…mY fIrSt TiMe

On my first day in Wuhan, I was bloody tired for I wasn’t able to rest the night before on the train. Then we had a lot of activities like playing badminton, going to park, crossing the Yangtze river and so on. Absolutely busy schedule we had that day.

Yes, my first time to cross Yangtze river by Ferry. I did several times by bus before. It was a great experience. The ferry is kinda big compared to ferries we have back home. This time, crossing only a river, it’s a nice and different feeling. Before back home, we had it crossing the sea, but here, just a river, which is comparable to a sea, too big for a river. We were around 10 to 15 minutes on the river. We had a wonderful moment as we crossed. We took pictures along the way, capturing the beautiful sites around it, the tower, tall buildings, cargo ferries, bridge, and the grayish-brown water. Maybelle, thanks for taking me there and experience a such marvelous instant. Thanks once again.

…iT’s mY pLeAsUrE

After a tedious job, you would of course feel tired. Yet, it’s so fulfilling if you know that your labor has done great things to others, especially they became successful in their careers. What a nice feeling! You’re like floating in the sky. You are proud of them as well as to yourself.

When my students came back from their regional battle, speech competition in the capital of our province, Hefei, I immediately asked my students about the results. They told me it was pretty tough. What a close fight! they said. I was overwhelmed by great happiness when they said someone would go to the next level, to Nanjing for another set of competition, inter-provincial competition. I was so elated and proud of her. She made it top three in the regional level. She is my student and at the same time, one of my trainees when I gave a speech training. She is in my Junior high class, though she is still in primary, for her English level is tantamount to that of the Junior high students. Congratulations to you and we wish you the best in the next level. We hope you would make it to the national level. You can make it. Believe in yourself. Remember, there's nothing impossible in this world if you do your best. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

…tO mY eVeR-sUpPoRtIvE & rEsPoNsIbLe PARENTS

To my parents back home, this is for you, you are one of my inspirations. I labor hardly for you and for our family, as a whole. I am very proud to tell the world about you, to let them know how happy I am to have you. You are worth a thousand thanks! Even words are not enough to express my salutations to both of you.

It’s just that I badly miss them, especially when we talked about them with my adult students, last night during my class. I was kinda sad but I didn’t show to them. I do miss them, maybe because I am such a family-oriented person. Every time we talk about family, brothers or sisters, they always come to my mind. Miss you all so much!

My parents are just simple. They are only worried about the future of their children, our tomorrow. They are so concerned about it. They even always forgot about themselves, their own needs. They only focused on us. Such a responsible parents! I am so elevated to have such a lofty parents. (We really are). They did their best to educate us, that we can have a brilliant future, at the expense of sacrificing their own basic needs. Thanks for your care, Ma and Pa. I love you. We love you so much.

I honestly make this to let other people know, especially the parents out there, that POVERTY IS NOT A HINDRANCE TO SUCCESS. Only that if there’s a will, there’s always a way! They totally believe in this. They never let poverty barricade in achieving our bright future. It’s never a barrier, they strongly believe. We were all studying, five of us and without stopping even in the mid of difficulties. And now we harness the fruits of their labor, our labor. We are not what we are now if without them. Without their sacrifices, efforts and exertions, we wouldn’t have attained what we have right now. We owe you all these. Thanks a lot.

In spite of the hardships we encountered along the way, we were still able to survive. We have fought a good fight. As long as you have a strong will to do it, ample of courage to face challenges, a good deal of perseverance to persist until the end, sufficient enthusiasm, adequate forbearance, and a strong faith to the ONE above, there’s nothing impossible. And here we are now. Proud to say we survived, endured and outlived all the pains we encountered along the way.

Just wanna express my warmest thanks to all the people who in one way or another helped us in attaining our aims and goals in life. We are so grateful to all of you. We couldn’t be this successful if without you all. Most of all, to my dear parents, thank you and thank you so much to your unending support. Highest regard and thanks to the ONE above, whatever you believe HIM to be, thanks a lot. Ma and Pa, thanks for being always there for us. We love you! See you soon.

…FuLfiLLeD & hApPy

After I took my lunch, I was preparing myself for my siesta time ‘coz I always do this everyday, to somehow gain extra strength for my everyday battle. At least I could relax myself for about an hour or two. As I passed my living room’s table, I saw a lot of receipts jammed on top of it. It captivated my attention. I don’t want to take a nap this time. I wanna deal with this matter, I told myself.

