Eyes wide open

Saturday, 12 September 2015 | Methodist College KL Refugee Carnival It is often considered cliche to say that we take our privileges and blessings for granted. Though we acknowledge its truth, we stubbornly let that unhealthy mentality persist. I say this about myself as well, and what has triggered me to write about this is a reminder of the reality of the less privileged people of the world, which came across through the refugee children who visited college for a special carnival last weekend. The girl in the picture is Beram. She's from Myanmar. Playing the Maths game we organised for the children, she skilfully calculated and derived correct answers, all the while with a radiant smile across her face. One could see so much joy in her as she played that game and subsequent games, and as she laughed mirthfully with her friends. Her happiness came across even in the way she so readily smiled for the picture here.  Unfortunately she was born into such circum...

Awkward thoughts from Kalumpang, in rhyming couplets. Though the waters are clear as flowing springs  And swirl in euphony, with gentle music rings,      The bed of the brook - that murmuring gush -       Hides pits and abysses beneath their pleasant rush.      They dip and swallow such unsuspecting ones      In the invisible maelstrom that beneath clear waters runs;      Subjected are they to tumult and torment Until the waters are at peace, and the waters are dormant. But he who walks steadily, upon that rocky bed, By grace, by the currents, gently he is led;       Careful is he as he curbs such traps,      Graceful and placid as the clear water laps.      Though he may slip and fall hard in a hole,      Help comes - so divinely - in the strongest shoal; As he is carried back upon the rock so secure, His...

I really thought I had deleted this blog. But I hadn't. And I haven't written for over a year. So, here goes! 28 June 2015 /   The day she moved to Kuala Lumpur was a rush. With a suitcase full of clothes, bedsheets, keepsakes from home and other essentials, the 16-year-old girl from Ipoh moved to Brickfields, KL. It was her first actual home away from home, and with a small spark of adventure she hoped for the best. 3 September 2015 / Two months later she looks back at that day she moved and sees how that 'small spark' has kindled into a great fire. So many additions have been made to her life: Friends to treasure, Polaroids to keep, memories rendered to her mental collection of life stories. God has been faithful. He has been faithful indeed. Adventures worth telling I didn't know what to anticipate when I moved to KL. Even though I considered this capital city my second home, it was really nothing more than my birthplace, place o...