tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80703040078195519962024-03-19T11:34:05.108+08:00Pretty Eveel Adventureseveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-65916495308973462642015-12-27T04:37:00.001+08:002015-12-27T04:37:13.756+08:00Winter break--> Almost over *Screams*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oh my...winter break is almost over and I've done very little that I had set out to do. I had grand plans to revisit readings, consolidate the learning that I had experienced during the last quarter and to blog more. But all this lazy ass has done is bingewatched shows on Netflix.<br />
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Oh wait, I did read Purity by Jonathan Franzen and went on a road-trip so all was not lost...i guess. It's a really good book, btw. I saw it at the Evanston library and picked it up, only because I read on NYT that President Obama is reading it. Yes...I read it because the president is reading it. I trusted that he had good taste in books. It was good. A little twisted. That is, almost all the relationships of the characters in the book are all twisted and dysfunctional.<br />
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Anyway. It's almost the end of the break and I've learnt something about myself. I'm an all or nothing kinda gal. A person of extremes. I'm either working very very hard or i'm totally slacking off. There is no in between or at least it feels as if there is no in between. I'm either very stressed or totally chill.<br />
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I bet i'm in need of some mindfulness. yes... well...sighs...<br />
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Till later...<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-60567458490446145392015-10-11T07:08:00.004+08:002015-10-11T07:08:57.063+08:00Pumpkin Season! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What else would we do in Fall and during Halloween season but go check out the pumpkin farms right?? </div>
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OMG! We had such an awesome day!</div>
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First, it is always much more fun when you go with friends! We arranged to go with some friends. Fern and Stanley introduced us to a family with 3 lil kids and our kids get along real well. So we all, including auntie Fern and uncle Stanley, came along for a Saturday morning with pumpkins. So the boys really had a lot of fun running around together.</div>
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It's funny that initially Irfan felt conflicted about his new friends. He told me he couldn't play with these new friends because he already had his cousin Mik as a friend. He was afraid of betraying their frienship I think- everyone say awwwww....I explained to him that Mik wouldn't mind if he made some new friends...Right Mik???</div>
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We had some options to choose from and we chose<a href="http://www.krollsfarm.com/" target="_blank"> Krolls Farm</a>, a small family owned farm about 40 mins from where we live. It's known more for being a more traditional farm with a simpler fall festival. There are a lot of more commercialized farms with more activity, but you know *ka ching* everything needs $$$.<br />
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I was given the responsibility of where we would go and I decided that given this is my kid's first experience at a pumpkin farm, that I should definitely not raise the bar too high. If we went to a flashy farm with bouncy castle, rides, etc. then they''ll expect ALL pumpkin farms to be like that right? So decided for cheaper option. Which really ended up to be a wonderful experience!<br />
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There was a small petting zoo, enough to get the boys excited but not too big that they go totally nuts! We also went on a tractor ride (not too expensive) and the tractor was driven by Mr Randy Kroll, the owner of the farm. He was quite amazing, telling us fun facts about pumpkins and gourds and he was funny and entertaining. It was nice to get driven around by the owner of the farm.<br />
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Did I mention it was a beautiful day? We were very lucky. The boys already miss the pumpkin farm, and we may go back this season just for fun. =)<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-48489219468460877452015-10-09T05:51:00.000+08:002015-10-09T05:51:02.916+08:00Maggie Daley Park- More fun times!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">" In 2012, the Chicago Park District began transforming the northeastern part of Grant Park into Maggie Daley Park. For many decades, an expansive surface parking lot occupied this site with a portion of the Illinois Central’s sunken rail yard extending along the northwestern edge. In the mid-1970s, the Chicago Park District replaced the old park lot with the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza, a complex that provided a new 3700-car underground garage with major recreational facilities. Dedicated to Chicago’s former Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902 – 1976), the facility included a new fieldhouse for indoor recreational programming as well as several outdoor amenities such as tennis courts, an ice skating rink, picnic areas, and Grant Park’s first playground."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Oh boy, weren't we happy to discover the Maggie Daley park. Free too, yo! <i>(Although we paid a whopping $33 for parking- but it was worth it la! Must tell myself that right?)</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The boys had such a great time at the park. There were several play areas and all very well-designed. My photos do such a poor job at showing how well designed this place is- adventurous, exciting but at the same time, very safe. I promise to take better pics the next time we go!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I was interested to learn when I checked out its website that they made the effort to do some public consultation during the <a href="http://maggiedaleypark.com/about/design/" target="_blank">design process</a>- focus groups, meetings and surveys. I think it paid off. I do hope we can make another trip there, while the weather is good.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">So parents with kids, come to Chicago, and come visit us ok? =P</span></div>
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More pics from our day out at Millennium park, which is right next door!</div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-15092528591757987192015-10-01T11:33:00.001+08:002015-10-01T11:34:43.921+08:00Being present and owning my journey.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm supposed to be finishing up some work for school but I had to just stop and blog. I was in the middle of reading some chapters from Immunity to Change- how to overcome it and unlock the potential in yourself and your organization (Kegan and Lahey, 2009).<br />
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Chapter 9 is about Cathy who identifies her very emotional, wears-her-heart-on-her-sleeve characteristic as an area for development. She feels it gets in the way of her being effective in her team environment because her emotional reactions, to things that go wrong or unexpected, spills over into her interactions with others.<br />
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Sound familiar? Sounds very like me. Can't remember how many ex-bosses have told me that I need to be less emotional.<br />
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Going back to Cathy. Her exploration and journey into this change, following a framework that Kegan and Lahey features in the book, makes her realize that it isn't her emotions that is an issue, but instead the high expectations that she holds for herself, especially. For example, a good Cathy in her book gives 150% percent of herself (she only expects 115% from other team members).<br />
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"It doesn't take much to imagine how a belief in this level of personal effort leads to extremely high stress (self-imposed though it may be), which increase the likelihood of becoming emotionally over-whelmed. Everything is high stakes when your performance expectations are so high".<br />
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Digging deeper, it's this fear that she's not good enough. A lack of confidence and self-belief in her that drives this high performance expectations. A fear of disappointing herself, a fear of failing others.<br />
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I received a text this morning from an angel from across the pond. She read my recent blogposts and said "You are an amazing woman, mother and wife and are not defined by the jobs/education we have or participate in. Own YOUR journey and be happy in each moment as this is your life." <br />
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Delighted to hear from her, I replied to say thank you for her encouragement, and didn't think about that message until I came across Cathy's story in the book.<br />
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Her boss's feedback to Cathy- "Your value isn't tied to what you do. It's your special insights. You value is you. It's the way you are present in what you do."<br />
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I couldn't get past that line. It was almost exactly the message my friend had texted me not 12 hours ago.<br />
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It's what I'm doing right? Have you noticed? I haven't. Part of this habit of blogging, is not just about sharing my experiences, it may as well be, a channel by which I have been communicating my insecurities. It's really my way of trying to assure myself that I am a good mother, a good wife, a good responsible student, but at the same time beating myself about it and tearing myself down, because I don't want to end up disappointing myself, disappointing you. So everything is laced with this negativity, masked as humility?<br />
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My friends, the ones who know me well, I think they can see it, spot the patterns. See the insecurities. even where I am not able to.<br />
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It must be why I've been cooking like crazy right? To prove something to myself? To try and make myself believe that I'm as good as I want and hope to be, in all aspects of life.<br />
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But what do i lose? I lose being in the moment, being present fully in what I do.<br />
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This doesn't mean I'm going to stop blogging.... should i? ...no i love it too much... or i won't until it gets clearer to me that i should? ...It just means I have a better, renewed, transformed perspective of what I'm doing and how i'm doing it...<br />
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( u know it...if this was written parchment paper, you'd see tear marks everywhere...)<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-29631181263758348872015-09-30T12:11:00.002+08:002015-09-30T12:17:39.699+08:00A day in the life of .... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is 10.43pm. And I have time for only a short one...</div>
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7am today. Woke up and dragged myself out of bed to go and do some cardio at the gym. I haven't been at the gym for the last 5 days. I thought it was time to break the terrible pattern. Brought my iPad and watched the first episode of 'How to Get Away with Murder'. I've promised myself I only get to watch my shows when I'm on the treadmill or elliptical (thanks Alyssa for the idea, it's a real horrible idea you know, such torture)</div>
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Came home. Showered and had breakfast.</div>
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9am. The day was so gloomy but we had already planned to head to the Shedd aquarium today. Ihsan had been repeating on loop how he missed the aquarium. He also said he wants to live right next to it (sighs). So we went. But, I spent most of my time at a cafe, going over readings for a class I had tonight (<i>I was feeling guilty for the half-assed blogpost I put up last night, 1 day late mind you. And nothing in comparison to the quality of writing of some of my classmates).</i> I did take the boys to the aquatic show, letting hubs sit at the cafe with a cup of hot chocolate to be<i> </i>away from the boys for a little (<i>Nothing to feel guilty about, very important for parental sanity).</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the cafe. Dark dark skies terribly chilly winds. Welcome to the Windy City, huh?</td></tr>
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I napped in the car on the way home. We had lunch and then we went for the boys first swimming lessons at a nearby swimming school. You guessed it, I had my readings along with me.</div>
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We headed home. I had an early dinner (4.30pm). Had a hot shower. Popped some pills and lay down for a rest. I've been having tension headaches almost every day. </div>
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I then walked over to school for a 6pm team meeting. We're working on a problem-based assignment for a class I'm taking. </div>
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Before the meeting, I spent about 15 minutes complaining about how the readings are so dense. How all the activity on our hive (our online learning platform) is making me feel very unintelligent compared to my colleagues.</div>
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At 7pm, we log onto our virtual class. I'm blown away by the technology and how I'm in a small actual classroom on campus with my team-mates, but also online with 44 other students, some as far away as Australia! It's my first ever online virtual class. </div>
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It's daunting, at the same time hilarious! The comments on the chat bar blow me away1</div>
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At one point, there was a poll and I was in the minority that answered positively to the question. My team, the one I was with non-virtually in the classroom, urged me to 'raise my hand' in the class and share my views. I felt a little pressured, even though one of my classmates, sensing my discomfort assured me that I didn't have to. But I did. I spoke up and I don't know whether what I said was even logical, but I was glad I had team mates willing to put me out of my comfort zone.</div>
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Our virtual class ended at 8.30pm. Our team stuck around to finish up our meeting, picking up on juicy bits our professors had doled out during the class. We worked out what needed to be done before our next meeting.</div>
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I walk home. It's 9.15pm. The boys are fast asleep. I let out a grunt of acknowledgement to my hubs, changed into jammies, opened up my laptop and tackled my blog reflection post for Thursday's class. Tomorrow, I have to read the 4 chapters plus 1 compulsory reading for that same class (<i>never mind the 3 other optional readings assigned)</i> and complete 1 assignment that we're discussing in THAT SAME CLASS. </div>
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I also have to find time to do some interviews for a discovery assignment for another class (why aren't the contacts replying me?) and then start tackling assignments for next week.</div>
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It's 11.07pm now. I'm feeling good that I'm spending this little time blogging. I do want to share my academic experience (with those who are keen to learn about it). Also, it would really help address any concerns that my colleagues or former/current/potential bosses may have about how I spend my time here. It's not all about fishing, sunny days with the kids touring around. It's pure hard work la!!! *cries*</div>
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I find it even more difficult to balance between my priorities now. Especially since I've stated how time with my kids is important and a priority over these 2 years. It would be easier to just chuck them in school all day, the way I do in Singapore. Sighs......(yes, still carrying around years of mommy guilt).</div>
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I'm going to have some left over tiramisu now and watch a little bit of tv. Brainless stuff like fixing homes. And then tomorrow wake up to go to the gym so I can finish that episode of 'How to get away with murder' and maybe start on the new episode of Jane the Virgin. Sigh, who am I kidding? I should dump all this entertainment and just watch Ted Talks and podcasts like all my other brilliant classmates!</div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-14931449654420484202015-09-29T13:38:00.000+08:002015-09-29T13:38:30.668+08:00Fishing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I saw that there was fishing for lil kiddos, I knew i had to sign us up. It was one activity that I knew hubs would jump at and get all excited about. The boys were excited too of course, although lil Irfan does actually prefer to sit with me with his book. Me with my homework to read and Irfan with his Pete the cat book.</div>
