3 Meetings in a Day

17 December 2008

After weeks of anticipation, students of Bedok North Secondary School Service Learning Club (BNSS SLC) finally had their first committee meeting. Next year, these vibrant students would be organising a forum. I was surprised when I reached the Community Club and see nearly all the students already seated together and waiting for me. I'm glad to be mentoring these enthusiastic student leaders.

Had our meeting in the conference room and took a photograph of the students so that they can remember the moment when they made their first step onto this project.

Immediately after the SLC meeting, I dashed to the National Library for my second meeting for the day. The National University of Singapore Political Association (NUSPA) is organising a policy debate competition. I picked the post of Publicity Director for the organising committee to expose myself to a different jobscope. Besides design, I think I would be up to task!

As we adjourned, I met Hock Rong at Plaza Singapura to introduce one of my favourite dishes to him. The Keppa-Tei stall (hope I didn't remember wrongly) in the Kopitiam foodcourt serves the best Chicken Terriyaki set ever! The juicy Terriyaki Chicken with the great sauce soaked by the rice. The shiny egg yolk that calls for you to finish it in a gulp. Fantastic.

We had our second serving at Long John Silver. A cup of hot clam chowder to go along with a fish combo set that we shared. We then returned to the CC for the next meeting.

Later at 8.30pm, the 3rd meeting commenced. I am honoured to sit in the constituency's Chinese New Year Dinner organising committee as a member. I learnt a lot from the seniors and had fun.

Hock Rong randomly took out a basketball from the office and a group of us started playing it. Brings back all the secondary schoolday memories...

Kg Chai Chee Toastmasters Club Speechcraft

16 December 2008

Was the photographer and timer for the speechcraft course conducted by Kg Chai Chee Toastmasters Club. I felt that the speechcraft students had improved vastly after focusing on more eye contact with the audience. Looking forward to their competition in a few weeks' time.

As I sat through the speechcraft, I recalled how I became a Toastmaster. When I was first introduced into Kg Chai Chee Toastmasters Club by Madam Sim Lai Ngin, I was intrigued by the procedures and the emphasis on timing by Toastmasters. After joining it, I made a lot of friends and got to know a lot of experienced speakers. Mdm Sim had been a great mentor, guiding me from the beginning.

We ended the session late and when we were rushing out of Kg Chai Chee CC, the staff gave a stern look and scolded one of us. It was only 5 minutes. Suddenly I felt so lucky to be serving in Eunos CC, where it's cosy and the staff are friendly.

After the speechcraft, I brought my laptop to MacDonald's and met up with Hock Rong to type our minutes of meeting. As soon as we bought our drinks, some of the lights were switched off. Overheard a customer saying, "What a way to shoo off your customers!" It was much later that the manager told us that the fast food restaurant would be closed for maintenance.

Hock Rong suddenly had the desire for BBQ Stingray at Blk 85 Bedok Market. So off we went and filled our stomach. We walked in search for dessert but to no avail. Even when we reached the Mac at Bedok North, we were told that the ice-cream machine was not functioning. We walked further and reached the beacon of hope (or so I thought) - Bedok Interchange MacDonald's.

If you thought this is a partially eaten McFlurry, then you are so wrong. When I collected this from the counter, I was aghasted.

To make a better comparison, this is how a $1.50 Chocolate Fudge Sundae differs from my $2 McFlurry...

Without the cover on, it looks like this (Note: I haven't started eating it)

Hock Rong ate his sundae and remarked, "I feel the fullness in the vanilla!" My reply was, "I'm a McFlurry lover but the size just gets smaller!"

In the wee hours, weird things happen. There was a lady which marched around the whole fast food restaurant and laughed painfully to no one. I had my sense of empathy towards her. There were also some aunties taking their forty winks around the restaurant. They were most probably waiting for their work to start. I will never let this happen to my parents!

I recall an experience in Bugis MacDonald's in the wee hours as well, when a man actually slept on the ground and when the staff asked him to wake, he left leaving his solid waste behind. There are many people among us that we could extend our helping hands, but if we don't start from the family, these problems will be persistent.

Meet-the-People Session

15 December 2008

Went for a jog with Hock Rong in the evening. Jogging is great when done with a companion, providing the drive and motivation. The jogging session was much needed especially after days of good food.

Monday is the MPS day for Eunos. I am glad to be able to contribute to the community by volunteering my time. Residents come with various requests for help and being able to offer a helping hand just brightens up my day.

After 3 weeks of examinations, I finally could afford the time for MPS. Jovina was, as usual, jovial and energetic. And I got to make new friends with Stephanie and Dorothy, who happened to know my Brother too. What a small world!

After MPS, we were actively discussing FaceBook while eating supper at the Prata Shop. We then took a group photo, with everyone looking forward to next week's MPS.

