Both my girls are pretty good swimmers but I feel that they need some pointers to further improve on their strokes, especially breast stroke. This is the perfectionist in me talking, I suppose. For me proper technique is important in order to fully enjoy an activity and to prevent injuries.

I have been on the lookout for suitable advanced swimming lessons for quite some time. Good swimming instructors are so difficult to find. I thought all my problems were solved when I found him, but it was a challenge trying to “squeeze” a slot into my girls’ already jam-packed weekend schedule. Eventually we gave up sleeping in on Sundays for it to happen. David has been so sweet to do it for quite a number Sundays while I sleep in. I finally did my Mummy Duty a few weeks back. I lugged my camera along and had a lot of fun snapping away.

I like how the club management has dedicated lanes for lessons so that the kids are not “disturbed”

Some little ones listening to their instructors

A rare shot of Erica (my elder girl). She tends to either run away or covers her face when I bring out the came. Tweens!!

My ever ready for the camera daughter.

“Arianna, stop sticking you bum up! You breathe with your mouth not your bum!”

Taking a mini-break

Erica and Arianna have been dying to have a go at this. It has not happened yet. Daddy and mummy have been working very hard, trying to arrive 10 mins before lessons but failed. After lessons? They would be starving by then and dying to go for brunch. Mental note to self – will leave the house 30mins earlier this Sunday, for them to make it for the spin.

To my elder girl, he is the BEST-LOOKING guy in this whole wide world. Her everything Pattinson craze has been going on for a while and I never understood why, until last December …….

I finally got curious when she was watching Twilight for the 10,000th time. I joined her. Initially I was bored but when the perfect in an eerie manner Pattinson appeared I transformed into an excited teenager and became more excited than my tween!

When the movie ended, I told my daughter, “Erica, let’s watch one more time!”.

She was beaming with the “I told you so” look.

We ended up watching three rounds of Twilight and two rounds of New Moon. I had a smashing time…….  it was good fun!

My daughter asked me after New Moon, “So is it Camp Edward or Camp Jacob?”

“Camp Edward 100%!”

She did a celebration dance to that!

The next day (was too tired after the movie marathon) I googled and researched on all matters relating to Pattinson. I was stucked by my Macbook for hours …….. only taking toilet breaks, no kidding!

Once I was done with all the googling, I started reading Twilight the book, hoping for details that the movie might have left out.

I didn’t stop at Twlight. I moved on to New Moon….then Eclipse …… then Breaking Dawn.

I can’t wait for Midnight Sun to be published. It’s partial draft left me begging for more ……….

Recently, my girls’ school organized a Jog-A-Thon hoping to raise MYR250,000. The funds are required to change the school’s decade-old air conditioners as well as upgrade their close to obsolete computer laboratory. I wrote emails to the “top guys” at  major Malaysian listed companies, appealing for their support. Honestly I did not expect any response from them. Why should they right? Donating funds to a stranger during such economic conditions? What was I thinking? Many a times my mind and imagination tend to dash-off to an over-run. To my close friends, this would be another of those instances again. I dare not share my bizarre “project” with them. I do not want to be laughed-at and  do not need any negative support. I prefer to keep dreaming ……

Even though I knew that the chances of  these busy individuals reading my email is pretty remote, I went ahead with my plan. I know that if and unless the school has “corporate support”, the chances of meeting the RM250,000 target is close to impossible. An hour after sending my emails, my cellphone rang ….  It’s Mr Thoo Chow Fah. I was shocked, stunned, speechless, ecstatic, hysterical ……… when he pledged his contribution. I was so touched by his kind gesture. Even after I hung up, I was “floating” around the house, finding it difficult to believe that I secured my first contribution within the first hour!

Next, I received a call from Mr Teng Chee Wai’s office requesting more information about the school and the jog-a-thon. I was trying to suppress my excitement as I speak. When this resulted in another cheque with a tidy sum, I had to pinch myself to make sure that it is for real. Holy cow!

It was Datuk Seri Tai Hean Leng’s turn to shock me next. His office rang to tell me of his contribution and informed that the cheque was ready for collection.  Such a kind man. Armed with my GPS, I headed to his office, a part of Kuala Lumpur (KL) that I have never been to. I just could not contain my excitement during my drive there. When I saw the amount written on the cheque, my jaw dropped…..

When I received an email from my favourite property developer (from the man himself) on his contribution, I was beaming from ear-to-ear. I always liked their themed-based developments, which is a close match to current trends and lifestyle. Talking about favourites, my girls were amused that the distributor of Gatorate (their favourite bottled drink) sponsored too. They even took the trouble to personally deliver the cheque to the school.

