2008年2月25日星期一

First week in Taiwan

Hey, I had a busy week in Taiwan. Actually we are not very busy the first few days. Except that ven MS asked me and HS to fetch JL from airport and taught her how to take the ride back to FGU. Ven MS was very nice that she offered to pay. But we rejected as the amount was affordable.

JL, HS and I had two good night rest before the excitement began. Yes, we have to be re-allocated again. My fortune is good this round. I am with two Chong-lins and one funny sister. They were cool and helped alot in cleaning the room. I am glad that I moved to face the green this round. I had good night rest. I told SY that I was a bit distracted sometimes by the scenery and always counted my blessings rather than just lie flat and sleep. All of us from Singapore got to face the green this round. Well, probably we can all sleep well :)

The sunday was a exciting one day trip for me. I was asked by Ven MS to go for a meeting @ KS FGS. it was a last min thing. She asked me to go on sat evening. I packed and then she said she got it all wrong. So it is changed to go in the sunday morning. I slept early on sat as I have to travel early on sun. I heard that YY and the m'sian classmates were back but I wasn't able to get up to visit them (cos' too sleepy :P). Glad that they were all back safely.

The trip on sunday started with YS giving me two buns for breakfast. I just took one as I really cannot eat buns recently. Then We had a good ride (driver ven MB). they talked a lot in the car but I was not able to join the chat as I have motion sickness. I travelled to taipei in kamala coach and took the high-speed train to KS. It was a good ride. Though this is not the first time I took high speed train but It is the first time I travelled alone in it. I had good sleep. Luckily FGS got transit bus from the station to the FGS. I had a good meal and bought a lot of things. Even have time to visit DA FO CHENG and WT. Cool, I am glad I was tasked to take this trip. The meeting is good. From it, I see that every youth is really committed in the FGS youth groups. Cool. I even saw mao-mao and the biscuit there. As the coach to taipei is full, I took the high-speed train back again. It is a blessing in disguise as the travel time would be very much lessened.

I decided to stay in summer holiday and hopefully go back to KS for some retreat or voluntary work. I think it is the path the buddha wants me to take for the time being as whatever I received from the vens in FGS, they are always about 7-days chanting etc.

the day ended well with I returned to FGU safely and passed all the presents to the classmates, or placed on their tables. Hope they like it although they are not very expensive. I have spent quite some times to choose. :)

Ok that's all for now. Time for lunch :D

P.S. toilet paper in taiwan is going to be more expensive next month. Also the rice and vegetables -> resolution - stock up toilet paper, use less; eat less :D

Last day in Singapore

Finally, got time to settle down and write my blog.

we ended our last day in singapore by bidding goodbye to FGS venerables. They sent us to the lift and what touches me most is ven mk was really nice to us. The night before, we worked till very late to complete the last task (keys) and HS was asked by ven mk to stay @ my house so that she needed not to travel so late. Ven MM is very nice, she wanted to send HS home but well, we have to obey ven MK. :) The breakfast that our two families had in FGS was sumptous. We had a good time. Ven MK asked my mum not to send me to the airport. Hee, same thoughts that I had. Thanks Ven MK. My mum didn't send me to airport.

VIC gege sent me to the airport. Well, I must say I am blessed this round. Vic Gege specially took leave to send me. CY also wanted to send me to the airport. At first, I wanted CY to send but vic Gege has specially taken leave so he has the priority. I asked him to cancel his leave but he insisted. SM also wanted to send me to the airport. HS's dad also offered his ride. XQ wanted to take leave but I rejected as her leaves are very precious. I am really glad to have such a good fortune and good buddies. Thanks pals!!!

Ven MK and MM also gave us red packets which amounted to quite a lot of money. I have decided to keep the money till I ended my course. :) They will serve as reminders to me to work hard here.

Well, the last day ended when we shopped (window shopping) around the T3. It is quite big, HS was quite lucky to see her friends there and taking the same flight. The air flight was a bit with turbulence but the meal is great. Cool, I hope to take free SIA rides again. :)

That's all.

2008年2月17日星期日

A brief summary of the stay in Singapore

it's been so long since i blogged. I have been busy with the work given by ven mk till last week. Was quite happy that I finished the electricity labelling before the deadline and also other tasks for the FGS. I guess, this makes the trip fulfilling. We are all able to assist FGS and ven mk has trusted HS and I with the complex tasks. She trusted us that we would do them well and good, and we are really glad that we have done them. For HS and I, we want to come back to assist the FGS. :) and yah, we did it - We helped out in the busiest period - Chinese new year and the daily tasks.

Ven MK and I spoke quite a few times these days for the work purpose. She is such an interesting character. I like to speak to her, esp she can give us very interesting thoughts and views. Ven MM too. I loves to hear her funny jokes.

