My grown-up Christmas list

“No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
and wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list”

Coming home from overseas study: It’s the toughest part

NOBODY told me moving back home from overseas studies would be this difficult.
Unlike my summer visits, where being in Singapore was merely physical relocation, moving home meant re-integration – a process I would have preferred to keep at arm’s length.

It was not that I resisted being in Singapore. I was more than happy to regain easy access to hawker food, speak Singlish freely and enjoy efficiency at its best.

But to fall right back into everyone else’s rhythm of life? No thanks.

Face to face with human trafficking

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Monday, Sept 8, 2008.

I’m a little concerned that post-editing, trafficking and prostitution appear synonymous, so I must say now that there is a difference, but here is the piece as it was published.

THE cupcakes were the easy part.Three months ago, I set out to raise funds for a human-trafficking study trip to Thailand by selling these cheerful confections. Sure, it was hard work slaving in three kitchens over six days to whip up more than 350 of them.

Catching Pedophiles: US Protect Act 2003 at Work

Photo: Andrea Bertone

We are all smiles in this picture, but this was one of those days where the stories you hear are so disturbing, you can’t understand how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents Gary Phillips and Hung Nguyen do it every day.

Q&A at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Photo: Nicole Adenauer

When we visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I had two burning questions.

I got to ask one during our meeting in the conference room, and one in a slightly more casual setting as we waited for lunch to be served.

A Lesson from the Athletes: No Doubt Allowed

I emailed Rohit Brijnath to thank him for his piece on Phelps that I posted earlier this week.

He wrote back: “I will never forget these Olympics because there is something rewarding and inspiring about watching a young man chase an incredible dream. Today, when the Chinese hurdler limped out of the heats, I thought, how hard it is to win even one gold, how much can go wrong. And Michael Phelps has eight. It still amazes me.”

Today, I see he managed to get some face-to-face time with Phelps. I take some lessons from the world’s greatest Olympian.

Photo: Albert Sim, Straits Times

What Champions are Made Of.

Straits Times writer Robhi Brijnath wrote a beautiful piece on Phelps’ pursuit of what was considered an “impossible” dream. I love it because I think he captured in his writing the heart of a man who was brave enough to go after a grand vision.

I want this heart. I want to chase my dreams.

Photo: Albert Sim, Straits Times

BEIJING: The Water Cube is silent. The waters still. The scoreboard blank. The dream done. Michael has gone.

A champion has departed but he has left us fulfilled. Almost every morning, through nine days, I have arrived at this pool, collected the race schedule, climbed to the top stands of the Water Cube and watched a man chase his dream.

What Will People Say…

…when you finally go?

Love what was written on A W Mill’s:

When he came there was no light;

When he left there was no darkness.

Shine on, Carebears of the world. :)

Deliciousness Takes Time In a Tank

I’m taking some time to work on my final report for the trip this weekend, so I will be disallowing myself much online access. But many of you my readers are also my very kind donors, and be rest assured that you will receive a copy when I’m done! :)

Thank you for your patience. Oh, and Happy Birthday Singapore!

On the Streets in Pattaya’s Redlight District

Photo: Jennryn Wetzler

The night began with the brothel-owner meeting, then we headed out to the Soi to give condoms out, and finally it ended with an hour or so at a Ping Pong Show.

O what a night.