Sorry for the lack of post this past two weeks. I've been just enjoying life and a great holiday.
Anyways, I've decided to shift my blog over to tumblr instead of using blogspot. This blog will still be here but damn it'll be ideal. The links and all will still be on the side for you who cant bookmark them yourselves even after all this time. Anyways the new blog url is :
My blog's url : johnhansoei.tumblr.com
I've decided to do this because tumblr has some pretty cool features that I like more compared to blogspot.
I thank you all for taking your time to even visit my blog. I'm sorry for stealing some minutes off the 24 hours you got.
If you want to link me, please remember to change the url.
Thanks!
PEACE OUT!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
BE A SANTA!
Hey you!
The GEL (Growing Emerging Leaders) Team is gaining steam on the EPIC Project. We are on the way to gathering all the raw materials and transportation and also rallying a target of 50 or more participants to join us in enhancing the quality of life for a group of Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Jawa, Kuala Kubu Baru, on the 21st & 22nd of January 2010.
Although so, we are currently lacking sponsorship for the raw materials, transportation and food costs involved and thus we have decided to be more proactive in getting you more closer and more involved in the entire process! In that, we are now offering the EPIC T-shirts for sale at RM30.00.
T-shirts will be made available to you only mid-January onwards as the order has only just recently been transacted.
Lay your trust upon the GEL team, that these EPIC t-shirts are not ordinary event t-shirts ordered in bulk and are to be used as your oversized pajamas ending up at the bottom of your wardrobe pile, but that we have consulted a professional t-shirt manufacturer that emphasizes on cuttings specific to each gender and each size. Thus, we are looking to providing you with a cut as fitting as possible which would basically be worth the RM30.00 you pay.
So please order your t-shirts now in your size!
The t-shirt manufacturer has provided us with 3 sizes each for men's and women's tees - S, M & L. Youth sizes are recommended to be between S and M.
There are 3 ways to order your t-shirt:
Here's the Bank Account Number for those who want to wire it straight. Drop us an email if you do that to notify us.
Bank: CIMB
Branch: Subang Jaya
Account Number: 1261-0002228-05-3
Account Holder: GROWING EMERGING LEADERS CENTRE
Here's what the t-shirt looks like:
Lastly, I'd like to ask for your help if you would be so kind to pass on the word to whoever you think would be interested in buying an EPIC t-shirt. We're printing several hundred pieces and intend to sell at least half of the batch by the time mid-January comes as we would already need to pay for the billed materials.
So please support us!
Thank you. =)
The GEL (Growing Emerging Leaders) Team is gaining steam on the EPIC Project. We are on the way to gathering all the raw materials and transportation and also rallying a target of 50 or more participants to join us in enhancing the quality of life for a group of Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Jawa, Kuala Kubu Baru, on the 21st & 22nd of January 2010.
Although so, we are currently lacking sponsorship for the raw materials, transportation and food costs involved and thus we have decided to be more proactive in getting you more closer and more involved in the entire process! In that, we are now offering the EPIC T-shirts for sale at RM30.00.
T-shirts will be made available to you only mid-January onwards as the order has only just recently been transacted.
Lay your trust upon the GEL team, that these EPIC t-shirts are not ordinary event t-shirts ordered in bulk and are to be used as your oversized pajamas ending up at the bottom of your wardrobe pile, but that we have consulted a professional t-shirt manufacturer that emphasizes on cuttings specific to each gender and each size. Thus, we are looking to providing you with a cut as fitting as possible which would basically be worth the RM30.00 you pay.
So please order your t-shirts now in your size!
The t-shirt manufacturer has provided us with 3 sizes each for men's and women's tees - S, M & L. Youth sizes are recommended to be between S and M.
There are 3 ways to order your t-shirt:
- Leave a comment on this post
- Drop me an e-mail at lohjonming@hotmail.com
- SMS me at 017 226 3153
- Name
- Contact Number
- Gender
- Size
Here's the Bank Account Number for those who want to wire it straight. Drop us an email if you do that to notify us.
Bank: CIMB
Branch: Subang Jaya
Account Number: 1261-0002228-05-3
Account Holder: GROWING EMERGING LEADERS CENTRE
Here's what the t-shirt looks like:
Lastly, I'd like to ask for your help if you would be so kind to pass on the word to whoever you think would be interested in buying an EPIC t-shirt. We're printing several hundred pieces and intend to sell at least half of the batch by the time mid-January comes as we would already need to pay for the billed materials.
