
2. The 'Pirates' in JB
I was in JB w a fren today (identity will not b disclosed given contents of tis entry). In our 'Katong' area, as expected, as we pass by these 'pirates' they will go 'Ms, wan to watch shows? Come tis way.. we have many shows.'
My fren had to buy dvds for my fren's fren. So we popped in some of these just to do some price comparisons. Much to our surprise, when we gave the name of the shows, they went 'Come inside here'. The door opens... and WOW! i mean... WOW! *laughs* {There's even a cam checking on activities outside} Tis repeats itself a second time at another shop. Did my fren manage to get the stuff? How wld I noe? I went to the bathroom.
We cont'd shopping. Suddenly, the shutters of ALL these 'pirates' shops are down. THey start sitting outside, talking on their mobiles. Business was as usual . They still ask passerbys the same qns. When anyone show interest, up goes the shutter. Prospective customers step in. Down comes the shutter. After some time, up goes the shutter. The customer/shopper exits. Down comes the shutter.
There was a sign on one of the shops saying.... Hiring employees. I wonder.... how are the lives of these 'pirates'?
As for me, I'm still a teacher, leaving my life. Monotonous at times, crazy at times, depressing at times, happy at times, contented at times...
How many possibilities and permutations of lives can there be out there? Only God knows.
My Color
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Tuesday, January 25, 2005
post-26 December 2004
Humanity shows that it is still very much alive
People become more aware of what's outside their microenvironment
But... ...
Will people also become more indifferent to impacts of natural disasters in the future?
Would they need something of the same or greater magnitude, and visibility to move them?
People become more aware of what's outside their microenvironment
But... ...
Will people also become more indifferent to impacts of natural disasters in the future?
Would they need something of the same or greater magnitude, and visibility to move them?
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Life Goes On.......
like it or not.....
i can only do watever i can. circumstances where there's nothing I can do, i can only lift up to my Abba in prayers and trust, at the same time archiving watever memories that might keep me stuck.
meanwhile, life goes on.... and i hv to focus on wat i can work on.... in Him i pray....
i can only do watever i can. circumstances where there's nothing I can do, i can only lift up to my Abba in prayers and trust, at the same time archiving watever memories that might keep me stuck.
meanwhile, life goes on.... and i hv to focus on wat i can work on.... in Him i pray....
Saturday, January 22, 2005
My God, what have I done?
An sms... and ends it all....
3 years of happiness, sadness, disappointments, fears, difficulties
of laughter, of tears, of marking, of taking turns to assure each other and all....
An sms... and ends it all....
My God, what have I done?
3 years of happiness, sadness, disappointments, fears, difficulties
of laughter, of tears, of marking, of taking turns to assure each other and all....
An sms... and ends it all....
My God, what have I done?
Friday, January 21, 2005
Under the influence of drugs....
I'm awake for less than 8 hours today!!!!
Waking hours for today:
9.00 - 1030
2.00 - 4.45
6.30 til now
This is crazy! I'm a sleeping MONSTER!!!
I'm bored now. Have work, but can't do. Scared tonite cant sleep... *sob*
Waking hours for today:
9.00 - 1030
2.00 - 4.45
6.30 til now
This is crazy! I'm a sleeping MONSTER!!!
I'm bored now. Have work, but can't do. Scared tonite cant sleep... *sob*
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
Sunday, January 16, 2005
An answer to my qns posted on 1st Jan
What was God's heart in view of the tsunami disaster?
I quote an extract from Chua, M.H.'s article "Where was God when the tsunamis hit?" on today's copy of the Straits Times, which I thot addressed my question aptly (and summed up watever responses i have heard from others):
"Bonhoeffer's famous line puts it thus:'Man is challenged to participate in the sufferings of God at the hands of a godless world.'
To paraphrase that, I would say: Man is challenged to participate in the sufferings of others in a world seemingly without God.
For it is only through man's compassion that God can be seen in suffering and tragedy."
And I learnt one thing - it takes the step of faith to accept this answer, and I pray those around me (you know who you are) will take this step.
I quote an extract from Chua, M.H.'s article "Where was God when the tsunamis hit?" on today's copy of the Straits Times, which I thot addressed my question aptly (and summed up watever responses i have heard from others):
"Bonhoeffer's famous line puts it thus:'Man is challenged to participate in the sufferings of God at the hands of a godless world.'
To paraphrase that, I would say: Man is challenged to participate in the sufferings of others in a world seemingly without God.
For it is only through man's compassion that God can be seen in suffering and tragedy."
And I learnt one thing - it takes the step of faith to accept this answer, and I pray those around me (you know who you are) will take this step.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Disturbing...
Got some cds from a class during music lesson. Requested for them to bring music of different genres to share just in case I still cant screen Les Mis.
Cld screen Les Mis in the end so told them I'll take a look at the cds and familiarize myself with the genres I'm not familiar with myself first before we hold a sharing at a later stage.
One set of CDs let me feeling disturbed. I shall not name the title, or the performer (s). The graphics in the set is disturbing. Shows a performer loading up his gun, after performance shot at audience. Shows injured... frightened..... and dead audience. Finally, the performer shot himself point blank (or at least it was suggested that happened).
These are things kids today are listening today. Maybe its artistic. Its definitely alternative, somehow. But .... wat is this reflecting?
Current state: perturbed
Cld screen Les Mis in the end so told them I'll take a look at the cds and familiarize myself with the genres I'm not familiar with myself first before we hold a sharing at a later stage.
One set of CDs let me feeling disturbed. I shall not name the title, or the performer (s). The graphics in the set is disturbing. Shows a performer loading up his gun, after performance shot at audience. Shows injured... frightened..... and dead audience. Finally, the performer shot himself point blank (or at least it was suggested that happened).
These are things kids today are listening today. Maybe its artistic. Its definitely alternative, somehow. But .... wat is this reflecting?
Current state: perturbed
Friday, January 14, 2005
Highlights of d week....
1. wed - taking my first concrete step towards wat i'd like to do in my life. popped by an VNGO n had a short discussion w the wkers there. not bad.
2. wed - pink ipod arrived.
3. thur - took the wrong bus to sch. reached there on the DOT. journey there... panicky...
4. thur - had to fight for gals to get into guitar club. the process was.... chaotic n excruciating. at d same time, got thrown last min bombs of stuff to work on. almost like tsunami. it hits without warning. watever
5. fri - ana smsed last min to cancel dinner appt. my first rxn while in the staffroom "my fren just cancelled dinner appt... i hv no life". yup, fri nite stuck at home.
6. fri - two rebellious gals on the fon. u noe who u are. stop rebelling woman!
current state: alive, still hopeful, still dazed
2. wed - pink ipod arrived.
3. thur - took the wrong bus to sch. reached there on the DOT. journey there... panicky...
4. thur - had to fight for gals to get into guitar club. the process was.... chaotic n excruciating. at d same time, got thrown last min bombs of stuff to work on. almost like tsunami. it hits without warning. watever
5. fri - ana smsed last min to cancel dinner appt. my first rxn while in the staffroom "my fren just cancelled dinner appt... i hv no life". yup, fri nite stuck at home.
6. fri - two rebellious gals on the fon. u noe who u are. stop rebelling woman!
current state: alive, still hopeful, still dazed
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Obsolete? Inefficient? Up to date?
my insurance agent just sent me a table calender and small planner....
Which blog title shld i adopt?
1. Obsolete
2. Inefficient
3. Up to date?
Man, i tink i need to sleep.. i'm starting to crack up....
Which blog title shld i adopt?
1. Obsolete
2. Inefficient
3. Up to date?
Man, i tink i need to sleep.. i'm starting to crack up....
It is confirmed.... ....
I have made order and paid for my new ipod PINK!! :)
Life has been 'good'. Been busy, but happily occupied, tho beginning to feel the toil.
Tis afternn was spent interviewing gals who wanted to join guitar club. I expected chaos.. but there wasn't. out of over 70 gals, i cld only choose 15. I felt bad for the others.. many others i wanna give chances to.. but alas... thanks to the quota or watever i was given, i cldn't... :( strangely, i thot no one was interested in GC cos it has not too gd a reputation in sch compared to the more 'high profile n goodie' music grps in sch. in any case, suddenly i was given so much 'power' in determining who gets to be in the cca they wan for the next 4 yrs.... and at the final stage while ranking the 15 names, its like... i hardly noe them.. just based on impression and description scribbled... i type their names.. hardly meant a thing to me... i suppose tt's when these gals' prayers come to work ey... hmmm...
life without teaching english is seriously.... happier...
anywayz.... i'm getting my new ipod.... i'm getting busy with school.. at the same time, EC n i r looking at getting busy doing volunteer work and getting service learning for our schools in place eventually.
tired... but fairly fulfilled... as for now... i refuse to do work... hehz....
Life has been 'good'. Been busy, but happily occupied, tho beginning to feel the toil.
Tis afternn was spent interviewing gals who wanted to join guitar club. I expected chaos.. but there wasn't. out of over 70 gals, i cld only choose 15. I felt bad for the others.. many others i wanna give chances to.. but alas... thanks to the quota or watever i was given, i cldn't... :( strangely, i thot no one was interested in GC cos it has not too gd a reputation in sch compared to the more 'high profile n goodie' music grps in sch. in any case, suddenly i was given so much 'power' in determining who gets to be in the cca they wan for the next 4 yrs.... and at the final stage while ranking the 15 names, its like... i hardly noe them.. just based on impression and description scribbled... i type their names.. hardly meant a thing to me... i suppose tt's when these gals' prayers come to work ey... hmmm...
life without teaching english is seriously.... happier...
anywayz.... i'm getting my new ipod.... i'm getting busy with school.. at the same time, EC n i r looking at getting busy doing volunteer work and getting service learning for our schools in place eventually.
tired... but fairly fulfilled... as for now... i refuse to do work... hehz....
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Look ahead, XT, look ahead....
I revisited some of the things which happened last year.... I saw mistakes I've made... This time round, the mistakes came evidently, clearly to me... Do I regret my mistakes? I shouldn't. Because these mistakes are sort of blessings in disguise. But... I can't help feeling blue for that....
Things have been hectic this week, but overall I must say, there are many things I have before me... Things to look ahead to.... There's no room or time to look back, whine and get stuck... Move on XT.... *sigh*
Things have been hectic this week, but overall I must say, there are many things I have before me... Things to look ahead to.... There's no room or time to look back, whine and get stuck... Move on XT.... *sigh*
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Humbug....
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
Butterflies taste with their feet.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
New Year
Continuation of the attack of the pink... I just bidded for a pink ipod on ebay. I'm mad, yes, that's what doing SOW til this time of the nite does to one, it wipes out any form of sanity...
1st Jan started out with... no boom... no fireworks... felt really crappy by the time evening hits. did silly things like doing up my 2005 online calender... trying to nap... setting up my webcam (which still doesn't work.. *grumbles*).. just refusing to do wat is urgent.. my SOW and the like. lol. Thankfully, managed to get out at nite w EC n thamps. great to catch up before we all start going MIA hidden under piles of... watever... lol
1st Jan has past. I still have no new year resolution(s). I have slight inkling wat i wanna do in the long term after teaching, but cant see the way. After today, talking to thamps fren, i felt more hopeful. :) still no resolution, but at least a bitta direction. that's good i hope.
tink i can get up for church later? hmm... need another miracle like on the 26th. tis time, a bigger one.
current state: insane
1st Jan started out with... no boom... no fireworks... felt really crappy by the time evening hits. did silly things like doing up my 2005 online calender... trying to nap... setting up my webcam (which still doesn't work.. *grumbles*).. just refusing to do wat is urgent.. my SOW and the like. lol. Thankfully, managed to get out at nite w EC n thamps. great to catch up before we all start going MIA hidden under piles of... watever... lol
1st Jan has past. I still have no new year resolution(s). I have slight inkling wat i wanna do in the long term after teaching, but cant see the way. After today, talking to thamps fren, i felt more hopeful. :) still no resolution, but at least a bitta direction. that's good i hope.
tink i can get up for church later? hmm... need another miracle like on the 26th. tis time, a bigger one.
current state: insane
Saturday, January 01, 2005
PINK ATTACK!!!!!
I have no idea wat's gotten into me!! Suddenly I'm crazy about pink!!! I've just changed my online calender's color setting as well as my msn's windows' colors to PINK!!! PASTEL & SWEET PINK!!! If I am hardworking enough, i'd soon change my blogger settings to pink too.... wats come over me... gosh!
Friday, December 31, 2004
Questions beyond my comprehension
As the year come to a close, I am challenged with some things concerning the natural and yet not-so-natural world which I haven't found the answers to/resolve.
1. Natural - The Tsunami
I have always marvelled at the awesomeness of God whenever I get to see the handicraft of His hand. Tis year alone, I got to look under the sea, the tallest snow-capped mountains, slugs, and the familiar and new sights of flowers and trees I'm familiar with. The tsunami that just struck the coasts of many countries and islands, causing large scale devastations (an understatement of course!) Like the mountains and coral colony etc, it is natural. Can I say I'm awed by God? Perhaps,..., not really actually.... How are we supposed to look at God's glory in nature in this case? Its nature too... but..... I question at the same time, what is the Father's heart in relation to this matter? How does He look at this event when He allowed that to happen?
2. Natural and Not-so-natural
This is based on my interest on the infinite possibilities of life stirred up by a discussion (slight debate) with DR tis afternn. Its pretty complex and it'll be difficult for me to lay out the points and my final take but I shall make a feeble attempt to here.
Cosmology. According to DR, time is relative (and I agree to a pretty high extent). Each man is bound by time which offers infinite possibilities. That, I agree too. The way our lives take place are tightly woven into the cosmology, meaning, someone out there who's born at exactly the same time as I am have a similar cosmic, meaning, we will have similar occurances in different parts of the world. We might be doing similar things at this very moment, but bound by opportunities and situational factors and the infinity given by time, we might be doing different things, but at some other point of time, our lives will converge at certain crossroads and end up doing something similar.
I never believe in horoscopes because to me, it means that there are only 12 kinds of personalities in the world. At the same time, they serve more as entertainment and possibly self-fulfilling prophecies, consciously or subconsciously. However, the fact that even a machine can 'calculate' accurately (detailed) occurances in one's life {i cant argue spirits if predicted by fortune tellers} makes one wonder about cosmology. The fact that ancient civilizations spread across the earth evidence heavy influence (to the point of dependence) of cosmology surely meant there's something about it more than just useless calculations?
DR's propositions stop at... relativism. The stars sort of influence our path but time is infinite. Possibilities are infinite. But I cannot stop there, because, much as I like what relativism has to offer, there is the ABSOLUTE, who is the Truth, and that is God. I cannot stop at "everything's what you perceive it to be".
I do not claim to know this well. In fact, I'm fairly clueless. But what had been said holds some water based on historical and experiences of people. My take for now - perhaps cosmology does reflect our lives. It reflects but not control/bind our destiny. Because out there (beyond many's comprehension, mine only goes by faith) lies the One who controls the cosmology, the very path and site of each star. That's where the Absolute comes in. That's my take for now - till more is revealed. Like I will have the brains and time to tink further.
Anywayz, I have been mulling over these from 2004 into 2005. Its 12.03am now. Whoever's reading my contemplations and still awake, or lucid *chuckles* Merry new year!! lol... Why merry? I dunno... Blessed new year. :)
oh.... views on these are very appreciated. :)
1. Natural - The Tsunami
I have always marvelled at the awesomeness of God whenever I get to see the handicraft of His hand. Tis year alone, I got to look under the sea, the tallest snow-capped mountains, slugs, and the familiar and new sights of flowers and trees I'm familiar with. The tsunami that just struck the coasts of many countries and islands, causing large scale devastations (an understatement of course!) Like the mountains and coral colony etc, it is natural. Can I say I'm awed by God? Perhaps,..., not really actually.... How are we supposed to look at God's glory in nature in this case? Its nature too... but..... I question at the same time, what is the Father's heart in relation to this matter? How does He look at this event when He allowed that to happen?
2. Natural and Not-so-natural
This is based on my interest on the infinite possibilities of life stirred up by a discussion (slight debate) with DR tis afternn. Its pretty complex and it'll be difficult for me to lay out the points and my final take but I shall make a feeble attempt to here.
