My Birthday!

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to meee....
Happy birthday to me!



Yes, I've turned 32...And there you go, I've said it! These days, I've learnt to accept my age but I still hate wrinkles! Still hate it heaps!!! Today has been one of my best birthdays ever.....We went to Disneyland!!!! Ya!!! Well, today it's a public holiday in HK and so we were free to go to Disneyland. I totally, totally love Disneyland. Have to hand it to Disney for making me a sucker! And the wonderful thing about it, it's only 45 mins from home. Really near, so I've decided that I'm going again next month and this time, I'm going to get a one year's pass! Love, love disney. But have to say that the Disneyland in HK is way smaller than the one we went to for our honeymoon in Anaheim. Enjoy the pics. They are in order from when we got there till we left. Enjoy the pics!

Pics from Macau

This morning, we went to Macau with WK's parents. We brought them to sight see. Well, at least this time I finally get to see Macau more. Here are the pics from Macau.


Just disembarked from the Turbojet. Walking towards customs.

The turbojet is like the one we took to Macau. It's really fast and it takes about an hour from Hong Kong to get to Macau.

This is Senado Square. The centre of Macau. It looks a little like Malacca, very European.

WK's parents posing for the camera.

WK and me at St Paul's ruins.



This was taken through the window of St Paul's ruins.



For some reason, I thought that this looks really nice. The huge basin reminds me of my childhood. Remember that we used to scoop water out of this kind of basin when we had our showers.

Relied on these sort of sign post to bring us around Macau today.

The tired people towards the end of the day

On the turbojet going home.

It was a good trip for the family. Ate heaps, drank heaps, walked heaps and bought heaps of biscuits for family. After Macau, we went home and then off to Tsingyi for dinner. Been a long day. WK's parents are leaving tomorrow. Hope they did have a good time after all. It can be had especially when we both have to work and couldn't bring them out heaps.

North Korea suffering 'critical food shortage'

North Korea suffering 'critical food shortage': UN envoy
Posted 24 October 2006 0754 hrs (Channelnewsasia)

UNITED NATIONS : A UN envoy warned of sharply reduced food aid shipments to North Korea as a result of its missile and nuclear tests even though the Stalinist state still faces a "critical shortage".

Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, also urged Pyongyang to abide by its human rights obligations and to specifically stop punishing North Korean refugees repatriated by neighboring asylum countries.

"There is a critical food shortage also compounded by disastrous floods in July and August," he told a news conference here, adding that the crisis was further complicated by the North Korean missile and nuclear tests which triggered sanctions by the UN Security Council.

He described Pyongyang's missile tests last July and its first nuclear test on October 9 as "a serious waste" of resources. "The resources spent on arms would have been better spent satisfying the food security" of North Koreans, Muntarbhorn, a Thai law professor, added.

He appealed to bilateral food donors to resume their aid on the basis of "no access, no food", meaning that the aid would be conditional on guaranteed access to North Korean target groups such as women and children, and full accountability.

He recalled that the UN World Food Program (WFP), the lead UN agency providing food aid to starving North Koreans, had its wings clipped last year when Pyongyang ordered it to change its emergency relief program to a development scheme. Last month, WFP said it had received just eight percent of the 102 million dollars it needs to provide 150,000 tonnes of food over the next two years. Around one million North Koreans died in the 1990s because of food shortages, experts believe. The New York-based organization Human Rights Watch has warned that another food crisis is looming after the flooding damaged harvests.

Muntarbhorn also described the human rights situation in North Korea as "grim", particularly for special groups such as the disabled, women, children and the elderly. "I found very distressing that these groups are impacted upon negatively," he noted. In a report released last Friday, he accused North Korean authorities of practicing "merciless discrimination against handicapped persons by setting up collective camps for them where they are designated according to their physical deformity or disability."