So please support us!
Thank you. =)
Friday, December 25, 2009
122509 Friday
SANTA'S BUSIEST DAY
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
I write this greeting out with the most love you can ever receive from another human being as we celebrate Christmas today. I thank you all for your kind wishes that you have given towards me and my family. As it is, I would like to return these kind gestures. I would not be able to return all your messages but rather return it in this post.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a great Christmas ! May you all put aside the healthy snack bars, fresh garden salads and steam chicken for roasted turkey soaked in bacon oil, honey glazed ham, ginger bread houses and sweet desserts because of all you earned it !
We would just like to compliment on all of you for being the best clients that any gym can ask for. Its been a joy to train you and train with you for this year. All of you are encouragements to us as we see each of you progress each day. Despite all circumstances, each of you continue to show hard work, enthusiasm and heart in each thing you do as you step in the gym daily. What a blessing that we can have the opportunity to be in this atmosphere of mutual attraction. Each one of you have been great influences to us with or without you knowing.
Once again, its been a real pleasure to have you together with us on this amazing journey as we continue to strive for greater heights in fitness. All of you push us harder to be better coaches, trainers and most importantly friends. As we celebrate this festive holiday, be reminded that you all worked hard and deserve a great holiday.
Both of us look forward to the new year and spending another Christmas with each one of you. Take care and be safe. Remember to not drink and drive. I know despite how strong you are, nothing matches heavy steel on your body. At least not yet...
Merry Christmas !!
Love,
John-Hans & John-Son
9kg of ham. Gotta love it!
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a great Christmas ! May you all put aside the healthy snack bars, fresh garden salads and steam chicken for roasted turkey soaked in bacon oil, honey glazed ham, ginger bread houses and sweet desserts because of all you earned it !
We would just like to compliment on all of you for being the best clients that any gym can ask for. Its been a joy to train you and train with you for this year. All of you are encouragements to us as we see each of you progress each day. Despite all circumstances, each of you continue to show hard work, enthusiasm and heart in each thing you do as you step in the gym daily. What a blessing that we can have the opportunity to be in this atmosphere of mutual attraction. Each one of you have been great influences to us with or without you knowing.
Once again, its been a real pleasure to have you together with us on this amazing journey as we continue to strive for greater heights in fitness. All of you push us harder to be better coaches, trainers and most importantly friends. As we celebrate this festive holiday, be reminded that you all worked hard and deserve a great holiday.
Both of us look forward to the new year and spending another Christmas with each one of you. Take care and be safe. Remember to not drink and drive. I know despite how strong you are, nothing matches heavy steel on your body. At least not yet...
Merry Christmas !!
Love,
John-Hans & John-Son
9kg of ham. Gotta love it!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
122309 Wednesday
GREED FILLS THE EMPTY HOLES IN THE HEART
Humans are disgusting.
I cannot believe how we have evolved into such a greedy consumer infested world.
Humans are disgusting.
I cannot believe how we have evolved into such a greedy consumer infested world.
Yesterday I followed my aunt and Mom to this warehouse clearance sale that they were having for Christmas. House hold items like curtains, pillow sheets, bed sheets and many more were going for almost up to 70 percent in discounts. It was by far one of the craziest scenes that I have seen in my life. Literally everyone was scrambling for everything. It was like the items were a naked Beyonce and the consumers were the horny men that we are, scrambling to get a hold of that black chocolate.
Multiple Beyonces man handled
It was horrible. As we enter the shop, we saw a huge line on our left. We thought perhaps this was the queue for the cashier. It turned out to be that that queue was only for the trolley. Mom had to wait a good 20 minutes for it, for a trolley . .
Ugly sight
As I walked around, I saw grown up people behaving in the ugliest manner - People just throwing things around because it was sale ; Things they picked up and did not like was thrown across without a care. I overheard a young teenager share in angst her point to her younger sister. "Just because its a sale, it does not give them the right to throw things around." Well at least I take comfort in the fact that there is still hope for my generation growing up with a little direction.
Curtains, Bed sheets and Pillow opened from individual packages and thrown around
It got me thinking that perhaps half the people in here probably did not need the things that they were buying. They might have just decided to get the things because it was on great sale. That is how most of us are now today. There are so many things that we do not need but we still get them for whatever reason or excuse. It shows how greedy we are. How uncontented we are with the things that we already have. We forget to give thanks that we already have enough.
