Horrendous ENGLISH

I had just ended an MSN chat session with one of my most 'riotous' friends from my junior college days who is currently teaching English and Literature at a snooty girl's school. For obvious reasons, the said snooty girls' school will not be identified.

Anyway, my friend was regaling me with tales of glaring grammatical mistakes made by her students, some of which I reproduce below in its entirety.

"You can either choose to spread your legs and walk about in a guided tram or monorail ride."

"Well, we would usually take bus or Massive Rapid Transport (MRT)."

"The same goes for the Bird Park except that there are birds and not animals."

I figured the first sentence is a write-up about the Zoo, and the second is about the subway system known as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) here. Obviously, the third is about the Bird Park. Hmm, imagine how William Shakespeare would react if he read this? The Bard himself would absolutely turn in his grave knowing that students of such quality are actually doing his masterpieces for English Literature.

Hmmm, I believe my friend will be a good humourist if she were to compile all these rubbish from her students into a book. I solemnly promise to be her numero uno fan.

Goes to show all that 'snooty' rubbish coming from them is more 'form' than 'substance'. Enough said.

Ha ha.....

=)

These are 2 of my fave pics...the first one is a picture taken with all the boys (without much monkeying around) and the second one, well, I just like it.


























Next Sunday, there'll be a mega 'Carnival' at my church......and I have been roped in to contribute to 'Promise Land'. I can foresee it'll be a tiring day, as there are (tentatively) 8 sessions scheduled. But for God, for the kids and their families, consider it done. As much as I anticipate it, the preparatory build-up to it requires heavy duty prayers......so I must hunker down in praying, and lean on Him for strength. But of course, I will also ensure there is a steady source of Coca-Cola to prep me up....others depend on coffee for their caffeine source....my poison's Coca-Cola, though I daresay I am not sure what exactly is the caffeine content in Coca-Cola.

Time keeper

Lately, I've been rather 'on-the-ball' in the sense that the moment the clock strikes 6.30 pm, I would pack up my work and go home. Actually, I am using the term 'pack up' extremely liberally. My workstation is absolutely cluttered with papers. Amazing how I manage to find my documents in there, though like I always like to tell my colleagues, it's 'organised chaos'.

Simple but pathetic excuse. Figured that since we are due to 'move office' again, no point in packing up everything nicely. On hindsight, I think I am gearing myself up for when I finally sign up and take a professional qualification. By ensuring I knock off promptly at 6.30 pm daily (or at most I stretch it to 7 pm), it's become a habit. However, I daresay I am not inclined to stay back late recently (in fact loathe it, unless I absolutely have to). This has caused me to think if my dedication to my work has tapered off, and I have 'lost steam' and become burnt out. I did a fair bit of soul-searching, and reached this conclusion. There's more to life than work. I am certain I do not want to 'drop dead' at my workstation. No doubt hard work never killed anyone, but there are other more important things in life.

Work-life balance.....A 'trendy' term that is being tossed around, many a time flippantly. I have made up my mind to embrace that. Rationally speaking, I have a whole lifetime ahead of me in which to work, and taking time to 'smell the roses' or even to laze around at home watching DVDs, hanging out with friends over a cuppa or even browse about in the bookshops add some element of sanity into the hectic lifestyles we are all leading. Any more Zen-like, I'll probably pack myself off to some place and muck around.

Why on earth did I ever try to find fulfillment in work is something that unnerves me when I think about it these days. To work, and while I am at it, try (no matter how difficult it gets) to build up God's kingdom (even through the boys in Sunday school) in the process is something I would like to gun for. So at the cusp of a new age, that's something I endeavour to do.

Yucks.....I turned one year older

I was born xx number of years ago today. Ever since I turned 25, and started to be on the wrong side of the 20s, I decided to ignore the progressively larger numbers. Right-o. Who am I kidding?

Took leave today, and for tomorrow as well. Decided I needed time off to do some in-depth soul searching, and reflect on my life in the past year, to always count my blessings and thank God for them. Also met up with my Ah Kong (Pastor) just to update him and catch up with him.

Only by His grace could all these have happened to me. I mean, last year this time I started work in Compliance in a bank, and I can confirm with utmost certainty that this is the area I want to develop my career in (finally found my 'calling'). Wow, a year flew by just like that. I've actually served in the kids ministry for 9 months already. I daresay it was the ministry that kept me grounded, even when there were moments when I did ask God pointedly why He placed me here. I am truly blessed to have a community of good friends in church - people I have come to cherish a lot (you guys and gals know who you are, so I shall not deign to list all your names) and have become my spiritual family.....and of course, the kids....specifically the boys in my group. No prejudice against girls, but perhaps the whole homogeneous cell concept has become so entrenched in my mind that I think it's better for a female to reach out to the girls in Sunday school.