Another generous donor is Mr KC Tan from Signature Kitchen, well-known for their modern yet practical designs. He ensured that his personal assistant prepared the cheque before he left for a working trip overseas, in order to meet the jog-a-thon deadline. Such a generous and thoughtful boss. I am so envious of his staff.

I spent the rest of the week responding to emails, answering calls, and collecting cheques from all over KL. I was exhausted, but it was the happy kind of exhaustion (if you know what I mean). Frankly I never expected such overwhelming response to my emails….. never expected that Malaysians are so kind, never expected that busy, successful (and rich) bosses can be so generous in the name of charity and the better-ment of the future generation. They had most definitely made  KL and this world a better place to live.

When I got a call from the President Office representing Mr HK Loo, I was no longer surprised. I have gotten used to all the unexpected kind acts that I have the opportunity to be a part off for the past week. All these guys make me feel so proud to be a part of the KL scene. Not to be forgotten is Datuk Albert Cheng. He generously responded to my plea, and his ever so sweet personal assistant made arrangements to ensure my cheque collection was made easier.

Mr Ng Ying Loong supported the jogathon too. His very concerned assistant even offered to deliver the cheque to my house. Such nice people …… I feel so fortunate to meet so many nice and friendly people who treated me so well.

They were many more contributors who have generously contributed but they have requested to be anonymous. I will respect their wishes. Last but not least, I would like to thank my foreign friends for their contributions. He took time off his busy schedule to ensure that I received the funds. I even received contributions all the way from Tokyo and Australia.

Despite all the hard-work by all the teachers, parents and students of the school, we only managed to collect RM156,000. The funds are only sufficient to change the air conditioners. The upgrade of the computer laboratory has to be shelved, temporarily, if and unless a generous donor comes forward………..

Once again, on behalf of all the parents, teachers and students at Chung Kwok School, thank you very much to each and everyone of you, for your generosity.

Teachers, parents, students and guests happily heading towards the venue of the jog-a-thon.

Very popular teachers at the school.

“Mummy, I am going to run very, very fast to thank all my sponsors!”

“Daddy, please make sure that it is tight. I cannot afford any accidents”.

The headmaster having a little chat with the “person-in-charged” up there, negotiating for good weather.

The mandatory warm-up before they were flagged-off.

Words of encouragement between two good friends, just before the 2km jog.

The drills just before they were flagged off.

“I am ready ……… quick blow the whistle!”.

The younger ones needed some daddy support to the finishing line.

“Yeah, it’s the finishing line ……. concentrate …… it will be over soon”.

“Mummy, Daddy, are your proud of us?”

My younger daughter celebrated her 8th birthday last Saturday. A week before that, she came to me and said, “Mummy, you don’t need to get me any birthday presents this year. I just don’t want to go for my tuition class, and  don’t want to do any schoolwork on that day. All I want to do is to chill out, uninterrupted in my room.” I was amused by her request but was at the same time quite concerned.

She flatly refused my offer to bring her for a short beach holiday (she loves the beach) as a present. When I suggested a poolside birthday party, she politely rejected it as well. Even the latest figurine of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens did not help. Has school taken over my girl’s life? Is the workload too heavy for her? Did we make the wrong decision to send her to a day school, instead of the more common half-day government school? Doubts started cropping up and all kind of thoughts flashed through my mind. Aghhhh… it is so stressful being a parent. You will never know whether you had made the right decision until it is too late! When our girls were young, we sent them to a montessori based pre-school with mainly expatriate children. It was the only decent pre-school, that met my requirements, in the neighbourhood. Both my girls loved the environment there, where “proper” English was taught and used, and montessori based acitivites were implemented. When it was time for them to start school proper, we had a nightmare choosing their school. As working-class Malaysians earning average monthly income, we could not afford to send our girls to international or private schools. We might still be able to stretch our RM for one….. but two was way beyond our reach. We were reluctant to send them to government schools, as we prefered to have them taught in an environment with more focus on the English language. Thus, we settled for a day school, whereby the official curriculum is taught till lunch time (governement funded) and after that additional work on the main subjects are taught in English. Initially I was not sure whether my girls could handle the additional workload, but they seemed to be doing very well in school with fantastic academic results. Maybe it’s just me, I would be very miserable if I need to spend so much time in school. I need lots of “personal time” with my many endless hobbies which are non-school related. Whenever I put my daughters’ schedule in writing, it scares the shit out of me. School is from 7.15am until 5.45pm daily, except on Thursdays at 4.15pm. All daily school assignments which consists of workpapers and preparations of spelling, dictation and quizzes must to be completed before their bedtime at 9.00pm. On Saturdays I make them go for a 4km jog/run up the hill near our place from 6.30 to 8.00 in the morning. Directly after that, they have tuition classes from 9.00am until 2.00pm. Then it’s time for Wii/Playstation/DVD/TV, with their friends till dinner time, either at our place or their friend’s place. Sundays are our self-imposed family time, which we start off at 6.30am for a 4km jog/run up the hill, cos their mummy needs her daily run. *grin*. I am reminded once again how much my family members love me. They give-in to ALOT of  my crazy demands.