One of many aisles that were completely cleaned out
The queue for the cashier was another pain the ass. There were only three counters open and probably 200 hundred people lining up to get their items. The queue for it was a good 50m in each direction. I started queuing at 4.15 and by 5:00, I only moved 3 aisles up. It was that long and that slow. The time that I took entirely to queue up was sufficient for me to reflect on my life for the past 20 years, plan for my future, think about the names of my kids, compose a song and think of what I'll do when I am 80. I also managed to count the number of dandruff on the head of the person in front of me. 1, 070,459 to be exact. I had to reset a couple of times because it kept falling down to her shoulders.
Size of one aisle - I moved three in 45 minutes
Well, the whole experience gave me a new insight on the behaviors of humans. We are ridiculousy greedy and we constantly crave for new things even though we have sufficient already. We buy things just to feel the need of contentment even though we do not need them. I learn that it is going to take a whole lot from us to change but there is still hope that one day we will be happy with just the clothes on our body and the roof over our heads.
I've also learned that it isn't easy to change and to be that just yet. All this requires time and effort to change which we humans will learn one day - but not yesterday. I shamefully admit that I was just like the crowd ; Buying something for the sake of just buying something.
I got myself a MEGA MILKSHAKE MACHINE !
I am sorry.
I am disgusting.
Multiple Beyonces man handled
Ugly sight
Curtains, Bed sheets and Pillow opened from individual packages and thrown around
It got me thinking that perhaps half the people in here probably did not need the things that they were buying. They might have just decided to get the things because it was on great sale. That is how most of us are now today. There are so many things that we do not need but we still get them for whatever reason or excuse. It shows how greedy we are. How uncontented we are with the things that we already have. We forget to give thanks that we already have enough.
One of many aisles that were completely cleaned out
Size of one aisle - I moved three in 45 minutes
I've also learned that it isn't easy to change and to be that just yet. All this requires time and effort to change which we humans will learn one day - but not yesterday. I shamefully admit that I was just like the crowd ; Buying something for the sake of just buying something.
I got myself a MEGA MILKSHAKE MACHINE !
I am sorry.
I am disgusting.
Monday, December 21, 2009
122109 Monday
INDIAN SPICES OF LIFE
When I was in my teens, there was a period of time where I love eating Mee Mamak or known also as Mee Goreng. At night for supper usually, I would ask my eldest brother to buy it back for me on his way home. It was simply delicious. I especially like the ones where it was a little more on the soggy side. That was the ultimate. Eat that and then go to bed is the bed remedy to cure any hard day's work or whatever stress that you are going through. ( Worked well for couple issues too )
Just imagine the yellow noodles with the special Indian spices and groundnut sauce with all the mix vegetables in it. A plus would be the Indian fried dough added into it. I would usually ask for additional on that. So much so, that two years pass and I was eating that same for majority of the most nights between that. Besides that, I was eating that on every other visit to the Mamak's. I also even substitute the national staple breakfast of Roti Canai for it on Saturdays.
I cannot even begin to tell you how bad it was on the nutritional side and how it robbed me of beauty as I put on the pounds but the main concern was that I was shortchanging myself of variety. If we look at it carefully, I could have eaten so much more, taste, felt and tried other food that might be of value to me besides just this one dish. However I did not and I left no room for adventure as I just chomped down the same dish day after day.
That is exactly what I am seeing in the gym for the past year. Most of you athletes in the gym subject yourself to the same routines and same exercises as we started the year of. Even the weights are of the same degree. This cannot be possible as we should be progressing as time goes by. It pains my heart to see the lack of variety in your training and that there is no self initiative to read up on and try. What works for one may not work for you. It is your duty to try and see which one of it works best for you.
An example would be subjecting yourself to the favourite exercises that you like and not wanting to take up the challenge of learning a new skill. Most of the time after learning a new movement, I do not see you all practicing it on your own free time apart from during the workout itself. Then, most of you just go back into that comfort zone of yours to continue doing the same exercises that is by physical and results look, not getting you anywhere. If you're lacking on the lower strength section, it does not hurt to add in some back squats to your training. Worse more, on the strength days, almost 3/4 of Pushmore suddenly disappeared from the face of earth. But, with workouts involving bodyweight movements and running, suddenly they all scurry back like rats to the surface at night. If I could collect a dollar each from the members on the running days, I might just be able to buy myself a six room mansion equipped with jacuzzi for the multiple women that I am going to have around me.
