Happiness
is the experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
Arrived back in Singapore from Brazil on Maundy Thursday to
spend the remainder of the Holy Week with family. So here is the rest of my
gratitude jar entries in April from Brazil and the last few days in Singapore.
Mon 31 Mar: Concerted efforts across NGOs for the
youths. We met Nunes Conceição (Secretária Executiva do Conselho Estadual dos Direitos da
Criança e do Adolescente) from the STDS (Secretariat of workforce and social
development for teenagers) in Fortaleza. She was learning to replicate ITEVA’s
model to Fortaleza to help combat the drug problems. Amazed at how NGOs across different cities
are open to sharing and helping one another.
Providing a refuge
for abused children. Mareio from David’s
Lar Children’s Home had popped by to ITEVA and we were able to meet this
gentlemen who helps children from homes who have been abused physically,
sexually or mentally by family members who are using drugs, alcohol or involved
with gangs. Grateful that there is a
refuge for these souls. May they heal with God’s love.
Tue 1 Apr: Fighting
spirit with a big heart for the education of youths. We had the privilege
to meet Ms Terezinha Holanda (Secretária Executiva de Educacao for Aquiraz) Terezinha was
the first graduate from her village and devotes her life to fighting for
education for the youths despite persecution from politicians and officials. Human
spirits like Terezinha makes my heart glow with love and respect for the
honorable work they do.
Breaking the cycle of favela life. We met a tiny but dynamic lady called Monica Salim who leads the FACC (Front for Assistance of Children in Need). She has spent 21 years working with the slums to support adolescents who face death and murders. She stands firm in the face of death threats to help the 3rd generation to break the cycle of drugs, prostitution and violence. An angel sent from heaven.
Wed 2 Apr: Stepping into someone else’s shoes. In a team of 12 persons from 10 countries with different upbringing, culture, age, seniority, role and function, there is bound to be differences in perceptions and opinions. I am glad that we have a chance to step into one another’s shoes to better understand one another.
Thu 3 Apr: Received
into ITEVA’s family. Berna and I were presented with the Certificado of
Socia Honoraria with our own Midiacom Polo T-shirt and an ITEVA staff badge by
the ITEVA team. It brought tears to my
eyes as I was so touched to have this gesture from the young professionals. It shows we have been accepted as a family member
of ITEVA.
Fri 4 Apr: Re-kindle
ties with students of EEEP Alda Facanha. Team CSC Brazil 17 returned to the
public school Alda Facanha to present the school with a projector. The team was so touched by the school visit
that we decided to give back to the school, as they have given to us in their
enthusiastic response to education and warm reception to our cross-cultural
exchange. This time, I spent more time
with my two classes and was happy.
Sat 5 Apr: Missing
home & love. As I enjoy the beach time this weekend at Praia du Futuro,
I feel blessed that we have the means to support ourselves, health to enjoy
ourselves and blessings with a loving family at home.
Sun 6 Apr: Celebrating
a spiritual re-birth. Witnessed our
translator Gabriel Almeida and his friend Frank’s baptism at the IBC (Ingreja Batista Central at BC 116, Tenda), also
called Central Baptist Church. It was
wonderful to see hands and hearts raised in surrender to Jesus. May their lives
be transformed.
Mon 7 Apr: Increasing
competitive motivation. We visited the second public school in Aquiraz
called EEFM Raimundo Tomaz. This school
was a typical public school with no IT support and the only computer was used
in the admin and library. The students
gathered patiently in the sports hall and were as enthusiatics to hear about
Berna and I from Turkey and Singapore. We hope we were able to encourage the
students to embrace IT and be motivated to study to advance themselves,
especially when I shared that there are 76 Singaporeans to 1 Aquiraz student
competing for school and jobs.
Tue 8 Apr: Achieving
CSC objectives. We met IBM Brazil’s Corporate Service Corp leader Alcely
Strutz Barroso and Pyxera's Fabi Moura as they met ITEVA to understand how our CSC project was
progressing. We are glad to hear that our Team Brazil 17 had great team work
and our Team ITEVA was very productive and have shown not just CSC’s contribution
to ITEVA but we were also experiencing the change in perspective that IBM hoped
for in the participants.
Wed 9 Apr: State and
NGOs collaborate for education. We drove through the flood to reach the
Casa do Saber in Aquiraz for Intercambio Cultura, a Culture Exchange with 52 students
from 30 schools. Organized by dynamic Terezinha Holanda (I love her!), the students were keen
to learn about the social and education system in our countries Turkey and
Singapore. I hope that they were
encouraged that school is not free and that both state and NGOs have
initiatives to bridge the half day school with IT and technical skills
education.
Thu 10 Apr: Open hearts from the Midacom team. It was our last
day at ITEVA office as we presented the Business Strategy and IT Plan for
Midiacom to the team of youth professionals.
It was a great time of sharing and also a tearful good bye with the
team. Thankful for the warm welcome,
openness and love. I will surely miss
all of you!
Fri 11 Apr: All Brazil 17 teams made progress. We had our
final CSC Brazil 17 Closing ceremony where each team presented their summary
plans. Our clients also took the chance
to offer their appreciation of our efforts.
