The Rest of the Asia Humanitarian Conference December 24, 2007
I shall try to summarise the rest of the conference in pictures. My memory has somewhat faded enough to make long descriptions almost impossible. Short- term memory I have.
Day 3
Some of the loveliest people that I met:
And after a long hard day, time to explore the vibrant city…
Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Day 4
Many many more interesting personalities:
On the last night, it felt abit sad knowing that the conference has come to an end- knowing that Mr Lam will be in Jordan the next day and not knowing when we will be all gathered again.
Last Day
Children everywhere behave in the same way- they delight in having their pictures taken; they offer their trust and affection readily; they bring a tugging sweetness to our hearts; they inspire us to teach and nurture them in hope that they turn out as lovely as they potentially can be…
Leaving at the airport
Asia Humanitarian Conference Day 2 December 14, 2007
It was a really long day with 2 papers presented, a plenary discussion in the afternoon and followed by the presentation of action plans on street children. But in that long day, I kept eating!! This is really bad, I had breakfast, tea, buffet lunch, tea and then dinner. And they are all separated by an hour.
The fiercest debate of the day was sparked of by a paper presented by Dr Wah Wah Maung from the Union Solidarity Development Association of Myanmar, an organisation very much like the People’s Association in Singapore, but different in the way that the USDA seeks to promote social cohesion and is much like the spokesperson of the government on the social level. It is a Government- Organised Non- Governmental Organisation (GONGO). I think that idea is just flawed, an NGO should have flexibility and independence, how can that be achieved when the NGO is organised by the military junta and seeks to promote government objectives? She went on a long discourse on Myanmar’s success in the nation’s education and agriculture policies despite the sanctions. Very propagandic. The last and final appeal of the paper was the abolition of sanctions couched in a simple question ‘help or hurt Myanaamar?’ Logically, no one is out to hurt Myanmar but it seems that she chose to do ignore the reasons why the sanctions were in place. In her entire speech, she made no reference to the Aung San Suu Kyi or the recent debacle with the Burmese monks. And I don’t think that she expects anyone to let her get away with it. But she fended off accusations and controversies with a lot of poise and diplomacy (even when this Vietmamese lady started to accuse her with all the crimes of the military junta).
On the issue of the monk’s uprising:
Prof: The uprising was only about 3 or 4 days and yet the media is still covering it and blowing it out of proportion.
How in the world does she miss the fact that monks are still in capture and the event is far from over? What are the checks and mechanisms to ensure that such harsh clampdown will not happen? None. How then can the world let Myanmar go?
On her opinions about Aung San Suu Kyi
Prof: She has to cooperate because of the diversity (135 ethnic groups) and the unique position that Myanmar is in.
All the while, Prof Wah did not express approval or disapproval of the resistance of ASSK. I don’t think she likes ASSK very much, which I can see why. In a way, ASSK is harming Myanmar more than she is helping it. ASSK is already 60 years old and yet she demands for full governmental power, she could have cooperated if her concern was really for the Myanmar people, instead of her perhaps self- centred insistence on ideology of democracy. While her cause helps democratic movements of the West, it is starting to really hurt the Burmese people. Does she really have the leadership and the clout to rule a country which is as messy as Myanmar? Has she truly convinced the people of Myanmar that she is a better alternative to the military junta, or is that only an image the Western media advocates to the rest of the world?
On Child soldiers
Prof: Street Children join the army because they want food. But after UN disapproval, child soldiers are disallowed. They are not children, they just look small and they are underweight and there is not such a problem with Myanmar anymore.
That is damn big bullshit, which no one believed but it was hard to accuse such a lovely lady for lying.
In the evening, it’s all about feasting, shopping and entertaining =)
Festive Musings December 9, 2007
I feel emotionally satisfied and surreally happy- the kind of mood where you grin into emptiness and feel like kissing everyone.
Huishan just called me from the airport, saying that everyone had family and friends sending them off, except her, and that she had no boyfriend to call to say her farewells to as well, so I am the honored person that she has to call (just so that she IS calling). That is so damn funny! And I promptly reassured her that I would have sent her off if I knew that no one was doing it. But I also know that it is pure baloney, since Andre will leap to send her off and so would most guys. Then, Rosie called to say that she wanted to hear my voice before she flew. How sweet! I am so looking forward to joining them in Bangkok on Tues! Had to postpone my flight so that I leave only after Law School Christmas Charity- down to Snow City with the kids and there is always the lovable Santa, Andre Teo. Which reminds me that Fergus looked absolutely funny trying out the Santa costume. So it is a MuSt to come down for Christmas Charity (especially after the numerous meetings and planing we went through)!! The horrible thing is that I will be flying alone. That is slightly scary and I will be arriving in Bkk at midnight! At least Mummy and Winston will send me and Winnie will even take an MRT to the airport if he doesn’t have the car (or so he says)- just for my five-days trip. Andre is even better, he will only send me so that he can eat Popeye’s and see Huishan, and after realising that Huishan is not leaving with me, he refused to send me anymore! That is quite funny as well. But traveling alone at midnight is quite worrying.