With all that said, the new year is coming around in a few days time. Do not be afraid to add some variety into your workouts to change it up a bit. Certainly you cannot be doing the same thing over and over again. Like I always say, work on your weaknesses and move from that. Time for all of you to take a higher gear and change it up. Your warm up routine can involve other movements besides the Pushmore warm up. Pick up a new movement and practice that during your rest days. Spice up your training a little and I am sure you will be grateful you did that. Oh, and bloody come on the strength days. I would want to see your faces in the gym besides my own on the mirrors because although it is pretty, I get tired of smiling to myself too much.
Like I said, stop eating the Mee Mamak only. There's plenty of space for the chapatis, Roti's and Indian rice.
Just imagine the yellow noodles with the special Indian spices and groundnut sauce with all the mix vegetables in it. A plus would be the Indian fried dough added into it. I would usually ask for additional on that. So much so, that two years pass and I was eating that same for majority of the most nights between that. Besides that, I was eating that on every other visit to the Mamak's. I also even substitute the national staple breakfast of Roti Canai for it on Saturdays.
I cannot even begin to tell you how bad it was on the nutritional side and how it robbed me of beauty as I put on the pounds but the main concern was that I was shortchanging myself of variety. If we look at it carefully, I could have eaten so much more, taste, felt and tried other food that might be of value to me besides just this one dish. However I did not and I left no room for adventure as I just chomped down the same dish day after day.
That is exactly what I am seeing in the gym for the past year. Most of you athletes in the gym subject yourself to the same routines and same exercises as we started the year of. Even the weights are of the same degree. This cannot be possible as we should be progressing as time goes by. It pains my heart to see the lack of variety in your training and that there is no self initiative to read up on and try. What works for one may not work for you. It is your duty to try and see which one of it works best for you.
An example would be subjecting yourself to the favourite exercises that you like and not wanting to take up the challenge of learning a new skill. Most of the time after learning a new movement, I do not see you all practicing it on your own free time apart from during the workout itself. Then, most of you just go back into that comfort zone of yours to continue doing the same exercises that is by physical and results look, not getting you anywhere. If you're lacking on the lower strength section, it does not hurt to add in some back squats to your training. Worse more, on the strength days, almost 3/4 of Pushmore suddenly disappeared from the face of earth. But, with workouts involving bodyweight movements and running, suddenly they all scurry back like rats to the surface at night. If I could collect a dollar each from the members on the running days, I might just be able to buy myself a six room mansion equipped with jacuzzi for the multiple women that I am going to have around me.
With all that said, the new year is coming around in a few days time. Do not be afraid to add some variety into your workouts to change it up a bit. Certainly you cannot be doing the same thing over and over again. Like I always say, work on your weaknesses and move from that. Time for all of you to take a higher gear and change it up. Your warm up routine can involve other movements besides the Pushmore warm up. Pick up a new movement and practice that during your rest days. Spice up your training a little and I am sure you will be grateful you did that. Oh, and bloody come on the strength days. I would want to see your faces in the gym besides my own on the mirrors because although it is pretty, I get tired of smiling to myself too much.
Like I said, stop eating the Mee Mamak only. There's plenty of space for the chapatis, Roti's and Indian rice.
Friday, December 18, 2009
121809 Friday
IF IT AINT PRETTY THEN IT AINT FAMILY
Anyways Anna arrived at 9 and soon the photo shoot begun. Enjoy the pictures !
John-son appealing to the korean market
Beast gone pretty
Although embarrassing to say, we have a mental retarded brother we keep in the closet
Mom with her three handsome greek god boys she could not have asked for more
Disclaimer
Mom's turning fifty in about three weeks. Its quite a feat for her since her three boys aren't exactly easy children to be around with. But they always say we are a bundle of joy and I'm guessing we're the reason why the word joy and happiness were created for. Anyways, we planned a surprise family photo shoot with the famous Anna-Rina back in June to commemorate the milestone mark that she has reach. It was an easy choice of a photographer for us because Anna works out in Pushmore along with Johnson and myself. Its time like these where we take advantage of our friendship with the gym members.