ITEVA’s Fabio Beneduce and Vanessa Belem with our Translator Gabriel
Almeida attended. Fabio was the first to stand up to give a standing ovation of
his appreciation. He also treated us to a celebrity chef lunch at Faustino and
gave us a lift back to Hotel Luceiros.
This was the last we saw Fabio, Vanessa and Gabriel. I will so miss
them.
Sat 12 Apr: Great teamwork with Berna. Unlike the other
teams, Berna and I were not able to take time out for shopping, so we went to
the Central Market in the morning before our flight out on the last day in
Fortaleza. Unfortunately, the hotel gave the wrong address to the taxi driver
and we ended up in the convention centre and lost one hour in the to and fro,
when we finally got to the central market. Although we had only a couple of
hours, we managed to squeeze in some last minute shopping before we leave. It was good team work from start to end for
Berna and I, even in shopping.
Sun 13 Apr: Blessed
to be in Iguacu Falls with Mo and Julius. As my original travel companion
and back up companion were both unable to travel with me, I was fortunate to
have Mohamed from South Africa and Julius Kiss from Slovakia to travel with me
to Rio De Janeiro. Thanks to the boys,
we also made it to Iguacu Falls at the Brazil side from airport straight to the
falls before heading to the hotel. The
weather was fantastic and we had great views of the fall.
Mon 14 Apr: Brazil
and Argentina Iguacu falls in two days. In 3 days, we went through 4
airports and two hotels and went through Iguacu falls at both Brazil’s Foz de
Iguacu at at Parque Nacional Cataratas Do Iguacu and Argentina’s Puerto Iguazu
at Parque Nacional Iguazu. We
experienced the falls with the boat tour in Brazil but were awed by the
grandeur in Argentina. The most productive two-day tour of two countries on
both sides of the fall, followed by dinner at Leblon. Thanks Mo and Julius!
Tue 15 Apr: Weather
clears for my last day in Brazil. The
morning rain meant that a visit to the Sugar Loaf mountain and Christ the
Redeemer was not possible. We spent the morning walking through the museum, the
aqua duct at Arcos da Lapa, the giant Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, the beautiful
steps called “The Great Madness” Convent steps designed by a Chilean artist Escadaria
Selaron at Santa Teresa. As the rain
faded, I was able to visit Christ the Redeemer with Christine from our Germany
team as it was both our last days and we had to see this landmark before we
leave Brazil. The sky cleared enough for us to take our photos before the rain
poured again. We then had a team dinner
at Ipanaema before I headed to the airport for my flight home to Singapore.
Wed 16 Apr: Thankful for Mo and Julius to see me off. I had the most warm farewell from Mo and
Julius as they helped me to bring my luggage down to the lobby and gave me
their warm hugs before I went into the taxi.
It was a smooth journey to the airport, check in and my flight which was
scheduled to leave at 2am but departed at 3:30am. This flight takes me from Rio de Janeiro to
Dubai in 14hours.
Thu 17 Apr: Grateful for safe flight home. After a transit
of 4 hours, I transfer from Dubai at 2:45am to another flight to Singapore for
another 7 hour 30 minute journey. I
arrive safely in Singapore in the afternoon at almost 4pm into the loving arms
of my hubby. I even managed to attend
Maudy Thursday mass at our local parish Our Lady of Perpetual Succour to say my
prayer of thanks for wonderful month in Brazil.
Fri 18 Apr: Participate in Good Friday procession. My
friends and I met up at the oldest Eurasian church in Singapore – St Joseph’s
Church which has the procession for the stations of the cross on Good Friday.
Our family Derek, Marian, Andre, Austin and Ryan were participating in the
procession. The altar boys were even
captured in the local newspapers as they took Jesus down from the cross for the
procession.
Sat 19 Apr: Thankful
for our friends and financial stability. We had our Club102 Easter and April
birthday celebrations at Jeremy and Gennifer’s home. After having breakfast with hubby, I did the
birthday present shopping at Parkway before returning home to go for the
party. Again, I feel blessed that our
friends and family are in a safe country with good jobs and salaries to be able
to afford home parties and birthday celebrations. I was happy to be with my
friends again.
Sun 20 Apr: Appreciative
of health and voice. Easter celebration started with lunch at mum’s home.
She made baked fish and steamed fish specially for me as I do not take
meat. I am thankful for her special care
for me and that the family did not mind that I came late for lunch as I had
contracted bad flu, lost my voice and was coughing through the night. Imagine how life would be without health or a
voice. Learning to treasure what we
have.
Cristo
Ressuscitou!!! Aleluia, Aleluia, Aleluia! Feliz Páscoa!!!
Christ Is Risen!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Happy Easter!!!
My Lent gratitude jar is filled to the brim. While Lent 2014 and my CSC Brazil 17 trip is over, I intend to keep this beautiful spirit of gratitude with me. It has made me more positive and appreciative of the people around me, and perhaps made me a better person. Thank you for this Lenten challenge and the CSC Brazil 17 opportunity!