Cosmology. According to DR, time is relative (and I agree to a pretty high extent). Each man is bound by time which offers infinite possibilities. That, I agree too. The way our lives take place are tightly woven into the cosmology, meaning, someone out there who's born at exactly the same time as I am have a similar cosmic, meaning, we will have similar occurances in different parts of the world. We might be doing similar things at this very moment, but bound by opportunities and situational factors and the infinity given by time, we might be doing different things, but at some other point of time, our lives will converge at certain crossroads and end up doing something similar.
I never believe in horoscopes because to me, it means that there are only 12 kinds of personalities in the world. At the same time, they serve more as entertainment and possibly self-fulfilling prophecies, consciously or subconsciously. However, the fact that even a machine can 'calculate' accurately (detailed) occurances in one's life {i cant argue spirits if predicted by fortune tellers} makes one wonder about cosmology. The fact that ancient civilizations spread across the earth evidence heavy influence (to the point of dependence) of cosmology surely meant there's something about it more than just useless calculations?
DR's propositions stop at... relativism. The stars sort of influence our path but time is infinite. Possibilities are infinite. But I cannot stop there, because, much as I like what relativism has to offer, there is the ABSOLUTE, who is the Truth, and that is God. I cannot stop at "everything's what you perceive it to be".
I do not claim to know this well. In fact, I'm fairly clueless. But what had been said holds some water based on historical and experiences of people. My take for now - perhaps cosmology does reflect our lives. It reflects but not control/bind our destiny. Because out there (beyond many's comprehension, mine only goes by faith) lies the One who controls the cosmology, the very path and site of each star. That's where the Absolute comes in. That's my take for now - till more is revealed. Like I will have the brains and time to tink further.
Anywayz, I have been mulling over these from 2004 into 2005. Its 12.03am now. Whoever's reading my contemplations and still awake, or lucid *chuckles* Merry new year!! lol... Why merry? I dunno... Blessed new year. :)
oh.... views on these are very appreciated. :)
Thursday, December 30, 2004
I Want To Know You
Who are You
You who brought me out of darkness
Who are You
You who gave me life anew
Who are You
You give me freedom and hope in life
I want to know You
Who are You
You touched my soul each time I come
Who are You
You who healed my broken heart
Who are You I call on everyday You are there
Chorus 1:
Jesus, Father, Spirit
I want to know You
Savior, Abba, Counselor
I want to know You
Instrument Interlude
Chorus 2:
Jesus, Lamb of God, Lovely Kindness
You are my Lord
Bridge:
I want to know You
I want to know You Lord
Show me Your face
Chorus3:
Jesus, Father, Spirit
Show me Your face
I want to know You
This my prayer to You O Lord in the coming new year... Who are You?
You who brought me out of darkness
Who are You
You who gave me life anew
Who are You
You give me freedom and hope in life
I want to know You
Who are You
You touched my soul each time I come
Who are You
You who healed my broken heart
Who are You I call on everyday You are there
Chorus 1:
Jesus, Father, Spirit
I want to know You
Savior, Abba, Counselor
I want to know You
Instrument Interlude
Chorus 2:
Jesus, Lamb of God, Lovely Kindness
You are my Lord
Bridge:
I want to know You
I want to know You Lord
Show me Your face
Chorus3:
Jesus, Father, Spirit
Show me Your face
I want to know You
This my prayer to You O Lord in the coming new year... Who are You?
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
gingerbread man
i am eating a gingerbread man now. its right leg. mua ha ha....
actually, its weird eating a gingerbread man!! G gave me one on my bday. its so cute, seriously.
i just decided to take it out to munch on. looking at it, i did not noe where to start from! so i started with the left arm. but after breaking it off, two things. one, it does not look cute anymore, in fact pathetic. two, its so weird to be eating a gingerbread man!! i mean, limbs are easier, how on earth does one go about eating its head?!?! so cruel!!!
or maybe, i just think too much...
actually, its weird eating a gingerbread man!! G gave me one on my bday. its so cute, seriously.
i just decided to take it out to munch on. looking at it, i did not noe where to start from! so i started with the left arm. but after breaking it off, two things. one, it does not look cute anymore, in fact pathetic. two, its so weird to be eating a gingerbread man!! i mean, limbs are easier, how on earth does one go about eating its head?!?! so cruel!!!
or maybe, i just think too much...
Good news....
I'll be out of Eng for at least one semester... will be taking another level of Geog instead. :) Still hv to complete eng stuff for this year, but i'm happy enough.... now i dun hv to spend my time waiting ard for pple to be ready.... efficiency has been absent w those i've worked in.. so i'm really glad to move on to Geog. temporal, but good enough. :)
OPERATION CLEANUP
it was operation cleanup most of the day.... decided to clear up my place before new year comes (or work starts tom). see, i'm a sentimental junkie, pun intended for JUNK. i collect junk, like nice wedding invites, outdated presents from frens (2003 calender?!?), nice packagings of my previous mobiles and so forth.
today, i took out a trash bag and started trashing, things that i wldn't notice are gone after trashing. i'm still a sentimental junkie, so there are still things i ought to trash but have not done so. but fairly proud of my achievement compared to previous attempts. so now my room is a LITTLE roomier than previously... :) getting ready for new year!!
today, i took out a trash bag and started trashing, things that i wldn't notice are gone after trashing. i'm still a sentimental junkie, so there are still things i ought to trash but have not done so. but fairly proud of my achievement compared to previous attempts. so now my room is a LITTLE roomier than previously... :) getting ready for new year!!
Mango sale.... ....
*SHIVERS*
was out w ana for the evening. accompanying her for the mango sale. we went to ALL FOUR outlets in orchard... (to tink i thot i missed out christmas in town, now, a tad overdose *chuckles*) see, i dun rush down to mango sale like many do. in fact, i avoid it. this had been my first mango sale and not many ahead. will only go down for pple worth my company for. :P
had dinner at OD and guess who i bumped into??? some of my music classmates!! after dinner w ana, joined the noise-producing-gang for a drink.. it was nice to catch up again.. to see each other freshened before most of us start our work again TOMORROW... bleah. *laughs*
anywayz, during dinner w ana, we had a good talk. its farnie actually. previously during our last outing, she was worried for me.. worried that i was having such a good time being single i'll neva wanna get settled down. after tonite, she understood that its not that i dun wanna get settled down. its just, i'm in no hurry (because, per-lease, how do you hurry tis kind of matter?) see, if there no one there, den enjoy life as it is!! if the rite person comes along, den i suppose u enjoy life in a different manner? the point is, i'm learning to appreciate whichever situation i'm in. but we also spoke deeper abt stuff, leaving me feel a little bruised. hehz... but tt's life lah huh? well, new year ahead, means new things ahead too. look ahead!! in any case, its always nice to catch up w ana.... maybe i shld just take her advice and 'jump'. lol
i'm still no fan of mango sales... it takes someone i treasure for me to go for them... *chuckles*
Current Mood: bruised
was out w ana for the evening. accompanying her for the mango sale. we went to ALL FOUR outlets in orchard... (to tink i thot i missed out christmas in town, now, a tad overdose *chuckles*) see, i dun rush down to mango sale like many do. in fact, i avoid it. this had been my first mango sale and not many ahead. will only go down for pple worth my company for. :P
had dinner at OD and guess who i bumped into??? some of my music classmates!! after dinner w ana, joined the noise-producing-gang for a drink.. it was nice to catch up again.. to see each other freshened before most of us start our work again TOMORROW... bleah. *laughs*
anywayz, during dinner w ana, we had a good talk. its farnie actually. previously during our last outing, she was worried for me.. worried that i was having such a good time being single i'll neva wanna get settled down. after tonite, she understood that its not that i dun wanna get settled down. its just, i'm in no hurry (because, per-lease, how do you hurry tis kind of matter?) see, if there no one there, den enjoy life as it is!! if the rite person comes along, den i suppose u enjoy life in a different manner? the point is, i'm learning to appreciate whichever situation i'm in. but we also spoke deeper abt stuff, leaving me feel a little bruised. hehz... but tt's life lah huh? well, new year ahead, means new things ahead too. look ahead!! in any case, its always nice to catch up w ana.... maybe i shld just take her advice and 'jump'. lol
i'm still no fan of mango sales... it takes someone i treasure for me to go for them... *chuckles*
Current Mood: bruised
Sunday, December 26, 2004
tis yr's Christmas and bday....
when i toucheddown on 23 nite, or i shld say when i got home on Christmas eve, i was like... Christmas, wat Christmas?
In any case, it had been 3 days jam packed with times spent with frens and i must say, as with last year, I am really thankful for my frens, and how God has been faithful despite my faithlessness and unfaithfulness.
24th evening met up w sandfly. found a nice and quiet place w good food. :)
Christmas... managed to 'drag' myself to church. 'drag' because i'm used to not waking early just to go to church. but i noe i have to go. :) it was nice meeting frens. had a short family dinner. after which, met up with my diving frens. they were so sweet, they actually waited til like 12 to wish me bday. by the time i got back it was like 3. but it was a good nite. as usual, they were trying to teach me the 'ways of politics in work'.... having to not only manage my students, but to 'manage my boss'. lol.. but tt'll b a challenge...
tis morn, somehow, i dunno, must b His divine grace, somehow i made it to church, albeit a little late. quite nice to catch up w ana a little. she gave me cookies!! man.. i'm suckered for cookies.. even w sorethroat.. i went on munching (urm, E, i've finished those u baked. :P) had lunch w P. we realized we prob hvn't met up for a meal for 2 years?!? evening met G for dinner. also been a long time since we met. at first were wandering round AIMLESSLY in orchard (yeah, i finally saw the christmassy orchard) til we were both sian but din say anything abt it. den ended up in M9 for dinner. i overate the dessert. :P evening was more subdued than usual, than our previous meetings. guess we've changed? but as i said gal, it not wat we do but the company tt matters. thanks. :)
all in all, i had a good time meeting up w pple... i tink i've put on a couple of pounds... told myself its the festive season plus my bday so can indulge... but urm.. tink i'd better stop man.
oh, guess wat? i got something from my christmas wish list!!! i mean, i wrote it down for fun, not expecting anyone to get the stuff.. seriously, but E got me a dive sausage!!! thanks!!! i'll definitely learn to launch it during my next dive! :)
as i've mentioned to a couple of frens, i'm thankful for the trip. it was a good break, and a badly needed one as some of u oredi noe. :) my prayer was to see God during the trip, and He answered my prayer, in a subtle manner. i still dunno wat holds ahead, wat challenges i might face, how i might respond to them, victorious or defeated, but i noe one thing, that is that He is faithful, and unchanging, and also thank you to all who have been praying for me.
Current mood: Bliss
In any case, it had been 3 days jam packed with times spent with frens and i must say, as with last year, I am really thankful for my frens, and how God has been faithful despite my faithlessness and unfaithfulness.
24th evening met up w sandfly. found a nice and quiet place w good food. :)
Christmas... managed to 'drag' myself to church. 'drag' because i'm used to not waking early just to go to church. but i noe i have to go. :) it was nice meeting frens. had a short family dinner. after which, met up with my diving frens. they were so sweet, they actually waited til like 12 to wish me bday. by the time i got back it was like 3. but it was a good nite. as usual, they were trying to teach me the 'ways of politics in work'.... having to not only manage my students, but to 'manage my boss'. lol.. but tt'll b a challenge...
tis morn, somehow, i dunno, must b His divine grace, somehow i made it to church, albeit a little late. quite nice to catch up w ana a little. she gave me cookies!! man.. i'm suckered for cookies.. even w sorethroat.. i went on munching (urm, E, i've finished those u baked. :P) had lunch w P. we realized we prob hvn't met up for a meal for 2 years?!? evening met G for dinner. also been a long time since we met. at first were wandering round AIMLESSLY in orchard (yeah, i finally saw the christmassy orchard) til we were both sian but din say anything abt it. den ended up in M9 for dinner. i overate the dessert. :P evening was more subdued than usual, than our previous meetings. guess we've changed? but as i said gal, it not wat we do but the company tt matters. thanks. :)
all in all, i had a good time meeting up w pple... i tink i've put on a couple of pounds... told myself its the festive season plus my bday so can indulge... but urm.. tink i'd better stop man.
oh, guess wat? i got something from my christmas wish list!!! i mean, i wrote it down for fun, not expecting anyone to get the stuff.. seriously, but E got me a dive sausage!!! thanks!!! i'll definitely learn to launch it during my next dive! :)
as i've mentioned to a couple of frens, i'm thankful for the trip. it was a good break, and a badly needed one as some of u oredi noe. :) my prayer was to see God during the trip, and He answered my prayer, in a subtle manner. i still dunno wat holds ahead, wat challenges i might face, how i might respond to them, victorious or defeated, but i noe one thing, that is that He is faithful, and unchanging, and also thank you to all who have been praying for me.
Current mood: Bliss
Friday, December 24, 2004
Of Nepal... Chapter Two
1. Of checkpoints
Level of security at checkpoints intensified with each day I'm there. Has gotta do with the Maoist movement. We got stuck in Pokhara an extra day cos the maoist declared 2-day strike, roads were closed. When we travelled back to Kathmandu a day later than scheduled, we got stuck mid-way cos apparently 10km ahead, was a clash between the maoist n the army!! a bus was bombed.. saw the bombed out bus and another bombed out depression on the road (the day earlier) later when we were finally allowed to pass hours later. BUT I DIGRESS.... lol... see... checkpoints are everywhere... in the beginning, at checkpoints, the army police merely popped in his head into our vehicle and inspect the passengers... Later part of my trip after the insurgence, all the locals who were travelling would have to get down their bus/whichver vehicles and have their baggage searched, followed by a body search. I am not talking abt major airport baggage search. its just any other road... but yes, there are these searches.... and i've neva gone thro such thorough search in airports before... at the airport... i was frisked thrice! (the last one just before we board the plane on the apron!)...had my hand carry thoroughly searched as well!! i was ticklish.. so the security officer who frisked me the second time round at the apron area recognized me. once she saw me.. she laughed... *chuckles*
2. Of simplicity and choices
On the mountains, life is simple. You reach your destination for the day, either relax (if early) or just have your dinner. The sun sets at 5.30pm. Thereafter, there'll be nothing to do. I try to read in my room by the candle, until the cold forces me to stop reading as even my gloved fingers are frozen stiff. Choice of food? Not much. But I liked that. When we finished the trek, back in more 'civilized' areas, I was suddenly slapped with choices... so many choices!! Choice of food... choice of activity... choice of which shop to go into.... choice of what to buy.... Suddenly I was at a loss.... confused... :) I miss my simple life... :)
3. Of sherpas and others
Clearing a misconception. People think that all mountain guides are sherpas. They are not. Sherpa is just an ethnic group. Perhaps why pple mistakenly relate guides/porters with sherpas has got to do with the first man who mounted Mt Everest Sir Edmund Hillary did it with a sherpa? But no, they can include other ethnic groups as well. :) Malang, my mountain guide for example is a Tamang. My two nice porters, Puchong and Nima, however, are sherpas.
4. Of traversing the mountains
According to Lonely Planet (i cannot locate the page), trekking in most mountains means going round the mountain and up. In Nepal however, trekking in the mountains, means trekking UP and DOWN the mountains, LITERALLY. To get to the other side, means I have to go all the way down, and then up. I have no idea how many mountains we've gone up and down. But the most testing one was on Day 2 of trek, from Pottana, 1900m, we went down to approx a 1000m high valley, followed by a seemingly endless ascend (may i emphasize, steep) to approx 2000m peak for rest. I was just glad that wasn't repeated everyday of the trek. *laughs*
5. Of a modern & strong Nepali lady
I met this lady..She's 28, but has seen more than enough of the ugly world a 28-year-old should have seen. At 15, she was married as her husband threatened to kill her parents. Given that her husband was of a lower caste than her, she was ousted out of the house. Now, she's divorced, with two children. Husband used to beat her up, and now has a new wife. She cldn't return home. Worked hard for her children. Just embarked on a new form of 'employment' selling tibetan jewelry so that she can be home at nite for children. Still, inexperience and the fact tt she's sincere and not a tibetan, its difficult in this line. All she wanted, was good education for her children. She may come from the village, not be educated, etc. But the way I see it, the way I hear her, she is definitely a modern, strong and beautify lady...