Anyway, here's a picture of the kids and I.

















Simply, this entry is to remind myself of my commitment towards them. Apart from being thankful for the abundant blessings, I am also responsible for these young lives, and their walk with God. So honoured that God has trusted me enough to lead them into my lives......but therein lies a great responsibility. I have to be more mindful that my own individual walk with Him is stable and strong, so that I can be effective in ministering to them. And seeing as I have committed to moving on up with them when they go to P4 next year, they are my 'sheep', so as to speak.

=)

Me.....A Teacher? In a way....

Today's Sunday School started off promising enough. I was waiting for a cab / bus to transport me to Singapore Expo. I was ruminating on whether I should take a cab or bus...anyway, the cab won. So I flagged down a cab, and it was really amazing. How so? The taxi driver (a lady by the way) asked if I was headed for some exhibition, given the Expo is usually used for exhibitions. Told her I was headed to church as I serve in the Kids ministry for Sunday school. The long and short of it was, I told her what my church is about, and what we do in Sunday school, and she was 'intrigued' enough to ask me for my mobile number and mentioned she'll give me a ring if she decides to visit next weekend with her children. Whoa......and all these happened when I was still not 'in form' (since I had not had the requisite can of coke to kick-start the Sunday).

Then went to Sunday school, and my fave kids 'showered' me with presents. Was surprised big time....one of them actually gave me a new Asterix comic book, for which I learned he had paid for half of it using his own savings. Got cookies from another one, and a magnet from the third. Touched?? Yes. All the 'heartbreak' and 'anguish' was like, worth it. Gave the first 2 kids their birthday gifts also, mugs personalised with their names that had the Biblical meaning and a Bible phrase. They liked it, and L even asked how I got it, seeing as his name is not common. L's mom also told me that the kids like me, and they are genuinely happy that I will be moving up with them.

Makes everything worth it. The onus is on me to ensure my walk with Him is right, since I am responsible also for the boys under me. Now I totally understand what it's meant to have 'sheep' under your charge, and how I cannot be self-centred and think my walk is only about my relationship with God. Now it entails other lives, the boys with whom I am entrusted to guide. After my business with Him last night, when I had text a few of my close friends to pray for me, realise indeed there's no sin so big that the salvation will be lost, unless there's renunciation of the faith involved. I am thankful for His love and gracious mercy. Ok, must endeavour to work harder to keep my walk right, as there are all these boys' lives my actions will impact on as well.

When will I ever learn???

I was talking to a good friend online and she revealed that plans are underway for her husband (also a good friend of mine) and herself to work in the United States come year-end. They had mentioned it before, but that was sometime ago. Boy, how time flies. But I do wonder, why does it seem that my inner circle of friends are getting chances to work overseas one after another, while I am still stuck here? I am happy for them and all, but it's like, when will it be my turn?

Then a sobering thought hit me. Firstly, my degree is in Business Administration (ok with a Finance major) but these are like, a dime a dozen out there. It's not a professional degree in the mode of a LLB, or an Accounting paper (now wondering if I would have been better off opting to do Accounting than Business). Secondly, what with my sinus problem, I think I can *kiss* all dreams of working overseas goodbye. Why? When I was holidaying in New Zealand (rather cold then), there were 2 occasions when I practically could not breathe at all. I came back and doctor's diagnosis? Best not to go to temperate areas, as it might trigger off a major asthma attack. I was like, huh? I have never had an asthma attack before, but the long and short of it is, yeah the sinus issue can lead to a major bronchial problem in those places.

Boy, was I ever in denial over this. I mean, I studied in Melbourne, and there were days that were cold too. But guess what? I lived near campus, so there was not much chances that I could get 'exposed' to the cold for long, as it's a short totter away to and fro. *mutter mutter*

Seeing as UK, US and Australia are temperate areas, I think I can, literally, *kiss* all notions of working overseas goodbye. Hmm, perhaps having come to this realisation will give me less cause for envy and agony. But it's something that's difficult to let go, seeing as it is that it had been a long-held ambition to blaze a jet-setting career travelling all over the financial capitals of the world. Then again, with my current skill set in Compliance, it makes it harder since this is specialised and native to the country I am in. So my knowledge of the regulations and jurisdictions here will not really be useful elsewhere.

Ok, time to wrestle with Him again. And I foresee this to be a long and hard struggle. But it's good, as I need to work out quite a few other issues with Him as well.