Wonderful 2

How many of you have visited MINDS? Do visit any of the centres or schools in Singapore if you have the chance. I was there last Saturday with the group of young volunteers from yuying. I went without really knowing what we were going to do there. A group of volunteers have been organising interactive activities for these intellectually less-abled at MINDS in woodlands every Saturday, some sort like a CCA. Most of the people they are helping are adults i.e. they have already completed their special education, some are even in their 40s. The volunteers address the beneficiaries as “trainees” and themselves as “teachers”. These volunteers organise activities that they hope can help the trainees interact and pick up social skills that they’ve been highly deprived of at home. I was told that most of them are cooped up at home most of the week so they really look forward to this once a week outing to the centre on Saturdays.

Everyone in my group looked a little apprehensive when we just got there, especially after we saw the trainees. I’m sure the same thought went through our minds…will the trainees go berserk and freak us out? When our contact person started pairing us with our trainee, I thought all our faces became even more grave hehehe. I was quite fortunate to get a trainee whom was easy to manage. He was all smiles and very friendly towards me. His name was Andrew but I heard him saying Angel…yes, I felt very puzzled why he kept saying Angel…but in truth, he was indeed angelic.

Though I started out a little tense, the moment we joined in a dance to the tune of Let’s Twist Again with the rest of the people, I felt more at ease. I observed what the rest of the volunteers were doing and just followed along. Before long, my trainee was enjoying himself and I was having fun too! The trainees were also taught balloon sculpting and had to draw a new year card. They then had a tea break. All these activities are aimed at helping them become more independent. For the last activity, we did the Mary Moon (I kept hearing mary moe) dance which I thought really got everyone very high. So fun! Yeah, I enjoyed it as much as the trainees.

Seeing how the young volunteers talked, cajoled, teased, loved and cared for their charges, my mind went ORZZZZ. I saw this guy holding up his trainee’s chin and pulling him back into the activities like 10 times but the smile and care he showed to the trainee never seem to fade. I really kowtow to them. Bravo people! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

I told a close friend recently that this world is wonderful but she didn’t seem convinced. What about the rest of you? Do you think this world is nice or is it crappy and full of suffering? Open up your senses, your eyes, your ears, your heart, surely one day you will see how amazingly wonderful this world is. But you have to take the first step. Do it, ok?

ps: Andrew came over to say bye to me before he left and I hi-5 with him. Should have given him a hug instead, right? :))

Wonderful 1

Was planning to sleep till the sun glared at my butt but auto got up at around 4+ or 5…again. This has been happening ever since my status changed to that of a full-time student last week, self-induced stress I guess. Anyway, somehow or other, I miraculously managed to doze off again but by 6+, I was fully awake…my bro knocked on my door thinking that I may have overslept >_< thanks bro. Sigh…wasn’t going to get my planned 8 hours of sleep. Fine, will go for my run then, I told myself. Have been highly addicted to jogging recently, without my runs, I think I’d be even more stressed up.

So glad I ran today. Being a clear day, as the sun’s rays glazed the trees in the park, I was treated to a visual display of all the different hues of morning…yellow, orange, green. Sigh…what a pretty sight. Ok, those colour names suck and don’t do justice to what I saw. In fact, no words can describe what I saw. Go see for yourself one of these days and you’ll know what I mean. That wasn’t it, the lawrys that often greeted me in the morning, they came in a platoon section this morning…at least 15-20 of them…sighhhh…what a wonderful world.

Here’s the lyrics to one of my favourite songs.

What a Wonderful World
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark said good night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, sayin’, “How do yo do?”
They’re really sayin’, “I love you”

I hear babies cryin’, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more, than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh yeah…

Ooos and ahhhs

Ahhhhh…how I love those trees…raintrees, flame of the forest, even botak trees! I can stand there and stare forever. I’ve no idea what they’re called but I’m bewitched. Names are of no importance anyway, just love them trees. And those birds, my oh my…whether they’re perched on the branches, flying, about to take flight, and when they call out to each other…sighhhhh. Ok, ok, the more I say, the more “unspecial” they’ll become. Yeah, just see, hear, feel, breathe…even when carrying 10kg of stuff, body feels weightless, mind is free (smiles…smiles…smiles). Oh…has anyone noticed? Those recent mega white blooms on the trees in my estate is overpowering…kind of pungent, I can’t stand them >_<. Oi! Snap out of it! Like it or not, they will be there! But those clouds I saw two days ago had character…layer after layer…ooooooooo. Sigh…

Old habits die hard huh? Yeah, but I’m allowed to make mistakes…because I’m human. But am I aware? Hmmm…I’ll try.

New year new role

Not going to make any new year resolutions this year. Whatever will be will be. I will take on a new role from Monday, will become a student once again. Going back to school after a 20-year break sounds daunting? Yes it is, especially when my classmates are likely to be half my age! ^_^lll Everyone, please pray for me. No need for As, I just want to pass. Happy new year everyone!