Haiku

I love the
silence
that brief,
beautiful
silence
between
every kiss

I read this haiku first on Le Love. But it's from a Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson. Actually is the above really a haiku? I thought a haiku is something with 5, 7, 5 syllables in a total of 3 lines. But there does seem to be a kind of rhythm to this whole thing and it adds up to 17 syllables in total.

I'm not really into poems and haikus, but was just curious about this person and his writing. And haikus just bring back memories of secondary school literature class. The site is really a pleasant surprise. He has many more interesting haikus. Go read for yourself. Perhaps one more haiku from him to entice you a bit more.

Hold these hands and let
my shoulders dry every tear
you will ever cry

Students from China

Being at Jo's wedding meant that I had a chance to meet up with some of my students from China. Most of them are doing great. In fact, one of them just graduated! Gosh, I feel so old! They all seem to enjoy life here and some have even started to look more "prosperous".

George is from my second batch of students. He is Jo's first batch. Very down-to-earth and street-wise. He's one of the few Chinese students whom I can hold a decent conversation in English with.

Students from SMU. I only taught some of them. I did the Math SATS and conversational English with them.

My last batch of students before I returned to Singapore. Tina and Amy! Both studying on scholarship! So smart yah! Didn't manage to get any photos of Pan Tao and Xiang Jing. Surely there will be other chances.

Congrats Jo & Bruce!

Jo is one of my best friends from China. Jo and Bruce have a wonderful love story. When Bruce came to pick the bride, his "speech" to her moved us, the "sisters", (and Jo) to tears! He ruined our make-up!

Bruce is kind and capable. I used to work with him in the Singapore office. Even under stress, he is cool as a cucumber and would just say "Sandra, 可以帮我吗？" I worked with Jo in the China office. She looked after me and helped with the classes, timetable and all my arrangements. Jo is not like the usual Chinese girls that we see. She is sweet, demure and intelligent. We usually converse in Mandarin but she speaks good English and speaks even more fluently when she is drunk! Her favourite phrase/sound is "噹哩咯噹".

So happy that she and Bruce are now married and she will be in Singapore from now on. Congratulations!

Malacca Service Trip (8 - 10 Aug 2009)

My student, Nam, made this video for our service trip to Malacca over the National Day holidays. Lovely!