Finally..

Just days before leaving for US, me and my students still cant imagine we are about to leave for the World Championships. It's as if we have not accepted reality. But finally the morning has arrived. I set off for the airport early in the morning. CT dropped me off on his way to work so I was there quite early. Happened to meet my student with his mum, so joined them for breakfast at the airport.

I didnt use to like taking flights in aeroplane when I was young. I would vomit and not eat in the plane but I have overcome the fear..all thanks to my parents who believe in overcoming all difficulties by just facing up to it. So despite being a nuisance to them in the aeroplane by throwing up in the airbag or even along the aisle, they still continued to take me on holiday trips and probably going overseas for my swimming competitions also helped me overcome my hatred for flights...and the smell.

I appreciated and truly say I enjoy taking aeroplane flights when I stayed in US for a year with my hubby. Despite the long flight to US, I have to say, I enjoyed every bit of it because we took the straight flight (executive economy class) there from Singapore to Newark Airport which is in New York. It was probably about straight 16 hours flight. Despite a long flight which most would complain, I didnt as I got to watch so many movies and get to have a buffet spread of food to eat at the back of the plane. I always went for the instant noodles. Singapore Airlines has definitely made my flight more enjoyable.

Anyway, going back to the US this time round, brought back memories..memories of my swimming competition and camps in US, holiday trip with my parents and brother to 7 over states in US, as well as going to and fro US with my hubby during our stay in US. It was all fun and each time back to US, is a whole new experience as there's just so much to see.

The food in SQ was superb. I ordered the Japanese cuisine as I love Jap food and as usual, it comes with ice cream!

We took about 7 hours flight to Narita airport where we transited for about an hour or so. Within that short time, we had to eat Jap food there. So we ordered ramen, and curry pork cutlet rice to share.

I also ordered an interesting drink- sparkling soy water which tasted like bubble gum. I just wanted to try something different. Yep, that adventurous spirit is always inside me.

Well, one of my students also bought octopus to eat. I tried one..didnt really like it though as it was a little sour. strange. Texture was normal- chewy which I didnt mind.

During our flight, I went with my students who were awake at that time, to go touring the world's largest aircraft, the Airbus A380. So happy to be flying in it. So we decided to check it out by walking up to the upper deck.

The upper deck is slightly smaller..

The wings of the plane also looked special.

While arriving in LAX airport at about 4pm, our bus took us to our hotel where we checked in. All of us were hungry. So we bought something light to eat first. I bought a slice of pepperoni pizza. I told my students that we left Singapore on 17 April at 9am while we arrived in US on 17 Apr 4pm. Its as if we took a short trip to US.

Anyway after our tea time at the food court in our hotel, we went to the hotel room to maintain the robots

Then I brought the students out for dinner at Ramada Plaza while my IC, Mr Teo and the trainer, Mr Chee met up for dinner.

We took away our food. I ordered a Korean Beef Bulgogi Burger which was so delicious! The burger place I ordered from was run by a Korean. So that explains.

Anyway, this first day in US have been tiring but fun as I didn't sleep in the aeroplane at all. Maybe at most 20-30 mins of the total 19 hours flight. It was fun as time spent with the students has always been enjoyable as they amuse me each time and I guess, it works both ways as they probably enjoy my company as well. Nevertheless, I am sure I will have a blast here in US as wherever I am, I make sure I am having the time of my life as I will never get to rewind this moment again!

A message of love and hope

Almost a week back, we celebrated Good Friday and then Easter Sunday. I had an enjoyable weekend as I went for the youth service with my friend, Lydia on Saturday evening for the Watoto Children's Choir Concert which brought a message of hope as these orphans shared their stories with us.

Enjoyed the service tremendously as I met my ex-students as well as present students. They also invited me to join them for dinner but I decided to go home for dinner instead. Enjoyed the sermon and the fact that I felt young again to be among the youths. Haha.

On Sunday, went church with my family for the adult service and I remembered very vividly what the pastor said which touched me.

Pastor Chye Aik shared about how Christians don't need to earn love or strive for it as we are already loved by God. God loves each and every one of us. We should not have the feeling of insecurity or to strive to earn his love.