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What an awesome program, right by a lake a short drive from our place! It's just an experience of fishing. You just come between 10-1pm, pick up a rod and some worms, that are provided free and just fish. There are some experts around to help guide you if you don't know what to do, but we have hubs who loves nothing more than fishing- okay maybe fishing ranks as high as Man United and maybe MMA.</div>
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It was crazy weather that day. It would be nice warm and sunny for like 15 minutes before the clouds rolled by and it was freezing cold for another 15 minutes before the clouds rolled away. It was like that all day! I just watched the clouds hoping for them to roll away faster, while the boys fished!</div>
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I made the mistake of taking a picture of the first fish they caught, for purpose of this blog. And then Ihsan insisted that I take a picture of every little fish they caught. It was very disruptive. Between cloud watching and taking pics of the fish, I got very little reading done. =(</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ihsan trying to kiss the fish! sighs...</td></tr>
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But they had a fab time, which is what matters most! I'm thinking as I'm loading this pics- that I'm going to miss the warm toasty sun...I'd better enjoy the weather while it lasts!</div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-58927830241353127352015-09-27T12:44:00.000+08:002015-09-27T23:21:07.945+08:00 Tiny Trekkers...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not been an easy last few weeks. Although we are quite settled and happy in our new home, I am still transitioning into my new role now as a student, a mother in-school and a home-schooling parent. And for some reason, I can't stop cooking- so that, especially hunting down Asian ingredients, takes a lot of time too!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful building where the class is held.<br />
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Look, life at work in Singapore was definitely more stressful and more challenging. But it was familiar. I think what I'm struggling with now, is the 'newness' of being back in school, dense readings, concepts and having people grade my work. </div>
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I also think that our decision to home-school the boys adds a different dimension of stress that I had not experienced before. I think i may have spent more time with my boys over the last few weeks we've been here than in the last 6 months we were in Singapore. I was always sneaking out before they woke up, that I spent very few hours of the day with them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ihsan was stoked that the<br />
first class was about fish!</td></tr>
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Here, i take Mondays and Wed mornings when we do Malay or Arabic (ngaji or quranic recitation). Iman takes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings when they do English or Math<i> (How we are progressing on this front, deserves it's own blog post. Watch out for it!).</i></div>
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We spend Thursday mornings at Tiny Trekkers (but not before a round of spelling =P), a program run by the <a href="http://www.evanstonenvironment.org/" target="_blank">Evanston Ecology Centre</a>. </div>
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Since we're home-schooling them, we looked for opportunities for the boys to interact with other children and we are very very lucky that there are so many educational activities, most at very reasonable prices, for our boys.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids loved the fishing activity!</td></tr>
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Tiny Trekkers focuses on what we can learn about wild-life. It was very interesting that during the last class we learnt about the raccoon- it's an animal that the boys are not at all familiar with.</div>
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The class is designed the usual way these classes are- some intro activity indoors, outdoor activity, snack time, craft, story time and songs. It's like sending my kids to Julia Gabriel's but at a fraction of the cost!</div>
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I'm loving this experience because I have never seen my kids in a classroom environment before. I usually sneak out of the house before they wake up in Singapore so I never really drop them off at school. Plus we never did sign them up for enrichment classes- we were too stingy to part with our money- so I'm fascinated to see how they interact with others, listen to the teacher, get excited over the activities, etc.</div>
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When I used to work as a teaching assistant at JGC, i did remember observing how excited and fascinated parents look about what their kid says and does. Now I know what it feels like to be on the other side. </div>
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Taking the time to attend these activities with my kids, instead of heading to the library to read or tackle assignments, is really important, especially if I'm to <a href="http://prettyeveel.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-i-hope-to-achieve-over-next-2-years.html" target="_blank">meet my goal of nurturing the relationship between my children and I</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden forest animals, waiting for the children to discover then!</td></tr>
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We've signed up for more one-off events with the centre, like a campfire experience. It is wonderful that we have this opportunity to experience a whole different part of the world, its beautiful flora and fauna! I'll definitely keep you updated.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irfan and his list, which included raccoons and beavers, animals we aren't familiar with.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys spot a hawk in the tree (it is not real, this picture isn't very clear)!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnlLRZZQugs0BM3EHVXZhA_xRTLCJP7BGZFkjWDwtBCMNreqqyQuls_sDGe5ydLQYQ8FaNh4r0a_9u73OQwDVVVHQQQD2Jo40di7rlsmBAuepPKYusoOXhKpuTTNrD93AB9yGLYtezBJ8/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnlLRZZQugs0BM3EHVXZhA_xRTLCJP7BGZFkjWDwtBCMNreqqyQuls_sDGe5ydLQYQ8FaNh4r0a_9u73OQwDVVVHQQQD2Jo40di7rlsmBAuepPKYusoOXhKpuTTNrD93AB9yGLYtezBJ8/s320/IMG_0727.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two lil raccoons!</td></tr>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-46965871690739378682015-09-25T13:03:00.002+08:002015-09-25T13:03:41.985+08:00Change is Good! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Oh dear...i'm so behind on my posts it is not funny. It is even less funny that I am behind on my readings and assignments for next week. This program is so seriously packed with work that I am in all kinds of stress!</i><br />
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But anyhow... Change is good! I read this line in one of my assigned readings and had to stop and reflect about it.<br />
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This entire move to the US to pursue my postgrad is an entire learning and change experience in itself. And it's given me so much food for thought. Given the I am in a Learning and Organizational Change program, i'm constantly stopping at concepts and relating it to my experience moving to Evanston.<br />
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One of the first books we are reading for my Foundations course is William Bridges's Managing Transitions.<br />
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I've only read 2 chapters (cos I have like a ton of other readings to do, not because it's not a good book) and find so much that echoes my own experiences.<br />
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He writes about the importance of managing transitions in the change process. These transition phase can begin long before the actual change and end long after the change takes place. Managing transitions is about helping people through 3 phases:<br />
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<i>1. Letting go of the old ways and the old identity people had. This first phase of transition is an ending, and the time you need to help people to deal with their losses.</i><br />
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<i>2. Going through an in-between time when the old is gone but the new isn't fully operational. We call this time the 'neutral zone': its when the critical psychological realignments and re-patterning takes place.</i><br />
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<i>3. Coming out of the transition and making a new beginning. This is when people develop a new identity, experience the new energy, and discovery the new sense of purpose that make the change begin to work</i><br />
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(Bridges, 2009)<br />
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It's quite amazing, reflecting back on my own change journey, how I had also gone through these phases.<br />
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<b>The Letting Go phase</b> for me started long before all the plans for the move were even confirmed. Conversations with my bosses and my colleagues about my plans to move here, questions on how they would find a replacement, how we could keep the team stable started me on my transition of letting go.<br />
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The people who worked with me would tell you that letting go was not easy for me. I wanted to cling on for dear life. Partly because I love the work, but also because I was afraid of who I was or would be without the work. Work has defined my identity and existence for so long, it's who I am. So much so that letting go of the work, was downright frightening for me! It wasn't relief I felt the last day of work. It was anguish, even with all the support and help I had received during that phase.<br />
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Saying goodbye to work was one phase of letting go, another phase of letting go was then the saying goodbye to my home and my family. That was a phase in the transition that I had not thought much about. I definitely felt the emotional impact of that even more, tearing and crying while I packed up my house. That's why my packing took so long. My emotions would bubble up and get in the way of me doing anything. Support from friends, always a watsapp message away, helped me, heaps!<br />
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<b>The Neutral Phase </b>was this crazy jet-lagged phase which I had only survived because of 2 fellow Singaporean friends, who basically held our hands through this phase. It was literally the "psychological no man's land between the old-reality and the new one. It is the limbo between the old sense of identity and the new."<br />
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Hubs and I spent one or two nights, during this phase, just talking about how difficult the experience was. I even wondered whether I had made the right decision by moving out here, and feeling so far removed from anything I was familiar with (aside from Fern and Stanley). It was always being in a limbo between being so excited about being here and at the same time wishing we were home.<br />
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We are definitely at the <b>The New Beginning Phase </b>now. But only just, maybe in the last few days or so. We've settled down, feeling more comfortable now that we are mobile, know where we can get things we need and comfortably assuming our new identities now. Me as a Northwestern grad student and my family as F2 visa holders in a foreign land. =)<br />
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If there's one thing I've learnt about myself over this period is that I am not as confident, independent and fearless as I thought I was. The only reason anyone might think those things about me is because I have this amazing network of support, that is working 24/7, 7 days a week to help me, in ways that were truly invisible to me until recently, so that I can do what I do on a daily basis.<br />
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On a personal level, moving to Chicago was worth it. Because just the process of moving here, helped me realize all the things I need, and am truly grateful for:<br />
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1. The family back home who support, love and care for my family and I.<br />
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2. The wonderful people I work with, and work for, who make everyday meaningful. Who challenge me, provide me the space to learn and grow, and forgive me for being less than perfect, in every sense of the world.<br />
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3. For being able to do meaningful and purposeful work.<br />
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4. The friends and family who encourage and support me, and remind me to keep my eyes on the ball. Who repeat again and again how confident they are in me, that they may be the only reasons why I believe in myself.<br />
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5. The friends who hold my hands, watch our boys and feed us, so that we don't lose our way in our transition (you know who you are!)<br />
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So if nothing else, this experience would have helped me realize how much love, care and support I have around me, which I have definitely taken for granted! And I think, that's already a big win for me.<br />
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So change is good, at least in my case! Keep your mind and heart open to the possibilities of learning and discovery!</div>
eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-9430617840360997312015-09-18T02:23:00.002+08:002015-09-18T02:23:53.622+08:00FISH, FISH and MORE FISH!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you know my family well, you know that we get very excited about fish! To be honest, I never ever was excited about fish, but my hubby had a keen interest that infected my children. Especially Ihsan, who spends most of his time pouring over books about sea creatures. We've spent so many nights reading sea creature related books that I, myself, have learnt quite a fair bit about different types of fish, etc.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6uNKRaKjDanZrYEUPk2VSchvZga6YgHCLZsqtTM6xnMcAw52OPx7VV0KdQNc3k4v3m1vPT0-QGUTOp39yuL9nD2LyerFgY9YVHd5i_jPoCYElTGuNFnTle5m3a238DlU24_JDHb5VbVW/s1600/IMG_0599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6uNKRaKjDanZrYEUPk2VSchvZga6YgHCLZsqtTM6xnMcAw52OPx7VV0KdQNc3k4v3m1vPT0-QGUTOp39yuL9nD2LyerFgY9YVHd5i_jPoCYElTGuNFnTle5m3a238DlU24_JDHb5VbVW/s320/IMG_0599.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look very very closely, you can see a tiny lil Iran near Ihsan's head. Dunno what he was doing way back there!</td></tr>
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So, obviously our first stop in Chicago, after Ikea, Target and Walmart (to set up home) was the Shedd Aquarium.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRhDMG-iqIaczE1DOdna41vxsGl2_1DGvd7M_J814mLRMBsWKs3V8efmFfclwcO9D-KX_SwOFGwGjZc07AJ9YPRIYrZZHhc3Az_zdXsDGoabA5NFDdfMpLw-nuPwhC3KiBroux2hWedXh/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRhDMG-iqIaczE1DOdna41vxsGl2_1DGvd7M_J814mLRMBsWKs3V8efmFfclwcO9D-KX_SwOFGwGjZc07AJ9YPRIYrZZHhc3Az_zdXsDGoabA5NFDdfMpLw-nuPwhC3KiBroux2hWedXh/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ehsan's ocean creatures book proved to be quite useful in the amazon section of the aquarium.</td></tr>
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Ihsan was obviously very excited and even brought one of his books along. He was extremely excited to see the beluga whales that live at the Shedd. While I think our SEA aquarium at Sentosa is much grander, the Shedd has a great collection of aquatic life that you can't find at the SEA Aquarium- there were several fish species from the Amazon that we had never seen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdi3qFhm-EcGChdwiQ-Rwpe_JofiOm8H0MKgHxZnYpMp4C7fVkq1-hICP_e2t8XTbWtNZT3LAdu4hq56SfQX9TUODFOY4jhRkauLNeoRE1D-8wnw3KGXlkEw7oRzypdHNg9xkTsN1vjBM/s1600/IMG_0600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdi3qFhm-EcGChdwiQ-Rwpe_JofiOm8H0MKgHxZnYpMp4C7fVkq1-hICP_e2t8XTbWtNZT3LAdu4hq56SfQX9TUODFOY4jhRkauLNeoRE1D-8wnw3KGXlkEw7oRzypdHNg9xkTsN1vjBM/s320/IMG_0600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We were very excited about the wolf fish and the spider-crabs there that we had never seen before. But the Belugas definitely stole the show!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEqln6ApKNoO5qMUxPz7jEk3fgEchTsUqCuaDj3OKhbJNftWT3LL-fSTKrhqrq76EyHCnDg6NUnfmV-X_G3TUU3YGmiqlo3hzxuUN94GcF92WJh8o1zbHBjokC4legYHE-AL0IL0njFCy/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEqln6ApKNoO5qMUxPz7jEk3fgEchTsUqCuaDj3OKhbJNftWT3LL-fSTKrhqrq76EyHCnDg6NUnfmV-X_G3TUU3YGmiqlo3hzxuUN94GcF92WJh8o1zbHBjokC4legYHE-AL0IL0njFCy/s320/IMG_0481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are much bigger than I thought they'd be!</td></tr>
