Runaway in Decemeber

One week from Standard Chartered Half Marathon. Haven't been preparing the way that I should. Like I have told everyone, do or die. Wish me luck!

The month of November: Presents come out of car boot

A (rare) simple and leisurely evening spent in good company. That was all that is needed to fill me with endless quiet bliss. A good dinner, leisure stroll in Marina square, and just chill-out at the old "Fat Frog cafe". Good music (rock band), great company makes a wonderful evening for a happy 24th birthday.

My birhtday celebration was postponed due to busy work week schedule to Friday. We explored Vivocity after work. At the car park of Vivocity, hunkalicious popped a grossly wrapped up parcel out of the car boot. I looked at it with ?? written over my face. I thought we were supposed to shop for my present at vivocity? I need to borrow Digicam from people no more! A fujifilm fine pix digicam ! My own! Now I can take as many pictures as I can without having to return the camera. Such a pleasant surprise!

Well, looking back, what the gift is may not be a complete out-of-the-blue surprise, because previously I was pretty disappointed that I didnt get the camera to use when a certain relative borrowed his. The present itself though, was a complete surprise to me because this hunkalicious of mine had me convinced that he didn't have a present for me and we were about to look for one.

The serial of pleasant surprises started earlier in the week on my actual birth date. As early as 8am, A client of mine from the Day activity Centre and his Training Officer turned up at the Rehab centre on his non-therapy day. He had an envelope to pass to me. I was already touched at this gesture that he had something for me. When I opened it, it was a hand-made card from the "friends if DAC", I was utterly touched that my nose turned "sour" immediately. I knew my client counldn't have made the card himself because his fine motor (hand) skills weren't that great, the thought that he remembered really touched me.

I didn't get to thank him then and there, because I was afraid of embarassing myself, I took the card in my hands and went into the office. Later the day, after luch, I went to DAC personally to thank him, his training officer and everybody involved. I gave my tall and thoughtful DAC OT a call during lunch too. I knew she must be directly/indirectly involved in this delightful surprise.

The load of suprises do not just end there, 2 more evelopes awaited on my table to be opended when I reached home. A hand-crafted card from Down-under. I love partner !!! The sunflowers are beautiful ! And certainly did more to brighten up my week. And July hardly ever fails to drop me a mail during occasions (birthdays, festive periods, etc).

I love novemeber !

Ages since I last blogged

Time flies, after the Penang trip, life goes on... Fast-forward: back to school, graduated from school, went for holiday (Krabi), started work...WORK !!!

It's been almost 6 months since I have officially started work as an occupational therapist . Work's good n fine. Finding my role in this non-profit organisation that provides wide range of services to persons with disabilities. Time-to-time I will be reminded I am really only a small shrimp swimming in the sea.

Work is full of UPs and DOWNs... Other than my insecurity of the lack of clinical knowlegde and skills, the other greatest challenge for me is, the interaction with clients. Interaction between 2 persons essentially requires the interaction of values, beliefs and cultures of both parties.

There have been occasions when interaction with certain personalities at work shake/jolt my system a bit (thankfully not too often) AKA "personality clashes". These encounters remind me to the importance of having a professional identity.

Of being aware of the differences in how I would react in a particular situations in 2 ways: as a 'professional' & as a 'person'. And perhaps, not letting the two overlap too much. If I were to look at some of my clients completely through my own coloured lens as a 'person', I think I may want to beat them up. In the midst of defining that unique 'professional' identity...

This topic brings me to the past few weeks, my colleague told me that one of our clients wants to marry me. He isn't even a client of mine (I don't treat him, only see him around in our gym) (??). That sorta explains why I get a knock on the office glass door every other day (to get my attention) when he is attends his therapy sessions. Well, I have been trying my level to teach him that the 'professional' boundary with clients at the rehab centre. Not really getting through yet. He thought I refused to 'make friends' minded that he has a certain disabling condition. I do think he has the ability to rationalise but maybe not complete, I'll keep dialing for now. Maybe he needs to learn the means of befriending others (especially ladies) in an appropriate manner that doesn't nearly freak them out.