This was a question thrown to me by my Scottish colleague.

It was all started from a tea break buffet after a function. I was one of the organising committee and was stationed at registration counter.

The guests were invited to have a hi-tea buffet while the committee were packing up. One auntie approached us for door gift with a plate filled with at least 8 little donuts on her plastic plate.

I was puzzled for awhile. None of my colleagues at the registration counter noticed it, until I mentioned:”Er…Why did she take so many donuts??”

All of us turned our eyes to her as she was making her way up to office. My colleague then exclaimed:“Wah..so early want to “tar-pau” (take-away) already ah??”

Mind you, the buffet just started for 5 minutes. Imagine how many people have not had a chance to eat.

After we packed up, we made our way to the buffet table. I held a small plate and a fork waiting for my turn to pick the food. Guess what? I saw a group of people poking and picking the food into their styrofoam containers. Some used the fork to “chain-poke” the cakes and put them in the containers because the tongs were all taken.

I was dumbfounded! There I was, holding my little empty plate and a fork with my eyes and mouth wide opened while looking at the food disappeared in BULK!

When my turn came, more people joined the “take-way” frenzy with more styrofoam boxes. I looked at my committee member with my disbelief expression, and he too, was dumbfounded. He shook his head and said:“WEI!!! Other people haven’t eaten leh!! Why y’ll pack the food???!!!”

Some started to close the containers. But some, still going for the last few pieces of kueh.

I gave a “thumb-up” to my colleague. He grinned and said:“Obviously you have not worked here long enough…”

So my scottish colleague asked me:“It is like fighting for food for survival! It is not that they are going to starve if they don’t pack the food. Is this because of all their parents and grandparents fought so hard to survive in the past and hence, the tradition or culture is passed on to their kids?”

I shrugged my shoulders:“Wah…that’s a very difficult question! Frankly, I don’t have an answer for that…”

I retold the story to my mom later in the evening. She was laughing her head off on the other end, and asked why I didn’t scold them for packing the food. “Well, how did I expect a bunch of mature aunties and uncles behaving like that??”

Posted under Life documentaries | [8] Comments 

When I was in Japan, I ordered hot sake whenever I could. The warm and fuzzy drink flowing down the throat is so heavenly in winter. They called it “Atsukan”, means Hot Sake. (Though “Atsukan” is not commonly called in other countries except Japan)

I AM IN LOVE WITH HOT SAKE!

So I bought these from Tokyo. The sake only costs 1100 yen. I have no idea which one to buy. This one was recommended by a handsome japanese customer.

It’s very easy to warm Sake. Simple pour some into the Tokkuri (the sake flask) and then warm it in a pan of hot water. I have done it several times at home and it was great! I must say, drinking Atsukan in Singapore weather is totally…very weird..

Accidentally found this very scratch-your-head poem..

酒なくて
何の己が
桜かな
Without sake
what is the use of
cherry blossoms?

Mm…any idea why cherry blossoms?

Posted under Glorious food! | [3] Comments 

I have just come back from my 1-week holiday in Penang. And guess what who I have brought home…

Introducing, my 2nd darling (the first one is here) after drooling for 3 LONG YEARS….

Introducing….Canon EOS 40D with a Tele-lens.

This is my second SLR camera. In fact, the first one I had was an analog Ricoh SLR.

That’s me. At my uni photography studio. See my watch? I am still wearing it…

My mom bought this camera in Perth because I had core subjects in photography. We were not allowed to use digital camera for our assignment back then. And we had to develop slides and sometimes developing photos in the dark room (ah..I missed those chemical smells).

My slides. It is very expensive to develop these as compared to pictures.

And my favourite picture happens to be this..

Slowly, I was exposed to landscapes and portraits in photography..

My research thesis.. King Street, Perth

I love this street so much that I have taken more than 100 pictures of every crook and corner!

You probably have known that I am very passionate about travelling. Hopefully, I would have a fruitful photography experience in my next trip (though hanging a 0.74kg on the neck is not a laughing matter). I am into taking humans now. Thanks to the kids whom I worked with dearly..

These faces never failed to melt my heart..

