Singapore - Post-CELTA

I was on a four-day rollercoaster ride since the call from Shenzhen customs on Thursday to mama's arrival at midnight on Sunday.

Let's concentrate on the positives:

We breezed through customs at Shenzhen Bay,
No excess baggage and no need for post at HK Airport,
Mama returned safely on UA,
and We've located our missing piece of baggage.

I've gotten a Pass-B provisional grade for my CELTA,
and Am currently looking at courses and examinations for our PRC charges.

I close another chapter of my life - 180days in SZ/BJ, but you know what... I don't need to be in China to be living my China dream.

soli deo gloria...

Please PRAY

I can't go into the details, but please PRAY that everything will go smoothly as we depart China for Singapore this Sunday.

If you need to know more, please contact Aunty Merin or call me.


He is our Strength.

CELTA Day 18 - 2 days left??

*spot me!*

I received a great and not-so-great news at the same time yesterday. I had to resubmit Assignment 4, but I got an S+ for TP7!

For TP7, I had brought in my laptop to show some pictures, but it decided to hang just seconds (literally!) before I had to start. I quickly thought up some questions for the "lead-in" and prayed for strength to continue the lesson as planned (not ez for a perfectionist!).

For the follow-up writing task, I tried out something new by handing the students real mobile phones with pre-typed text messages. Then on a sheet with images of phone with large screens for writing, they had to craft their replies. Worked quite well! :)

Oh, as for the final assignment, Heath was really kind to look at my corrections on the spot and he passed my resubmission there and then. :)


So with only 1 final TP left on Friday, I decided to visit 后海 last night. It's "¹a charming area of lakes and hutongs in central Beijing, with a lively nightlife". The latter means hundreds of bars and pubs with great live music. Heinz, my Swiss-born Australian coursemate, joked that you'd have to live in Beijing for 10 years to have visited all of those bars.

After 2 hours of walking with Heinz and grandma in chilly temperatures, I've caught the cold again. :(

¹Beijing Guide 2008

Thanksgiving Aplenty

I couldn't help but look at the colours of fall - yellow, orange and GOLD glittering in the sun, and say Thank God for creation! :)



Beijing International Christian Fellowship celebrated its 30th anniversary this past Sunday. 30 years of God's grace and provision for the community in this country...nothing short of a miracle. Different congregations- the Koreans, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino etc came together to put up a celebration Sunday. Im gonna miss having such a diverse community worshiping together, but this is what it'll be like in Heaven! Rejoice :D



I've got a bro from Si Chuan who is now studying in Xi'an. We've kept in close contact since 2005 and when he knew I was in Beijing, Rui Zhi got his friend to bring over some winter wear for me! Love them...wish I could wear them in sunny Singapore ;)

And just this afternoon, our tutors let those who were not teaching off so I had plenty of time to work on TP7 and TP8. Such JOY to be let off at 1.30pm! Woohoo... :)