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The boys also enjoyed the kids play area. The submarine was definitely a hit. Ihsan already has plans to visit the submarine again, when we next visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_thHWyCs5qH47U8aAuFS02UaR-0oGmSVgsAyJdbEMdd8co3_8KYCOLhwuGhWSOhJyJhyphenhyphenmNuBmmOgGMJY0fzkWDwvR3Tl6Rf6pWQ-VO85eCmgG83IbKQCzVRk8AMPIyCQNc2simjfflQf4/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_thHWyCs5qH47U8aAuFS02UaR-0oGmSVgsAyJdbEMdd8co3_8KYCOLhwuGhWSOhJyJhyphenhyphenmNuBmmOgGMJY0fzkWDwvR3Tl6Rf6pWQ-VO85eCmgG83IbKQCzVRk8AMPIyCQNc2simjfflQf4/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, i just have to figure out when we can travel to Georgia, Atlanta to see the whale-shark. It's an 11 hour drive from Evanston. I still haven't decided whether we should fly or drive down to see the aquarium. Tough choices before us! =)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfWbxPMyaLit2eIpGf3rlTMtG_saQRvEWn9iT2BozwXgPhPrn7YWeuhIbcSAiFf-WvNOGl5WhTeOuxnFlWgqbChvXJQALr8ltiEH_GSNTK1bz5T2HQtNbh8A-H1MZxkmFcWfoxtrOZv_o/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfWbxPMyaLit2eIpGf3rlTMtG_saQRvEWn9iT2BozwXgPhPrn7YWeuhIbcSAiFf-WvNOGl5WhTeOuxnFlWgqbChvXJQALr8ltiEH_GSNTK1bz5T2HQtNbh8A-H1MZxkmFcWfoxtrOZv_o/s320/IMG_0603.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us excited about the skyline. It was a gorgeous and sunny day!</td></tr>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-55839826218189819002015-09-15T04:23:00.000+08:002015-09-15T04:23:14.581+08:00In love with our apartment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been about 2 weeks and a bit since we arrived here. I'm pleased to inform you that we're settling in very well.<br />
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We've moved into our apartment and all the little hiccups we encountered have pretty much been resolved and we're getting quite comfortable here. I must say that I am very much enjoying our new place and to be honest like it a fair bit more than our home back in Singapore. It's definitely because we don't face another flat and it's really so much quieter here.<br />
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Although, it's sad that as we were furnishing the place, I was always reminded that we would only be here temporarily. Our decisions were always to go cheaper, to question whether we really needed this or that, and whether it would be something we would be willing to ship back to Singapore? It's almost as if, the journey had ended even before it had begun.<br />
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But such is the life of a practical person, i guess. One who does not have infinite resources.<br />
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Here's a peek into our apartment, it's quite spacious and we get lots of light and a wonderful view of the neighborhood. I expect it to get pretty cold too, as our windows face the direction of Lake Michigan and we are already experiencing some cool winds.<br />
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But today, it is warm and sunny. A day to be enjoyed. =)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1YnT_x3e_CVO8EJUSdAaQ-GQjH7xomPuu8PCpciOess2NHWVOFOGZf3yPgu4nduyrRG45e_ai-kO46DMfdmzivEvOdheheZY_0FwxFY3zf4RCrvoTrX9xE-Id2V1j6e7uiHj4t7qjzL9/s1600/thumb_IMG_0535_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1YnT_x3e_CVO8EJUSdAaQ-GQjH7xomPuu8PCpciOess2NHWVOFOGZf3yPgu4nduyrRG45e_ai-kO46DMfdmzivEvOdheheZY_0FwxFY3zf4RCrvoTrX9xE-Id2V1j6e7uiHj4t7qjzL9/s320/thumb_IMG_0535_1024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchen is much bigger than our AMK home one (i love that my sentences are very singlish one!).<br /> Very luxurious with marble top counters!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRwNLoFEoG3l7om6ovDJmciSTkvFo36I0MTdOjTyg_xsyN7GTXHI0rb9AvDgnarQG6bqqcb_0nEogVSsBip6UFwIzCE0Z4XwgW5XZ9lRiE_42c-XwIxKYvZq_RhFFGPnfpQN1wYjpPlcg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0538_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRwNLoFEoG3l7om6ovDJmciSTkvFo36I0MTdOjTyg_xsyN7GTXHI0rb9AvDgnarQG6bqqcb_0nEogVSsBip6UFwIzCE0Z4XwgW5XZ9lRiE_42c-XwIxKYvZq_RhFFGPnfpQN1wYjpPlcg/s320/thumb_IMG_0538_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The living and dining. Pretty spacious and everything furnished by IKEA (of course, cheap mah?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwacndQqj8czbxm1KE4ayECxy7NmjznIgZf9KOtbG5MwhL287b8_jvIrQ6gh27SRPS35YGboOK7f3i3sBaI5AWf3PuC5-kzr20_e0J1Dk2Agq5uH6V8NMU3N-NWdvAf658vzOPGct_LKXQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0539_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwacndQqj8czbxm1KE4ayECxy7NmjznIgZf9KOtbG5MwhL287b8_jvIrQ6gh27SRPS35YGboOK7f3i3sBaI5AWf3PuC5-kzr20_e0J1Dk2Agq5uH6V8NMU3N-NWdvAf658vzOPGct_LKXQ/s320/thumb_IMG_0539_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys bedroom. This is like double the space they used to enjoy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaQ4FpduuHcLu2fP61Xpf1RKUW1NlYBgEWD0xocqEofVhSpftmU6A9Wba42bkBIYkxsEkVZoYApeqN1gVd89Q_i7Woj1Ue0WMESUoEL8p61SAn8xBCcZXFIOsitiqzDzmvpBT14MOc7Cx/s1600/thumb_IMG_0541_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaQ4FpduuHcLu2fP61Xpf1RKUW1NlYBgEWD0xocqEofVhSpftmU6A9Wba42bkBIYkxsEkVZoYApeqN1gVd89Q_i7Woj1Ue0WMESUoEL8p61SAn8xBCcZXFIOsitiqzDzmvpBT14MOc7Cx/s320/thumb_IMG_0541_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty prints gifted to us before we left Singapore. Lovely versus from the quran!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibfqE8OZKahP9rItHRGvE44Z3lYpiWzm46zDmx1lmNXuyNpJKYebAsyzgrat71m_P8dzT8eDRQQ51KjIzhkgWQjOaADSZ9C_MXT2th6snXWETqK380aONDWlTOgfYiXLyYIJYtvisn1qm/s1600/thumb_IMG_0542_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibfqE8OZKahP9rItHRGvE44Z3lYpiWzm46zDmx1lmNXuyNpJKYebAsyzgrat71m_P8dzT8eDRQQ51KjIzhkgWQjOaADSZ9C_MXT2th6snXWETqK380aONDWlTOgfYiXLyYIJYtvisn1qm/s320/thumb_IMG_0542_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also brought along the lil art-piece- <i>Sayang (love), </i>that i painted at one of my farewells. It reminds me of the gals i love back home and also whom I miss very much. The cushion travelled from Singapore too. It was also a farewell gift from a treasured colleague. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YAIQphNyzXx2IyOoZDe28K4hEHFiaInqu7723oBOF2jLppXY_OJzJ1CXRMf5PARTFjZJ3OVjA1Ha5Y-br83BVc9qSzyyryPkqVU0nNBYWGlBfuNJ5nuH7qxYIYSz-67iLP8D05fujelJ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0544_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YAIQphNyzXx2IyOoZDe28K4hEHFiaInqu7723oBOF2jLppXY_OJzJ1CXRMf5PARTFjZJ3OVjA1Ha5Y-br83BVc9qSzyyryPkqVU0nNBYWGlBfuNJ5nuH7qxYIYSz-67iLP8D05fujelJ/s320/thumb_IMG_0544_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our dining area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk1hRHYwp9Mv4eGzi-0am_AwW9tIj14JNV57u635Ipr-LzvvpwFmQOi-h4nmXtzn3QeRNrzcv7HsgPFvxYkhGxiRP9Q4xfipoaIk-Sk-pwTUjKcxnCPUANS08PG3kIRI-hwVy5XA7fDkd/s1600/thumb_IMG_0545_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk1hRHYwp9Mv4eGzi-0am_AwW9tIj14JNV57u635Ipr-LzvvpwFmQOi-h4nmXtzn3QeRNrzcv7HsgPFvxYkhGxiRP9Q4xfipoaIk-Sk-pwTUjKcxnCPUANS08PG3kIRI-hwVy5XA7fDkd/s320/thumb_IMG_0545_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A piece of artwork that Iman's friend drew up for us. Reminds us of home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuK_nEipviklrWhKCG32oXyQuZC8kAA-8sgDOeQKcnMah7ZqSVJ7CYDZ5nG_DNv6j7piXvVmGNasyPOSDCmruaVMecU0cudSEd0RTo6U5iWmdDaekmUVIJULlpLMRFpYbp_7HX2X8LtWp/s1600/thumb_IMG_0547_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuK_nEipviklrWhKCG32oXyQuZC8kAA-8sgDOeQKcnMah7ZqSVJ7CYDZ5nG_DNv6j7piXvVmGNasyPOSDCmruaVMecU0cudSEd0RTo6U5iWmdDaekmUVIJULlpLMRFpYbp_7HX2X8LtWp/s320/thumb_IMG_0547_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sunny bedroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mlhGrgxsZvpmgF4r-Bmo48xhEzhtdkOjgUt5K0MIpXijbE75kGlcY6kfCWpVy9ssRqBikfisVMpXoeHOb24i10kn_1jpI9bgCAuHjVx9v_D4K6XAWFFN2-7FuMa0Ea6IzCNYZtTeExet/s1600/thumb_IMG_0550_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mlhGrgxsZvpmgF4r-Bmo48xhEzhtdkOjgUt5K0MIpXijbE75kGlcY6kfCWpVy9ssRqBikfisVMpXoeHOb24i10kn_1jpI9bgCAuHjVx9v_D4K6XAWFFN2-7FuMa0Ea6IzCNYZtTeExet/s320/thumb_IMG_0550_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our bedroom balcony. I don't think I'm going out here much!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkBpe-9uzMiGW_z89z7MP7VG3kBjFZRaNoRV2gxwTIOEtcCFlJy4v9YP__Imfh7PQOY8NBP7WzZzO_sPecmPr07aueAQ44mYKrDe1VqHQ2GXlZAR50BQX45SNa2k4RQflV5WafEViZ18U/s1600/thumb_IMG_0552_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkBpe-9uzMiGW_z89z7MP7VG3kBjFZRaNoRV2gxwTIOEtcCFlJy4v9YP__Imfh7PQOY8NBP7WzZzO_sPecmPr07aueAQ44mYKrDe1VqHQ2GXlZAR50BQX45SNa2k4RQflV5WafEViZ18U/s320/thumb_IMG_0552_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from our balcony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHGMZfR0v2SD6lFS1T4j6Eg6SZ1z4oZ7IWphTSag7k5jFF6GxnZACuYn-8v7UGa5n5aVs6G7YX0IXk2hIszlTC43iQCoXYVGwgE3j1pq7KeTD8iVc9RtuqtnX-5XhcmJv5K054KdG4ig0/s1600/thumb_IMG_0553_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHGMZfR0v2SD6lFS1T4j6Eg6SZ1z4oZ7IWphTSag7k5jFF6GxnZACuYn-8v7UGa5n5aVs6G7YX0IXk2hIszlTC43iQCoXYVGwgE3j1pq7KeTD8iVc9RtuqtnX-5XhcmJv5K054KdG4ig0/s320/thumb_IMG_0553_1024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iman trying to teach Ihsan how to fold his blanket. Epic Fail i think! lol.</td></tr>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-88280212798455009722015-09-12T10:13:00.004+08:002015-09-12T10:21:41.548+08:00What I hope to achieve over the next 2 years...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been thinking long and hard about whether I want to share what I hope to achieve over this next two years with you. While I'm excited to share them, so that you can help me be accountable to the goals I've set, I'm also afraid of raising your expectations of me. I'm afraid I will disappoint you, my family and most of all, I'm afraid of letting myself down.<br />
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But I figure, starting off this journey fearing that I will not achieve all that i hope to, isn't quite ideal. This is the beginning of a journey of possibilities for me and therefore I should be dreaming big, hoping for the best. Most of all, I intend to work towards achieving all my goals.<br />
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And I think you, and just this simple process of journaling, will help keep me on track. Hold me accountable to these, will you?<br />
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So, here goes.<br />
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I am here in Evanston, Illinois attending a 2 year Masters in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern University. I have 3 main goals I hope to achieve:<br />
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First, I intend to deepen my knowledge and practice of Organization Development (OD) in service of....<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Myself... I wish to learn more about myself, to clarify my own philosophy and style of leadership. To learn how to work more effectively in teams. To be clear about what gifts I bring to a team and how I can contribute to the effectiveness of the team.</li>
</ul>
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<li>CSC and the public service... I want to equip myself with the knowledge and skills that will help me support the Civil Service College (CSC) and our mission and vision. As a (pretty) long-time member of the public service (a total of 12 years this October! Woot!), I also want to return to Singapore better able to support the public service in our organizational efforts to deliver good policies and services to citizens.</li>
</ul>
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<li>The community...I want to be able to help non-profit organizations, specifically Muslim organizations in Singapore that need OD support and interventions. Why? I think that the safety and security of my children's future lies in the ability for Singapore to maintain, or even improve, the quality of racial and religious tolerance and understanding that currently exists. Given the way our social- programs are structured, Malay Muslim organizations, including the mosques, play a critical role in engaging Muslim youth, providing social, education and financial assistance. I would like to be able to support these organizations, so that they can be effective in what they do and hopefully reduce the likelihood of disenfranchised Muslim youths Singaporean.</li>
</ul>
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Second, I hope to spend quality time with my husband and children in a way that will...<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Strengthen our marital bonds. To discover how we can better support and love each other as we face new challenges. To renew our trust in each other, and to re-discover the comforts of companionship that led us towards each other in the very beginning.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Nurture the relationship between my children and I, in way that helps us better communicate, share our experiences and seek comfort, support and help from each other.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Nurture my children's independence, sense of adventure and curiosity for cultures, different from our own.</li>
</ul>
Finally, to seek and nurture friendships and community.<br />
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I'd like to make friends, not just from the US, but from around the world. I would also like to nurture<br />
the friendships and kinship ties that we have in Singapore. I want my children to learn that family and friendship is a connection that transcends physical distance, that our family and friendship ties can be just as strong even though we are on the other side of the world. All it takes is an effort to stay connected.<br />
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There.<br />
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I know I can do it, I just have to return to this list to remind myself of what I have set out to do during my time here. Check in and recalibrate to ensure I'm on track. It's important that I focus, because these 2 years will fly by. And if I'm not careful, the 2 years will end, I have a degree scroll in hand, but have I really made the most of the time and opportunity that has been gifted me here? I am not going to regret that I didn't make the most of this privilege and opportunity I have been accorded.<br />
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Wish me luck, better yet- help me out and check in on me once in a while, will you?<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-847113206586142152015-09-12T06:16:00.002+08:002015-09-12T06:16:10.284+08:00Election fever in Evanston, Illinois.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This 2015 election was an extremely unique experience for me. It was the first time I have ever been overseas during an election period. I love election season and would have been very excited to attend rallies this year, if we were back home. Election season 2011 happened when I had 2 newborns in the home and found it difficult to venture out to partake in the rally festivities </div>
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But alas, I was to miss them again...</div>
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Fortunately, there was a good level of interest in the event here. Singaporean friends here in Evanston have been talking a lot about the elections, everyone following the rally speeches online and keeping up with the news. In fact, this morning, I spent my entire time on the treadmill discussing the elections with a fellow Singaporean friend who lives in the building.</div>
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Woke up this morning, went to the gym, headed home, had breakfast, tuned in to CNA live and watched the entire election coverage, up till the announcement of the Aljunied GRC results, which came on about 2pm or so here. My wattsapp was abuzz with commentary from back home, slowing down as the night, in Singapore, wore on.</div>
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I was as surprised as anyone to see the swing towards the PAP island wide. It was quite surreal watching it unfold here, in the US, because everything I had been reading, watching and sensing was telling me that PAP was in for an equally challenging time as in 2011. I felt I was really missing nothing from not being 'on the ground'. I guess I was wrong. </div>
