CF CNY + Valentine celebration

A great time to celebrate both occasions at the same time indeed.... though the actual day of both Chinese New Year & Valentine's Day fall on this coming Sunday.

About 30 ppl attended this week's CF special meeting and I can say everyone enjoyed every single moment of the whole meeting. I arrived at Wesley Church around 8pm and not many ppl were there yet. The worship team was rehearsing when I entered the meeting room. Jensen was the leader with Daniel playing the guitar, Calvin drums & Renjie keyboard.

The meeting started around 8.30pm. Ah Derk, as the chairperson, welcomed everyone and started with a prayer before Jensen & team took over. He led the members to two Christian hymns before handing over to Guan Heng for the famous CNY song, Gong Xi Gong Xi Gong Xi Ni. The 1st verse and the chorus were exactly the same lyrics but only the next verses were being modified.

The night continued with Renjie bossing the members around (this is her 2nd time after the Leadership Workshop last year). First, she asked us to proceed to the ground floor to look for Shu Ern and get a mandarin orange from her. Then, after receiving the orange, we have to write our contact number on it. Everyone gathered in a circle and with eyes closed, they have to pass the orange around. While the pass was going on, the committee members interrupted the process by swapping the oranges. The passing eventually stopped after some time and the next thing to do was to find the owner of the number written on the orange in hand. The search began and everyone started going around, asking whose number it is. Some managed to locate the owner of the number while some failed. I managed to find out that the number on the mandarin orange I'm holding belonged to my EL senior Crystal.

(..... more details later)

Winna's birthday dinner

What a wonderful dinner we had together yesterday night! We should dine together much more often.

Yesterday night around 7pm, 14 of us went to have dinner together at a restaurant (forgot what's the name) in New Town. Supposed we should be there around 6.30pm but a heavy rain held us back. Anyway, when I reached there, some coursemates were already there, including the birthday girl Winna. Her birthday was two days ago (but sorry no birthday cake, just a simple dinner). They've already placed their order and wanna add 1 or 2 dishes. After that, we started chit-chatting.

Then, the dishes came one by one. They looked and tasted delicious. Without delay, everyone started eating as they were hungry. Later, we had a brief photo-taking session and everyone started parting their ways after clearing the bill. The rest were heading home while Winna, Eugene & I went to church.

A simple dinner to bind our relationship even more closer.

Happy....

... that my HoEL presentation date is delayed to Week 7. Unable to get the presentation material in time, we have requested to have our presentation later and it's granted. Yay! That means I will have 2 presentations on Week 7, one after another. So I'm not sure whether to join the mission camp cos I would have lesser time to prepare if I decide to go. Anyway, it's a good thing for me.

End of Week 3

11 more weeks to go!!

For this week, 1st CF meeting back in Wesley after away from the place for 2 weeks. It's Bible study session and this time we're studying the book of James. The material we got was sufficient for the whole year. And for next week, something special is on. It's CNY + Valentine celebration, wonder how the CF gonna celebrate the 2 festivals.

Also at Campus Connect, there's a talk given by Dr Daniel Tan on party drugs. Only a few ppl attended the talk though. And those who were there gained some information about different types of party drugs (only few were mentioned). CC is having its CNY celebration as well, on 22 Feb. Also there's a mission camp at the end of this month from 26-28Feb. Not sure whether to go yet.

There's something frustrating happened though to me (and my groupmates). I teamed up with 2 girls for HoEL presentation and we're supposed to do our presentation next week. And we have to get the materials from our lecturer Mr Mahalingam but we failed to do so. Hannah, Helena & I went to look for him separately a few times but he's not available every time they or I went there (he isn't around even when I went to consult him for academic advice--he's my academic advisor). I'm not sure whether he will backfire at us, saying that we didn't look for him throughout the week. Sadly, we didn't ask him even during his classes on Mon & Tue. And yesterday, his replacement classes were supposed to be on but he himself has gone to Penang. We got to know this only after Eugene gave him a call. Having not able to get the materials, the girls and I dunno what to do next. Even if we manage to get it on Mon, it would be insufficient time for us to prepare and present the next day. As quoted from Helena, "he is such a bad lecturer". But anyway, like the MLE presentations the previous trimester, this presentation doesn't carry any marks in our coursework. Not sure this is a boon or a bane. Other than that, nothing special happened throughout the week. Gotta go, bye!

Party drugs hazard talk

I went for a talk on party drugs @ Campus Connect just now and gained knowledge from the talk conducted by Dr Daniel Tan. Whoa... it's indeed an eye-opener.

The crowd isn't big, just about 15 ppl. Still the show must go on. Dr Daniel explained about different types of party drugs and effects. Only a few were highlighted though, namely ecstasy pills, crystal meth ('Ice'), syabu, ketamine and rohypnol (the latter two can be used as date-rape drugs). Also, Dr Daniel provided some solutions to this problems. Then, Q & A session. Many questions were raised and Dr Daniel answered them well, allowing members of the floor to gain extra information from the talk.