Harnessing New Media for Community Bonding Workshops

13 December 2008
CPF Building
1pm

Carin and I were appointed as PA's New Media Champion. To prepare ourselves for the tasks, we attended the workshops conducted by Avantus. The workshops were Graphics Editing & Interactive Tools and Multimedia & Podcasting.

In Graphics Editing & Interactive Tools, we learnt how we could use Windows Live Photo Gallery to do some basic editing on event photographs. To further edit photos, we used the freeware GIMP.

In Multimedia & Podcasting, the trainer taught us Microsoft Movie Maker to create videos. As I had previously used that software and other more advanced software, I spent most of my time assisting the person sitting beside me.

Mr Ong Weds

12 December 2008

After a few hours of sleep, I was awakened by a request to go for a lunch buffet at East Coast Park. Since the buffet meal is only available in the weekdays, I dragged myself out of bed.

The restaurant is "Ju Shin Jung" Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant. Not counting Seoul Garden, this is my first authentic Korean style buffet. It makes me feel cheated by Seoul Garden after trying out Ju Shin Jung.

The waitress first arranged the whole set of appetisers and vegetables on the table before grilling the meat platters for us. The service is terrific, giving customers a feeling of supremacy. She would then return to our tables and cut the meat platter up into smaller servings. I'm so going to Ju Shin Jung, again.

Later in the afternoon, headed to the Registry of Marriage at Fort Canning to help Mr Ong capture his special day in photographs. That's where I saw Mrs Ong for the first time.

The couple and their families went in and got a queue number. We then entered the waiting room where the names of the couple were flashed on a screen. When it's Mr Ong's turn, we entered the room. There, the solemnisor informed the couple of the importance of marriage and both stood to say "I do". I was so busy trying to snap every single moment down into memory that I didn't hear all the conversations. They signed the papers, exchanged rings and kissed! As a photographer, I told them to hold it there. And I heard a young girl saying "gross". Haha.

At 6pm, we proceeded to JuChunYuan (聚春园), Spring Restaurant for Mr Ong's wedding reception. The restaurant is home to the original "Buddha Jumps over the Wall" dish. We were treated to a classy cuisine dinner.

At the end of the dinner, Mr and Mrs Ong did the Chinese tradition of offering tea to their elders and receive their blessings. The journey has just begun.

Dashed back to RC office for meeting and went for some supper. That ended the "good food" day.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

11 December 2008

Enjoyed night cycling to East Coast and Geylang with Hock Rong the night before.

In the evening, attended the first meeting conducted by Jialing. I had asked her to head the first free movie screening session in Eunos and promised my support for her. Subsequently, free movie screening would be held once every two months.

Jialing, Rahayu, Brenda, Hock Rong, Hussien, Chee Lee and I had our dinner at Century Square's foodcourt. We then adjourned to Coffee Bean for the meeting. We decided to have it held in conjunction with Valentine's Day celebration on its eve.

After the meeting, some of us decided to catch a movie. I was suprised that there was no show available in Tampines from as early as 11pm. So we headed blindly to Downtown East to see if we can catch a show. And we did.

Yes. 11.12.08 is The Day the Earth Stood Still! Keanu Reeves eludes his charm once again in this Sci-fi movie. In it, Keanu Reeves casts as Kiattu, an alien in a human form, who is sent to save Earth by destroying the Human race. Spheres (similar to Noah's Ark) rose from everywhere else to transport other living forms away from Earth. Kiattu later saw the other face of humans and decided not to wipe them out.

"People don't die, they just transform"

To me, the movie lacked a solid storyline. It ended unexpectedly without a good conclusion. The whole movie is made good with the presence of Keanu Reeves.

After the movie. we then went to Mac for our much deserved... Mega McSpicy!

Night Jogging to Kovan

9 December 2008

Had a meeting at Citilink with Genim, See Teng and Emily over the policy debate competition that NUS Political Association is planning. After that, rushed down to Kg Chai Chee CC for speechcraft lesson organised by the Toastmasters Club. Felt the learners were all quite proficient.

Decided to go for a jog with Hock Rong. Didn't want to jog the usual route so decided to head towards Kovan. The route is all so familiar, a path that I had once cycled everyday. We toured the opposition ward and saw some rats and cockroaches amidst the dim roads.

I missed the rojak, so we headed to the 24hr coffeeshop. To my disappointment, the stall is closed for business. Is this fate? I remember the days when I would eat it almost every night, occasionally ordering an additional century egg to top it up. Otherwise, everything remains the same.

In the end, we settled for the Malay food restaurant adjacent to the rojak stall.

We brisk walked the way back and decided to take a picture at Bedok North Secondary School, just to keep a record for my NYAA.

Every matter changes, atoms are in constant movement, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that things remain the same as we see, and as long as it is that way, everything can be peaceful. Don't you agree?