Back to my daughter’s birthday. I gave her the day-off as requested. She was sooo happy, playing in her room with her barbie dolls and reading her High School Musical magazine with its soundtrack in the background. She looked so blissfully happy, and it only costs us a birthday cake + 2 large pizzas + plus lots of family time!

Her favourite cake, Death by Chocolate, from Just Heavenly KL. Allan & Nigel, my daughter wants me to thank you for another just heavenly experience.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands during challenge and controversy”  - Martin Luther King Jr -

This post was written two weeks ago but I just couldn’t find the time to complete it cos I was totally stressed-out settling my girls back to a new school term. All three of us were depressed, waking up early for school was difficult for them (and for me as well), completing daily schoolwork was slower than normal, losing many hours of TV and play time caused daily mood swings, etc, etc.

When our friends heard about Erica, my elder girl’s recent trip to Outward Bound School (OBS), many of them asked us, “OBS? What is that all about?” They were intrigued when we told them that Outward Bound is an international, non-profit independent, outdoor education organization with approximately 40 schools around the world. The school teaches interpersonal skills, wilderness survival skills, and leadership skills through the range of courses that they offer. Its mission is to help people discover and develop their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings.

Actually I have been waiting for the past three years (cos 10 years is their minimum age requirement) to send Erica to OBS’s Children’s Adventure Camp. I had alot of faith in the OBS program because I went there when I was young. The OBS experience was invaluable to me, it most definitely helped formed my character. I remember having to complete many obstacle courses, having to kayak (canoe) around the entire Pulau Pangkor (an island in Malaysia) over two days, having to complete a 150km trip by bicycle and having to camp all by myself for 2 days where I had to pitch a tent, cook for myself and start a camp-fire at night. Without OBS, I would never imagined that I had it in me to complete all these “impossible” tasks. At the end of the course I was convinced  that everything in life is possible as long as I gave my 100% best. To serve, to strive and not to yield – OBS’s motto, one that I practised till today.

Why do I feel that Erica needs OBS so badly? Since young she had been an extremely quiet child. She had alot of problems talking to non-family members and making friends. Thus she ends up all by herself most of the time, and is depressed….. To make matters worst, my younger daughter is just the opposite, a super sanguine. She is cheerfully optimistic by nature, is extremely popular in school and have lots of friends. We tried to help Erica by sending her to speech and drama classes, organising play sessions for her friends at home and teaching her simple ways to interact with her friends. All these did help, but only a little……..

I am so happy that she benefited so much from the 10 days that she spent at OBS. Thank you so much, Outward Bound Malaysia, for a more confident and much happier Erica. She is opening up and is making ALOT of progress speaking up in public and making friends. Even her teachers in school noticed the very “new” Erica, and is so happy for her.

Once again, to the Camp Director, Instructors, and the rest of the staff at Outward Bound Malaysia, thanks over, and over, and over again. David and I are so grateful to you all of you.

]]> http://www.lifeloveandme.com/2009/01/19/to-serve-to-strive-and-not-to-yield/feed/ 6 http://www.lifeloveandme.com/2008/12/30/amazing-transformation/ http://www.lifeloveandme.com/2008/12/30/amazing-transformation/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:09:41 +0000 celine http://skinnymum.wordpress.com/?p=906

We were 5 minutes late to the BBQ nite, on the eve of the closing ceremony for CAC 69 (Children’s Adventure Camp No. 69) at Outward Bound School in Malaysia, a chartered member of Outward Bound International, in UK.

As we hurried to the hall we heard the following,

“When I came to OBS, I thought…….”  *we missed the introduction of her speech*

“Sounds like Erica, huh? Can’t be, she sounds so confident? But it looks like her…… just a little darker….”

David and I stood at the hall staring and admiring the very confident girl delivering her speech to a 300+ audience consisting of participants and parents. We were confused because she looks and sounds very much like our daughter, but logic told us she can’t be…..because Erica is an introvert and has lots of problems speaking up in public!

As she continued with her speech, we were trying to look at her cothes, listening out to her intonation and staring at her mannerism for confirmation that she is our daughter. It’s not that we are horrible parents who could not even recognise our girl, it’s just that her transformation after 10 days was beyond belief!

“Thank you, Ms Erica Yong for your very inspiring speech”, said Mr MC.

We were stunned and speechless………