我在新加坡的日子 My life in Singapore: July 2014

Following my first trip to Taiwan in the June of 2012, I spent my June last year in Taiwan as well. This year, different from my usually self-planned, action-packed schedule during holiday, I spent the whole month of June in Miri, Sarawak, doing my internship with Grace Methodist Church. It was my first time in Miri, although I was born in Sarawak and there are several attractions near Miri, says Mulu Cave, Pinnacles, etc. Perhaps, my next trip to Miri will be a visit to those places, which appear quite interesting to me. As a Malaysian, I should frequent myself to these internationally well-known places of interest in my homeland.

Introductory word aside, here I am, sharing with you in summary what I have accomplished in the month of June 2014 during my internship. Or rather, what I think are interesting to share with you. To start off, I shall list down things that I first experienced/done in my life, in Miri.

My first time experience:

1. Sharing as an invited guest speaker in a fellowship

2. Cleaning work in church from Monday to Friday, for four weeks.

3. Conduct baptism class

4. Liturgist of a service

5. Addressed as “trainee pastor”, “pastor”, “Rev Dr James’ son”…even “daddy” and “mummy” (by Lukas, a two years old baby in a family whom I stayed with)

6. Cooked a proper meal for a family (besides my own family)

7. Seen the biggest house I ever seen

8. Drove the most mileage in a place I barely stayed for a month

9. “House moving” for four times in a month

10. Met over hundred plus new friends in less than a month

11. Read through the New Testament plus a book review in less than a month

12. Stay alone in pastornage

13. Attended Miri district Pastors’ meeting

The question that I answered the most during my stay here in Miri is: “How do you find Miri?” So I guess I should answer that here as well, and can refer someone to my blog the next time I get this question. To me, I think Miri is very well structured compared to other areas of Sarawak. Coming from a place like Sibu, which is smaller and buildings are more scattered, Miri appeared to be better organized. Imagine someone like me, who lack expert navigation skill, managed to drive without getting lost in Miri (with aid of “Waze”, opps). Miri provides a wide selection of foods, from western to Indian cuisine. It is pretty “international”… you know I am referring to the food. Having said all these, the convenient way to travel in Miri city is by a car. Bus is not frequent and I have no idea of where to align. Miri is also an expensive place to live in. I am comparing the living standard of Miri with Sibu, of course. Food in Miri is RM1-2 more compared to in Sibu. A normal meal in kopitiam will usually cost me around RM7-8 (including drinks). That compared to Singapore, of course, can be dirt cheap.

I am very thankful for the new friends that I met here in Miri. New an “old” friends, as they are, demonstrate warm hospitality, helping me to “sink” in the life in Miri. Countless of movie nights, supper nights, dinner at the beach, laughter, whatsoever, they ease my days. I interacted with people from different background, from humble cleaner to big boss of a company, discovering new things in my conversation with them. I survived through my internship! Praise God for His grace, every day, to me.

End of my words, here comes the pictures!