Group 4 AGM

I jsut found out what AGM in this context stands for! It’s Annual Group Makan. It’s true, it’s an annual event for Group 4 - to eat! This is the 3rd AGM, always in the first week of Jan. This was last year’s AGM and here too!

This time, it’s no difference from the other 2 times. Each group members will have to cook one dish. But pictures of the dishes, will be up later. But something different - we are supposed to wear smart and neat. No more home baju…turned out not bad, I suppose!

We began with a toast - everyone said a few words of good wishes for this new year! Notice something? Everyone’s cup is the same!!!

It’s from Billa, the new supermarket in town. On the first week of it’s opening, they gave out free cup for each purchase. Some of the group members actually manage to get about 3 -5 cups.

No no, dont worry, no alcohol in this AGM. Actually, no alcohol drinks ever appeared in any of the group makan. So, what did we have? Lo Han Guo! It’s a classic drink for our group’s makan.

The food…

Get ready, get set, EAT!!!

The expression after eating - bloated!

friday’s blues

Friday’s blues. I feel that Fridays are the days people look forward to. Right? Well coz it’s weekend soon. Anyway, here’s the pictures that I was supposed to post up early this week.

Firstly, pictures from First Snow.

Ok, it began when I was on the bus to class, very small snow outside the bus. But it the snowflakes got larger was we were studying in class.

Can you see? Erm, kinda too blur..aha..

Ok, this one should be clearer in some ways. Those were the closest I could get. It’s hard to get snowflakes pictures..just like it’s hard to take pictures of raindrops. You’ll need special camera skills and of course a better camera! Next, I want to show some pictures of the class and my groupmates studying…or were they really studying? Of course we were!

Yes, very rajin, discussing about….the topic of the day!

Reading from notes, finding the answers…

Here’s more complete picture of the group - we’re very rajin d!

Next up, pictures taken yesterday, when it snowed the night before, giving a white feeling in the morning. The pic above, outside the hostel’s backdoor.

This pic is as we were walking to the bus stop. Dont look as if it’s so nice, and white, actually, it was freezing cold and muddy because the snow was starting to melt making it wet and muddy.

This pic, taken on the way walking towards the hospital. It was a very cold day! But today, the weather totally change 180 degrees. No more snow on the gound, no more ice, no more coldness. Temperature was about 5 degrees. Just nice.

Now, today, as usual, Friday is the day there’ll be special cooking for dinner. No particular reason, just want to enjoy the meal more. So, KL and I decided to make chicken rice. Yup - it was a success!

october babies

It’s another Group Makan - this time it’s celebrating Shoo Hao’s birthday, along with another 2 October babies in the group - Ik and Kelvin. I was quite surprised when everyone was so exciting and agreed on the first time this ‘project’ was proposed. I didnt know what to make at first, I mean, I’m not that good with cooking…anyway, here are the food on that day..

Firstly it is the salad - chinese cabbage with shreaded chicken meat and pineapple and a touch of mayo. Perfect for the starter… 

Baked fish, perfectly marinated with soy sauce covered with ginger, sliced mushroom and tomatoes. Yummy!

Fried vege with egg with a touch of tomyam…a perfect combination.

this is mine! aha…my chicken kurma! Chicken with potatoes, bendi and tomatoes.

This is one of my favourite for the night!!! It’s grilled chicken, tasted so nice, the meat was so soft! Perfectly cooked!

Now this is something really special, and normally is not in our menu - grilled pork (leg?). It’s tender, very nicely marinated and of coz it’s delicous!!

Of course, the highlight - Agar-agar by our expert, also the photographer for the night!

And finally- the toast!!! Notice, my cup was missing, and there is this ‘invisible cup’ that 2 people were holding! aha.. :smile: It’s a great way to end October.. :razz: 

Meaning 2 more months before end of the year…

lame? lamb?

Taking another outing after class, another photgraphy session. Nearby the hospital there was a big park, so we went there, to take pictures…pictures courtesy of Johnny.

Another group picture - yay! all 11 of us are present! Isnt the playgound BIG? Never saw such big slides…like a big puzzle.

Then, walking to another side, there were actually lamb there…dont know if it’s lamb or sheep or goat. Should be sheep coz lamb are baby sheep? aha…a bit confused.

We are feeding the lamb with leaves. There were actually black sheep but was at the other side…so, we sort of play and feed this white one. When they saw you coming with leaves in your hand, they’ll walk towards you…because they want to eat. Then, right after eating, they’ll turn away and leave you. Which struck me - lamb and dogs aren’t the same. Dogs will continue to be with you, teman you and remember you..but not lamb. So, I miss scooby & hei gou.

Later we were waiting for the tram and I asked if we should take a ’sarang-hae’ picture..u know those that you make love sign with your hand..then K said it was lame. So, I asked if that was more lame or the jumping picture was more lame - he said equivalent. Then E added - It was more lame taking with the lamb.  ahha…lamb, lame…

autumn’s beauty

Here’s more pictures..ok, this pic below, i believe is the best picture that we took. Well, if not the best, it’s one of the best. It’s really natural and very beautiful! haha..love autumn, it’s really beautiful.