The report also charged that women in North Korea were being subjected to violence as well as "human trafficking and sexual exploitation." The envoy also focused on the root causes pushing North Koreans to flee abroad, citing political repression and widespread hunger. He said many dissidents, economic refugees and hungry North Koreans were leaving the country without exit visas and were being subjected to punishment if they were repatriated by neighboring countries. "No punishment upon return would help solve problem," Muntarbhorn said. He also urged North Korea to fully abide by human rights treaties to which it is a party, to liberalize its laws, policies and practices to ensure respect for a broad range of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. He also raised the issue of foreigners, mostly Japanese but also South Koreans and Thais, who have been kidnapped by North Korean agents. - AFP


Having read this, I wonder what UN sanctions can work for North Korea. The poor people are suffering and starving. Will the UN sanctions or any sanctions increase the sufferings of the people? Are the appropriate people being justly punished? I understand the fact that the world is never fair but this is too much.

On the topic of poor and disadvantage people, I don’t see the fuss that people are making over Madonna’s adoption of the Malawi kid. If her intentions were to really save the poor kid from poverty, let it be then. Someday, I would like to adopt a child to save him or her from poverty too. God has given me so much and I want to share it with a child that’s disadvantaged. But people do not have the same view as me. Why bother to procreate when there are kids in the world who are crying out for a family? Why can’t I do my bit for the society or the world by just adopting a child? Hopefully in 2 or 3 years’ time, I can realize my dream of adopting a kid. I really want to do it. And I found out that in HK it only takes 14 months for the application to go through. In HK, abortion is illegal and therefore there are kids that are put up for adoption all the time. And these kids need a family and love and I can provide them that...Hopefully, but that calls for sacrifices....But that's another post.....

Need to go shopping today with WK's parents. Going to get some dried seafood. Might get some for mum too. Thinking of dried seafood....makes me miss grandma...maybe it's time to see her again.

Hong Kong

Living a Full Life

My cutie!! This was taken at The Peak. We brought his parents there for sightseeing.

WK's parents are in town. Well, I'm going to be honest about it, it's hard for me. WK and me come from very different kinds of family. My family is very open and basically, I'm left to my own devices, make my own decisions and my parents respect them. WK's parents are rather conservative, they have their mindset and it can be hard to try to change it. And they speak Chinese. Not that I've anything against that but we do have a communication barrier.

I've lots and lots of respect for WK's parents, especially his mum. She saved and scrimped to give him an Australian education, a nice wedding and basically she did her best for him. She's very thrifty to the point that I wonder if it's the right thing to do. I remember once during sermon Paster Heng mentioned that mothers should not try to eat the leftovers from children because it'll inculcate in them that it's ok to give their mothers leftovers and trash. Well, that's with WK's mum. She takes all the leftovers. She hardly travels and WK's father has never taken the plane, this is his first time on the plane. They never splurge on clothes, food and anything. I'm pretty sure that they have lots of savings.

And when I look at my life, well, I've travelled more than they have, err...I've way too much clothes, bags, shoes and everything. But...zero savings! And I wonder in reality, am I happier than them or are they happier. I would wish that they lighten up a lot more and be more adventurous. My sisters are pretty adventurous and they love travelling as well. They can pick up their back pack and go around the world. But WK and his brother aren't that adventurous. WK is getting a lot better as he went to Australia to study and he travels for his work as well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to find that balance in life. Life is not all about saving heaps and heaps of money...neither is it like me and spending heaps and heaps of money. And being adventurous. Well, not like Crikey but in life we need to take risks. But I call it calculated risks.

WK's mum initially wasn't too pleased about me coming to HK to work and it was worse when WK came over to HK as well. But the issue for us is very simple, we're here for the money and we wanted to venture out. But her point of view is rather different. She's afraid that we'll never return back to HK. But reality of life is that, we never know where our lives will bring us to. God leads and we follow. I wanted badly to go back and live in Australia but I know that God is not leading us that way. And I find it hard to explain what my thoughts are to her. I guess it's the language barrier and also the mindset that she has. With my parents, I was raised and trained to think independently and make my decisions and share them with my parents. Well, they may or may not like it and will give me their opinions but ultimately, the decision is always mine. I love my parents for that. But that also creates an issue with my in laws as I believe whatever decision making process that WK and me take, it's only between the both of us and they should respect it. Don't be mistaken, I love my in laws but getting married, sometimes it feels that I'm getting another set of parents as well. And this is my first time actually staying in the same apartment as them. People who live with their in laws...You have my respect!

