When caring makes the ordinary special.

I'm finally back from my OCIP! Done with ACER, SPSU and OCIP! Look like I've cleared a lot of my schedule for the holidays... only to realise that I'm left with 1 week of the holidays.

Pleasantly surprised with my results. Indeed, it is by God's grace, mercy and strength that I am where I am today and I have what I have today. On hindsight, it just keeps me wondering how was it even possible to achieve these kind of grades if not for the grace of God. I didn't do very well for my mid sems but then somehow, my overall results proved otherwise. And it was the first time in my life, I could proudly show my results to my parents and having full confidence that they'd be pleased and proud of my results. No holding back, whatsoever. Previous results, my whole life, even though they said they were happy with my results, but I wasn't 100% contented with my results per ser. But this time, I finally felt like, yes, I am happy and proud to show it to my parents.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28. I guess it is really just putting all your faith in the Lord and then to trust Him that he will provide an escape for you, and that He'll give you nothing but the best for you, even though you may not see how it's the best for you, but eventually, by God's grace, you'll see how carefully mapped out your life the Lord has done for you.

Alright so now for an update on my Vietnam OCIP.

Day One: Set off to Vietnam!

Wandering around T2 cause there were still some time left before boarding

First time sitting a budget plane ride!! Selfie with those who got seats beside me. The last few moments of using my own mobile data.

Finally reached Ho Chi Minh! At the airport. And the start of a journey...



Day 3: First day of Service

Woke up to a really nice morning light. Mandatory shot when lighting is THIS GOOD.

 De-rusting the window grills. I HATE DOING THIS JOB. But it's a necessary before you can move on to the more fun part - painting.

Nice view, nice light, mandatory step shot with my great partner. Before we left for lunch.

The group was so amused because they saw a cow for the FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. So we stopped for a cowfie.

Went to the school after lunch and that was where I saw the kids for the first time. These two girls stuck around me while the break we had in school.

Step shotsssssss. HuiEn is thinking hard.

Back to work, back to work! Finally started on painting.



Day 4: First day of Teaching

The butterflies here are really big and pretty. Really things that you won't see in Singapore.

After our first lesson which was conducted in the afternoon!

Step shot of the day.



Day 6: Getting to know the Translators better

 

Being serious when I'm at work. Hehe.

She looks as young as me, doesn't she? She's one of the Vietnamese translators! And trust me when I say that she was an even smaller build than me.

 

Going back to the host family's home for dinner after a day of service!



Day 7: Leader for the second time + Facilitation for the day!

After all... we are only young once right? :P Bringing step shots to a whole new level: photo shoot at the construction site.

Whole team at the construction site!

Yes, I take painting very seriously.

Facilitation at night! Was quite worried it wouldn't be impactful. But thankfully, we got the green light from Angie and she thought that it was a facilitation well done. With those who talked during the activity, which they weren't supposed to, and my partner behind the camera.



Day 8: Home visit!

My first time ever carrying a baby. Wow. He was just too cute and too handsome.

I be like, "You mess with me, I'll chop you like how I chop this coconut."

Yep, fresh coconuts from the tree! Suuuuuper good!

I was brutally forced to hold a puppy. You had no idea how much I was struggling and squealing internally. SO SCARY.

Mandatory step shots of the day as follow below...

And not forgetting my partner for DAY 7 with me. But we were in the same group for Day 8 so...



Day 10: Closer, getting still closer... to the students.

Morning faces with Ah Dy. When I found out he was from MAEC subcomm. Sent a snapchat to Amir & Glendon. HAHA.

This sweetie above made a bracelet for me below.

Recapping on the English we have previously taught them.



Day 11: More painting

Day 12: Last day of Service! Farewell, farewell... precious little ones.

This is just a quarter of the kids who kept sticking to me. I'm not even joking when I say a quarter. The rest were still having their classes.

This handsome boy will grow up to be a ladies' man. So so so so handsome. He looks mixed.

Pardon the really tired face though.

Getting some Chinese dance feels maybe?

Cultural performance at the farewell ceremony, family portrait!



Day 13: R&R Lo!

Cause last morning in Ben Tre. Must take those step shots I wasn't able to for the previous days.

On the way to Unicorn Island, Mekong Delta.

My wave of emotions & facial expressions as I held a python for the first time in my life. The second last photo can be explained: I was being licked by the python. Oh my.

The step shots that Yat and I took on day 1 was ruthlessly deleted by WenJie cause he found the pictures too dark. So in all attempt to take some step shots...

Coconut juice on the way back. This is the life man...



Day 14: Goodbye, farewell, until we meet again...

Home bound. Casual attempt at an OOTD.

My really kind and caring but blur roommate! Thank you so much for just being the easy-going and accepting person that you are! Always accommodating to my queer OCD habits. I was really touched when you washed my socks for me as a surprise!

