god will make a way...
God will make a way
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to his side
With love and strength with each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way
By the roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in deserts will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His word will still remain
He will do something new today...
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i'm glad to be alive!
I thank God for being alive.I thank Him for allowing me to live, amongst 6 billion other people that are living on this planet (half of which are in Asia).
I thank Him for blessing me even before I was born, that I am to be born a Singaporean (a pretty developed country). As studies have shown that in more developed regions, the birth rate is lower - meaning there are less people born there! So I must be bloody lucky to have been born, right?
And I am truly special. If the entire world were to reduce their birth rates in the next 5-10 years, then each family may only be having one to two children, resulting to less middle childs in this world! Less people will be suffering from the middle child syndromes, which is something that will always remain a mystery...
Being born in Singapore, gave me an edge of being able to travel beyond my country, dive over the weekend (a priviledge that those people in the first world would envy!), taste an array of delicacies different cultures has to offer, learn about the troubles and virtues of our neighbouring countries and once again, to be grateful, that I'm born where I am born.
I am also happy to learn that I am born a girl dispite the cultural influences of the importance of bearing boys then. This, I believe, is still very much in practice within our cultural heritage and customs. Still, I'm grateful.Not forgetting to thank modern technologies, I am saved from deadly diseases like smallpox, tubaculosis and even simple influenza. Thus, increasing my chances of being alive today and may well be living to a ripe old age of 80 if I'm 'lucky' to see through many funerals including my spouses' as guys tend to have a shorter lifespan.
So if you're reading this, then lucky you! you're among the blessed 3 billion people that are educated and have access to the virtual world. You have the ability to make a difference to how this world is working and you are blessed with the knowledge and power to bless those who needs help. Think about it. Do something about it.
The world is too fagile...
Humans are too weak....
God bless us all!
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Plastics
You know I was really getting the hang of cutting the cling wrap really well, when suddenly it don upon me that the cling wrap never indicated that it's recycable. Now, the frustrating thing is this - it is recyclable, BUT only if it is clean... And oh yes, you know those nice plastic bags that you get from your grocery shopping? They are now mostly made of recyclable plastics, BUT we are not suppose to put them inside the recycling bins.. Go figure that out..
Packaging adds 20% to cost of fruit (UK)
http://www.recyclecookislands.com/waste.htm
http://www.au.capgemini.com/pdf/Recycling_Guidelines.pdf
http://www.environmentalobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=77083
Packaging adds 20% to cost of fruit (UK)
http://www.recyclecookislands.com/waste.htm
http://www.au.capgemini.com/pdf/Recycling_Guidelines.pdf
http://www.environmentalobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=77083
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too man for man
I feel that it is really scary to not know what you are living for and what you want in life. Yes, everyone will strive to reach the 'top'. The imaginary direction to being superior, or perhaps just to signify that you may be closer to heaven.
However, is that always better? And when you have finally reached the 'top', then what next? Go even higher? Where? How?
I had a little conversation with the Vietnamese housemate yesterday, as he was in need of someone to talk to. I could tell that he's somewhat lost and lonely. And he asked, "I leave my house, my family, my girlfriend, my friends to come here. For what?", "I cannot live here anymore, so boring! I want to finish this three years fast fast!" (in a typical Vietnamese accent). "Well, ask yourself!", I said as a matter-of-factly. For I could never answer that for him.
He mentioned to me that he want to have everything in life. And I questioned him, so what is everything? And he said "Job, happy family and passion!" as the top three priority.
Then what is he doing here?!?!?
I asked him, now, how many people in Vietnam studies in the University? "30%" he replied.
"Then the other 70?", "they find job" and I interupted, "then they have job, they have family, if they have passion, then doesn't that make them people who have everything already?"
"but that not good job!"
Now, I have alot of issues about this statement, but I shall not talk about it now...
