Years of Friendship

Met up with Sophie on 21st March, a day before I was flying back to Adelaide, to return her some clay molding tools and to pass her some goodies that I bought from Hong Kong (not the crux of the story, I know). Anyway, we were hanging out at Vivocity and decided to have dinner together since we did not have the opportunity to have a decent meal together ever since I started work at HPB (oops! Not blaming HPB for anything!). Anyway, we decided to have dinner together before I fly back to Adelaide. After collecting her Fossil watch from Pacific Plaza and after I got my luggage straps from Taka, we decided to head down to PS for some dinner.

Our dinner conversation revolved around how God willed us to meet each other and that if either one did not join St. John, the friendship between the both of us may not have been this close. Afterall, I reckon it was probably due to St. John and not Prefectorial Board that drew us closer. It is really interesting to see how some friendships can stand the test of time. I mean, it takes two hands to clap and if one party is unwilling to put in the effort to keep the friendship going, then after a while, the other party will soon grow tired and let it go. I have had countless of friendships that ended in this way.

Anyway, thanks for being there for me when I needed you, Soph! That's what friends are for! Even though I will be back in Singapore after 5 weeks, I still miss you!


Our time in St. John (Taken during Sec.4. I'm in the prefects blazer in between a teacher in brown and a St.John girl or rather, next to my competition team partner. Apologies if the picture is bad.)

Thanks for the many years of friendship for being my bestie! (and still counting!)

Returned to Adelaide

When I touched down at Adelaide's international airport, I can't help but feel a sense of familiarity. Its as though I did not return to Singapore during the holidays. In fact, I did and most of my hols were spent working at HPB. Not much of what one would define as holidays.

Have settled down into life in Adelaide. Gonna have to make the most of our my stay here since I will be flying back to Singapore in May. Nothing much to update about what's going on in my non-exciting life. Shall see how intensive goes on Monday.

HK trip

My trip to Hong Kong was GREAT! Other than the fact that some people were rude, bumping into you and not saying a word of "Sorry!". The weather was good on the first day that I arrived and then, it started to dip. Oh well, preparing myself for the short autumn that I will experience back in Adelaide.

I've been to Macau island that houses numerous casinos and aspiring to be the Las Vegas of the Orient (or so, as the tour guide brags), Lantau island which houses Disneyland and Ngong Ping, Hong Kong Island for the great shopping and of course, Kowloon where I spent all nights sleeping in it!

Oh well, now, its time for me to relax before I hop onto the plane to Adelaide on thursday.

Skyscrapers lining HK's coastline



Singapore replica



Portuegese egg tart



Yummy!

Array of Mango desserts

Sit properly!

1 of the 88 gold bars at Crown casino at Macau

Public Announcement

This is a public annoucement to notify all readers that I will be away from 15th - 19th March for a well-deserved break in Hong Kong. In the meantime, take care...

Lalala, lalala, Elmo's song

You Are Elmo

Sweet and innocent, you expect everyone to adore you. And they usually do! You are usually feeling: Talkative. You've got tons of stories to tell. And when you aren't talking, you're laughing. You are famous for: Being popular, though no one knows why. Middle aged women especially like you. How you life your life: With an open heart. "Elmo loves you!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Erm, ok..I've got an Elmo for a soft toy.

Not goodbye!

Its really funny how time can make people feel better or worst. Yesterday marks my last day at HPB. Yupz, all I can say is, "Time flies!" I still recall the early days before I started work at HPB, sending in my coverletter and resume to Dr Rose, the director of Youth Health Division, after knowing that the division is looking for people. After the initial email, it was followed by a string of emails, form filling and then, there I was, with the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Department.

Initially, I was rather apprehensive about the working environment as well as meeting the expectations of my supervisor. However, I learnt that expectations hurt and I thought that the best way to make out of this whole experience is not to expect much from the department and to try and learn as much as I can.

Indeed, I have learnt alot during my 12 weeks at the department, working on a lit review paper, writing proposal for a healthy canteen programme, writing brief articles, developing and modifying current MSTP resources. It started out with a 1-month contract and then it got extended twice until my last day became 10th March. Whilst I was there, collegial relationships were built through lunches, parties and badminton games and some were strenghtened. Even as I leave YHP, I assure myself that these relationship that took time to built will hopefully be maintained.

Thanks for making me feel welcomed at the department! My time with YHP has been a fruitful and an enjoyable one. All will be missed! Take care and God bless. See you all when I return to HPB for my community placement. In the meantime, don't miss me too much!Like what Uncle James said, "I may not present you with a physical gift, but I will keep you in my heart."Aww..

YHPians with Dr Rose (top row, extreme left)

Top row: Dr Rose, Francis, Jess, Lee Yee, Allan, George, Dr Wong Mun Loke (my supervisor)

2nd row: Cheryl, Serene, Janice, Shuh Min, Lydia (nutritionist, Outreach)

3rd row: Maaran, Siti (nutritionist), Kelly C, Bina, Kelly L, Kelana, Evelyn, Norani, Eugene

4th row: Tinah, Ainul, Vasuki, Lee Lin, Prema, Rohaizat, Haslina, James, Wei Chiang (healthy eating freak), Letty (nutritionist)

Last row: ME!

Maintaining a youthful atmosphere!

Natural disasters

I thought I was under some dizzy spell when I saw my computer, table, waterbottle, chair, etc shaking for about 10 secs. I thought I was going to faint soon but I felt well just before the shaking occurred except the hunger pangs.

Anyway, an announcement was made over the PA system informing all at the HPB to evacuate the building immediately. I could not help but listened to one announcement that was made as I was evacuating, "Ladies and gentlemen, please evacuate the building immediately. This is not a rehearsal. I repeat this is not a rehearsal..."

Well, people tend not to take things seriously excepting it to be some form of drill. Consider our good fortune that Singapore is protected from our neighbouring countries and she is fortunate enough to not experience any natural disasters. Anyway, not sure if anyone noticed it but coincidently, ever since we entered the new millenium, the odd years seem to be the ones causing catastrophic events. In 2001, there was the Sept 11 attacks or 911. In 2003, there was the SARS. In 2005, there was the tsunami. In 2007, Sumatra earthquakes.

Count yourself lucky to be alive! And treasure all the time spent with your loved ones. You never know...

Lord, thank you for blessing me.

Lack of

I have been surfing on the net and noticed that peeps have not been updating their blogs and I am guilty of it too. Its not to say that nothing exciting has been happening but instead, I have been enjoying what I am doing that I am just lazy to update.

Oh well, anyway, my contract with the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Department, Youth Health Division, HPB will end on 9th March. I don't really know what words to use to describe whatever feeling(s) I am feeling, if any. The experience that I have gained is rewarding and I am glad that I am able to acquire new knowledge as well as to be able to put the theories into practice. On the other had, I am going to miss the collegial relationships that I have built with the colleagues from the 6 different departments but who says, such relationship(s) will end right? Fingers crossed that I will be able to do my community placement with the Youth Health Division. Otherwise, working with the Adult Health Division will allow me to build on my network, which will definitely come in handy when I enter into the working world.

Looking forward to the rest of my summer holidays with a short trip to Hong Kong before I head back to Adelaide for a short 6 weeks.

Note to self: Revise N&D notes for clinical placement!