{PandaMomo Lifestory} "shining as a star ...life is a never-ending journey of discovery learning"

13 June 2008

Rest, Relax & REFLECT

Thanks be to God for blessing me with the joy of meeting up with friends to catch up on old times. On Wednesday,

12th June, I met up with Oh Meiling for movie at Grand Cathay. We watched Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. As always, being a photographer, I had an eye for Kungfu Panda and insisted on posing shots with the Panda.

Heehee.... well, as most know my nickname is 'PandaMomo'. Known as 'panda' as I always have dark eye rings and look just like a panda with lack of rest most of the time as a dedicated and passionate teacher. Why 'Momo'? Well, lovingly called 'Momo' by my dearest friends back during NIE days... first 2 letters of my name 'Monica', stands for 'blur' (in Chinese) as well as 'slow' (in Hokkien). Hence, the origin of my nickname aka pet name.

Hahaha... for the first time I watched a movie eating my lunch, jumbo hotdog set meal. Wow! This movie Prince Caspian is awesome and fantastic. I loved watching it!

Reviewing this movie, I would say it was excellent. Plots of the story were mostly adapted from plots in the BIBLE. I was reminded through the movie character 'Lucy' to simply trust and BELIEVE that God (character of the Lion Aslan) will save in times of dire distress and when nothing else works with our own strength. It's just that simple innocent BELIEF. The other characters: Peter, Edward, Susan and Caspian were seen to be lacking in that simple faith and tried fighting the battle with their lone strength. Eventually, all was needed was just simple BELIEF that Aslan hears their call and will return to give the Narnians victory over their enemy, the Telmarines. All it required was JUST WAIT and BELIEVE. This was my greatest takeaway from the movie. The movie was so moving that I blinked till my disposable contact lenses dropped out and halfway through I had to quickly remove them and wear my spectacles that I brought. Phew! Fortunately, I did not miss any exciting parts of the movie.

After enjoying the movie tremendously, especially soaking in the melodious tunes and meaningful lyrics of the songs 'The Call' and 'This is Home', I decided to go to Gramaphone immediately to purchase the 'Prince Caspian original movie soundtrack'. Thank God I managed to get my hands on the last copy of the soundtrack in Grand Cathay's Gramaphone. Yeah! At a price of $18.95, I could enjoy continuous replay of my favourite songs of the movie.

Loving the songs... especially 'The Call' whereby the lyrics strikes at my heart as a teacher leaving teaching service soon on the 30th June. As I prepare to leave, it's truly no need to say goodbye as I am just a call away. Anytime my colleagues or students need my help, they can always give me a call and I will come back to help where I can. My feelings stirred as I listened to this song repeatedly on my CD player at home.

THE CALL -performed by Regina Spektor

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
Till it was a battle cry
I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been
this way before
All you can do is try to know
who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now we are back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it, too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger
and stronger
Till they're before your eyes
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
Feeling inspired to compose another song using this same tune but replacing with my own words for the lyrics to sing to all before I depart from teaching in Tanjong Katong Primary. Soon, to pursue my interests in Geography and Photography which gives me a chance to be closer to God's Creation, His marvelous works of wonder.

As I move on in this life journey of mine, I liken it to bus rides. There are many buses that come and go. Life is about choices, making the right decision to get on the right bus to get to your destination. Buses represent choices and opportunities. Some may be dangerous opportunities, i.e. crisis of life. Everyone faces with a time in life filled with crisises, i.e. dangerous opportunities (wei ji). The bus ride may not be that smooth, but finally you will reach your destination.

For now, I have sojourned as a teacher in Tanjong Katong Primary for 4 years and actually more dating back to my practicum days in 2002 Semester 2 (5 weeks) and 2003 Semester 3 (10 weeks)... soon, I am moving on to the next chapter of my sojourning.
As I recall my days in Tanjong Katong Primary as a primary school teacher teaching multiple subjects ranging from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health Education, Music and Art; even photography in my CCA - Infocomm Club, I realised there have been many lessons learnt, experiences gained, friends acquainted and forging bonds with my colleagues aka comrades in teaching.

Sojourning as a teacher, it has not been an easy task. God had indeed answered my prayers since my first days of teaching: TO LEARN TO LOVE AND BE PATIENT WITH THE LITTLE CHILDREN whom I teach. Through the years, God has put me through training with many special and outstanding cases that gave me a different outlook to life and world experience.

Indeed, everything that I know is about to change. A new age has begun. Change is the constant and I have to face up to it boldly with HOPE & STRENGTH in the LORD my GOD.

Yesterday on 13th June, I visited Sally at her home in Tampines and also met up with my good old friend, Winnie from Temasek Junior College. Friends since JC days... I had a good time catching up with her and enjoyed the sharing session. A good time of fellowship over mocha and brownie at Century Square Coffee Bean. Thanks be to God for the friends He has blessed me with. THANK YOU, GOD!

11:51 pm;

RESEARCH ASSISTANT & PHOTOGRAPHER

MY PROFILE
momo

*My heart goes all out
to do the best I can,
not for self,
but for God.

*Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

*Always hoping
to touch the lives of people I meet
and light up their lives
like a TWINKLING STAR!

*Love for
photography,
travelling,
cycling,
badminton,
reading,
singing,
listening to music
& doing handicrafts like
friendship bands, paper cranes & hearts n making cross-stitch pictures

*Favourite colour: All shades of blue

{JUST BE who I want to be}

Just Be
Be strong enough to
face the world each day
Be weak enough to know
you cannot do everything alone

Be generous to those who need your help
Be frugal with what you need yourself

Be wise enough to know that
you do not know everything
Be foolish enough to

BELIEVE in MIRACLES

Be willing to
SHARE your JOYS
Be willing to
SHARE the sorrows of others

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed
Be a follower when
you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty

Be the FIRST to CONGRATULATE an opponent who SUCCEEDS
Be the LAST to CRITICIZE a friend who FAILS

Be sure where next step will fall, so that you will not stumble
Be sure of your final destination,
in case you are going the wrong way.

Be LOVING
to those who LOVE you

Be LOVING
to those who DO NOT LOVE you,
and they may CHANGE.

Above all, BE YOURSELF.