Memories...
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Today (Mondae) was really a fruitful and accomplished day for me..Hosted a large group of Japanese students from the Hyogo Joint Summer Session in school from morning till afternoon, before returning to board their ship at night for a wonderful evening of cultural exchange, good food, and overseas companionship. =) The Japanese students were really adorable, friendly, and great hosts.
What makes me most happy is that the successful conclusion of today's hosting marks the 3rd and final leg of my attempt in office to put Arts Club and Arts Fac on the world map, and at the same time, giving a wonderful opportunity for our Arts students to experience meaningful cultural exchanges and link up with our counterparts in the other parts of the globe. In this age of globalization, it is no longer sufficient enough for us to be narrow-sighted and look within our own shores.
During my 1st leg, I worked closely with the Deans Office in linking up students for the hosting of foreign friends from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill..
During my 2nd leg, through a twist of fate, I managed to secure contact with the Students Union from the University of Macau, and hosted them during Arts Camp.. =) The highlight for me during that dae has to be seeing our guys cheering for the Macau visitors, and my fellow counterpart Arts Club President from UM speaking to the campers...
My 3rd leg ended todae, where i worked very closely with OSA to host Japanese Uni students from the Hyogo Prefecture...
Throughout all 3 legs, i realize what gave me the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment was not the food or anything, but rather, the result at the end..where our Arts students took pictures with their foreign friends..smiling, laughing, joking with each other..breaking bonds across international barriers...making new friends across international boundaries...A wonderful sight really..
I realize these images at the end were e factors that always kept me going..trying to source for new contacts and lobangs for hosting of foreign visitors, and again, making a difference to our students' life. Not many of us are rich enough to travel the world, but i sure can do my part to try and bring the world to the feet of others..
And now finally when i am stepping down, i can say that it hasnt been an easy job coordinating as well, becoz most of the time not even my fellow MC members noe much of or appreciate the effort i put in to organize these 3 legs. I had to do a lot of these planning alone..and e reason why i choose not to get too many pple to help me is becoz i want them to concentrate on their internal Cell and MC and FOP projects..And i am grateful indeed for the enriching experiences learnt from these hosting events, and i have told myself that i ll return to help out for future of such hostings by the Club or faculty. =)
3 other things delighted me todae..1st..my ninja team is finally completed. =)
2nd..met Joanne from Deans Office todae at e forum..and she was like shrieking at me "Ching Hock! Why u never re-run!!??" haha..i told her my reasons and offered my future services to help Deanery liao..And then she said something...
Something which touched me a lot.. :
"Frankly, this term has been the best in years that we at Deans Office can remember. You and your team did a great job. A lot of us here are really hoping you ll continue."Just a simple line from her..but yet this line means so much to me. Affirms what 26th had done..And she is not the 1st from Deans Office to tell me that...
Of coz she also added another line that:
"You all better choose a good President to succeed! The moment a wrong one is chosen it ll break e Club and all that the past seniors had done over the years!"Aye aye..
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And the 3rd thing is this letter from an old old friend..."Hey Ah Hock!
In case you didn’t know yet, I’m an avid reader of your blog. And after reading your most recent entries, just would like to share with you some of my feelings.
You’ve done a great job for the past one year. I suppose for those with eyes, they will easily notice. I remember back then when we were all freshmen, I don’t remember Arts Club doing anything much to add value to the lives of FASS students. I don’t remember the club doing much to really aid the students. In fact, I don’t remember anything except the word “bash”.
But under your leadership, I can see that Arts Club has changed quite a lot. I may not have been involved in any of these, but I can see with my eyes. I’m not sure exactly when the tutoring referral emails started entering my NUS mailbox, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t happen when I was in year one, it happened after my freshman year. And as an observer, I’m just going to credit you with that.
Not only this, correct me if I’m wrong, I notice that the suggestion box was only up permanently outside Arts Club only after you took over. I don’t remember seeing that box hanging on the door of Arts Club when I was a freshie. Also, I notice that more and more banners of a wider variety of activities were hung out along AS1 under your presidency. Once again, I don’t remember seeing so many during my first year at NUS.
I’m saying this not because you’re my friend. It’s obvious that from what has been written in your blog, as well as the concrete things you’ve accomplished, you’ve done a lot for Arts Club and FASS. I’m not an admirer of Arts Club back then in year one, but what you’ve done, your passion for the club has more or less changed my view.
Therefore, I hope that you don’t let negative comments or whatever stuff gets you down. There will always be people who are dissatisfied, but similarly, there will always be people who respect you for who you are and what you’ve achieved.
Best of luck for this academic year, and take care!
Zhixiang"Old buddy, if ya reading this, i just wanna tell u that yr letter is really touching and sweet. You rock..sorry for not being a very good friend the past 2 years and not spending much time with ya..really appreciate yr letter and encouragement..thanks man.. =)
i always tell myself that true friends are those who ll stand by you thru thick and thin..and when e chips are down..u re def 1 rv boi! haha..
