Monthly Archives: June 2010

“Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe, but what do dreams know of boundaries?” – Amelia Earhart

Today is my last day at work. I have resigned from my job here in Singapore after great four years. I am set to fly one of the oceans I am bound to fly!

If you ask what’s next for me? I will smile and tell you, “I don’t know.  Nothing is certain yet.”  What do dreams know of fears and uncertainties, after all? Amelia said, if it’s worth the risk you’re taking, then stop worrying!

My heart is inclined to pursue digital storytelling and other media-writing-related jobs on a full-time basis and a larger scale here in Singapore or somewhere else.

For the next couple of months, I will be on the road, on the sea, and on the sky! It’s going to be a 56-day journey for me. I will start by making a trip to the Philippines to see my family and friends. Shortly after that, I will be back in Singapore, then fly to the US! My colleague and friend, Angeline Koh, another “flyer”, will visit the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) in San Francisco (where digital storytelling began). In August, we will join a five-day Facilitators Intensive Training conducted by CDS in Denver. We will also conduct a three-day digital storytelling workshop with the Navigators in Colorado Springs and attend Via Affirmativa, a conference for people in the arts and media. Every summer, about a hundred art makers come together for a festival and a celebration of beauty and creativity. This year’s theme is “Unfolding Stories”.

Ah, yes, unfolding stories. Unfolding skies and oceans for me.

Here’s one of the digital stories produced in our workshop last April. One of my favourites.

“I will never forget Pete. He showed me that a person can be happy if he looks for the good in all things. He showed me that giving one’s best is the only way to do something. He showed me that judging other people only leads to unhappiness within. He showed me that a good beer is always better than a bad one. Most importantly, he showed me that being a true friend is the greatest gift a person can give. Pete may be gone from this world, but I try to be a little bit more like Pete each and every day.”

A story by Colin Emerson. Digital Storytelling Workshop, 8-10 April 2010. Singapore.

I will attend a Facilitator Intensive Training workshop (digital storytelling) in Lyons, Colorado in August this year! Of course, I’m excited for the workshop! The bonus is – the venue is at a farm (Stonebridge Farmgiving)!

An email from the facilitator says: “There may be bugs. So, bring bug repellant if bugs bother you. We WILL be on a farm, people. There are lovely things to do at the farm: walking, sitting by the creek, nearby hiking and, if you want, gardening! There is wireless internet access, but it is limited and in range.”

Lovely! I’m okay with the limited wireless Internet access. I think I would love to enjoy more the feel of the farm and just being there. ;-) Here’s a digital story about the farm. Inviting! ;-)

Stonebridge Farmgiving from Kayann Short on Vimeo.

“C’mon, get ANGRY. As it gets spicier, you get angrier.”

Yes, you read it right. Saw this ad on my way to Funan Center (City Hall) some time ago. Goodness. Didn’t make sense to me. This ad tells us to eat their spicy burger so we become angry and angrier. 

Unbelievable. Didn’t know that even in spicy burgers, people could create so much violence! It’s not about creativity. It’s not about an issue of freedom of expression.

It’s plain non-sense.

Why should I want to be angry? I know there are many legitimate reasons in life for me, or for all of us, to be angry about and get over them. But for eating a spicy burger? No, thank you. Tastes better? Sounds bitter.

Someone said, “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”  Oh, well, life’s too short and too long for that!

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” – Victor Hugo

“I have this husband since 1970 and frankly I am sick of him. I will gladly give him away. If you have any use, please contact me.”

I got this very unique offer few days ago on my email. Haha. That cracked me up.

I am a member of the Singapore Freecycle Network, a group that aims to reduce waste and share resources by connecting people who want to give and take away goods for free. :-) Members of this group receive emails for every item being offered or wanted (all for free).

A member replied to that husband offer and said, “Any chance I can pick ‘it’ up from nearest MRT?”

Of course, Singaporeans know how to joke, too!

I emailed someone last week how hurt I was about something. I felt so down and trashed inside. Just after I clicked the ’send’ button, I received a message on my Facebook from a young friend, Loveth, a nursing student. 

What she wrote me turned the bitter taste of my tears to that of unsolicited joy and comfort.:-)

Here’s an extract of her message (with her permission):

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“Hi, Ate Au! How are you? This week we had a patient who had a motor vehicular accident… she had a broken clavicle, broken mandible, and all other bones near her sinuses, and both eyes have blood clots…The sight of her was almost unbearable…she was in utter pain…she was scheduled for an operation last wednesday but they have no money.

I sat beside her and began to pray silently. I didn’t know there were tears on my eyes already…I remembered you and how hard it must have been for you too… When I opened my eyes I saw her crying too…I told her and her family that we’ll continue praying…that God knows what they are going through right now…

And SURPRISE! Early this morning, I’ve heard that the patient at room FS6 was scheduled for operation already. I was soooooo happy! More than happy…For a moment I didn’t know what to say to Him. A “thank you” was not enough. He is awesome!!!

It’s another surprise from God for me….And I wanted you to be the first one to know. ”

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Wow. The thought of having someone remember me and thought of how hard it must have been for me right at that moment when I was hurting and felt so alone just blew my feet away. She definitely had no idea what the heck I was going through! But surely, Someone knows and cares. There was no immediate cure to my heartache. But just to be reminded that Someone was present with me at that time was more than a comfort I could ask for.

I  have shared to Loveth a few of my ’surprise’ stories when she visited here in Singapore a while ago. She was going through a rough time. I had no answers to her questions. I just listened and shared my life to her through my stories. I told her about my motorcycle accident more than 10 years ago. I had broken clavicle. Half of my face was badly bruised. I broke my cheekbone and my knee. And I broke the hearts of my loved ones who were so hurt to see me that way. I had to walk in crutches. But it was no death for me. I was physically paralyzed for a while, but my heart was alive. I was bound on my bed or chair, but my spirit was flying and have not stopped dreaming. I was at my lowest, yet highest point of my life.

I was glad to have stirred Loveth’s heart to life again. I have challenged her to be ready for God’s surprises for herself. I believe He has something for her. Just for her. I secretly prayed, “Oh, God. You better do something! You have done great things for me. Please also show your wonder to this young woman!”

She went back to Cebu and we kept in touch. She would tell me everytime a surprise comes her way.

This recent one that she just shared is a surprise to myself as well. I was able to smile again.