Anyway, I believe that he do not really know what to do with his life. All he knew was studying, though he do wish to see the world for 15 years before going back to his home country. I can understand why he would want to be out of there. However, pardon my bluntness, but how can he ever be able to stay away from home for that long when he refuses to cook, wash or clean! Let alone taking care of himself to start with. To me, learning to cook and sew can and is part of experiencing life, but he was not about to see my point.
"Then what do you want to experience?", there was no answer.
Horror of horrors, he told me that he was staying at the college before and he wore his clothes for 2weeks, and never washed them. When he finally ran out of clothes to wear, he took out the soiled clothes and sun them and wore them back again! (no wonder his room have a constant stinge all the time). He said that Vietnamese guys do not care about image. But this goes beyond IMAGE! It's the full package as a modern Man. You might have heard of such stories, but now I've met one!
Is this a personal fault, or a social and cultural fault?
I feel sorry for him, yet at the same time, I don't think he really deserve our compassion. For he was the one that had deprived himself of knowing how to handle life beyond his books. I feel that he is really missing out alot in life and that his concept about living is too narrow!
He is like an old musical box that can only play one tune. In order for him to function, he need someone to wind him up. He had popped his head out of the box to see the world but he really only liked the moments of surprise that he gets when he popped out. Constantly, playing the same old tune, he is not able to add or make a new tune out of the experience that he's having. *tsk *tsk
He is like an old musical box that can only play one tune. In order for him to function, he need someone to wind him up. He had popped his head out of the box to see the world but he really only liked the moments of surprise that he gets when he popped out. Constantly, playing the same old tune, he is not able to add or make a new tune out of the experience that he's having. *tsk *tsk
Somebody, please break open this box and change the mechanism abit...
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social-i-sing
Hmmm... What do you know?With the lure of a pit of grill food , the 'hermits' here are coming out of their hiding places, and realising that there are more of us out there. Not everyone was present, but there are enough unusual characters and friendly people to go around.
Well, you get the usual kind of topics and questions like, "So, what are you studying?" and "where are you from?" just to break abit of ice first. And for a really simple and short affair, I thought that it was a pretty good start for all of us.
One of my housemates, Stacey, was going for the Comedy night that was happening at the Uni Bar and so, she asked if we would want to join her. We did, Adam and I went. The jokes are not all funny, but I applaud
for their courage to be up on the stage and make people laugh. It's really hard you know... We stayed till the end of it. However, we actually prefered the jokes told by the runner-up more than the winner that night...That smiley that they have stamped on my arm upon entry somehow reminded me that joy is to be found emprinted into our vains and flowed along with our blood. So laugh and be happy, crack a joke or two, and make the people around laugh. For it is contagious! It is good for health.
I didn't wash it off till the next morning. :0)
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special outings
I was out with Jenny, the Swedish girl that I met when I first got here, on Saturday. I thought that she won't be calling me, as she's still not feeling that well. But, alas, I'm so glad that she asked, so we went to the weekend flea market (Salamanca). Where we shopped and we bought a toy wombat each. She told me that her boyfriend drew her some cartoon about them, and she was suppose to be the vampire rabbit, while he is a dwarf looking little creature. And when she got to Tasmania, instantly the drawing fitted into the image of a wombat! That is why she's buying one to give him for his birthday (shhhh, it was meant to be a surprise!). I thought that it was rather funny yet a very sweet gesture. I bought one to give my 'teddy' an extra friend. 
Like I've said before, this place is never short of parties. Sure enough, we walked right into The Queen's Baton Relay Ceremony - where they are running through Hobart for the Commonwealth Games that is opening this Wednesday!So we chatted till sunset. It was a very enjoyable evening.
I made her some ginger tea for her cold the next day, hope that she gets better in time for her birthday on friday...
I made her some ginger tea for her cold the next day, hope that she gets better in time for her birthday on friday...
