Boy does time pass by quickly!

Happened to fill in my timesheet which had to be submitted yesterday, and I realised that I've only two saturdays left in Singapore, exclusive of the one tomorrow. The thing is there are still many things left unattempted on Rachel's to-do list. Many places I have yet to visit, many friends I have yet to meet up with.
I shall make full use of my time left in SG. There is still time left to make this a real 'vacation'.

Harvester's Oikos is tomorrow! Have been looking forward to this event since the beginning of the week. I'll be joining U3 for ROCK-CLIMBING. ~whee! The last time I climbed a rock-wall was back in JC days. To the Rock-wall here I come.

Then it's dinner with the Cell at Settler's cafe. Coincidentally there's dinner at Josh's place as well, I'll try to pop by his place after oikos.

Sunday I should be heading down to Aldersgate and maybe to chomp chomp after service. Let me know the plans for Sunday ya, juan. :)

That's the plan for the weekend. Afterwhich, it's countdown to freedom. I can smell it coming..

PS: Daniel, Binghan and Kenny - you guys can start planning for round island cycling already.. We can have that sometime next week.

Anyway before I end, here's wishing Michellina, Chweeling and Felicia a very blessed birthday! Have a sizzling day girlies.

Fairfield 4F 2002's renunion went very well. Kudos to Shin who must have pulled countless strands of hair just to get more or less everyone down.

We had a VIP room to ourselves and it is amazing that having not seen each other for 4-5 years or more, each one of them still looked the same, with the same mannerisms and style. Mr and Mrs Chia, along with Chernyi were there to grace the event. (Hope i got her spelling correct)

Indeed after O'levels, everyone pursued different subjects, majored in different stuff. I suppose I am the only one in the class taking on a totally different route, instead of the typical F class mentality that one will be doing arts subjects, I took on medical sciences. I can still recall not doing very well in Science and Mathematics during my lower secondary days, and my dad appealing to the principal, requesting her to give me a chance to do pure subjects. Of course, the appeal wasnt successful and I ended up doing arts, which at this point I have to add that arts was something I really had no interest in.

I've come to realise that through my 4years plus overseas, that interest is highly essential in the pursuit for excellence. Without interest, days will drag on, minutes seem like hours and hours like eternity. I'm glad i'm doing something that I love.

Mr Chia asked me during the renunion what I was intending to do after I graduated and I replied teaching. Then he responded relatively very surprised. Ms Thio on the other hand encouraged me to get some work experience for a couple of years before entering the education sector. I shall KIV what they said and continue praying about it.

14th January marked a 180 degree change in my Christian life. the day in which for the first time, i got touched by the holy spirit. Amen! It is just this undescribable feeling that i've never felt before. This sense of calmness, joy and peace I seek to find from this day forth.

The week has been a relatively 'busy' one. Work aside, here's a summary of the various meet-ups I had throughout the week.

Tuesday:
Met Stephen at Dover, picked up my Anatomy text and headed to Holland Village for dinner. It's amazing how we managed to return to the good old times even when we havent seen each other for 3 years. First time he ever had Crystal Jade's congee. So it went that we sat there for about 3 whole hours, talking about anything and everything that comes to mind, inclusive of cadavers and prosections. To those who doesnt know this, Stephen is truely someone whom I admire heaps, for his determination, perseverance, willingness to go against all odds and he proved to me that nothing is impossible. He truely is my inspiration.
Thanks Stephen for inspiring me once again.

Wednesday:
After work, I headed for NTU/NIE for Harvester's tertiary cell group. It is awesome to see God working through the lives of these people. It is my prayer that we would forge deeper friendships with one another and the cell group pple can be our closest friends where we can share anything and everythings. It's always good to see the cell group expanding eh. Come next year, I shall officially be part of the NTU/NIE cell hahaaa. (Get what i mean?)lol

Thursday:
The OSC art lesson was postponed to this coming Saturday, so after work and dinner, I roamed the streets of Marine parade. The weather was krappy indeed. Being rachel, I kindly sheltered this lady across the road when I wasnt even about to cross the road. Then she started asking questions whether I was studying, whether I was a christian and introduced me to her church, FCBC. I never knew FCBC was at marine parade until this day. so much so for being a 'west' person. While I was crossing the road again back to the other side, another lady got out of a cab, and her stuff rolled out. Without hesitation, I picked it up and she thanked me. It was then that something struck me - that i can be a christian example through little subtle ways. It doesnt have to be big things such as what my parents did, to go beyond their call of duty to save a man at a petrol kiosk, who happened to be my uncle's colleague. It can just be little things like sheltering someone across the road. Such things does not make a difference to the world, but i'm sure it did to that person's life.

