I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love
And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health
But more than wealth
I wish you love
My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free
I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
No love, no glory...
There are times when you just can't figure life out.
You think you've met someone who is the right one and you know they share the same feeling but neither can act on it. And as quickly as the feeling comes, you know it will go away without ever getting resolved. Perhaps blown over with time, but deep in your heart you'll always ask the question,
what if?
You think you've met someone who is the right one and you know they share the same feeling but neither can act on it. And as quickly as the feeling comes, you know it will go away without ever getting resolved. Perhaps blown over with time, but deep in your heart you'll always ask the question,
what if?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Note to self...
Sometimes in life we tend to forget those little important things about our lives that we shouldn't, so this entry serves as a self-reminder.
Even though I grew up with a national education system that was deteriorating year after year, my parents somehow managed to set me up on the right track despite of the fact. At times I may have complained that I didn't ever get the chance to try something I want to now when I was younger, but I think as parents they did the absolute best that they could. And somehow I just came to the realisation of that after dealing with something at work last night.
Without the sacrifice of my family, I would never have had the chance to make use of the opportunities I've come across thus far. I wouldn't be able to do what I'm pursuing in life today.
And so I can only say that I am very much humbled by it all, but more so feel greatly blessed for having the family that I have.
Even though I grew up with a national education system that was deteriorating year after year, my parents somehow managed to set me up on the right track despite of the fact. At times I may have complained that I didn't ever get the chance to try something I want to now when I was younger, but I think as parents they did the absolute best that they could. And somehow I just came to the realisation of that after dealing with something at work last night.
Without the sacrifice of my family, I would never have had the chance to make use of the opportunities I've come across thus far. I wouldn't be able to do what I'm pursuing in life today.
And so I can only say that I am very much humbled by it all, but more so feel greatly blessed for having the family that I have.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Beam me up!
I kinda feel like Wesley Crusher on the bridge of the Enterprise. I may be a non-commissioned junior crewmember, but to get to be in the thick of the action anyway, when it actually happens, that's just so unbelievably cool!
Lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it!
I just wish they'd pay me.
Engage!!!
Lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it!
I just wish they'd pay me.
Engage!!!
Monday, September 8, 2008
WHO are we helping?
"All of us joined the organization under the assumption that what we do saves lives. When we are prevented from doing that work, it is more than professional frustration or fear that our own performance will be judged negatively in a 'results based' system. We are concerned for the lives of people whom we affect, whether it is a staff member who is a single mother trying to make rent, or a small business dependent on a contract, or a person living with AIDS in Africa." - The Staff Association
Let's take the above quote and put it into perspective, shall we?
Apparently over here "saving lives" entails spending 'flexi' morning working hours doing power yoga, or changing out of gym gear before 5 p.m. after a sweaty workout at the office fitness centre. I'm sure the people in Africa with AIDS are thanking people over here for keeping themselves so fit because, well, at least somebody's healthy somewhere in the world.
Oh yeah, everyone here is really "concerned for the lives of people whom they affect", especially when they talk about it over multiple coffee breaks throughout the day (say, after a productive session of yoga). And, god forbid, we let those "small businesses dependent on a contract" suffer from not being able to supply the nice folks here with designer joe! Last time I checked, the stuff they sell here isn't even remotely fairtrade. The plus side of that of course is that I can afford to drink it. I feel good helping out those "small businesses". I'm sure they get lots out of this deal!
And I'm almost sure beyond a doubt that the "fear of being judged in the 'results based' system" they implement over here isn't the main motivating factor for productivity. Because if it were, there would *actually* be work done.
Excuse me, I think I need to wipe the puke off the keyboard after reading that load of self-righteous hypocrisy. It really stinks.
Let's take the above quote and put it into perspective, shall we?
Apparently over here "saving lives" entails spending 'flexi' morning working hours doing power yoga, or changing out of gym gear before 5 p.m. after a sweaty workout at the office fitness centre. I'm sure the people in Africa with AIDS are thanking people over here for keeping themselves so fit because, well, at least somebody's healthy somewhere in the world.
Oh yeah, everyone here is really "concerned for the lives of people whom they affect", especially when they talk about it over multiple coffee breaks throughout the day (say, after a productive session of yoga). And, god forbid, we let those "small businesses dependent on a contract" suffer from not being able to supply the nice folks here with designer joe! Last time I checked, the stuff they sell here isn't even remotely fairtrade. The plus side of that of course is that I can afford to drink it. I feel good helping out those "small businesses". I'm sure they get lots out of this deal!
