How have you all adjusted to your new lives? I've enjoyed hearing some of your stories (see below). Some of you are really starting to enjoy your new lives, but some of you are really finding it hard and even boring. Of course, it is hard being away from your family and friends and working long days with only one day off to relax. I can't imagine just how hard you are all working. I really wish you all the best. Try not to give up, and keep positive about life and your future. There is so much that we can learn from our experiences working abroad. These lessons can make us better people. So ask yourself: What kind of person do I want to become?
By the way - it is not wrong to discover that you are maybe suited to something else and change jobs, move back home, or whatever. Whatever you do - do your best and become a person that you and others can respect, and find satisfaction in your work. Remember that people are more important than projects, and helping others can be more satisfying than helping yourself.
Well, it snowed recently in Beijing. It was very exciting for me, since it does not snow in my hometown and city. I really want it to snow on Christmas day, but I don't think it will. Oh well! Here is a picture of me in the streets of Beijing...
Next is a picture of me with my new students. They are from the oil company COSL. In this picture we are celebrating my birthday. They bought me a big nice cake. I felt so lucky! We ate lots of snacks and food, and we even watched a movie on a big screen. They put cream on my face! Yummy! I really enjoy teaching this new class, and we also have lots of fun together, just like we had! But I still miss the days when I taught you!
Next is a photo of Michelle and I in front of a big poster for a Dance/Musical Show called '42nd Street' from New York. It was held at the Beijing Exhibition Theatre. We really enjoyed it!
For Christmas we will have dinner and lunch with friends of ours, and also go to church ...and of course - open presents! But we will miss our family and friends from Australia.
I hope you all enjoy Christmas and the New Year... and let's look forward to Spring Festival!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Robert, Class B.
20/12/07
Dear P-J,
How is everything going with you these days?
Someone gave me next year’s calendar just now, so I know time flies! We have been separated for nearly 3 months, and I miss you and the happy time we spent together so much!
It must be very cold in Beijing now, but it is summer here. Christmas is coming soon, and it is the first time my enjoying Christmas abroad. Now I have a question: How can Father Christmas come by a sleigh to Singapore since there is no snow in Singapore? HOHO
Wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Robert (as known as duck)
---------------
Jason (Class B) 20/12/07
Thank you - you made a very lovely picture, it is very special. I give my best wishes to you. I think you are lucky - you will see white snow in Beijing, maybe you have! While in Singapore we have white sand on the beach.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronda (Class C)
20/12/07
Hello,P-J & Michelle.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that everything will go well in 2008. It's my first time to wear a T-shirt during Christmas time, so I think this is really strange and interesting. Best wishes! Ronda.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Vivian (Class B)
20/12/07
Hi P-J, How are you? Thank you for your wishes! Hope you have a good CHRISTMAS! Recently, I moved to a new project, and there is no internet, so I can't contact you. I am fine. And my work is also fine, only a little busy. The weather here is very good. It’s not too hot or too cold.
I am already accustomed to life here. Lance and I get along very well, and because he takes care of me, everything is well. Time goes so fast! Hope you have a good time and enjoy your job. Give my best wishes to you. By the way, my spoken English has had great improvement; I can communicate with others very well - thank you P-J.
BEST WISHES!MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
YOURS, VIVIAN
------------------------------------------------------
Benny (Class B)20/12/07
Hey P-J
Merry Christmas!I am Benjamin (Benny) from class B - do you remember me? How are you?I was so happy when I received your email. But it was so late when I saw the letter and it was such a pity that I could not open the blog which you gave us. I left CECEC three months ago. I could not stand the hot weather in UAE and there were other reasons, but in a word, I left there and now I am in Shenzhen in a new company. I miss the days when we were in Beijing - we were so happy.If you go to Hong Kong, maybe you can visit me, I will be happy to see you again.Now everything is new for me. I must try my best to fit into the new company ,with new workmates and a new life. So wish me luck. Thank you!Ps: now I am in my office. I will send my photos the next time!Best wishes to you.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Eric (Class B)Hello P-J
I just bought a notebook last Sunday, and the system is Vista in English, It did not support Chinese at first, and all the software I brought from China couldn’t work on the system. It took me two days to work it out, and now I can finally free my hands to send you a message.
I have been in Singapore for almost two months, and I think it is a beautiful city. There are a lot of plants here, and trees, flowers and a lot of other strange plants. It is hard to say if this is a city in a park, or a park in a city. It is not too hot here, but if you stand in the sun, you will feel like you’ve been burnt. Thank god it is rainy season now, as every a few days, a small rain will bring a cool change to the weather, and the clouds will block the sunshine.
Now I am the Site Engineer in a site called DUCHESS AVE. I have to work outside. It is ok for me, because I can move around a lot, so I can keep a fit figure. You know, Scott’s very fat now because he gets little chance to move around so he’s getting a health complexion.
People here speak very strange English. Until now it still hard for me to follow them. I think it will take me some time to get familiar with Singlish.
Yours sincerely,
Eric
4/12/07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anna (Class C)
Today I'd like to show you some pictures - not of me, but of the project that our company here has undertaken: 'Palm Island'. They were taken during different periods of the construction. As you know - it is built in the sea, so there are photos of when they filled up the sea to become land. It is amazing! Also there are some photos about the famous hotel here - the seven star hotel. So if you want to have your vacation ,think about Dubai, aha...
Anna’s Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/rhWmwB?authkey=loyp3pAkOhg
http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/ofExKE?authkey=rUZQFuPnzLg
http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/2?authkey=G5kZenklgFs
--------------------------------------------------
Ok everyone, God bless!
Let's keep in touch!
From P-J
Posts