Life is hard....very hard...But then again, life is what we make it to be.

Happy family...I'm not in the pic because I'm the photographer. This was taken at The Peak. It's a nice place. It'll look even better in the night.

Hong Kong

12.10 pm

Chinese Medicine - Repost

Well, it seems that Blogspot must have known that I've got too much time to kill that my last post for some reason got lost in cyberspace and now I've got to repost and think hard what I wrote a few mins ago. Here it goes.

For the next couple of days, I'm going to be blogging during work hours. I'm trying to kill time since I've got too much time to kill at work. I can get busy after work, you know, so I don't have time to blog when I get home. After work, need to get to the gym for an hour, after that, cook dinner before WK gets home, and then try to clean up and after have my shower, spend time with WK and watch lots of telly. I'm very very busy, you know? Not forgetting weekends, got to go out too....I lead a very busy life...So must time manage well...Hahahaha!!!!

Went to the Chinese doc yesterday. Hopefully, he'll help me get rid of all the water in that's stuck in my body. Just drank a cup of the Chinese medicine. It's yuck, disgusting, vile, horrid, it's so bad that no words can describe it! Got another 6 packs to drown!!! After seeing the Chinese doc, I had a massage. The most interesting and intriguing one that I've ever had. He tried to smooth out my tired calf muscles and also he did lots of poking...Poked my tummy heaps of times. I asked him a couple of times if I'm fat or do I have lots of fats. Obviously that's always on my mind. Well, he said no, I'm just big boned, ,lots of air and etc. Maybe he's saying nice things because I paid him. But I know I've got lots and lots of air. I've got heaps of air to the point that it comes out of my bum all the time. Poor WK has to put up with my smelly air! Well, I was told that I'll lose about an inch or 2 within 2 weeks. Let's see what happens. WK thinks that it's all rubbish but I think it's worth a try.

Okie, almost time for lunch. Going to head out to the Jap restaurant that I went to yesterday. Going to spend sometime alone. I'll bring my book, have time to chill out in a serene restaurant, away from all the madness. And it's pretty cheap to eat there too. But SIN$7 to 10 for a nice set lunch.

Till I blog again tomorrow.....Farewell....Gee...I must be getting real bored! And my colleagues in Spore must be bored to death marking PSLE scripts too!

Hong Kong

Another Do Nothing Day

Well, it's not exactly do nothing day.....I've stuff to do at work but I'm not working at a hurried pace. I don't need to rush because like I've mentioned....no classes to teach for the next two weeks. I've been taking my time to mark, help a colleague with a project and also ha....to blog! And replying emails, chatting with sis and WK and whoever that's online. Life is good at this point of time.

But it's not do nothing at home. Now with someone else living at home and me getting off work early almost everyday, I cook dinner. After work, I try to get in an hour of gym. (Someone's been saying that I'm turning porky!) And then get home and cook dinner before WK gets home. After dinner, I've to wash up. WK did washing up yesterday and the kitchen looked as if a tsunami came by. It was the same with the bathroom. Plus in laws arriving this Sat, it's time to get into super gear of cleaning up! And with only one bathroom, the fight for the bathroom is starting in the mornings!!!! We really need to move to a place with TWO bathrooms!

I wonder why would I bother to go through so much of a hassle to clean up before they arrive. Their son is the opposite of them, he hates cleaning up and thus, the task is left to me! And well, mother- in - law loves a clean and sterile place! You know, if mummy was coming, she'll clean my place up...I don't have to clean up! I HATE CLEANING. Okie...have to stop ranting.....

Actually, it's been a long time since I've gotten angry...I even forgotten what is it like to yell at kids and to be frustrated. Life is very calm for me. Except, I really need to get a massage to iron out the knots on my shoulders. Hopefully, the chinese massage place has an opening for me today. Oh...that's my biggest worry of the day! Hahaha....Oh gosh, ex-colleagues in Spore, don't kill me...

WK has finally discovered msn messenger....He had to install it at work because apparently they use it at work to communicate. Well, we chat every few mins or whenever. He gets funny with technology....