And I'm almost sure beyond a doubt that the "fear of being judged in the 'results based' system" they implement over here isn't the main motivating factor for productivity. Because if it were, there would *actually* be work done.
Excuse me, I think I need to wipe the puke off the keyboard after reading that load of self-righteous hypocrisy. It really stinks.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Recommendations on how to kill yourself...
Painkillers,
And paint thinner,
Should be taken,
In place of dinner.
Hung by a noose,
Jumping off roofs,
In my opinion,
Take moments of truth.
Bullet through brain,
Get run over by train,
An artist's means,
To claim to fame.
Slitting your wrist,
Sleeping with fish,
I'm quite sure,
There's more on the list!
And paint thinner,
Should be taken,
In place of dinner.
Hung by a noose,
Jumping off roofs,
In my opinion,
Take moments of truth.
Bullet through brain,
Get run over by train,
An artist's means,
To claim to fame.
Slitting your wrist,
Sleeping with fish,
I'm quite sure,
There's more on the list!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
I'm broke but I'm happy, I'm poor but I'm kind, I'm short but I'm healthy...yeah!
Geneva is a nice, picturesque little city. The only thing is that it is fucking expensive. It doesn't help that I've been going out with my fellow interns who all seem better able to afford things than I can. I mean they're great people, friendly, some of them quite down-to-earth even. But I realize if I go out as often as they do, to the places where they go, I'm going to be broke sooner or later.
The sobering reality that your pockets are pretty shallow around these parts make you think. Think about the people and organization I'm working for. Think about others from lesser socio-economic backgrounds who might want to come.
The truth is, if you can't afford the air ticket, the cramped yet pricey rented room, the spoilt-for-choice yet fairly expensive groceries for you day to day subsistence or your occassional excursions to the nearby bar for a session of networking (because face it, it's all about connections, connections, connections!), this place isn't for you. I barely even feel welcome.
A recent report by the organization claimed that a person's state of health was not only directly related to their level of income, but also due to other social, political and economic circumstances. Apparently this report took two years to come to said conclusion. Most people who are living those circumstances can probably tell what the problem is in an instant when they're lying on their beds shivering from a tropical disease for which they have no money to buy medicine for, or suffering from violent diarrhea and vomiting profusely because they don't have access to clean water and had to drink from the river where their neighbor pooped in upstream.
I know it sounds cliched, but this isn't exactly rocket science.
So the point about the organization is that the people who need to come here can never afford to. And often, the people who can come often don't need to. In the end, and I had the same impression even before I got here, it seems more like an exclusive, upper-class country club than a place that's supposed to help the poor with their health problems. I don't mean everyone inside is an arrogant, superficially self-righteous snob (some are genuinely committed to the cause) but I just can't help but feel it's all a big scam.
The sobering reality that your pockets are pretty shallow around these parts make you think. Think about the people and organization I'm working for. Think about others from lesser socio-economic backgrounds who might want to come.
The truth is, if you can't afford the air ticket, the cramped yet pricey rented room, the spoilt-for-choice yet fairly expensive groceries for you day to day subsistence or your occassional excursions to the nearby bar for a session of networking (because face it, it's all about connections, connections, connections!), this place isn't for you. I barely even feel welcome.
A recent report by the organization claimed that a person's state of health was not only directly related to their level of income, but also due to other social, political and economic circumstances. Apparently this report took two years to come to said conclusion. Most people who are living those circumstances can probably tell what the problem is in an instant when they're lying on their beds shivering from a tropical disease for which they have no money to buy medicine for, or suffering from violent diarrhea and vomiting profusely because they don't have access to clean water and had to drink from the river where their neighbor pooped in upstream.
I know it sounds cliched, but this isn't exactly rocket science.
So the point about the organization is that the people who need to come here can never afford to. And often, the people who can come often don't need to. In the end, and I had the same impression even before I got here, it seems more like an exclusive, upper-class country club than a place that's supposed to help the poor with their health problems. I don't mean everyone inside is an arrogant, superficially self-righteous snob (some are genuinely committed to the cause) but I just can't help but feel it's all a big scam.
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