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I am a pretty superstitious person. During one the last rugby world cups, I was showing off push-ups to my brother when my team (the Wallabies) scored a try. From then on during the tournament, i would do push ups every time the team was on the attack. Yeah...so my lil superstitious mind, wondered..."Hey, perhaps PAP's great performance has something to do with the fact that this is the first election ever that i'm not in Singapore and not voting?" Maybe, I can get the party to sponsor an overseas trip for my family and I every election season? lol...that'll also mean I get to skip election duty, which I've been lucky to have been able to avoid over the years. Ha ha!<br />
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I miss you Singapore and I am going to miss the chatter about what transpired last night!!! To my friends who ran and won- congratulations?<br />
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To friends who ran in the opposition camp, or volunteers and worked hard in support of them- Thank you so much for giving us Singaporeans a chance to vote.<br />
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Till the next one folks!<br />
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With love from Evanston,<br />
Eveeleva<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-83930021257329958852015-09-07T12:20:00.004+08:002015-09-07T12:29:12.505+08:00The many things that didn't go the way we had hoped...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
#1- We took so long to get off the aircraft at Hong Kong that the ground-crew thought we forgot our twin-stroller and checked it into the cargo hold for our connecting flight. By the time the staff figured out what happened, it was too late. We were carrying sleeping 4-year olds out of the air-craft. Of course we'd take our time- Heavy mind you! And juggling hand-luggage too. Sighs...<br />
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#2- Secondary border control clearance when we arrived in O'hare. Need i say more?<br />
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#3- We left one of our luggage at the airport. We checked in 5 suitcases and 1 bag. We forgot the bag. The best part was that we only noticed it was missing several hours later. No worries, we emailed Cathay Pacific and they put aside the bag for us to pick up. We had to go back a few days later to pick it up.<br />
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#4- The night before we moved into our apartment. I ask my husband, "Have you set up the wireless router?" He goes... "Alamak!" He didn't order one. He swore he thought he did. Wireless internet connection is like oxygen- we cannot live without it. He immediately left to go and find one.<br />
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#5- Hubs excitedly opened up his delivery of a Samsung 40-inch Smart TV. He fixes it up, switches it on and finds cracks running all across the LCD screen. *SCREEEAAAMMMM* Thank goodness we had our iPads to keep the boys entertained during tv time. We are returning it of-course, but the pick-up hasn't been arranged, so this huge box is still sitting in the living room. I, of course, seized the opportunity to talk hubs into buying a smaller tv. "Do we really need a 40-inch tv?"<br />
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#6- We used Ikea's pick and deliver service. We tell them what we want and they pick it up and deliver. And assemble, if you'd like. We bought a sofa- the sofa and the sofa cover. Got an email from ikea a day later to say, "Hey, your sofa cover is out of stock. We will send it directly to you in about a week and a half". Okay, we thought. Then when the delivery of the sofa (not sofa cover) came, the guys said, "If we assemble your sofa without the cover, you'd have to disassemble it to fix the sofa cover." Ohhhhkaaayyyy...... Clincher- "You have to go back down to Schaumburg (40 min drive away) to tell them this and fix a new appointment". Ohhhhhkkkaaayyyy....<br />
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#7- Related to the above. The delivery/assembly guys said ," You're missing a piece of metal for the bed. You need it or the bed will sag in the middle. The folks at ikea that put in the order for you should have told you to get it. As it's sold separately." Ohhhhhkkkaaayyy.....<br />
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So we're sleeping in the living room, right next to our yet-to-be-assembled sofa and the yet to be returned 40" tv, while our bed-room looks like this.<br />
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While there were these things that kinda let us down or didn't happen the way we had hoped, there are also many things to be grateful for. Most of all...kind, generous, giving friends who have gone out of the way to help us feel comfortable and to assist us in setting up home. They've fed us, drove us around, guided me through the process of getting ready for school, given us things and even watched over our children.<br />
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And hey, the kids travelled well and we got here in one piece. Also, the boy's room has turned out quite nicely. =)<br />
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For all this and many more, I will be eternally grateful. </div>
eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-24327604089859173132015-09-06T23:41:00.000+08:002015-09-06T23:42:55.825+08:00Chronocling Our Adventures in Evanston.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This blog has been quiet for far too long. I'm reviving it, in an effort to stay connected with loved ones back home, but also to chronicle our adventures in Evanston. We are only going to be here for about 2 years ( a little less) and I want to be able to make the memories live on for as long as I can.<br />
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I also hope to blog about what i'm learning in my program here with the hopes that, well, it may help others learn more about the Learning and Organizational Change program i'm taking here and, i think it may help me in my own learning.<br />
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It's been a little slow taking off simply because we've taken some time to settle down. I have one word- Jetlag. Actually no, one word doesn't accurately capture it, it's more like- A debilitating condition brought about by jetlag combined with 2 little humans who are also jet-lagged.<br />
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We're settled into our new apartment now, not with some major misadventures. But generally we are getting into our groove. So look out for some upcoming posts!<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-73096978906606107912014-02-26T11:58:00.003+08:002014-02-26T14:57:09.165+08:00Hello<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello.<br />
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It's been a long while. Didn't intend to blog today. In fact, I've been thinking a lot about shutting this blog down but haven't quite found the will to do it. Not because I don't enjoy it but because in the scheme of important things in my life. It isn't that high on the priority list.<br />
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But somehow today, I feel like blogging - jotting down my thoughts and sending them into the world.<br />
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What have I been up to?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtlIT0lzEyM8A_9twIvFV27gM1bhgtorB2R85VNto2M6asHiJBf0cZLZ1uwaV8dKm0dYOPKrwYIPtl7WzQupyvUGkvYH5OwQ9IrAS55qKbdcRpgS-X87BBAxEZh6bWWduFbZgzB7uYOOC/s1600/LR6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtlIT0lzEyM8A_9twIvFV27gM1bhgtorB2R85VNto2M6asHiJBf0cZLZ1uwaV8dKm0dYOPKrwYIPtl7WzQupyvUGkvYH5OwQ9IrAS55qKbdcRpgS-X87BBAxEZh6bWWduFbZgzB7uYOOC/s1600/LR6.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
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Been doing a lot of reflections lately and praying. A lot. And I think there's a considerable amount of work I need to do on the home-front, personal front and professional front. Need to spend time with the kids. Need to be a better person, contribute to society, need to develop some of my own competencies so that I have more options for the future. Need to deliver on the KPIs at work and the increasing expectations that are brewing (a lot of it largely because I spend time telling people how much great work my team does! *groan*).<br />
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This means I need to be more focused with my time. So blogging's been shoved aside for a bit. Not sure now, if that's a good thing.<br />
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But today, I'm feeling exhausted and drained. For whatever reason, I've been experiencing low energy levels this last few weeks. No, I am NOT pregnant!<br />
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Seriously, was feeling so tired end of last week. The weekend didn't help that much. And given lower energy levels, I was feeling utterly drained after spending the day with the boys at Port of Lost Wonder. It was awesome fun and it was the sort of quality time, I know I need with my boys. But it's left me very tired.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlDcWtIXI7-r3To_WhwGsTpRN5YyKonof66YQgndSO_TXiC8RspGwbVu1Xe0ikAiSHw1UKoCyO2WbLILSL774w6P5NyopXaYcKmeP674NyobU553_hUhy8ADb0N2vTUCKe7W7JjGcfsJp/s1600/port+of+lost+wonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlDcWtIXI7-r3To_WhwGsTpRN5YyKonof66YQgndSO_TXiC8RspGwbVu1Xe0ikAiSHw1UKoCyO2WbLILSL774w6P5NyopXaYcKmeP674NyobU553_hUhy8ADb0N2vTUCKe7W7JjGcfsJp/s1600/port+of+lost+wonder.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Plus, I went for tui-na massage yesterday. It's been 3 months since my last visit, so I'm not in good shape. My back is all bruised up (not me in the pic below, although I pretty much look like that) and the session tends to drain or sap your energy. So i'm feeling super tired. However, I am looking forward to when the bruises go away, my body recovers and my zhi is improved!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KF6OO-F1K80wQyp5lBQUcoJJhoDZ_dcDaV34iRcAy-iDbQdPUyp_G2WaXMsGwFE8Qnht6j4BZA_mmRgFJBOA4BM3zlV4v2b-uyqPGkux2zP9tQac6QYg_Fca50ovo6PB2npe9G0Gvaly/s1600/cupping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KF6OO-F1K80wQyp5lBQUcoJJhoDZ_dcDaV34iRcAy-iDbQdPUyp_G2WaXMsGwFE8Qnht6j4BZA_mmRgFJBOA4BM3zlV4v2b-uyqPGkux2zP9tQac6QYg_Fca50ovo6PB2npe9G0Gvaly/s1600/cupping.jpg" /></a></div>
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Plus I'm feeling emotionally...kinda drained. I'm reading 'Gaddafi's Harem' by Annick Cojean. It is vile. What is captured in between the pages of this book- it is inconceivable. And it makes me sad. For some reason, because I've been to Libya, and when all this monstrosity was ongoing, somehow i feel more connected to the experience of these women. I'm emotionally hyper-sensitive. I get affected by things around me very easily, and my experience with this book is a good example of how I can get emotionally caught up in things that may seem distant or separate from the individual. =(<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oqCN0yZWo0uR5n9w5gpvO1f8xUJcPGBPdP6UDvh-aRGIqcDLOQn7rODFuadG3-ELBs6po2nrY_NdhyCl4NZEmlDdqhNUcBY8OTpNHifJQmpr6tZrMGGfuHqTVrFmk0MyGPxKjjppQV30/s1600/gaddadi's+harem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oqCN0yZWo0uR5n9w5gpvO1f8xUJcPGBPdP6UDvh-aRGIqcDLOQn7rODFuadG3-ELBs6po2nrY_NdhyCl4NZEmlDdqhNUcBY8OTpNHifJQmpr6tZrMGGfuHqTVrFmk0MyGPxKjjppQV30/s1600/gaddadi's+harem.jpg" /></a></div>
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While some men can be such vile creatures, I'm married to a really great guy. He isn't perfect, but then again, neither am I. But I'm feeling greater partnership and support with and from him than ever before. We're in such a good authentic place right now. Maybe it's maturity, maybe it's us settling into a more comfortable parenting role, maybe it's the fact that our boys are bigger and letting us have more 'us' space. Whatever it is, I'm enjoying it and I'm hoping this partnership grows only stronger.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vUHDb1vZYDUKidYVHo0msozieP1KI4W4rOoyBlke_giCZSa6CKC4MnoOdQskqg_PsPdDpt-E8eWXSPJ4eI8QWW5MD6CZ2uRh2KpDAleBU2YKAmqn0OGnTr37-xmKsRU-_5YNPQETne-q/s1600/empathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vUHDb1vZYDUKidYVHo0msozieP1KI4W4rOoyBlke_giCZSa6CKC4MnoOdQskqg_PsPdDpt-E8eWXSPJ4eI8QWW5MD6CZ2uRh2KpDAleBU2YKAmqn0OGnTr37-xmKsRU-_5YNPQETne-q/s1600/empathy.jpg" height="274" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This sketch is the work of a former cubicle neighbour!</span></i></td></tr>
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I'm feeling a little more energised now, people. Thank you!<br />
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Till next time!<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-76152351725877921402013-11-21T23:39:00.001+08:002013-11-21T23:39:52.839+08:00Perth in 10 days with 8 adults, 3 kids and 1 uber cute little baby- Farmstays!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This wil be the 2nd last installment of this series (and quite a short one too). </div>
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It's taken much longer than I had initially planned for. But what I'm absolutely enjoying about this process, is how I've been able to savour and relish every moment of the holiday, again and again, as I revisit memories and photos for these blog posts.</div>
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Tonight I'm recalling my favourite bits of our trip. The farms and a cottage stay in a beautiful little cottage in between Manjimup and Pemberton- <a href="http://www.diamondforest.com.au/" target="_blank">Diamond Forest Cottages</a>. </div>
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Before we headed to Diamond Forest Cottages, we had visited a little farm called W<a href="http://www.wonkywindmillfarm.com.au/" target="_blank">onky Windmill Farm and Eco Park.</a> The boys absolutely enjoyed feeding the animals at the farm. While my folks enjoyed some time picking oranges at the fruit orchard.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcl3HUpT0bmscto_02QMbgzStZke4dEXP0eF63PeRfFrZvtYsuiFlVIe1zUP_IT9JDJ2kWfuQv3qaCE_zL9W7bYFLyn5Q-uTso9MXDBsp0SQQ3IlOF0d9gNfqLO3tZJEH9hmj8VHUtpl_r/s1600/Perth+20131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcl3HUpT0bmscto_02QMbgzStZke4dEXP0eF63PeRfFrZvtYsuiFlVIe1zUP_IT9JDJ2kWfuQv3qaCE_zL9W7bYFLyn5Q-uTso9MXDBsp0SQQ3IlOF0d9gNfqLO3tZJEH9hmj8VHUtpl_r/s640/Perth+20131.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Llamas, donkeys, sheep, goats, kangaroos, chicken, lamb, you name em!</td></tr>
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It was also enough running about in the outdoors to later knock the boys out in the car while we drove about 2 hours down towards Manjimup and Pemberton, where we went from driving past vineyards to roller-coaster steep roads deep in the woods.</div>
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With no cell-connection, so far in the countryside, and no maps. We trusted each other's instincts and drove on google-map less!</div>
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The drive was absolutely worth it because we found ourselves at a wonderful quiet and beautiful retreat- <a href="http://www.diamondforest.com.au/" target="_blank">Diamond Forest Cottages</a>. Run by a charming couple, the property offers 4 cottages (that can house up to 4 adults each). The grounds were splendid and such a beautiful change compared to my own little life boxed up in a 4 room HDB flat, with a view of nothing but other HDB units.<br />
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The plan was just to chill and enjoy the property for the next 2 days. And we sure did.....Boy I miss the place!<br />
