Playing the Ukulele in Thailand..

A friend told me that if I were to work in Thailand, I will have a lot of free time. Indeed... 

After my work ends, my evenings and weekends are free. So for the first few weeks, I searched for something that I can learn and do, and whala! Playing the ukulele was the option. So I ventured out o find places that I can buy them. I got my first ukulele (Makala Dolphin Soprano Yellow) as I saw many positive reviews about them.

Got the first, then the second, then the third.. and now, it is 12.

Learning it was not easy... yes the chords were manageable, but when it comes to committing yourself to learn the many chords and songs, it will be a challenge. I started with learning the chords and playing simple struming an hour a night. Then the muscle memory comes in and things got a little easier, and my first song! 

Then I got asked to assist for the church's fellowship time, and what happens is history: More opportunities to learn and try to play in groups (cell group, retreats...). This year, I had the chance to teach some children and adults how to play the uke, and I thank God for this experience, despite my lack of experience...

UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome) - I think I got the disease.. haha.

Yeo 

What have I been doing for the past 5 years?

5 years since the last update..

Most of my updates and sharings have been on Facebook, that is why. 5 years.. Working in ACS(Pri), participating and helping out in sports activities (triathlon, running, duathlons, aquathlons, etc), church commitments and family..

In 2014, a series of incidents caused me to resign from the education service, and for a while, i had no jobs. But i was in contact with a school in Samut Sakhon, Thailand and by God's grace, I was able to work there (started in May 2015), and working there since. BTW, I teach English language (and Chinese for a short while too!)

I have learnt a new hobby: Playing the ukulele! Still learning and playing it and it has been a rewarding experience playing for self and for people.. will share more later.

That's all for now.. see ya around, people!

How was it like to get 'ditched', even before the relationship?

:( (Definitely la, who likes to be ditched? No one including myself.)

During my CCA camp, some of my colleagues were asking if I am single or attached and they volunteered to look out for girls for me! At once when i heard this, I blushed and responded that i am all right with any girls... Questions like: Must she be pretty? Must her qualifications be lower that mine, etc all spewed out. And my reply? Any one also can, as long as she's a girl and a believer in Jesus Christ.

I remembered my 1st 'puppy love' was at P3, where an Indonesian gal by the name of Rosemary S. came into my class. She was i think a year older than us, and I was attracted to her looks (during my time, what do we know about BGR at that age??!!). I was really 'shy' then, but I knew that period was the happiest, cause I was very happy when I see her. After a few weeks, she informed us that she had to go, and I was covering myself with a book, crying...

Then a girl at Sec 1 caught my eye, and I took an interest in her. Sadly she responded negatively during Sec 2, and there goes my 2nd experience. This relationship was interesting as the last time i tried to meet her, it was post poly (She was exhibiting her FYP @ Suntec City @ 2011), and despite her 'no', I still tried to look for her (Sounds like stalking! Haha)

At Poly 1, another gal came into my life. I tried to initiate a relationship with her, but to no avail. Then it came stagnant for a year, before a sister of my age crossed my path. She was in the same ministry as I was and I wanted to initiate a relationship, but I did not have the chance to because I had no guts. It was until a few years later that she asked someone to inform me that I was not her type... A sword in my heart please...

Recently I said that I was quite low-mood-ed in my last 2 blogs. Cause I was 'rejected' by someone that I liked. I thought that she was the one for me liao, but she was not ready for a relationship... This one must use sodium thiopental on myself. This was the saddest, but I was prepared...

All these 'pseudo-relationships' that I had had one thing i common: It was one sided love... Since the recent one, i felt like giving up on finding the ewe lamb of my life, and do matchmake la. I really had that thot... Colleagues, if you are reading this, please help me find one. Thannks...

Yeo

term 2 week 3...

As I am preparing myself to zzz, i am dead beat as I had a CCA camp in school during the weekend..

BTW, I got a new bike! Not really a new one, just got new components and put them onto my pink frame.. Now the bike really looked like what it was supposed to be: A Triathlon bike.. My FB page got it's photos! Added bullhorn bars, barend shifters, pink handlebar tape, brake levers for Tri... Waiting for my pink wheels, coming in like end Apr.. Nice nice..

This week got a lot of school things: OM Competition, Learning Journey to WW2 sites, IFD, so many things to go through... Hope that I can learn abit from each (still a BT at this point) and still have strength..

Yeo

Stagnant Blog.. Sad sad..

After a 9 month haitus (start of work!), I went back to my little blog..

