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!

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 2

- 1 -

There's an intern coming from University of South California. Today I brought her to try durian. She doesn't like it! She tried durian ice-cream, real durian, and last chance: I gave her durian puff. All cannot make it. Hahaha. But she loves mangosteen though :)

ps. the cleaner aunty asked me to move out of the hawker area. I was not allowed to eat durian there.

- 2 -

This week time passes very fast. There was a mixture of "Oh why work has been so difficult" and some "eureka moment". It's quite embarrassing sometimes. I could run through my colleague with a big smile and say, "Wanyu!!!! I found something". I guess that's the fun thing about research. I try to enjoy finding out about this software or that software that can help our research (I was not enthusiastic about any software before I start working).

- 3 - 

Last Sunday I finally cooked something. It was supposed to be shredded chicken with asparagus and carrot. I couldn't find asparagus, and I stir fried 300 grams of chicken rather than 200 grams. No rice, so I was sooo full of eating chicken. I sent the photo to my mom and my mom said, "I was wondering what's that. Yaikss so big! You should have cut them smaller!" 

- 4 -

Last Sunday I met up with Pheara and Evi at "You & Mee", an Indonesian-Chinese style of noodle stall. Not only the taste is Indonesian-Chinese noodle taste, the atmosphere is also very Indonesian (the wooden bench, sauce on the table, tissue on the table, and Indonesian songs as background music). And of course..with Teh Botol!!

- 5 -

It's been very difficult to wake up early in the morning. (That's why Pilar said, it's called "heroic minute"). It used to be easy when work was not so difficult, but when I really stared at computer the whole day or out at the kindergarten the whole day, waking up early the next day is really tough. However, somehow I always feel very fresh when I go to morning Mass instead of evening Mass. It's like...you start the day with the right thing, to see God first :) and He granted me this on Tuesday morning:

Can you see how beautiful the sun is?

- 6 -

Next week me and my colleagues are going to attend an international conference on bilingualism. It'll be my first time attending an academic conference. I looked at the schedule and I was so confused. Hahaha. There will be so many sessions, but I'm particularly interested in attending my boss's friend who will lead one of the discussion session on bilingualism and executive functioning. It'll also be very exciting to see the project that my colleague has been working on will be presented int his conference :) cool! But I heard conference is tiring though.

- 7 -

It's Great Singapore Sale (GSS) season. I'm not a shopaholic (in fact, I have difficulties to force myself to shop!). I really need to plan my shopping because I don't really have going out shoes now, and I need 1 or 2 more working pants I guess. Slowly investing in working attire. Hehehe. There's something wrong with either my foot or the way I walk (or the shoes!!) that makes my shoes worn out quite fast.

Let's talk about fatherhood (2)

Various psychological studies have shown the important role of father. In early years, there's a difference between Mom's style of play and Father's style of play and the combination of both affects the development of the children. For example, father loves to "throw-his-baby-to-the-air" game. My boss also mentioned a study about how father's education level has more significant correlation with children's vocabulary (compared to mother's education level!). She said, one possible explanation is because father spends less time at home, he may not be aware of what words the children have learned and what words the children have not learned, so unconsciously he speak more novel words than mother. (And father's education level affects the variety of words that he uses with the child).

Interestingly, some studies also show that girls unconsciously look for partner who has similarities with their father. (I'm sorry I can't remember the details). There was a very interesting video on this topic. Oh well, since I can't find the video, here is an article on Daddies' Girls Choose Men Just Like Their Fathers

I don't think my boyfriend looks like my dad, but they have some similarities. Here is a scenario:

I was staying with my parents in a hotel when they came to Singapore for my commencement. I put a small bag filled with my cloth at the side of the bed I think. Then my dad said, "Why do you put it there? Just put it here lah" (he moved it to the shelf). At that point of time, I was like, "huh, why sounds so familiar?" The first thought that came to my mind that time was he sounds like Paul. For four years I've been living alone without anyone 'complaining' on orderliness, so initially whatever Paul advises on "order" sounds very novel and can be irritating sometimes (even though he's correct. Oops!). Nevertheless, apparently he and my dad are just two people that really pay attention to the importance of keeping things tidy. (My goodness, am I a girl? so messy. hahaha)

They love nature. It's so 'normal' to hear Paul talks about crabs, birds, trees, mountains, etc as he's doing animal behaviour and he also does rock climbing, as normal as how my dad talks about plants and dogs.

So yeah... how important it is for fathers to spend time with  their children. They also affect the children's life so much!! :)

Let's talk about fatherhood (1)

When is Father's Day? I've never celebrated Father's Day in Indonesia, but if I'm not mistaken, it is in June! So, let's talk about fatherhood from a 23-year-old-'girl' 's point of view.

My dad is not perfect. I'm writing this post to bring into consciousness about things that I admire from my dad and hopefully you are a guy, you can remember these points and who knows, one day your daughter will remember these little things that apparently matter a lot for her.

1) My dad donates money to beggar.

Err, it may be a 'small thing', but I think he's someone who is very compassionate. It's not about the amount of money that he gives, but it's about her attention to the person who is sitting at road side. I do think that this act requires courage (to be honest, I've found it very very very hard and a little scared to donate money to beggars).