Oh yes, on Monday, Ariel sent me these bunch of pink pens...It's so nice for her to remember me. I miss some of my ex-colleagues...but I don't miss my ex-workplace. Life is a lot calmer for me!!! And less work too...Gee....I can feel me getting the lazy disease!

10 mins to lunch...need to send clothes to the laundry too.....

WK Working in HK

Finally, WK is working in HK. How apt is that WK starts working in HK exactly after 2 months that I started working. He landed yesterday and as usual, I'm such a blur person, I was waiting for him at the wrong arrival hall. He had to call me and ask where on earth was it! We met and all was fine.

We got home and went to a restaurant in our estate to have lunch and there after we had to go to Macau. Yes, people, we went to Macau. WK had to get his visa validated. So we went to Macau and then walked in Yaohan for like 20 mins and then went back to catch a ferry back. And interestingly, I haven't see Yaohan for like forever. I remember when we were kids, we would go to Yaohan to shop. I used to love to go to Yaohan. It was like my all time favourite shopping store.

After like five hours or something like that, we got back. WK was tired from all the travelling. I actually feel sorry for him to have to travel so much. Anyway, thank God that it out of the way. WK woke up early today and so we didn't have a toilet rush. It's hard living together with only 1 toilet, you know?

Well, came to work today and realised that I don't have classes for the next two weeks. The kids have exams and this week is exam preparation and then next week is exam. Well, how exciting and that's why I'm blogging from work.....I'm getting real bored soon. Anyway, have decided that I badly need to work out again. Took a week off from gym as I was feeling crook. But then WK says that I've turned porky....So it's back to the gym today after work.

Hong Kong

2nd Month in HK

It's my second month in HK and how do I like it so far? Well, at this point of time, I still like it! I still have no complaints. Life is pretty good and God is good to me and to us. WK will be joining me in 2 days. I can't wait.

Veron sent me an email today. In her email, she said that her little boy, Ashton, blurted out Jasmine....That's so nice of him. I miss that little kid. I called and spoke to her today and she told me about Marcia and her new baby. It's times like these that I miss my friends. I'm really not homesick but I do wish I was there for my friends' kids and their events. I called Veron also to check on little Ashton. Apparently he had a bad bump yesterday and he had to take an x-ray. Thank God that he's fine and everything's ok. It's funny how Veron asked if I was bored in HK. And well, my reply, I'm pretty much busy almost every weekend and I watch way too much TV as well.

I'm heading out tonight with Adrian, an old friend and some other NETS. My last 2 nights as a single married woman....From next week on, it'll be, 'let me check with my husband if we have anything on tonight'.

4.55 pm

Hong Kong

Punishments

I've been trying to get onto blogger for forever tonight....and finally...I'm in...I can blog! Finally!

The world is getting upset with North Korea for testing nuclear stuff. Well, as much as I agree that North Korea should not be doing that...But I think that imposing sanctions on North Korea is not going to work. It has been well reported that it is the North Korean Govt that wants to do the testing and not the citizens. On top of that, most of us know that a certain dictator there is living very well with a couple of wives...And it's the poor people that are suffering.To me...a lay person...It seems that the sanctions are going to punish the common people and not at the people that actually want to test those stuff.

It brings me to the point that parents punish their kids or the society punish kids but its not really the fault of the kids. Parents that have no parenting skills, bring up ill breds that are a menace to the society. And then they get into trouble with the law. And at the court....the parents go...'Oh, but he's such a good kid.'But in reality, the kid have gotten into so much trouble when he was younger. But why are the parents not punished for their crime but the kid is? If the parents can't raise the child well, how would the child know how to grow up to be a fine person?

Are punishments truly fair then? Well, parents are not much into spanking their kids these days as they are afraid they might turn violent...But the bible says, Spare the rod and spoil the child. So what is then fair punishment? In all honesty, I don't know.....

10.25 pm

Hong Kong

Going Home for the Weekend

Yes, family and friends, I've booked my tickets to go home for a weekend in November. Can't wait! Well, I do miss my family and friends quite a bit. And I can see my furry daughter as well! Ya...It's so exciting! I miss eating all the yummy food. I'm already planning all my meals already. Initially, I wanted to come back on 1st Oct weekend. But then plans didn't work out. And I found out that Vanitha is going off to Perth real soon and it might be years that I'll see her again. And so, the trip home. Vanitha has been a great friend and colleague. She's one of the few at WDP that took me as I am and I love her for it! In a month's time.....I'll be eating....nasi lemak....prata....chicken rice....what else....actually, whatever that my tummy can fill up!

