- 1 -
I just came back from primary school girls' camp this afternoon.
It was....
tiring!
I love kids, but going to primary school girls' camp is really an eye-opening experience for me. Of course I do believe that kids don't jump on the bed and keep making cartwheel movement or handstand all the time around their parents, but to see those kids in that level of energy really opened my eyes how much love the parents must have for the family and how abundant God's grace on their families is! As a background, these kids are amazing because the parents form their spirituality since very young age. I can just sit in one corner and they didn't "disturb" me because the parents also have specific time to do their prayer! While I had difficulties pouring sprite from a large cup to a small cup, one of the girls said, "Let me do it. I can do it because my parents always asked me to share" (this kid had other three siblings). I think the 'smallest' family has two siblings. One of the girls had six siblings :) An 8-year-old kid shared with me that she actually had 6 siblings, but one passed away when he was 16 days old and another one died because of miscarriage.
But of course...being kids, they left cups all over the place and when I asked, "Who left the cups on the table?", most of them said, "Not mine! I washed mine already" (some of them just had memory problem....hahaha). Next time, we should write their names on scotch tape pasted on the cups. :P
- 2 -
The highlight of this week was H.A.Z.E. Haze imported from Indonesia. I've never felt ashamed being Indonesian despite of many problems that we have (including corruption), but to see the minister pointed fingers and blamed other countries is really an embarrassing situation. The ministers in Jakarta just don't understand how bad the situation is. Can you imagine the life of the people in Dumai (Riau)? The pollution level there is worse than in Singapore.
- 3 -
On Tuesday, I shared about "Myths vs. Facts about Brain Capacity" in our weekly gathering. Since we talk about second language learning in adulthood, my Chinese friend tried to 'test' the three Mexican girls to differentiate 4 tones in Mandarin. So my friend read, "ma (first tone), ma (second tone), ma (third tone), ma (fourth tone). Can you tell the difference?" and these Mexican girls said, "Nope!"
We had quite lots of fun last Tuesday. I think my friend really enjoyed going to the gathering because of the the three Mexican girls. The three girls will stay in Singapore for 5 weeks. My Chinese friend is not Catholic, but her grandma is Catholic. Pray for her :) Hopefully she can know more about the faith while she's in Singapore.
- 4 -
Last Saturday, I bought Indonesian translation of "The Way" by St. Josemaria Escriva. It's quite weird to read some terms in Indonesian because even though I grow up attending Indonesian Masses and Sunday Schools, I attended doctrine classes and recollections in English. For example, I'm used to the term "Mortification". When I tried to explain "mortification" to Indonesian friends, I can't find the right word. Apparently in The Way, it was translated to be "Mati Raga" (literal meaning: physical - dead, mati = dead, raga = physical). The translation of "Interior Life" is also quite difficult for me. In Indonesian, it was translated as "Kehidupan Adikodrati" (life = kehidupan, adikodrati = ?? 'above your natural life, supranatural').
I guess I really need to learn to translate some terms that I find in spiritual formation in English to Indonesian language. I would love to translate some gospel reflections for my parents. Oh well, I have not started it.
- 5 -
The kids were really cute. We drove passing terrace houses and they kept saying, "Wow! Wow! Wow" (loudly). And they saw a house and screamed, "Wow, that one was on sale!" (In Singapore, most people live in public housing so terrace houses are only for rich people). Then I said, "Should we have girls' club in that house? Maybe we build the third study centre in that house." Then, they started counting their savi:ngs. "I already have $20 in my piggy bank." :):)
- 6 -
Another kid asked me, "Are you 27?"
me: what?? Do I look 27????"
so another kid made a guess, "21??"
me: (big smile) Thank you!! I'm turning 23.
As July is coming nearer and August is coming soon, I often told my boyfriend, "Oh no..I'm turning 23." For him, 23 is 'nothing' :P but I told him, 23 feels nearer to 25 compared to 21. It's like going to enter another phase of life.
Oh oh..another funny conversation:
kid: "Are you married?"
me: "Nooooo."
Then I changed tone,
"not yet!"
kid: "ohh so you have boyfriend???"
--> so if I said, "not yet married", it means I have boyfriend? I didn't know that until I had that conversation :P
- 7 -
The conclusion is...there's a difference between interacting with kids in school setting (during my research) and in camp setting. There's a HUGE difference.
And..I hope after attending this camp, I stop complaining of "not having enough time for myself" or "not having enough time to go out" because the next stage of life will also require me to learn to let go of me-me-me-me-me-me time. It doesn't mean that I shouldn't find time for myself, but I should learn to adjust my expectation.
Happy last week of June!!! :)
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