Saturday, September 13, 2008

Where I Belong

Ahhhh This blog entry is typed on my mum's DELL. It's already midnight on 13th September 2008 but we accomplished alot over the past two days.

On the 12th September, we fell asleep in the cab on the way to KLIA as we had slept at 2am the night before. Alan and I have a very weird traditional - the night before any trip, we will stay up till very late. ahhaha Sometimes, a necessity, sometimes not.
Our very quick flight got us back by 6pm and we disembarked and took a cab back to my place to dump our huge luggage bags. The same cab took us to Marina Square for Alan to buy his software *what??? SHOP AGAIN??? Zesa the Ginnah had exclaimed. We had dinner at the foodcourt there and Alan had his usual fix - meepoktah. I went for the Bian Mian there. Not bad.
We bought a box of mooncakes for Alan to present to his boss whom I was meeting the day after and lugged everything home in a cab.

Today, we left the house around 1030am to run the remaining of our errands. We headed to the AA Centre to make our international driving licences and then scampered to Chinatown. Brunch was a simple porridge and pohpiah which left much to be desired. Then, we had to pick up our tour tickets and information etc at ASA. Deciding against a massage (to save moo-lah) we took the MRT to Orchard.
Alan had foolishly forgotten his D300 charger and we had to buy a new one. I also picked up some cosmetics for the trip so I did not need to bring huge containers of toner / cleansing gel etc... In anticipation of my mum's arrival, we had drinks at Central. As mum arrived after that, we adjourned to Crystal Jade for a simple lunch.
Soon, it was Singtel that beckoned and we picked up an iPhone for The Husband. He has the black one and I have the white. hahaa. It was half the price compared to mine (from HK). ;p
Then Jean arrived and Alan had to leave to have a dinner and drinks with his boss. So we all went to Far East Plaza to see if we could pick up something.
Paul and Yvonne joined us for dinner at Ramen - Ten and afterwhich we tried to shop somemore but ended up leaving the place empty-handed.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The Selfish Man and his Friend, the Tree.

Dear all,
It's been a while but since there was nothing really titillating to update, I have left my blog blank. However, yesterday was quite fun. I gave my students in the orphanage a grammar test and told them that if they don't PASS the test, they will be BANNED from the bbq we will be organising in October for them. haahaha With beads of perspiration running down their foreheads, despite the chilly airconditioned air, they embarked on the half an hour test. After an hour, and after we were done discussing the answers, we found some just passing by the skin of their teeth and the rest all above average. ahahha. Totally unexpected. Highest was 30/33! *claps*
We started on another activity. I told them a story about a selfish man who demanded everything from his friend a tree. When a boy, he demanded apples to eat. When a young man, he demanded branches to build shelter for his family. When old and tired, he wanted the trunk to build a sail boat to relax and sail away. All was taken without a word of thanks. He left the selfless tree behind , sad and lonely. When finally he was very haggard and nearing the end of his days, he came back to the tree. The tree did not have anything to offer but the man did not want anything. So the tree offered him his dying roots for a seat to take stock of his world. The man gratefully sat down and realised that throughout his life, he had neglected the tree and had not offered him any appreciation.
I made the children think of pple in their lives who have given them care and concern. Some were very cynical and cracked jokes but after I pointed out that they were like the selfish Man, they kept quiet. Next, I passed around coloured paper and markers and they all got busy doing up a card to pass to the special someone who had touched their lives and whom they had not thanked.
The kids took the next 20minutes to draw their cards and write their messages to this person. Hahahha When Alan and I walked around, we quietly sniggered at some drawings. hahahaha Very funny. After the lesson ended, I made the kids promise to pass the card to the person they wanted to thank and dismissed them.
Ahhhh Alan and I collected about 5 cards! hahahaa. Of course, one 18-year-old student, who had the drawing talent of a 3 year old, drew me in the card and I must say I must look HIDEOUS in his eyes. hahahaha. (Me as seen in the eyes of 18 year old Chow Chin Man)
But we were very touched. We also have started, from lesson 1, a diary for the kids. Every week, one kid takes home the diary and writes in it. :) It's kinda an outlet for them to pen something down but most entries have been recorded thanks for our classes. :)

10 September 2008
My bags are packed and I'm ready to go! Will be back home TOMORROW evening! O YEAH!