NOUC DA NOUC DA! Your blurness never fail to provide comedy relief for the team.

Best friend Ah Dy ah! Thought you were a really serious and uptight boy but got to discover that cute little boy side of yours.

FRIEND GIVING ME A 'HEAD MASSAGE'. Thank you WenJie so much, for always ever so ready allowing Amal and  to crash your room to talk cause the other rooms weren't just as safe as yours and Apit's.

Even though I am older, but he give off such a strong father vibe that I unknowingly give in to his naggings.

Abang Sayang! Can never thank you enough for taking care of me this trip. You're always one of the first few to notice whenever I am feeling down and out and come over to ask me what's wrong, even though I don't say it out loud. I can never hide it from you. Experienced so much ups and downs and you were always there for me when I was experiencing those downs in the trip. Thank you for late night deep conversations and sharing your life stories with me too. It has certainly been a great pleasure to know you better through this trip.

Happy Dylan is Happy because we saved him from sitting in between awkward strangers when there was a free space at our row of seats. Talk > Eat > Talk > Sleep > Talk > Eat. What we did the whole flight.

And certainly not forgetting the staffs of YMCA Vietnam & Singapore, and essentially, the wonderful translators.

Chung has a really nice voice and I love it how whenever I sang with him, he is able to harmonise so perfectly. Just a pity was that when I finally got the chance to sing with him, I was already having a husky, sexy man's voice. Thank you Chung, for your note of encouragement! And it was certainly heart-warming to see you coming back even though you don't have to, after the 7th day. Singing with you has made me love singing more!

The way Bryan interacts with the kids is just so cute. It is as though he could blend in to be like one of them already. It was fun playing chapteh with him cause we'd teach him all the slangs we use like "Burrdennn" and "Nice" sarcastically when someone fails to kick the Chapteh properly, and "Just play yourself lah" when someone keeps failing to kick the Chapteh to others. He was also really good at translating from English to Vietnamese really quickly in a way that they kids understood what we wanted them to do. He's like a big brother to the kids when he plays with them. Thank you for being ever so patient with me when I was learning how to play the Chapteh!

Didn't interact much with Nhi but really, the very first impression I had of her was that I thought that she was a staff from YMCA Singapore. I was quite shocked to find out that she was a local! And even more shocking to find out that she was 22. I thought she was 17 man!

YEN YEP GAI! The translator that I was closest to this whole trip, and miss the most. She treats me like her younger sister, but she herself is so cute when she speaks English! Especially when she calls out our names. She brings cuteness to another level when you hear the sound effects she makes when she paints the basecoat and plays the Chapteh. "Ohhhh!" "WooHOO!" HAHAHA. TOO CUTE. But behind her cuteness, I could see that there laid a leader. She was one of the more experienced staffs in the translator team and she was like the pillar of emotional support for her other peers.

Hope you all would get a chance to come to Singapore! Then, we'll take you all around Singapore!!

Uncle Brother Ivan! Thank you for always sharing your food with the team and for taking care of the welfare of the teams doing construction, always making sure there's soap and wet tissue for everyone. Through you, I saw the kind of selflessness one should have, even with a stranger. Hope to see/bump into you in Singapore! Or better still... join us for our gatherings. Hehehe.

And that concludes my colourful, eventful and meaningful 2 weeks at Vietnam. Not much deep thoughts in this post cause I don't want it to be an even longer post, but I thought that a lot of the pictures were so beautifully taken, I didn't want them to go to waste. So there you go. :)

Goodnight loves.

What is holidays?

Going back to school almost everyday during the holidays. Oh my. If it's not for OCIP, then it's for SPSU, if not it'll be for ACER. While all my other friends be out there working and earning some extra cash. I'M EXPERIENCING SOME SERIOUS CASH DEFICIT HERE. Sigh much. Everyone wanna meet up before I fly. Then here's me trying to save some cash for next year's trip to China cause I won't have time to work and I don't wanna use my parents' money to shop there.

Had tea session with Bernie and the rest of the ACER leaders. Wow what a long session. But glad that it was fruitful and many issues were brought up to Bernie's attention so something could be worked out to improve the efficiency within/between CCOM and the ACERs.

Went to Sunday Folks today AGAIN but went with Alicia, Rihan, Marcus and Dennis. Had a great chat with all of them cause we finally had a place to sit down properly and talk about our lives while joking around, unlike in union where the walls are ever so hollow.

Much to do, much to do. A lot of things to be done before I fly off. And not to forget to prepare for my 2 weeks trip to Vietnam.

Just so happened that today there were quite a number of funny text situations I was in.

Haiqal keep complaining I don't text him cause I always stick to my don't-text-first policy. And later part of the chat he was chewing on me how I "replied" him only 10 days later. HAHAHAH.