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Enjoy the pics!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8aFHNqTgQRLKhyphenhyphenffu7PhtrThEvQLq-dK1buzbGZbdqvudRx3qc4jxxKEIkTqkvb9GOLTCBDixHShx04XmLY2SA957b9AMTyhFFg7tLXKGdiNF-FgWsY7ixYKT-OWznwCFSCan3fyAH5G/s1600/P1040770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8aFHNqTgQRLKhyphenhyphenffu7PhtrThEvQLq-dK1buzbGZbdqvudRx3qc4jxxKEIkTqkvb9GOLTCBDixHShx04XmLY2SA957b9AMTyhFFg7tLXKGdiNF-FgWsY7ixYKT-OWznwCFSCan3fyAH5G/s640/P1040770.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>My folks, brother and niece enjoying the afternoon.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl456pO0wZrh11CdWk7py-7G_0trKgAf1leKGewt0EOpyYx_ubmULM_7ixBP68iEtJ8jZzj_CU_pO5W3u4aHiiHtncw-WkaQs9v9fCW-bao-16kOwT1HfeZ6CmSJDpGvoqYc3eZS90N8zG/s1600/P1040665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl456pO0wZrh11CdWk7py-7G_0trKgAf1leKGewt0EOpyYx_ubmULM_7ixBP68iEtJ8jZzj_CU_pO5W3u4aHiiHtncw-WkaQs9v9fCW-bao-16kOwT1HfeZ6CmSJDpGvoqYc3eZS90N8zG/s640/P1040665.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>One of the highlights of staying here was the animal feeding sessions every morning. You basically tagged along and fed all the animals in the morning. You'd have these friendly little doggie guides to walk along with you, often begging us to play catch with a chewed up tennis balls.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ae-kyUAr0xjnDOotiwYrVs2J9di1WrPqQPPVKKs7IjpVyIz6SmCRBE68jpZupmTM5DPmCSScJIxfsEWBh_Jvqkw8PNNAhQTC7sgVwC-S1Dq-ATV5FDz0z9bbhisaTMP4OJDC65bP4TKI/s1600/P1040693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ae-kyUAr0xjnDOotiwYrVs2J9di1WrPqQPPVKKs7IjpVyIz6SmCRBE68jpZupmTM5DPmCSScJIxfsEWBh_Jvqkw8PNNAhQTC7sgVwC-S1Dq-ATV5FDz0z9bbhisaTMP4OJDC65bP4TKI/s640/P1040693.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ipin getting to know a really wet little baby lamb! Yes, he smelled much like lamb too after this walk!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PBCRKol2mSDvjMtNKP4mVA_QCZqgYpAKK-UoxDUAKEPK4JUO9qWWhfHmNiz_urN0QbMnBe4ZRjLx7Tiv4O-zCFGzNsgwWbeFaA5dvhpcS-m2Hgw_9JyaqZnQRp5B86yNpzBaK_in5ihM/s1600/P1040713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PBCRKol2mSDvjMtNKP4mVA_QCZqgYpAKK-UoxDUAKEPK4JUO9qWWhfHmNiz_urN0QbMnBe4ZRjLx7Tiv4O-zCFGzNsgwWbeFaA5dvhpcS-m2Hgw_9JyaqZnQRp5B86yNpzBaK_in5ihM/s640/P1040713.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>I was amazed by just how brave my little ones were! </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh424yOl1E7cyGahpZUO9iKs5Z9qGLO6J3yIp4kB-2I44Ptf__0-pHGjYwGN_Ujby6qWUAE2mYLgUmoBgamYvwh2ZkB4fZg3sGzf8LYpF3akR8oWycHYCOJp1kHoc8t_4ytsgj62kv7vF/s1600/P1040737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh424yOl1E7cyGahpZUO9iKs5Z9qGLO6J3yIp4kB-2I44Ptf__0-pHGjYwGN_Ujby6qWUAE2mYLgUmoBgamYvwh2ZkB4fZg3sGzf8LYpF3akR8oWycHYCOJp1kHoc8t_4ytsgj62kv7vF/s640/P1040737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The beautiful and friendly horsey, always came when we called and allowed us to stroke him as much as we wanted!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXC9Xu3iRq4bwwDgoQLYQdID55fxhBn9AmLhqbNPZ6gwlk05nEwk7eDJgRrMwc9vqAmNu6iglOSytfU-Dy7xnBVO5yqVJiS-Ux-LXhwKTJV59C8Qf0kqXeRevKjtadLVYOM7hEGZ1dpxy/s1600/P1040684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXC9Xu3iRq4bwwDgoQLYQdID55fxhBn9AmLhqbNPZ6gwlk05nEwk7eDJgRrMwc9vqAmNu6iglOSytfU-Dy7xnBVO5yqVJiS-Ux-LXhwKTJV59C8Qf0kqXeRevKjtadLVYOM7hEGZ1dpxy/s640/P1040684.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Baaaaaaaaa! And an Alpaca! Can you see? Or is it a Llama?</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsbXACci6F-sOMqoQB4nzIJ7T695EK9oqW9E0Nqt6Bn01c0jIt0vgcxnc5ekW-qDpoRWbvBxu5ikSG-kWlheX8prpEIrdQuXUI-orBPSwttM-cpdbi_sF8vY4jvfEUrneb8ENy-uDoSOQ/s1600/P1040721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsbXACci6F-sOMqoQB4nzIJ7T695EK9oqW9E0Nqt6Bn01c0jIt0vgcxnc5ekW-qDpoRWbvBxu5ikSG-kWlheX8prpEIrdQuXUI-orBPSwttM-cpdbi_sF8vY4jvfEUrneb8ENy-uDoSOQ/s640/P1040721.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>oooo much space to RUN and muck about! </i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>My favourite Shetland Pony. I called him Noel, cos he reminded me of a friend!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The folks, the kids, the cottage and a really big chicken! You can see Mik looking very scared of it!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>They were just sooooo happy!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZsnX5J70ZJmrjVBdcJEcA5MYI5ve230PEAszX_9W1QxwLU0dE99I7vHxrYuIWkP5kT4wRp88_1xzub-R1jcqoVFt_gxib5Z7nEWBFt_Pe6A5o4YIeLUt7CrRIZfMDrdZhahk16GdKWTg/s1600/P1040798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZsnX5J70ZJmrjVBdcJEcA5MYI5ve230PEAszX_9W1QxwLU0dE99I7vHxrYuIWkP5kT4wRp88_1xzub-R1jcqoVFt_gxib5Z7nEWBFt_Pe6A5o4YIeLUt7CrRIZfMDrdZhahk16GdKWTg/s640/P1040798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>You know you're a city gal, when u see cows and want to take a selfie with them</i></span></td></tr>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-36578050842796326292013-10-30T00:14:00.004+08:002013-10-30T00:14:41.495+08:00Prototyping, Feedback and Ferguson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since, we learnt about rapid prototyping and learning faster by failing early at work, we've embraced this concept with a vengeance.<br />
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I'm always always at some stage of prototyping at work.<br />
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I LOVE but also HATE prototyping. (<i>Why is everything love-hate for me</i>?)<br />
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I love how much we learn through the process of prototyping. I love how the process of prototyping draws from the wisdom and experience of the people who try our prototypes out. In a recent game we had developed, the prototyping experience provided so many ideas and solutions that really contributed to the growth and complexity of our final product.<br />
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But I also hate it.<br />
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I find receiving feedback so difficult. Even when the idea is still at its nascent stage. Even when I haven't spent that much time developing the idea.<br />
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I once shared, in an auditorium filled with people, that one of the things we've learnt in our team was not to hold on too dearly to our ideas. With rapid prototyping, your ideas can be thrown out in a jiffy. Cardboard prototypes you put together, can get thrown into the recycling bin even before the fine paperknife-cuts on your fingers begin to heal.<br />
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I understand all this cognitively. I just haven't been able to grasp it emotionally.<br />
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Every negative feedback that is given, is like a knife that stabs me through the heart! Even if I spent only the last 10 minutes putting the prototype together. Even if I know that I haven't thought about it enough. It still feels like Jack the Ripper is shredding through my torso.<br />
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It is painful.<br />
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It takes all the focus and determination in me, not to react to the initial sting of the negative feedback and go on the defensive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW5-09pdNShs9dfMWurthaXMmb18P6v1FO8Al-tCdaDOVGVil28pgg1q93PcykYCbitE1H4473iCpMwTwxLhuHpAzI9cBpfx8s4hIvIE_KKe0qBBRYQAa35Lr3cEXp0k4AGxI0Sg7f0l0/s1600/Ferguson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW5-09pdNShs9dfMWurthaXMmb18P6v1FO8Al-tCdaDOVGVil28pgg1q93PcykYCbitE1H4473iCpMwTwxLhuHpAzI9cBpfx8s4hIvIE_KKe0qBBRYQAa35Lr3cEXp0k4AGxI0Sg7f0l0/s400/Ferguson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I wished I were more like David Beckham. Apparently, according to Alex's Ferguson latest biography, David was the only player he had every coached who was totally unaffected by his mistakes.<br />
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<i>"He could have the worst game possible and still not believe that he had under-performed in any way. He would dismiss you, tell you you were wrong. He was incredibly protective of himself.......You had to admire that. In a way it was a great quality. No matter how many mistakes he would make (in my eyes, not his), he would always want the ball. His confidence never suffered."</i><br />
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Well, ok not exactly like Beckham, but a stronger shield to protect myself would be useful. Instead, I usually feel bruised and upset. And it takes a lot of focus to open myself to the feedback, the ideas behind the "This was so not fun" or "This was too difficult" or "It's crazy that you think this is possible". But not too open, that it leads me to believe that everything is negative and everything is beyond redemption.<br />
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Before you get the wrong impression, let me clarify, as I had to the <i>Abang-</i>cashier at Times when I picked up Ferguson's autobiography- I am NOT a fan. I was just curious.<br />
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He looked at me, grimaced and under his breath muttered ,"Liverpool". With MUCH DISDAIN!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVLG0ibIv8nJxO2MpVhnWjH8rWklJEmijGZBJmjLFjiAODWSNAfd8_bnYMM1yNBbwGuev42nNP1mUXBv7Ci5es6oxnV2O1emJIWrhKN10VHxECLBOIExvKFIwAaUAw0p765IFt6xBSK4w/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVLG0ibIv8nJxO2MpVhnWjH8rWklJEmijGZBJmjLFjiAODWSNAfd8_bnYMM1yNBbwGuev42nNP1mUXBv7Ci5es6oxnV2O1emJIWrhKN10VHxECLBOIExvKFIwAaUAw0p765IFt6xBSK4w/s640/IMG_0225.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Ipin in Man U kit and Ihsan in Liverpool kit. My dad actually said to Irfan ," Why are you wearing Man U? Wait, Atok throw you into the dustbin". <br />Yes, the family is that serious in its allegiance to Liverpool!</i></span></td></tr>
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Look, the truth is, I am NO football fan. I have some allegiance to Liverpool, but its largely because my dad and brother are fans. Ok, so maybe I am a sort-of fan. I did buy Liverpool kits for my boys when I was in London last year and flatly refused to buy Man United kits that hubby had requested. And yes, i do celebrate, quietly, a little bit, when Man U doesn't do so well in a match. (Please don't hate me Red Devil friends). But really, I'm not a fan.<br />
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I picked up the book and paid $39 bucks for it because I was curious. I really was. I do think that Ferguson was a successful football manager and I wanted to hear what he had to say.<br />
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To be honest, I didn't appreciate all of it mostly because he talked a lot about matches that Man United played (I hardly watched any), and players he had recruited, sold, etc. I only know players who are good-looking or if they are Spanish. E.g. Iniesta is not good looking but Spanish, so i know him. Actually, that's not true. I know Rooney, and he's neither good-looking nor Spanish. <i>(Who cares if you're not good looking if you're a multi-million dollar footballer with a solution to your receding hairline?)</i><br />
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But I did enjoy the book in general. It game me a sense of the man. How important football was to him. How important the club was to him. What the club meant. What it stood for.<br />
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It was also interesting to read his thoughts about some of his players. How he selected them. What he looked for. Players that weren't only talented, but fit into the tradition of the club. That had the character to stand tall in the eyes of the club. That could handle the pressure that came with being a Man United player.<br />
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I know it wasn't meant to be a management guidebook, but there were some gems hidden between the pages of the book. A lot of it, for me was about character- knowing and protecting the character of the club (or organisation), knowing how to bring the best out of your team (when to call it quits with a player) and knowing your own character as a leader, what you stand for, what you are willing to sacrifice and what you are never going to tolerate.<br />
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While, I was blowing on the mental wounds, post-prototype today, I thought about Ferguson. <br />
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Football managers are always trying out new configurations. In an intense league like the EPL, you have players that get injured or need to be rested, and you just have to try new stuff out. They study the game, they strategise and then hope for the best.<br />
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And if doesn't turn out great, the media and fans, they slaughter you.<br />
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<i>"I couldn't allow the press conference to become a torture chamber. It was my duty to protect the dignity of the club and all that we were doing. it was important to be on the front foot and control the conversation as much as possible.</i><br />
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<i>Before I went through that door to face the world, I trained myself, prepared myself mentally. Experience helped."</i><br />
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Obviously right now, the feedback during prototypes is about the work, the ideas. Not about me. It's never been personal. Not yet.<br />
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But at some point, in my future, I could be receiving feedback that is personal that may suggest, I'm not good enough. I'm not doing my job well. That I'm the problem.<br />
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Obviously, today- I'm not ready for that sort of feedback. In fact, some of my colleagues witnessed me disintegrating into shambles, in an episode earlier this year, which involved feedback that I took very personally.<br />
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I'll obviously never be a Beckham (A<i>lthough, he could just be masking his vulnerabilities. Ferguson doesn't think so though. Ok anyone that looks THAT scrumptious in nothing but Armani briefs, can't have any insecurities right? Ok i believe Ferguson</i>). But i could learn to protect myself a little more.<br />
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And maybe, hey people! It may be useful to remind ourselves when giving feedback even when it's for an idea that is still in its nascent stages, that someone gave birth to the idea, no matter how silly and it takes some courage to ask for feedback. So be gentle. We shouldn't sugar-coat everything so that the feedback disappears in all the sweetness, but we don't have to be so direct, that it cuts either.<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-74207593096759753212013-10-24T01:22:00.000+08:002013-10-24T01:22:05.049+08:00Perth in 10 days with 8 adults, 3 kids and 1 uber cute little baby- Our Road Trip!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Way too many things happening...too little time to Blog. I was reminded today by the hubs, that it's exactly been a month since our trip to Perth. So, I guess, it's a perfect time to reminisce about our lovely road-trip...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoty5NohAXhsz8bonORyAVIrUjLEGg-k3qFP8qpZ8MKAUVHEZZ6CoCCX2ZUZZrKt1ut3WDY2QjvcTmLhTUf3ptTJEnvrUQSP5UsFaATsDZ2BSZ2JYwnPr5nkDgOPfhNWdB9zdgfjs8ZV_/s1600/Perth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoty5NohAXhsz8bonORyAVIrUjLEGg-k3qFP8qpZ8MKAUVHEZZ6CoCCX2ZUZZrKt1ut3WDY2QjvcTmLhTUf3ptTJEnvrUQSP5UsFaATsDZ2BSZ2JYwnPr5nkDgOPfhNWdB9zdgfjs8ZV_/s640/Perth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Road Trip Itinerary.</td></tr>
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After 4 days in Perth, we headed down South...all the way down to Albany before shooting back up to Perth.<br />
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We started down South and stopped at Mandurah, which is a surreal little town, with houses and their very own Marina. We had great sun for a bit, and then it rained the rest of the day. Our stop at Bunbury had to be cancelled because of the heavy rain. Instead, we stocked up on snacks and drove on till our stop at Busselton. Checked in, had fish and chips, settled in and had an early night!<br />
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Oooh....the twins did end up jumping up and down on our bed after dinner and vomited ALL over our bed. Aussie service staff are amazing when it comes to these things. They were so nice about it. In Singapore, if one of my boys vomit, there's usually a very silent but noticeable, 'SIIIGGGHHHH' or 'EEEERRRKKK' followed by some evil looks thrown our way. So I was so pleasantly surprised. It was the same on another occasion when Ipin threw up at a supermarket. People around were so nice, called for the staff to clean up, and they were so nice about it. I felt soooooo loved!<br />
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Anyways...<br />
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<u>Busselton</u><br />
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The next morning, there was a little bit of rain and then gorgeous sunshine. While the rest of the family lumbered out of bed, I braved my little heart, and took the three handsome little boys out to the beach. Direct access to the beach, was after all why I chose to stay at the <a href="http://www.bayviewhotels.com/geographe/index.aspx?page=home" target="_blank">Bayview Geographe Resort</a>.<br />
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I think my mum was quite worried that I'd end up losing at least one. What with, my little Ipin, loving to just run off into the wilderness not worrying that he'd lose us forever!<br />
