Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Gosh, you know it’s been such a super long time since I got connected to the internet but it’s finally happened again so here’s the post.
I’m now staying at international house which is a really really nice place to be. The people are really friendly and don’t mind at all if you just wave and say hi or just join them at dinner. The pictures over the web really don’t do the place any justice. The real deal is so much better.
I’ve been to a few of the orientation programs here and while they do tend to stretch a little to the wild side. Nothing has really pushed the right buttons to move me to declaring them all demon spawn of the anti-christ yet.
I’ve gotten into contact with one of the Christian organizations here as well as a church and I can’t possibly be more impressed with the lot of them. They are so much more willing to help one another out and just be there for one another.
Case and point, a day after I got into contact with them I was brought to a Chinese New Year function with the whole care group and more there. The main purpose or rather the center of attention was this girl called Kelly that was leaving Australia and the people from the two care groups that had previously come into contact with her gathered to individually tell her how they felt about her, how she had impacted their lives and general well wishing. I was so wowed by what they did. WE NEVER care like that in Singapore. Sure we do up little booklets, wave good bye but there has never been an instance when we bothered to en masse take the time off to sit down and really send the person off simply because we care and can’t bear to see them go. Not that I’m not grateful for the multiple dinners and lunches but there’s a real richness in doing what they did and it really impresses me.
Not to mention they care enough about how you’ll be. Making sure that you always have a ride home or that there’s someone accompanying you. It’s not just for new people within the group but EVERYONE. Everyone in the group wants to make sure that the rest is save and has a way to get home AND has gotten home in one piece.
I’ve been getting along quite ok with everyone else. Or at least so I think. So far all the relationships I’ve developed have been at best superficial so it really isn’t a good judge of friendship. Though there is one thing I do struggle against, when it comes to friendships. See, one of the reasons why I chose international house was so that I could try and get a good mix of friends from everywhere and not just stick with Asians. Trouble is the Asians are hanging around the Asians everyone else seems to be sticking with people from the same country or culture. This is difficult because you can’t really force people to mingle if they are intent on sticking together. Even though there are activities to try and bond people together, it is pretty obvious at meal times who’d they would rather be with and who they’ll hang out with in the end.
Here’s the thing. How do I get friendships to work if they are going to stick to their own cultures? Do I force my way in? Force them to budge up along the tables just so I can try and stick to my ideal? Is my ideal too lofty to hope the people are bigger than just going with what is easy? What’s more the friends that I have now are Asians and some of them seem pretty happy with the way it is. Sigh. Everyone’s friendly but no one really considers anyone from another culture a friend. Kind of like tolerance but high on caffeine and sugar?
Anyhow on a brighter side, I really think that coming here is most definitely divine direction. The summers and not too hot, the winters are not too cold and the Christian group I’ve been going to is really caring. A little weak on the word but that’s okay. Best part of it is that the church that affiliated to the Christian group I’m in has “A prophetic church” as their mission statement for the year. Isn’t it great after so many year of harping on the prophetic and how it’s sorely lacking, I get to travel thousands of kilometers away from home to find a church that thinks the five fold is important and is trying to establish the prophetic again. HEE HEE HEE I can’t tell how shocked and happy I was when I heard their statement and the subsequent sermon. I fully agree with everything that was said (The speaker mentioned Cindy Jacob). Rare huh? Though I did have some problems with the delivery itself but I suppose I can overlook that one little thing.
That is all
Jon.P™
I’m now staying at international house which is a really really nice place to be. The people are really friendly and don’t mind at all if you just wave and say hi or just join them at dinner. The pictures over the web really don’t do the place any justice. The real deal is so much better.
I’ve been to a few of the orientation programs here and while they do tend to stretch a little to the wild side. Nothing has really pushed the right buttons to move me to declaring them all demon spawn of the anti-christ yet.
I’ve gotten into contact with one of the Christian organizations here as well as a church and I can’t possibly be more impressed with the lot of them. They are so much more willing to help one another out and just be there for one another.
Case and point, a day after I got into contact with them I was brought to a Chinese New Year function with the whole care group and more there. The main purpose or rather the center of attention was this girl called Kelly that was leaving Australia and the people from the two care groups that had previously come into contact with her gathered to individually tell her how they felt about her, how she had impacted their lives and general well wishing. I was so wowed by what they did. WE NEVER care like that in Singapore. Sure we do up little booklets, wave good bye but there has never been an instance when we bothered to en masse take the time off to sit down and really send the person off simply because we care and can’t bear to see them go. Not that I’m not grateful for the multiple dinners and lunches but there’s a real richness in doing what they did and it really impresses me.
Not to mention they care enough about how you’ll be. Making sure that you always have a ride home or that there’s someone accompanying you. It’s not just for new people within the group but EVERYONE. Everyone in the group wants to make sure that the rest is save and has a way to get home AND has gotten home in one piece.
I’ve been getting along quite ok with everyone else. Or at least so I think. So far all the relationships I’ve developed have been at best superficial so it really isn’t a good judge of friendship. Though there is one thing I do struggle against, when it comes to friendships. See, one of the reasons why I chose international house was so that I could try and get a good mix of friends from everywhere and not just stick with Asians. Trouble is the Asians are hanging around the Asians everyone else seems to be sticking with people from the same country or culture. This is difficult because you can’t really force people to mingle if they are intent on sticking together. Even though there are activities to try and bond people together, it is pretty obvious at meal times who’d they would rather be with and who they’ll hang out with in the end.
