A Boy Named Joseph

Joseph: (Slurps down a cup of Ribena) BURPPPPPP!

Kai: Hey! Its rude to burp! Dont do that here!

Joseph: (Looks at me eye wide) But this is my home...

Joseph is a 7 year old boy who was kinda hanging around me the moment i first stepped into the place. For 3 years, he had spend most of his time in the home. He has a mother and a sister and that is all i know bout his family.

He likes pulling me along wherever he goes making sure i sit with him during lunch and free time where he would execute the "moves" he learnt from the anime BLEACH on me. Like most boys his age, he is mischievous and cheeky at times. And he regards the institution as his home, his real home.

A home where you have no siblings and many siblings at the same time, a home where you have no parents and many parents at the same time. On first thought, i didn't think that an institution would be considered a real home to any of them. I would have thought they resented living in a place like that and would like to move away as soon as possible. But with that 1 sentence from Joseph, he thrashed my belief smack into the ground like a canine biting off the head of a doll.

My previous belief about the difference between "normal" kids and the kids there was that they were 1 home short. But with my belief limped, its only then i realise that they are not any different from "normal" kids, they ARE normal. If i were to meet anyone of them somewhere else, i would not have come to known this side of them.

There is a story,albeit a sad one behind each and everyone of those eyes. But when i looked deeper, i see something more fascinating, something that would change their lives, something called HOPE.

On a lighter note, we did have loads of fun and what better way than to show it! A picture speaks a thousand words. Enjoy

Task for the day! ORIGAMI

Patience Patience!

The signature V

Completed!!

Happy!

Even the care takers joined in

Models of the day

A picture speaks a thousand words...


After lunch, it was time for the last program that the Japs had prepared for the kids. Enjoy!

In case you are wondering, yeah that is a guy

Cute but definitely not my type

That isnt me, that isnt me, that isnt me

The whole lot of us

Looking cute as ever(nope im not talking about you Germaine)

Our Emcees for the day

Last shot

日本のともだち

For a week in June, I had the opportunity to play host to a group of Japanese students from Yokohama International College of Social Welfare. Every year, the school will send a group of students to Singapore to visit local VWOs (Volunteer Welfare Organisations). Purpose of this is to allow students to have a greater exposure to this “industry” in other countries and also to encourage cultural exchange between the 2 countries. The local organisation that had helped make this happen for the past 20 years is National Council Of Social Service (http://www.ncss.gov.sg/).

Collage by Germaine

Due to work commitments, I was not present on the first day of the week long program. Fortunately for me, volunteers from both sides were not “warmed up” yet and I didn’t miss a lot of fun.

Skipping to the 2nd day, the first half of the day was spend in Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (http://www.cslmch.org.sg/). Prior to this, my experience with VWOs were only limited to homes with elderly or people with disabilities. After speaking to a retired lady who had opted to work full time in the home, I found out that in CSLMCH, 90% of the children there attend mainstream education with some of them having autism and learning disabilities. The most common thing that brought them together to this place where everyone is their brothers and sisters is the fact that they all come from broken families of some sort, with many of them having Child Protection Order, sometimes even against their parents. The age of the children there ranges from 4-16 years old and those who exceed these age, they will have to be sent to another home.

Amidst all the fun and games, I gained a lot of insights from the children and teens of this place, thoughts that would haunt me but in a good and memorable way.

Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home

This is me!!

Because of communication problems, activities planned by Japanese students were more interactive and promotes hands-on task rather than communication. For the morning, it was sports and games for all with kids running around, kicking balls, shooting hoops, engaging slides and gathering round the piano where Germaine (my local counterpart) tries to hypnotise the older kids with her tunes.

Guess who are from yokohama and who from singapore.

Balloon!!

A bubbly 7 year old

Works better than a swinging pendulum pocket watch

Fortunately for me, I had several Japanese language lessons and could understand them a little (OK I guessed the meaning most of the time...) and I became a part time lousy translator for some of the kids. Luckily I could turn to their teacher Miss Tanaka for help, she speaks good English.
However, I think that the Japanese students would do well with or without a translator as their passion for kids could transcends all language boundaries. In the end, everybody had a ball of a time even when nobody understood each other.

Happiness is contagious

Japanese likes their 2 fingers a lot

Come nightfall, my job switch from part volunteer, part translator to friendly tour guide. Together, we head to Far East Plaza to let them do some long awaited shopping. We let them wander around on their own while we Singapore volunteers had a much desired breather cum planning for dinner which we decided on a chicken rice shop in the same building. Some of them had requested to try chicken rice the day before as they heard good reviews from their teachers. We had a very interesting meal, especially during paying but it is kind of complicated to explain here so if anyone really wants to know, feel free to ask me.

We didnt realise there was a lady in shades behind

Singaporean Girls and Japanese Guys

Japanese Girls and Singaporean Guy

Licking our plates clean, we head back to their hotel to meet the deadline given to them. With that, our long and exhausting day comes to an end and it is time to head home to recharge for the next day.

Scandalous

Of all pictures, this is my Favourite

For more pictures, visit my web album at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Discerning.Jun.Kai

じゃな! 日本!

After 7 days of hectic travelling in Tokyo and Kyoto, the last day of my travel inevitably approaches. Although it is a short 7 days, the initial energy level that we had was totally drained by the hectic schedule and making sure that we reach point A at time A and point B at time B. 7 days to truly understand Japan is without a doubt insufficient but this trip would suffice to be the appetizer for a more wholesome trip which would happen in the future.