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I did tell them though, that they had to stick near me, because the SHARKS were out there and at anytime one, would jump out of the sea and bite their legs off. <i>Yes...I am that sort of mother. I will resort to lies and threats if need be.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They were surprisingly well-behaved. <br />Maybe it was because they were just adjusting to the cold cold winds!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreaIUkV2fqkD4FSJmY6kvFi29-UABl7PyeU23j3waaMxjrVZjs0L70vBHNSrC2Z__PjzHLGDjNJjtYO1ybV8L6DXDF6GHOu22P302h9pjMiOPS5WUmSPW756traukyVIhPkd092QriHz1/s1600/P1040338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreaIUkV2fqkD4FSJmY6kvFi29-UABl7PyeU23j3waaMxjrVZjs0L70vBHNSrC2Z__PjzHLGDjNJjtYO1ybV8L6DXDF6GHOu22P302h9pjMiOPS5WUmSPW756traukyVIhPkd092QriHz1/s640/P1040338.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was a beautiful beach and a lovely morning!</span><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhlKOhRzZNO3m83NT0Js7dqUvFKrF0Q9sFA-v5jJZdWnn2tnaPQM61NQSoU_FAd3JQCJGdWVS9ofyUCB1cFJJftQ0cPO64GJLb7t6nLrl4aJO1h7BcEb-RoRCuIgvm3qT5t7D02-Ozed0/s1600/P1040330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhlKOhRzZNO3m83NT0Js7dqUvFKrF0Q9sFA-v5jJZdWnn2tnaPQM61NQSoU_FAd3JQCJGdWVS9ofyUCB1cFJJftQ0cPO64GJLb7t6nLrl4aJO1h7BcEb-RoRCuIgvm3qT5t7D02-Ozed0/s640/P1040330.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We did not at any one time take the good weather for granted. <br />Just in the horizon, rain clouds loomed sending us warning of the coming showers! </span></td></tr>
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I rushed the boys back after we mucked around for a bit. We needed to get the whole house out an about before the rain stopped us from enjoying the Busselton Geographe area.</div>
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The highlight of the area was definitely <a href="http://www.busseltonjetty.com.au/" target="_blank">Busselton Jetty</a>. It's the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, going out as far as 2km out into the sea. It had recently been reopened after a fire had destroyed parts of the jetty.</div>
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The boys loved taking the little tram-train on the jetty. We were all glad we decided to take the little train, as it started to rain and the wind made it very very cold. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC1ORAwFQ_IvRKC7hB0wBrY21qnIPGX1qBM0YCEusQYNWjlyCr_UUUc3OCPIwfK9ZQmMlLKurQiNCQ3A4LohzraSTVnTc_f9frm_um2Nc5bmGa3Fz-xx5eSzEan-aGtVb_aouSWKFLke_/s1600/P1040372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC1ORAwFQ_IvRKC7hB0wBrY21qnIPGX1qBM0YCEusQYNWjlyCr_UUUc3OCPIwfK9ZQmMlLKurQiNCQ3A4LohzraSTVnTc_f9frm_um2Nc5bmGa3Fz-xx5eSzEan-aGtVb_aouSWKFLke_/s640/P1040372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upin refusing to pose for the camera. He turned away on purpose!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz6MJeVthd7KUfzUc0uyqVDH16q2cjtpJv_I3zmDYBig4Pay_4NjV3tAXWmxayB1wUCmZjo1J3zCOYHK1IJ_VFuQSfvf5JkY6mN5QsPYUSTCPsCGTPeZaEXCht_OdWVH6wTWg60UQDXEh/s1600/P1040380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBz6MJeVthd7KUfzUc0uyqVDH16q2cjtpJv_I3zmDYBig4Pay_4NjV3tAXWmxayB1wUCmZjo1J3zCOYHK1IJ_VFuQSfvf5JkY6mN5QsPYUSTCPsCGTPeZaEXCht_OdWVH6wTWg60UQDXEh/s640/P1040380.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lil family, all bundled up nice and warm!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOdiKMTC1cdap-1c9m4KXVJYXE6XNNiP5vu8PHu50yZuTEoS1XiBJbXS-aMicT4cnf2ggmXYRUa-LiNaG6iKOVfNc1BS8yVeLkKKMaPfoomGqgjDvbJsppWszxXjFQwzx3w2CzfvpiZGo/s1600/P1040405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOdiKMTC1cdap-1c9m4KXVJYXE6XNNiP5vu8PHu50yZuTEoS1XiBJbXS-aMicT4cnf2ggmXYRUa-LiNaG6iKOVfNc1BS8yVeLkKKMaPfoomGqgjDvbJsppWszxXjFQwzx3w2CzfvpiZGo/s640/P1040405.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful day, despite the intermittent rain!</td></tr>
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<u>Dunsborough</u><br />
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After frolicking by the Jetty, we drove South towards Dunsborough to check out the <a href="http://www.geographebay.com/tours/cape-naturaliste-lighthouse" target="_blank">Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.</a> The drive was so beautiful as it was a meandering road along fields lush full of wild-flowers.<br />
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When we got there, we bought tickets, listened intently to instructions on how to get to the light-house. And proceeded to get lost.<br />
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We ended up instead walking on one of the hiking trails which led to a whale-watching spot.<br />
The walk was lovely, although futile- as we realised we were walking further and further away from the lighthouse. But the wonderful thing was that the boys fell asleep as we walked!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAddQMnnI7Rgjdwl4p-DszWSro1AdNNFOh6HLj8guZErd0AOD2J7kLKqEETHPHXYuD9oL-ZH4yBWMlbwTWjoLA1b-6q40EeeMujGVBo9u4vLx5KegHbOeI5uLUlz60vOwdX97VVrdWYiUn/s1600/P1040437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAddQMnnI7Rgjdwl4p-DszWSro1AdNNFOh6HLj8guZErd0AOD2J7kLKqEETHPHXYuD9oL-ZH4yBWMlbwTWjoLA1b-6q40EeeMujGVBo9u4vLx5KegHbOeI5uLUlz60vOwdX97VVrdWYiUn/s640/P1040437.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubs checking out the view as we walked the WRONG way to the lighthouse.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dthHi4VhrcihqRj-gxmV6foL1nsYLWY68iVO2cHu52iF1Lo1D-Wh6VYSV_9wHDX9nIfZnay1HWbtYfhyphenhyphenyoXjKmQ4Eb1S_0oDPAmxSZudegPDfc2vFLtau241j5HjrTsvKBGfnlyB8SqF/s1600/P1040471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dthHi4VhrcihqRj-gxmV6foL1nsYLWY68iVO2cHu52iF1Lo1D-Wh6VYSV_9wHDX9nIfZnay1HWbtYfhyphenhyphenyoXjKmQ4Eb1S_0oDPAmxSZudegPDfc2vFLtau241j5HjrTsvKBGfnlyB8SqF/s640/P1040471.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finally found our way to the lighthouse.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhwI9TXttUvA_fuLoMHntfDsHLoV4GWhmVF5bRwqCEKqBijGTV6Cb5HaV42NzPL1esDvuS7YLrtaYq2V2INmBjMBlzo40tfOqsLhrx2FYtcYliJetrWnPwDmlgzs1Wy2PIOobfHsorGza/s1600/P1040464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhwI9TXttUvA_fuLoMHntfDsHLoV4GWhmVF5bRwqCEKqBijGTV6Cb5HaV42NzPL1esDvuS7YLrtaYq2V2INmBjMBlzo40tfOqsLhrx2FYtcYliJetrWnPwDmlgzs1Wy2PIOobfHsorGza/s640/P1040464.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ipin was still asleep, so only 2 handsome guys here. It's funny. They look cold!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZcLewmx3SBVhhd4ZE5Cw-OIsIq3qNPssGLWtTBvUIWnkheF8LfzAZpjqSKb3zm5bmQjdWrDDq_IvUZRs7l-GZBtOvkUk9cXtpbKub7jbI6yJNd7F2LPZx-p39YVPimQ8mu9cr581Nm9W/s1600/P1040480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZcLewmx3SBVhhd4ZE5Cw-OIsIq3qNPssGLWtTBvUIWnkheF8LfzAZpjqSKb3zm5bmQjdWrDDq_IvUZRs7l-GZBtOvkUk9cXtpbKub7jbI6yJNd7F2LPZx-p39YVPimQ8mu9cr581Nm9W/s640/P1040480.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother and our uber culte lil baby- just chilling. What we enjoyed doing most while we were in Perth!</td></tr>
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It was a really successful day. Besides the lighthouse, we managed to head to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory for some indulgence. Best part about it was that my boys were asleep. So we left them snoozing in the car with my father, while hubs and I went in bought chocs and enjoyed some hot chocolate...without the boys!<br />
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I mean, I do love my boys....but it's nice when they're quietly asleep too! Okay, it's more than nice, it's FABULOUS when they're fast asleep! hehehe...<br />
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Oh my, I really am missing Perth....Stay tune for the next installment. It's when the kids go wild at Willy Wonky's Windmill Farm!<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-18535508154711729462013-10-13T00:20:00.002+08:002013-10-13T00:20:46.655+08:00Perth in 10 days with 8 adults, 3 kids and 1 uber cute little baby- Irfan and his little pig<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Obviously, a trip to Perth is never complete without a trip to the weekend markets in Fremantle, or Freyo, as the locals call it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WscSAgdkPnzgWpmH3tJiJgOrReibavfoKMskwd6JmmOvBctQvgjwUb8RF5KteJvXYUK9qUGp3j9kDEay8HnpN9DXT1rLA29XB2SEoqZYCAO_Y4eCfci5QFbp5V-PznF9oZbiGrvN0aIO/s1600/P1040216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WscSAgdkPnzgWpmH3tJiJgOrReibavfoKMskwd6JmmOvBctQvgjwUb8RF5KteJvXYUK9qUGp3j9kDEay8HnpN9DXT1rLA29XB2SEoqZYCAO_Y4eCfci5QFbp5V-PznF9oZbiGrvN0aIO/s400/P1040216.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys in the rain-cover, cos the wind was seriously chilly!</td></tr>
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I was absolutely excited about our trip to Freyo on Sunday because Jess was going to spend the day with us. Jess- is a fellow Marymount-aineer. We met on my first day at Marymount Secondary School. She sat next to me and we hit it off at once. <br />
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Along with 2 others, we formed the US4 clique in school. Lol...we were seriously cool. I went to my very very first musical ever with Jess. It was to watch Cats at Kallang Theatre. We seriously went cuckoo over the musical, memorising songs, learning the dance steps, watching 'Cats' documentaries over and over again. We tried several stunts from the musical, to the extent that once, she broke her mom's glass wardrobe doors because she was trying to do a flip!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAqHU3ZyWhQvVXIjEAzOOs1P-PffnMgtGH2SxC9eaMQipDKkr2fNKK7ax9Kd6vIsbzDXx8Wo02sXDhSoUJLtvveWygFGdssIGhceMIrGlZpKKw9rvEM1bqFyKO7ndis7jBTyGN9pvrFMY/s1600/P1040220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAqHU3ZyWhQvVXIjEAzOOs1P-PffnMgtGH2SxC9eaMQipDKkr2fNKK7ax9Kd6vIsbzDXx8Wo02sXDhSoUJLtvveWygFGdssIGhceMIrGlZpKKw9rvEM1bqFyKO7ndis7jBTyGN9pvrFMY/s400/P1040220.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess and I, celebrating 21 years of friendship over the best coffee I had during my entire stay in Perth!</td></tr>
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So, I was obviously excited to spend some time with her. Did I have foolish thoughts that we would break into a rendition of 'A heart full of love' from Les Mis? No. <i>Sonia, may have entertained me. Jess, would have just rolled her eyes at me and laughed!</i> <i>She was much more mature that way!</i><br />
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What wasn't so exciting was the crying that was happening during our car rides. By that morning, on the way to Freyo, I had come to the conclusion that no matter what, there will always be one twin screaming and yelling his head off in the car. That morning, it was Irfan. He didn't want to follow us, preferring to stay at home to watch cartoons. So he cried all the way from Canningvale to Freyo. All 30 mins of the drive!<br />
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Luckily for us, the crying stopped when we arrived. And we got to enjoy our day in Freo, in the wonderful glorious Sun!<br />
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Stuff I adored about our day in Freo!<br />
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<b>1. The Food! </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKEGZtDgMSF_NeNl0BQN5sGT0xfaBO383k4oIlqsSLWrqc24UkAuk-18HHc06Mkyl_BY9gSwvEP9dw3jaha01cEROC3qg25nwGPtd0pQuHExkWwDmzslc1BATZt-gd6B2Qt82qXJn0w1S/s1600/P1040223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKEGZtDgMSF_NeNl0BQN5sGT0xfaBO383k4oIlqsSLWrqc24UkAuk-18HHc06Mkyl_BY9gSwvEP9dw3jaha01cEROC3qg25nwGPtd0pQuHExkWwDmzslc1BATZt-gd6B2Qt82qXJn0w1S/s640/P1040223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There were these tiny little cupcakes that the boys went nuts over. And they were just the perfect size for the boys too! Ihsan gave much grief to the cupcake lady, when he pointed to the cupcake he wanted from the display window, and insisted that he was given the one he was pointing at. She had to shuffle cupcakes away, just to get the one that he was pointing at, which obviously was the one right by the glass!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5r2y7E1KwFiuV51aa8ZKSF439jwKRUnyvybxVzgJFhyphenhyphenH-re_yeij2toFMuWJIsDRkz_gZpHQ84ACWyZ8QJZOhSfQb3Wh0ejR3aNMiF3XUvcPLRAy8ngZg-NUT-57nINZCSLr-oAmH0hP/s1600/P1040228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5r2y7E1KwFiuV51aa8ZKSF439jwKRUnyvybxVzgJFhyphenhyphenH-re_yeij2toFMuWJIsDRkz_gZpHQ84ACWyZ8QJZOhSfQb3Wh0ejR3aNMiF3XUvcPLRAy8ngZg-NUT-57nINZCSLr-oAmH0hP/s640/P1040228.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thrilled with their cupcakes. Ihsan had picked a chocolate one with little colourful balls of sugar and Irfan chose a banana cupcake!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thrilled with their cupcakes. Ihsan had picked a chocolate one with little colourful balls of sugar and Irfan chose a banana cupcake!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy99F54fDBsbOQ5_ByAk5za9mYQC5drrtOQz925HI7PissWKWwzhgXL7b3Dw6NAKpTpGEOyQW3aDTHkGS1tET1l6HXEH6udiJfgrbmxMIyIUWDUd-w8RTGf2d-L2j8nOHK8xHu0TzOEDRq/s1600/P1040255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy99F54fDBsbOQ5_ByAk5za9mYQC5drrtOQz925HI7PissWKWwzhgXL7b3Dw6NAKpTpGEOyQW3aDTHkGS1tET1l6HXEH6udiJfgrbmxMIyIUWDUd-w8RTGf2d-L2j8nOHK8xHu0TzOEDRq/s640/P1040255.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These Gozlemes were really very very good!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_UcxsxB6oXrdg2MxctWiTSHCpxXegrKx2khr0XwcAegYkBzhyuURfWdYsjUz_8RWzBV8KGPR_1BJUTZ6-y7u24HoqbJDDAQdgkjfkbSvAsL4t0BQFN7A0Rf8S9266_kUMcO_LAR2u-47/s1600/P1040242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_UcxsxB6oXrdg2MxctWiTSHCpxXegrKx2khr0XwcAegYkBzhyuURfWdYsjUz_8RWzBV8KGPR_1BJUTZ6-y7u24HoqbJDDAQdgkjfkbSvAsL4t0BQFN7A0Rf8S9266_kUMcO_LAR2u-47/s640/P1040242.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hubs thrilled about some Acai thing he got which was apparently super cheap compared to the stuff he gets at Evolve Gym here in SG.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Churros from <a href="http://www.sanchurro.com/store-locations/store/19/fremantle" target="_blank">Chocolateria San Churros</a>.....YumZ!</span></td></tr>
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2. <b>The Lawn</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMktCR7GUfCpnRacsCcn7pA97LkEyem3dc2vG58lHqhqbF8MZitv4NKIlCSy4fZt6c82ZflR3IRQRqCrICGBe89QwWrmHdSKgMmYQFXixivMCGFQWKxgiVsgn_pWIreHAsOZDj8slhTxV/s1600/1235403_10151842208682929_1869197071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMktCR7GUfCpnRacsCcn7pA97LkEyem3dc2vG58lHqhqbF8MZitv4NKIlCSy4fZt6c82ZflR3IRQRqCrICGBe89QwWrmHdSKgMmYQFXixivMCGFQWKxgiVsgn_pWIreHAsOZDj8slhTxV/s640/1235403_10151842208682929_1869197071_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The lawn, which is just outside the food part of the markets was an awesome little spot. We sat ourselves in the sun and enjoyed the snacks from the markets. It was great to just watch people stream in and out of the markets. It was a nice spot to relax AND also be part of the vibe!</span></td></tr>
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3. <b>More chilling at the Park</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We caught up with the rest of the party and spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at the Park. There was a huge playarea that kept the kids occupied, while I got major catch-up time with Jess and the uber cute little baby.</span></td></tr>
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The boys also got all excited when a balloon sculptor appeared. He sculpted animal balloons for the kids. Ihsan asked for a tiger. So that's his little orange tiger and it's tail. And Irfan asked for a pig.<br />
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Yes, a pig. Irfan had just started watching episodes of Peppa Pig on Australian TV and was just absolutely besotted with her. I, too, thinks that she is a most delightful little piglet. Such wonderful manners and most impeccable diction.<br />
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You know, Muslims and pigs? I didn't really mind. And my mom jokingly asked him,"Weren't there any other animals?" To which I responded, "Pigs are God's creation too."<br />
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And that's how Irfan found a little piglet to accompany him throughout the rest of our trip in Perth!<br />
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The trip would have been perfect, if not for Ihsan crying the whole way back from Freo to the house. But we were getting quite used to that already. =)</div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-18222863103902353602013-10-12T00:36:00.000+08:002013-10-12T00:48:27.182+08:00Reflections of an Aspiring OD Practitioner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Those of you who know me well, would know that I am passionate about building my experience and finesse as a facilitator.<br />
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I'm absolutely comfortable facilitating learning or helping participants at workshops to consolidate learning. I've been practicing for some years now and feel quite confident that I am fairly competent at it. I've very much tried not to shy away from ANY opportunity to practise and I've been immensely lucky that many have been so generous with their trust and confidence in me.<br />
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What I've been very new at, in terms of facilitation, is in the area of facilitating large group conversations around, and with the objective, of improving performance, team effectiveness and culture building. In Organisation Development (OD) type conversations and interventions, I have very little experience.<br />
