31 December 2013
Count down
Sometimes I think it takes very little to be happy and content with life. This year's count down is exactly how it is. Lazing in the bed with my parents and sis, reading stories from my iPad. The simplicity and peace and content is so wonderful. I love time like this. It is to be treasured!
Sweet Mum
I never knew this but my mum actually keeps small notes in her hand phone like a diary of sorts. It contains some major events of the year like when we spent new year in Taiwan e.t.c.
Though I noticed quite a few notes was about me being away from Singapore for my internship and when I called back home. I wonder if my trip away from Singapore has affected her more than she lets on. If I really do go overseas to work, I wonder if she will cope with it.
Another special note I found was one on Joyce's birthday. It coincides with the ceremony where public can choose to give the robes to the monks. My mum has planned for my sister to be the first to give the robe in hope that her wishes will all come true.
I still remember my sister being rather reluctant to go and deeming it as a chore. It is not exactly secret that my sister thinks she's the least loved by mum and mum certainty re-enforces that idea with regular comments on her seemingly "lack of common sense, initiative and ability" when it comes to house work.
However, reading this note just shows how much she does love Joyce and the rest of us. Though she doesn't show it very well and irritates us at times with her nagging and her restlessness, she really does love us in her own way. Often times, it is not in ways we can clearly see and appreciate but it's definitely there and I love her all the more for it. Hopefully all of us can see this and learn to love her more!
Though I noticed quite a few notes was about me being away from Singapore for my internship and when I called back home. I wonder if my trip away from Singapore has affected her more than she lets on. If I really do go overseas to work, I wonder if she will cope with it.
Another special note I found was one on Joyce's birthday. It coincides with the ceremony where public can choose to give the robes to the monks. My mum has planned for my sister to be the first to give the robe in hope that her wishes will all come true.
I still remember my sister being rather reluctant to go and deeming it as a chore. It is not exactly secret that my sister thinks she's the least loved by mum and mum certainty re-enforces that idea with regular comments on her seemingly "lack of common sense, initiative and ability" when it comes to house work.
However, reading this note just shows how much she does love Joyce and the rest of us. Though she doesn't show it very well and irritates us at times with her nagging and her restlessness, she really does love us in her own way. Often times, it is not in ways we can clearly see and appreciate but it's definitely there and I love her all the more for it. Hopefully all of us can see this and learn to love her more!
28 December 2013
4C gathering!
I have to admit I am pretty apprehensive at first since I haven't had any contact with them for years! In fact, I met up with my JC friends more often than my secondary school one. Though it really is a good chance to catch up with everyone so I went for the gathering and I'm glad I went.
Though it was a little awkward in the beginning since I've not met them for so many years, it was still nice getting to see everyone. Everyone's grown so much and some are even getting settled down like Jasmine and Hui Qing. Looking at them, I can't help but feel a little distance as I can see that they've been keeping up with each other in their own groups, just like back in school.
It's always been a regret of mine to not have very close friendships back in secondary school. I've spent majority of my time playing badminton though frankly speaking, I'm really ostracized in the team. I think it really is the crux of my unhappiness in school. I felt like I never belonged. Though on hindsight, I really should have given up on badminton in secondary school and joined other CCAs and spend more time interacting with my classmates and making friends in other CCAs. Despite the bad times in badminton, I have always found a certain level of happiness and content with my classmates. Though I wasn't particularly very close to anyone/everyone, I still had a fun time and it was perhaps, the best times I had in st nicks.
We all have a great time reminiscing about past times and relate tales of our adventures back in the school days. It's times like this that I REALLY REALLY missed school and want to rewind time to redo it all over again, this time making sure to make more friends and keep them closer to me still.
Regardless it's was a fun afternoon and I really appreciate the get together. Though the friendship may seem too frayed to strengthen at this point, I am trusting and believing in Lord Jesus to be all my friendships and relationships!
23 December 2013
Tenza meetup~
It's been really such a long time since I met up with the 3217 Tenza teams =) So long in fact Jon was wondering if I was in Singapore ^^ Today, 5 of us, Jon, Jiewei, Zhenling, Andrew and I met up at crossings cafe for dinner. Jon's treat with his vouchers xD It was delicious!
Can't believe everyone is already working except for me, who's still studying. It was a really nice get together where we get to catch up on everyone's work. Though Zhenling seems pretty upset at her workplace and Jiewei's so keen on recruiting people to neo xD Probably cause he's lonely there and wants referral bonus!
Though looking at the interactions between Jon, Jiewei and Andrew, seems like they are really close, going to dinners together frequently and attending courses online together! I am kind of envious of their relationships and hope I can have friendship like that too. Though I'm really happy that they organised this meetup and never forgot about me ^^ I should really invest more times to interact with them more! They are really wonderful people.