Later, there's a birthday celebration for twins Shuyi & Shumin, who turned 21 today. A cake was bought from JusToEat for this celebration. It was exactly the same cake that Renjie had when the CF had a joint birthday celebration for Shirley Kwong & her last year. Besides them, my brother David's and my EL junior Daryl's birthday fall on the same day as well. Happy blessed birthday to the 4 of u! All the best to everyone esp Shuyi who's having her final exam at the moment.

We Are Family - Chipmunks & Chipettes

We are family

Oh whoa whoa oa oa oa oa oh yeah yeah

We are family

Oh whoa oh yeah yeah yeah

Verse 1

Oh, everyone can see we're together

As we walk on by

(And) And we fly just like birds of a feather

I won't tell no lie (oh oh)

(All) All of the people around us they say

Can we be that close (oh oh oh)

Just let me state for the record

(We're giving love)

We're giving love in a family dose

Chorus 1

We are family (Yeh yeh yeh)

I got all my sisters with me (Whoa-oh-oh)

We are family (Yeah yeeah)

Get up everybody and sing (Now sing it to me baby)

We are family (Yes we are)

I got all my brothers with me (I got my brother with me)

We are family (Oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Get up everybody and sing (Sing it to me)

Verse 2

Living life is fun and we've just begun

To get our share of this world's delight

(High) High like the hills

For the future

And our goal's in sight

(Ooooooooooh)

No we don't get depressed

Here's what we call our golden rule

Have faith in you and the things you do

You won't go wrong

This is our family jewel

Chorus 2

We are family (Yeh yeh yeh)

I got all my sisters with me (Whoa-oh-oh)

We are family (Yes we are)

Get up everybody and sing (I want you to sing it to me)

We are family (We be a family)

I got all my brothers with me (Got my brothers with me yeah)

We are family (Ooh but you don't know)

Get up everybody and sing (Sing sing baby now sing)

Bridge

We are family (x4)

Chorus 3

We are family (We be a family)

I got all my sisters with me (Whoa-oh-oh yes we are)

We are family (Aaah oh)

Get up everybody and sing (Get up get up get up and sing)

(Whooooooooooa)

We are family (Oh we are a family)

I got all my brothers with me

(Got my brothers with me don't you know)

We are family (Aaah oh)

Get up everybody and sing (Get up get up baby baby sing)

Oh yeah, yeah yeah, ooooh

Legend

Pink - Brittany

Yellow - Jeanette & Eleanor

Purple - Chipettes (Brittany, Jeanette & Eleanor)

Red - Alvin

Orange - Simon & Theodore

Blue - Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon & Theodore)

Green - All (Chipettes & Chipmunks)

End of Week 2

Phew... another week gone!

The main highlight of the week was the CF welcoming night on Tuesday. It took place at Grand Kampar Hotel and 10 churches around Kampar participated in the event organised by the UtarCF. The purpose was to introduce the churches in Kampar to the freshies who have just stepped into Utar for their studies. It was a great night for everyone who was there.

As for the rest of the week, nothing special happened throughout the week. Teaching and learning resumed. And we EL students started working on our assignments and preparing for presentations. Dates and order for the HOEL chapter review group (of 3) presentations have been decided. And my group has been scheduled to present on Week 4. Also, lecturers discussed abt finding replacement classes for CNY.

That's all to reflect on for this week. Adios! Oh and all the best to the Foundation students who are sitting for their final exam next week. God bless!!

I don't understand....

Why? Why? Why?

Why the ICTC staff is so lazy? They don't even wanna come to help students/lecturers who experience problems with the LCD projectors despited being requested to do so. This afternoon, I have class in Block A as Block B (where most of my classes are in that block) is used as venues for final exams of the foundation students. The laptop and LCD projector are brought in for Mr Soh to conduct his lesson. At first, there's some problem with the projector. Everything's being set up but the projector couldn't detect anything. So Winna decided to go to the ICTC to ask for help from the staff there. But she returned to the FAS meeting room, alone, saying the staff refused to come. WTH!! Hello!! We're just one block away from where the department is located yet they don't want to take the trouble to even come and have a look. C'mon lah!! We're not in Block G or H or even I that u need to walk quite some distance to reach us. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WE'RE IN BLOCK A. Why the staff refuse to lend a helping hand?

I understand that any vehicles which enter into the campus compound require vehicle stickers, if not the security guards will stop the particular car or motorcycle from entering the university. But the latest rumour that I heard is that even bicycles need to have those stickers. Not sure whether it's true or not but this is another thing I don't understand. Why we need to have stickers on our bicycles? Is it probably that the number of bicycles around the campus are too much that the management need to control the amount? And bicycles found in inappropriate parking locations will be chained up. At first when I'm riding my scooter into the campus for the previous trimesters, I wonder why there's invasion of parking spaces by bicycles at the parking areas for motorcycles (in front of Block C). Now I realise that students do not want to walk too far away from their venues of class. Bicycles definitely outnumber the rest of vehicles greatly and the sad thing is that there isn't sufficient parking spaces available. Last time, bicycles are seen parked along the bicycle lane inside the campus but now this is not allowed anymore. And the parking area near Block D (not the one directly in front of the block) which is the supposed parking areas for bicycles is very soggy and muddy.