12 am

Hong Kong

Impacts

Last night, Ryan, an ex-student said hi to me. It's nice of him to remember me. I was his form teacher for about a month or so last year. He's a nice boy. When I went to bed, I started to think about the impacts that I've left on the kids that I've taught. I remember the first year that I was teaching, there was this kid that left an impact on me. And the funny bit, he wasn't even in my class.

He lives in Bukit Panjang and at that time, WK living in Bukit Panjang and sometimes we would catch the same bus. Kenneth would tell me about his life and that's was when I learnt a lot from a kid and the impacts that he had on me. Years, later, he still remembers me. He made me realise the sanctity of marriage and how important is it to really plan for a kid. And as much as I tried to, hopefully, I left positive impacts on his life.

As a teacher, it is inevitable for us that we leave impacts on lives of the students that we teach. It can be positive or negative. I'm pretty sure that I must have left some negative impacts on some kids' lives. Not that I'm very proud to say that. At the end of every year, I do reflect and wonder have I done my best, have I short changed some kid in my class or have I been the teacher that the kids wanted. And at the beginning of every year, I tell myself to do better this time round. Before I left for Sydney, I was teaching 3E. That was one of the best classes that I've taught. I loved those kids totally and till now, I still miss them. Zach and Vaenu were the both that taught me lessons. I learnt to treat them with respect despite the disability that they had. They were dyslexic. It was when I gave them respect that they returned it and love coming to school.

The class that I probably short changed the most is 1 Loyalty. The class that I left behind when I came to HK. When I started teaching this class, I knew that I was already going to HK. I tried to get out of teaching this class as I know that with primary one class, the kids need stability. But guess, the management wasn't listening enough to the hints that I was dropping when I told them that I didn't want to teach primary 1. I miss my kids. I feel that I wasn't doing justice to them when I left. These little primary 1 kids taught me valuable and humbling lessons. How apt is it that I start my career in teaching with primary 1 kids and then end my teaching career in Spore with primary 1 kids again. Well, maybe some day, some day, I might return back to teaching in Spore.

To all my kids that I've taught before. I do miss you kids heaps! And if you do read my blog, pardon your teacher's language at times......And to those who are taking your exams...All the best! Try your best....

9.25 pm

Hong Kong

Returning to my Roots

Just to clarify if anyone is wondering, I've no roots in Hong Kong. Don't think any of my grandparents are from Hong Kong.

I woke up today feeling really terrible. The sore throat, cough and flu finally got to me. I lay in bed thinking if I should give church a miss. Eventually I gave church a miss. Got up, checked my emails, had my breakfast and I went downstairs to see a doctor. I wanted to give the chinese physician a try. I've always wanted to give it a try and what better place than in HK to try. Got into the clinic and surprisingly, the chinese physician spoke English. He took one look at me and said that I've got water retention. That explains me being fat. I wanted to give that man a kiss! Finally, a doc that says that I'm not fat, it's just water retention! Ya!!! And he told me, no worries, I'll be able to lose some weight. He went through a series of questions and he scribbled a bunch of stuff. Well, it turns out that I'm extremely unhealthy. He gave me some vile tasting medicine which I took. Boy, it's vile....more than vile!

Well, back to the topic of me going back to my roots. Since I started living in HK, I realised that I know very little of my culture or roots. It was interesting trying to hear kids explaining to me about Mid-Autumn Festival. In Singapore, Mid-Autumn to me, it's all about eating yummy snow skin mooncakes and that's all. And going to a chinese physician today was also an eye opener. I'm an ethnic chinese and the chinese medicine should work for me. The only reason why I've never been to one in Spore is because, I don't seem to trust the ones in Spore. Let's see how this one goes. I'm going back to see him on Wed. Hopefully, he'll be able to do something about my water retention and yes.....I'll be dropping some dress sizes!!!!

In a week's time, WK will be in HK....Can't wait!!!

