Pure Life

Had a programme for the children from the orphanage pure life. Pure life is an orphanage for young children without a family or from single parent home. What struck me to be very interesting was the fact that they actually have a temple or praying place that embrace all religions. They will have Sunday studies on values and pray in all the four major religion/languages. There was a comprehensive display on their values, The lady shared with us their philosophy, that all religions more or less have the same basic values and fundamental principles. And religion, mixed with our cultural practices, is just presented in many different ways through what we have now, e.g. Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism etc I was pleasantly surprised, as this is how i really feel. I hope I dont get into trouble for writing these kinds/ of things, but I feel religion is created by people who believe that it is important to have a set of good guiding principles in life and often then passed down through generations, through written and/or oral history.

Anyway, in Pure Life Orphanage, we organised a progrmme. The pupils organised themselves into three groups: teaching & playing of basketball, demonstration & teaching of simple basic technique skills and a magic show (with some sing-a-long). I was really proud of them. They were rather self running and the children from the home enjoyed themselves. During our reflection, one of the students shared something really touching. The boy that he was attached to won a small notebook, and the boy asked him to teach him how to write family, father and mother on the notebook. When the student shared this on the bus, i could feel the emotions raising in many of those seated near me (including myself). It was really a touching reflection. He added that this experience made him appreciate what he has.....

It is in times like this that I tell myself that what I am doing is meaningful and that I can be the one that creates these opportunities for the students to experience this.... =)

Technology, Wow!

Just bought a small notebook ($600) over the weekends, which I am now using along the road (on the way back to Singapore from KL). I am simply amazed by the technology that we have now. I remember when I was still a student, there were not such items like laptops, PSPs or internet. Now, our kids are really wired up! Wow! Among the 40 of us, I believe there are about 6 PSPs, 2 laptops, 20 MP3s etc etc etc Anyway, this small ASUS notebook that I just bought is really small. Its like a kids toy laptop =)

Notice I dont really want to call it a laptop, coz its so small that I feel a bit apologetic to other laptops if i classify it under the same category as laptop. Er, although notebook is also referring to laptops, i feel that it is more appropriate to cal mine a notebook, as there are small notebooks around in the market (e.g. 555 brand etc) =P

There is nothing really much about this notebook (its not even run by windows!) but it definitely enough for simple word processing. Especially now that I am on the road, I can actually do some of my work (completed all five of my markers report on the road!). It will at least save me some time when I go back home later, and I can rest early =)

Work Life Balance

huh? What's that? if i am ever graded on that, i will fail terribly.....

just missed my wedding anniversary a few days back. I was so caught up with work that i had slept on the sofa for two nights straight. Once i'm tired working, I'll just set my alarm for the next hour and then take a quick nap on the bed. On friday, I could really feel like someone was squeezing my heart. I think I am simply just too exhausted.

I just can't seem to find a balance. Actually, sometimes I feel that I am just spread too thin. I am not working at my optimal level. I am not doing well both at home or at work. I was so guilty the other day when I saw my hubby washing the dishes that I have used and left in the basin for a few days. It got me really thinking how i have contributed to this household. He washes the clothes and dishes, manages the finance, pays the bills, maintains the car etc etc ... it seems like i had blended into the walls, and that it doesn't really matter whether i am around or not. Is this the life that I want? Can i really continue living like this? I feel that my heart is pumping very fast every day, and that it's going to stop anytime.... at work, i am making too many mistakes and it really does further demoralise me...

i think it is just these two weeks. perhaps it's PMS (post menstrual stress & pre menstrual stress). I hope I snap out of it fast, and quickly find a balance. If not, I feel that my heart may stop soon. =(

~ Makan Buffet ~

Had a really wonderful morning last Sunday! We initially wanted to have a nice buffet breakfast at City Hall. Fortunately for us, both the restaurants were full, and I was also quite turned off by the pricing. Thus, hubby proposed to have our own breakfast buffet version.

We walked from City Hall to Bugis and had a lot of wonderful food at various stalls! From about 9am, we actually ate all the way to almost 12pm!!!!! Here's a list of food that we ate =P

First Stop: Prata Stall that we used to frequent when we play CS @ parklane
1) Two prata kosong
2) One egg prata
3) One cheese with mushroom prata
4) Two ice milo

Second Stop: Hawker Stall at Bugis Market
1) Two suen guei
2) One beng guei

Third Stop: Coffee Shop outside temple
1) Hong Zhao Mian Xian with Fuzhou Fishballs

Fourth Stop: Fong Seng Nasi Lemak (used to be behind NUS, now near parklane)
1) Chicken Wing each

*Yum* *Yum*.... and we also spent less than $20 =) ... it was definitely more filling and fun that having a buffet breakfast =) ... would love to do something like that again soon! .. i guess it is also important to have the right location. we are lucky to be in the area where good food can be found within walking distance from each other... looking forward to Round 2 ~ ! will need to review my target to trim off 3kg =P

Friends @ Work

On average, I spent about 10 to 12 hours in my working place. Assuming that I am awake for about 18 hours per day, this 10 to 12 hours is a considerable loooonnnng time!!!!! Anyway, I'm glad that I'm in a job that I enjoy. Of course there are days that I'm down, but thankfully, that's only about 20% of the time. Also, I particularly enjoy the company that I have at work!