This one is Andrew, Niny and me. An impromtu one, coz I just  jumped into the picture while both of them are supposed to take, dont know if I became the light bulb or not..aha…but we’re all friends so…it’s ok (i guess)…

This is a nice pic we took sitting on the ground, lovely isnt it? Kelvin, the one of the most left is trying to make some effect with the leaves, throwing it up so that it’ll have the effect of like leaves falling down on us! ahaha…it didnt work but i feel the pic is really nice! Anyway, today is Kelvin’s birthday, so, Happy Birthday Kelvin!!!! We do have another pictures of the whole group lying on the ground, haven seen the pictures yet but I have a feeling it’s going to be nice..

ok, now this picture everyone is trying make the effect of leaves falling down on us but kinda not ‘natural’. But we all looked happy, so I am happy! ahaha…

More pictures coming up, haven collect the rest from other camera!

—–

I dont really want to talk about my week…even though I feel I’m supposed to mention about something…well, I feel I’m gaining weight! Not good!!! I want to eat and eat and eat. I’m always hungry! BAD!!

Anyway, Federer will be playing today, later tonight…it’s going to be his first match after the US Open. I dont know what I’m feeling about it..wish I could watch it instead of following the live scores.

presence of God

wow, I had a great week (last week) with God. You know, it says..

Ps 84:10 NKJV
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Many times we think, Your courts or the house of God…is church. Right? I did too, until I decided to write this post that God revealed to me, that it’s not just in church that we have God. We are the temple of God, God lives in us. He dwells in us and therefore - we are carrying His presence wherever we go.

I can say, really, be in God’s presence is so great, one day in His presence is better than a thousand days elsewhere. Last week, I really felt His presence, not that normally God is not with me, but it was extra..maybe cause I choose to acknowledge it. When we acknowledge it, we’ll begin to see the small things that God takes part in and the things God does for us.

Testimony -> Despite the workload, things to finish, preparing for class, the list goes on - I still am able to find time to rest (sleep) and have enough time to finish everything that is needed to be done ON time. And there was rest despite the chaos, peace despite the storm… a very simple explanation - God was in control.

Btw, it’s autumn Picture above taken courtesy of Johnny with his new SLR camera. it’s beautful..hopefully you all can click on the pic and it can be ‘enlarged’ because autumn is beautiful. ** just tried- yup, u can click and it’ll be v large, but when you save it and view in your windows, it’s amazing! beautiful autumn!

I too, went to the park nearby our hostel and I was surprised to see all the trees turning golden…it’s amazing! It’s so beautiful, I do not have words to describe it!!! Just can give all PRAISE to God for His amazing creation!!!I manage to take some last saturday - will blog abt it…the pictures are so beautiful…the sceneries and the person inside too! ahah Here is a preview….

More pictures - we planning to get a group picture…a collection of 4 seasons Group 4 pictures! ahah.. Sure going to be fun! Just that last Saturday, the weather was great, and dry, so perfect to take pictrues but since Sunday, it has been raining - wet, muddy…so, hopefully by Saturday it’ll be dry so more pictures can be taken, also group photo! example..picture below, taken last winter…

5th anniversary

happy 5th anniversary to me and my batchmate that came on the same day to Kursk! yes, it’s 5 years we are here! Just with a blink of the eyes, it’s been 5 years. Half a decade in this land of the unknown! I wouldnt say it was totally great and smooth-sailing. For the first few years, each time i go back home for summer, i didnt want to come back here! I didnt want to come back to this land of misery. But since I planted myself with this church I am attending here, it really has given me strength and, yes you can say, it’s one of the reason why I stil want to come back here to study. God is so faithful! I do not know how to explain or describe. The brothers and sisters in Christ that God has placed here, wow, they are just wonderful!

You know, when you are called to somewhere by God, you have the grace to face everything and anything that cames to you. If you are not, you will just crumble and melt away. So, knowning where you are in God is so important because you know you can draw strength to face each day!

It’s not easy staying here…having to face the Russian everyday…their stares and their mean attitudes towards foreigners. But the love of God in you just overflows and you know you can smile even though they frown at you.

And the water - it is the worst! Just to start with it, if you wash your hair frequent enought, you’ll eventually end up having lighter colour. When I went back last year, I was accused to have dyed my hair brown!! Not my fault!! it’s the water’s fault!!

Every semester, once in Spring and another time in October, there will be water-cut-off for about 10-14 days. Here, we have cold water (icy cold) and hot water (more than 70degree). In this time, it is the hot water cut off. Yes…meaning that we only have cold water so, to take bath, we need to boil water!!!! Every year, for 2 times a year, we need to BOIL WATER!! It’s like going back to primitive life! Tell me, who can survive this? But for us here, we are already used to it and it is normal. When spring starts, we are already expecting for the day we wake up and find that there is no hot water. So, for the next 2 weeks or hopefully, less, i’ll need to boil water to bath. The wash my face and brush teeth in the morning with icey cold water! How exciting??!!

But I know that when God call you to a place or a new job, He has a great plan for you to prosper and to make you successful. And He has given you the grace to face everything that comes!