Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday lunch
I had lunch with an Ugandan man and his Japanese wife and two kids, Kan and Ken and Martin. They joined the church Christmas last year and a really lovely family I felt an instant liking to.
Kan is bright and full of energy and outgoing. When Paul had asked for a volunteer to demonstrate something at the pulpit during their first visit to the church, Kan had quickly volunteered from the back and went all the way to the front.
Ken is impassive most times, hardly makes any noise in public, and gives an unwavering stare unless he's bored or distracted. He likes to look over his parents' shoulder during service to stare at the people seated at the back.
Emmanuelle once remarked, "When he turns and stares at me, I find I'm telling myself, pay attention at the sermon Emmanuelle! Be a good example and don't let this baby know I'm not paying attention!"
Coastan is a big character and full of life and is always trying to say something to pull my leg. Kaori is just beautiful inside and out. When she was at my place for lunch, we had adjourned to the living room after the food and playing ping pong. She turned to Coastan and said, "Maybe we should get a ping pong table for a dining table (they had just moved to the neighbourhood and were waiting for a table to be delivered)."
I grinned. She's my kind of girl.
I felt bad that Ken was my favourite of the two and loved cuddling him and spending time with him but thankfully Kan was all boy, and obviously enjoyed spending time with Martin. Ken decided he liked calling my name and kept calling me for no reason at all.
Me and Ken
Martin and Kan
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Cheeky French
I was sitting in the dining hall at 8pm plus (taking over Sara's place as she was the one always hanging around the dining hall), watching a TV show on my laptop with headphones on when the phone in the kitchen rang.
Since I rarely give anyone the house number because my time in 52 was always meant to be temporary, I never get calls on it beside the occasional church member who wanted to check with me on something, I didn't bother even trying to get up. Emmanuelle was in the kitchen anyway so expected her to get it.
Then I saw Emmanuelle standing at the kitchen door motioning at me to take the call.
Immediately suspicious, because Emmanuelle has developed a somewhat mischievous streak in her in the last 1 month, I asked her if she was playing a trick on me. I never get calls, I demanded. Are you sure this is not a trick, I accused at her somewhat strongly as I glanced at the receiver sitting on the table upwards.
"My call? For me!?! Are you sure??? Is this a trick?! Emmanuelle, are you sure this is not a trick!?! Oh-hi-ma!"
Emmanuelle started snickering the moment my tone and facial expression changed as I started chatting with my mother who was in the airport at 4.30 in the morning waiting for her flight. Can't blame me for not anticipating the call at all.
And can't blame me for being suspicious at Emmanuelle as well, because before I picked up the phone she gave me a cheeky smile to keep me guessing.
Honestly, I don't know what has come over that usually sombre and dignified French lady. It had nothing to do with me hiding in her room and jumping out at her shouting boo, nor had it anything to do with me constantly laughing at her, or sticking "I'm stupid" stickers on her bag, or stealing her food.
Sigh. I'll miss living in 52 with everyone.
And so the exodus of 52 begins
Italian Sara moved out of 52 today to move to Glasgow and be with her hopefully-future-fiancé. Boo. :(
The missionary family who owns 52 will be coming back indefinitely during the summer and everyone but 1 will have to move out. Sara is the first to go.
Sara was lively (read: loud and talkative), she always had a story to tell (usually a long one too), she was always willing to listen in turn though, and she always tried to give people some of her time. And she was always happy to help whenever she could. And she always tries to give me her Italian kisses when she knows I squirm with discomfort whenever she does that. The house already feels empty without her here.
At any rate, I have decided, Italians are most similar to Chinese people. So I always feel comfortable with Italians.
And Sara always makes me feel amaze and humbled. On the outset, it could almost seem she really has very little in life to boast about. No stable job, no great possessions, moving more than 20 times in the last 10 years, amazing life stories but it's almost as if, because she has no material things in her hands that she can boast of, she can only grab hold of the unseen hands of God.
She's one of the reason why I am wayyyyy excited about heaven. It's because of her I know reunions in heaven will be an absolute blast.
Friday, April 02, 2010
She sets a standard beyond me
I was sitting in the dining room when Emmanuelle went into the kitchen.
For the next 10 minutes I heard:
"Krrrakk... krk... krrrrrrrraakkk..."
When it finally occurred to me that that noise had been going on for a while, I took my plate into the kitchen and demanded from her what in the world was she doing, making all those noises.
She was trying to cut open a hard plastic cover that was keeping her from a new electric toothbrush she just bought.
"I bought this, and it belongs to me, but it doesn't believe me or want me to let me have it!!!"
*Slaps head with palm*
I got it open for her within a minute despite laughing so hard my tummy hurt and I couldn't use the scissors properly.
April Fool
Four of us housemates had dinner together - the first time we had such a big unplanned number. It helped that there was a big bowl of salad to be finished.
After chatting three of us decided to play an April Fool joke on Chris, and we snuck into his room while he was out and decorated his room with small potatoes.
I was still bored, so when Emmanuelle went into the toilet I tried to stealthily sneak to the front of the toilet door to give her a scare as she comes out. But my giggly streak in me failed me as I stood in front of the door trying to muffle a giggling fit.
Unfortunately, Emmanuelle heard my poor attempt at stopping my giggles and a soft voice asked from inside, "Who is it?!" which made me burst into painful tummy laughters!
I was on the floor rolling with laughter by the time she opened the door cautiously, thinking I have something that would catch her in the head. She's wise to me, that one.
