2008 年 6 月 12 日 星期四 【晴】

I've caught a cold today, finally I get sick! Moreover, I am already grateful that I am fit and well this half a year!

I visited the orchestra today, my colleagues told me that they had a renovation to fit in some more desks. I went and have a look on my working area! I've got telephone, printer & PC, plus drawers... so cool!

Tomorrow I shall visit the cell group and see how it goes. My sister told me that this Sunday, will be the day for grandpa's spirit "to return". Grandma once said that "grandpa has passed away for 40 years already". Her dementia has gone worst...

>>June 13, 2008 at 1:53:28 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 11 日 星期三 【晴】

Welcome back! Oh, did anyone welcome me back to Macau?

I was walking to the bank this afternoon, I felt so foreign, I felt myself as if I am a missionary who has just arrived!

>>June 12, 2008 at 2:39:01 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 5 日 星期四 【晴】

Driving instructors would make comments about your drive, they do... My instructor often has 2 comments: "Oh my God!", "Do you want to kill me?". I dislike his comments very much, firstly, why "oh my God"? does he has a God in his heart? And for the latter, I have no thought of killing him. Maybe this is his way of commenting, yet I don't like it.

So right before my test, we had our lesson. He commented as usual. (Comments won't work on me!) I actually bad after hearing his comments.

I failed my test anyway, haha!

If I am working in Oz, I would be super upset, but since the driving licence isn't very important for me now, I am feeling okay.

Evening was spent with VO+CE, bit of sharing and worshipping together.

>>June 12, 2008 at 2:58:30 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 4 日 星期三 【晴】

Tried to pack up in the midnight, but I was too tired... this morning I woke up around 7-ish, and studied the parking notes. My afternoon was devoted to the Prayer News editing, moreover, I fell asleep not long after the start of it. I slept and was late to run for the train...

I had a meeting with MST this evening and went to have pancakes afterwards. Yesterday I said SORRY to Alex. Indeed, I feared what Jasmine will feel/ think for my leave in VO+CE and I feel super guilty to leave without an advance notice. And I am sure my leave will cause one way or another inconvenience to CCBC.

However, I thank God that I can continue my serve in CCBC!

I promised I will visit Anna in Thailand!

>>June 12, 2008 at 2:51:58 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 4 日 星期三 【晴】

I am sitting for my driving test tomorrow. Can I pass...? I don't know and I don't have much confidence after all. It's not a very important thing for now, but I will still try my best.

Getting back to Melbourne, I have lots to do. I've just closed all my accounts this morning and still thinking how to pack up my stuff. Among my collection (things inside my house), some are not necessary, however they are mostly the gifts received from my friends. I dare won't give them away or throw them away. Yet unfortunately, I can't bring them all back to Melbourne.

You know what, when I decided to go to Macau and work, one thing I dearly asked for from my Lord: "Can I have an apartment myself?" I don't need to live there, but I wanted a space for myself. My apartment in Macau is quite big actually, but I am still sharing a room with my sister. And since 1996, 4 persons in the apartment has accumulated millions of things in it. My friends told me that it would cost around $3000 PATACAS.

Well, I am greedy for this request...hahahh~

>>June 4, 2008 at 11:35:36 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 3 日 星期二 【晴】

10:00 someone knocked at my door. I was still in bed. The knocking woke me up and I realized that I have overslept for my driving lesson!

I sent out an e-mail to some Aussies people, it's my sharing - the process, my leave and things.

I attended the prayer community in the evening, I felt like I wanted to join and meet bro & sis. I met Alex, and said SORRY to him.

>>June 12, 2008 at 2:48:13 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 2 日 星期一 【晴】

06:00, the captain said we have arrived in Melbourne, but due to the foggy weather, we aren't able to land! So we head off to Adelaide and waited for 7 hours. It was 17:25 when I was on the Skybus. I called home and noted that Grandpa has passed away.

>>June 12, 2008 at 2:40:51 PM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 2 日 星期一 【晴】

My neighbour knocked my door this evening, I opened and saw him holding a box of advertising materials & letters. I then understand why my friend commented that she hasn't collected much letters from my letter box. He's very nice!

Okay, you know, it took me 24 hours to get back to Melbourne from Macau.