Jon's working at a "referral" start-up under Ben. I think that he's really smart and charismatic and it shows in the way he explains his job and describe about the industry here. Though when he analysed about how much we and I could earn in Singapore, it really shocked me. I never expected such high starting pay but that's besides the point. He's given quite a few good advice. This has really set me thinking about working overseas in one of the bigger companies, maybe Google. It has given me much hope for the future and I shall trust and rest in the Lord for this!
Can't believe everyone is already working except for me, who's still studying. It was a really nice get together where we get to catch up on everyone's work. Though Zhenling seems pretty upset at her workplace and Jiewei's so keen on recruiting people to neo xD Probably cause he's lonely there and wants referral bonus!
Though looking at the interactions between Jon, Jiewei and Andrew, seems like they are really close, going to dinners together frequently and attending courses online together! I am kind of envious of their relationships and hope I can have friendship like that too. Though I'm really happy that they organised this meetup and never forgot about me ^^ I should really invest more times to interact with them more! They are really wonderful people.
Jon's working at a "referral" start-up under Ben. I think that he's really smart and charismatic and it shows in the way he explains his job and describe about the industry here. Though when he analysed about how much we and I could earn in Singapore, it really shocked me. I never expected such high starting pay but that's besides the point. He's given quite a few good advice. This has really set me thinking about working overseas in one of the bigger companies, maybe Google. It has given me much hope for the future and I shall trust and rest in the Lord for this!
22 November 2013
Nice coffee shop is nice :)
On hind sight, I really should not have jogged with my sister last night. The adrenaline rush kept me awake the whole night and only released me to sleep at wee hours of the morning. It probably didn't help that I woke up feeling like my clothes weighed a ton.
Out of habit, I automatically walked out to the coffee shop behind my house for lunch and greeted the chicken rice brother as I came through the back door along their stall. As I was still sleepy and tired, I ordered a plate of chicken rice and mechanically sat in the nearest table, a seat away from where he was having his lunch before attending to my order.
We didn't converse while I was eating and halfway through my lunch, I spotted a middle aged man walked up to the drink stall uncle and spoke to him. The drink stalls uncle then proceeded to walk around speaking in Hainanese really loudly as if he was relaying a message to everyone. It was only when I saw people start rushing from their seats to the car park did I realise it was a warning for the "fine lady".
It really warms my heart to see a friendly gesture and I can't help smiling as I drank my soup and savoured the warm atmosphere of the coffee shop. The people are so friendly and kind that it lifts my spirits whenever I am there and it feels like home, even though most people there except the stall owners are strangers to me. I think that this is exactly what our society needs. A kinship, an environment where everyone feels like a friend / family instead of being cold strangers to each other.
Before I even finished my thought or my soup for the matter, I was suddenly offered another warm bowl of soup, topped with spring onions that I liked so much. I've only exchanged a few words with the chicken rice brother (they only started their business here recently) so I wasn't even familiar with him. Imagine my surprise when he placed the bowl in front of me with these kind words "Here, have another bowl of soup. It's still hot!"
I'm so touched by this small action, bless his kind soul! I've not talked to him but here he was, offering me a bowl of soup. It shows how thoughtful he was since he took time in the midst of his lunch to prepare the extra bowl and added the usual garnish I used. He must have noticed and cared enough to remember since I know for a fact that he'd usually have added pepper if it were someone else but thankfully not for me >.<
Using this as an opportunity, I started talking to him. We've learnt much about each other as I shared that I'm in University and am studying for my exams next week. We proceeded to talk about random stuff as the vegetarian stall uncle came and joined out conversation and it lead to talking about sleep of all things!
He's a generally content and happy person but I do wish he'd put himself in higher regards. He's wonderful in his own way and it's a wrong concept that he'd feel inferior because he is not as well educated and works as a hawker.
Through our conversation, I could tell that he really wishes that I would do well for my studies and not end up as a hawker like him though I do not see any fault with how he is living right now. He is happy and works in such a healthy environment (he sometimes even work less hours than my family =.=). He even laughs when I told him I wanted to learn how to cut up a chicken like him. He thinks it's not a useful skill and I have better things to learn in university than that. I'd beg to differ though.
Thinking deeper into this, I think people like him are precious children of God. Even though they might not be as well off in their opinion, they still celebrate and sincerely hope for others to succeed. Many people these days wishes for others to fail so they would not feel as inferior. I myself am sometimes guilty of this. Through the grace of God, I shall learn to reject those thoughts and learn to be more like this brother and celebrate and encourage other people's success.
His parting reminder to rest and not take things too seriously is sincere and warms my heart yet again. I left feeling good and happy that I've managed to make a new friend.