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What I had quickly learnt during a recent stint in OD, was that I found it immensely difficult and challenging work. I found that every time I began a journey working towards an OD intervention with a particular team or organisation, that I very quickly got 'sucked into' the issues. For example, when interviewing staff who are demoralised, I tend to start mirroring their feelings. I start feeling demoralised too. If they share their anxiety, it's as if I adopt their anxiety as my own. And i'm not even part of the organisation but yet, it becomes my own problems. Enough, that it would affect my sleep.<br />
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And in my reflections with my own teams, I learnt that I was hyper sensitive to body language, voice tonation of the people I worked with. I read people very quickly, I get a sense of the energies in the room, the tensions between people and it affects me to a large extent. It turns out, I'm a <a href="http://www.hsperson.com/" target="_blank">Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) </a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">According to <a href="http://www.hsperson.com/index.html" target="_blank">Dr. Aron's</a> definition, the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">So I get overwhelmed...very easily (<i>Those of you who have gone partying with me know this very well. It is the answer to why Iva is behaving like she's drunk/high, when she hasn't had a drop of alcohol to drink).</i> The OD work I've done can be very exhausting, and taxing in a very personal way. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">So, when I completed my posting/secondment to my previous organisation, I had kinda sworn to myself, no more facilitating OD type interventions. I wanted to stay in my happy-place. I didn't want to get sucked into any more downward spirals.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">But when I was approached to do this OD assignment that I completed today. I found that, despite my vow to myself just some months ago, I felt compelled to accept it. It was for an organisation that I cared for very deeply. This was about a family I have grown to love and appreciate very much. It was very much, very very much, personal.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">A friend who shared with me about HSPs and told me to read the book about it, shared with me that people like me may have what it takes to be really good OD practitioners. Because very often, we look at organisational issues and challenges and tackle it with our heads. But really good OD practitioners are able to connect, emotionally too. They also use the power of their hearts, to move teams, to move organisations and to create...something. I somehow, never quite believed him.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">He explained that what people like me needed to learn, was how to take care of myself. To protect my inner-self. So that I would be able to distance the work that I do with from my own personal life. That, surely, I am nowhere close to mastering.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Reflecting on what we had achieved today, which to some may not have been astoundingly much, but to us, great nonetheless, I did not regret my decision to accept this particular OD assignment. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Although I wasn't the lead facilitator, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">it sure </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">felt great, to be connected to a mission, a purpose and a bunch of people I care very much for. It felt wonderful to feel in service and in support of what they hoped to achieve. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">And it didn't feel emotionally taxing at all, although I did well up in tears twice today. Because I was so open to the experience, I wanted to embrace the feelings, downwards or upwards, fully. I wanted to be fully open. And I was prepared to being vulnerable about how important this day was to me. And how I had hoped it was just as important to them. I had a personal stake in this. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">My experience today made me reassess the promise I had made to myself to never facilitate any more OD interventions. It's planted a belief that I should make ONE exception. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">I should make an exceptions for organisations, teams that I truly believe in and care for. For this is really meaningful work.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">And don't we all aspire to be part of a little bit of GREATness!</span></div>
eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-32405998906953352982013-10-05T23:49:00.003+08:002013-10-05T23:49:48.256+08:00Perth in 10 day with 8 adults, 3 kids and 1 uber cute lil' baby- sleepy Roos and stoned Koalas!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I don't ever count Day 1 of a trip, Day 1. It's Day 0. Only because it sometimes takes the entire day to settle into the accommodation and settle rental cars, etc. You hardly get to see or do anything on the first day, hence I count it as Day 0.</div>
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And Day 0, was true to its form, a day of nothing but settling admin stuff. First, the car rental company took quite a long while. The cars were there, but the babyseats were not. And we NEEDED babyseats!</div>
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Then, we had some trouble checking into <a href="http://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/wa/perth/perth-south/95849" target="_blank">The Castle at Canningvale</a>, a 4-storey house suitable for 8 adults, 3 kids and an uber cute little baby. The key that was left for us, was faulty and the landlady was 3 hours away! Luckily for us, mum's cousin was just a 10 min drive away, so we headed there for our late lunch and waited for the landlady to sort the key situation out.</div>
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We then learnt that it had been raining in Perth- cats and dogs. Apparently, there had been little/no rain all Winter, and the rain had come this early Spring. Shucks! We checked out the weather forecast which basically said, Rain, Rain, Sun, Rain, Rain, Rain, Some Rain, Some Sun....you get the picture. Groan!</div>
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So, we decided to keep our fingers crossed.</div>
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Our general plan for the trip was: 3 days in and about Perth, 6 days around the Southern part of Western Australia and 1 final day in Perth before flying back.</div>
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And TOP on the agenda was <a href="http://www.cavershamwildlife.com.au/" target="_blank">Caversham Wildlife Park </a>and Kangaroos! </div>
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We woke up to......RAIN! Just as the weather forecast had predicted. But that didn't stop us, we packed ourselves into the cars and drove 40mins North from where we were, to head to Kangaroo land!</div>
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And...blessed were we that when we arrived, we were greeted with sunshine! Even the Kangaroos were lazing about enjoying the sun!</div>
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I thought the boys would be scared. But boy, was I wrong! They basically pounced on the kangaroos.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nephew Mik showing off the little pellets we fed the Kangaroos.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to run after the twins who tried to feed both kangaroos awake and kangaroos asleep!</td></tr>
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Obviously, Caversham Wildlife Park had much more to offer than just Kangaroos. But the Kangaroos, were by far, the most popular animals at the park. I was thrilled my kids loved it, and it was nice to be able to get so up close and personal with the Roos. </div>
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But, I'm not sure if it was because we were there in the morning, or because the sun was up, that the Kangaroos just looked really sleepy and lethargic. I guess, if you're being poked awake by 2-yr old boys, and then have food shoved up your face everyday, you'd get pretty lazy! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Little Birdies, Lizards, Snakes and Possums at the Wombat and Friends show were awesome!</td></tr>
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My family and I visited Perth when I was in Primary school, and while I don't remember any kangaroos, I definitely remembered meeting a Wombat for the very first time. But I remembered that the wombat was cute and cuddly. Here at Caversham, I wouldn't describe their biggest Wombat star as cute and cuddly. In fact, I'm still trying to get to grips with what I think about BOB. But, we still posed for a pic anyways!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's our little family and a not so little Wombat named Bob!</td></tr>
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The boys were really brave and tried to stroke every animal that could be stroked! I was on freak out mode most of the time, as the keepers would give strict instructions about where they can touch the animals, and where they shouldn't. I wasn't as much worried about the boys as I was about the animals, but the boys surprised me. Most of the time, they were listening to instructions. When they weren't, I just used my deathly grip to control their little hands!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a possum of some sorts! And you can ONLY stroke it's tail! Look how my hubs is holding on to a very very Exited little Upin!<br /></td></tr>
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The little petting zoos were great, cos the boys got to run around and basically be boys! And what trip would be complete, without a visit to Australia's Koalas! Our boys really love animals, so they were absolutely tripping over themselves running to see Koalas. Although, you know, I'm not sure they had ever heard about a Koala before we were at Caversham.<br />
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Anyway, these little Koalas look really cute! If i hadn't seen it move a little, i'd have thought it was just Koala dolls on display- they were like sooooo stoned!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy with Upin, and a Koala that looks like she's sulking! Maybe it's an introverted little Koal! hahahah!</td></tr>
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We spent half a day at Caversham. And the rains stayed away, enough for us to even let the kids have an hour at a playground on the Wildlife park grounds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the 3 kids and the uber cute little baby! Can you guess how many of the adults are back there too? Count the pairs of legs to find out!</td></tr>
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3 happy kids and 1 happy uber cute little baby = 8 happy adults!<br />
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So it was a great Day 1. Although, it was partially ruined by a rain-soaked cold evening at Fremantle. The Fish and Chips couldn't make up for the rain, wind and uncooperative little boys who fought over crayons all night long. I'm going to pretend the evening didn't happen!<br />
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Instead, I'm going to remember the day ending with these 4 lil chickadees and their happy faces!<br />
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<i>Stay tuned for the next installment of 10 days in Perth, with 8 adults, 3 kids and an uber cute lil baby. It's a rainy day at the Aquarium, but all is better when the sun visits in Freo!</i><br />
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<i>A sneak peek...</i><br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-23482817535108785512013-10-03T23:23:00.003+08:002013-10-03T23:37:49.326+08:00Perth in 10 days, with 8 adults, 3 kids and a really cute baby girl! (Introduction)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So... I'm under some pressure to get my posts on our recent family trip to Perth out. Which is a good thing, because the memories are freshly imprinted in my mind. And because, I so want to capture the wonderful (and not so wonderful memories of travelling with the terrible two-ers) memories for my boys to read, when they're old enough, I'm going to blog about it in a series of posts I've entitled ' Perth in 10 days, with 8 adults, 3 kids and a really cute baby girl!'.<br />
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Why? Read on!<br />
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Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this series, as much as I'm going to so enjoy putting it together.<br />
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Our adventures must obviously start with one question and one question only- How did 8 adults, 3 kids and a baby decided they wanted to go to Perth for a holiday?</div>
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Simple.</div>
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One of my bestest friends from Secondary School had moved to Perth after her 'O's. I had never visited her even though we've kept in touch and she visits in Singapore quite often. So I decided, 2013 would be THE year, that hubs and I will bring the boys to Perth to visit. </div>
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We thought by that time, we would have the guts to go through aiport security and custom checks, with 2 prams, 2 little fidgety boys AND suitcases. It also seemed realistic that by that time, we could imagine spending 4-5 hours in a small confined space with our 2 very active little boys and a planeful of passengers who just want to relax and enjoy inflight entertainment, without one of three scenarios unfolding:</div>
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Scenario 1: Boys throw uncontrollable tantrums and, Hubs and I throw ourselves out of the plane</div>
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Scenario 2: Boys throw uncontrollable tantrums causing us to throw the twins out of the plane and </div>
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Scenario 3: Boys throw uncontrollable tantrums, I breakdown in hysterics while hubs blocks everything out and continues to watch 'The Intership' on KrisWorld...and the other passengers throw all 4 of us out of the plane. </div>
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In short, it would be a good time to test our mettle as parents of young twin boys.</div>
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Shared my idea with my mom, who said that she wanted to go to Perth too. She wanted to visit a cousin who had recently moved there. 'Great!' I thought. It would be great, if my mum and dad could come. It would mean much reduced probabilities of the 3 scenarios I outlined above, happening. This would be fabulous!</div>
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Then younger brother went, 'Oits! We also want to come!' His newborn would have been about 7 months. And it would be about time, both him and my sis-in-law would have emerged from the drunken stupour of (a) having plopped out a newborn into the world (my sis-in-law, not so much my brother), (b) having had to fuss over a cranky newborn day and all night and (c) having to deal with a firstborn who is going through a painful identity crises having lost his status as only-child, so very recently.</div>
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I kinda thought, 'Oh shucks, this kinda evens up the possibilities of the 3 scenarios. In fact, the odds could work against us! It could be ALL 4 of us AND our 4 kids being thrown out of a flying aircraft.</div>
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But blood is thicker than my paranoia, so it was settled then, 6 adults, 3 kids and 1 little uber cute baby girl!</div>
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Then just a few months before we were arranging for tickets. Mum mentions randomly to some of her sisters that she was headed to Perth. And one of them said, " Oits! I also want to come! And I'm bringing along my daughter".</div>
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I'm not sure whether she knew what she was getting into, when she hollered,"Oits!" Cos, when my mum told me, my aunt and my younger single cousin was coming along, I was thinking to myself,"Are they friggin crazy? It is going to be an absolute circus with the twin terrible two terrors, a 7-month old baby who screams her head off <u>everytime</u> she's made to lie down and a little 3-year old boy who gets into daily scuffles with the twins.</div>
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Anyway. We warned them. Told them that we were planning an itinerary centred around keeping the kids occupied (<i>who really cares what the adults want? Right?</i>). And reminded them that we would not take any responsibility for any mental health issues or physical hurt they may encounter, <i>or inflict upon themselves</i>, if the children...or for that matter...any of the other adults...drive them mad.</div>
