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hearme_roarr
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Name: Odelia >:]
Gender: Female
Interests: Netball, Basketball, Planetshakers, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, The Click Five, Paramore, Simple Plan, Relient K, Boys Like Girls, Plain White T's, We The Kings, Secondhand Serenade, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo
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Member Since:
11/28/2007
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| I was looking through facebook live feed and I saw nut's short post on her tumblr about Chiangrai, she talked about how we're back in such a superficial place, where after the trip, we're all starting to return to our old selves and how she didn't want to. I then thought back to myself, am I really turning back to what I once was, am I really letting myself get obsessed with all these crazy things here. Technology, mirrors and all the superficiality as she mentioned. It's around us everyday, and it's almost impossible to avoid any of those. Books, television, computer, Internet. It's almost like it's impossible to be yourself in such an IT dominated and superficial place, where you have so much, yet so little, where true happiness is hard to find, where we have to conform to our surroundings. You could say that it's just such a busy world that we hardly have the time to think back on our lives, to really reflect on what kind of people we are turning into. It is hard, living in a world of expectations, in a world where you don't know what's real and what's not.
And that's how Chiangrai was different. There was nothing fake about Chiangrai, everything was real, everything was just wham-in-your-face, whatever you saw, was whatever you got. The kids didn't act like they liked us, everything was true, and everything was real. If they didn't like you, they just didn't talk to you, they didn't go behind your backs and backstab you. The kids accepted us for who we were, they didn't dislike us cos of our physical appearance, or because we didn't know thai, they loved us for who we were. They hugged us, wrote us love letters and their smiles were all genuine. They didn't see what was outside, but accepted us for whoever we were, and that's what I miss, and that's what I've learnt to do there, but it seems, that I'm starting to lose it slowly. I'm starting to judge people again, and I don't want that. I don't wanna go back to my old self. I want to change.
The truth hurts, but it sets you free.
Peace Outt. | | |
| It's been a while since I posted, mainly cos the week before was spent in Chiangrai and this week was just spent doing lotsa things. And I haven't found the time to really post a realllllllly long post about Chiangrai and the week, so here I am (:
Chiang Rai Mission Trip - 11th - 16th Nov
This trip was a real eye opener for me, it made me realize so many things and I learnt so much while I was there. It was really so different from Singapore, up on the mountain with all the simple things, that place had so little yet so much.
The first day was basically spent travelling, from Singapore to Bangkok (2hours) , Transit (2hours) , then Bangkok to Chiangrai (1hour) , and then a long (and very bumpy) car ride (1.5hours), we reached there in the evening and saw the kids for the first time. We didn't really get to interact with them and the rest of the night was just spent fitting into the environment and getting used to our dorms etc. It really was much better than I expected it to be, the place was really cosy, despite us only having a flat mattress with two hard pillows (like the olden times), and two thin blankets. The scenery there was so captivating, and we spent most of the night star-gazing cos the stars were so awesome. You never really get to see much in Singapore cos of all the buildings, sigh.
The second day we were up and early at like 6, bathed and washed up, the water was coooooooold, but we got used to it. Ohwell. Breakfast was good, even though it's just congee/porridge, simple is best they say. It was so good (: Sister Bernard then shared with us about how she got started on this mission, on the school etc. It was pretty cool to hear about it and Sister has really given up so much for the school and it is amazing how she is able to, cos I'm not sure whether I'd be able to give up my life to serve God and to make a difference. After the talk, was then about an hour of rest time, then it was fieldwork! O: We spent the rest of the morning beating the rice, and it is HARD I tell you, I wonder how those people do it everyday, and only when I did it myself, did I learn how to appreciate the bowl of rice that I get everyday on the table, without having to work for it, while this people have to work so hard, to put that small bowl of rice on the table. It was a kind of wake up call, to learn how to appreciate the little things around you and to make use of everything that you have, and be thankful for it. Lunch was amazing, it's really shocking how one can eat so much when you're hungry. The food was the best, even though it was just simple beehoon with springrolls, the springrolls were heavenly, really :D After lunch, we were asked to clear the land of weeds or I think it's lallang, it was HARD, gosh. Raking is difficult, esp when you're the only one with the rake, but it was easier than the changko (sp?), cleared quite a lot and felt quite accomplished, hehe :D We were then given time to wash up, and an hour of self reflection before it was time for dinner. We got paired up with like 2-3 kids each, I got Arm Phorn which is 8years old and Nutthawut 1 (yes there are two, lol) which is 16years old. It was an awkward experience at first, cos of the language barrier, but I got talking to Arm Phorn after a while, Nutthawut kept disappearing. Ohwell. Learnt that he was studying and doing his chores, whenever he went missing. The rest of the night was spent with the kids, Duck duck goose. The kids were so intrigued by it, they enjoyed it so much, and it was great to see the smiles on their faces, no matter how tiring it was to run around with them non stop, haha. Bed time for them and sharing for us was at 9, realised and learnt a lot of things that day. More star gazing at night <3
