Great Eastern Women Run 2009

My first attempt doing this kind of run. Great Eastern Women Run 2009 was held on 1 November 2009 at Singapore. There were 10K and 5K competitions, I took the 5K as I didn't want to shock my little legs  in the first try.

The race started at 8am Singapore time. To my surprise, I reached the finish line at the 39th minute, the result was fantastic to me. 

And I won't forget the feelings to see the finish line in front of me, knowing that I can reach it, I will reach it... it was INDESCRIBABLE!!... 

 

 

A GOOD LISTENER OR A MEER DECORATION

When we know that there are people among us who doesn't speak our language, is it considered polite to continue talking with the rest using our own language? Don't this kind of 'treatment' make the minority other feels outcast-ed, an outsider? We see discrimination as being racist, gender separation or those heavy matters we heard on the news, yet in many small things we have discriminated people around us, more than we know.

It happened not only once, countless times until it becomes a usual thing, but as someone who is alive with all senses still working fine, it irritates me all the same.

At office we have not only locals but also foreigners. English is the main language, although in practice Chinese is widely use. For work, sometimes Chinese is used to communicate with Chinese spoken clients, consultants and contractors. It's understandable, that's how to communicate with them.
The thing is many times during our lunch together, some just like to continue talking in Chinese, when they know that their so called friends know only English, other than their own mother tongue, of course. It's good when I have my Thai friends, as I will still have friends to talk with even when the other start to speak in Chinese. But at times when it's only me and the locals, ... well, I just need to enjoy my food and be a good listener, whether or not I understand any words.
Actually no point in eating with friends like that as it's same like eating alone accompanied by a radio tuned in Chinese.  channel. I was not invited in the conversations. It was unspoken yet the gesture was rude.

One funny thing is that when the Thais or when I still had my Indonesian friends, when we were talking with each other in our own languages, there were this rule to obey "English please!"

I am not against non-English talking. I have my Bahasa and I am proud and love talking in it. I value that I have many non-English spoken friends, it's same like having living dictionaries all around me, whenever I need some words/phrases in Thais or Chinese, etc I just go and ask them. Varieties do enhance our world.
Of course it is understandable if you talk in your mother tongue with you own people. But respect should arise when situation doesn't able us to do so.

Back to my story, we all know English, we are helped having English, why do we have to swim when we already have the bridge? I thought we are mingling, communicating, despite of our differences....

The only way to console myself and manage this matter is by only thinking positive. In a way it can boost me to go grab Chinese dictionary and learn it. And for sure the experience will be a good reminder for me not to treat other as 'the good listener' or 'a decoration' when I am in such situation because I know how sucks it feels to be ignored. I rarely use bad words when I use it's really is bad.

Patience is a virtue but sometimes I have none...

Today is the church's 153rd anniversary. We, the choir, sang twice for the morning and evening services. We prepared to sing 4songs, 3 which we sang ourselves and 1 of which we sang it together with the congregation.
I feel thoroughly happy and blessed to be involved in this event, and even since the rehearsals. The songs were very nice in tunes and especially in the lyrics. I found comforts and supports by singing the songs. Having the musics playing on my head and heart until now, it soothes me well.

Many things happened the last week, things which I never imagined, I did wish, but never expected it to happen that fast. Many things to be grateful for, so many... One thing I find myself lack of is that I can be so inpatient... This unnecessary 'hurry-ness' keep me unfocused and ignorant of what I have now, to be in present, to live NOW...
I understand that everything needs process, especially good things couldn't happen in just one night. There is no shortcut to happiness....
I so want to be more patience....

MV Doulos

Today, after church, me and my friends went  to Vivo City to see MV Doulos, the World's Oldest Ocean Going Passenger Ship. The ship was built in 1914, just 2years after the Titanic. Doulos is staffed by about 320 volunteers from around 50 different nationalities. Doulos seeks to bring Knowledge, Help and Hope to nations around the world.

We went to see the Bookshop, one interesting thing was that they don't use one particular currency on the tag price, instead they use Units, example 25units, 100units, etc. They will convert the unit price into currency in which country they are visiting, example, 100units = SG$4 (in Singapore).

After the book shop, we took a tour around the ship. We went to see the captain's deck, crew cabins, engine room, services room (Laundry, Kitchen). Our tour guide, Eunjung Choi, a Korean girl who's been in the ship for more than 1 year, and she signed the contract for 2 years.

Like Eungjun, all the crews work voluntarily. They will sail with the ship from ports to ports to make practical, useful and educational information available to people around the world, especially in countries where it is difficult to access good literature.

This trip certainly gives me more insight about voluntary works, but of course seeing is different than actually doing. It gives me something to think about now, whether or not I can do like that, step out from my comfort zone and work as a volunteer, far away from home.

When answers are not enough

Instead of asking, "Why did it happen?"

Think of where it could lead you from here...

You have to forget me...

How can I forget you?...

You said, "Du och mig för alltid... "

How can I ever forget you?.... 

FREEDOM & LIFE... A Gemini to A Gemini

You long for freedom... you love freedom... 
You have so many ideas, dreams in your mind head and heart... 
You have goals and you strive, go all the way to reach them...

You are so free... You were so free when I first know you... So full of passion of life and care for nothing but to live life and find your dreams...
I fell in love to that spirit... to the man enfolded in that free spirit...

I did wrong... I wanted to change you into something you're not.... Purposely or not, consciously or not, my thoughts, my behavior, my words, expected and even tried to turn you into what I want...
But I was wrong... so wrong...
I don't like you as what I want you to be...
I want you, I love you as you are, the thief who steals my heart...

I love you, good or bad... I love the easiness, the fun, joy, being playful, ...your roller-coaster emotions... Being happy and contended and the next, be miserable... almost in the same breath! You laugh your heart out in happiness and excitement.... yet you cry deeply even just by watching 'Can't Buy Me Love'...

Your upfront words and thoughts... they're so alive, those words!... I don't know what your friends think about them,... You know your words scared me sometime, but amazes me always... Because when you express your mind, you go all the way, never take the easy way, as you believe in your thoughts... If you ever go for election, I will definitely vote for you!...

You're fascinating!...
I love the way you live your life. You plan a lot yet you are relax. You seek for challenges in life but you treat life as your own playground... Many times you asked me 'Relax, älskling'... it was only true.... I spent too much energy in worrying small unnecessary matters that I forgot to enjoy the whole journey.

.... keep off the thin ice and move to higher grounds....