This cruel world #7 (Disgust.)

Sudden yet consistent disgust for mankind.

Having a good intention is good. But when your actions are not able to match up to your intentions, there's no point in having good intentions at all.

It's disgusting when people promise that they'll do something, when they should have known that they're unable to deliver their promises. Apologizing after being unable to deliver your promises is kind of a pointless thing to do, especially when promises have been made for more than once.

Say say say, also no use. I feel that words are like bubbles- they can look so pretty but they burst so easily. On the contrary, actions are like soccer balls- solid and concrete, you can feel it. Bubbles and soccer balls are not exactly the best analogies for undelivered and delivered promises respectively, but you get the drift.

Can we ever trust anyone with their words?

On a similar disgust level, I hate it when people do not try their best to do what they need to do. It's not a matter of preference- sometimes, it's a matter of responsibility and accountability. In case you don't know, there are many people who are working much harder than you, you shameless leech.

Bread and butter #312 (Thank You...)

Thank you for believing in me. =)

Bread and butter #311 (GOR Prelude.)

I am really thankful to have reliable volunteers with Xinyan and me throughout the whole planning process- Soon Tien, Huijing, Wanqi, Jingyan, Kaiting and Jie Jiun. I know I can count on them. =)

I got two boys to help me to organise the T-shirts, and as a result, I could do more of other work! So nice of the boys lor. And somemore, they did a good job!

So many little details to take care of, so little time. But this shouldn't be too big a problem as I've conquered the record-setting event planning previously... Everything will run smoothly. Just be steady!

The next thing I want to do is to spread onions and chillies (on top of the onions) all around. Let's pray for good weather on Saturday!

Totally of LOL material.

...
orh ok lor lol
and hor
who make ur heart hurt
tell me i go kill him

Sometimes, you just need some of such silly little comments to make your day.
Thanks for the thought. LOL. ;)

Bread and butter #310 (The young potentials.)

I was telling one teacher that bringing kids out requires a lot of energy from adults. Sometimes, I worry about my own energy level- when I'm tired, I can really feel the tiredness affecting me and my work.

I'm thankful to have the teacher and her students helping out on Saturday. I try not to come in too quickly when things happen... and boy, the young adults could really come up with brilliant solutions. We need more of such young leaders man!

Occasional feeding on energy of volunteers could be a powerful experience. =)

More of V6!

Way of life

Heard that it was released in December 2007. So long ago!

http://www.avexnet.or.jp/v6/index.html

And I just don't get tired of them ever since Secondary school days. I so love the way they inject meaning into their songs! =)

Hugs, peace and comfort.

Just arrived back home not long ago from a late night supper with JY. It's been quite some time since I had supper because I'm well known for being a health freak, and late night supper is a no-no. Haha.

The food was good... especially the xiao long baos which I've craved for MONTHS. We failed to hit our target of 5 longs (5 x 5 = 25!), and I'm determined to try again the next time I go there. Hoho, and the next time together with Eliz. =)

The good food kind of provided me comfort after a long and tiring day... haven't been resting well for the past few days. And my soul kind of needs some rest too, as unwanted and upsetting thoughts tried to make their way into my head.

I can feel the pain inside, but I will convince myself to believe that the pain will go away. Some day...

Hugs, peace and comfort- just exactly what I need now.

P/S: Tomorrow will be another long day... I shall go to bed. Gute Nacht, die Welt.

German Film Festival 2009- Pink!

There's no Til Schweiger film this year... so we had to make do with another film.

We had coffee after the movie... this picture looks cute. Hahaha.

Lessons learned: 1) The ugliest man could be the best man after all, and 2) the man who is suitable for you could be right beside you all along. We tried to come up with these learning points from our super simple and short german film... so that there's meaning to what we've watched.

But anyway, I enjoy myself every year, as long as I indulge in a german film or two during the festival. And if there's Til Schweiger, better still! =D

Bread and butter #309 (Kia Ora, Miss Koh.)