Posted under Hobbies | [13] Comments 

This phrase is very new to me.

I get this comment every now and then. I can’t remember who started it but it is getting more frequent now.

Natasha always buys me clothing and fashion accessories from her trips and she would say:”I saw this top and think it was very YOU!”

Even when I wore her “presents”, people also commented the same thing – “This is VERY YOU!”

Some also commented that the illustration in my banner is also very “ME”.

I didn’t think too much about it because after all, I love those items. I assumed that it was pretty much about my “fashion sense and style”. (Though I am still not sure what “style” is)

But now I started to wonder…what have I done that contributeed to the SO-YOU thing.

What do you think which is SO ME? This?

Or this?

However, one fine day when I chatted with a friend of mine randomly about the sky, moon and dog…(Duh, it is just a metaphor.) Then, out of the blue, he quipped:”That’s SO YOU man!!”

I was quite taken aback and with a bit of defensiveness and curiousity, I demanded an answer with my “trademark queeny-broken-wrist”: “What do you mean by THAT???”

“SEE! SEE! Your “dono-what-broken-wrist!”

“Whatever…”

“Who WILL actually go and tell some random strangers where the food court is? Especially if people don’t even ask you?”

OK. The “prequel” is this: I was at Bugis one day and overheard an old couple’s conversation:”Eh?!! Where is the food court?!!”

In a split second, there I was standing behind them:”Upstairs. It has moved to the top floor.”

To me, it was a very spontaneous and natural thing. But to my friends, they think it is very “not singaporean”. (Of course what…I am not Singaporean what…)

Anyway, it sets me thinking, SO OTHERS KNOW ME BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF? Do WE, “brand” ourselves unconsciously? If so, is this “branding” the so-called” personality” and “identity“?

So what is “very singaporean” then?

DO YOU KNOW YOURS?

Posted under Me! Me! | [10] Comments 

Today is my 4th lesson on practical counselling. Oh, may be I should clarify earlier. I signed up for this course “Certificate in Practical Counselling” a month ago.

You see, I am always interested in counselling. Though I have done counselling a few times before (both formally and informally), I didn’t quite do it the “professional” way. (you know, model questions, framework etc). Rather, I used my “common sense”, experience and sensitivity most of the time. *grin sheepishly*

As you can read from my previous entry, I have discovered my new passions and purposes. It was mostly because of the people whom I have chatted since my birthday. (yeah, just happened to be on the same day) Just these 2 weeks, I have met 1 mentor from church, 2 counsellors and 3 troubled students. I must say, I have learned a lot from them and they have also made me realised how much I have changed since last year (my perspectives and world views especially)

It all started from meeting the mentor at church. That was my first time talking to counsellor and mentor. Though our conversation wasn’t really about her job, it gave me opportunity to assess her job, her commitment in counselling as well as her influence towards her client.

And subsequently, I also had a chance to meet several students who had issues with family and relationship. As much as I wanted to help them, I also wished to do it the “right” and “effective” way.

I am glad that my class starts at the right time!

Let me share with you what I have learned so far, and I think it is very useful for everyone, too.

The Myth of Counselling

1) It is for “Crazy people”.
Not a place for people to find out if they’re crazy, rather, to seek support.

2) The counsellor judges, analyses clients, gives client a solution or command clients to follow a set of instructions.
Rather, counsellor and client shares a unique relationship in which counsellor acts as a mirror to help the client to see and hear himself/herself.

3) Counsellor gives solution or commands instruction.
Counsellor helps clients to explore resources, clarify their perceptions through meaningful and well-informed choices and through of any emotional or interpersonal problems.

Previously, I still thought counsellor gives solutions.

The techniques that we learned are mostly questioning techniques. The questions help the clients to reflect their emotions, views, options and even choices that they have. As we were warned, sometimes we could also open a can of worm! Hah!

Human is such a complicated creature and my interest towards psychology is increasing everyday. The next thing you know, I may even pursue psychology studies in the near future!

THIS IS NOT AN APRIL’S FOOL JOKE!

Posted under Me! Me! , Thoughts & musings | No Comments