I just don't understand why there's so many unsatisfactory things happen within the campus. Sigh!

CF Welcoming Night 2010

What an awesome night indeed!! Churches around Kampar gather together for this event organised by UtarCF. How good it is to see many fellow believers of Christ come for the event which purpose is to introduce the churches around Kampar to the freshies who just Utar this intake.

A total of 10 churches attended this event where 5 of them are listed in the brochure above, namely Wesley Methodist Church, Chinese Methodist Church, Gospel Hall, Praise Community Church and CGBC Campus Connect, who are the joint organisers.

I myself have reached GKH around 7pm. It was still early and there are some members who have just arrived. I chatted with them for a while. I even made 2 trips back to my own church to see if anyone's there as CGBC is just walking distance from the hotel. On the 2nd trip, some members arrived. When everyone's ready, we walked together to GKH.

We registered ourselves and received a freshies handbook before heading into the hall. Soon representatives from other churches started appearing and filling up the seats. Soon the event began with Jensen and Fiona were masters of ceremonies for the night. They welcomed everyone for being present there and handed over the time to Gale for some ice-breaking session. It doesn't what sort of game that we play, the most important thing is that everyone gather and have fun together.

Then it's back to MCs again where they released the members of the floor to have dinner before the night went on. During that time, all the people there had fellowship with one another, getting to know one another while enjoying the food prepared. It's good to see Shirley Kwong back among us again after she's away for her sister's wedding few days ago. Then after 30 minutes, everyone's back to their seats again, preparing for a time of worship. Wendy Lee led the worship with Shu as guitarist and Renjie on keyboard. Slideshows of CF activities and information about churches in Kampar were put up, then followed by speeches from Eric Ong and Mr K. Later everyone was dismissed after a closing prayer from Pastor Nicky Ling of PCC.

I didn't capture any photos for this event so pls kindly refer to this link: CF Freshies Welcoming Night

Tarting fun

Baking tarts is really fun! And I enjoy it!

For the past week, I have been joining in the baking sessions since 16 Jan at Chang En's house. All the session were at night except for the recent one (which was held in the afternoon). For as the previous sessions, the tarts were baked for fund-raising purposes during the CF recruitment drive. Each day, different CG was on duty. But even with the schedule, some members from other CGs came to lend a helping hand as well. One of them was me of course. Except for Monday, I was spotted there for the rest of the days.

Wow.. making & baking the tarts is not easy as we have to follow the recipe and instructions carefully. The production of the tarts and muffins were done smoothly, from measuring the ingredients, mixing the dough, making the crusts, putting in the fillings then baking them in oven before the ready-made tarts were taken out and transferred into paper cups. Of course, casualties sometimes happened in the process. There's always some tarts that were ruined. But they served as samples for those helpers as they have the chance to taste the tarts that they've made.

5 types of tarts & muffins were made during the baking sessions:

1. Apple tarts

2. Blueberry tarts

3. Chicken pies/tarts

4. Banana muffins with chocolate chips

5. Corn-and-pineapple custard tarts (Production ceased)

Out of the 5, I love the blueberry tarts the most with apple tarts a close second. But the rest taste equally delicious.

Let me talk about the recent tart-baking session. This session is to make tarts ordered by Praise Community Church, Chinese Methodist Church & Kampar Gospel Hall. The 3 churches are taking part in the CF welcoming night @ GKH beside Wesley Methodist Church & CGBC Campus Connect. Eric Ong's CG on duty but Calvin, Clara, Felicia and me went to help out as well. We started work arond 4.30pm and successfully made the required amount ordered by both churches within 4 hours. As the tarts were being transferred, suddenly the box of tarts Eric was holding slipped from his hands and a few apple & blueberry tarts were destroyed. Oh no! We're almost done with the day's work when the incident happened. No choice but to make a few more tarts. So we extended our working hours and successfully made them. Then we cleaned up the place before we left around 11pm. Since we didn't have our dinner while making the tarts & muffins, we decided to go Ghany for dinner & yum cha.

There's still 2 more baking session on Wednesday and Saturday and this 2 sessions is to bake more tarts to sell to Campus Connect and to meet the order made by Chinese Methodist Church. Yay! I'm gonna help out in the these 2 sessions as well. Hee! After this, no more baking sessions but there's more exciting events in store for the CF members and the upcoming one (CF welcoming night) is going to be held at Grand Kampar Hotel. Looking forward for the event!

Here are some of the photos taken during the baking sessions:

The following are photos of blueberry muffins which were made on 21 Jan. Eric Ong thought of this idea and the muffins were made using the recipe of banana muffins (with the bananas replaced by blueberry paste). Only 8 muffins were made and they're not for sale (for testing purposes only).

Casualties:

Check out the following links for more photos:

Tart-baking

Tart-selling