Rotary E-Club

Entire E-Club and I

This is a special club, it is an E-club, which means they only meet physically once a month the rest all happens over the internet. This was probably the nicest club I have visited. They were very enjoyable, maybe part of it was the Christmas spirit and the fact that they were having a wine tasting that night but they were very nice to me all the same.

Me and members of the E-club

me presenting with rain deer antlers, they kept falling off hence the face

Me and a member of the club standing in for the President

I am the missing piece, with Chew Ban Seng

Thank you E-Club for being such a fun club.

Rotary Club of Garden City

This club was the last club Jan and I both presented at this year. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures. I will post them if I get any from the club members.

This is a Chinese speaking club. No I didn't give the speech in Chinese that would have been well impossible for me as I really don't speak enough to even order food.

They were a very nice club though and sat us in the front in a special position. Also of note is that they have a club song. I wish I would have gotten a recording of it for you all, and I tried finding it on Youtube with no luck.

Thank you Rotary club of Garden City.

Rotary Club of Singapore West

Jan, President Stephon Lim Thuan Kiang, and I

Singapore West was way far away and Jan and I had to travel by bus for an hour to get there. They were a very nice club and my host was able to come for the speech as well.

Thanks Singapore West.

Rotary Club of Singapore East

Me and the Singapore East banner

Jan with the banner

Jan and I arrived late at this club as it was my first day of class and we had a hard time finding a taxi. If I were keeping track which I am not of course this club had some of the best food yet. However, Marina City is a close second.

Thank you Singapore East for having has and being understanding.

Langkawi Malaysia

Langkawi is a small island off the the west coast of Malaysia. It offers beach, jungle treking, island hopping, and a nice get away from the city.When Matthew came to visit me we took a trip to Langkawi for 4 days. When we arrived there it was raining and after almost having missed our flight we were just glad to be there.

On the beach in the rain on the first day in Langkawi

On the Cable car

view from the cable car between clouds

conquering the paper prada

monkeys

Matthew and I island hopping

Jungle treking

View while Jungle trecking

More rain as we were leaving

Rotary Club of Marina City

Jan, President Lee Sheau Pin, and I

Haze from fires in Indonesia, downtown Singapore

Rotary Club of Bugis Junction

=Today I got up very early to present at my host Rotary club: Bugis Junction. I had to get up very early to go. It was really hard and I kept telling myself, Bacon, Bacon and as I chanted bacon the sun rose and I made it to the meeting.

Me and Rotary Club of Bugis Junction

I gave my speech and then after another short speech they handed out Paul Harris Fellow recognitions. The picture is of me with my rotary banner, and them with their recognitions, as they say it is their donations to causes like that they let me study. I thank them and my home club for helping me study in Singapore.

President Nelson and me

They saved the trading of banners until the end of the day. I gave them mine but the hotel which they met in had miss placed theirs so they said next time they would give me one. My host could not make it to the meeting so he is not pictured.

Thank you Rotary Club of Bugis Junction for hosting me while I am in Singapore.

Rotary Club of Sentosa

Jan and I did not have as much time to prepare for this speech. I have to admit that this suited me just fine. I don't really like to rehearse what I'm going to say. I just start getting nervous. So it is probably be better to rehearse but as it was the same speech it still went really well.

Me and Jan giving Presentation

The Sentosa Rotary club was really nice and Jan and I hope to get involved in their projects. Their current project is in Vietnam helping a small village set up a well for drinking water and renovating the school house so that it does not leak. It sounds like a really exciting project.

Jan and President Linda

President Linda, was wonderful, as were the other members of the club. Jan and I hope to be able to participate in events with them in the future.

Me and President Linda

Thank you Rotary Club of Sentosa for inviting us to speak.

The National Flower of Singapore

The National Flower of Singapore

The National Flower is called Vanda Miss Joaquim. It is an orchid. I have seen many orchids in Singapore, not growing wild. I even managed to almost kill one myself. It was the A/C in my room. It is doing quite well now that I moved it to the living room table.

A little history about the flower. Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen as Singapore's national flower in 1981. The designation of a national flower was part of an overall effort to foster national pride and identity. Singapore has the unique distinction of being the only nation to have a hybrid as its national flower.The Vanda Miss Joaquim was created in Singapore.

Vanda Miss Joaquim

The botanic gardens had an entire area dedicated to the flower. It was a strange plant as it didn't really look like a normal orchid. The leaves and stem are spidery and more like a succulent than an orchid. However, the flower is very pretty.

Visit to the Botanic Gardens

Today Jan and I went to the Botanic Gardens with Maria Booey, from Victoria Rotary Club. We met Rachel another scholar there. She has been unable to meet with her Rotary club as her host is not in contact with her.

Me in the rain forest

Jungle of roots and vines

We walked through the Rain forest part of the gardens. It was nice to see what Singapore would have been like if it had not become such a huge city. It is strange to thing that Singapore was once a rain forest because there is so little that is not planed here. All of the trees are planted because they proved just the right amount of shade, and they don't drop their leaves so they are low maintenance.