He also shared an analogy on the Mona Lisa painting. Would you take the real painting and add a few more strokes to it? The work is finished. We can't do anything more to a finished work. So its the same for what Christ has done for us on the cross. It is finished and we are made righteous by the blood paid by Christ.

So basically, this whole Good Friday and Easter weekend, reminded me of the love God has for me and I just feel that I do not have to go searching for love..I am already loved.

There's this song by Tim Hughes, entitled "Here I am to worship" and there's this part in his song, the bridge, when it says " I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross". Whenever I sing this part, I am reminded of what Christ did and because of how much He suffered, I do not want that suffering to go in vain.

Christ was stripped of his clothing, and the Romans used a whip called a flagrum, which consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands. During the scourging, the skin was ripped from the back, exposing a bloody mass of tissue and bone. In addition to the flogging, Jesus faced severe beating and torment by the Roman soldiers, including the plucking of His beard and the piercing of His scalp with a crown of thorns.

Would you want all that suffering to go to waste as you disown the one who created you? or to make it go to waste as we continue sinning and do our own things, living a life separated from God?

I had a wonderful weekend rediscovering my love for God and His amazing love for me and I sincerely wish everyone of you to experience His love that is more than enough for us and the hope we can all look forward to!

Leave you all with a wonderful song which reminds of the hope we have in Christ Jesus as we look to the day we meet Him face to face in heaven!

Gearing up for Worlds..

Ever since joining Robotics last year in June, I have always been inspired by my Vex Robotic Students for their hard work and dedication. I have learnt a great deal from them and to prepare them for the World Championship in April, we have already started right after our Asia Vex Competition last year in Nov 2011. They hardly took a break.

Anyway, for the past 2 months, the guys have been training everyday from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. Their only rest days is on Saturday as most of them have tuition on that day. However, some of them still came down on Saturday to build their robots or do programming. On Fridays, we have also been going to ACS(I) or they have been coming to our school for trainings. We train together so that we can exchange pointers.

On weekdays, the students train from 3pm to 7pm, right after school. On Tues and Fri, they end at 9pm. As for weekends or public holidays, training is from 9am to 6pm.

I can dare say absolutely NO robotics team trains as hard as us, including those from other countries. From what I know, the teams in US train twice a week only.

So seriously, win or lose, at least I know that my students have put in their best and we have no regrets.

And in my eyes, they are all winners already.

There's my darling daughter, Danielle on the playfield in my robotics room on a Sunday afternoon. She hit if off quite well with the students.

On the final Friday before we were to depart for the World Championship, we got all the Singapore schools (5 in total) to come to our school for a combined practice and friendly match.

My robotics IC, Mr Teo also prepared ginseng, chrysanthemum tea, chicken essence for the students during our last couple of weeks of training.

There's the students struggling to drink all that down..they absolutely hate drinking all this!

With so much preparation, hard work and sacrifice, I really do wish the students will do very well in the World Championships so that they can be rewarded and recognised for their effort!

"Rather the pain of discipline than the pain of regret"

(Bob Andrews)

Miss cooking

Whenever I show my love, I would cook. If I have a choice, I would love to invite my family and friends over for meals so that I can cook for them to tell them how much I love them. Not that I am a great cook..but I just find it nice to sit around the same table with your loved ones, sharing a meal and having a drink together. Its a nice and warm feeling.

Anyway, today I squeezed out whatever little time and energy I have to cook for my family on a Sat because I miss cooking for them. Usually for Sat lunches, we would eat something simple to cook. It could be porridge, fried rice, spaghetti or bee hoon. Today, I felt like cooking mac and cheese as it has been a long while since I ate. Its basically quite easy to make.

Here's the steps I took to cook it:

1) Grate the Red Leicester Cheese. This cheese has great depth and richness in its taste. Very good for mac and cheese dishes. Mozzarella Cheese works fine too but as compared to Red Leicester, its too mild.

2) Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celcius. Cook the macaroni at the same time in boiling water.

3) After cooking it, put in glass tray together with evaporated milk, and cheese. Some recipes put eggs and nutmeg in but I didnt cos I forgot to put the eggs and I didnt have nutmeg in my house.

4) So I just simply mix the macaroni with evaporated milk and the cheese I grated. Finally pour the excess cheese on top. I topped it off with breadcrumbs so as to give the mac and cheese and crunchy, crispy texture after its baked.

