Running on the job

"Where's the turning point?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Why so long?"
"Excuse me (signalling to the shuttle bus plying along the 8km route), please pick me up!"
"Daddy!!!Please come and pick me up!"

Those were some of the phrases that Liyan had to endure during our 8km run as we did our part for the President's Healthcare Challenge organised by KKH for all healthcare workers (government, private and healthcare organisations). Anyway, I SURVIVED the 8km run!! Am I glad that I did not make it to the headlines - "To-be dietitian-nutritionist collapses at the end of 8km healthcare run!", considering that I was recovering from a cold and a phelgmy cough and only managed to jog-a-walk 3km during my gym session last thursday. Indeed, a young man collapsed and died at the end of the half marathon during the annual army half-marathon.

So, a pat on the back for having survived 8km. The feeling of completing each race gives a different experience - jogging partner, route condition, weather and distance. Let's continue to keep fit while I press on with another 2 races scheduled in Oct and Dec.

Looking all sweaty after 8km

No LAUGHING is allowed

I always enjoyed having meals with Sophie. Why?! She never fails to crack people up. Let me re-enact what happened on Friday evening at Ichiban restaurant at PS.

While flipping through the menu to decide what Soph wanted to eat, a waitress came over, thinking we were ready to order. I made my order and soph made her. As the waitress repeated our orders, this is what happened:

Jo (looking at Soph): Aren't you going to order your gatzoya?
Soph: Its gyoza la, my friend.
Jo and waitress started laughing
Soph (attempting to keep a straight face): No LAUGHING is allowed!
Soph burst out laughing while Jo and waitress laughed even harder.

I laughed so hard till my tummy hurt despite a painful throat. Also, whenever we wanted a waitress, we would rather wait for another waitress instead of the "gatzoya" waitress even though she was waiting on near-by tables. Oh man! Those little silly mispronunciation(s) that I make!

22 years

Thinking about it, it is quite amazing to see how much one has matured and grown all these years. From an infant to a school-going child to an undergraduate, its those life's little lessons that has made me stronger and more mature. Also, its those friendships and relationships that helps to keep me sane through life's roller coaster rides.

So, you get the question, "How will you be spending your special day?"

Here's my answer, the early hours of 18th August was spent in a bar, Acid bar, with good company, a fantastic live band and a birthday dedication! (Thanks soph & shannon!). My 21st birthday was ushered in with a surprise dessert party, followed by a trip to Flinders ranges proudly sponsored by my dajie. This year, I get to spend my 22nd birthday in Singapore with my family and friends!

Anyway, to digress abit, the experience at Acid bar was alright in the beginning as there was this dodgy lady who can't sing and has the guts to admit that she doesn't know alot of songs. At that time, Soph and I were about to adjourn to another bar. Fortunately for us, the lady left and in came a couple. I'm glad we decided to stay on, otherwise, we would have missed their performance and then, have a bad impression of Acid bar.

So, the couple was good but Soph said the couple that comes in on Saturday is even better. Note to self: check out Acid bar on Saturday. So, with 2 cocktails each for Soph and I and 1 cocktail for Shannon, 1 plate of calamari rings and 1 plate of potato wedges, live birthday and 2 song dedications and lots of pictures taken, we decided to adjourn for home.

So, this morning, I woke up to the sound of my mobile's text message tone and a very sore throat (its a birthday prezzie from my mum - I caught her germs!), a blog dedication from my xiaomei, lots of birthday greetings and surprise presents! Thanks for all who remembered!


Lychee margarita and Singapore Sling (its good!)

I told you it was good!

Buzz, lime midori sour and long island iced tea

All the alcohol!!!

Before shannon arrived!(Besties!)

With Shannon!(on the right)

Jo: Shannon why are you licking my hand? And that's my finger, Soph!

I look like I'm on cloud 9 (lack of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase..Don't get me started!)

My space for the 7weeks

Stepping into an office belonging to both Liyan and I feels great every day! Into the second week of my public health placement, things are beginning to pick up pace and I am feeling the urgency and time constraint of completing my various key deliverables on time. Working on my main project, a lit review on the impact of in-school food promotion(s) / advertisement(s) as well as acceptance of food industry sponsorship(s) on children's food behaviours and preferences and guideline(s) for school re the former. I reckon most people first thoughts would be, "HUH?!" Never mind the Greek language.