Flashback...

31st/ We arrived at Macau around 8pm something. That night, I was asleep for 12 hours. The following day, which is 1st June, I got up, had my showers and meals and later found myself having a headache. I decided not to visit granny in the evening. Sister ordered pizza for dinner and I went to church at 8pm.

When I returned home, I sent out some e-mails and pack up some stuff that I would bring them back to Australia. I couldn't sleep tonight. I was awake until 5am. 1/2 of the morning was devoted to sleep. I went back to YSO for some follow and visited the hospital at 1pm. I stayed for an hour and found out that granny wasn't responding much.

Mom scolded me not turning up at yum cha and commented I was lazy in not visiting granny the day before/ in the morning. Well, she just doesn't know the whole story! I was suppose to take the 3pm ferry, but I missed it! Hahahhah~ I asked Penny to take me to the Terminal, it was my fault, I thought I can check-in at last 15 minutes! Anyway, I have to pay again and take the 4:45pm ferry.

24 hours journey began...

Since my flight is at 7:15pm, there wasn't much time for me to go window shopping at HKIA, but I did have some fun there. I boarded at the final call. By morning 6am of Melbourne time, our plane has arrived Melbourne, but we were taken to Adelaide. The aviator said that it was too foggy to land! So we head off to Adelaide. When we were ready to go, we were told that the airport in Melbourne is super busy to cater us. We get the plane re-fuel and also some new passengers joining us from another Cathay flight. All the passengers were not allowed to leave the air craft and thus we stayed there like 7 hours. Around 4pm -ish, we return to Melbourne.

I was a little bit worry for my souvenirs. I bought some Mozart Chocolate from Salzburg and realised that it is difficult to carry them to Australia. For one main reason, the weather, and being gone through a lot of security checks, they won't look good. So I had re-sell them to my friend. I bought 3 cross from Norte Dame Cathedral of France, they were made from the wood of the Olive Tree in Bethlehem. The custom declare card has one item - wooden products. I was thinking a couple of tricks where to hide them, or how to beg the custom officer, and even to warn them that they shouldn't discard a CROSS! I put one in my bag for declaration and two in my jeans. Just as the last minute, I show all three to the custom. I think I will feel better to do the right thing. Finally, the crosses are fine! Hhahaha.

As you have seen that I took the 4:45pm ferrry... and it was 5:23pm when I took a seat on the skybus, it was a very very long hours of journey!

I switch on my mobile once again and saw sister's SMS.

I called home.

And learned that grandpa has rest in peace.

>>June 3, 2008 at 11:27:52 AM GMT+8

2008 年 6 月 1 日 星期日 【晴】

Photos from YSO Vienna & Salzburg + much more

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiss_mily/sets/72157605373960494

>>June 1, 2008 at 8:49:34 PM GMT+8

2008 年 5 月 31 日 星期六 【晴】

Today marked the 10th anniversary in my viola learning!

We returned to Macau last evening, after 10+ hours flight, I slept like dead for 12 hours. I missed the morning service and caught the 8pm service at church.

So... some highlights of the trip:

/// Two performance in Vienna & Salzburg, both were good. We were all quite nervous for the first one and did much better at the second one. There were some conflicts in the viola section, I was kept in the middle of two parties. However, I raised the issue to our Mastero and was touched that he really cares for everyone in the orchestra.

/// During the applause of the first concert, Mastero shouted "Emily!". I was shocked and afraid. I feared that he would scold me, for I had played not-very-in-tune for the viola solo. But then, he gave me a flower! It's my first time receiving flower on stage ^.^ ~ super happy! However, since we are on the bus for at least 4 hours each day, the flower was nearly dead when we travelled to Salzburg, I left her in the hotel when we depart for Munich.

/// I was assigned to be the leader of Group 6. There is a staff in my group too. I doesn't like her character, very out-going, very active with TEENS. During our flight to Vienna, one of the baggage was lost. I feel that I am not very generous and not very kind. At times of needs, I really see my selfishness.

/// Yay, and it's now easy to face people with poor attitude.

/// I bought some chocolate for my friend. However, I later found it difficult to bring them to Australia. For the hot weather in Macau, for the custom, I don't think that the chocolate will be in good condition. On the other hand, I thought that some members weren't able to buy the chocolate because we lack of time, so I thought of re-selling to them. Finally I sell them all, hahha.