I love post- exams and the expectant wait for Christmas- urging hopes and prayers for joy and surprises this season will bring. It leads to day-dreams and wandering from one plan to another delightfully free from tiresome gravity to bring it down. So many things ahead to look forward to:
#1 Asia Humanitarian Conference in Bangkok. Though evil Lampy will be with us, I am sure that it will be very a great networking experiece with people from all over the world coming together, sorting issues on child trafficking, slum dwellings and prostitution. As I was looking through the guest list last week, I was quite looking forward to the eclectic mix of nationalities and social groups. And that reminds me that I have to research on child trafficking before the discussion and presentation of paper. Will update on the conference as it goes on this week.
#2 TeamNUS Sailing. Our baby came true and Lawrenz has accorded the Keelboat team with TeamNus status for the upcoming regattas. Though I will be in Bangkok when the race is going on, the team definitely has my full spirit and support. It was a lovely lovely dream that came true for all of us. The team is small but strong and willing- Kaiyi, our capable skipper, Enming, Christopher, Kenny, Sean, Meiling and Kenny. Let’s hope that our drive and love for sailing will sustain. Hopefully, by the next regatta, the SEA games boys will be ready to sail as well. That will be a great boost in skill and credibility.
How to explain sailing? Imagine being in a yacht where every individual has a part- to helm, to man the genoa, to lookout as a mastman and that every mind focused on the same goal and destination, working in sync with the waves, the wind and the commands of the helmsman. Then, imagine peacefulness of being out in the open sea, close to the nature and existing in surreal silence, punctuated by lapping of the waves against the hull and occasional chatters and bawdy jests. Imagine again, of sandwiches, beers and mixtures of coke and Johnnie Walker. That is our love. Go Team NUS!
#3 Internship at Harry Elias- for a really really long month until school starts. I made a request to Miss Foo Siew Fong that I be attached to her for both her work at SAWL and at Harry Elias. It will be a steep learning curve, exploring a wholly unrelated field of law(to me at least) and learning from such an indomitable personality. It seems that she will be quite demanding in work and I quite look forward to that, though one month is more than what I expected. I fear it will be hard to keep up with a character with so much passion and energy and yet it is a challenge to observe and learn from such an interesting personality. One good thing about internship is the excuse it gives me to buy working clothes and I am absolutely in love with Alain Figaret shirts. And that reminds me that I am horribly grateful to Winston’s mother, Aunty Joycelyn tailored a shirt at CYC for me, it was close to 200 bucks and I felt so embarrassed about such an expensive random gift. I know it sounds terribly shameless but I swear she really loves me. She is so kind to me and she even treats me better than Winston does- she bought my favourite Alpen Muesli bar so that I won’t go hungry in the morning; she buys my favourite duck porridge every Saturday afternoon; she chills my favourite juice so that there will always be a packet everytime I come; she instructs Winston to take care of me; She bought my favourite snacks so that I can munch during exams; She gives Winston 50 bucks almost every weekend and reminds him to pay for my meals when I stay- over; She brought us to Carlton buffet last week and insists on taking a cab from Peninsula Plaza to Millenia Walk and a cab from Millenia Walk to Carlton, even when they are all within walking distance- just because I looked uncomfortable carrying a heavy bag. I feel so embarrassed to receive her kindness and it makes me happy and grateful as well. I feel loved =) And I constantly wonder why she hasn’t taken her broom at me for squatting in her house for almost 3 out of 7 days in a week.
#4 My birthday! I love December because I love knowing that it is time for celebrations- Christmas, my birthday and now another occasion to celebrate- our one year. The thought of all that delights me sets me tingling, thinking of the presents, memories and treasured relationships.
#5 Friends who are back from everywhere! Had lunch with Shihan, Limin and Yixin, whom I have not seen for a year. Knowing that we can talk freely about anything in the world, concentrating to enjoy the exquisite meal and desserts, experiencing the waves of familiarity at the tone, the inflection, the characteristic comments and the unique, special people that I so love. I miss my good friends. I miss our girls’ talks and sleepovers. I feel so sentimental and nostalgic now. Sigh.
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale
Raving Examinatic December 3, 2007
When I have 3 hours more to live, I bet I will be just as confused as I am now- I will be torn between who I should spend time with; What is the last thing I should do; What should be the last meal. Now, it is 2 hours to company paper, and I am That confused- should I read my notes again? should I draw and mark stuff in red, pink or purple? Should I write ready paragraphs like the annoying man opposite me? Should I just sleep? Should I bind my companies act? So many ’should Is’.
Whatever I should be doing, one thing is for sure- I am not doing it! I am writing. I played Diner Dash. I glared at the annoying man opposite me and tried to induce him to stop writing. I am wasting my time. I am dreaming of Christmas. I am worrying about getting a C. My dream of being C- less is potentially bursting. I want at least straight Bs so that I can maintain the nice As and Bs mix in my CV, it will look much more aesthetically pleasing, rather than a C jarring out from the columns. Then again, if I get 2 Cs this semester, maybe it will restore the overall aesthetics of my CV- mix of As, Bs and Cs. I am spouting nonsense. I am bordering between panicking and indifference. I need to find How Khang to curse me. The last time he cursed me for legal theory exams and that I will cushion his bell curve, I got an A-. Yes, I should go and look for him now. Gosh.
Verbal Diarrhea before the paper puts me in a greater panic.