Me with helaconia

The gardens themselves were very nice. We didn't walk through a lot of the gardens. Jan and I wanted to get back so we could work on essays. I have a 6,000 word essay due on the 12th and I am going to need all the time I can get to make sure it is finished on time.

Me with statue

When we left the gardens Maria took us to the MRT station so that we could easily get back. There is no MRT near the gardens which is a shame, because if there was I would go much more often.

Kite Day and NTU Rotaract Instillation Dinner

Me, Jan, and Rachel try to fly a kite.

This morning we went to the West Coast Park for the Microsoft sponsored kite day for "the disabled and spastic children." I know that the term is a little strange for us but here it is a normal term. When we got to the park we directed people towards the kite area. At this point I have to admit that I felt a little worthless. Then I got to help people fly kites this showed that I really can't fly a kite. So sad as I it is something very common here.

President of Singapore

They told us the President of Singapore was coming and then they asked three of the scholars to volunteer.

Me hold the kite while the President Signs it.

This was the highlight of the kite day as I was really close to the Singaporean President. There is a Prime Minister above him, so I guess it would be more like holding something while the Vice President signed it but I was really close to him.

Ermano, Jan, Me, Bryan, Microsoft organizer, Sharron, and Rachel

Jan and I went and got ready to go to the NTU (Nanyang Technological University) Rotaract Instillation Dinner. It was a dress up event which I didn't realize for some reason. Silly me. At least I had some time to get ready. It was really warm in the West Coast Park and it would have been a disaster if I had gone straight from there to the dinner.

Jan and I with the incoming NTU Rotaract commity

The dinner was on a part of the campus that Jan and I had not been to before. It was easy to find though. We saw many of the people that we met at the Rotaract event we attended when we first arrived in Singapore. It was nice to see them all again.

The Marina Bay Sands Casino built by my team

The event itself was fun. The theme was Casino so we tried to build the Marina Bay Sands Casino. To give you some perspective this is a building that looks as though it has a boat on top of it. We were given chop sticks, a deck of cards, and tape to build it with. It was really pretty fun.

All of the buildings

I should note that we didn't win, but it was still fun to build it. Everyone else build theirs much taller than we did. I guess that is why we didn't win.

Derrik, Jan, me, and the Rotaract district president

When we first came in they gave us a card and told us there would be a drawing at the end. My number was not lucky. So sad. By the end there were two gifts left, wrapped I should note, and they said, now we will announce the best dressed male and female. I figured so much for winning anything. Then they called my name.

Best dressed Man and Me

I have to admit it was really nice to win something. Particularly since I did so with the only dress I had that was clean. It was almost laundry day.

First Presentation: Rotary Club of Victoria Singapore

Me, President Charles, and Jan

Jan, another scholar from Germany and I are doing our Rotary presentations together. This means that clubs are not overwhelmed by the six of us scholars all asking to present at their clubs. Our talk is called "From the Countryside to the Metropolis: The Importance of International Education".

Before we went to the talk Jan and I practiced, and when we gave the talk it went very well. My one complaint why do my heels give me blisters? No fun at all. Victoria was a very small club but they were really good to us. Maria Booey offered to talk us and show us the botanical gardens, and I have to admit that as much as I don't get out because, for Singapore standards I really do live in the middle of nowhere, it was nice to have someone willing to take me out.

Thank You Rotary Club of Victoria for being such a good welcome.

Hair Cut

Oh yes I just realized that I posted some new pictures and the last pictures of me you saw I had long hair. It is really very warm here and having long hair was a bit of an inconvenience. So I cut off 25.4 centimeters or 10 inches, so that I can give it to "Locks of Love" when I come home. Every time I cut my hair I try and wait until it is long enough that I can send it for children who have lost their hair and need a wig. The nice thing about "Locks of Love" is that they try and match the donor hair with the child so that they are similar. With a wig from real hair the children are able to shower with it on just like a normal child would.

The Merlion and Rotary Dinner

Me and the merlion

On Saturday I was supposed to go to Rotary meeting in the morning but I just couldn't make it. I felt horrible. I had a headache and my throat was hurting. I was so determined that I was going to get there that I got on the train only to get back off again and call my host to tell him that I really couldn't come as I just felt terrible. So I went back to the house and went back to sleep. I slept most of the day. However, I really wanted to see gymnastics, but when I got all the way out to the place where they were being hosted I found out that some guy had waited in line for six hours to get the last tickets.

Jan met me there but there were not any tickets for us so we went to see the Merlion. I was the only one of us that hadn't seen it yet. Now that I have seen it I don't need to do anything else in Singapore. Well that isn't true. However it was good to see it. I would have liked it a lot more if it had not had a square on the back for maintenance. That just ruined the illusion for me.

