The Three Bears, a Revisit

When I started as a teacher in a Chinese school, I had to make my own props for story telling as well as hundreds of educational media for teaching preschoolers. It was a gruelling task as it takes time and all my creative juices were flowing in excess to make interesting teaching materials. 

One of my fave story at that time was the traditional but never dying story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I recently resurrected my bears and Goldilocks props and took some photos for keeping in the hope that I can cherish them forever through this blog. 

Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear with their respective chairs.

The Bears with their bowls of porridge.

The Bears with their different sizes of beds.

Goldilocks with no golden locks, lol!

The children always had fun listening to the story what with the moving puppets I created with toilet rolls, cloth scraps, markers and glue. Simple but very effective! Nowadays, we simply google the story and out comes a talking rendition of our all time fairy tale favourites. Effective but not as creative.

Along The Way

I hailed a cab and asked the driver to bring me to the weekend market. I was quiet at first since I already learned my lesson from taking cabs. However, the driver of the cab started to make conversations. I found it to be inviting so I just answered his questions while I asked for some. 

Some questions pertained to my whereabouts and my profession while I asked him the same. The man was actually an office worker who drives during the weekends as he is free. The cab belongs to his brother and he makes extra money driving the cab for him. 

The cab driver was a gentle person, not intimidating but very honest and polite with his words. I rarely meet people like him so it was a good ride until I reached my destination.

When I asked to be dropped at a certain point and handed him the money for the fare, he refused to accept the money saying, "Can I have your phone number instead?" I was surprised but since we were holding the traffic I gave mine so that he can leave. I also left the money on the seat.

He called me after some days and learned that he was also a graduate student from a university. He asked for my help in explaining a school homework and so I did.  He left after giving me a wai, a polite gesture often used to convey gratitude or respect. The next day, I found a small basket of flowers right in front of my door. I called him up and he said, "I made the flowers myself with straws and I am very glad to have met you. "

This happened many years ago. I don't know where he is now since I moved house. I lost his number as well. So when I took this small basket for cleaning, his quiet demeanour but strong presence suddenly became clear. I wish him all the best and I thank him for the brief but unforgettable friendship.

There are many small things in life that might not strike as great at that moment, but leaves an impact for the many years to come.

The Paper Crane

The Paper Crane is a short story written by Molly Bang that I am using this week for my reading and writing classes. 

Aside from the vivid illustrations and plot, there is one line in the story that strikes me well, to make it as my mantra. It says to enjoy what we have while we have it. 

The paper crane reminded me of my first few days in Thailand as a teacher. I went to my class, knowing no one around the school, to teach the summer programme. Every morning as I dropped my bag on the chair, a paper crane was on top of my desk. I kept on wondering who among the many people in school had been folding them for me until one morning, there was no longer any on my desk.

Later, I found out that the man behind the photocopying machine in the office was the one who folds the crane for me everyday. He used recycled paper and lovingly folds one to give the crane as a present. He left the school without any notice. I wasn't able to say thank you nor was able to find out his name. I regret the opportunity given to me to explore the kindness of the people around me. 

The cranes are still with me, all inside a plastic jar I kept and carried since I moved houses three times for the last 17 years. Whenever I see them in my library, I always smile knowing that many years ago, one soul had been very generous in his feelings and made my days brighter with his gifts. Wherever he may be, I have only but my gratitude.

Enjoy what is now: our life, our career, our family and friends. Be thankful for what we receive and be glad for all the blessings that come our way. And if you are reading this, thank you for your visit. God bless!

A Part Of Me

My trip back home was not a needed respite from work. I did my spring cleaning or so should I say, winter cleaning and packed all the most important memorabilia I could keep, as much as the boxes provided can hold.

The mugs alone stashed in two kitchen cupboards were brimming with stories of friendships, of gratitude and regrets. They were kept not for their purposes but to remind me of their worth as moments to ponder. While I took each and one of them to be wrapped, I cannot but be brought to my past.

With all the cleaning I did, I found some of my many first, gadget wise. They were mostly given to me by an affluent aunt. They were working many years ago but with the storage period, they are now just displays of my past.

Bicycle Light with Radio

AM/FM Radio

Instamatic Camera

Scientific Calculator

I was able to keep these four as they were displayed randomly around the house. I do not recall my first mobile phone but I remember having this humongous tower like phone as a handheld one. I gave away the first TV and Stereo set I had, a 14 inch tube and a big four deck stereo made of hard plastic, China brand.

These had served their purposes when they were new and had been worthwhile to have. They gave me some comfort and the people around me were even jealous of what I had. Anyway, I am posting them to document my past. I live in the now, but I owe a lot of my learning from my past.

Art of the Brick 2

Four more works by Nathan Sawaya with his short anecdote for each piece.