I got all my paraphernalias for my scrapbook; my file folder, bond paper, paste and gather all my receipts on my computer table. I started pasting the receipts to the bond paper. It took me around one and a half hours. This is actually one of my interests, as you can see in my profile, collecting receipts. So I am really happy and fulfilled after finishing it. I told myself, “You’ve done a great job today!”

…bIvOuAc Of LiFe

I always crave for what is best. In anything I do, I see to it I carry the best results. I have to be sure I did the best thing, not only for myself but for everybody, as a whole. I always try to find ways to get what is desired, even more than that. Enough is not enough for me. There is more than enough. There’s always a room for improvement, betterment and success. I highly conceive that.

As I kept searching for what is best, I encountered a lot of hardships that I oftentimes fall, and find it hard to stand up again and face the world. It took me a while to sit back and relax, gain energy to be fully prepared for the next challenges I would come across. It takes patience, courage and hard work to be back again in this showdown of life. I did stand up and here I am facing the daily bivouac and struggles of life.

It doesn’t matter how many times you failed achieving your goals in life, it doesn’t matter how many times you kept falling and falling again, what matters most is the way you stood up, the way you fought to be back in the battle, the way you courageously faced the trials and endured the hardships you ran across. That’s the spirit of a fighter. Difficulties are always there waiting at our doors, but every time we go out to face them, we must have the right shield to protect ourselves, to cover ourselves in the arena that we might not be defeated easily.

So, let’s always shield ourselves with strength and courage all the time we go out. By that, we are always ready to face battle. Equip ourselves with knowledge and wisdom to cleverly fight in this battlefield we call earth. Be always ready! Learn from me, I always am.

…fReEdOm IsN’t FrEe

I watched a film last night for it is one of my favorite past time. It’s title is Sniper 2. I like this line uttered by the main actor, Tom Berenger, “Freedom isn’t free.” It strikes me the most. I personally like the film, too.

Friends, is it really true that freedom isn’t free? I came to think about it after I heard that line. History tells that freedom in fact, isn’t free at all. Am I right? Does that conclude it’s pretty true? Freedom from your parents also isn’t true at all cost. You have to show to them you are worth to be given one. Financial freedom, too is not easy to attain. You have to work for it. You have to see to it that you can stand financially in any circumstances.

So, let’s always work and do our best to attain freedom. Freedom at all sorts isn’t free at all. Strive hard to achieve it. Then, that’s the time you can say it’s totally free after all. Work hard and be free!

…dIfFeReNtLy SpEnT dAy OfF

After doing household chores early Monday morning, I went out and eat outside. Then, I proceeded to the downtown. I did window shopping for three hours, and finally bought shirts after. Hard to do shopping. That’s why I don’t like it. It’s just that, I need spring clothes this time, so I have to go and buy some.

I was terribly tired after. So I went home and slept for one a half hours. Then I checked my mails and planned to do blogging. All of a sudden, my phone rang, t’was Jim, a dear friend here who invited me to stroll around. I said I am totally free. So he picked me up and we went to the oldest park here.

I was fascinated with what I saw in the park, beautiful flowers bloom and trees turn green. Such a wonderful site for taking a break and amble around. Perfect to do meditations and reflections. Cool breeze touched my skin as we walked around the park, it’s really splendid. Lake adds beauty to it. I indeed had a fabulously spent day off.

As we were there, Jim’s phone rang several times and was told to be in the office for a significant discourse. So, he left and promised to be back in 30 minutes. I just read the books he left me while he wasn’t around. I did enjoy the place. I was surrounded by the beauties of nature. It was really a reminiscing one.

After a while, as I continued reading, I saw at a distant, a gentleman riding a bicycle, as he drew closer, I recognized him. He’s Stephen, a Canadian foreign teacher in the teacher’s college. I called him. He stopped and we did a nice chatting, then Jim arrived a short while after. What a coincidence! We were laughing ‘coz it’s as if we planned to meet there. We chatted for a short while only ‘coz Stephen had something to do. He continued riding his bike as we resumed our unfinished conversation. We truly had a great time there. I like it staying there, as if I am in heaven. Thanks Jim for that wonderful time. See you next time.