The third day was the same routine in the morning, just that I didn't bathe, cos I bathed the night before, so yea. Breakfast was good as expected (: The morning was spent doing fieldwork again, tried to finish up as much of the rice, and we were way more efficient, though we were all aching and tired from the day before, ohwell. Then lunch, the afternoon was spent at the village, where we went to the village school via the small truck, 14 in each O: and interacted with a different batch of kids. Duck duck goose and all other simple games were played again, and we all had a great time. Spent about 2hours there and the rest of the time was free time to roam around the village and give out sweets to the kids. Played soccer with the little boys who were preparing for their sports day (: Did you know that they run around bare footed, and it is super painful, I tried. I wonder how they do it, and it made me appreciate the little things in life yet again, looking at their living conditions, the school and the children. Sigh. Went back to the centre, washed up, reflection and dinner. The evening was spent again, duck duck goose etc, it was fun :D And despite all the aches I was having due to fieldwork etc, I didn't feel them, cos I was overwhelmed with the warmth and the love around (:
Fourth day was a full day of games with the kids, and it was really tiring yet we all had really great fun with them. The memory game, the catching etc. It was good, despite the really hot weather, O: Got split into groups, I was in blue :D Hehe. Midway, we had a debrief, kind of like a wake up call to many of us, the teachers really changed and were different people during the debrief, they were really blunt, but yet everything they said made sense, and really woke all of us up, some cried and many were awakened. I really learnt that we should give and not expect anything in return, and that we weren't in Chiangrai to play or just to have fun, but to make a difference, and to change our old ways. After that, we were sent off to play with them again, and I guess it was better than the morning, which was pretty messy. Plastercine (sp?) was given to the kids to play, and they are creative, super creative (: They also taught us how to make origami, and it was good. Then was shower and all, then dinner (: I talked to Nutthawut more today, (: Played more games after dinner and it was awesome, (: Slept later than the normal that night cos the kids weren't tired, so we just kept playing with them, and I had a really awesome day with them.
Fifth and last full day spent with the kids. Mass in the morning was pretty good, the songs are still stuck in my head. It was half in Thai and half in English, the sermon was about the end of the world and all. It was good (: We were given about 2-3 hours or something with them, and the rest of the day was spent preparing for our concert item at night. The concert was great, the kids were really great, esp the older boys, their performance was really funny :D They all then started singing really nice songs to us, and all of us started crying, and then it was time for us to perform, most of us were still crying but we put up a great performance :D Then more songs were sung and all the kids came to hug all of us one by one and I started crying real bad after that. More time was then given to us to talk to them and spend time with them. I couldn't stop crying that night, hugged Arm Phorn, Mong Khun 1, Numchok and Nutthawut 1 a lot, and just kept crying while the kids stared at all of us. Haha. Sigh, slept waywayway later than usual. Haha. We all didn't wanna go to sleep, cos we wanted to make the night last longer, sigh.
Last day, we all woke up early to say goodbye to the kids, and it was really saddening to see all of them leave in the truck one by one, and knowing that we won't get to see them for a while. We then packed up, and breakfast, before we all got into the trucks one by one, and we drove back. The ride back was really really bumpy, almost puked. Sat with Claraaaa in Father's truck, he was super fast and the road was really really turny and I got nauseous. Sigh. But it was alright, stopped at Big C for lunch and all, had kfc with Clara and did a lot of shopping for the kids. Then we had to rush to the airport cos one driver lost the key so Father had to go many trips to get all the girls, ohwell. Immigration etc took super long, and the trip back to Singapore etc was really tiring. We only got back at night and I was drained. But it was truly a great experience.
I miss the scenery,
I miss the kids,
I miss the smiles,
I miss the laughter,
I miss the food,
I miss the simplicity,
I miss the peace,
I miss the people (Sister, Father),
I miss the night sky,
I miss the arm wrestling sessions,
I miss the hugs,
I miss the love,
I miss the care,
I miss the mountain air,
I miss Arm Phorn, Mong Khun 1, Numchok, Nutthawut 1,
I miss everything in Chiangrai.