Nonetheless, I am thankful for the little frills that spice up my public health placement. For starters, Liyan, is great companion especially for placement that is kinda slow-paced. Besides that, I get to watch telly as part of Liyan's research topic - tv food advertisements (It gets boring after awhile too). Not to mention, the daily visits from my colleague, Ro, who never fails to bring a smile to your tired face!


The "crazy" lady (Liyan) who laughs and does funny lil' actions at the computer screen

My messy workplace for 7 weeks

Under the table sits my precious treasure (slippers) and my working shoes

My new addition of hand-made earrings courtesy of Liyan

The week past

This week started off on a familiar and welcome note where I have commenced my Public Health Placement with YHD,HPB. It felt good to be in a familiar setting and receiving comments, "You've slimmed down!" (this really made my day!). What's more, the office that I am currently occupying, together with Liyan (Yes! Just the 2 of us for now!), feels so much at home. There's a basket full of fruits for us to munch on and to get our 2 serves of fruits daily, a laser printer which we use like nobody's business to print out journal articles, music that is played according to our moods, air-freshener to freshen up the room, tissues used at our disposal, sunlight to keep the room bright and airy and slippers to keep our feet comfortable. There's nothing to find fault with, except that we need lots of discipline to do our work since we are seated opposite each other.

Anyway, with 7 weeks, there is lots to be accomplished with 3 literature reviews, 1 report and 2 presentations. I pray that the Lord will provide me with the strength and perseverance to complete the race that is set before me.

And to end off this rather short week due to my nation's birthday where a public holiday occurred in the middle of the working week, a bunch of my colleagues with Liyan and I, visited St James Powerhouse yesterday evening, to wind down for the weekend. We started with the Movida room, where Spanish music was played and people swayed with it. I wasn't very impressed as the crowd seem much older and more docile. To top it off, a combination of purple bourbon coke, standing at the side, pounding bass and heaps of people, told me to call it a day. My first experience was not a positive one and I would like another experience, when opportunity calls for.

There's no place I'd rather be

One of the theme song performed this year, There's No Place I'd Rather Be, written by Jimmy Ye and sung by Kit Chan, were found to be quite similiar to the theme song that Qantas used on board its airplanes, I still call Australia Home.

As with all NDP theme songs, the ultimate aim is to tug at the heart strings of fellow Singaporeans both in Singapore and abroad and to invoke a feeling of home. Each time I hear the song, Home (released and performed first in 1998), it never fails to bring a tear or 2 to my eyes, especially the past couple years when I was overseas. Memories and images of family and friends in Singapore, cloud my mind, reminding me that there is always people waiting for my return.

When I get asked whether I am applying for PR in Australia, I would reply with a shake. I have never intended to work or become a PR in Australia. Naive?! Its a decision I doubt I will never regret. Although I have complaint about life in Singapore, however, this is a place where I have spent almost my entire lifetime growing up and where the lahs and the lors coexist without any difficulties and where people do not look at you weirdly, and questioning whether you are speaking in English or some other alien language.

So, where is Home for you?

Random twittering

Clinical placement is over for me for now. With all the tears, stress, saliva and perspiration, I am so glad for it to be over and that I am able to move on with my other placements as per scheduled.

It is amazing to reflect on the past 11 weeks that I have spent for clinical placement and to see how much I have grown and mature. It is not an easy feat to apply theory into practice and with other considerations that one needs to consider when there is a patient in front of you, either wanting to absorb as much information from you as possible or waiting to scream their head off, asking you to SCRAM! (ok, abit of exaggeration on my part!). Anyway, my apologies for not posting any pics.

As mentioned, I have started my community placement at HPB. I am happy to be back with the Youth Health Division, it feels as if I have not left the place at all. As Kar Hian once mentioned, it will be a different experience when I return as a student and when I am working as a temporary staff. Indeed, I have to agree with him. As a student, I feel that there is some kind of support that I can utilise whereas when I was working a temp staff, support provided was minimal, although the project(s) that I did are pretty similiar. Not that I am unhappy with the support!

Anyway, please pardon the random twittering, another update soon!