7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 3

- 1 -

It's a tiring week. I attended International Symposium on Bilingualism (ISB9). It was a very interesting experience. I found it quite amusing to see the experts in bilingualism face-to-face. 

- 2 - 

Suddenly I have this idea of setting up a kindergarten which has both typically developing children and children with special needs. It is because I saw how the 5-year-old kids in a kindergarten reacted joyfully and without 'discriminating-look' to younger sister of their classmate who seems to have Down Syndrome. It was such an uplifting experience!

Apparently this type of inclusive preschool is common (?) in the US. I didn't find any difficulties googling it.

http://www.highhopesforkids.org/Pages/PRESCHOOL.aspx

- 3 - 

It's been very hard to find time to meet up with friends.

Quite frustrating.

I don't like to be in "See how" or "Let's see" situation. Very upset about this kind of thing.

- 4 - 

In addition to point 3, I complained to God today, "I gave you my weekdays, can't you just give me my weekend?" Oh well... Paul sent me some pages from Screwtape letters of the danger of "MY! MY! MINE!"

It's uplifting for one day, but not working for today.

- 5 -

Some people just have too many commitments (it may be too-many-Church-activities). If the person's personality is also the one who cannot say "No", (e.g., "This is my duty"), I won't be surprised that there are lots of people out there who are 'busy' outside their home AND neglecting their families. The signs can be seen early though. Better be prepared now

- 6 -

Another uplifting quote: Paul mentioned that in his parish, when a baby 'makes sounds' in the Church, the parish priest will say, "Good! It means you bring your kids to Church!" Actually, the concept of "crying room" is alien for me. Firstly, most churches in Indonesia are not air-conditioned. Secondly, most noises come from the youth or from the sight (eg., people in shorts in front of you in Mass), so "crying babies" is an acceptable thing in my parish in Indo. Perhaps because the doors of the Church are also opened during Mass, parents can choose to go out easily then return to the Church easily.

- 7 -

This week..somehow I just missed the things that I used to do: dancing, climbing, etc. However, Pilar said, "That's life! You don't get to do things that you used to do when you move to the next stage of life, for example, when you work, you don't do things that you used to do in college. When you get married, you don't do the things that you used to do when you are single."

Oh well... sometimes I just miss them. Although this morning Father said that you can't meet with your friends not because of your formation/apostolate, but because of your work too, I have this temptation to think that if I just kick out some of my stuff out of the frame of my life, I'll have more time to do things that I used to do!

Nevermind, it'll pass. Tomorrow I won't have the desire to "do-things-that-I-used-to-do" anymore.

More quick takes on conversion diary!