6. My name is not called 'pen'.
Kids in the village are used to trekkers giving them pencils, pens, chocolates, sweets... so it is not uncommon to have kids passing by greeting you 'Namaste pen?'
'Nameste sweet?'..... I din like wat i see... seriously... wat have we done to kids? anyhow, i only gave away pencils to those who did not ask for it, those who are sincere is just greeting. ... but den again, am i going to be a guilty culprit causing this one child i've given a pencil start going 'Namaste pen?'... i hope not... :(
Level of security at checkpoints intensified with each day I'm there. Has gotta do with the Maoist movement. We got stuck in Pokhara an extra day cos the maoist declared 2-day strike, roads were closed. When we travelled back to Kathmandu a day later than scheduled, we got stuck mid-way cos apparently 10km ahead, was a clash between the maoist n the army!! a bus was bombed.. saw the bombed out bus and another bombed out depression on the road (the day earlier) later when we were finally allowed to pass hours later. BUT I DIGRESS.... lol... see... checkpoints are everywhere... in the beginning, at checkpoints, the army police merely popped in his head into our vehicle and inspect the passengers... Later part of my trip after the insurgence, all the locals who were travelling would have to get down their bus/whichver vehicles and have their baggage searched, followed by a body search. I am not talking abt major airport baggage search. its just any other road... but yes, there are these searches.... and i've neva gone thro such thorough search in airports before... at the airport... i was frisked thrice! (the last one just before we board the plane on the apron!)...had my hand carry thoroughly searched as well!! i was ticklish.. so the security officer who frisked me the second time round at the apron area recognized me. once she saw me.. she laughed... *chuckles*
2. Of simplicity and choices
On the mountains, life is simple. You reach your destination for the day, either relax (if early) or just have your dinner. The sun sets at 5.30pm. Thereafter, there'll be nothing to do. I try to read in my room by the candle, until the cold forces me to stop reading as even my gloved fingers are frozen stiff. Choice of food? Not much. But I liked that. When we finished the trek, back in more 'civilized' areas, I was suddenly slapped with choices... so many choices!! Choice of food... choice of activity... choice of which shop to go into.... choice of what to buy.... Suddenly I was at a loss.... confused... :) I miss my simple life... :)
3. Of sherpas and others
Clearing a misconception. People think that all mountain guides are sherpas. They are not. Sherpa is just an ethnic group. Perhaps why pple mistakenly relate guides/porters with sherpas has got to do with the first man who mounted Mt Everest Sir Edmund Hillary did it with a sherpa? But no, they can include other ethnic groups as well. :) Malang, my mountain guide for example is a Tamang. My two nice porters, Puchong and Nima, however, are sherpas.
4. Of traversing the mountains
According to Lonely Planet (i cannot locate the page), trekking in most mountains means going round the mountain and up. In Nepal however, trekking in the mountains, means trekking UP and DOWN the mountains, LITERALLY. To get to the other side, means I have to go all the way down, and then up. I have no idea how many mountains we've gone up and down. But the most testing one was on Day 2 of trek, from Pottana, 1900m, we went down to approx a 1000m high valley, followed by a seemingly endless ascend (may i emphasize, steep) to approx 2000m peak for rest. I was just glad that wasn't repeated everyday of the trek. *laughs*
5. Of a modern & strong Nepali lady
I met this lady..She's 28, but has seen more than enough of the ugly world a 28-year-old should have seen. At 15, she was married as her husband threatened to kill her parents. Given that her husband was of a lower caste than her, she was ousted out of the house. Now, she's divorced, with two children. Husband used to beat her up, and now has a new wife. She cldn't return home. Worked hard for her children. Just embarked on a new form of 'employment' selling tibetan jewelry so that she can be home at nite for children. Still, inexperience and the fact tt she's sincere and not a tibetan, its difficult in this line. All she wanted, was good education for her children. She may come from the village, not be educated, etc. But the way I see it, the way I hear her, she is definitely a modern, strong and beautify lady...
6. My name is not called 'pen'.
Kids in the village are used to trekkers giving them pencils, pens, chocolates, sweets... so it is not uncommon to have kids passing by greeting you 'Namaste pen?'
'Nameste sweet?'..... I din like wat i see... seriously... wat have we done to kids? anyhow, i only gave away pencils to those who did not ask for it, those who are sincere is just greeting. ... but den again, am i going to be a guilty culprit causing this one child i've given a pencil start going 'Namaste pen?'... i hope not... :(
Of Nepal....
1. Of rapids & drains
We did rafting across rapids. Highest grade was 3+, so no big deal. Out of curiousity, i asked my guide cum instructor whether he knew how rapids were formed. I would teach my students that rapids are resultant features from presence of riverbeds with bands of rocks with different resistance. (or something like that, cant phrase it correctly now). He's answer was interesting.... Using limited amt of vocab, he explained to me that... underneath the river are drains.... Same concept, different expression. :)
2. Of hills & mountains
We started our trek at about 1500m. Technically speaking, we are oredi on mountains. I stood amazed at the endless mountain ranges as far as my eyes can see... my guide Malang pointed out to us when i referred to those ahead of me as mountains... 'Those are not mountains, they are JUST HILLS." To them, mountains would encompass big buddies like Everest, Daulakiri, etc, snowcapped ones.. the rest... could be 3000m in height, etc, but they are only hills in comparison to those rising above 6000m. In sch, i teach my kids, hills are 600m and below, mountains above 600m. Den again, wat gives me the right to tell my guide that he is wrong? He is more right than anyone of us given the context of where he comes from.... where 2000m highlands are considered midgits.... :)
3. Of the smell.... of smoke..
I realized that in Nepal, whether you are in the city, or the mountains, you will smell smoky (as long as there is 'civilization' or, presence of human). However, smokiness can be differentiated as well. In city, the smokey smell comes from incense... offered in temples... in small worship corners dedicated to their gods along the streets.. everywhere... or worse, cremation... (i witnessed one, it wasn't pleasant, more thots abt it later).... In the hills, smoke comes from burnt firewood.. for warmth.. for cooking... Wherever I got, I smell of smoke... but I'll definitely prefer the latter over the former for obvious reasons....
4. Of Karmasutra
This is a joke. I mean, a sad joke lah. At Dubar Square, our self-declared guide Toya was pointing out to the roof of one of the temples (out of the many in that small area!! very bizarre area!!), saying, if you note, underneath that carving is the carving of karmasutra.... I looked hard... very hard.... Looking for something 'sutra-like'. Sutra to me is like.. scriptures? Am i wrong? I DUNNO!! Anyhow, I cldn't find any inscriptions etc.. and i looked REALLY hard.. and I asked him... "Wat's karmasutra?" My travelmate was shocked! Both of them were embarassed... more for me than anyone else.... *chuckles* But hell, I REALLY DUNNO WAT IT WAS!!! only heard of makan sutra wat... so karmasutra shhld be something like karma-sutra (scripture for karma/doing good?) Oh watever. i noe wat it is now.. *laughs*
Many many more thots but I'm way too tired to post for now... Overall, its been a good trip... Amongst the many things, the mountains are my favorite!! :) Still loading up my fotos, will take days to get things done (if i can even find time to!!) Those interetsed in seeing the pics, email me. :)
We did rafting across rapids. Highest grade was 3+, so no big deal. Out of curiousity, i asked my guide cum instructor whether he knew how rapids were formed. I would teach my students that rapids are resultant features from presence of riverbeds with bands of rocks with different resistance. (or something like that, cant phrase it correctly now). He's answer was interesting.... Using limited amt of vocab, he explained to me that... underneath the river are drains.... Same concept, different expression. :)
2. Of hills & mountains
We started our trek at about 1500m. Technically speaking, we are oredi on mountains. I stood amazed at the endless mountain ranges as far as my eyes can see... my guide Malang pointed out to us when i referred to those ahead of me as mountains... 'Those are not mountains, they are JUST HILLS." To them, mountains would encompass big buddies like Everest, Daulakiri, etc, snowcapped ones.. the rest... could be 3000m in height, etc, but they are only hills in comparison to those rising above 6000m. In sch, i teach my kids, hills are 600m and below, mountains above 600m. Den again, wat gives me the right to tell my guide that he is wrong? He is more right than anyone of us given the context of where he comes from.... where 2000m highlands are considered midgits.... :)
3. Of the smell.... of smoke..
I realized that in Nepal, whether you are in the city, or the mountains, you will smell smoky (as long as there is 'civilization' or, presence of human). However, smokiness can be differentiated as well. In city, the smokey smell comes from incense... offered in temples... in small worship corners dedicated to their gods along the streets.. everywhere... or worse, cremation... (i witnessed one, it wasn't pleasant, more thots abt it later).... In the hills, smoke comes from burnt firewood.. for warmth.. for cooking... Wherever I got, I smell of smoke... but I'll definitely prefer the latter over the former for obvious reasons....
4. Of Karmasutra
This is a joke. I mean, a sad joke lah. At Dubar Square, our self-declared guide Toya was pointing out to the roof of one of the temples (out of the many in that small area!! very bizarre area!!), saying, if you note, underneath that carving is the carving of karmasutra.... I looked hard... very hard.... Looking for something 'sutra-like'. Sutra to me is like.. scriptures? Am i wrong? I DUNNO!! Anyhow, I cldn't find any inscriptions etc.. and i looked REALLY hard.. and I asked him... "Wat's karmasutra?" My travelmate was shocked! Both of them were embarassed... more for me than anyone else.... *chuckles* But hell, I REALLY DUNNO WAT IT WAS!!! only heard of makan sutra wat... so karmasutra shhld be something like karma-sutra (scripture for karma/doing good?) Oh watever. i noe wat it is now.. *laughs*
Many many more thots but I'm way too tired to post for now... Overall, its been a good trip... Amongst the many things, the mountains are my favorite!! :) Still loading up my fotos, will take days to get things done (if i can even find time to!!) Those interetsed in seeing the pics, email me. :)
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Nepal.... here i come!!!!
I cant believe my wish had come true.... Unbelievable!!! Din realize that its reality until a couple of hours ago when on my way to change currency... in approx 16 hours.... i will touchdown!! The feeling is quite strange actually. the last time i was away for over a week was last year in Thailand... strangely, i'm gonna miss my frens!!! weird isn't it? always thot i've wanted to be away... but when its here, its so surreal. *laughs*
wat will i come back w? .... ... ....
in any case, final packing done. uploaded fotos n cleared my flashcard, charged the batts, test-walked GR's army boots and it failed the test inflicting blisters, meaning... its trackshoes for trekking...
NEPAL HERE I COME!!!!
Current State: Esctatic
wat will i come back w? .... ... ....
in any case, final packing done. uploaded fotos n cleared my flashcard, charged the batts, test-walked GR's army boots and it failed the test inflicting blisters, meaning... its trackshoes for trekking...
NEPAL HERE I COME!!!!
Current State: Esctatic
here... and... there.....
a short continuation of yest's blog... in any case, cos of the late nite, EC n i did not manage to run at 6am as we wanted to (well we slept at 4am after watching Finding Nemo while drinking Corona w lemon we bought from Carrefour. It was a chill out and watever rubbish goes nite. lol). The funniest part was, we did not even hear the alarm go off!!! Suddenly, it was bright, i saw her at the door look at me asking 'guess wats the time now??' *laughs* late enough for me to jump out of bed, washup and get out so she wldn't b late for her meeting. anyhow, i was so dazed i wore my running shorts the front at the back! *laughs* and did not even realize it!! walking ard in the house until she burst out laughing... :) man.....
anyhow.... skip watever happened yest since (i baked!! ah ha ha) ... it was late nite again... nonetheless, i managed to get up early enough to meet my godbrother for breakfast. it was a good breakfast as we shared abt our lives here and there. i was encouraged. as usual, i am reminded that i need to tidy up my messy life... and my hope is... by next year... because, i can see the next year a better year, if i stop procrasinating, nuahing (according to bong's words) and 'rebelling'. have been in silent rebellion for too long. the road ahead though, is uncertain... and difficult...
FINALLY got down to my packing and more or less completed. just need to get some cash n change currency and i'm almost there.... actually... by the time i'm back.. the holidays would have ended.... how fast.... *sighz* wat on earth do i wan in my life?
Current state: Sleepy
anyhow.... skip watever happened yest since (i baked!! ah ha ha) ... it was late nite again... nonetheless, i managed to get up early enough to meet my godbrother for breakfast. it was a good breakfast as we shared abt our lives here and there. i was encouraged. as usual, i am reminded that i need to tidy up my messy life... and my hope is... by next year... because, i can see the next year a better year, if i stop procrasinating, nuahing (according to bong's words) and 'rebelling'. have been in silent rebellion for too long. the road ahead though, is uncertain... and difficult...
FINALLY got down to my packing and more or less completed. just need to get some cash n change currency and i'm almost there.... actually... by the time i'm back.. the holidays would have ended.... how fast.... *sighz* wat on earth do i wan in my life?
Current state: Sleepy
Date: 7 Dec 2004
Time: 9:56am
Venue: Clinic in Tampines
Waiting for my turn to see the doctor. This is the ‘da-pai’ doctor where you have to wait for hours, which explains why I’m doing my blog here and now.
Finally, I’ve compiled PART of the Eng SOW, while waiting for the doc. This is seriously the best that I can do for now, the rest have to wait til I’m back from Nepal.
Super-duper sleepy now. Just trying to stay awake til I reach home later. *laughs* Yesterday was an amazing day. Was supposed to meet up w JT, my godbrother for dinner, but plans were changed when I realized that I seriously had a lot of things to do for my Nepal trip.
Checklist:
Take foto
Buy stuff for the children there
Clear my memory card n charge my camera batt.
Get extra batts for torch.
Change currency for visa.
Get book and boots from GR.
PACK!
In any case, I was supposed to go and collect my air tix etc yesterday at Chinatown. Managed to drag EC to accompany me down. It was actually more for us to catch up cos we had been running around such that our schedules did not allow for us to meet, so this was the one slot where both of us are in town and sort of available. After meeting up with her for a while at the agency, I sort of know that, hey, just two hours are not gonna be enough. We’ll somehow just stick around for hours. Plus the fact that I realized that I’m SUPER ILL-PREPARED for the trip in terms of the things I need to get, I had to call up JT and arrange for another time instead.
EC and I then planned to get my stuff, go for a run… dinner… Later the plan was changed to get stuff, dinner…. Go my place to collect my stuff and run in east coast in the nite, and I’ll stayover… but by the time I tried out all the little beanie for my head, gloves etc etc.. (totally exhausted!!) and reached my place…. It was like 11 plus!! So no running. We were exhausted… but managed to make our way to her place. Hey, bus 10 and 14 resumed its route on nicol highway. Cool!
Oops… my turn to see doc.. she’s fast today… laterz….
Time: 9:56am
Venue: Clinic in Tampines
Waiting for my turn to see the doctor. This is the ‘da-pai’ doctor where you have to wait for hours, which explains why I’m doing my blog here and now.
Finally, I’ve compiled PART of the Eng SOW, while waiting for the doc. This is seriously the best that I can do for now, the rest have to wait til I’m back from Nepal.
Super-duper sleepy now. Just trying to stay awake til I reach home later. *laughs* Yesterday was an amazing day. Was supposed to meet up w JT, my godbrother for dinner, but plans were changed when I realized that I seriously had a lot of things to do for my Nepal trip.
Checklist:
Take foto
Buy stuff for the children there
Clear my memory card n charge my camera batt.
Get extra batts for torch.
Change currency for visa.
Get book and boots from GR.
PACK!
In any case, I was supposed to go and collect my air tix etc yesterday at Chinatown. Managed to drag EC to accompany me down. It was actually more for us to catch up cos we had been running around such that our schedules did not allow for us to meet, so this was the one slot where both of us are in town and sort of available. After meeting up with her for a while at the agency, I sort of know that, hey, just two hours are not gonna be enough. We’ll somehow just stick around for hours. Plus the fact that I realized that I’m SUPER ILL-PREPARED for the trip in terms of the things I need to get, I had to call up JT and arrange for another time instead.