3.10 pm

Hong Kong

Dinner Party

I took this pic last night before heading out for dinner and drinks with some friends. Mid-Autumn Festival is huge and I mean huge in HK. Everyone in HK goes home for dinner. Even my boss told me that I'll be better off catch the ferry or trains out as traffic on the roads might be crazy. I thought that she was kidding. I went to the supermarket last night to pick up a couple of things for the dinner party tonight and boy, it was chaotic in the supermarket. Everyone was rushing and loading up their trolleys. It's almost like Christmas.

This morning, I woke up bright and early to go to Shenzhen with Michelle and her sis. Got there, had yum cha and it was like only SIN$20 for 3 people! Unbelievably cheap! Shocking! After that, we went for a message. And guess what, for a full hour massage, it was only SIN$10 and SIN$8 for tips. The massage was great! We're planning another trip! Shopping was not too bad as well. Left Shenzhen at 3pm and rushed back home to cook. Friends were coming over for dinner at about 7ish. Dinner was great fun. It was good catching up and hanging out with everyone. Michelle is the one in yellow and Colleen is in black. Michelle is from Melbourne, Australia and Colleen is from Victoria, Canada.

Melissa is the one with glasses and curly hair, she's from America and Paula is the with straight hair. She's from Canada.

The boys, Simon is the one with a can in his hand, he's from England and Joey is the other guy. He's from Seattle, America. We're all NETS. These are some of my friends that I hang out with. I miss having dinner parties in Spore with my friends and in Sydney with Eve as well.

1.15 am

Hong Kong

WK's Visa Approved

I'm sneaking time from work to bloc. I've just finished lunch and I've 10 more mins before my class starts.

Went home from work yesterday. Opened the letterbox and was elated to receive a letter from immigration. WK's visa has been approved! Ya! Didn't expect it to be processed at such a fast rate. Thank God for it! Really thankful to God. After that, I had to rush to Macau. Aunty Yoke Siong, WK's aunty, whom I call Lok Yee now, was in Macau. Originally, she and her friend were going to stay with me and they decided to stay in Zhu Hai and I met them in Macau. It was nice seeing her again. I left and said goodbye and before I boarded the ferry, WK called and asked if I passed her the money. And I was like, damn! I forgot. It was a mad rush....I couldn't call her on my phone, apparently, my phone doesn't allow outgoing calls as I was in Macau. Had to get to the payphone and try to call her. Thank God everything went on fine. I just came home half an hour later than expected.

Bell rang..... Will try to post tonight again!

1.05 pm

Hong Kong

His Ways are Higher than Mine

Readers...This is going to be a religious post....Went to the gym today. Haven't been there for about a week and so bringing myself to the gym wasn't an easy task. As I try to lose weight and slide on the cross trainer...My thoughts had a good run. Have to keep myself distracted.....

I was thinking about how God's ways are always much higher and His plans are always not the way we want our plans to be. My thoughts about the Almighty actually started when I went to Tsingyi to get Aunty Yoke Siong a mattress. She's WK's aunty. A real nice aunty. I looked at it a few weeks ago, and its was HK$200 and today, it was $120. A nice discount. When Aunty Yoke Siong called last night, I told her that I'll meet her on Thursday nite. I wanted to go out on Wednesday to meet the girls from Geoexpat website. So arrangements were made with her. Dad's friend called when I got home after school and we made plans to meet for dinner on Wednesday nite. When I was at the gym, I realised that little things like these fall into place. For some, it might be just a sheer coincidence but for me, I'm like, wow, things fall into place and thank God for it.

Then I started to think about my life on its whole. Dad's favourite song is 'I did it my way' by Frank Sinatra. Oh yes, it's a nice song but in my life, I would love the song to be 'I did it God's way.' I'm beginning to feel that my whole life has been controlled by God in little ways that I don't seem to see it immediately but when I think about it, it makes sense. It's like a 'connect the dots' activity sheets that I used to do as a kid. There are plans that I plan and then I wonder many times why aren't things working out for me. I remember before going to do my Masters in Australia, I applied to 4 universities. One of the universities that I really wanted to go to, lost my application. I was pretty upset. And then I decided to go to university of Sydney. After I decided, the other university replied and accepted me. But I knew that God wanted me to be in Sydney. When I got to Sydney, I understood why. My best friend was there. I worked with an autistic child. And I learnt things that textbooks, journals, lectures and stuff can't teach you. I learnt about needs of an autistic child, friendships and relying on God.

