National Day

As true blue Singaporeans, we returned home for our annual celebration of Singapore's National Day celebration - Happy 45th birthday, Singapore. We also brought back with us 4 teachers from Vietnam; 2 were on attachment to PCF Bishan East Centre, thanks to the kind principal, Mrs Irene Wong. Looks like the YOG spirit is on everywhere, and we were so excited when the torch relay came right to our very doorstep where we witnessed one change of torch bearers. It was good to be home again, even if it's only for a week or so.

Singapore and Vietnamese teachers - a portrait to remember




























YOG Torch-bearer outside our home

Nick Vujicic

No words needed, just watch this clip ... and be inspired




And the man himself ...

Teen Leaders Course

Helped out at the Teen Leaders Course (TLC) with some English and positive/creative thinking lessons. TLC is a month-long course for teenage leaders organized by the Southern Youth Center. Most of the participants could speak English (some were quite fluent) and that made my job easier. Today was my last lesson with them. We got on well and it was sad for me to say good-bye. Next will be the Semester-in-Army (SIA) in Singapore from 3 to 9 Jul 2010.

Visitors

Hong Seng and 4 ex-CHRians (Eugene, Wei Hern, Ian and Cheng Kern) came visiting from 13 to 18 Jun 2010. We had the opportunity of inviting them to our home at Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Dist 7 before we shift to SCREC Tower in Dist 3. Stephanie and her friend came over - from 18 to 22 Jun 10. Rebecca and hubby, Ronald, visited from 3 to 7 Jun 2010 and bumped into Chee Hoon and Hock who were here on 3-6 Jun 10.

Reunion @ HCMC - HS and the Gang of Four with Stefanie and me in the background














Hong Seng & The Gang of Four at my place














Vietnamese BBQ dinner














Waiting for sinh-to (Vietnamese Fruit Smoothie)














Visiting TAK


















Visiting ASYC

Shifting to SCREC Tower

We don't seem to have many possessions here, but that's only a figment of our imagination. The truth is that we've accumulated stuff and hidden them in places we never knew. So when it comes to shifting time, goodness, the "rubbish" keeps piling! Thank goodness we did not have a lot of furniture, only a table and 2 pedestals. We finally did it today.

View from our home on 22nd floor

TAK Official Opening

We celebrated our opening of TAK (The Alpha Kindergarten) today - together with the 1st anniversary celebration of ASYC. (We shifted from Tan Phu District to Tan Binh District where the catchment is better). The biggest surprise was seeing our very good friends, Mr & Mrs Poh, Cassie and mum walking into the school in the morning. There was no word from them about coming over to HCMC and we thought they were too busy to make it. What a wonderful surprise! No wonder Ms Thuy was behaving so strangely in the morning when she came over. They also paid a visit to ASYC.

Back again

I'm back again on my blog. Let's see what has happened. Tomorrow, we will start at our new campus - we have shifted from Le Trong Tan to this place at Tan Binh District (near the airport). We expect a better catchment as this is more of an office area (several high-rise office building and a big place called e-Town).

ASYC celebrated our year-end and graduation concert last Friday (28 May 10) - had lots of fun and many excited parents and children.

June being the school hols in SG, we're expecting a few visitors. Rebecca, Chee Hoong, Hock and Hong Seng are coming up. Wonder who else?

We'll be shifting "home" again. This time, we'll be going to Dist 3 where it's about 15 minutes from the new campus and 30 min from ASYC. Now, it takes me an hour to get to ASYC - that's 2 hours a day on the bike. Back-breaking for an old man!!

This is the illustration.















This is the real thing!