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Mum assured me that there was no need to ask them to sign a legal indemnity form. </div>
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And so it was, that we embarked on our adventure of Perth in 10 days, with 8 adults, 3 kids and a baby.</div>
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<i>Stay tuned...</i></div>
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<i>In the next installment of Perth in 10 days, 8 adults, 3 kids and a really cute baby girl....</i></div>
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<i>Unexpected Spring Showers initially dampen spirits but, nothing stops the party of 11 from spending some super cool time feeding super sleepy kangaroos at Caversham Wildlife Park....</i></div>
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<i>A sneek peek of what's to come!....</i></div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-50257493315345040372013-10-03T15:39:00.001+08:002013-10-03T15:39:21.526+08:00Capture the little fleeting moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I think it's time for me to start filling the pages of my blog again.<br />
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My last post was in January 2013.<br />
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It feels like that was years ago. So much has happened since then.<br />
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So much, I have failed to chronicle.<br />
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Today, I'm feeling nostalgic. My dreams led me to memories I had come to terms with and have come to cherish, but yet I find myself, today, just today, dwelling on the past.<br />
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And what i need more than anything today, is to revisit my thoughts, the feelings I encountered, then. But all those words I had penned had gotten lost. In email accounts that have been de-registered, in floppy disks that i have misplaced. I am sorely missing those thoughts, those words that would let me immerse myself in my past.<br />
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So, a return to this is a must. Because it serves my purpose, my need to remember, to capture the little fleeting moments that are precious to me, and that I want to preserve for my future enjoyment.<br />
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-91956226377366540002013-01-20T02:13:00.002+08:002013-01-20T02:13:22.404+08:00Happy (belated) Birthday Ewan!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My brother turned a year older a couple of days ago. Truth be told, that I was so wrapped up with my own life that I didn't realise until the eve of his birthday, that the 15th of January had come around already.</div>
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He did an interesting thing, he sent the family watsapp group a picture of a Hamilton watch he was wearing. It was a watch we had given him 10 years ago on his 21st birthday. He hadn't worn it in years because the strap had disintegrated or broken or something along those lines. For whatever reason he got it fixed this year and was thrilled that the watch was still in great condition. </div>
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I remember that day we bought the watch. I don't remember where he was. Perhaps in NS, but it was a weekend morning, my parents had brought us to have breakfast in Little India and we had gone to Mustafa to pick a watch. We chose the Hamilton. I knew he would love it. And he did.</div>
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I realised I remember a lot of things, that maybe he doesn't know or maybe he's forgotten. This year, growing increasingly sentimental, he had asked for gifts that can last. Something he can treasure in years to come. So I've decided to share with him some my memories of him. </div>
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Most of my earliest memories of him are kinda muddled with photos and stories that my parents had shared with us. Like him insisting on wearing my underwear, when he was 2 and I was 5. We had watched it on the video, so i am unclear now whether it was my very own memory or one that I had just adopted as my own.</div>
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But some that I remember are my very very own.</div>
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<b>Memory #1</b></div>
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I remember climbing onto mattresses with billowing, cloudy pink mosquito nets hanging above them, at my grandparent's kampung house at Jalan Eunos. We slept there when my parents were overseas in Europe. I remember missing my parents but I never felt alone. Ewan was there. And I had to take care of him. I remember he'd cry for my mum. Grandma and I would try and cheer him up by distracting him or telling him that mum and dad would be home soon. It always upset me when he cried because all the postcards my parents sent reminded me in one way or the other that I had to watch over him and take care of my little brother. </div>
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<b>Memory #2</b></div>
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I remember how proud and protective I felt when Ewan first went to primary school. He would sit at the front of the bus and I would watch from behind to make sure that none of the boys were bullying him. Once, I had to engage in a battle with an older boy from his school so that my brother could have the window, where he sat on the bus, be open. You know, it either could slide to one side or the other. When you fought over the window, you fought to keep it pushed open by each party pushing from either sides. It helped that I was quite big sized and certainly very very fierce. Noone would mess with my little brother when i was around!</div>
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<b>Memory #3</b></div>
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I remember when I was, maybe in primary 2 or 3 and we were spending afternoons at my grandmother's flat in Tampines. There was, well there still is the same, Indian Mamak shop which sold titbits, groceries and other things at the void-deck. Ewan and I would always look longingly at the toys on display. He always wanted an army set, which had a plastic grenade among other things. I'm not proud of what I did. But I did it. I knew my grandfather kept crisp two dollar notes, probably left over notes from Hari Raya, in the pants he slung over a chair in his room. One day, I decided to pick those pockets. I counted exactly the number of notes I needed. Five two dollar notes. Enough to buy my brother the toy-set he wanted and a little pink jewellery play set for me. I really shouldn't have bothered to get him anything. Oblivious to the crime I had commit, he played with his newly acquired toys openly. It only ended up exposing my crime. </div>
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I remember many things about that incident- how difficult it was to confess to my late grandfather that I had stolen his money, how disappointed my mother looked when she realised I had stolen money, how embarassing it was to face my aunts and uncles who instantly learnt about the incident from my very indiscrete grandmother. But I also remember how my little brother's face lit up when I lifted that plastic packet of army toys off the hanging rack, handed $4.50 to the mamak and then put the toy in his hands. </div>
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<b>Memory #4</b></div>
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I remember, when he was in NS, specifically when he was doing his BMT in Tekong and wasn't back home for a long long stretch of time, I would sit on his bed after returning from uni classes. I would be wishing he was back home because there was something I had to tell him, and only him. </div>
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I also remember driving from our home in Upper Thomson to SAFTI MI or was it MINDEF to send him home-cooked food for iftar during fasting month. It was always a crazy rush, cos mum wouldn't cook the food too early, in case it got cold, and I'd have to rush back to make it back before the azan would indicate it was time to break fast. I never ever felt that it was a chore. That drive meant the my little brother had something from home to keep him going and it meant I had a chance to see him, even if it was for that 1 minute as I pass him the tupperware before I sped back home.</div>
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<b>Memory #5</b></div>
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I remember some years ago when a guy I was seeing had done something quite shitty and basically broke it off with me, my brother asked me, "Do you want me to beat him up? Or at least scratch his car". I was so touched by the offer but turned it down. I also remembered thinking, "When did the little scrawny boy who needed my protection in the school bus, become this tall Mat who had his sister's back?"</div>
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<b>Memory #6</b></div>
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This was very recent so he'd remember this. When I learnt I was pregnant, the 2nd time around, I was in an utter state of panic. It wasn't planned, just the day before I was using a 3M spray and my colleague had said,'Remember not to use this spray when you're pregnant ok. It's really not good for the baby.' I was also afraid that I'd have a repeat of my first pregnancy- a non viable one. The first person I called was my brother. I burst into tears and asked if he'd bring me to see my gynae, but made him promise not to tell anyone about it, except maybe my sis-in-law. When he agreed, I called my gynae to make an appt and <i>then</i> i called my husband. Ewan was probably sleep deprived as he had a 2-3 week newborn baby then. But still he came, picked me up, drove me to the hospital, sat with me, talked just enough that he didn't pry too much but still managed to cheer me up all at once. No words can explain how important his presence was to me that day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOAJnKd6V_46NqySuU1g40eSAENETHgZI1UQSAEf-7Z2qwM9OwoS75cxpnuqqurL4owE5ksynZmKXnmM6tlvuEmqDpyXk_dD7CY2Nf5Y1trKEhQYmL73bG2UE2AC8hrvKgZwAPQLsJyZ6/s1600/IMG_0015+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOAJnKd6V_46NqySuU1g40eSAENETHgZI1UQSAEf-7Z2qwM9OwoS75cxpnuqqurL4owE5ksynZmKXnmM6tlvuEmqDpyXk_dD7CY2Nf5Y1trKEhQYmL73bG2UE2AC8hrvKgZwAPQLsJyZ6/s400/IMG_0015+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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All great memories? Obviously he's driven me crazy and, truth be told, I have, more than once, taken deep breaths visualising myself bashing his head into the wall, especially when we have our epic arguments, cos we both have the same we-are-never-wrong attitude! He will never forget about how he used to drive me crazy when we were little when he refused to help me, especially when we were walking home from my grandma's. But those instances were very few and far, in between. </div>
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We were and still continue to be very close. He's grown to be an amazing person. It's an indescribable feeling, watching this scrawny little thing you used to guard over, grow up to be a wonderful husband, a doting and fun-loving father and a dutiful son.</div>
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So bro...Happy Birthday! May we always cherish the memories of our childhood together and may our children grow up to be as close as we were. Here's to many many more memories to come. I look forward to spending our old age, looking back at them and laughing, wondering how quickly those years had sped by and being thankful that we always had and will always have each other!</div>
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With much love, your kakak!</div>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070304007819551996.post-58974491340845640632013-01-02T00:51:00.000+08:002013-01-02T00:51:05.696+08:002013: A Rough but Wonderful Reminder of our continuing journey of Parenthood.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's a New Year.</div>
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I spent most of the last few weeks really wondering where the year had gone. Kept asking myself, what had I achieved in 2012?</div>
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For awhile I was thinking- yar the boys! The boys were my gift for 2012! But then it dawned upon me that I was soo mistaken. They were 2011 babies. I pondered on but I still can't think about anything significant I achieved in 2012. </div>
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Sad, huh?</div>
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Well, I was even sadder when I missed the last few hours of 2012 last night. Irfan was throwing a tantrum from early on in the evening...and by the time i got him to sleep at about 10pm or so...I was exhausted and fell asleep alongside him.</div>
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Woke up at 12.30am...devastated that I had missed the countdown. </div>
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Went back to sleep only to be awaken by Ihsan at 5.30am, who decided he wasn't about to be left out of the tantrum throwing and decided to throw one too.</div>
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Sigh...</div>
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It was like they were trying to remind me that while it may be a New Year and they may just be a little bit older, that my job of parenting them is far from over. My babies may no longer be tiny little things that need to be fed every 2hrs but they need my attention, love and care nonetheless. Maybe even more so now! </div>
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And you know...the odd thing was that they were angels the rest of the day. We went out for brunch at Cedele and they were such a delight there. Eating happily, smiling and being all sunshine and kisses! Sure, Ihsan threw up in the cab on the way back. But he was absolutely pleasant about it, and proudly called out to the taxi Uncle to look at how he had vomited all over the back seat. Hahah! (Taxi uncle was not amused)</div>
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So yeah, I guess the rough nights aren't over. We have yet to see our last tantrum and we'll definitely be cleaning up more vomit along the way. </div>
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But our hearts will always, at the end of the day, be full of love and happiness.</div>
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So here's to a wonderful 2013 with our loved ones. May we cherish every moment we have with each other!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x-zkHdRp_brfGpgLisG-fVyc9Wt-xY8tlCWx1FnnnEELu3pThi7Kjw8WREn1xhcUuKwXTdVrq2QQTUkGr0waTCIcPVMgiNjAtOk5zTtCGspZL1MitBcKyepmz5BWYWDhRy941OolY1mo/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x-zkHdRp_brfGpgLisG-fVyc9Wt-xY8tlCWx1FnnnEELu3pThi7Kjw8WREn1xhcUuKwXTdVrq2QQTUkGr0waTCIcPVMgiNjAtOk5zTtCGspZL1MitBcKyepmz5BWYWDhRy941OolY1mo/s640/IMG_2262.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ihsan enjoying his breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs. He proceeded to throw everything up in the cab ride home. =(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRYfb0Xn8umpJRDaegfT-qBCJhpSemn49CRP-kAcmiwmRaPNdRumE_NvI9YF7p8J56TteWnyL5lS2n2r8cdE5blHzvI1Zvk0fslo9B6IAtaFl3wy6bxUV3VznpFh7bMStt6JmRi5vI0z9/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRYfb0Xn8umpJRDaegfT-qBCJhpSemn49CRP-kAcmiwmRaPNdRumE_NvI9YF7p8J56TteWnyL5lS2n2r8cdE5blHzvI1Zvk0fslo9B6IAtaFl3wy6bxUV3VznpFh7bMStt6JmRi5vI0z9/s640/IMG_2263.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubs with Irfan. Look how they have such cute tiny eyes! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB4WSBaq8up02UF1FcqqJCk6M4wBBM6IMuAXhcgf5mLMvVzoO1PgViLOKigPGzDU3TD2PpwMFU9GfCvNHYRs3v8ZT4KW5fGGvArjWMTI9rvtq_6k87ha1xj2JgzprjAsHn1dUqDK28wA_/s1600/IMG_2265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB4WSBaq8up02UF1FcqqJCk6M4wBBM6IMuAXhcgf5mLMvVzoO1PgViLOKigPGzDU3TD2PpwMFU9GfCvNHYRs3v8ZT4KW5fGGvArjWMTI9rvtq_6k87ha1xj2JgzprjAsHn1dUqDK28wA_/s640/IMG_2265.JPG" width="592" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ihsan and I. He definitely has my nose. Not to mention the same flair for dramatics!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRlO2-Nji2XZ-_t-w3iW7AlVH5Eb3Bl37r4Jb0d5XPv4XuRLvywq4WJJ94QOaDkk_p6k2O0Jvug2g043AV-X1fmkaJ_aXTM8o0CeAXUH387A9v7e64xXx5Urzud-vhyM8mBJU-JSftaqH/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRlO2-Nji2XZ-_t-w3iW7AlVH5Eb3Bl37r4Jb0d5XPv4XuRLvywq4WJJ94QOaDkk_p6k2O0Jvug2g043AV-X1fmkaJ_aXTM8o0CeAXUH387A9v7e64xXx5Urzud-vhyM8mBJU-JSftaqH/s640/IMG_2266.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's going to be a heartbreaker, this Irfan. Can't you see it already? </td></tr>
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eveelevahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263542544370213661noreply@blogger.com0