No need to add salt because the cheese is salty already. I added black pepper to my own portion on my plate as I was afraid the children may not like.

Also ate this dish with grilled chicken. I was glad the children enjoyed the food! Feel accomplished each time my family appreciates the food I prepare when I see them eating so heartily! ;) Small actions like this just touch my heart so easily..

Trip to Northlight School

I have always been wanting to visit Northlight School to see how it is like. Today, I finally had the chance when my friend, Lydia invited me over to have lunch there as it was her ex-school and I was interested to see and meet up with her teachers and where she used to study in. I was most amazed by the cafe they have there. The students were taught how to serve the customers and to cook the food. It was quite professionally done.

We had a set lunch that costs only $5!

It comes with french onion soup, served with bun and butter.

Came with a drink too!

The main dish was very nice. Love the fish! Very filling though. Was struggling to finish!

After that, Lydia took me around on a tour. Met up with her teacher, Mr Tan Cher Chong who took me on another tour of the school. He also gave me 2 books written about the school and articles written by their students.

It was nice to visit the place and I am glad Lydia shared with me a part of her study life in this school and by introducing me to her friends and teachers. I always find it nice and humbling to be a part of people's life and when they take you to their workplace or to revisit their past.

Thanks Lydia!

First family movie-The Lorax

Today we had our first family movie together in the big screen! CT got for us 4 free movie tickets at the new Lido. In May 2011, after a seven-month and S$20 million “re-imagining”, Shaw’s iconic Lido Theatres reopened its doors to the public with brand new offerings: a total of 11 halls including one featuring Singapore’s first and only IMAX’s Digital Theatre System.

The movie, "The Lorax" was sponsored by SembCorp and were given 2 lucky draw tickets which got us a thumbdrive as well as a travel duffel bag. All thanks to Caleb and Danielle who stuck their hands in the lucky draw box to get us 2 wonderful gifts!I have always wanted to watch this show when I first saw the trailers online as I love shows by Dr Seuss. You are guaranteed a creative and imaginative show which I love!

Here's the children just before the movie. While waiting, we just saw down on the comfy huge sofa!

We were also given 2 free boxes of popcorn as well as mineral water! Awesome! I couldn't ask for a better movie date!

Caleb and Danielle were both entertained throughout the show. Danielle was laughing during the show as well as indulging intensely in her popcorn while Caleb was simply glued to the screen. He is usually very focused in what he does.

After the show, we went to Far East Shopping Centre for lunch at the Turkish Restaurant.

My 2 darlings fell right asleep in the car on the way home. Must have been tiring for them being out for quite a while..

Holiday fun at the beach

Today is the start of the March School Holidays and whatever little time I have at home, I quickly spend it with my family. Brought the children for cycling at Punggol Beach.

I love nature and if I had a choice, I would rather do away with technology and just spend my time with my loved ones at the park or beach.

Do you know I have always dreamed of pitching a tent in the beach or some jungle, start a fire in the middle of the night and grill a chicken over the fireplace and just talk through the night? Its still my dream and I am just waiting for someone as crazy as me to do that with me...Yes, I am pretty adventurous and I just love the outdoors. That is why I love watching Survivor Reality shows and seeing how they survive in the wild. I really envy them... I would really love for any opportunity to survive in the jungle and just hanging out with people and learning from them.

Anyway, back to my time with my family in Punggol.

Caleb and Danielle had fun playing with the sand.

Very nice windy weather today! It almost felt like I wasnt in this humid, sunny island called Singapore.

Thank God for such a wonderful day!

Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West

One of our favourite weekend haunt would be the Ang Mo Kio Library as its big and its nice to eat at Ang Mo Kio for a change, especially in the market area with lots of good food. Anyway, every time we visit the library there, we would notice a park and playground opposite the library and kept thinking it would be nice to visit the place. So finally, we decided to put our thoughts into action and went.

We first had to climb the numerous flight of stairs which was surprisingly quite a breeze because its not that steep.

I had fun taking pictures of the flowers as usual..

Here's my darling children, Caleb and Danielle having a great time playing together and running about!

There is also a nice and big water lily pond..

After that, we treated the children to have some fun at the playground before we went to the library, then for dinner.

Yet another great time spent with the family! Thanks dear for bringing us out!