On leave... memories of NZ

Am on leave today. My last day of leave from last year's VL. hahah.. yah yah... I'm super bad at taking leave.... I still have my full 21 days VL from this year.. that means that I'll have 42 next year and plus 2 days of TO... hahah.... its been like that since the 2nd year I started work.. Think I'm super bless too. Cos' its not like I work myelf to death and have no time for leave and holidays. God just bless me with sufficient breaks and I dnt hv to take leave to go for them :) like last year's and this year's overseas conferences to Canada and NZ.

Anyway, just wanna put on record that I'm really happy that I got myself out of a course next week. hahah... its really amazing cos' I tot there's no way I can get out of it at such short notice. Its a certification course and I'm suppose to do a project and present it during the 4 days course. Its was really a heavy burden for me cos I have no idea wat to do. And since I went NZ for almost a month I missed some of the practicuum sessions and obviously I would have forgotten wat I'm suppose to do. well the down side is that I'll miss out on the opportunity to be certified.. the next round is probably another year more. But I'm not really that hard up for it anyway hhehe.... and the good side abt it is that .. I hv so much more time for myself. it was really misearable hvg to sit infront of my desk reading the notes and trying to squeeze something out 2 days ago... now with this off my mind, I could actually spend time reading.. relaxing.... surf the net... hang out with frens..... and enjoy all the gatherings that's coming up :D hahaha... Thank God for answering my prayer :)

Had wanted to blog abt my trip... but there's so much things to say tat I dono where to start with. Also, I've been telling ppl abt it and its abit tiring to recap all over again.... well I'm uploading the photos on the web now.. so I'll send u guys the link soon. Here's some of the highlights of the trip

24 Nov - 3 Dec Auckland
Arrived at NZ after a 10 hour flight. after a long night flight.. we have to look prim and proper in our blazers upon arrival.... haha... ok I shall keep my comments abt that to myself... anyway, the first few days was still pretty stressful for all of us cos we are not v familiar with one another and we do not know wat to expect and how we shld behave infront of our bosses. Afterall everyone is telling us that watever we do or say is constantly being assessed. But whatever it is, I just try to be myself and enjoy myself nevertheless.. :)

Went for a rainforest walk the next day. Well it was quite fun and interesting. Ventured into the rainforest and its nice just being away from the crowded city. For the whole day we were walking and walking up and down slopes . Was quite tiring... but I guess it was good exercise :) Trees in NZ are really huge. some of them are thousands of years old and have really huge trunks.....

Conference started the next day with opening dinner and all. Went to this Moari place for the traditional Maori welcome ceremony and Maori food. realisd that Maori really love to sing and they are really very impromptu ppl. At the end of the ceremony where some of the village heads gave speeches in Maori (no one understands!!) the host lined up in a straight line and invited everyone to rub our noses with theirs.. hahah... yes! EVERYONE. there must be at least 300 over of us!!! and each and everyone of us did it!! can u imagine if u r the one standing there rubbing ur nose with 300 over ppl one by one!!! but I must say they are v sincere ppl.... after all that rubbing of nose.... few days later.. I hv a pimple on my nose :< hahah...

The next day is the official opening ceremony and opening dinner on a floating pavilion... more Moari rituals, dance and singing. but its quite interesting lah.... quite like their war dance... although my director said that wat they were singing was all about eating u up, killing u... blabla... well afterall they are from a tribal origin. and I dnt think they actually mean it lah.. its jus part of the song and dance. although they can look quite fierce during the dance hhaah..

After the conference started its all about trying to pay attention and pick up watever learning points I can. Afterall there will definitely be discussions with the bosses after the sessions. Quite interesting actually... hearing how different and how similar we are. There are quite a number of countries who attended the conf. think about 30 plus? some are fr really small unheard of pacific island. one of the country only have 6 inmates in their system!! ahha... and the challenges they face are quite "interesting" haha.... they are worried about rising water level and flooding.. and other countries are talking abt rehab and reintegration.

Generally all of us did quite well at the conf. I guess being able to communicate well in english and mandarin is a benefit for us.. :) and we are quite good at wat we do actually.

Did a few prisons visit. was quite interesting to hear about the way they manage and their leaving condition. Just one thing to say.... the life of an inmate there is quite good!

I tink I enjoyed myself during the work part of the trip. Its nice to see the other side of my bosses.. and they are actually quite nice and fun ppl themselves :) think it will be so much easier to work with them in future.

Auckland's quite a nice place to stay. space was jus rite and there are quite alot of asians around. ppl are generally quite friendly. and its quite safe too... : )

The only thing that's not so good is having to entertain and socialise the whole time.. Its really tiring to make small talks with ppl all the time. and talk abt official stuff make friends. toasting one another. etc.. but its all quite a good learning experience. rubbing shoulders with ppl from different countries.

If u wanna know more juicy stuff tt happened during the conference... u will hv to ask me personally :)

Will write more abt my wellington trip and the rest of my holiday another day. : )