I'm definitely going back next year after my O's, who's with me? (:
Tuesday 17th Nov,
Nothing done today, just stoned and watched tv :D
Wednesday 18th Nov,
Went out and studied with Yanting, didn't get much work done though, the day was mostly spent catching up (: And guess who left her retainers at Macs and realised only an hour later, resulting in her almost losing them, but amazingly didn't, because the guy found them in the last trash bag. Go me. I'm ftw. Lol.
Thursday 19th Nov,
Back to KCP, met at 9. Cleaned the PE Room with Yanting, Pamela came later. And amazingly it wasn't that bad, it was still bearable. Ohwell. It was fun, hehe. Then Mr Goh got us food, and we sat around and stoned till Mr Goh had to go. We then bus-ed to J8 where we left Pamela who went to meet her mum, (: Yanting and I then went to study again, more was done today, though not much more, haha. Saw Changzhong and Jeannette at the library O: They were studying for A's, ohwell. Then met Yongcai and Jiaen at around 4 to go buy things for the BBQ on Saturday, Moses joined us later. Went back to church, marinated the things and got the things ready till about 8 and home-ed.
Friday 20th Nov,
Met Janet at about 10, to upload my photos, then went to meet the rest at Ion Orchard for our Post Chiangrai Outing, it was pretty cool. We went to swensen's, where I had the curry chicken baked rice, which tasted funny. I didn't like it, ohwell. Then we walked all the way to Orchard Central for Ben and Jerry's, it was heavenly. 20 flavours, Vermonster ftw :D Then we wanted to go to Chamber, but apparently they were out of Chambers so we spent our time at the arcade at Cine, it was fun. Guitar Hero-ed, Para Para-ed, DDR-ed etc. It was fun. Then walked around a bit and then parted ways. Met daddy and went home, dapao-ed dinner :D
Saturday 21st Nov,
Met Janet at around 12ish, wanted to develop the photos etc, but we didn't get all the photos so we dropped the idea, and just lunched and walked around. Saw Joan, Clara, Shipei and Saira O: Then parted ways at about 2, went home, changed and got ready. Met Moses at J8 at 3 and went to buy the remaining things for the BBQ, then went to church. Set up everything and got the things ready. The p6s started streaming in at about 6, had a great time. Though we had too much food, got to know the p6s better and hope they feel welcome in our youth ministry, think the event was a success on the whole :D Cleaned up and left around 10, got back around 10ish, bathed, slept.
Sunday 22nd Nov,
Duty today, Pastor Roy asked me the night before, was really tired cos I slept late but ohwell, I did much better today with the slides somehow, but fell asleep during sermon, shiz. Shouldn't have slept so late. Sorry Pastor Stanley. BS was okay, it was just air time and talking about the sermon for a bit, celebrated Irwin's birthday in advance after that (: Lunch was good, S11, Tomyam banmian ftw :D Reminded me of Chiangrai a lot, sigh. Then went with Irwin to 77th Street to look at his stuffz. I got your hint very well Irwin, will give you a present when it's nearer your birthday :D
Ohwell, I'm done :D I got a bit sianz near the end so not that detailed anymore, hehe.
Peace Outt. | | |
| It's one day to Chiangrai and there's a whirl of feelings in me, mostly happy though, but awfully lazy to pack and etc. Haha (: It's gonna be a great time I'm sure, but the preparation gets tiring. Haha. The past week or so has been spent preparing for Chiangrai, be it in games or dance. It's been awfully tiring but I'm sure that it'll pay off when we get there and see those innocent little faces happy and smiling while playing the games and watching us dance. It'll be really great and just imagining it makes me happy already :D And though the conditions there will not be as it's like here at home, I'm sure it'll all be worth it, and it will surely be a great learning experience. Used to getting what I need most of the time, things will be different for those 6 days over there. Ohwell.
Other than that, been spending time at church. Saturday was spent at Auntie Pris's house "working" for her. It can be called working, as we did WORK. And we got paid $50 (: Though I feel bad taking her money cos she's been so awesome to us all, and I would have gladly done it without her paying us, but ohwell. It was great fun though it was really tiring. Looking for specific letters among like millions of alphabet pasta kills your eyes man. Fixed up like 45 of the presents. And it is a pretty cool idea, simple, cheap and yet wonderfully beautiful (: The night of Saturday was spent at church for worship practice, missed Clarice's confirmation as a result and, dang man. Heard it was great. Aww man. Sunday was also spent at church, LPYM's gonna go through many many changes and it will be weird and different, but I'm sure LPYM will pull through. Which reminds me, I gotta check up on the stuff for p6 BBQ (:
I should go pack and find quality things to do till we leave tomorrow. Ohwell, 6am at Airport tomorrow. Ohgosh.