EC and I then planned to get my stuff, go for a run… dinner… Later the plan was changed to get stuff, dinner…. Go my place to collect my stuff and run in east coast in the nite, and I’ll stayover… but by the time I tried out all the little beanie for my head, gloves etc etc.. (totally exhausted!!) and reached my place…. It was like 11 plus!! So no running. We were exhausted… but managed to make our way to her place. Hey, bus 10 and 14 resumed its route on nicol highway. Cool!
Oops… my turn to see doc.. she’s fast today… laterz….
Monday, December 06, 2004
Last 42 hours.....
Many things happened..... but too long for me to expound... so in summary.....
Sat
got up at 6 plus to go for run at east coast w AG. Did my 5km, and that boy... he merely walked.....
rushed down for KY's wedding's 'worship prac'. was a little cheezed off. first i had to be there like 2 hours before that... not to prac only 3 songs.. but... to pray... i noe where he was coming from.. but given my present current state... oh... spare me...
rushed down for KY's wedding dinner. hardly got time to take breather. got like &*^@& to find myself alloted an... interesting.... table. AD was very sweet n swopped seats w me so i cld sit w my 'sisters'...
during the dinner.. i did some 'pao tai' to meet my dive buddies who were just across the road at forum hving a feast!!! some of them were 'shocked' to see me dressed up... see... u dun dress up when u go diving.. lol... after the wedding dinner we cont' to hang out..
RG's car tyre was kindof flat so we drove to a kiosk (SPC - they are bad!!! trust me!!) to pump in some air. den we figured there must be a pinhole which is pretty serious cos it went flat shortly after we pumped it.. so decided to change tyre. bad mistake, cos we did it on a very gentle slope... the jet got deformed halfway, the car almost toppled over!! *shivers* we tried to get help from the kiosk.. they gave lame replies.... called 24-hr mechanic, he said he'll take 45 mins to get there (he was in punggol, and we.. in holland v)... so the car was like tilting precariously .... held by the deformed jet, half out of alignment tyre... and the grace of God.... thankfully a pickup drove in.. we borrowed a 'power jet' from them... and changed the tyre.. *phew*
later had a chill session at CC at liang seah str where we just talked and talked. it was nice cos we started talking abt wat we thot of each other.. it wasn't a 'praise pple session'... we just told each other the good and bad impressions we hv of each other.. nice.... :)
hit the bed at abt 4am... got up next morn at like close to noon!!! :P
Sun
Din go church... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Got up. Read papers.... read book..... slept again!!!
Spent most of day sleeping.... got up... did some touch up to my SOW and sent to my geog HOD. Eng SOW still stuck... its a long story.. basically i just hv to tink how to draft a 'nice' letter to my eng HOD to explain to her i cant get it to her til... urm... when i'm back from nepal... *SIGH*
went airport to collect something from SND. it was nice.. as was all my trips to the airport.. brightens up my mood.... yeah.. this weird thing abt the airport... :) did i ever mention i hv a fetish for airports and planes? *laughs*
went downtown to meet sandfly n GR. chatted... bitched... gossipped... updated.... before we split out ways to go for our various activities ahead - npcc training camp (sandfly), NZ (GR), Nepal (me)......
last 42 hours... oops.. i tink more than a summary oredi. hehz.
Sat
got up at 6 plus to go for run at east coast w AG. Did my 5km, and that boy... he merely walked.....
rushed down for KY's wedding's 'worship prac'. was a little cheezed off. first i had to be there like 2 hours before that... not to prac only 3 songs.. but... to pray... i noe where he was coming from.. but given my present current state... oh... spare me...
rushed down for KY's wedding dinner. hardly got time to take breather. got like &*^@& to find myself alloted an... interesting.... table. AD was very sweet n swopped seats w me so i cld sit w my 'sisters'...
during the dinner.. i did some 'pao tai' to meet my dive buddies who were just across the road at forum hving a feast!!! some of them were 'shocked' to see me dressed up... see... u dun dress up when u go diving.. lol... after the wedding dinner we cont' to hang out..
RG's car tyre was kindof flat so we drove to a kiosk (SPC - they are bad!!! trust me!!) to pump in some air. den we figured there must be a pinhole which is pretty serious cos it went flat shortly after we pumped it.. so decided to change tyre. bad mistake, cos we did it on a very gentle slope... the jet got deformed halfway, the car almost toppled over!! *shivers* we tried to get help from the kiosk.. they gave lame replies.... called 24-hr mechanic, he said he'll take 45 mins to get there (he was in punggol, and we.. in holland v)... so the car was like tilting precariously .... held by the deformed jet, half out of alignment tyre... and the grace of God.... thankfully a pickup drove in.. we borrowed a 'power jet' from them... and changed the tyre.. *phew*
later had a chill session at CC at liang seah str where we just talked and talked. it was nice cos we started talking abt wat we thot of each other.. it wasn't a 'praise pple session'... we just told each other the good and bad impressions we hv of each other.. nice.... :)
hit the bed at abt 4am... got up next morn at like close to noon!!! :P
Sun
Din go church... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Got up. Read papers.... read book..... slept again!!!
Spent most of day sleeping.... got up... did some touch up to my SOW and sent to my geog HOD. Eng SOW still stuck... its a long story.. basically i just hv to tink how to draft a 'nice' letter to my eng HOD to explain to her i cant get it to her til... urm... when i'm back from nepal... *SIGH*
went airport to collect something from SND. it was nice.. as was all my trips to the airport.. brightens up my mood.... yeah.. this weird thing abt the airport... :) did i ever mention i hv a fetish for airports and planes? *laughs*
went downtown to meet sandfly n GR. chatted... bitched... gossipped... updated.... before we split out ways to go for our various activities ahead - npcc training camp (sandfly), NZ (GR), Nepal (me)......
last 42 hours... oops.. i tink more than a summary oredi. hehz.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Things I learnt today... (since my waking hours)
1. Never change a tyre on a slope.
2. People think that I am a 'strong' woman.
3. I stand by my frens, but can indulge in them too much.
Three main things I've learnt on an eventful day. But its too long for me to blog tonite. Shall update later..... Meanwhile, need to catch some snooze....
2. People think that I am a 'strong' woman.
3. I stand by my frens, but can indulge in them too much.
Three main things I've learnt on an eventful day. But its too long for me to blog tonite. Shall update later..... Meanwhile, need to catch some snooze....
Friday, December 03, 2004
share.....
computer dummy needs help....
me tinking of displaying the books n cds tt i own (not tt they are fantastic) on a webpage or something like that linked to my blog so can lend to pple.. IF they wan (cos i dunno wat to do w them after i've read the books/ripped the cds!!)
any smarties can tell me how to do it?
me tinking of displaying the books n cds tt i own (not tt they are fantastic) on a webpage or something like that linked to my blog so can lend to pple.. IF they wan (cos i dunno wat to do w them after i've read the books/ripped the cds!!)
any smarties can tell me how to do it?
Thursday, December 02, 2004
twisted.....
yeah... again.....wat else?.... my ankle... *sighz*
my ankle gave way when i went running the evening before... it was okiez den.... i suppose i've forgotten that the effects will only surface a day or two later... its not painful.... but certainly aching and kindof 'out of alignment' when i walk... not good for trip ahead... but guess i'll just hv to be more careful...
spent the entire day reading... sleeping.... the latter took up half of the day... *laughs*
its back to school again tom... got Eng meeting tom morn... yeah.. eng again... in any case, i have yet to find out how to get to the new holding school!!! tom just hantum.... lol.... hmm.... better wear ankle guard n my track shoes jic........
my ankle gave way when i went running the evening before... it was okiez den.... i suppose i've forgotten that the effects will only surface a day or two later... its not painful.... but certainly aching and kindof 'out of alignment' when i walk... not good for trip ahead... but guess i'll just hv to be more careful...
spent the entire day reading... sleeping.... the latter took up half of the day... *laughs*
its back to school again tom... got Eng meeting tom morn... yeah.. eng again... in any case, i have yet to find out how to get to the new holding school!!! tom just hantum.... lol.... hmm.... better wear ankle guard n my track shoes jic........
HMV....
Without fail, every time i drop by HMV, i will spend... *sighz* And I just bought another set of CDs... oredi had to restrain to prevent myself from buying another two!!! Anywayz, I'm enjoying myself listening to it now. Its quite nice... Exotic Moods - Chill Out Sessions From the Far East featuring Buddha Bar and the likes. Question I'm asking myself though.. these pieces are a little 'religious'... so .... not sure whether its 'safe' to listen to them.. but i like.... :-S In any case, must seriously stay away from HMV!!! I'm broke!!
Woke up extremely late tis morn!!! at like 1030?? but its good.. rare that i can wake up late.. as in.. my body clock allows me to wake up late.. spent the afternoon finishing up my geog SOW *smug smile*, ironing my mountain of clothes (yeah.. trust me.. a LOT of clothes).... and guess wat?!? I cooked fish and vege to eat for lunch!!!! HA HA.. pple who noe me noes 1. i eat junk... 2. i'm so lazy i cant even be bothered to go downstairs to buy food, or cook maggi mee just eat biscuits.. dunno wat got into me... 3. i'm so out of touch with cooking.. i was like looking at the fish fillet and wondering wat to do w it...so cooked it two ways.... one, pan fried w butter, salt n crushed pepper, two, microwave w salt n crushed pepper... lol... Anyone wans to give me some advice on how to cook them properly??? But they turned out decent enuff.. at least for me!! *laughs*
Umizaru is a nice movie... we all enjoyed it... given tt we all dive, we found the show engaging cos we can somehow identify w it....
Supper was good... now we wanna start a business to sell bra... ah ha ha ha.... but it'll b fun to work on something... doesnt hv to be braaaaa..... :-P
Hmm..... i really quite like this cd... in fact, more than SMOMA.... maybe its my mood... maybe... its really this nice...light.... relaxed....clear yet mystic.... feeling the songs give me... hmmmm....
Current piece playing: Lotus Flower by Deep River Corp
Woke up extremely late tis morn!!! at like 1030?? but its good.. rare that i can wake up late.. as in.. my body clock allows me to wake up late.. spent the afternoon finishing up my geog SOW *smug smile*, ironing my mountain of clothes (yeah.. trust me.. a LOT of clothes).... and guess wat?!? I cooked fish and vege to eat for lunch!!!! HA HA.. pple who noe me noes 1. i eat junk... 2. i'm so lazy i cant even be bothered to go downstairs to buy food, or cook maggi mee just eat biscuits.. dunno wat got into me... 3. i'm so out of touch with cooking.. i was like looking at the fish fillet and wondering wat to do w it...so cooked it two ways.... one, pan fried w butter, salt n crushed pepper, two, microwave w salt n crushed pepper... lol... Anyone wans to give me some advice on how to cook them properly??? But they turned out decent enuff.. at least for me!! *laughs*
Umizaru is a nice movie... we all enjoyed it... given tt we all dive, we found the show engaging cos we can somehow identify w it....
Supper was good... now we wanna start a business to sell bra... ah ha ha ha.... but it'll b fun to work on something... doesnt hv to be braaaaa..... :-P
Hmm..... i really quite like this cd... in fact, more than SMOMA.... maybe its my mood... maybe... its really this nice...light.... relaxed....clear yet mystic.... feeling the songs give me... hmmmm....
Current piece playing: Lotus Flower by Deep River Corp
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Interesting day i heard interesting things....
spent the entire afternoon working on my geog SOW... as in, ENTIRE afternoon... aim to finish it tomorrow.. *fingers-crosed*
supposed to go wheelock in the evening for a workshop on imovie... but they were so unprofessional... cancelled the wksshop without informing us!! fortunately my colleague called up and informed me. so changed my plan to meet GR tt early to collect the Left Behind series books from him.. while waiting for him to decide where to go for dinner, i got bored and decided to go running... stamina down all the way.. *sighz*
anywayz, he remembered that there was a chalet booked by EW and so we might as well pop by. waited a while and got a lift from RG to changi. supposed to wait for KR cos she said she'd arrive at 12... little did we noe that.. the wait... ... was till 2!!! gosh..
in any case, had interesting conversations.
first with EW's sis, EV, who was my practicum mate, finally got to see her little baby!! :) It was nice to catch up... she also kena hv to teach eng next year.. poor gal. but her baby was so adorable!!! only 3 months.. but strong!!
den, guess wat? AG Tan was there too!!! We were shocked to see each other.. how many years had it been? She's still the same.. always give the 'scared' look whenever she talks to me.. *chuckles* we used to play in the youth band before, i was like the da jie last time, but my my, she's grown up to become a young lady!! and i must say, very sensible lady.. good.. :) i asked her for a walk to the little playground nearby and we sat to chat. a little awkward actually.. but it was interesting.. after chatting for a while.. she made the comment that.. i seem more 'leng' (cold) now... i was like.. huh? 'leng' as in to people? to things in life? she said 'spiritually'.... sadly, i noe wat she said was absolutely true. who i was years ago when we were together is different from who i am... it wasn't a revelation.. but it was 'surprising' that from a short conversation, it was so evident to her.... *sighz* move on.....
third 'interesting' conversations will of course b with the dive gang... as usual... crap and not so crap. it seems like the 'group dynamics' have changed. as usual, i am having a fun time sitting there watching and observing the changes in interaction patterns as people begin to know each other more (or realize that they dun) and as familiarity starts to change how people value others... unpleasantries start to surface. I'm not saying that's bad. i tink its perfectly natural... but it was interesting to observe since i've been around since the 'beginning' when the group 'formed'. wish i cld expound more on my observation.. but tt'll only get too personal. *laughs*
finally, en route home when RG was sending LDV n me back, we were tlaking abt the schs we attended. as usual, RG thot i was from a gals sch (as many pple thot). but the interesting part was, when he heard tt i was from nus, he was surprised cos he thot i studied overseas... *laughs* another interesting perception others have of me... :)
in any case, its late... and in order to finish my SOW tom.. plus go watch the jap movie.. i'd better hit the sack!! interesting nite.......
supposed to go wheelock in the evening for a workshop on imovie... but they were so unprofessional... cancelled the wksshop without informing us!! fortunately my colleague called up and informed me. so changed my plan to meet GR tt early to collect the Left Behind series books from him.. while waiting for him to decide where to go for dinner, i got bored and decided to go running... stamina down all the way.. *sighz*
anywayz, he remembered that there was a chalet booked by EW and so we might as well pop by. waited a while and got a lift from RG to changi. supposed to wait for KR cos she said she'd arrive at 12... little did we noe that.. the wait... ... was till 2!!! gosh..
in any case, had interesting conversations.
first with EW's sis, EV, who was my practicum mate, finally got to see her little baby!! :) It was nice to catch up... she also kena hv to teach eng next year.. poor gal. but her baby was so adorable!!! only 3 months.. but strong!!
den, guess wat? AG Tan was there too!!! We were shocked to see each other.. how many years had it been? She's still the same.. always give the 'scared' look whenever she talks to me.. *chuckles* we used to play in the youth band before, i was like the da jie last time, but my my, she's grown up to become a young lady!! and i must say, very sensible lady.. good.. :) i asked her for a walk to the little playground nearby and we sat to chat. a little awkward actually.. but it was interesting.. after chatting for a while.. she made the comment that.. i seem more 'leng' (cold) now... i was like.. huh? 'leng' as in to people? to things in life? she said 'spiritually'.... sadly, i noe wat she said was absolutely true. who i was years ago when we were together is different from who i am... it wasn't a revelation.. but it was 'surprising' that from a short conversation, it was so evident to her.... *sighz* move on.....
third 'interesting' conversations will of course b with the dive gang... as usual... crap and not so crap. it seems like the 'group dynamics' have changed. as usual, i am having a fun time sitting there watching and observing the changes in interaction patterns as people begin to know each other more (or realize that they dun) and as familiarity starts to change how people value others... unpleasantries start to surface. I'm not saying that's bad. i tink its perfectly natural... but it was interesting to observe since i've been around since the 'beginning' when the group 'formed'. wish i cld expound more on my observation.. but tt'll only get too personal. *laughs*
finally, en route home when RG was sending LDV n me back, we were tlaking abt the schs we attended. as usual, RG thot i was from a gals sch (as many pple thot). but the interesting part was, when he heard tt i was from nus, he was surprised cos he thot i studied overseas... *laughs* another interesting perception others have of me... :)
in any case, its late... and in order to finish my SOW tom.. plus go watch the jap movie.. i'd better hit the sack!! interesting nite.......
