Yesterday was an eventful day. Although I only had lessons from 8-11am, I had the responsibility and initiative to attend a welcome tea-party at 5pm, organised for the japanese students and their lecturers who arrived in Singapore on Monday, 5th Septhember. So what did I do between 11 to 5 pm? Basically went swimming at 11 and then went home to catch some sleep because I was involved in bringing the students around Singapore in the evening. In the end, only nap for half an hour for fear of waking up late!

5pm: Attended the lecture conducted by a Japanese lecturer from Hamamatsu, Japan. *eye opening experience..and very beautiful pictures of the place where they come from..oh btw, did we have ownership of the event AGAIN??*
5.30pm: (approx time) Headed to another room where the tea-party was held. The student committee provided nonya kueh and local drinks (from Yeos) for the Japanese guests.

We tried very hard to communicate with them using simple english, so in the end tried to talk about common things like Kimura, Takuya; Hideaki, Takazawa; Ayumi Hamasaki; Speed; Slamdunk; Inuyasha; etc.. Had lots of fun trying to communicate to each other.. and when we mentioned that we heard of a boy group called Arashi.. wow! Enthusiasm arose!! *haha.. so cute the jap girl's expression!* In the end, after much persuasion, they performed a short chorus of Arashi songs, together with a dance! *wow.. so enthusiastic.. and kawaii!!..too bad hb missed the performance*

And to return the favour, the local students decided to sing a chinese song "Guang Huai Fang Shi" and an english song "If we hold on together" *during which was rather awkward because all I could see was ? ? ? on their faces. Haha.. and hb didn't help much by having ? ? ? on his face as well* In all, it was an entertaining singing session! After the students performed, of course, by hot demand, HB was invited to perform as well.

So, along with his sidekick, they decided to sing the malay song "Rasa Sayang". Perhaps it has been such a long time since he or his sidekick sang it, they had a difficult time remembering the lyrics. In the end, his trusty sidekick called for help while HB wrote what he could remember on the whiteboard, and explained the song in English. *wah.. didn't realise rasa sayang meant like that!! haha.. after so many years of singing it* So for those of you who didn't attend the party, it was really your loss. *haha* You've just missed an exciting episode of project 'superstar'! *haha*

6.45pm: The tea-party ended and a few of the local students were arranged to bring the Japanese students around Singapore.

The plan was to bring them to Lau Par Sa for dinner and then walk to the River to see the Merlion and Esplanade. We all had a fun time taking pictures, and zz and I who caught up with the group later, had a 'self-high' time taking our own pictures. *eh.. first time i take picture with merlion.. haha.. and to think I'm local. hahaha* It was during then that I realise I'm lucky to be in Singapore. Tall buildings, sky scrapers...honestly, we do have a beautiful skyline, just that, as the saying goes "Sheng Zai Fu Zhong Bu Zhi Fu" (Not realising nor counting your blessings), we often neglect to enjoy what we have, always thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. They had the opportunity to take the train and bus (which we decided to pay the bus fare for them). The Japanese students were rather shocked that we paid for their bus fare, and we had to explain to them that the bus fare in Singapore it is very much cheaper than in JP. *$0.90 only... I guess that is cheap*

11.00pm: (approx time) Arrived at their hotel and two of our local students brought them up to their Sensei's hotel room
11.32pm: Left the hotel and headed back home
12.15am: Arrived back home
1.42am: Still awake despite being TOTALLY drained.. *had to do things for mental health, and select pictures of the AOTO to submit.. lucky had Rui online, so I wasn't alone*
2.03am: Unable to withstand it any longer.. went to sleep

Yesterday was an eventful day. Although I only had lessons from 8-11am, I had the responsibility and initiative to attend a welcome tea-party at 5pm, organised for the japanese students and their lecturers who arrived in Singapore on Monday, 5th Septhember. So what did I do between 11 to 5 pm? Basically went swimming at 11 and then went home to catch some sleep because I was involved in bringing the students around Singapore in the evening. In the end, only nap for half an hour for fear of waking up late!

5pm: Attended the lecture conducted by a Japanese lecturer from Hamamatsu, Japan. *eye opening experience..and very beautiful pictures of the place where they come from..oh btw, did we have ownership of the event AGAIN??*
5.30pm: (approx time) Headed to another room where the tea-party was held. The student committee provided nonya kueh and local drinks (from Yeos) for the Japanese guests.

We tried very hard to communicate with them using simple english, so in the end tried to talk about common things like Kimura, Takuya; Hideaki, Takazawa; Ayumi Hamasaki; Speed; Slamdunk; Inuyasha; etc.. Had lots of fun trying to communicate to each other.. and when we mentioned that we heard of a boy group called Arashi.. wow! Enthusiasm arose!! *haha.. so cute the jap girl's expression!* In the end, after much persuasion, they performed a short chorus of Arashi songs, together with a dance! *wow.. so enthusiastic.. and kawaii!!..too bad hb missed the performance*

And to return the favour, the local students decided to sing a chinese song "Guang Huai Fang Shi" and an english song "If we hold on together" *during which was rather awkward because all I could see was ? ? ? on their faces. Haha.. and hb didn't help much by having ? ? ? on his face as well* In all, it was an entertaining singing session! After the students performed, of course, by hot demand, HB was invited to perform as well.

So, along with his sidekick, they decided to sing the malay song "Rasa Sayang". Perhaps it has been such a long time since he or his sidekick sang it, they had a difficult time remembering the lyrics. In the end, his trusty sidekick called for help while HB wrote what he could remember on the whiteboard, and explained the song in English. *wah.. didn't realise rasa sayang meant like that!! haha.. after so many years of singing it* So for those of you who didn't attend the party, it was really your loss. *haha* You've just missed an exciting episode of project 'superstar'! *haha*

6.45pm: The tea-party ended and a few of the local students were arranged to bring the Japanese students around Singapore.

The plan was to bring them to Lau Par Sa for dinner and then walk to the River to see the Merlion and Esplanade. We all had a fun time taking pictures, and zz and I who caught up with the group later, had a 'self-high' time taking our own pictures. *eh.. first time i take picture with merlion.. haha.. and to think I'm local. hahaha* It was during then that I realise I'm lucky to be in Singapore. Tall buildings, sky scrapers...honestly, we do have a beautiful skyline, just that, as the saying goes "Sheng Zai Fu Zhong Bu Zhi Fu" (Not realising nor counting your blessings), we often neglect to enjoy what we have, always thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. They had the opportunity to take the train and bus (which we decided to pay the bus fare for them). The Japanese students were rather shocked that we paid for their bus fare, and we had to explain to them that the bus fare in Singapore it is very much cheaper than in JP. *$0.90 only... I guess that is cheap*

11.00pm: (approx time) Arrived at their hotel and two of our local students brought them up to their Sensei's hotel room
11.32pm: Left the hotel and headed back home
12.15am: Arrived back home
1.42am: Still awake despite being TOTALLY drained.. *had to do things for mental health, and select pictures of the AOTO to submit.. lucky had Rui online, so I wasn't alone*
2.03am: Unable to withstand it any longer.. went to sleep