Looked dusty, and last note was on NIE studies.. Now want to add somethings..

What did I do for 9 months? After I got my posting to ACS(Pri), taught for 2 months or so, before I went for a 2 week volunteering for YOG! (Happiest weeks of the year). I also ran SAFRA 21k in Sept and Std Chart Marathon 42.2k in Dec..

This year? I did Singapore Biathlon 2011 (and slow as always), and volunteered for Milo Youth Triathlon (great day to chill). Got a P5 form class to teach and 12 hrs of Art a week!

Also had a sad sad night.. Don;t want to elaborate too much, just feeling low as I write my blog...

Will have a good rest tonight.. tomoro a long day to go!

Yeo

Reflection

Just had an urge to write...

1. In my 4 years of NIE, I realized that my ART modules are the most consistent in terms of scoring, despite it being my weakest Curriculum Studies subject. What I thought I would shine in (Science) did not materilaize. Math was netural. English (my Academic Subject a.k.a Major) was ...? Oh well. It was a great 4 yrs of studying, esp the last 2, where the Dip Ed group shrink into the current X-over batch. Great to see all of us graduate, esp those whom I met 4 yrs ago and are still around in NIE till that day we graduate.

2. It's a surreal feeling, but it feels _ _ _ _ (add your own adjective) when you put a blanket over someone sleeping (Parents, now I know a little bit how you feel). My granny, 87 hates the cold, but I do switch on aircon sometimes. As such I had to put the thick cottony cloth over her, to ensure that she is warm. As she has dementia, she would always stare at me when I put the blanket. And it feels so good..

Remember, cherish the people around you... Love them, even though they were bad...

Yeo

Time to say Thank You...

This post is for all those I know in NIE, 2006-2010. Think this is the longest blog entry...

As the last semester comes to an end in another month's time, I looked back into the last 4 years where I studied and had fun in this campus in Jurong West. I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow NIE mates (current and ex-current) whom i had the opportunity to work with over these long 4 years.

First off, the people in Dip Ed years. They were important cause almost 25% of my grades come from them. Without them, I will not be able to get my Diploma, but also the chance to crossover (don't think basketball)..

Yr 1
DCA100: Nurul Ain
DCA101: Fahmei
DED100: Howard, Seng Kwang, Ulysses
DED101: Angeline, Justin Tan, Norhidayati, Yasmin Nur
DED102: Ulysses
DGS 101 GESL: Nur Hazwani, Shao Pin (Joanne), Siti Nafizah, Wee Chin, Ka Hui, Lynn, Sanjeetha, Mahaletchime, Julian, Shuan Shuan, Joyce Ng, Joyce Tan, Khairunnisa, Wang Xiao (Coco), Chia Fung Fung, Hafiza, Yan Ling, Mohammad Fadzliegh, Dorothy

Yr 2
DCA200: Nurul Ain, Suhaili
DCA201: Fahmei
DCM200: Ulysses
DED200: Ulysses and ?
DCS201: Fahmei and ?
Practicum: Rachel and Junita (forget her name!)

I must apologize for the question marks, cause I had no clue who are my other workmates (their names were not inside the assignment list)..

Next, those who were with me in my BA Degree Prog. They are also important, not just because of the grades (which brought me to honours level at this point), but also the fact that for most of them, they accepted me even though I have no experience in English Language CS or SKs (English Language is my 'major'). Sometimes I wondered if I would pull their grades down (and I think so!), but despite the worry, they still allowed me to join in their group projects...

Yr 3
AAE 101: Justin, HuiXian
AAE102: Melissa, Rashidah, Howard
AAE103: Zuraina, Gary
AAE104: Justin
AAE201: Lorraine, Gerine
AAE202: Suhaili, Nurul Ain, Shama, Howard
AAE203: Suhaili, Nurul Ain
AAE233: Howard, jasmine, Hailynn
AED105: Shakina, YinWei, Qiuyi, Alex
AED232: Derek, Lorraine, Eliana and ?

Yr 4:
AAE434: Shirley
AAE442: Jennifer, Shama, Nurul Ain, Suhaili
AAE438: Nurshida
ACM402: Justin, Hailynn
ACS402: Esther (‘Mother’), Rafeeza
AED231: Mary, Limin
AAE433: Joanne Tay, Nurshida, Catherine, Yogeswary (Ash)
AAE437: Wei Ai, Fazlee

Lecturers, thank you for teaching me in your subjects.. Hope that I can still remember U here. I will not put in any salutations here, not very sure if they are updated or not...