Monday, November 29, 2004
The Incredibles.... A**
Absolutely hilarious movie. Brought out much laughter from the a little blue me. Kids, couples n families ard me were laughing away too... Laughing together w others added on to the fun. :)
Did my full payment for trip to Nepal. It is finalized!! :) I am coming...
In Orchard today, the atmosphere of christmas is so evident. The lights... the crowd... the little stalls set up. But usually, the mood doesn't fully set in until you hear carols... I had the full package tonight while passing by the street for a couple of minutes. I miss the 'christmas-es' I've spent as a kid... with my family... as a teenager... with my church youth... I wonder what this coming christmas holds in store...
Just finished the second book of the Left Behind series - Tribulation Force. Book is getting exciting... Cant wait to get hold of the next one!! Currently working on The Song-Writers Idea Book (shuttering between tis and Lonely Planet - Nepal). Its interesting to consider how personality type and brain dominance affects the creativity process and types of lyrics/songs produced. More comments on that at a later stage.
GOOD GRACIOUS!!! Just checked my fon bills.... WAT ON EARTH HV I BEEN UP TO!?!? Double the subscription charge?!?! I must stop talking on the fon!!! DRATS!!
meanwhile... SOW SOW SOW SOW SOW.....
Did my full payment for trip to Nepal. It is finalized!! :) I am coming...
In Orchard today, the atmosphere of christmas is so evident. The lights... the crowd... the little stalls set up. But usually, the mood doesn't fully set in until you hear carols... I had the full package tonight while passing by the street for a couple of minutes. I miss the 'christmas-es' I've spent as a kid... with my family... as a teenager... with my church youth... I wonder what this coming christmas holds in store...
Just finished the second book of the Left Behind series - Tribulation Force. Book is getting exciting... Cant wait to get hold of the next one!! Currently working on The Song-Writers Idea Book (shuttering between tis and Lonely Planet - Nepal). Its interesting to consider how personality type and brain dominance affects the creativity process and types of lyrics/songs produced. More comments on that at a later stage.
GOOD GRACIOUS!!! Just checked my fon bills.... WAT ON EARTH HV I BEEN UP TO!?!? Double the subscription charge?!?! I must stop talking on the fon!!! DRATS!!
meanwhile... SOW SOW SOW SOW SOW.....
blah blah blah
Rough session for worship today. The sound was horrible.... Someone's effects just went 'out-of-control' creating so much feedback I gave up. I thot one of us overplayed.... P tinks its band leadership probm... spoke to S briefly while he was giving me ride home... how to broach topics like this to pple sometimes? *sigh* anywayz, i was just glad its over....
While out to buy book on guitar n Le Mis dvd for music lessons next yr, i chanced upon tis CD, SMOMA - Songs to Remember... cost a bomb.... but it really sounded good lah... at least the pieces they were playing.. now listening to it, doesn't sound as fantastic. *laughs* You've gotta hear it G, u might like it, well, i mean the pieces i heard while i was browsing in the shop.
Almost bought the le mis dvd... except .... IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE!!! and i was worried the sch wldn't reinburse me... so smsed my 'head'... and to my surprise... i might not b teaching that level!!! *grumble* i neva noe wats going on... wasted so much time thinking.. *sighz*
Highlight of the day: 'bumped' into my student from MPSS on my bus home. I was reading my book. Usually, students wld just take the chance to 'slip by'.... *chuckles* but he actually called me!!! We chatted for the rest of the journey home. It was very pleasant. Taught him geography last yr, 2C1, the talkative class. *laughs* come to tink of it, do 'miss' them a bit. :) I was shocked after we alighted to realize that he was leaving in the same block as I am!!! but he only moved here a week ago, so... *laughs* but it was nice...
December is coming... GB camp over, school planning retreat over.... only left with the SOWs and prep for next year... I'm beginning to feel more relaxed, more human... *laughs* Time to clear up the mess of and in my life (literally and figuratively) before the next craze wave hits...
i wanna watch The Incredibles!!!
While out to buy book on guitar n Le Mis dvd for music lessons next yr, i chanced upon tis CD, SMOMA - Songs to Remember... cost a bomb.... but it really sounded good lah... at least the pieces they were playing.. now listening to it, doesn't sound as fantastic. *laughs* You've gotta hear it G, u might like it, well, i mean the pieces i heard while i was browsing in the shop.
Almost bought the le mis dvd... except .... IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE!!! and i was worried the sch wldn't reinburse me... so smsed my 'head'... and to my surprise... i might not b teaching that level!!! *grumble* i neva noe wats going on... wasted so much time thinking.. *sighz*
Highlight of the day: 'bumped' into my student from MPSS on my bus home. I was reading my book. Usually, students wld just take the chance to 'slip by'.... *chuckles* but he actually called me!!! We chatted for the rest of the journey home. It was very pleasant. Taught him geography last yr, 2C1, the talkative class. *laughs* come to tink of it, do 'miss' them a bit. :) I was shocked after we alighted to realize that he was leaving in the same block as I am!!! but he only moved here a week ago, so... *laughs* but it was nice...
December is coming... GB camp over, school planning retreat over.... only left with the SOWs and prep for next year... I'm beginning to feel more relaxed, more human... *laughs* Time to clear up the mess of and in my life (literally and figuratively) before the next craze wave hits...
i wanna watch The Incredibles!!!
Saturday, November 27, 2004
F
That's the overall grade I have awarded the trip.... Grade F for the hotel service, Grade F for hotel facilities and maintenance, Grade F for the guide, Grade F for the food....
If this was ever my first trip to Malaysia, I bet you I will never ever step into the country again. Don't get me wrong, Malaysia has a lot to offer, everything just went WRONG this trip.
When I was just commenting to my colleagues, EH asked "I thot you are very rugged sort?"
My respond - Expectations are different.
She replied "Oh, so you have high expectations..."
My respond - No, expecting water supply in a 3* hotel is not high expectation, expecting the food not to be chao sng or not cooked properly is not high expecation, expecting my keycard to work is not high expectation, and this list goes on....
Most of us were SO EXCEEDINLY GLAD to be back home in Singapore, one of the rare times I miss my motherland when I'm away. Din help most of us were sick during the retreat. In any case, in view of Teach Less Learn More (TLLM) initiative by our boss, THIS is a good retreat cum NE lesson.... Good gracious...
If this was ever my first trip to Malaysia, I bet you I will never ever step into the country again. Don't get me wrong, Malaysia has a lot to offer, everything just went WRONG this trip.
When I was just commenting to my colleagues, EH asked "I thot you are very rugged sort?"
My respond - Expectations are different.
She replied "Oh, so you have high expectations..."
My respond - No, expecting water supply in a 3* hotel is not high expectation, expecting the food not to be chao sng or not cooked properly is not high expecation, expecting my keycard to work is not high expectation, and this list goes on....
Most of us were SO EXCEEDINLY GLAD to be back home in Singapore, one of the rare times I miss my motherland when I'm away. Din help most of us were sick during the retreat. In any case, in view of Teach Less Learn More (TLLM) initiative by our boss, THIS is a good retreat cum NE lesson.... Good gracious...
Thursday, November 25, 2004
I'm going melaka...
its been a while since i've updated my blog... a couple of days ago decided to just browse thro my blog to see wat i've gone thro tis year.. .man.. its a LOT!! thanks to AO who 'inspired' me to go browse my blog, now i'm 'inspired' to start updating it again, so tt when i take time to browse thro again.. i'll rem so many things i often forget... :)
in any case, leaving for melaka in abt 7 hours time.. nope not for leisure.. but for sch planning sessions... just go lor.. but looking forward to my nepal trip in dec.... keeping tis short.. til i'm back... :)
meanwhile... GB camp's over, invigilation's over, packing is done... tt's wat ive been up to.. okie.z. everything is in a mess.. cos my brains in a mess now too.. i need to concuzz........
in any case, leaving for melaka in abt 7 hours time.. nope not for leisure.. but for sch planning sessions... just go lor.. but looking forward to my nepal trip in dec.... keeping tis short.. til i'm back... :)
meanwhile... GB camp's over, invigilation's over, packing is done... tt's wat ive been up to.. okie.z. everything is in a mess.. cos my brains in a mess now too.. i need to concuzz........
Monday, November 15, 2004
in the time of pain....
literal pain that is.. to the point i was lying on the bathroom floor.... yeah gross...
but when i was on the floor.. wat was going thro my mind? there wasn't anything i cld tink of... wat had been bothering me for weeks.. or months? at least.. cumulated and exploded over the last few days... suddenly those did not matter anymore.
i was just trapped.... in the bathroom... all by myself... was too weak to call sandfly i was supposed to meet... too weak to get up and out to get panadol and rest on bed instead... just feeling the pain... the only good thing that was there... that i knew.. was tt... i was 'all by myself' with God.... and He was the only One i cld call out to... tink was there for a good half an hour.. *laughs* (yeah, i laugh NOW)...
finally manage to stagger out... seeing black spots all over.. grabbed some panadol... and plopped myself on bed... managed to call sandfly (thankfully her's was the last no. i dialled cos i cln't bring myself to find anyone's name to call)... got her to pray for me.. ...
still feeling weak... but the time when i was all alone in the bathroom.. it was terrible.. but... it was special... i was forced into a situation where i was alone... and can look to none.. but on Him....
in any case, my christmas wish still remains the same. still dunno wats going on... ... ... ... ... just thot i shld record tt special moment.. which i still dunno the purpose of...
but when i was on the floor.. wat was going thro my mind? there wasn't anything i cld tink of... wat had been bothering me for weeks.. or months? at least.. cumulated and exploded over the last few days... suddenly those did not matter anymore.
i was just trapped.... in the bathroom... all by myself... was too weak to call sandfly i was supposed to meet... too weak to get up and out to get panadol and rest on bed instead... just feeling the pain... the only good thing that was there... that i knew.. was tt... i was 'all by myself' with God.... and He was the only One i cld call out to... tink was there for a good half an hour.. *laughs* (yeah, i laugh NOW)...
finally manage to stagger out... seeing black spots all over.. grabbed some panadol... and plopped myself on bed... managed to call sandfly (thankfully her's was the last no. i dialled cos i cln't bring myself to find anyone's name to call)... got her to pray for me.. ...
still feeling weak... but the time when i was all alone in the bathroom.. it was terrible.. but... it was special... i was forced into a situation where i was alone... and can look to none.. but on Him....
in any case, my christmas wish still remains the same. still dunno wats going on... ... ... ... ... just thot i shld record tt special moment.. which i still dunno the purpose of...
My Christmas wish list...
1. dive sausage
2. wet suit
3. camera casing for underwater photography
4. snockel
5. mastering treading water
6. taking my first aid course
7. a long long trip or dive dive dive
8. having the SOWs completed
9. not having to teach English
10. gloves
11. a room of my own
12. my room cleaned up... somehow
13. all my old friendships rekindled
14. knowing wat my future holds
15. brains... i feel stupid n incapable in this competitive world
16. be a lounge pianist
17. end of 3-yr bond
18. freedom... (from what?)
19. noe wats going on in my life now
20. GOD
Somehow, i noe... all the things in the wish list... amounts to nothing... until i get the last one.... and somehow... all the 19 items... doesn't matter... or will be dealt with... once... i'm dealt w by #20..... when will that be?
2. wet suit
3. camera casing for underwater photography
4. snockel
5. mastering treading water
6. taking my first aid course
7. a long long trip or dive dive dive
8. having the SOWs completed
9. not having to teach English
10. gloves
11. a room of my own
12. my room cleaned up... somehow
13. all my old friendships rekindled
14. knowing wat my future holds
15. brains... i feel stupid n incapable in this competitive world
16. be a lounge pianist
17. end of 3-yr bond
18. freedom... (from what?)
19. noe wats going on in my life now
20. GOD
Somehow, i noe... all the things in the wish list... amounts to nothing... until i get the last one.... and somehow... all the 19 items... doesn't matter... or will be dealt with... once... i'm dealt w by #20..... when will that be?
Space on bus - A geographical study of personality n experiences on spatial preferences ... (Part II)
Thank you pple for ur contributions....
This leads me to the next question... Does where one sit on the bus reflect one's personality? I'm sure it reflects experiences.. as evidenced by some of ur comments... but how abt personality????
Aisle seat means??
Window seat?
Front?
Back?
I like to think that a character study can be made on these preferences... then again,.... i might just be too simple-minded... *chuckles*
This leads me to the next question... Does where one sit on the bus reflect one's personality? I'm sure it reflects experiences.. as evidenced by some of ur comments... but how abt personality????
Aisle seat means??
Window seat?
Front?
Back?
I like to think that a character study can be made on these preferences... then again,.... i might just be too simple-minded... *chuckles*
Friday, November 12, 2004
Post your comments...
If you board an empty bus (single deck), where would you sit?
Front? Middle? Back? Last row? 'Window seat'? 'Aisle seat'? By the door? ??...???....???
Where?
Front? Middle? Back? Last row? 'Window seat'? 'Aisle seat'? By the door? ??...???....???
Where?
A quiet dive trip...
Yup. Finally I'm updating on my dive trip last weekend. Thot I'd better do this before I decide not to do it when the buzz of school work pours in...
Generally, a quiet dive trip compared to all my previous trips. Its a small group I'm diving with. Went w my fellow musical geographer as my buddy, she's good company, a v independent buddy.... except... AH HA HA HA... a bit difficult to wake her up!! :P (dun whack me thampies :P) Got to know some really 'ordinary' folks... as in.. they are not 'glamourous'.... 'strikingly good looking' .... 'loud'.... 'extremely funny'..... but they make good company... very good company... :) ... making this a very pleasant trip... farnie how I was so pissed w the instructor in the beginning...
Highlights of the trip:
1. Getting to know Mohammark, David, Stephanie... ...
2. I know what it means to be frozen STIFF. I've always been frozen, but to be stiff (muscles and joints...) .. first time I've ever experienced it... Man I'm gonna bring sleeping bags to all my dive trips from henceforth.
2. Best night dive ever... I touched the cat shark!!! Ah ha ha ha
3. Monsoon's coming in. So new learning challenge this trip is to 'fight' current.
4. This really really adorable little boy. I think he's about 5 years old? I was walking on the beach (yeah, i actually have the time to do that! :) ) and he was near me... Was just standing there... watching him play... He started with a broken piece of styrofoam box.. went to a 'gully' carved out on the sand by water flowing out of the sand (due to a high water table - or so Thampies n I hypothesized)... Steph n Thampies then came along and sort of played with him (sort of because he was so oblivious to wat/who's ard him) Then he started using a half coconut shell (with a hole in the center) to play w the 'gully'... After that, he managed to find an empty metal can.. and played with it.. After a while, he's gotten a little 'kitchen' of his one.. *chucklez*.. When we left for lunch, he was still sitting by/in the 'gully' by himself... oblivious to all... self absorbed in his little world... How nice... I dunno.. the sight of him playing... happily... with no cares or worries... with the minimum, making use of watever that is available... it tugs something in my heart... *smile*
5. I was Mohammark's jinx. First I slipped at the dive platform and my tank fell on his toe. Then, I accidentally turned off his air... :-P
It was a different experience... And on the overall, tho I laugh less, it was good... :) Makes me wanna get really serious into diving and move on to rescue. :P
Generally, a quiet dive trip compared to all my previous trips. Its a small group I'm diving with. Went w my fellow musical geographer as my buddy, she's good company, a v independent buddy.... except... AH HA HA HA... a bit difficult to wake her up!! :P (dun whack me thampies :P) Got to know some really 'ordinary' folks... as in.. they are not 'glamourous'.... 'strikingly good looking' .... 'loud'.... 'extremely funny'..... but they make good company... very good company... :) ... making this a very pleasant trip... farnie how I was so pissed w the instructor in the beginning...
Highlights of the trip:
1. Getting to know Mohammark, David, Stephanie... ...
2. I know what it means to be frozen STIFF. I've always been frozen, but to be stiff (muscles and joints...) .. first time I've ever experienced it... Man I'm gonna bring sleeping bags to all my dive trips from henceforth.