We so happen to have won a free stay at the Grand Dorsett Subang from a race that Son and I participated a few months back. It was amazing as we had the executive suite which was a plus because of the spacious space that we had in order to change outfits and so forth. The make up artist came in the morning to doll Mom up. However being the vain children of this generation where looks are important, we decided to get some done too. I must in my defense explain to you the reason I allowed powder to touch my face. It normally does not happen but on that day itself I so happen to awake to a slight discoloration on my left side of the face due to insufficient water intake. For the eyebrows, something sticky somehow managed to attached itself to my brows and because of the heavy duty movements of taking it out, it somehow left it unbalance therefore I had to pluck my eyebrows. That is the only theory about it and nothing else!
We so happen to have won a free stay at the Grand Dorsett Subang from a race that Son and I participated a few months back. It was amazing as we had the executive suite which was a plus because of the spacious space that we had in order to change outfits and so forth. The make up artist came in the morning to doll Mom up. However being the vain children of this generation where looks are important, we decided to get some done too. I must in my defense explain to you the reason I allowed powder to touch my face. It normally does not happen but on that day itself I so happen to awake to a slight discoloration on my left side of the face due to insufficient water intake. For the eyebrows, something sticky somehow managed to attached itself to my brows and because of the heavy duty movements of taking it out, it somehow left it unbalance therefore I had to pluck my eyebrows. That is the only theory about it and nothing else!
Anyways Anna arrived at 9 and soon the photo shoot begun. Enjoy the pictures !
John-son appealing to the korean market
Beast gone pretty
Although embarrassing to say, we have a mental retarded brother we keep in the closet
Mom with her three handsome greek god boys she could not have asked for more
This is totally written on my own freewill and did not receive any glorified physical materials or items that would act as gifts nor did i receive any possession in the form of money or future discounts. This is written totally out of love and respect for a passionate photographer that is trying to make her way in this big infested world of Nikon's and Canon's.
I've known Anna since I first joined Pushmore back in February of 2008. At first, she was pretty intimidating but at the same time intriguing because if you noticed, she's one of a kind. Only after did I know that she was suffering alone from a very special disorder, but she was huge in size for a woman. Her bulging biceps and Dorian Yates size-lats were almost as loud as her personality that it made it hard not to notice her. The people who know Anna would understand with me when I say the first conversation that I had with Anna was filled with profanity that it broke an entire village of children's quota for bad words in a year.
However that was exciting and it was the beginning of a good friendship as she frequent the gym more often. Anna is not like the normal typical Malaysian women that you find on the streets. Suffering from bigorexia, which is the fear of being small , Anna literally wants to get big. I say this with the most plutonic love that I have not different from a sibling to another sibling, but I found that quite hot. Not every day do you meet a woman that wants to be big.
Little did I know that I was actually getting to know a famous wedding photographer in the Malaysian scene. Only after hearing about her from other people and reading her blog did I know that is an amazing photographer with a gifted sixth sense that not many have. She definitely possesses an eye for creativity and the ability to see the end even before the beginning. That is vision, and she has it. I was amaze and still am at the quality of pictures taken that are posted on her website. Certainly it has improve over the months but at the price of her body getting smaller.( Hehe ) I must admit though Anna, I did google you. Googling in the same sense as how an online predator stalks his next lil victim google.
My family and I managed to enjoy firsthand the professionalism of Anna during the photoshoot. We tend to read up frequently on her amazing social and people skills that enables people to be at their very best during photoshoots but never had the chance to see how she does it. Well, I must vouch for the others who have commented that indeed Anna is an enabler. Her witty personality and charm manages to bring even the stiffest tree to life. Just like a famous quote, "Nothing great in the world has ever been achieved without passion." Anna exuberates passion in everything that she does.
During the entire photoshoot she was so lively and entertaining that is put everyone at ease. She knew the right cues to make a person relax. She said the right things that made the ugliest person feel like a princess. I can only imagine the hard work and the fatique that overwhelms in each photo shoot. Our's lastest only 3 and half hours but by the second hour, we were beginning to feel the effects of smiling like a clown. What more for the photographer and she does it daily. I do not believe that you would be able to do it daily if you did not have the passion for it. I know I would have given up after the first hour. Trying to get that baby to look at my camera or the energetic kid to sit down would not end up so pretty. I probably would spike their drinks or perhaps just tie them down and then photoshop the rope away. Bottomline is that Anna does everything she does with passion and for that, I admire and respect her.