CELLO: As an attempt to inspire kids to explore music, I created this life-size cello completely out of Lego bricks. Although it is the exact size as a real cello, please don't try to play it, it might look like a cello but it sounds like LEGO! (2009)

COMPUTER:  The arm reaching out is representative of the reach of technology into our lives. I built this sculpture over the course of two years. The original computer was completed in 2006, but I decided to add the arm reaching out of the screen in 2008.

PEACE SYMBOL: What does it take to create peace? All the colours in the world working together, of course! This sculpture was created using thousands of recycled bricks. (2010)

MY BOY: Loss, along with love, is one of the recurring themes in my art.  This particular sculpture was inspired from a  sad story I was told by a parent. After learning of the story, I began working on this sculpture right away, finishing it almost two months later. (2009)

My personal fave is the PEACE SYMBOL for I work in an international community of different nationalities and cultures where respect is highly expected but often not followed. I always hear racial indifferences and there are times that being Asian becomes a disadvantage rather than an asset.

So just in case I will be asked in a beauty pageant, heaven forbids, I will answer the most used answer, yet still unattainable, WORLD PEACE!

The Art of the Brick

Speaking of pursuing your inner strength to actuality, I happened to be inspired by Nathan Sawaya, a lawyer by profession, when he exhibited his Art of the Brick in Taipei last year. I marvelled at each sculpture for he used only Lego bricks to create his masterpieces. Here are some of his work with quotes underneath. 

CRACKED: I spent over three weeks fabricating Cracked out of approximately 9,000 LEGO bricks.
Also, the sculpture depicts how I feel every morning (2008)

DISINTEGRATION: Beware the winds of life that nibble away a your sense of self.
Stay strong. (2008)

STAIRWAY: As humans, we scour our world for opportunities. Opportunities for success. Opportunities for happiness. But more often than not, we find those opportunities not in the world outside, but within ourselves. This sculpture was built from recycled Lego bricks that had been donated to me. (200)

YELLOW: Probably my best known piece. Yellow always draws a lot of attention on the gallery floor, from adults as well as children. Why? I think we grown-ups appreciate how cathartic 'opening oneself up to the world' can be for our souls. And the kids? Probably because yellow guts spilling onto the floor looks cool. For me, this piece is about the metamorphosis I have been through on my journeys. (2006)

Four inspiring pieces that makes me reflect and look at my present life. 

Am I cracked within and do those cracks show when I am with people or just when I am by myself? 

Does my being disintegrate as I battle life's journeys everyday, come rain and storm? 

Am I building a stairway for my own happiness and bridging gaps amongst my friends and family? 

Is this year the time for me to finally show my yellow by opening myself up to the world?

With Patience

I was fortunate enough to visit this posh mall called Emporium as I was supposed to be looking for Thai chocolates. There were no chocolates and I ended being in awe as it is the first day exhibit of some Thai artists of their Lego creations. 

Row of Houses

Adventure

City of London

Starwars

Castle

I once heard from a professor of mine that patience is a virtue of a noble man and looking at the marvellous creations, it is not just patience that you need. One needs the time, the artistry, the vision and let's say the money as well, to finance such a hobby.

Each one of us is great at something and each visions can be acted out in reality. All we need to do is find that bright spark in our heart and develop it whether be in writing, painting, playing a sport, doing business, or volunteering. 

The world needs men and women with passions in their hearts, not broken spirits and living in regrets.

Not Being Idle

Three weeks of school break seems an awful long time especially if there's nothing to do, but not for me. Since the school ended for winter break, I am literally in the garden from seven in the morning and in different times of the day. Back-breaking and tiring at most, I was able to tidy up most of the clutter that makes my garden looks more of a jungle.

right side of the house

My long overdue side of the house was finally restored with all its glory. I cut off the plants and replanted them elsewhere, took the torn bags of stones and scattered them on the ground, and took the leftover blocks from the flood and made them as stepping stones.

right side of the entrance

I removed the dried leaves and prepared the soil for planting. I planted the cut rosettes on the ground as cover and hopefully they will look incredibly green and healthy by the rainy season.

left side of the house

I repotted numerous plants and arranged them aesthetically so that the squirrels, the cats, the birds and butterflies that visits the garden will find it an inviting place. (Though I always see butterfly wings as the butterflies were devoured by the birds, and feathers as they were snatched by the cats.)

I have one more week and it's time for a visit. How I wish I can bring my girlfriend with me, sigh.

Maybe I should make one like this at home.

Welcoming 2013

The airport of any country is the doorway to their people, their culture, their language, and their life. Suvarnabumi Airport (Thailand) puts effort in displaying the immense riches of the country from music, food, clothing, and flowers. I am always fascinated by the grand display they often put as a warm welcome to those who are arriving and to those who will be leaving. I am posting some of the orchid arrangements from a recent visit, as I welcome the year 2013.

Let the year start with greatness, coupled with hope and diligence, a year of success.