2. Best night dive ever... I touched the cat shark!!! Ah ha ha ha
3. Monsoon's coming in. So new learning challenge this trip is to 'fight' current.
4. This really really adorable little boy. I think he's about 5 years old? I was walking on the beach (yeah, i actually have the time to do that! :) ) and he was near me... Was just standing there... watching him play... He started with a broken piece of styrofoam box.. went to a 'gully' carved out on the sand by water flowing out of the sand (due to a high water table - or so Thampies n I hypothesized)... Steph n Thampies then came along and sort of played with him (sort of because he was so oblivious to wat/who's ard him) Then he started using a half coconut shell (with a hole in the center) to play w the 'gully'... After that, he managed to find an empty metal can.. and played with it.. After a while, he's gotten a little 'kitchen' of his one.. *chucklez*.. When we left for lunch, he was still sitting by/in the 'gully' by himself... oblivious to all... self absorbed in his little world... How nice... I dunno.. the sight of him playing... happily... with no cares or worries... with the minimum, making use of watever that is available... it tugs something in my heart... *smile*
5. I was Mohammark's jinx. First I slipped at the dive platform and my tank fell on his toe. Then, I accidentally turned off his air... :-P
It was a different experience... And on the overall, tho I laugh less, it was good... :) Makes me wanna get really serious into diving and move on to rescue. :P
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Money sunk into the deep blue....
Okiez... won't write abt my trip as yet... Just making a calculation of how much I've spent on diving alone since June...
OWD course (Jun) - $430
AOWD course (Sept) - $420
Leisure dive (Oct) - $320
Leisure dive (Nov) - $265
Gears - $240
Misc - $ 50
=======================
Total $ 1725
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!
OWD course (Jun) - $430
AOWD course (Sept) - $420
Leisure dive (Oct) - $320
Leisure dive (Nov) - $265
Gears - $240
Misc - $ 50
=======================
Total $ 1725
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Life.....
I'm going for my dive tom. Was excited and happy for the past few days.. until 5 hours ago....
What have I been up to these while? Thinking about a lot of things... Thankfully nothing emotional... Just a lot of things to work out n check out ... Nepal, SOWs, getting my scuba gear etc.
Had been invigilating for this week... its..... BORING. *yawnz* The way I look at it, it pays for my dive gear... to keep myself from going insane. 1 1/2 more weeks of that to go...
Decided finally that... I'd after all not go to Nepal. Reason: I have no time. I have to work on the many SOWs for the different levels of music and for geography. I wanna be prepared for the next year so that I can focus on other matters rather than preparation. Strangely, the reason had nothing to do with safety of trekking alone in Nepal. Call me stubborn.. whatever.. sigh.. the lonely planet has gone to waste... for now.
Considering if I should take up a classical Indian music class... considering whether I shld pick up the sitar, tabla, or flute. But I shall wait til next year's schedule.
Spent a bomb today on my dive gear. Got my mask, weight belt, booties, fins and mesh bag. It feels FANTASTIC to own my own mesh bag of equipment!!! Sense of.. achievement.. ah ha... was happy.. and excited.. until...
I had to drop by the dive shop last minute due to some silly screwups they had in order to try my wet suit, BC n reg. Sandfly n I got cheezed off after we overheard a rude comment the instructor made. I wasn't angry angry... but pissed off... and all I could think about w. r. t. that instructor is... F*** OFF!! (sorry. I was really pissed). He even asked whether I wanted to bring the rented equipments home and bring it tom with me.. i'm like "wat the.... hello..." In any case, he asked me whether it was the first time I was diving w them. I replied yes, having to bit my tongue so hard in case 'and the last time too' slipped out of my tongue. Now I dun look forward to seeing that @$#&* (i ran out of vocab word to describe him, more like i cannot be bothered to think which category he comes under) during the dive... I mean... I am trying to put this away from my mind so I can enjoy my dive... We'll see...
Haven't packed. Too tired to pack. TOm will be a day of meetings... and i hope i can make it back in time to pack!!!
Meanwhile, I hate the way I do things sometimes. I dunno... usual... I noe wat is missing in my life... and I noe why I'm feeling the way I am. I've tried... Maybe not hard enough? I don't know. Why is there such a big dicotomy between a 'spiritual christian' and a 'worldly christian'? Meanwhile, I'm having 'fun' partly.. while it 'sucks' partly...
What have I been up to these while? Thinking about a lot of things... Thankfully nothing emotional... Just a lot of things to work out n check out ... Nepal, SOWs, getting my scuba gear etc.
Had been invigilating for this week... its..... BORING. *yawnz* The way I look at it, it pays for my dive gear... to keep myself from going insane. 1 1/2 more weeks of that to go...
Decided finally that... I'd after all not go to Nepal. Reason: I have no time. I have to work on the many SOWs for the different levels of music and for geography. I wanna be prepared for the next year so that I can focus on other matters rather than preparation. Strangely, the reason had nothing to do with safety of trekking alone in Nepal. Call me stubborn.. whatever.. sigh.. the lonely planet has gone to waste... for now.
Considering if I should take up a classical Indian music class... considering whether I shld pick up the sitar, tabla, or flute. But I shall wait til next year's schedule.
Spent a bomb today on my dive gear. Got my mask, weight belt, booties, fins and mesh bag. It feels FANTASTIC to own my own mesh bag of equipment!!! Sense of.. achievement.. ah ha... was happy.. and excited.. until...
I had to drop by the dive shop last minute due to some silly screwups they had in order to try my wet suit, BC n reg. Sandfly n I got cheezed off after we overheard a rude comment the instructor made. I wasn't angry angry... but pissed off... and all I could think about w. r. t. that instructor is... F*** OFF!! (sorry. I was really pissed). He even asked whether I wanted to bring the rented equipments home and bring it tom with me.. i'm like "wat the.... hello..." In any case, he asked me whether it was the first time I was diving w them. I replied yes, having to bit my tongue so hard in case 'and the last time too' slipped out of my tongue. Now I dun look forward to seeing that @$#&* (i ran out of vocab word to describe him, more like i cannot be bothered to think which category he comes under) during the dive... I mean... I am trying to put this away from my mind so I can enjoy my dive... We'll see...
Haven't packed. Too tired to pack. TOm will be a day of meetings... and i hope i can make it back in time to pack!!!
Meanwhile, I hate the way I do things sometimes. I dunno... usual... I noe wat is missing in my life... and I noe why I'm feeling the way I am. I've tried... Maybe not hard enough? I don't know. Why is there such a big dicotomy between a 'spiritual christian' and a 'worldly christian'? Meanwhile, I'm having 'fun' partly.. while it 'sucks' partly...
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Booboo strikes again...
Got my dates mixed up.. went for the wrong module for training.. instead of going for mangrove n data mgmt.. ended up in intro for field techniques for Pri sch... *laughs* *cries*
still looking for travel buddy to nepal... :(
still looking for travel buddy to nepal... :(
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Time well spent...
just came back from dessert w G after the church's anniversary service... we got pretty cheezed off w the servers in a parti coffee place in taka... that we were on the verge of blowing up at them....
we were talking abt the company of pple we have been hanging out with in our own lives... and realized that there are things we need to work on... :) in any case, i'm glad tt i'm beginning to spend time with impt pple rather than laughing my evenings away....
need to lose some pounds.. hv been eating a lot... btw, din get to jog in east coast.. as anticipated... it rained...
just realized i'm not only computer-jinxed.. i'm also blog-jinxed!! this is the THIRD time i'm entering this entry.. and i'm trying to stay patient... well.. to play safe i was advised to copy and paste... and while i was blocking out the words... before i cld click on ctrl-C, the entire entry DISAPPEARED!!! not once, but TWICE!!! *faints*... *patience.. patience*... blog-jinxed....
lately, hv been reflecting and searching abt my purpose n direction in life... find myself torn between... living for the moment and enjoying life... vs.. living my life in view of eternity.... well... the fact tt i'm starting to struggle may signify that i'm moving (in the rite direction i hope!!).. i can only pray for God's mercy...
we were talking abt the company of pple we have been hanging out with in our own lives... and realized that there are things we need to work on... :) in any case, i'm glad tt i'm beginning to spend time with impt pple rather than laughing my evenings away....
need to lose some pounds.. hv been eating a lot... btw, din get to jog in east coast.. as anticipated... it rained...
just realized i'm not only computer-jinxed.. i'm also blog-jinxed!! this is the THIRD time i'm entering this entry.. and i'm trying to stay patient... well.. to play safe i was advised to copy and paste... and while i was blocking out the words... before i cld click on ctrl-C, the entire entry DISAPPEARED!!! not once, but TWICE!!! *faints*... *patience.. patience*... blog-jinxed....
lately, hv been reflecting and searching abt my purpose n direction in life... find myself torn between... living for the moment and enjoying life... vs.. living my life in view of eternity.... well... the fact tt i'm starting to struggle may signify that i'm moving (in the rite direction i hope!!).. i can only pray for God's mercy...
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Chilling....
Did not go out tonite... supposed to go out.. but it rained... tom hv to be up early for GB (meaning... nitelife is quite curtailed)... etc etc.. so decided to just stay home.. rot.. chill.. whichever..
Spent a little time talking abt the weirdest topic w Js *laughs* and my canoeing buddy.. dive fren... and another fren... its nice.. not doing much... have been a little more laidback these few days... cos school load slowed a little these few days.. next weeks will be more hectic again... :)
I hope to run in east coast tom. Its been a long time since i've run there... the last i ran there was months ago, before May!! either with EC or DR, i can't rem who. Tom, if i get to run (if it doesn't rain, that is), i'll be running alone. I haven't run in east coast alone for a long long long long time.. but i tink it would be nice.. :) some time alone... I hope it doesn't rain tom....
East Coast...
Who have been my running buddies in East Coast...
lets see.. I started w G, den there was J, Chee and Tong, there was EC, there was DR...
What have I done there before?
There was a camp for the Methodist Primary school kids i was helping out when in sec sch at the PA campsite where in the middle of the nite a storm brew and tore down some tents... caused blackout from the lightnings.. causing us to evacaute our tents...
There were the numerous bbq sessions held in during secondary school days...
Did my rubbish field studies for NIE geog module....
A place I've 'dated' a couple of guys.... hmm.. usually ending up watching planes
Attempted learning cycling (of which i failed, only to master the skill in cambodia)..
Of course there were the twice a year family outings as a pri sch kid.. i'd bring my little green pail... my sis wld bring her bigger red pail... :) I would pick shells.. bring them home to wash and keep.. mom will bring her fried beehoon...
the chatting w all my different running buddies.. all sorts of topics...
Oh.. not forgetting the couple of sunrise services, one of which we were caught in a heavy rain...
've seen many more beautiful beaches outside singapore. Krabi, AoNang, Raley, Tioman, Dayang, (just some i rem off hand)... but... when in singapore... east coast.. is a place i like to be... many memories.. it was flooded on my 21st bday cos of dunno wat increase in sea level/tide!! okiez.. tt's not part of my memory.. *laughs*... but east coast.. seeing families... seeing the not so nice horizon, sand, sea... just.. nice... and peaceful..... (other than when i'm cycling!!)
Spent a little time talking abt the weirdest topic w Js *laughs* and my canoeing buddy.. dive fren... and another fren... its nice.. not doing much... have been a little more laidback these few days... cos school load slowed a little these few days.. next weeks will be more hectic again... :)
I hope to run in east coast tom. Its been a long time since i've run there... the last i ran there was months ago, before May!! either with EC or DR, i can't rem who. Tom, if i get to run (if it doesn't rain, that is), i'll be running alone. I haven't run in east coast alone for a long long long long time.. but i tink it would be nice.. :) some time alone... I hope it doesn't rain tom....
East Coast...
Who have been my running buddies in East Coast...
lets see.. I started w G, den there was J, Chee and Tong, there was EC, there was DR...
What have I done there before?
There was a camp for the Methodist Primary school kids i was helping out when in sec sch at the PA campsite where in the middle of the nite a storm brew and tore down some tents... caused blackout from the lightnings.. causing us to evacaute our tents...
There were the numerous bbq sessions held in during secondary school days...
Did my rubbish field studies for NIE geog module....
A place I've 'dated' a couple of guys.... hmm.. usually ending up watching planes
Attempted learning cycling (of which i failed, only to master the skill in cambodia)..
Of course there were the twice a year family outings as a pri sch kid.. i'd bring my little green pail... my sis wld bring her bigger red pail... :) I would pick shells.. bring them home to wash and keep.. mom will bring her fried beehoon...
the chatting w all my different running buddies.. all sorts of topics...
Oh.. not forgetting the couple of sunrise services, one of which we were caught in a heavy rain...
've seen many more beautiful beaches outside singapore. Krabi, AoNang, Raley, Tioman, Dayang, (just some i rem off hand)... but... when in singapore... east coast.. is a place i like to be... many memories.. it was flooded on my 21st bday cos of dunno wat increase in sea level/tide!! okiez.. tt's not part of my memory.. *laughs*... but east coast.. seeing families... seeing the not so nice horizon, sand, sea... just.. nice... and peaceful..... (other than when i'm cycling!!)
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Corny...
This was supposed to be yesterday's post. But due to the #@#^&**, I am attempting to post it again... but.... much will be lost as i will not repeat watever i've typed yesterday. I'm just gonna enter the most... 'interesting' thing which happened.
Early in the morning, i brought a book down for silent reading during assembly. HOwever, straight after flag raising before i got a chance to read the book, two gals came with another gal who had swollen eyes and running nose. I got swollen eyes when i was younger once, and it was due to allergy, so i thot it cld probably be that. so i brought her to the office, called her parents, signed for her the sick bay form etc etc... den went upstairs.. went to the restroom and suddenly it occurred to me that i hv left the book on the teachers' bench. so i went down to check whether it was still there.. it wasn't... i asked the teachers who were ard then, they din take it up for me. One relief teacher (WPP's wife!!) was sweet enough to bring me down to show me where the lost n found box was.. but it wasnt there. i was feeling quite upset and more sian than any other thing cos the book wasn't mine - borrowed it from EW. So i told some of my colleagues tt i felt very sian cos i lost a book which wasn't mine.... so SLN asked me... 'What's the title of the book?"
I thot for a while and went... 'urm.. its very ironic... the title is LEFT BEHIND'.... all my colleagues laughed.. i mean.. how corny can it get? LEFT BEHIND got left behind?!?! So given the book talks abt tribulation n rapture, one teacher commented.... it will be back .. i mean.. alrite.. corny... okiez not very farnie on blog.. but when the conversations were on.. it was.. realyl hilarious lor.. in a corny manner. fortunate thing is i checked the lost n found box again a couple of hours later.. and it was left there... thankfully....
other than that. .in short.. wat else got erased? oh... promotional meetings (which i din noe was held on tt day!!)... i was appalled to discover the kind of thigns and decisions made behind closed doors.. other than tt.. met up w sandfly for the first time in town NOT WORKING!!! ah ha ha...
okiez.. watever.. i'm tired again.. man.. i really shld do something abt my 'sleeping requirements'. i'm losing out in waking hours because i need 8 hours of sleep.. irritating....
and of course.. before i post this entry.. i'm gonna do a copy and paste JIC!!!
Early in the morning, i brought a book down for silent reading during assembly. HOwever, straight after flag raising before i got a chance to read the book, two gals came with another gal who had swollen eyes and running nose. I got swollen eyes when i was younger once, and it was due to allergy, so i thot it cld probably be that. so i brought her to the office, called her parents, signed for her the sick bay form etc etc... den went upstairs.. went to the restroom and suddenly it occurred to me that i hv left the book on the teachers' bench. so i went down to check whether it was still there.. it wasn't... i asked the teachers who were ard then, they din take it up for me. One relief teacher (WPP's wife!!) was sweet enough to bring me down to show me where the lost n found box was.. but it wasnt there. i was feeling quite upset and more sian than any other thing cos the book wasn't mine - borrowed it from EW. So i told some of my colleagues tt i felt very sian cos i lost a book which wasn't mine.... so SLN asked me... 'What's the title of the book?"