Once again, it wasnt a difficult choice when we needed to find a photographer to capture our happy moments in life. She does it best. The atmosphere that she creates in her little photographing bubble is contagious enough to make you feel your best. I thank you Anna for the additional joy that you have given to us by capturing life moments that means so much and keeping us at a still to cherish the present in this ever fast pace world that we live in.
From the Oei Family, we wish you a great Christmas and Happy New Year. We return you with love just as you have shown us during this entire episode of our lives.
Thank You Anna-Rina.
****
You can read Anna's write up on our family photo session at her blog here.
****
Anna-Rina runs her entire workshop from here. Click here to go to her website where you can catch a glimpse of her work. The amazement would be left for you to discover. Yes, you can close your jaw after.
www.anna-rina.com
I've known Anna since I first joined Pushmore back in February of 2008. At first, she was pretty intimidating but at the same time intriguing because if you noticed, she's one of a kind. Only after did I know that she was suffering alone from a very special disorder, but she was huge in size for a woman. Her bulging biceps and Dorian Yates size-lats were almost as loud as her personality that it made it hard not to notice her. The people who know Anna would understand with me when I say the first conversation that I had with Anna was filled with profanity that it broke an entire village of children's quota for bad words in a year.
However that was exciting and it was the beginning of a good friendship as she frequent the gym more often. Anna is not like the normal typical Malaysian women that you find on the streets. Suffering from bigorexia, which is the fear of being small , Anna literally wants to get big. I say this with the most plutonic love that I have not different from a sibling to another sibling, but I found that quite hot. Not every day do you meet a woman that wants to be big.
Little did I know that I was actually getting to know a famous wedding photographer in the Malaysian scene. Only after hearing about her from other people and reading her blog did I know that is an amazing photographer with a gifted sixth sense that not many have. She definitely possesses an eye for creativity and the ability to see the end even before the beginning. That is vision, and she has it. I was amaze and still am at the quality of pictures taken that are posted on her website. Certainly it has improve over the months but at the price of her body getting smaller.( Hehe ) I must admit though Anna, I did google you. Googling in the same sense as how an online predator stalks his next lil victim google.
My family and I managed to enjoy firsthand the professionalism of Anna during the photoshoot. We tend to read up frequently on her amazing social and people skills that enables people to be at their very best during photoshoots but never had the chance to see how she does it. Well, I must vouch for the others who have commented that indeed Anna is an enabler. Her witty personality and charm manages to bring even the stiffest tree to life. Just like a famous quote, "Nothing great in the world has ever been achieved without passion." Anna exuberates passion in everything that she does.
During the entire photoshoot she was so lively and entertaining that is put everyone at ease. She knew the right cues to make a person relax. She said the right things that made the ugliest person feel like a princess. I can only imagine the hard work and the fatique that overwhelms in each photo shoot. Our's lastest only 3 and half hours but by the second hour, we were beginning to feel the effects of smiling like a clown. What more for the photographer and she does it daily. I do not believe that you would be able to do it daily if you did not have the passion for it. I know I would have given up after the first hour. Trying to get that baby to look at my camera or the energetic kid to sit down would not end up so pretty. I probably would spike their drinks or perhaps just tie them down and then photoshop the rope away. Bottomline is that Anna does everything she does with passion and for that, I admire and respect her.
Once again, it wasnt a difficult choice when we needed to find a photographer to capture our happy moments in life. She does it best. The atmosphere that she creates in her little photographing bubble is contagious enough to make you feel your best. I thank you Anna for the additional joy that you have given to us by capturing life moments that means so much and keeping us at a still to cherish the present in this ever fast pace world that we live in.
From the Oei Family, we wish you a great Christmas and Happy New Year. We return you with love just as you have shown us during this entire episode of our lives.
Thank You Anna-Rina.
****
You can read Anna's write up on our family photo session at her blog here.
****
Anna-Rina runs her entire workshop from here. Click here to go to her website where you can catch a glimpse of her work. The amazement would be left for you to discover. Yes, you can close your jaw after.
www.anna-rina.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
SEEKING KINDNESS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON
Dear friends,
If anyone has any heart for sentiments and memories, pls know that I am in urgent need of a VIDEO CAMERA to document my holiday in Hong Kong. I will be leaving this thursday ( NEED IT ASAP) and will be back on the 12 of January. I promise I will take great care of your camera and will return it in one piece. You will in turn receive a special gift for your kindness, such is the spirit of the holiday season.