And today, I met up with Lisa who came in her neat blue Toyota car, all ready to drive me to anywhere that I desire. I don't really have any idea where, except that I have not been to the 
beach. So we went to the Kingston beach and then from there, we went by the long winding road back to Lower Sandy Bay while we chat about our lives away.
beach. So we went to the Kingston beach and then from there, we went by the long winding road back to Lower Sandy Bay while we chat about our lives away.We stopped over at a cafe (sorry, forgotten the name), and that was when she revealed to me that it is actually her birthday today! Gosh, wished i had something for her then. But instead, she had extended her generosity and paid for our tea instead, where I had these HUGE pancakes and a cup of cuppucino.
Being so far away from all my good friend back home, I think it is truly a blessing that I have slowly built some bonds with the people here... Perhaps, this is the beginning of some long
lasting friendships in years to come!Note: These pictures are taken using the Sony Ericsson K750i
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as told always...
Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life the was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happed at the lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that durring th most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed You most You would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My Son, My presious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you"
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journey of ups and downs...
This Journey had been rather interesting.
First, when we got here, the school's network was down due to some upgrading. And so they've screwed up my internet payment and I did not have internet connections in my room for a month.
Then the bus drivers went on strike for TWO DAYS! And boy it sure made me feel like moving out, as my place was at mid-hill. Walking down was fine, but walking up the STEEP slope and long fleet of stairs?!?! AUGH....
Next, was the rat that ran into our house, and since then, we have yet to have seen it again.
And just two days ago, the Engineering block blast into a ball of fire late at night. Resulting to the entire town having a blackout. Everything including the phone lines and internet was being cut since 6pm. Good thing was, our place is linked to backup generators, so we still have the heater working that night. *Phew.
Classes were cancelled the following day.
The thing to note was, with such a huge event that had affected so many residents, the local newspaper only wrote a tiny column on the inccident. Hmmm...
And now, we have a new housemate from Vietnam. And he knows nothing other then studying. He asked me to teach him almost EVERYTHING. He asked me to wake him up in the morning, teach him to
cook, bring him to the supermarket and how to use the washing machine... What makes things worse was the langguage barrier. Man! But, I suppose he had became quite a dynamic character in our quite little house.Let's see what else is in stall soon...
Surely, there are the up side of things that had kept me saint and looking forward. From the soul-grabbing topics that I'm engaged in in class, all my fantastic lecturers to those first few days that I had when Aaron was here with me. However, it was the endless festivals here amazes me. I had walked right into the Irish Festival, the Greek Festival, the Governor's Open House, and this weekend is the Motorcycle Riders Association Rally and Memorial for army trackers and war dogs day! I wonder how many more of these festivals are listed in their calendars...
One of my very hospitable classmates had offered to show me around this hoilday - it's Labour Day on Monday. I wonder what we might walk into this time. :-)
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i'm virtual again
I'm SO elated that I can finally be found again, virtually.
The thought of pure entertainment - music, videos, games, chatting with friends and love ones anytime! Ah, what a bliss!
I was so happy that I had my very first video conference with my family. Technology have indeed made the world 'smaller'. I had a great time updating them and interacting at real time with them.
But alas, my joy was short-lived, because I quickly learnt that by using programmes like msn, my credits will be deduced swiftly every time information have been exchanged. I actually used up 350mb of my credits within 24hrs (limit is 500mb).
I tried to find ways of bypassing the school's proxy and firewall, but to no avail. They are good.
Anyone knows how to do that please do drop me a note...
if not...
Wait till I move out of here... Gggrrrrrhhh...
if not...
Wait till I move out of here... Gggrrrrrhhh...
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Not that I'm really that heartless
That I have stopped writing after I have left. Just that the internet connection with the school is still screwed up. Will take awhile to get it fixed. I've been haunting them almost every other day. Fingers crossed. Pray for me that I get my internet up soon...
I badly need some internet entertainment. All my neighbours have a TV set EACH in their own rooms... plus internet connections, except me... bummer!
I badly need some internet entertainment. All my neighbours have a TV set EACH in their own rooms... plus internet connections, except me... bummer!
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