I thot for a while and went... 'urm.. its very ironic... the title is LEFT BEHIND'.... all my colleagues laughed.. i mean.. how corny can it get? LEFT BEHIND got left behind?!?! So given the book talks abt tribulation n rapture, one teacher commented.... it will be back .. i mean.. alrite.. corny... okiez not very farnie on blog.. but when the conversations were on.. it was.. realyl hilarious lor.. in a corny manner. fortunate thing is i checked the lost n found box again a couple of hours later.. and it was left there... thankfully....
other than that. .in short.. wat else got erased? oh... promotional meetings (which i din noe was held on tt day!!)... i was appalled to discover the kind of thigns and decisions made behind closed doors.. other than tt.. met up w sandfly for the first time in town NOT WORKING!!! ah ha ha...
okiez.. watever.. i'm tired again.. man.. i really shld do something abt my 'sleeping requirements'. i'm losing out in waking hours because i need 8 hours of sleep.. irritating....
and of course.. before i post this entry.. i'm gonna do a copy and paste JIC!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Frustrated....
This entry was supposedly titled Corny.. supposed to be farnie.. but not anymore... because after typing a long entry, blogspot just somehow... did not upload my entry.. and... LOST IT!!!!
ARGH!!!! so now i'm frustrated.. from farnie to frustrated.. #$*#&*(
ARGH!!!! so now i'm frustrated.. from farnie to frustrated.. #$*#&*(
Sunday, October 17, 2004
I suck......
I have been a bad friend.. or I haven't been a fren...???
I've been spending a lot of time with my friends, doing a lot of things together... movies, JB, marking, dinner, etc etc... Sometimes I spend time with my frens on the pretext that i'm accompanying them... listening to them and trying encourage them... BUT... it seems to me tt... wat i hv offered them is.. just material things tt i can afford... time.... words... company....
One of a social theory says tt... we give out as much in relationships based on wat we expect/perceive to receive. As i gave, i gained company as well, acceptance, listening ears from others... Is that all that i am? this selfish brat i am? i suck.... when did i realize tt?
Friday nite... I was out marking w sandfly. she told me she had actually paid for a 'fortune telling session'... which would take like 1.5 hours so i was supposed to wait for her (well.. it took THREE long hours in the end...) but the point was tt.. i told her i'll go to the shop w her and i'll do my marking while waiting for her. she was worried i'll be uncomfy there noeing my stand on these things.. but i told her doesn't matter. i'll do my work...
den when she went in for the session, i was on the outer area of the shop marking.. while marking.. a thot came to me... i shld b praying for her... wat did i do? i thot "God, pls take care of her huh?" and...... i went back to my marking...... there.... was my fren.... and here i was... den yest nite when i was on the fon w her.. we were sharing out troubles etc.. and she said actually when she was in the room, two things went thro her mind. one of which was: is sheryl praying for me outside?
i suck... sigh....
wat do i offer my frens? my new frens of late? company.. laughter... just as they offer me the same... but have i more to offer them? I hv the biggest and best thing to offer - God.. but... where have i done that? maybe its gotta do w my own struggle to find my place back in Daddy's arms... but.. yet ... and for my old frens.. so many of them.. hv i even been in contact with them? have i cared abt how they have been? NO!!! ... I SUCK!!
I've been spending a lot of time with my friends, doing a lot of things together... movies, JB, marking, dinner, etc etc... Sometimes I spend time with my frens on the pretext that i'm accompanying them... listening to them and trying encourage them... BUT... it seems to me tt... wat i hv offered them is.. just material things tt i can afford... time.... words... company....
One of a social theory says tt... we give out as much in relationships based on wat we expect/perceive to receive. As i gave, i gained company as well, acceptance, listening ears from others... Is that all that i am? this selfish brat i am? i suck.... when did i realize tt?
Friday nite... I was out marking w sandfly. she told me she had actually paid for a 'fortune telling session'... which would take like 1.5 hours so i was supposed to wait for her (well.. it took THREE long hours in the end...) but the point was tt.. i told her i'll go to the shop w her and i'll do my marking while waiting for her. she was worried i'll be uncomfy there noeing my stand on these things.. but i told her doesn't matter. i'll do my work...
den when she went in for the session, i was on the outer area of the shop marking.. while marking.. a thot came to me... i shld b praying for her... wat did i do? i thot "God, pls take care of her huh?" and...... i went back to my marking...... there.... was my fren.... and here i was... den yest nite when i was on the fon w her.. we were sharing out troubles etc.. and she said actually when she was in the room, two things went thro her mind. one of which was: is sheryl praying for me outside?
i suck... sigh....
wat do i offer my frens? my new frens of late? company.. laughter... just as they offer me the same... but have i more to offer them? I hv the biggest and best thing to offer - God.. but... where have i done that? maybe its gotta do w my own struggle to find my place back in Daddy's arms... but.. yet ... and for my old frens.. so many of them.. hv i even been in contact with them? have i cared abt how they have been? NO!!! ... I SUCK!!
Monday, October 11, 2004
Dedicated to all the markers...
Deck the desks with piles of papers
Falalalala Lalalala
Tis the season to be marking
Falalalala Lalalala
To my dear pals marking out there
Falala Lalala Lalala
We are in this mess together
FALALALALA LAAAAAA LAAAAA LAAAAAA LAAAAAAA....
Falalalala Lalalala
Tis the season to be marking
Falalalala Lalalala
To my dear pals marking out there
Falala Lalala Lalala
We are in this mess together
FALALALALA LAAAAAA LAAAAA LAAAAAA LAAAAAAA....
Friday, October 08, 2004
laaaaaaa......... si...........
I got up early than usual... thanks to the extra lassi i went for last nite... ah ha ha.. but better early.. than during invigilation!!! So i'm thankful to God for that... *hehz*
Yesterday went out w the dive grp to hv curry at racecourse road.... been wanting to try curries at racecourse... finally... our dear fren RG ordered a tad too much... and ended up... well.... i was trying to serve out all the fish in the curry so it wldn't go to waste. heh....
there was a 'second round' for ktv... i'm not a ktv person.. sometimes go for company.. but yest nite.. was not in ktv mood AT ALL... but in a sense dun wanna be 'shao xing' so just tagged along for a while... at least i hv my buddy LN to talk to me... so it wasn't too bad....
Feeling for now.... bleah.... also dunno y.... actually i tink i noe y... *laughs* but bleah den bleah lor... life goes on doesnt it?
Meanwhile.... wat shall i do today? its friday!!! mark.... :-S
Yesterday went out w the dive grp to hv curry at racecourse road.... been wanting to try curries at racecourse... finally... our dear fren RG ordered a tad too much... and ended up... well.... i was trying to serve out all the fish in the curry so it wldn't go to waste. heh....
there was a 'second round' for ktv... i'm not a ktv person.. sometimes go for company.. but yest nite.. was not in ktv mood AT ALL... but in a sense dun wanna be 'shao xing' so just tagged along for a while... at least i hv my buddy LN to talk to me... so it wasn't too bad....
Feeling for now.... bleah.... also dunno y.... actually i tink i noe y... *laughs* but bleah den bleah lor... life goes on doesnt it?
Meanwhile.... wat shall i do today? its friday!!! mark.... :-S
Monday, October 04, 2004
Sleep deprived and narcosed and pleasantly dreamy....
too tired to blog.. to many things to blog.. in short, refer to Esther's blog. MUA HA HA HA.
Other little things in the dive:
1. I had FOUR buddies this trip.. good gracious..
2. CORAL SPAWNING!!! can u believe such luck? but also mean v low visibility of abt 4m n weird white stuff sticking on us.
3. I am a fairly decent 'hoverer' now. mua ha ha. next skill to work on: finning
4. I dropped my no. of weights (thanks to some inconsiderate person who took my weights from my weight belt. blessing in disguise. ah ha)
5. I touched a frenly turtle!!! Its crazy... lol
6. Finally got to see closeup the infamous moray eel the whole world has seen.
7. Got dumped into the sea even tho i cant tread water.. *grumble*
Great company. Great food. But it means... weird to be back in a 'different' world teaching in less than 8 hours after arriving back at newton. *laughs*
Hugs n kisses to lovely gals like Es, Sandfly, Kris, Ln, EV... not forgetting my fav boys like J, EW, LDV (quite a mouthful to pronounce), RG (who offered to mark my papers during dive).
Other little things in the dive:
1. I had FOUR buddies this trip.. good gracious..
2. CORAL SPAWNING!!! can u believe such luck? but also mean v low visibility of abt 4m n weird white stuff sticking on us.
3. I am a fairly decent 'hoverer' now. mua ha ha. next skill to work on: finning
4. I dropped my no. of weights (thanks to some inconsiderate person who took my weights from my weight belt. blessing in disguise. ah ha)
5. I touched a frenly turtle!!! Its crazy... lol
6. Finally got to see closeup the infamous moray eel the whole world has seen.
7. Got dumped into the sea even tho i cant tread water.. *grumble*
Great company. Great food. But it means... weird to be back in a 'different' world teaching in less than 8 hours after arriving back at newton. *laughs*
Hugs n kisses to lovely gals like Es, Sandfly, Kris, Ln, EV... not forgetting my fav boys like J, EW, LDV (quite a mouthful to pronounce), RG (who offered to mark my papers during dive).
Thursday, September 30, 2004
excerpts of the day...
my dear class got really... noisy and rude during class presentation time. i was so tired i gave up scolding them during the presentations. i ended the presentations before they were completed, instructed them to go to the open space outside when i spoke to them. asked them to rate themselves. out of 1o, wat score did their behavior warrant them. they said... most settled for 4 or 5.... asked them y.. they cld tell me the reasons.. sighz.... tried speaking to them.. whether it got in.. is another issue.. sighz... told them tt sometimes teachers do tink tt gals from NA are hopeless.. but its cos of their behavior.. and i dun tink they're hopeless which was the reason y i spoke to them.. den they started complaining abt other teachers scolding them hopeless and stupid.. when can they see tt... they are responsible for their behavior? *sighz*
two of my sec 3 na class music students looked at me with tied hair (i rarely tie up my hair)... 'cher, u shldn't tie up ur hair.. makes u look auntie...' i just looked at her and the gal beside her.. tinking 'watever.... anywayz, not quite polite to tell teacher tat... ' then the gal beside looked intently at me and said... 'cher if ur complexion is better, i tink u will be v pretty'... sighz... do i care?
finalyl got my notebook.. its an iMac... guess wats the best part? ;) its got.. uh hmm... tt program i always wanted to have!!! (to noe wat prog, ask.. ) pretty cool.. but i still feel a little silly cos i dun quite noe how to operate apple... well, not yet.
home earlier. cabbed home cos i was ehxasuted.. plus rain.. plus plus plus ... moody... its a cold day!! for singapore, its cold today. been marking for the past few hours. gave up.. cos i got really REALLY bored... feeling quite restless... is it cos i'm going on the dive tom ? or is it the thot tt i hv to bring my marking w me during the dive (which completely broke my rule of just play during dive trips)? or is it the piles and piles of marking coming in..? or is it the small little marks... marking... etc i hv to submit soon? I DUNNO!!!! just feeling.. really restless... man......
two of my sec 3 na class music students looked at me with tied hair (i rarely tie up my hair)... 'cher, u shldn't tie up ur hair.. makes u look auntie...' i just looked at her and the gal beside her.. tinking 'watever.... anywayz, not quite polite to tell teacher tat... ' then the gal beside looked intently at me and said... 'cher if ur complexion is better, i tink u will be v pretty'... sighz... do i care?
finalyl got my notebook.. its an iMac... guess wats the best part? ;) its got.. uh hmm... tt program i always wanted to have!!! (to noe wat prog, ask.. ) pretty cool.. but i still feel a little silly cos i dun quite noe how to operate apple... well, not yet.
home earlier. cabbed home cos i was ehxasuted.. plus rain.. plus plus plus ... moody... its a cold day!! for singapore, its cold today. been marking for the past few hours. gave up.. cos i got really REALLY bored... feeling quite restless... is it cos i'm going on the dive tom ? or is it the thot tt i hv to bring my marking w me during the dive (which completely broke my rule of just play during dive trips)? or is it the piles and piles of marking coming in..? or is it the small little marks... marking... etc i hv to submit soon? I DUNNO!!!! just feeling.. really restless... man......
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
heartache.....
of late, i've experienced a slight heartache as and when. but that is no issue, since i've found my brains.
tis afternn... i experience a heartache of a different sort. while trying to iron out some disagreements between some gals due to a grp project i set them to do some time ago, i saw a gal with marks of shallow cuts on her arm...
i spoke to her alone. she teared. my heart went out to her as i held her hand. i did not noe wat to say.. i did not noe wat to tink.. i felt inadequate to handle the situation cos i din noe wat are the actual factors/causes ... i almost teared a little.. but i noe i cldn't.. heard of it so much.. even where i'm teaching.. but encountering one... touching one's hand like that for myself... my heart ached... these people.. they need the LORD so much...
yet at the same time pple tell me life is short.. enjoy it.. dun tink too much... sighz.
tis afternn... i experience a heartache of a different sort. while trying to iron out some disagreements between some gals due to a grp project i set them to do some time ago, i saw a gal with marks of shallow cuts on her arm...
i spoke to her alone. she teared. my heart went out to her as i held her hand. i did not noe wat to say.. i did not noe wat to tink.. i felt inadequate to handle the situation cos i din noe wat are the actual factors/causes ... i almost teared a little.. but i noe i cldn't.. heard of it so much.. even where i'm teaching.. but encountering one... touching one's hand like that for myself... my heart ached... these people.. they need the LORD so much...
yet at the same time pple tell me life is short.. enjoy it.. dun tink too much... sighz.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Eventful Day
last minute got a call from SN. Vuthy is in town, from cambodia. so met up w him for lunch. always good to see Vuthy with his beautiful smile. :)
got to see G for a while en route to Gill. Poor gal, she's kindof overworked and really tired. good thing her break is coming... :) her break time.. will be the start of my marking season... lol
went to Gill.. met up w pple.. buddy, xiaomei, some familiar faces and a couple of new ones. nice.
went for the talk on coral spawning w EW. Man last min the rest of those who were supposed to turn up played us out. Supposed to be 5, left 2. *sighz* in anycase, bumped into DR there. Only after i attended the talk den did i realize... i dunno many things abt corals!! yeah.. learnt geographical stuff abt them in sec sch.. but the biological part... still a little confused. LOL.
met sandfly at the place where the talk was held. den went for salsa course. it was so-so. i tink the guys there hv to learn how to 'lead' if not it becomes hard for the gals too. but its not easy, considering its the first lesson... and also given not everyone has a good sense of rhythm, so they cant really come in (but they have to lead?!?) in anycase, i myself suck at psychomotor skills.. so i dun fare too well too... cant do/feel the watever tension thing they were talking abt... #*@&#(* lol
J was very sweet. she picked me up from the dance center to go to DL's place for her housewarming. met more new pple.. ate a lot of food (wats new...) happy for her.
joined the divers for a KOK session. but i left within a short while cos tom hv to be up early to play for morn service. while Es was driving me there.. she helped me 'tackled' a problem by telling me wat words to use to pple.. boy she's good w words. lol... anywayz, those worked! also, she told me something which came as a surprise to me... sighz... @#*$&(#
now.. time to sleep.... its been an eventful day. no work done.. but eventful enough.. i tink that's enough. i need a break. lol.. nites
got to see G for a while en route to Gill. Poor gal, she's kindof overworked and really tired. good thing her break is coming... :) her break time.. will be the start of my marking season... lol
went to Gill.. met up w pple.. buddy, xiaomei, some familiar faces and a couple of new ones. nice.
went for the talk on coral spawning w EW. Man last min the rest of those who were supposed to turn up played us out. Supposed to be 5, left 2. *sighz* in anycase, bumped into DR there. Only after i attended the talk den did i realize... i dunno many things abt corals!! yeah.. learnt geographical stuff abt them in sec sch.. but the biological part... still a little confused. LOL.
met sandfly at the place where the talk was held. den went for salsa course. it was so-so. i tink the guys there hv to learn how to 'lead' if not it becomes hard for the gals too. but its not easy, considering its the first lesson... and also given not everyone has a good sense of rhythm, so they cant really come in (but they have to lead?!?) in anycase, i myself suck at psychomotor skills.. so i dun fare too well too... cant do/feel the watever tension thing they were talking abt... #*@&#(* lol
J was very sweet. she picked me up from the dance center to go to DL's place for her housewarming. met more new pple.. ate a lot of food (wats new...) happy for her.
joined the divers for a KOK session. but i left within a short while cos tom hv to be up early to play for morn service. while Es was driving me there.. she helped me 'tackled' a problem by telling me wat words to use to pple.. boy she's good w words. lol... anywayz, those worked! also, she told me something which came as a surprise to me... sighz... @#*$&(#
now.. time to sleep.... its been an eventful day. no work done.. but eventful enough.. i tink that's enough. i need a break. lol.. nites
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Monday, September 20, 2004
Thank you EC
Thanks for your pollution song.. Really hilarious!! definitely something i'll listen to when i'm blue... *smile* appreciate it heaps.