For our last day in Tokyo, we did not have a lot of spare time on our hands because of the flight we would have to catch. The only place we could go without wasting too much time travelling would be the nearby shopping malls. Coincidentally, they were having “Bleach” event there. Some might know that I am a fan of Bleach, religiously sourcing the net for their latest episode every week. Knowing that, i definitely had to go for it.

Bleach event

Truth be told, i’m quite disappointed with the event. It is more like a exhibition than an event, with just posters, card board figures and Bleach merchandise displayed there. Not to mention that it is payable to get into the exhibition areas and the merchandise are not cheap.

Bleach products exhibitsMessages by fans

We hurried back to our ryokan to grab our luggages after a quick breakfast. We said our goodbyes to the friendly Ryokan staff and went to catch our train.

Our home for our last leg

Luggages for 4

With the end right at our doorsteps, our mood was neither the excited mood that we had on our first day, or amazed mood that we had at Kyoto or satisfied mood that we had after every meal. It was like we were engulfed in an ambivalent aura, more sad than happy. All good things have to come to an end. That is what we told ourselves. All in all, i had a good time travelling with the 3 of them. Travel companions are hard to come by and takes a lot of fate to be brought together. This could very well be the first and last time that I travel with anyone of them and I have to say I enjoyed every single moment with them. The trip would not be the same without them.

On a side note, i am still looking for my next travel companion and if you are interested, let me know.

Soul Walkers

Even before I was born, a craze had hit Japan. A craze that will last so long that even till now, it is a widely popular in myriad sorts of form. A craze that would be familiar to many as ANIMATION.
Founded in 1985, Hayao Miyazaki would never expect “Studio Ghibli” to be one of the forefathers of animation. Maybe the name Hayao Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli sounds like a term from outer space but I am sure that you would at least have heard one of the followings

Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Porco Rosso (1992)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Spirited Away (2001)
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

The man behind these would be Hayao Miyazaki and his team from Studio Ghibli. They not only make movies but also manage to set up a museum in Tokyo, a place where every kid will feel like an adult and every adult will feel like a kid both at the same time. (http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/).

Entrance to Ghibli Museum

If you are thinking of visiting this museum, be sure to buy the tickets in advance. When I was there, I was told that they imposed a daily limit each day and on certain holidays, it would not be easy to get tickets. Tickets can be bought at a self-serviced machine in “Lawsons” convenience store throughout japan. It is kinda complicated as all words were in Japanese and a Japanese name and number was needed. However, visiting the site again, I think they scrapped that process and made it easier to get the tickets. More information on obtaining the tickets can be found in the ghibli museum website. Photo taking are not allowed in the Museum.

Queues of people waiting to get in

For the 4 of us, we took an early train to the museum for the first visiting slot. The museum is about 30-40 minutes from central Tokyo. I personally had not watched many of his shows, the only 2 which i watch are Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle so many of the exhibits and decorations were quite foreign to me. However every “Woo”, “Ohh” and “Wow” from the kids and adults alike clearly shows how close to heart this place is. I would highly recommend this place to all and any fans of Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli and any one of the movies.

Giant Robot from Castle in The Sky

Character from My Neighbour Totoro

Having had a long and hectic week, today we just wanted to let our souls soak in the peacefulness of Japan. After the museum, we headed to a park nearby to walk our souls in the autumn engulfed park.

Pathway to heaven

A Walk in the park

We ramble upon the carpet of fallen leaves, chance upon gathering of kids ransacking piles of leaves as if digging for some hidden treasures. In the backdrop sits several mothers with their picnic baskets constantly keeping an eye on them.

Modern day pirates

Shadow

Marching forward, we heard the whistling of a stream alongside a path and moving further down the path sits several people hidden behind a wooden wall. Armed with camera, tripod and large lens are 3 birdwatcher all focused at the same spot. They told us that the bird would appear soon and invited us to stay and watch for it. They weren’t lying. 5 minutes later, a bird appears at the spot and they proudly thumb their shutter repeatedly. We bade our goodbyes and continue to search for the end of the fallen leaves carpet. We did not find. What we found instead was a lake, a small one with ducks swimming in it and a fountain situated in the middle of it.

Stream

Peeping tom

Array of Equipments

Bird Watcher

Fountain

Throughout the park, we passed by countless other soul walkers, some young some old, some with clutches, some on bicycle, and all of them had one thing in common. They had a genuine smile on their faces, some weren’t very obvious but it is undeniably there. I would rank this place as the number one place to retire and grow old.

We returned to Harajuku in the evening as Rac and Suz did not went there earlier that week. After some shopping , neoprint and arcade, we wandered into an Okonomiyaki Shop. It is actually the Japanese version of Pancake and you are to prepare it on the hot plate fixed onto your table. The end result was pretty good and there were lots of different varieties to choose from. We were given a bowl of ingredients but after futile attempts to prepare it, we decided to engage the help of the staff.

Guess who decided to become maid...

We were given these

Well..all i can say is that we tried

Personally I like the way the whole process of dining in the restaurant and the fact that you could actually cook your own food even having any cooking knowledge. It is a fun way for friends and families to interact while having a meal and Singapore could definitely have restaurants like these. Maybe I will set up one in the future.