Here’s the thing. How do I get friendships to work if they are going to stick to their own cultures? Do I force my way in? Force them to budge up along the tables just so I can try and stick to my ideal? Is my ideal too lofty to hope the people are bigger than just going with what is easy? What’s more the friends that I have now are Asians and some of them seem pretty happy with the way it is. Sigh. Everyone’s friendly but no one really considers anyone from another culture a friend. Kind of like tolerance but high on caffeine and sugar?
Anyhow on a brighter side, I really think that coming here is most definitely divine direction. The summers and not too hot, the winters are not too cold and the Christian group I’ve been going to is really caring. A little weak on the word but that’s okay. Best part of it is that the church that affiliated to the Christian group I’m in has “A prophetic church” as their mission statement for the year. Isn’t it great after so many year of harping on the prophetic and how it’s sorely lacking, I get to travel thousands of kilometers away from home to find a church that thinks the five fold is important and is trying to establish the prophetic again. HEE HEE HEE I can’t tell how shocked and happy I was when I heard their statement and the subsequent sermon. I fully agree with everything that was said (The speaker mentioned Cindy Jacob). Rare huh? Though I did have some problems with the delivery itself but I suppose I can overlook that one little thing.
That is all
Jon.P™
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Hello my little chick-a-dees!
I’ve finally gotten my hands on an internet connection. Most regrettably it’s only 150mb worth of downloads a months but beggars can’t be choosers I guess.
My arrival and transfer over to my accommodation has been relatively smooth and I’ve moved into what the local residents at my college call “The Lair” which is this quaint unit on the ground floor that’s accessed via a sliding door. It’s got carpeted floors, built in cupboards and a bathroom that I only have to share with one other person.
Everyone here is friendly which is nice though I haven’t met any friends yet. Everyone seems to be rushing to get things done and since the main bulk of people haven’t arrived yet, it’s just going to have to be the waiting game I guess, do pray that I will make some friends soon.
I’ve been exploring the campus a bit and it’s got really nice lots of brilliant architecture and “lakes” (lakes would be pushing the definition abit for one, their man made for two their only about 800 meters in diameter) to jog around.
Food here while it is typically expensive, is not unaffordable. In fact there are some products here that are cheaper over here. One such product would be instant soup. Seeing as how the kitchen at my college still has yet to open, I have been forced to fend for myself. Typically you would expect someone of my culinary caliber to be whipping up grand fantastic 5 course meals involving some of the more exotic inhabitants of this continent (think like Koala salad), but I’ve just been too lazy to do that. If anything I’ve been surviving on soup and sandwiches with the occasional forage to the nearby bakeries and shops for pies (AUD$2.50 yum) or fish and chips (AUD$9.90 yum yum yum……bleh!) for my sustenance, both of which come in very large portions.
Alright it’s been two days since I’ve surf on the “inter-web” as you can imagine I have a lot of downloading to do.
That is all
Jon.P™
Today’s Jonathan’s Gem: "Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity." – G.K Chesterton The Man Who was Thursday, 1908
P.S. G.K Chesterton is my new favourite author, I strong recommend you have a go at his works. Brilliant! Simply Brilliant! And funny too…
I’ve finally gotten my hands on an internet connection. Most regrettably it’s only 150mb worth of downloads a months but beggars can’t be choosers I guess.
My arrival and transfer over to my accommodation has been relatively smooth and I’ve moved into what the local residents at my college call “The Lair” which is this quaint unit on the ground floor that’s accessed via a sliding door. It’s got carpeted floors, built in cupboards and a bathroom that I only have to share with one other person.
Everyone here is friendly which is nice though I haven’t met any friends yet. Everyone seems to be rushing to get things done and since the main bulk of people haven’t arrived yet, it’s just going to have to be the waiting game I guess, do pray that I will make some friends soon.
I’ve been exploring the campus a bit and it’s got really nice lots of brilliant architecture and “lakes” (lakes would be pushing the definition abit for one, their man made for two their only about 800 meters in diameter) to jog around.
Food here while it is typically expensive, is not unaffordable. In fact there are some products here that are cheaper over here. One such product would be instant soup. Seeing as how the kitchen at my college still has yet to open, I have been forced to fend for myself. Typically you would expect someone of my culinary caliber to be whipping up grand fantastic 5 course meals involving some of the more exotic inhabitants of this continent (think like Koala salad), but I’ve just been too lazy to do that. If anything I’ve been surviving on soup and sandwiches with the occasional forage to the nearby bakeries and shops for pies (AUD$2.50 yum) or fish and chips (AUD$9.90 yum yum yum……bleh!) for my sustenance, both of which come in very large portions.
Alright it’s been two days since I’ve surf on the “inter-web” as you can imagine I have a lot of downloading to do.
That is all
Jon.P™
Today’s Jonathan’s Gem: "Moderate strength is shown in violence, supreme strength is shown in levity." – G.K Chesterton The Man Who was Thursday, 1908
P.S. G.K Chesterton is my new favourite author, I strong recommend you have a go at his works. Brilliant! Simply Brilliant! And funny too…