Love,
John-Hans
If anyone has any heart for sentiments and memories, pls know that I am in urgent need of a VIDEO CAMERA to document my holiday in Hong Kong. I will be leaving this thursday ( NEED IT ASAP) and will be back on the 12 of January. I promise I will take great care of your camera and will return it in one piece. You will in turn receive a special gift for your kindness, such is the spirit of the holiday season.
Love,
John-Hans
Sunday, December 13, 2009
121309 Sunday
GRADUATION BLUES
So I've been absent. I've been busy with exams but I've finished and now I'm free. I did my last two exams on Tuesday and got my results on Thursday. I've been on a high ever since then.
I graduated on Thursday with my second certificate of a Higher Diploma in Hotel Management. I've got eight months more to go before I get a degree and then off to Bangkok it is for two years.
Just having trials a week before the finals, I went into the exam not feeling too confident as I managed a global average of 15.25 out of 20 overall. The grade to get first class would be 16 and above. I failed one paper miserably but took comfort in the failures of others as 53 failed that paper too. There was only 61 taking that paper mind you. Another concern was my French.
For my finals, I got the same French jury woman that failed my ass in Diploma. A year passed and I was back at the mercy of this fine looking French woman. Rewind a year back, I pissed her off and she shouted at me during the exam. I walked out and that was it. Only subject I failed in Diploma. She was pissed mad at me and even hit the table violently like those Chinamen we see on TV. I dont know whats up with these French people. I only asked her to repeat the same question nine times.
Anyways, when I opened the door to the room for my French Oral exam, there she was, the same grin on her face that greeted me the previous year in the same classroom as Diploma. Probably in her mind, she was like " F*(&*@# . . . this bugger again. Going to fail his ass if he ask me to repeat almost every question I ask." So the exam went like this, I was asked to introduce myself. So I thought I should play it cool. Be like the modern men. I'm not going to talk about where I came from, how big my family was or what my hobbies were. I was going to ace it and take her French heart by storm.
I started with my name and then suddenly with a huge wave of confidence I gave her a seductive half grin that only showed a little bit of my teeth yet it is mysterious that wants her to know whats more behind these subtle-lips-smile and a lift of one of the eyebrow like how the ROCK does it, stating that Je suis celibataire ( I am single) and proceeded to tell what type of women I like. I did not know why I played that card. I am ashame. I could first see the initial discomfort but when I touched the color of the eyes and how I like their long wavy hair that flows down like a stallions mane, I knew I had her in my pocket! Sorry Charmaine, desperate measures was called for desperate time. I have a girl friend ( Depending ladies . . send me a picture and then we'll see ;)
Anyways her body language spoke positively as she seem taken a back but then suddenly move in closer to listen. I had to resort ultimately to using my absolutely gorgeous good looking boyish charms but I'm sorry that I'm not sorry I went that low. Hey, my higher diploma was on the line ! Moving on, the third part of the exam was a conversation on a theme. What I had was to have a conversation with a friend about a future vacation and the things that I would do on that vacation.
So I started off the conversation as normal and then proceeded to tell her that I was planning a holiday with my girlfriend. We were going to Langkawi. We were so excited because we look forward to swimming in the sea, sun bathing, doing water sports activity and so forth. Then she asked, what are you going to do at night? So i innocently just proceeded to say oh, at night we were going to eat at the restaurant then chill out at the hotel lounge. I thought that answer was sufficient but she asked again, what are you going to do at night besides all that? Sensing something amiss, I asked her again what do you mean? I thought she wanted more examples, so I said maybe walk along the beach and talk. Being more persistent, she asked again what am I going to do in the night?
Then it hit me after my spider senses tingled, this French woman actually wanted to know my in the room activities at night ! DAMNIT this is an exam, is this allowed ?? Shit I was in a dilemma. By this time, I was sweating furiously. This is an attractive 30 year old French woman. And I mean French, they created the French Kiss damnit, thats like creating the peanut butter for the entire American civilization. It is that epic. Like I said, I was in a dilemma.
Should I fore-go all moral principles and excite this woman right now in the room with my explicit information . . . . . or should I fail this exam with my dignity intact and hold my head up high while I walk out knowing that I had done the right thing by not telling this inappropriate information to an older woman because of the respect that I already have by the years of drilling in by the well guidance of my concern parents for respecting older people during my childhood ?