Yr 1-2 (not in order of importance or merit): Cecily Cheo, Chelsea Chew, Lynde Tan (also my Prac Supervisor), Leong Ai Leng, Soon Ai Ling, Dong Feng Ming, Science Lectures teaching DSS100 and DSS101 (too many!), Foong See Kit, Rebecca Chan, John Matthews, Cheng Lu Pien, Jean Yong, Lim Keng Suan, Khek Bee Lian, Jane Leong, Ng Swee Fong, Yeo Keng Hoe, Tan Tai Wei, Nina V., Adeline Yong, and one more (Lecturer for DLK100).

Yr 3-4 (not in order of importance or merit): Alvin Leong, Low Ee Ling, Marlar Soe Lwin, Ramona Tang, Tan Su Hwi, Kasanga Luanga Adrien, Rubdy Rani Sumant, Tan Siew Imm, Benny Lee, Charlene Tan, Irene Tay-Kit Phey Ling, Anneliese Kramer-Dahl, Ludwig Tan, Christine Goh, Rita Silvers, Norhaida Aman, Phyllis Chew, Kevin Macknish, Paul Doyle, Antonia Chandrasegaran, Shih Chih Min, Rahil Ismail, Matilda Gabriel, Paul Lincoln, Jean Yong, Tham Foong Yee, Chen Lai Keat, Paul Lee, Paul Shutler, Wong Seet Fun, Eric Chan, Yap Kueh Chin, Christine Chin, Chu Hye-Eun, Raymond Tsoi, Hoh Yin Kiong, Willy Renandya, Linda Gan...

Another group: To David (Science Education Lab), Chan-Chua L.K, Lionel and the Lab tech at Chem lab.. thank you also!

To the people whose names are here, thank you very much. To those whom I did not name, I am sorry for not posting your name here, but the heart is thankful for your presence and help.

Thank you to those who i attended classes with, those who I mingle and eat lunch with, and others who had encouraged me or talked to me in one way or another..

So many lecturers and peers and people to thank! Goes to show that small efforts by them make a long way! Thank you once again for making my NIE life great! If I had left out anyone, many apologies! Next stop, AED individual assignment, 50%!

Yeo

Reliving 7th Sept 2008..

Today marked the 4th edition of Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore triathlon race. For those who are not very familiar, it's basically an endurance sport where individuals or teams of 2-3 complete a swim, bike and run consecutively. In this specific race, pros and age groupers have to complete the 1.9km (38 laps) swim, 90.1km bike and a half marathon, all in 8.5hrs.

I went to the expo yesterday and bought some PowerBar energy gels (cheaper than G*C then) and walked around on my wet bike (it was a wet afternoon). Though there were not many people and shops, but it was great reliving what i did 2 yrs ago...

I did the race with minimal training and prep, and got into the starting line at around 7am. After swimming for an hour, i remember proceeded to do a 5min transition (way too long la), before taking the bike course. I remembered i was on the road, ready to mount. The cyclist in front was not ready and I had little space to move out, and I fell on my right! Ouch.. Fortunately no major cuts, but my chains fell off the rings. I was struggling to start riding, until a spectator call out "check the chain!". I saw the mess and tried to find a solution. Thankfully, a competitor came to assist and I proceeded on...

Around 4 hours later, back at the transition area, i was preparing for the run, and I forgot to bring my energy supplies along! Alamak! The lack of energy caused me to slow down after the first few km and caused me to become a walker. I tried to run, but the body doesn't want to.. Sigh, I tried to brisk walk, aiming at 10min per km ( at that time, my leg also complaining liao). I remembered seeing less and less spectators supporting and aid station people are resting, as i walked on the race.

Along the last 7 km, due to the sweltering heat, I placed water sponges on the front of my trisuit and proceeded to finish the race. A competitor commented "Nice boobs" as we walked on opposite sides. I don't really like the comment then, but i pushed on, knowing that I must finish the race...

As i walked towards the finishing line, there were little people at the side cheering the competitors (Now U know how slow I am). I walked on, looking at the watch and heaved a sigh of relief: I completed the race in 8:28 hrs. I was glad i made it. As i packed out my stuff at the TA, i realized that someone stole my shoebag! Argh.. Thankfully nothing important was inside...

A lot of thing can be learnt in a race: Perseverence, Determination, Patience and many more.. For those who are aiming for endurance racing, hope for the best and prepare for the worst!

Yeo