I had a nice and heartwarming closure with my girl. The second last session was especially engaging, probably because I was not too stressed about having any agenda in mind. The quality chat was great- probably one of the best chats that I ever had with any of my kids. Now that everything has come to an end, future challenges are just beginning for her... thoughts for her to ponder upon, decisions for her to make, and opportunities for her to shine! Dear girl, I wish you all the best. =)

I shall officially announce that I am naggy. Yes I am. I worry and nag too much. Miss Koh, chai sum dee. Don't come in too quickly with solutions and advice... listen to what the kids have to say... check out their needs... find out what they really want. Be there and be curious.

Kia Ora.

28 October 2009- Meet-up with Jessalyn.

After four tries, we managed to take a nice shot of ourselves.

Presenting to you, my AJChoir buddy.

Bread and butter #308 (Working with Youths- Introduction.)

2-6 November 2009- The Kia Ora Days.

Probably the most inspiring 5 consecutive days that I've had in my life.

How we claim the room as ours- our learnings are all over the walls.

And all over the floor. Haha. I like it that we have to keep moving! No chance of falling asleep!

What I was feeling on 2 November: Still thinking of my kids as I just had many outings with them... Snow City, Qian Hu Fish Farm and Sentosa... and I missed (still missing) them!

My expectation of the course: I'm not saying that I feel like bashing them up okay... even though sometimes I may feel this way, haha. I want to have more strength to work with them! Practical strength, i.e. skills, as well as emotional strength!

My signature: A sponge. Ever-learning, ever-absorbing knowledge to be better able to journey with my kids. It's a little bit dirty now, given that I've been in the field for two years. But I think it can get dirtier. I will work harder to get dirtier.

I love this poster. How I wish everyone is willing to look deeper. Chai sum dee.

Needs of youths today, according to our definition. There could be more...

Our learnings! Whare Tapa Whaa! Real and Felt Needs. PRVE.

Our room.

One of the MANY crowdies we played- CZAR! As you can see, I was eliminated... that is why I can take photos of this, hahaha.

The floor. On hindsight, the colours are nice!

The coursemates who sat on my right.

Our Poroporoaki Time.

That means closure time. =)

Other than learning, I had a yummy time at Ghim Moh too, muahahaha. XY and me had Johnson Duck rice, carrot cake, horfun, chicken chop... We plan what we want to eat very carefully. Haha.

Raw fish slices. VERY YUMMY. We ate this with porridge on Wednesday, as we knew that we would be going back office in the evening and that we would be eating something that will be quite filling* for dinner.

Very nice porridge. Slurps.
Wantan mee, that looked so simple but tasted nice nonetheless.

Soyabean tart as dessert after Wantan mee. New love. =)

Our dinner on Wednesday- the steak was okay only though...

And the fish was very fishy. Bleargh.

Lunch on Friday! Hainan Chicken Rice. All-time fave.

I shall always remember this.

Our engaging, dynamic and charismatic trainers- Mike and Darryl. They're from New Zealand, not Australia, haa. (Photo courtesy of Firdhaus.)

During tea time...

And we kind of summoned more coursemates to take photos together.

Let me try to recall some names... Alvin, Tina, Guan Zhen...
Latifah, Andrew, Adilah...

Moogi, Shifa, Natalie, Yiying! =P

And lastly,a class photo with everyone in it! Like what Firdhaus said, we all come from different walks of life, but we went for the course for a common purpose and that is to be better equipped with skills to journey with our youths.
Our youths... each and everyone of them is unique and has the potential to shine.

And we will continue to believe in them.

KIA ORA!

P/S: "Kia Ora" means "yes" in Maori. You can say it when you agree with something or when you want to cheer for something / someone. Kia Ora!

Taking a break.

Not going to make any more cinnamon roll- will take a break from it and enjoy the apple juice, for now.

5 November 2009- Belated Birthday Celebration by Ping & Sab.

Laughter is the best medicine. I think I laughed quite a lot while meeting up you girls, and while looking back at these photos. Hahaha, it was good time spent together.

Thank you, girls! :)

"The wrapper very nice, right?!"
Both of them are very proud of their pressie for me.

Hello. You're supposed to take a photo of me, not the boy boy.

The boring shots.

And here comes...

our crankiness...

A very practical pressie. I love the coloured pens.

And yes, my dear Sabrina, the wrapper very nice. Hahaha.

We're very very amused and amazed at the iphone. I have not mastered the technique of this game- just kept pressing aimlessly, hahaha. Highly entertaining for us. :P