Today:
I'm heading back to Fairfield and have a catch up session with Ms Thio. School pride and loyalty still stands strongly within me even to this day. I dont know what to expect but yes, I'm very excited going back to my alma mater.

Tomorrow:
Fairfield 4F'2002 Class renunion
Time: 3.30pm
Venue: Gengki Sushi @ Forum

As the week comes to an end, it just means that I'm another week nearer to the 15th, another week closer to returning to Dunny. Yet, I still have lotsa people left to meet up with. Some of whom I've lost contact, some whom does not want to be contacted.

Nevertheless, the following week will be a better one eh!

2nd round of photos.

[Bangkok, Thailand trip. 7th - 11th December 2006]


way of life on the floating market


Martyn, Michellina, Me and Matthew


The cousins + Uncle Khei Hong


how many miles is it to New Zealand?


we look awesome eh in neon orange life-jackets.


did i mention i got bitten by fishes when i happily place my fingers in the water of the aquarium. Good thing the sharks didnt come for me.


I thank God that this did not happen to me.


I want this in my room!


The cousins and I at the weekend market


The one and only thai meal we had in thailand


Ping-pong players in training

6th Jan: OSC Full com meeting, Raffles City's starbucks.
- It's great meeting up with all the Otago pple, first time having a meeting outside of room 116 or 112. Hahaa.. I'm sure Singapore Expose will be a success!~
Teaching Seminar, Orchard Hotel's Grand ballroom
- Nuturing the next generation of Singaporeans. Thanks Sihui for coming along with me and Mr Chan for the insights of what it means to be a teacher. May we be colleagues in future!

So the plan for this week goes:
(Aside from Mondays to Fridays, 8.30am to 6pm at Shenton Way)

9th Jan: Meet up with Stephen at dover for dinner. 6.30pm

10th Jan: NTU/NIE cell group. 7.30pm

11th Jan: Co's house for dinner and meeting.

12th Jan: Dinner with Mr Chan and Ms Thio.

13th Jan: OSC full com meeting- Lydia's place.
4F' 2002 Class renunion.

Pictures from the Overseas trips:

[10days Xiamen, China]


Typical Chinese Lifestyle


the three of us


my ideal occupation


the entire goois' and tan's


part of the immediate family


sucha warm welcome eh!


the toilet without doors


the height of the walls

[Recap 2006]

The year has been a rather good, stagnant one.

Being a varsity student isnt easy. The pressures of the education system. I admit I did mug heaps for the 2nd semester cos I didnt want to have a repeat of the 1st. And in the end, my hard work did pay off afterall.

Aside from that my spiritual walk wasnt what I had intended to do. Please pray that my fire will continue to glow and be ignited.

[Resolutions for 2007]

There are many things installed for the new year.

I'm getting capped. Finally! *Fingers crossed*
The new year is pretty much gonna be a hectic one.
Endure another two semesters rache.. and before I know it, I would be taking pictures at the clocktower in my regalia.

I shall continue to learn and grow and make this year a meaningful one.
I shall continue to be a blessing and less of a terror. Hahaa.

After graduating, I wanna tour. I want to tour the world, if that is possible. And of course not forgetting New Zealand.

Come to think of it, Time sure does passes by very quickly. I've been in New Zealand for 3 years already, yet it seems as though I've just left the portals of Fairfield.

*Fairfield 4F'2002 Class Renunion on the 13th January.* Cant wait for that. It's about time that a class renunion is organised.

I'd better start blogging before this blog starts rotting. So here I am, on the 5th of January in the year 2007 reviving this thing.

One year just went by and before you know it, '07 will zoom by as well. If the year went by quickly, the holidays just flew by like that. I have exactly 1/2 months left before returning to lovely o' Dunedin.

Here's a recap of my various trips to Asia.

The 10 days China trip was pretty much what I had expected. China itself have changed drastically over the years, it has become just like what Singapore is right now with the villages aside. The place we went, Xiamen in Fujian Province, just happens to be Singapore's sister city, a large city with heaps of potential for a growing market. Anyway, the main purpose of the trip was to visit distant relatives on my grandma's side. Can you just picture how many donkey generations there are and which one I belonged too!! The cool thing about that was being welcomed with warm friendly local faces, and the thunderous sound of firecrackers. Dont get to see that in Singapore, perhaps in Dunedin but not on your typical day. Yup yup! That is why I reckon the elder folks insists on finding your roots. It was a pleasant experience indeed except for the tiny problem of the language barrier.

The Bangkok trip was splendid! 5 days in bangkok just isnt enough. Having a good retail therapy once in the while is a good thing afterall, staying on top of MBK is even better. Everyday, without fail we would shop till the centre closes. How wonderful! And not forgetting the glorious delicacies we had while there. The main thing being that the 5 days there were awesome!

Shall post up pictures soon yea. :)