Jan and I with Leo and Molli

After the merlion we walked down Marina Bay and came to a place that had a band playing and performers as part of the Youth Olympics.  While we were there we had dinner at a little sandwich place. I had a tuna sandwich, it was good but it was really small and I was still hungry after. Walking out we sat down to watch a little of the hurtles on a screen. While we were sitting there Leo and Molli, the mascots of the YOG came by. Jan and I lined up with all the little kids to have our picture taken with them. Okay so it was a little childish, but it was really very fun. As you can see these creatures are really something and who wouldn't want to have their picture taken with them. I'd stand in line with kids all over again.

After we left Marina bay I headed home to go to bed as the outing had completely worn me out.

On Monday I contacted my Rotary host to let him now I was better and he invited Jan, Daniel, and me to dinner today. As Jan has Craig here he couldn't go. Daniel and I went to his house and he and his wife had prepared Mexican food. The food was really good. I think I ate the most I have had the entire time I have been in Singapore. I had four tacos, with chicken. I think if I ate at his place every night I would gain a bunch of weight. If for no other reason because they would have good desert that I would eat two or three of, encouraged of course. I would have only had one on my own but Dr. Reto had me and Daniel split a second one, also they had strawberries. Really big pretty ones that just wanted you to eat them.

Dr. Reto and his wife were wonderful. I feel really lucky that he is my host for the year.

Asian Civilization Museum

Me on the river

I finally got out and saw something in the city. I got my student pass this morning and it was an interesting process. Not one I really want to have to go through again. I find it strange how in a place like an immigration office where English is going to be the main language spoken that many of the people do not speak clear English. How did they get the job? I could barely understand the woman who was giving me the pass. I don't think she could understand me either.

After I got my pass I went and met with my Host Councilor. He gave me the District directory so that I can organize speeches. It is really good to have him as a resource for organization of rotary events and helping me complete my requirements for Rotary. I don't think I would be able to do it without him.

Creature of Myth

Today was my first day as a tourist here. I went and visited the Asian Civilization Museum with Jan, and Jan's friend. There was a lot way to much to see, and the lighting was dim so when the cloth came up I started yawning and was thinking that maybe it would be good to go outside and get some sun.

looking over the river

The river front is a very pretty area but it is very touristy. While this is not a bad thing, there are definitely more westerners and Chinese tourist here. When you see a skyline of Singapore this is what you see. It is also a bank and business area, so you have some really tall buildings in this area. After the museum we went back to the apartment for some dinner. The Hawker centers here while they don't have a very large variety of food are almost cheaper than cooking your own meals.

Asia-Pacific Program For Senior Military Officers

Banner

This week, starting on Thursday, was the Asia-Pacific Program For Senior Military Officers (APPSMO). Classes were canceled so that the students could attend the program. It was held on Sentosa, which is a small island resort. Sentosa is a very touristy place and that was definitely the feeling I got from being there. I don't think I need to see anymore of the island than the hotel where the Program was held.

Like most programs some of the speeches were really good and some of them were not as good. I think that part of the issue with APPSMO was that it was for a very different group than us students. It was for the military officers who were there. As a result I think I ended up like and finding the talks they didn't like very intriguing. I think the best part was the food there were lots of good little pastries which I had been missing as they are not easy to get here.

Ships of the coast of Sentosa

Representation a country where the Olympic torch stopped

I was really glade that we had APPSMO going on as it gave me a chance to try and catch up on my studies and really settle into the apartment. On last Thursday they installed the A/C and I thought it was working and then it really didn't seem to be working. It was really hot as well so even with a fan it was uncomfortable. On Friday they A/C guys came back and they had just forgotten to turn on the compressor for the two A/C in the bedrooms. The Master bedroom compressor hey remembered to turn on. Really not fun. Luckily it was fixed and is still working.

On Friday, Jan and I joined up with the other Ambassadorial scholars, Rachel, Sharron, and Ermanno and his girlfriend. When went to the Olympic Torch Lighting ceremony on the National University of Singapore campus. It was a really big event and the school must have spent a large amount of money on it. It was the opening ceremony so one would expect nothing less for the first every Youth Olympic Games. My understanding is that while there is still an emphasis on competition there is also an emphasis on comradeship and making new international friends. I think it is an interesting idea and we will see how that works out.

Ermanno's girlfriend, Ermanno, Sharron, me, Jan, and Rachel

It was good to get together with the Rotary scholars. It is nice to have a group of people who have something in common. It is interesting as we are a group of westerners. After the ceremony we went to dinner in Chinatown. It was a nice evening out. We are thinking of having a monthly dinner so that we can keep in touch since we aren't all in the same school and we are going to be busy with classes and everything we have to do as a Rotary scholars.

Me at the Olympic torch ceremony with glow sticks in my hair

Monday was the last day I attended APPSMO. It was half a day. I was pretty happy about that as it gave me a chance to read and study some. Today there were more programs but I decided to stay and get stuff done.