Jingyee being so smooth lulz.

Essentially, it is truly all these little things in life that makes life a little sweeter. Hope to be able to do a post on Tiny Times real sooooon.

因为有你们，生活变得甜一些。

Finally got myself the discipline to sit down and bloggg instead of watching my dramas. Oh my, I've been procrastinating to blog for so long. But nonetheless, here I am now. So I've been contacted to do a photo shoot for I-have-no-idea-what but it was a call from CCOM. Was quite shocked to see Milton around. Phew. Like okay, at least I know someone there so it won't be thattt awkward. So Milton whipped out his phone while I was doing the shoot. And so I returned the favour while he was doing his shoot. IT WAS SO AWKWARD TO TAKE PHOTOS OF SOMEONE DOING A SHOOT. Sorry I couldn't capture nice pictures of him doing the shoot due to my timidity Milton HAHAHAHA. But he took quite nice photos I must say.

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Really happy that the bunch of people I met during the photo shoot were really nice! The girls were honestly so pretty my self esteem hit rock bottom that day though... I don't think other groups had a group photo after the photo shoot was done except for us. Exchanged instagram to tag each other and hand phone numbers for the pictures. HAHAH.

The SB kias at the photo shoot. Thank you Milton for taking care of me that day! Was really glad that you were around. And met a new friend Zhijian.

Special thanks to all those who I consulted for fashion advice. HAHAHAH. And those who helped out due to my "cannot wear own clothes for photo shoot" policy.

One Saturday while I was lazy to go out with my parents so I decided to make my own lunch.

Wow exam period was just pure madness. Family alone caused so much problems and irritated me till no ends I couldn't even study in peace. There wasn't a single day during the revision week and even up till the exam week I had peace in my heart while studying for exams. Why couldn't my family give me some peace. I just ended up either cooping myself in my room or be out the whole day for the revision week. And it didn't help when my body decided to let me down and caught itself some sore throat before it quickly moved on to a fever, then a stuffy nose with flu. I was coughing while studying and even up till the exam hall, I sat some papers with a slightly burning forehead, if not with a useless nose that I had to rely on my mouth to breath instead.

I spent 4 out of 7 revision days watching some drama I forgot what was it but I think it was a mainland drama. But then I actually spent 7 out of 7 days worrying for my Human Resource Management module. Tell me about it when it was the first D Grade I received in my entire poly life during the  previous MST. An A Grade for HRM would require my utmost effort at the rate I was scoring for my MST.

Then the HRM paper was finally over I celebrated by watching Tiny Times 1.0 and 2.0. LIKE OH MY GOSH I MUST DO A POST ON TINY TIMES SOON. I just liked it soooo much that I was experiencing withdrawals and wanted to carry on with Tiny Tims 3.0 but if I carried on, I wouldn't have sufficient time to study for my Financial & Management Accounting paper. So I dealt with that huge temptation while studying my butt off for FMA.

Lunch with the brother at Ikea after my FMA paper. Satisfied my meatball craving. By the way, their salmon (I forgotten what kind of salmon my brother ordered, but I don't think it was poached salmon, maybe it was grilled salmon) was reeeeeally good. AND THEIR ALMOND CAKE WAS LIKE BAMMMMM.

So then, I was left with Quantitative Analysis paper to study for. Urge to watch Tiny Times 3.0 still going strong but thankfully I didn't.

AND THEN OH YEAH MY LAST PAPER WAS DONE. Went home straight to sleep while the other DBA kids be out celebrating. So so so sleep deprived cause I just couldn't go easy on myself. I had to make sure I was about 70% confident for the paper before I could allow myself to retire to bed. So I ended up sleeping at 2 to 3 in the morning and waking at 630am for my paper. Waking up early to work on some questions for the papers to condition my brain and to also give time for both my brain and body to officially wake up.

But what is the end of exams without a celebration? HuiEn always has plans. But sometimes plans don't really go according to your will. Remember how I just said that I went home to sleep? Well that was really my intention. But then this flow of adrenaline had me to watch Tiny Times 3.0 so I didn't sleep in the end...... Then after I finished the movie, the time was just right for me to go meet Beatrice!

We went to Serene Court to eat at the French restaurant which wasn't as nice as we expected... but the company with Beatrice was always good. Had a great chat with her about kpop over dinner, our fangirling moments and all. It was such a rare thing of me to talk about Kpop ever since I graduated from secondary school though. But she's my Korean class classmate after all right? HAHAHA.

Went to island creamery after that. TRIPLE SCOOP. NOMZ.

Went to visit Jack at Achevas when we were done with nomming our ice cream and after he was done with his lesson. Met Julia there and had a great catch up with her! We all went home together after that.