The idea that this coffee shop is like home is further enhanced when I went back for dinner with my dad. When my dad came back with sugar for the prata, he got an extra packet of biscuit with him that I'm sure the coffee shop nor the prata shop sells.
Turns out, the mixed rice lady offered it to my dad on his way back. A passing drink stall uncle then commented and told us to put the biscuit in between our bread and it'd be very delicious. I tried and it really is very delicious. My dad then proceed to share with me how the people there will frequently share tidbits with him every time he comes.
It really does feel like family in that coffee shop especially when the chicken rice brother came down the isle with a bucket of beer and offered my dad and I a drink from his personal stash. We refused of course. The casual offering of food and joking conversation makes these strangers-turned-friends seems like family as each day passes by. I really treasure this coffee shop and maybe after my exams, it shall be my turn to make some food and offer it them. I hope that this sense of home will never go away and I thank God each day for such a rich blessing. Hallelujah!
Out of habit, I automatically walked out to the coffee shop behind my house for lunch and greeted the chicken rice brother as I came through the back door along their stall. As I was still sleepy and tired, I ordered a plate of chicken rice and mechanically sat in the nearest table, a seat away from where he was having his lunch before attending to my order.
We didn't converse while I was eating and halfway through my lunch, I spotted a middle aged man walked up to the drink stall uncle and spoke to him. The drink stalls uncle then proceeded to walk around speaking in Hainanese really loudly as if he was relaying a message to everyone. It was only when I saw people start rushing from their seats to the car park did I realise it was a warning for the "fine lady".
It really warms my heart to see a friendly gesture and I can't help smiling as I drank my soup and savoured the warm atmosphere of the coffee shop. The people are so friendly and kind that it lifts my spirits whenever I am there and it feels like home, even though most people there except the stall owners are strangers to me. I think that this is exactly what our society needs. A kinship, an environment where everyone feels like a friend / family instead of being cold strangers to each other.
Before I even finished my thought or my soup for the matter, I was suddenly offered another warm bowl of soup, topped with spring onions that I liked so much. I've only exchanged a few words with the chicken rice brother (they only started their business here recently) so I wasn't even familiar with him. Imagine my surprise when he placed the bowl in front of me with these kind words "Here, have another bowl of soup. It's still hot!"
I'm so touched by this small action, bless his kind soul! I've not talked to him but here he was, offering me a bowl of soup. It shows how thoughtful he was since he took time in the midst of his lunch to prepare the extra bowl and added the usual garnish I used. He must have noticed and cared enough to remember since I know for a fact that he'd usually have added pepper if it were someone else but thankfully not for me >.<
Using this as an opportunity, I started talking to him. We've learnt much about each other as I shared that I'm in University and am studying for my exams next week. We proceeded to talk about random stuff as the vegetarian stall uncle came and joined out conversation and it lead to talking about sleep of all things!
He's a generally content and happy person but I do wish he'd put himself in higher regards. He's wonderful in his own way and it's a wrong concept that he'd feel inferior because he is not as well educated and works as a hawker.
Through our conversation, I could tell that he really wishes that I would do well for my studies and not end up as a hawker like him though I do not see any fault with how he is living right now. He is happy and works in such a healthy environment (he sometimes even work less hours than my family =.=). He even laughs when I told him I wanted to learn how to cut up a chicken like him. He thinks it's not a useful skill and I have better things to learn in university than that. I'd beg to differ though.
Thinking deeper into this, I think people like him are precious children of God. Even though they might not be as well off in their opinion, they still celebrate and sincerely hope for others to succeed. Many people these days wishes for others to fail so they would not feel as inferior. I myself am sometimes guilty of this. Through the grace of God, I shall learn to reject those thoughts and learn to be more like this brother and celebrate and encourage other people's success.
His parting reminder to rest and not take things too seriously is sincere and warms my heart yet again. I left feeling good and happy that I've managed to make a new friend.
The idea that this coffee shop is like home is further enhanced when I went back for dinner with my dad. When my dad came back with sugar for the prata, he got an extra packet of biscuit with him that I'm sure the coffee shop nor the prata shop sells.
Turns out, the mixed rice lady offered it to my dad on his way back. A passing drink stall uncle then commented and told us to put the biscuit in between our bread and it'd be very delicious. I tried and it really is very delicious. My dad then proceed to share with me how the people there will frequently share tidbits with him every time he comes.
It really does feel like family in that coffee shop especially when the chicken rice brother came down the isle with a bucket of beer and offered my dad and I a drink from his personal stash. We refused of course. The casual offering of food and joking conversation makes these strangers-turned-friends seems like family as each day passes by. I really treasure this coffee shop and maybe after my exams, it shall be my turn to make some food and offer it them. I hope that this sense of home will never go away and I thank God each day for such a rich blessing. Hallelujah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)