Peace Outt. | | |
| Day three of me being sick, and it suckzzz yo. Hate this like crap. I've been sleeping like mad and I'm just getting worser and worser everyday. First day was just a sore throat and a running nose. Second day the sore throat got worst, and so did the running nose, which ended up in one nose being blocked and one nose being runny. Today just got much worst, my sore throat is still here, I'm coughing and my nose is blocked and running at the same time. Lol. Wtf right. Haha. I gotta get well before Chiangrai, dang it. ): I've been getting sick a lot easier these days, I don't know how but I just do. I just hope I get better faster. The last time I got sick, I used up almost the whole box of tissue, and filled the dustbin, and got a dried up nose the next day. Like wth man, wth. At the rate I'm going, Idk whether I'm gonna get well, which i hope I am. OH WELL. And idk if there's any panadol at home ):
Dang I should go find stuff to do or at least try to get well. dang.
Peace Outt. | | |
| These two days have been spent doing nothing much but going back to school to prepare for Chiangrai and etc. We got to know our group members and it was pretty dang cool. I'm in Faith, along with Pamela, Francesca, Natasha, Ping En, Diandra, Lynette, Etna and Sabrina. It's a pretty cool bunch of people, with high yet sane people. Haha. It'll surely be fun, along with Mrs Jeya as our teacher. As we were preparing, I finally realised how close Chiangrai was coming and how awesome it would be. Despite all the preparation being awfully hard, I'm sure we'll all pull through and it'll all work out in Chiangrai. I really want to help the kids over there who have so little, yet have so much, cos they're happy with what they have. And I truly believe that Chiangrai is going to be a chance for me to really let loose after a long stressful year, with awesome people to spend the 6days with and a great place, it's definitely gonna be outtaa this world (:
So basically, yesterday, went to school with Daniellle (: And when we got there, we just learnt Nut's dance, we're dancing to Thrilllllerr by Michael Jackson, the dance is really cool, but yet superz hard to learn, many steps which are complicated and fast. But we all had fun learning hm? Then after that was the HHF dance which I'm sure that we all remembered pretty well (: Then it was some stepping thing. It was fun, yet difficult. Then we started on the souvenirs, which are pretty dang cool. Haha. Some of us started on games, the charade cards. My thai ain't that bad alrighty. Wrote out a heck lot of thai, it's like drawing. Haha. I wonder how the kids do it EVERYDAY. It's like, crazy. Imagine when they do compos. O: So yea, then we lunched and came back and finished the cards up. Finished up at around 4ish (: And I got Papa's flu. Was feeling feverish, bad dripping nose and a sore throat. Gosh. Slept super early (for me la okay) 10.
Today was the same thing. Didn't meet up with Daniellllle though (: Papa and Mama sent me to school, was super early. Haha. So yea, then did the games again. Cut the ribbons, strings and the cards. And drew the cards for the tictactoe aka memory game, the one we played at Adv Camp (: Then we learnt Stelle's dance. Much easier and honestly, much for more fun (: Got it pretty easily but my feet ache now ): Haha. It was fun, brushed up on it and went back to practice Nut's dance. Was super tiring. But oh well, it's all for a good cause. So yea, then went to eat lunch. Ate tomyam banmian, and trust me, NEVER EAT SPICY TOMYAM BANMIAN when you're having a DAMN BAD SORE THROAT. It is effing painful, shiz man. I died. I finished my whole Sprite in like, 5mins and the ice, along with Jocelyn's and Diandra's ice and drink respectively. Thanks guys for offering me your food and drinks <3 So went back to school, finished up the memory game cards and then I was doing the word search thing, it is SUPER SIAN. Drawing lines etc. Gosh man, GOSH. Lol. Anyway, finished at around 5ish. My flu and sore throat got worst this morning despite 10hours of sleep. So much for sleep doing you good. Oh well.
I've got nothing planned these few days, I NEED CHIANGRAI to come soon (: And I need to go collect my malaria pills, by TOMORROW. Ohwell.
Peace Outt.
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