So then, we had an ACER bonding camp on the 5th to the 6th. My nth time being a GL, but with every time comes a different kind of experience. This time it was much easier because there were trainers each group, so they sort of took over the GL role for us. This time we played more of a supporting role whereby we encouraged the group when their morale was getting low and to also take care of the group's well-being.

The camp vendor was by Innotrek. Lika wow. I saw Kat, Mimi, Vincent AND ASLAN AGAIN. It was like seeing a distant close family again, because those times at Teman Negara was just so enriching and we really shared our deepest thoughts with the trainers during the long night debriefs.

Trainer Farhan aka Natella was a really funny guy and at the end of the camp when he came up to me for a selfie he told me that he thought that he found that I had the potential to be a really great leader and that if the opportunity comes for any leadership capacity, I should take it up. It was such a sweet gesture of his and really reassuring after all that has happened in the past sem. It hasn't been easy to juggle between SPSU exco and ACER leader.

With the sushis and Angeline! Sorry Daniel who ask you run off so fast when we reached school. HAHAHAHA.

A break I think was well deserved of me after all those crazy cramming sessions and camp. Time to just chill in the comforts of my room.

My favourite flavour ever since choir camp 2009.

Just some mandatory shots of my ice cream right? :)

So the Phantoms decided to meet up before Darryl enlists into the army. Our dear, dear GL Trainer. As well as a catch up with the other GLs and Trixia. Marie had to buy a sweatpants for her China trip and so I accompanied her. But ended up got convinced by her to get a dress she picked out for me at F21. HAHAHA. Things that happen when you shop with Marie.

Always a good time with the SPSU GLs.

Then the next thing for me to look forward to was the Leadership Bonding Camp. 13th to 15th.

Camper in 2013, now as an Organising Committee in 2014. Everything changes, but still couldn't help but look back at those days and see how far I've came.

Selfie before the much anticipated "100 Seconds" game by the seniors together with fellow station masters Jing and Samsam.

Day 2 during "Protect the King" water bomb vs mummies version. Jing be like "Wa look at that hot freshie!" JOKING. HAHAHAHA.

Second night before we dispersed into our individual stations for night activity.

The Suicide Squad. Helpers + OC.

The Princesses and the Pigcesses. HAHAHAHA.

Because of you girls, camp was made a little more bearable and a little more sweeter. Love the early morning talk while having Macs breakfast at 4am in the morning. HAHAHAH.

Special thanks to Marcus, Samsam and Jon for taking care of me and always making sure I'm not carrying anything heavy (which apparently means everything HAHAHA) or doing anything "dirty" like handling the garbage or cleaning up.

And a special shout out to my night activity station partner Fieeeeqn. Thank you for keeping a look out for me and for supporting me while carrying out the activity for the campers. Helping to make the station more interesting and fun for them, as well as ourselves. I think even though it was those few hours being with you, I managed to learn a lot from you especially when we had to stall the campers before we were given the green light to release the current group for the next station. I think if you weren't there, I wouldn't have known what to do with the campers and the extra time, and probably  just end up in awkward silences with them.

Slept at 630am today (which technically speaking was yesterday because it's passed 12 already) so I woke up at 12+ when mummy came into my room. I woke up to a snapchat of fat boys and miss call by Martin. AND SO I REALISED THE MISS CALL WAS A JIO BUT THEN I WAS SLEEPING SO SOUNDLY I COULDN'T HEAR MY PHONE VIBRATE. Like sigh. Went back to school to settle some many finance stuffs. First thing when I entered Union, I got nagged by Martin, Ashwin and Shahid cause I DIDN'T PICK UP MY PHONE AND COULDN'T MAKE IT FOR THE FAT BOYS LUNCH. SIGH. They even told me they were walking around my neighbourhood planning to ring my door bell but didn't know which unit I stayed in so they just went to fat boys without me. I don't know whether to laugh that they actually walked to my neighbourhood to try find me or cry cause I missed fat boys. LOLOL.

Then when they found out why I missed the call and woke up at 12, because I was watching dramas till 630am, BECAUSE I couldn't watch my dramas for the past few days due to LBC, they laughed at me and said "DEDICATION". Meh.

So to make up for the fat boys, we decided to visit Nat at Sunday Folks. Discount + free pistachio ice cream. IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD.

They served great gourmet waffles topped with earl grey ice cream and graced with blueberries, strawberries, jelly and nama matcha.

Ashwin and Weizhang pangseh kia. I ended up going alone with Martz. How awkward. I thought. But thankfully it wasn't that bad. Because the travelling distance was short. And we weren't chewing on main courses. But in all seriousness, the waffles and ice cream were really great. Just that I thought that the egg smell in the waffles was a tad too strong for my preference. Other than that, I thought that it was definitely worth the price. And the ice cream was so rich, totally loved it.

And thank you Martz for taking care of me.