2) He's an adventurer

When we went to Bangka Island, his hometown, he brought us to walk and walk and walk from the beach behind the hotel where we stayed all the way to a very quiet beach. Then he brought up a stick and climbed up some rocks. I took picture of him then showed the photo to my mom. Mom said, "Don't you think he looks like Moses?" =.=

And yeah..he climbs trees, including those in Botanic Garden. :) He also encourages us, the kids, to do parasailing, snorkeling, diving, trekking. Wahh...

3) He does cross-stitch!!!!!!
I think this is the coolest thing about my dad. Hehehehe. My mom doesn't have patience to do cross-stitch, but he does!

4) He sings on road trip
The unforgettable typical-dad's-voice is every time he sings "Country Roads". There was one line that has quite a high pitch "... to the place, I belong". So funny when he sings that part. Hehehehe.

Psychology research has shown that unconsciously girls find partner who has some similarities with their dad. (I learned it in Adolescent Psychology!!) Next post ya. Time to bathe!

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 1

- 1 - 

This is my first post of 7 -Quick-Takes-Friday . I have been reading some mummy blogs and I found this Quick Takes hosted by Jennifer. Are there any specific criteria to join? I hope not.

- 2 -

Monday was Legion of Mary meeting day. One of the members came even though his right leg was injured. So heroic! He reminded me that there's something in Legion meeting that is special. A good reminder at the right time. All of our praesidium members are working now, except him and Claire. Sylvia and Joann are still in their second year (going to third year), but both of them are on attachment so they are considered as "working-people" during this vacation period. (Sylvia is studying social work and and Joann is studying nursing). Things feel a bit different because for the past two weeks, only three of us could have dinner together.

- 3 -

On Tuesday, we were having Tuesday Lounge at Hillcrest Study Centre. My friend who also works as research assistant (hey, this sounds better than calling her "colleague" :P) shared about her research on the use of public space by elderly. She posted lots of photos of her observation on how elderly use the 'limited space' in Singapore public housing. Another good reminder that all of us will grow old and we should be sensitive to the needs of the elderly. The most interesting photo was a photo of a 'garden' of an elderly who lives on the first level of the HDB. He has to pay fine once every 6 months because it's actually illegal to use the grass patch behind her housing unit, but he refuses to remove his garden.

- 4 -

Two or three weeks ago, I was suddenly sad without reason (well, maybe there's a reason, but I shouldn't be sad right?) and I was wondering, "Hmm. If at the end I do not become a researcher or a clinical psychologist or a behavioural therapist, what will I be?" I voiced it out to Paul and he suggested some things:
1. Open bridal studio with friends (I gave him a "Urgh. what?" look)
2. Be a dance teacher (my reply was "I'm not sure if I still can dance. Anyway, I'm not THAT good in dancing."

At the end as I was walking to MRT, I told him, "Hmm, maybe I can be a 'home-schooling expert' ". Long long time ago (last year!), I was against the idea of homeschooling kids. I mean, at least send them to half-day preschool? I grow up in a 3-hour-preschool. It was not like now when most preschools are also child care so they are full-day. I cannot imagine if I don't send my kids to preschool!! However, Paul has this idea that maybe if a few mothers home-school the kids together, it can be an opportunity for some mothers to share workload (so they can work part-time) and to help more needy families (who cannot send the children to preschool). Each family can contribute in different aspect. All parents may not agree in all stuff about the preschool, but anyway even if you send your kids to preschool, how do you know that each teacher has the same value with you? :) At least if you home-school your kids with your own friends, you know each others' values better.

- 5 -

After attending Tuesday Lounge's discussion a few weeks ago, my roommate has started reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. She has reached page 200!!!!! (I downloaded the file but I have not started reading)

- 6 -

These past two days I've been going down to kindergartens to do some observation. I'm still figuring out about the best way to transcribe the conversation. This is my first time doing observation study.

- 7 -

The parish name in Seremban is Church of Visitation. There were a statue of Our Lady and a statue of St Elizabeth. Interestingly, the neck of St Elizabeth had some lines which show wrinkles! So the sculptor really took into account of the age difference between Our Lady and St Elizabeth!
Happy Feast Day of Visitation!!

(almost) end of May

Tomorrow is the last day of May!! (Gabiella, 2013)

Now I seriously think that I need to work harder to fulfill my resolutions. The arrival of June knocks my head as if all people scream to me, "It's half-way of 2013!!" It means that since my resolution is to cook twice a month, I only have 2 x 6 chances to seriously cook and say, "I fulfill 50% of my cooking resolution". Oh maaaannn! That's difficult.

Hahahaha.

The good thing about May is LONG weekend. I hope the last weekend can sustain me for the next 2 months till next long weekend in August. I had a great time at Seremban. It's a quiet town and it's nice to meet 'old friend' and chit chat not only with her, but also with her family. Then last Sunday was also Paul's niece birthday. It's amazing that last year she was only sitting-without-knowing-what's-going-on and not stable yet in walking, and this year she can chase Paul's 5-year-old cousin already. Hahaha. (it means that this cousin is a 5-year-old uncle. Hahahaha). Then she was so eager to kiss this uncle so that this 5-year-old uncle ran around the house from her.

This week is a housekeeping week. I cleaned up my files here and there, cleaned up my desk too. Hehehe.

Okay time to bathe. Thank God today I can arrive home early and chillax at home. Hahahaha.

To be better or to be a different person?

At times, I can't see the difference.