I am ashame to say I aced my entire Higher Diploma and got First Class Honors. My French helped a lot.
I'm sorry Mom.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
112109 Saturday
THE TOUGH LIFE OF A STUDENT
Exams are round the corner. Actually they are up on Monday. Its going to last till the 8th of December. Then, I get my results on the 10th of Dec. Pretty fast eh. This is the one time that a system in Malaysia is actually efficient. I get plenty of questions from everybody on what I study. When I say hotel management, they go oh, so you have to clean tables, polish cutlery and shit. No I don't need to pay the same amount of money you are paying for a Perodua Myvi to learn that. Heck the same server that stole my Pushmore shirt near my college does the same thing. And he doesnt have to pay that amount of money and plus he gets free t-shirts on certain days. Hence, I'm going to tell you what I do in this "hotel management" course of mine.
In a year, I have 3 terms plus one term of industrial training. Each term consist of 8 -9 subjects of which some are progressive such as Rooms Management, F&b Management, French and so forth. We progress just like any other course out there. In my first term of my first year, for three months I was taught on how to fold napkins and shit. My test was to fold 6 types and yes for those with their eyes open and jaw hanging, I can do swans, lotus and sexy elephants. I indeed possess big hands and at the same time I know how to use them ;) We have all the normal hard subjects that you guys probably dont know how to do such as economics, sales, statistics and so forth. Its difficult. Who ever said running a hotel is easy.
So in my finals this year for Higher Diploma, I would have 8 different exams altogether that consist of what I have learn so far over the course of 3 years. Let me put it in numeric form for those who struggle with systematic thought process. The 8 different exams are :
1. Technical Case Study ( 2.5 Hours )
2. Hotel Communications Paper ( 3 hours )
3. Hotel Management Case Study ( 5 hours )
4. French Intermediate
5. Technical Industrial Training
6. Sales & Negotiations
7. Training, Meeting and Briefing
8. Bahasa Malaysia.
The first is a combination of Rooms Management, Purchasing and Food & Beverage. In this we have to learn how to calculate on setting the room rates that you people out there usually buy. I guess you never wondered why you pay 500 for a room. Second, The Communications paper would be an essay. The third, HMCS that is 5 hours long consist of 5 subjects together. We are given food and drinks during the exam. So far, the failing rate of this paper is 35%. Shitty scary!
The rest of the others are all practical exams that test your knowledge on the products and techniques related to this industry. Lastly, Bahasa Malaysia.. I wont even bother trying to explain to you why we have it in our exam. Its because the government would want you to learn a language that only two countries are using. In that exam, we are suppose to debate with 2 other candidates on certain issues like . . . Apakah faktor-faktor kecerdikan remaja zaman ini semakin cetek ? ( What are the reasons for the shallow mentality of teenagers in this era? ) They are not squating, deadlifting, power cleaning, bench pressing, strict pressing and front squatting. Thats why.
Anyways thats the write up on what I will be going through for the next 3 weeks. I hope I didnt bore you but Hotel Management is certainly more than just polishing glasswares, cutleries and crockeries.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
111509 Sunday
REST UP - THE WEEK STARTS AGAIN !
Its "bad influence" for the younger generation of Malaysia.
Have a good Sunday!
I always wonder whats up with the Malaysian Goverment and its policy with banning music artist from abroad that are a little far off from the norm. They have asked Fergie to dress up more decently yet they allow Akon to sing filthy lyrics that all talk bout humping and then he's sorry he'll take the blame ?! They dont allow dangdut singers because they dress indecently. but allow Akon to jump into the crowd and so forth. Thats why the country is only moving backwards. Well my political view would require a few blog posts which I dont believe we should go into.
I always wonder what goes through the mind of the people in the screening department. I always question what are the things that influences their decisions in allowing an artist to come in or not. I guess now I know the real reason why Beyonce cant make it to the shores of Malaysia. One of the panel must have seen this video and thought, she no good for my little boy who is 2 and she is 52.
I always wonder what goes through the mind of the people in the screening department. I always question what are the things that influences their decisions in allowing an artist to come in or not. I guess now I know the real reason why Beyonce cant make it to the shores of Malaysia. One of the panel must have seen this video and thought, she no good for my little boy who is 2 and she is 52.
Its "bad influence" for the younger generation of Malaysia.
Have a good Sunday!
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