A Fulfilling Summer

These summer holiday have been filled up with all the activities. It is fulfilling & meaningful though I have once felt too harsh for myself. Yet, when times goes by, I feel that I grow with the experience. In fact, I am one who wants to make good use of the time always and whenever I stop there, I feel I am wasting the time... that is why I had used to take up 7 tutorial jobs at a time during my undergraduate study, studied 21 credits every sem and joined all different kinds of classes: make-up, first-aid, travel escort, piano classes etc... I do not know why I did it though I did not really learn much each time... This year (2008), I got my block placement (40 hours per week) starting from June, joined the Olympic Equestrian Voluntart work and all the training, plus the Sing Yin teaching as usual. They almost came one after one. I felt that I had "abandoned" my family and friends for some time and felt guilty for that. At the same time, I also need to do the transition work for my change of new job... not to mention thecomplicated job-application process: reading recruitment news, sending letters, editing my resume & letter, interviews for several rounds, deciding, researching and confirming... all neraly drove me into a mess at a point of time. At that time, I realize that time is precious and we can never buy time and happiness...

Anyway, when everything came to the end, I felt released and relaxed... I thanked God for furnishing me with this chance. In the placement, I obtained an insight from some sharing with friends and learnt much more about the ethnic minorities. I felt close with them and got a strong feeling that time can change the feeling towards one and could cultivate a better relationship and understanding towards each other. The 10-week lets me know that time is POWERFUL!

The Equestrian event has been a golden chance as HK is such a small city belonging to China. It can also host one of the Olympic events in 2008~ I could even get an opportunity to be part of it. As the CIS- Sponsor Service Assistant Team, I was mainly serving the suite guests, leading them from teh drop-off point to the suite.. I have been waiting at the drop-off point, holding the flag "Suite Guest" to bring them to the entrance. I also have been leading them from the  entrance to the security check. I also have been waiting at the security check to the suite. Sometimes, I served at the merchanized store to control the crowd by telling them to buy souvenirs outside the fore-court. I saw Mr. Donald Tsang at the drop-off point, being interviewed by the media. I saw Ms Elsie Leung, Mr. Tong Ying Lin, Mrs. Chow Leung Suk Yi; also the principal of HKU, Mr. Tsui and other experts such as Mr. Tsoi Tsz Keung & Mr. Lau Tsun Yi; for big businessmen, I saw one of the Brother Kwok- Kwok Ping X, Mr. Stanley Ho and also the next year Chief Executive of Macau... Wow~ they were all suite guests though I did not lead all of them. I did saw them and they were just a few steps away... I could not imagine.

One interesting encounter was when I was leading a foreigner who was also the suite guest. He kept on talking and persuding me to go to the Ocean Park.. I also felt strange why he loved Ocean Park so much. While I asked where he came from, he handed me a name card. He was the Chief Executive of the Ocean Park- Mr. Tom Mehrmann. At the end, he also recommended his colleagues who was responsible for the Holloween to me. He wanted me to bring students there.. hahaha... He is such a funny gentleman~ felt sorry for knowing so little news about business and polical setors.. That's why I cannot recognize faces at all...

Thursday (21/8) was the last competition day for Olympic Equestrian Event. Everyone was excited as it was also the last day for nearly all of the volunteers if they did not help at the Paralymics. Vienna, Warren, Kannie and I gathered at Shatin KCR and got onto the shuttle bus a around 3:30 pm. We took photos with the torch fire and the venue before the duty started. The sun was so strong that day. Luckily, I brought a cap bought from the MS store... a smart black equestrian cap. I got two from the suite store. Many people wanted it and asked me where to get it. I could tell but the no. was limited and it was relly popular. I gave one to my dad and also got 6 towels with one Mascot on each towel for my family - lovely!! I also spent in the store coz I love Beijing. I love BEijing Olymics especially one I could help in. I served outside the suite as a recetionist that night and watched the competition and the medal presenting ceremony. Though it was crowed and hot outside the air-conditioned suite, I felt great~~ Live show is always exciting and great~~~

After that, my team also got a chance to eat inside the suite, where all the celebrities were in... I ate something and all of us hurried out to take photos on the competition court ~ we seized a chance to step on the champion stand.. after 2 rounds, I could move from the 1st runner up to the champion... hahaha.. the whole group took a photo ~ It was getting late, I left with Vienna at around 1 am... but missed the chance to take photos with the 5 Mascots.. but that was alright bcoz I got other precious photos with friends! I even met my secondary school mate, Kan. She is not a volunteer but one of the staff of the BOCOG~ Wow~ catering team. She got a good working experience for her CV! I am also happy making friends with so many people. They also got a good heart in serving~ good!

I got hoem at around 2:15 am with the help of the taxi at WTS. I quickly packed up and took a shower, waiting for the Sing Yin teaching.. then the weather report announced that typhoon signal no.9 was hoisted... wow~ unbelivable. I slept again.. but next Sat, I need to teach for the make-up class.. oh oh.. but still a good rest.

Today, Esther helped me to pick up the things from LKPF and picked me up at TWS. We headed for Shatin MCSSS. She and her friend, plus the driver also helped me sending the lugguage. Thanks~ thwn I set off for the meeting held by Cheung Man Kong about the "killing of schools". Many teachers expressed their views. I agreed that the govt should work out a wise plan instead of killing the schools who still hold the values. Is HK edu only aiming at elites? Does it think about how the elites would be affected if the band 3 students also move up to the band 2 and then band 2 to band 1? The existance of the band 3 schools also holds a value and how can we undermine or neglect the effort of the teachers who are willing to work and contribute? Anyway, I also hope that the gov't can have a long-sighted plan .. not just killing and reviving year after year ... confusing the public and messing the teachers at the same time. Then I backed school for another 2 meetings... the orientation for parents and PTA which was not really related to all the teachers... strange...Then I left with Teresa and Yankee.

I also contributed one poem to the volunteer memento album.. dunno if it will be published.. but I also learnt from my teaching ... hahaha... Let me share with you!

Equestrian

Equality shared among nations

Queens and kings step on the palace of medals

Uniting seven continents and five oceans

Echoed with the laughter all over the world

Sure win! Hurrah!

Together we cheer, we cry, we clap

Round and round we dance, we drink, we dare

Ice-breaking international event

Are we ready?

Never-ending notable network with nostalgia