Before heading to do my Masters, I came to Hong Kong for the NET interview. This was after I paid for my school fees to University of Sydney. I thought since I was shortlisted for the interview and I was going to be in Hong Kong to visit Grandma and to visit Pauline, might as well go for the interview. After the interview, I was offered the job. I had to tell EMB to wait as I wanted to do my Masters first. They complied which was nice of them. When I was in Sydney, I thought of my future and thought maybe my life should be in Spore and to go back to WDP to contribute to them whatever I've learnt from my Masters. At the end of my Masters, EMB emailed and asked if I was ready to start work in Jan 2006. But again I had to delay them as I really wanted to work in Spore. Alas, life doesn't work out the way I wanted it to be.

Got back to Spore and started working and contributing as much as I could, and then the news came. I got a terrible appraisal. I was in shock. My life literally went down the toilet! Plus I was thinking I've already delayed EMB, not sure if they are going to take me. I was feeling terrible, I was almost on the verge of depression. It was always, why God? Why are you letting this to happen to me? I was miserable. Then Feb came, EMB emailed again and this time I told them that I'll come to Hong Kong. And now, being in Hong Kong, I'm able to look back and be glad that those things happened at WDP. When I agreed to EMB, the first and only school that called me, is the school that I work for now. I knew that this is the school for me. When I was being interviewed, I found out that the school is a Christian school and I wanted to work in a Christian school. And then things flowed smoothly.

Somewhere in Jul, I post a question on the expat website that I frequent. I asked about WK's job prospects in HK. Then in August, I had a reply. And before I knew WK scored an interview and then in a matter of weeks, WK got a job and now within 2 weeks, WK's moving to HK. And now, I've found a church to go to. I've a regular group of girlfriends and friends. I'm not lonely but rather, my social calendar can be rather full. In everything that has happened, I see the hand of God working in us. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, God never forgets His children. This is even when His children are unfaithful, He'll still be there till they repent. I can say that because I've seen His hands working.

At this point of time, I really don't know how long does God wants us to be in Hong Kong. We're just going to rely on Him and we'll go back to Spore when He tells us to.

12.00 am

Hong Kong

My Sunday....

Woke up this morning and went to church. Church shopping again. Went to International Baptist Church. Met the Carlsons there. I knew the Carlson family since I was a kid. We went to the same church. They left for HK about 16 years ago. I went to IBC because I knew the Carlsons went there. Initially, I taught that IBC was pretty far from Central as it's in Aberdeen. But it didn't cost that much from Central when I took a cab there this morning. Church was great! I actually enjoyed the service. Felt a little like home. And I do believe that church shopping might end now....Thank God for that. People were friendly, and also I felt that sermon was great and holy communion was normal as well. No bread dipping in juice...no more curry bread! That was important for me. I really prayed over this issue and I want to go to a church that's sound.

After church, I went to for lunch. Met people from Geoexpat. It was interesting meeting new people. When people are in their home countries, they don't meet people on the internet. I mean, I've never met anyone online in Spore at all. Never needed too. But in HK, I've met some people that became friends online. It's strange when you think about it. Oh, lunch was yummy! The best burgers I've had in a long long time! After lunch, I went to do some grocery shopping. Had to get food for the week.

Came home and decided that I needed to get a massage. Called Angsana, the spa in my complex, and found out that's its HK$600+ for an hour. Well, they were fully booked and I decided to try the massage place in the village...Well, for 45 mins foot massage and 45 mins body massage, it's was only $218. That's a bargain! Well, can't complain about the ambiance.....The foot massage was not too bad. The body massage was alright. But boy, did the lady have strength. She's prob half of me but her grip...That was something!

I was going to Shenzhen tomorrow with Michelle and her sis but apparently, it'll be crowded tomorrow. So I guess, tomorrow, I'll go catch a movie since it's a public holiday.

11.40 pm

Hong Kong