/// After the concert in Salzburg, we had a gala dinner. We met the group from Hong Kong, Shang Hai, Japan and Vienna Boys Choir. As this is a Choral Festival, they are all vocalists. We check-in to the hotel around 1pm. When I put down my things, I heard the voice of Mastero. I ran out. I thanked him to help me resolve the conflict of our viola section. I also say goodbye & hugged him, coz he is returning to Brazil. Last but not least, I said sorry to him, for I didn't play well. He said "No, you played well, otherwise you won't be in that position (section leader)". I know how much work I need before I can be the same level of our concert master, of other members. I know what level of skills I have had. Thanks be to God, Mastero has encouraged me.

/// Sunday 25 May, we had a little meeting in the hotel, it was for Christian.

/// One of our crew hurted his leg while moving the Timpani, he was sent to the hospital.

/// During the rehearsal, the Vienna Boys Choir stood infront of our viola section, facing the orhestra. I was very very thankful to God, since I can hear their voice very closely!

/// I made friends wtih Siyu, Jazz, Ka Lun, they are all very nice.

/// It was good that I can use my Australia SIM card in Vienna & all the cities there.

/// I met Mei Teng in the trip. She took care of our expenses. In one way or the other, the shape of her face is very similar to my mentor. We became very close during the 12 days. She treated me a cup of cappucinno.

/// One night, I stayed up until 3am, I chated with our dirctor. It was quite a chat...

/// My group members had lost & left: 2 baggages, 1 Macau ID card, 1 hotel key, 1bag of chocolate, 1 mobile, 2 adapters, 1 bag of medicine, a bow. The bow was found, also the hotel key. Others were gone.

/// I really appreciate those members who took the energy to concentrate in their studies on the bus & during our flights. I don't have the gut to study for my driving test. But they studied for their exam! All the best to them!

/// As a leader, I had many negative feeling. In one scene, it was 18:08, we were suppose to assemble at 18:10. One member wanted to buy a gold coin in the church, but she doesn't has coins to insert to the machine. We went out of the church and she met some other members to get some changes. The staff asked her to run back and buy the gold coin. Yet I stopped her. I said NO. This kind of last minute buying sovenirs has happened a few times. I was very straight & harsh. I scolder for those who were late in my group. I had my responsibility to all other groups.

/// I was afraid too, to scold them, to be harsh, I know they will have hard feeling on me as well. One member lost the hotel key. We were suppose to go, and she was founding the key. My group was really a challenge!

/// From Germany to Paris, we are all very alert for safety. Pickpockets are very common there. I have given up the right to take as much photos as I like and also the chance to shop. Therefore, I can keep an eye if anyone is targetting my members. Being a leader isn't easy. Sometimes members are not responding as you wish and not as discipline as you desire.

/// I bought a box of card to the trip. Since the last trip, I tried to write thank-you notes to all the leaders & staff. There are 50 cards in the box and I was super delighted that all the 50 cards were used! Some of the crew asked me to get some blank cards too!

/// We had a committee for the custom, a committee to push us (to be on time) and a committee for security. Everyone did a great job. We had meeting each night in the hotel and our last meeting was held on the ferry!

/// Aging... at CCBC, especially in Choir, I am somewhere in the middle... there are more mature Christian and some young and fresh First year students. In YSO, I am facing the very new generation! The youngest goes to 10 years old and the majority are in highschool. There were around 10 in their mid-20s, I see that we all develop some sort of aging signs, esp girls... so bad, hahahha

/// I bought 3 wooden cross, costing 10 EURO (10 X $12,5 HKD). They are expensive, however I like them.

/// We had some terrible meals in the first few days and slept quite good. On the other hand, we had poor hotels costing 85 EURO each night for 3 stars for the last few days of the trip. When the living condition became poor, the food was eatable, not as bad as those served in the beginning.

/// Visted Lafayette, a very very big shopping arcade. Some grown-ups bought LV bags. And I had bought 3 pack of chips :P. It's my first time experiencing what is expensive! And the quality of LV bags...

>>June 1, 2008 at 3:50:16 PM GMT+8