We went out to Sushi Teh the other day for tea. Me, SL, Evie & david. There was this really hilarious moment, when we started to compare how we were like in secondary school, and we were teasing SL for being so hardworking.

Among the few of us, SL is the best role model when it comes to working attitude. Personally, I like to call it the "SL's spirit". She will always be very prompt in her work and never misses deadlines. So, she will not sleep until she gets her things done. Thus, whenever I have a lot to do and I feel like taking a break, I'll remind myself to have "SL's spirit". Sometimes, it really does give me the powerup energy to continue!!

For me, I'm always very last minute. I will only start work when I really have to. I feel that I can only produce quality work under pressure. Or rather, when I start to do my things early, I have the tendancy to keep on improving on my tasks. It's a good thing, but I end up spending a lot of time a single job. I find it hard to control - not to mull over things and keep on improving it. Thus, in the end, I end up being very burdened! Thus, my strategy or my "spirit" is to do when I really have to, and usually I will sleep first and then wake up early to complete what I need to do.

For Evie, er... hrm... she will just enjoy her sleep ...

Anyway, these are just some small little things that I will miss and treasure a lot =P I truly believe in fate. I mean there must be a special reason why we meet the people we meet in such huge space and time!
Sometimes, when I think about the people around me in respect to geological time & space, i really get goosebumps and a very warm comforting feeling..... wow~......=)

Team Work ~ Feeling Great!

It was a wonderful feeling. 4 contract workers, 3 students, the driver and I formed a human chain and transfered 3000 Newater bottles from the truck to the storage room. The feeling of so many people working happily together was fantastic. We were laughing, smiling and motivating each other. It was already after 5pm. The contract workers were supposed to have gone home by 5pm, but they stayed behind to help out of goodwill. More importantly, they help out with a smile!

Sometimes, I feel that there is an angel or someone watching over me. Either that, I must have done a lot of good in my previous lifetimes. Of all schools that I could have been posted to, I am really glad that to be where I am now. There are many nice and supportive people around me, and I really enjoy their company. Many are helpful and friendly as well. More importantly, I am able to form some true friendships with my colleagues!

That's why, on one hand, while I worry about the working conditions when I am in SA (e.g. will I get along well with my colleagues?), and I looking equally forward to it as a learning platform. I feel that I am over protected sometimes. My life has been really very smooth so far with everything always falling in place. When I am in tight knots or forced to a corner, there's always someone or somethings that will happen, and I will be able to solve the problem. There's just so many people around me that I'm indebted to. I guess this will also be a good opportunity to be more independent and learn to be more "street smart". =)

Money Matters

I never expected myself to be in this state. I did not have my cards with me. I was totally out of cash, and stuck in Bishan. Hubby was having training and would only be contactable after 9pm. Luckily, I was still with my friends, and I was utterly embarassed when I had to borrow $10 (er, coz I realise that I have been doing it rather frequently lately). Subsequently, I had to make several informed choices to save money, e.g. eating at a coffee shop, taking a bus home etc.

Hrm, I have never been keeping track of money matters. However, since I made up my mind to go SA (one year NO PAY!), I started to save and be more wary on how I spent my money.

It has been almost a year since I last bought clothes, shoes or bags! I have been digging out my old clothes to wear, and have repaired some as well. =) I'm rather amazed on how I survived through CNY (er, on the first day I actually wore a National Day t-shirt coz it was also red in colour). Here are some other changes & improvements in my life that even I surpise myself!

Past : Take cab
Usually eat at restaurants
Willing to spend on good food

Today : Take public transport (it is really very very much cheaper!)
Eat at coffee shop
Watch weekday movies @ Jubilee ($5.50 only!)

I realise that it is a win-win-win situation to save money. Coz not only do I conserve the environment (through usage of public transport, avoid purchases but reuse instead), I also get to exercise more by walking! And somehow these three reasons help to reinforce each other in one way or another. That's how I convince myself to take public transport when the urge to take cab is tempting! Also, to conserve energy, I will take the stairs when there is no one at the lift lobby, then I tell myself it is also a good form of exericse! Or I will eat simple meals at the coffee shop and tell myself that not only is it cheaper, it is also healthier and less energy consuming!

Well, I hope that I will be able to sustain these habits even after I am back from SA! =)