I've been unable to attend cell group here in SG for quite some time now (2 months! eeks). So when Jaslin's cell group had one last night, I went. And I'm really glad I did. =)
It was held at Mark's place, at a super flash condo (nice pool!) somewhere at Ang Mo Kio. The view from the balcony is breathtaking, postcard material - and I'm not exaggerating. I wish I'd brought my camera. It's practically a 180 degree panoramic view of the city lights, can even see the Flyer from a distance.
But the one thing I'd remember MOST about last night wouldn't be the nice view, the friendly people, exchanging phone numbers, good food (strawberry choc fondue yum!), free ride to a nearer mrt station though I really appreciate that, meeting another friend also working at the Biopolis (hence another lunch partner), or even the cool breeze of the night, something rare which I'd learnt to treasure.
While everyone was mingling with each other, I somehow made my way to the kitchen to put away my plate, and that's where and how I had the most interesting and I would say, meaningful, conversation in a while since I got here.
Most people hate small talk. But in a way, it is necessary when meeting new people.
"So where are you from?"
"Oh, and what are you studying?"
"Interesting... and where do you study?"
"ooo NEW ZEALAND! How nice..."
"OOHHH and how long are you going to be here for?"
"So fast! Will you be going home for chinese new year?"
"Wow that's nice!"
awkward silence.
(just an example)
I can tolerate small talk to some degree. That is, until you see me glancing over your shoulder 80% of the time I'm talking to you. Sorry in advance if that happens.
Where was I? Oh. At the kitchen, putting my plate away (assumingly for the Indon maid to wash up). I think our conversation started when she asked me if it was my first time here for cell group.
First of all, I'm surprised that she knows who's new and who's not.
Second, FYI she prepared all the food that night. Every single thing. And probably only one or two people actually said thanks to her for that, and mean it.
Thirdly, you know how we always include the cook when saying grace? e.g. thank you MAY for the muffins that we are about to eat etc etc? Not even a single mention of the maid who did all the work for every cell group meeting.
I regret not asking her name, so I'll just call her Jane.
Jane is from Indonesia, she's on contract as a full time maid for 2 years. She's been here for 3 months now, separated from her baby for so long that she missed her baby taking his/her first steps! She told me how she would cry every day while ironing clothes for her boss and family. How she would feel anger when her boss scolded her for not washing every single LEAF of the vegetables for dinner. How tired and lonely she is to be working all the time- no break, no compliments, no "how are you doing?"s, no holidays, not being able to watch her baby grow up, take in the scoldings without the ability to defend herself, even when she's already a married woman, a wife, a mother.
She told me how she would pray of better days ahead, for her long days to be over, for the day that she can see her baby (all grown up by then) again, for HOPE. How she believes without a doubt that even though her days are hard and no one seems to care, she is grateful, and longs for the 2 year contract to be over, and she'll be reunited with her family once again, maybe migrate to Malaysia, and not having to work as a maid again.
I just stood there, listening and nodding, saying words of comfort, not knowing what the right words are. Here I am, going overseas for my studies, coming to cell group, no worry at all if the next thing I do will end up with me getting scolded. We KNOW that we don't treasure what we have sometimes, we KNOW how other people are less fortunate than us, and yet we don't show gratitude. We complain, grumble, compare, and grumble some more.
It's times like these that I step back and look at the big picture again.
So we stood there at the kitchen, talking (mostly me listening) about life, while everyone else was at the dining area and living room enjoying the food and each others' company.
I didn't realise time passing by until another girl walked into the kitchen and said, "So this is where you've been hiding the whole night!" Then we said our goodbyes, wishing her well, went outside for a while and saw that people were already leaving =P
There's many more I'd love to tell you guys back in Dunedin about cell group here, but I'll leave that for the time when we meet again. =)
It was held at Mark's place, at a super flash condo (nice pool!) somewhere at Ang Mo Kio. The view from the balcony is breathtaking, postcard material - and I'm not exaggerating. I wish I'd brought my camera. It's practically a 180 degree panoramic view of the city lights, can even see the Flyer from a distance.
But the one thing I'd remember MOST about last night wouldn't be the nice view, the friendly people, exchanging phone numbers, good food (strawberry choc fondue yum!), free ride to a nearer mrt station though I really appreciate that, meeting another friend also working at the Biopolis (hence another lunch partner), or even the cool breeze of the night, something rare which I'd learnt to treasure.
While everyone was mingling with each other, I somehow made my way to the kitchen to put away my plate, and that's where and how I had the most interesting and I would say, meaningful, conversation in a while since I got here.
Most people hate small talk. But in a way, it is necessary when meeting new people.
"So where are you from?"
"Oh, and what are you studying?"
"Interesting... and where do you study?"
"ooo NEW ZEALAND! How nice..."
"OOHHH and how long are you going to be here for?"
"So fast! Will you be going home for chinese new year?"
"Wow that's nice!"
awkward silence.
(just an example)
I can tolerate small talk to some degree. That is, until you see me glancing over your shoulder 80% of the time I'm talking to you. Sorry in advance if that happens.
Where was I? Oh. At the kitchen, putting my plate away (assumingly for the Indon maid to wash up). I think our conversation started when she asked me if it was my first time here for cell group.
First of all, I'm surprised that she knows who's new and who's not.
Second, FYI she prepared all the food that night. Every single thing. And probably only one or two people actually said thanks to her for that, and mean it.
Thirdly, you know how we always include the cook when saying grace? e.g. thank you MAY for the muffins that we are about to eat etc etc? Not even a single mention of the maid who did all the work for every cell group meeting.
I regret not asking her name, so I'll just call her Jane.
Jane is from Indonesia, she's on contract as a full time maid for 2 years. She's been here for 3 months now, separated from her baby for so long that she missed her baby taking his/her first steps! She told me how she would cry every day while ironing clothes for her boss and family. How she would feel anger when her boss scolded her for not washing every single LEAF of the vegetables for dinner. How tired and lonely she is to be working all the time- no break, no compliments, no "how are you doing?"s, no holidays, not being able to watch her baby grow up, take in the scoldings without the ability to defend herself, even when she's already a married woman, a wife, a mother.
She told me how she would pray of better days ahead, for her long days to be over, for the day that she can see her baby (all grown up by then) again, for HOPE. How she believes without a doubt that even though her days are hard and no one seems to care, she is grateful, and longs for the 2 year contract to be over, and she'll be reunited with her family once again, maybe migrate to Malaysia, and not having to work as a maid again.
I just stood there, listening and nodding, saying words of comfort, not knowing what the right words are. Here I am, going overseas for my studies, coming to cell group, no worry at all if the next thing I do will end up with me getting scolded. We KNOW that we don't treasure what we have sometimes, we KNOW how other people are less fortunate than us, and yet we don't show gratitude. We complain, grumble, compare, and grumble some more.
It's times like these that I step back and look at the big picture again.
So we stood there at the kitchen, talking (mostly me listening) about life, while everyone else was at the dining area and living room enjoying the food and each others' company.
I didn't realise time passing by until another girl walked into the kitchen and said, "So this is where you've been hiding the whole night!" Then we said our goodbyes, wishing her well, went outside for a while and saw that people were already leaving =P
There's many more I'd love to tell you guys back in Dunedin about cell group here, but I'll leave that for the time when we meet again. =)
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