Things not as 'fantastic'... but it sure brightens up w frens like ya... :)
Things not as 'fantastic'... but it sure brightens up w frens like ya... :)
Its a good day and I thank the Lord for that.
well...
generally there are the ups and downs...
ups from students...
downs from sudden arrows shot in tis direction which may very likely jeopardize one weekend dive trip i intend to go on. okiez.. its 99% gone.
heard from a fren a piece of 'interesting' news. just taking the news as it comes. not surprised to hear it. its something i'll hear eventually. thankfully... i'm okiez. :)
so... its a good day and i thank the Lord for that...
generally there are the ups and downs...
ups from students...
downs from sudden arrows shot in tis direction which may very likely jeopardize one weekend dive trip i intend to go on. okiez.. its 99% gone.
heard from a fren a piece of 'interesting' news. just taking the news as it comes. not surprised to hear it. its something i'll hear eventually. thankfully... i'm okiez. :)
so... its a good day and i thank the Lord for that...
Friday, September 17, 2004
A week in a teacher's life... ...
7 points for 7 days
1. Geography and English Exam papers more or less vetted and nearing printing press.
2. More or less finished marking CME exam papers minus those absentees who have to sit for their exams.
3. Spoke to a few gals abt their behavior. One of which - the gals copied work BLINDLY. Qns 1 - 10 can be from Passage A, and Qns 11 - 16 from Passage B. AND the spelling and gramatical errors are EXACTLY the same... write down to the smallest atom. How can they claim it is group work? Yeah, sure, group copy work? *laughs*
4. Got 'scolded' by a parent for over 20 minutes. It is tough. People think it is easy being the teacher. Worse, they shaft all the blame to teachers. *sighz* I'm glad not all parents are like that, and that I have nice colleagues to rally behind me to support me. Tho... the call spoilt my mood for a while... but as i've learnt, life goes on. There are things I can control, there are those I cant. There are things that matter, there are those which matter less. *smile* Life goes on.. for the important.
5. Had a short chat with two of the gals I brought for the music IT competition. It was nice. They told me their seniors think that generally I'm nice. Even one gal told me her seniors said I taught geography well. I'm like?!?!?! With the poor quality of materials I produce...?!?! But it was encouraging. *smile*
6. I am still learning how to tackle 'uninterested', 'you suck', 'i cannot be bothered with you' faces... still get discouraged seeing these faces. Still learning...
7. Point for reflection: How 'smiley' a teacher should I be? Esp the first time I meet a class (Esp lower sec)
1. Geography and English Exam papers more or less vetted and nearing printing press.
2. More or less finished marking CME exam papers minus those absentees who have to sit for their exams.
3. Spoke to a few gals abt their behavior. One of which - the gals copied work BLINDLY. Qns 1 - 10 can be from Passage A, and Qns 11 - 16 from Passage B. AND the spelling and gramatical errors are EXACTLY the same... write down to the smallest atom. How can they claim it is group work? Yeah, sure, group copy work? *laughs*
4. Got 'scolded' by a parent for over 20 minutes. It is tough. People think it is easy being the teacher. Worse, they shaft all the blame to teachers. *sighz* I'm glad not all parents are like that, and that I have nice colleagues to rally behind me to support me. Tho... the call spoilt my mood for a while... but as i've learnt, life goes on. There are things I can control, there are those I cant. There are things that matter, there are those which matter less. *smile* Life goes on.. for the important.
5. Had a short chat with two of the gals I brought for the music IT competition. It was nice. They told me their seniors think that generally I'm nice. Even one gal told me her seniors said I taught geography well. I'm like?!?!?! With the poor quality of materials I produce...?!?! But it was encouraging. *smile*
6. I am still learning how to tackle 'uninterested', 'you suck', 'i cannot be bothered with you' faces... still get discouraged seeing these faces. Still learning...
7. Point for reflection: How 'smiley' a teacher should I be? Esp the first time I meet a class (Esp lower sec)
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Life Goes On......
when happy things happen...
life goes on....
when disappointing things happen...
life goes on....
whether or not i am prepared to face up to tomorrow...
life goes on....
In short.....
life goes on.... face it....
life goes on....
when disappointing things happen...
life goes on....
whether or not i am prepared to face up to tomorrow...
life goes on....
In short.....
life goes on.... face it....
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Some random conversations
Venue: Staffroom
Time: Sept 11, 2004, Approx 11 am
TS: So are you prepared for school?
Me: Prepared or not still have to face it. School's still reopenning soon, does it matter? Just face it lor.
Venue: Along the river, Boat Quay
Time: Sept 10, 2004, Approx 1015pm
Me: I just realize I've actually met quite a couple of guys tis year, comparatively more than in previous years.. but alas, all the wrong ones... how tiring...
EV: Yeah, we always meet the wrong ones...
Venue: In AG's van
Time: Sept 11, 2004, Approx 1215am
AG: Actually in army its very free. They don't do much. Regulars have a lot of time. Still get paid loads.
Me tinks to myself: &@*#% all civil service.. but y so different?
Communication Mode: Email
Time: Sept 9, 2004, Approx 12pm
EW: i'm going for another dive over d weekend... was thinking if u would go for another dive over d next weekend,take it as i chio u, how???
Time: Sept 10, 2004, Approx 3pm
Me: thanks for d invitation for d dive. i'd love to. but two major factors.1. i dun print money. maybe if i find a rich old man who's gonna kickd bucket soon.. sure, i'll dive every week. LOL.2. i dun hv d time. attached to a CCA tt's got me stuck in sch allsats. well, den again, maybe if i find a rich old man who's gonna kickd bucket soon who can pay up my bond, y not? den i'll get him to godiving too... den he'll kick d bucket in the sea and.. MUA HA HA HA...
Venue: Swing, Near Centerpoint
Time: 8 Sept, 2004, Approx 11pm
Me: Since when do you start smoking? Neva seen you smoke all these years.
FL: Since I was 14. Now that my bf smokes, its not helping...
Communication Mode: MSN
Time: 11 Sept, 2004, Approx 9pm
EC: eh comment on my blog leh, no one has commented yet
Me: LOL since when u wan tis kindof attention one. I setting exam paper. Later....
HA HA... dun kill me EC. ;) Just felt like putting urs in. :-P
Time: Sept 11, 2004, Approx 11 am
TS: So are you prepared for school?
Me: Prepared or not still have to face it. School's still reopenning soon, does it matter? Just face it lor.
Venue: Along the river, Boat Quay
Time: Sept 10, 2004, Approx 1015pm
Me: I just realize I've actually met quite a couple of guys tis year, comparatively more than in previous years.. but alas, all the wrong ones... how tiring...
EV: Yeah, we always meet the wrong ones...
Venue: In AG's van
Time: Sept 11, 2004, Approx 1215am
AG: Actually in army its very free. They don't do much. Regulars have a lot of time. Still get paid loads.
Me tinks to myself: &@*#% all civil service.. but y so different?
Communication Mode: Email
Time: Sept 9, 2004, Approx 12pm
EW: i'm going for another dive over d weekend... was thinking if u would go for another dive over d next weekend,take it as i chio u, how???
Time: Sept 10, 2004, Approx 3pm
Me: thanks for d invitation for d dive. i'd love to. but two major factors.1. i dun print money. maybe if i find a rich old man who's gonna kickd bucket soon.. sure, i'll dive every week. LOL.2. i dun hv d time. attached to a CCA tt's got me stuck in sch allsats. well, den again, maybe if i find a rich old man who's gonna kickd bucket soon who can pay up my bond, y not? den i'll get him to godiving too... den he'll kick d bucket in the sea and.. MUA HA HA HA...
Venue: Swing, Near Centerpoint
Time: 8 Sept, 2004, Approx 11pm
Me: Since when do you start smoking? Neva seen you smoke all these years.
FL: Since I was 14. Now that my bf smokes, its not helping...
Communication Mode: MSN
Time: 11 Sept, 2004, Approx 9pm
EC: eh comment on my blog leh, no one has commented yet
Me: LOL since when u wan tis kindof attention one. I setting exam paper. Later....
HA HA... dun kill me EC. ;) Just felt like putting urs in. :-P
Thursday, September 09, 2004
of junk... and food....
check out wat i had within the past 24 hours from 7pm yest to 7pm today:
- popcorns (salted and sweet)
- amos cookies
- KFC (crispy)
- frozen magaritta
- more cookies for breakfast
- kueh dadah, sandine puff and dunno wat malay kueh kueh
- jap food (the only healthy meal!!)
- Mackies strawberry shake
- OO-jian (fried oyster)
- an entire plate of sea haarm (by myself!)
- some fish keropok
- two servings of fried chicken skin (i've found the place to buy fried ckn skin without having to eat the meat like in kfc!!! absolutely fabulous... and sinful...)
well.. these doesn't include the more than one entire big mooncake i finished just before that 24 hours begun...... hmmm.......
-
- popcorns (salted and sweet)
- amos cookies
- KFC (crispy)
- frozen magaritta
- more cookies for breakfast
- kueh dadah, sandine puff and dunno wat malay kueh kueh
- jap food (the only healthy meal!!)
- Mackies strawberry shake
- OO-jian (fried oyster)
- an entire plate of sea haarm (by myself!)
- some fish keropok
- two servings of fried chicken skin (i've found the place to buy fried ckn skin without having to eat the meat like in kfc!!! absolutely fabulous... and sinful...)
well.. these doesn't include the more than one entire big mooncake i finished just before that 24 hours begun...... hmmm.......
-
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Life since I was back ....
Monday -
1. marking
2. marking
3. marking
4. some karaoke session w pple who went on the dive
(no, i dun sing, its for the company and break out of marking)
Tuesday -
1. extra class w my sec threes
2. setting term four test
3. setting exam
4. setting exam
5. setting exam
6. getting a little irritated with a fren i got to noe over the dive trip
7. setting exam
8. catching up on emails
9. setting exam
10. catching up w some frens online
11. setting exam
Today?
1 - 10 . setting exam
11. @#(*^$ some silly 'socializing' meeting a more senior teacher w the other new teachers. yes, teachers have to socialize to... @#*$&#*
1. marking
2. marking
3. marking
4. some karaoke session w pple who went on the dive
(no, i dun sing, its for the company and break out of marking)
Tuesday -
1. extra class w my sec threes
2. setting term four test
3. setting exam
4. setting exam
5. setting exam
6. getting a little irritated with a fren i got to noe over the dive trip
7. setting exam
8. catching up on emails
9. setting exam
10. catching up w some frens online
11. setting exam
Today?
1 - 10 . setting exam
11. @#(*^$ some silly 'socializing' meeting a more senior teacher w the other new teachers. yes, teachers have to socialize to... @#*$&#*
Sunday, September 05, 2004
God's forgiving grace....
juz came back from my dive. totally pooped. so mayn things to write... so little energy... but something i tink of imptance....
God's Forgiving Grace
My first two dives weren't 'fantastic' cos i was nervous n trying to get accustomed to the feeling of being underwater again. Subsequent dives i slowly got time to appreciate what i'm seeing all around me intermittently (when i'm sure i wldn't sink/'over-float') *laughs* i thot 'hey finally i get to really appreciate wat God has created under the sea too!'...
On my way home, thots of the comments my student came back briefly. Suddenly, it occurred to me (i believe God told me *laughs*) that... i have to forgive that gal. Its not a huge 'sin' she committed against me, cos its not even about me. BUT, i have to forgive her.. to make the decision to let it go. I asked, how to forgive? Letting go and letting God have everything that has happened. The disappointment.. the hurt.. Continue to do my best and love and nurture as He has placed me there for.
Then, I heard something along this line... what you have seen... the corals, the fish, etc etc, the beauty of what has been created... is a reflection of the Creator. Let it serve as a reminder that... as He is beautiful, as He is good, and as He is faithful as the creation has so testified, He has forgiven our sins. Creation testifies to His goodness and forgiveness. Meaning, if and when i feel hurt again, maybe i'll just have to tink of the things i saw this weekend? and remember His forgiving grace on me... and so i have to forgive and entrust my gals to him...
All glory to God....
(ARGH... so many things more to write.. but i shall sleep!!)
God's Forgiving Grace
My first two dives weren't 'fantastic' cos i was nervous n trying to get accustomed to the feeling of being underwater again. Subsequent dives i slowly got time to appreciate what i'm seeing all around me intermittently (when i'm sure i wldn't sink/'over-float') *laughs* i thot 'hey finally i get to really appreciate wat God has created under the sea too!'...
On my way home, thots of the comments my student came back briefly. Suddenly, it occurred to me (i believe God told me *laughs*) that... i have to forgive that gal. Its not a huge 'sin' she committed against me, cos its not even about me. BUT, i have to forgive her.. to make the decision to let it go. I asked, how to forgive? Letting go and letting God have everything that has happened. The disappointment.. the hurt.. Continue to do my best and love and nurture as He has placed me there for.
Then, I heard something along this line... what you have seen... the corals, the fish, etc etc, the beauty of what has been created... is a reflection of the Creator. Let it serve as a reminder that... as He is beautiful, as He is good, and as He is faithful as the creation has so testified, He has forgiven our sins. Creation testifies to His goodness and forgiveness. Meaning, if and when i feel hurt again, maybe i'll just have to tink of the things i saw this weekend? and remember His forgiving grace on me... and so i have to forgive and entrust my gals to him...
All glory to God....
(ARGH... so many things more to write.. but i shall sleep!!)
Friday, September 03, 2004
Thursday, September 02, 2004
woman in black...
or almost...
wore my dark grey long dress... black covered shoes... hair tied up in black scrungee...
one student commented to another one... she looks like a married woman today...
yeah.. maybe black widow? *mua ha ha*
my English paper just came back, vetted, major changes to be done....
exhausted...
wore my dark grey long dress... black covered shoes... hair tied up in black scrungee...
one student commented to another one... she looks like a married woman today...
yeah.. maybe black widow? *mua ha ha*
my English paper just came back, vetted, major changes to be done....
exhausted...
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Food Glorious Food....
its Teachers' Day today.
Had been 'in touch' with food a lot lately.. meaning... ha ha ha... the weighing scales are starting to creak under my weight. Yesterday during Teachers' Day celebration it was makan makan... in the evening, met up w Ana and makan makan. Tis morn went for a conference and makan makan... still makaning the stuff the kids baked for us too. lol
Besides food so wat have i been up to?
1. went crazy over the last weekend and monday night marking to meet the deadline for CA submission.
2. Teachers' Day celebration was... hmm... lets say most of us teachers were trying to keep awake during the 'concert'.
3. Was trying to keep awake for the Christian Teachers' Conference tis morning.
4. perpectually tired...
Looking forward to my dive trip this coming weekend!! :)
This is my life story... boring...
Had been 'in touch' with food a lot lately.. meaning... ha ha ha... the weighing scales are starting to creak under my weight. Yesterday during Teachers' Day celebration it was makan makan... in the evening, met up w Ana and makan makan. Tis morn went for a conference and makan makan... still makaning the stuff the kids baked for us too. lol
Besides food so wat have i been up to?
1. went crazy over the last weekend and monday night marking to meet the deadline for CA submission.
2. Teachers' Day celebration was... hmm... lets say most of us teachers were trying to keep awake during the 'concert'.
3. Was trying to keep awake for the Christian Teachers' Conference tis morning.
4. perpectually tired...
Looking forward to my dive trip this coming weekend!! :)
This is my life story... boring...
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