Service Learning Trip to Malacca

Springfield and Mayflower were in Malacca last week for a service learning trip. The trip was very successful and was fun for many.

DAY 1 It was mainly travelling and settling down on the 1st day. In the evening, we went for a river cruise and saw various historical sites of Malacca. We then went Makota Parade for dinner and bowling. The night ended with the performers practicing for their acts for the next day.

DAY 2 We split into 2 groups on the 2nd day. One group had a telematch with the children from the home in the hotel pool in the morning and painted in the afternoon while the other group painted in the morning and went to Hopehaven, a school for children with special needs, and performed for them. Sadly, I was in charge of the painting project so I didn't get to see any action other than painting. However, I am glad to hear that the telematch group had a lot of fun and that the performances went well too. That night, we all gathered for a great BBQ dinner by the pool side with the children from the home and we sent off the children with presents and balloon sculptures.

DAY 3 was a time to just relax before travelling back to Singapore. The Springfield group went up the A' Farmosa Fort and I had a great time taking picture with my "models". After that, we went back to Makota for bowling at 2RM per game. Oh yah, I also lost my handphone during that day. I realized that I didn't have it when I was at the Fort, *sigh* what a bummer.

4 parents came along for this trip and it was really wonderful to have them with us. They were really helpful in many ways and their level of participation was incomparable.

As for the students, they were great too! By the end of the 2nd day, they were so tired from the painting and running after the kids, but you could still see a lot of them putting in effort in taking care of the children from the home.

Round and round we go

Ever had people who beat around the bush just to prove a point?

What about those who do that just to get you to admit that they are right instead of you?

These people are irritating aren't they? I tend to be more of a straight forward person and would tell others straight in the face and causing the least amount of damage possible.

I can't stand those who try to hide their intentions in their conversations and try to get me to say something that they are thinking, or something that I do not agree with. I find that truly hypocritical and demeaning, an insult to my intelligence; as if to say that I can't tell what this person is trying to do.

What I usually do in response is to engage in a psychological challenge with this kind of people. It is really quite complicated as I have to appear as if I do not understand totally what this person is talking about but at the same time, not look stupid or ignorant. Though irritated, I have to keep my composure so that I do not seem like I'm on full defence mode or that nothing will mot go through my skull.

The real weakness of these people is that they will try as many angles, tactics and stories to try to "help" me understand and be convinced. What they do not realize is that, most of the time, they more they try, the more loopholes and weak spots would appear. This is where I would tactically agree with some of the things that he/she said and make my stand by disapproving of the loopholes presented.

It really takes quite a bit of self-control and patience to pull off stunts like these. So if all else fail or when its becoming meaningless, I'll pretend to agree and forget about the whole situation. For there's nothing worse than an hypocrital self-righteous person except for a stubborn hypocrital self-righteous person.