These days enhances my friendship with HS. She loves to bring me to interesting places to munch and walk about during our precious free time. we also went to various buddhist libraries to research on our thesis topics. I brought her wrongly twice to wrong places. It was so funny. We had great laugh. HS said that she is glad that she has me as a confidant, and actually I am glad I have her too. We know each other so well that we can guess what the other wants even without speaking. We have so much in common. Our relationship with Vic and rest also blossomed. I will miss them when I return to Taiwan. We went out frequently almost everyday. XQ is very cute, she still speaks a lot. she was speaking to me until i fall asleep once she came to my house to sleep. Haha, I hope she didn't mind. Luckily XL and XQ would be coming to study this year.

My sister and I had some fights during my stay. She always bullied me and so did I. I still love this sister and she loves me too. I slept some times with her and we had a good laugh when I told her my stay in Taiwan and the funny things that happened. When I slept with my mum, she also had good laugh. My mum loves to sleep with me whenever there is chance. Sis thinks mum adores me most. actually, I think so too :P

Yesterday was a great day spent with my family. We went to Sentosa with our god sister too. It was fun, esp the luge. Hee, I hope next year, we can go again.

ok, that's all for now. time to go back to work. Tata!

2008年2月8日星期五

second day of lunar new year

well, i never expect to spend the lunar new year @ FGS being a telephone receptionist. :D what an experience. All the "adults" are out, so I am left alone in the office. I didn't want to drop by today one, but my cousin invited me to his house, i was not really willing to go. There would not be vegetarian food for me. As such, I told my mum I would go to FGS to help out. Somemore, my electricity labelling is not complete yet, I have nightmares since the day I was tasked. kekekeke. I am very touched when ven MK handed me a hongbao. I was stunned and dunno what to say. I would keep the hongbao till I finish my studies. :)

VIC gege went m'sia today. So good. How envy. I think I will have dinner here. :) I have been eating bread and instant noodles. :'( I prefer the food here. HEE! :D

I'm looking forward to tomorrow - i would be seeing my "god-son" and daughter. My sis said ZE has grown up and cuter. I must see if he is as cute as HS's nephew. HS's nephew is very sweet, he recorded a video clip for me to see. Though I didn't finish watching (time and place inappropriate), I would want to watch it again to see his cute act.

time flies, It is already 5 p.m. ++. getting hungry, time to gobble the food on the table. :D

2008年2月7日星期四

Happenings in last few days

Time flies.
I have kinda settled back in singapore but soon, I would be leaving it again. Really glad to meet so many friends and buddies since I return. The meeting with GT, SM was great. We have sung out all our hearts and souls. It has been so long I sang so much. The meeting reminds me of our past: when we sang @ katong and sang until sore throat. SM and GT once again tried to remind me some events in the past, sad to say, I have forgotten some of them. :(

The meetup with SY, GH, KF, PET was also nice. They are still the same. But only SY and KF still work in the old company. I wonder how the old men are doing. Hopefully they are still as happy as before.

Meeting with AL was the most recent event. AL is still the same. Still loves to criticize me. I just feel happy to be with him, he is another backstage friend who I can trust and pour watever I want to say.

Somehow, I think GT, SM, SY are also my backstage friends who I can trust and rely upon with when I need help, advice or just grumble.

HS has been bringing me around to taste vegetarian food lately (I am still a new vegetarian - not even 1 year old). I like the food she introduces. Hopefully we can cook as well as those restaurants next time. HS was always so eager to bring me to places and enthusiatic to tell me all about her encounters.

VIC gege also brought us to some new vegetarian places. BTW, I think VIc gege has really changed a lot. He really impressed me till I have ranked him GEGE. I seldom give gege title to pple. He really is a good gege. Looking @ how he treats XQ and XL, I think he is really a nice person. He never tells pple about his changes but through conversations and actions, we notice. This is really a real change with the fact that he doesn't boast around and emphasize. He just does whatever he thinks, change gradually. To me, he is like a teacher: teaching us that changes need not to be drastic and loud, just gradually. It doesn't need appreciation from others too. Cool, I hope he would be happy always. I think I have alot to learn from him.

There are a lot of changes since we moved to the new FGS. Changes prove that permanence is illusional. Teacher WX also becomes more beautiful, less white hairs. Many have matured too. Ven MK has been closer to me than I first know her. She is a good teacher and I am glad i can be at her service.

My nephews came today. They have grown up too. I have aged. :( Soon, I would be like my sisters, in the forties. But I would still be younger than my fat sister. Indeed, my sister grows fatter. I think all my sisters grow fatter, including mag and HS. :D I would be the slimmiest soon!