Category Archives: Life

Japanese efficiency

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I reckon if I lived in Japan for just one year, I’ll come back a more productive worker.

Go on. I’ll wait while you run off to get a t-shirt.

Now, hands up if you made some kinda sound expressing amazement and approval after trying it for yourself.

Thought so. :p

I saw this yesterday at an English course, because the trainer wanted to encourage us to use a similar activity in the teaching of imperatives and procedural texts. Unsurprisingly, all of us were in awe after watching the video and we were thrilled when the trainer passed some t-shirts around for us to try out. After which, and rather unfortunately, that was all we could remember from the course.

So, overall course objectives? Not met. But, impact? Really high.

Doing my bit

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I recently learnt about a colleague whose child is in need of a bone marrow transplant. As soon as I heard about it, a nagging feeling impressed upon me to do something. I’m not close to this colleague but it was clear that God wanted me to help. So I went to find out more about bone marrow transplant and learnt that it was actually very easy to get involved.

The process is simple: go down to any of the registered centres to give a blood sample (via finger prick) or a swab from the side of your mouth (you know, like CSI), and you’ll be in the Bone Marrow Donor Programme registry. A full-on prep and operation will only take place when there is a match to your tissue type. Of course, you’ll need to adhere to the medical guidelines first before you even consider registering as a donor, but as most of us easily meet the requirements, I do urge you to consider doing your part. :)

In the event that you do become a match, the organisation has made it very clear that registered donors can still change their minds. This is because the donor must understand that the process requires time and commitment, which the BMDP probably knows we may not be able to afford at certain points in our lives. You see, not only will there be a series of additional tests that will need to be carried out before the operation takes place, there are also the side effects (mostly in the form of slight discomforts in the lower back) which may inconvenience us for awhile. So as much as I want to encourage you to be a donor, be aware of the implications first and ensure you can commit. Imagine the disappointment the family would feel if they learn that a registered donor was unwilling to help.

So why am I blogging about this? Even though the process of registering is simple, and there are already a considerable number of donors registered in the database, many, many children are still dying because they can’t find a match. Yes, it is that difficult to find a match. Hence, we need more numbers to get involved in this bid to save lives. With a greater number of donors, comes a greater probability of finding that elusive match. I’m going down to the clinic this week to get myself registered. And I hope you’ll do the same. Or at least, tell someone about it.

It appears we speak a different language

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Dad: Could you get your friend to buy some Vitamin E?

Me: Okay, what brand do you want?

Dad: Any brand will do. I just want Vitamin E.

Me: Okaayyyyy… but you gotta have a brand in mind. How else will she know which one to get?

Dad: I just want Vitamin E. The Nature one.

Me: So the brand is Nature?

Dad: Anything. Just get Vitamin E.

Me: Then I’ll tell her to buy the cheapest one?

Dad: No, not the cheapest one. The Nature one. Vitamin E.

Me: What? So you want Nature’s Vitamin E!?

Dad: Anything will do! (pause) Hold on, let me ask Mum.

2 minutes later

Dad: Get Nature’s Evening Primrose Oil.

Me: What? You see what you just did? You told me Vitamin E two minutes ago, and now you want Evening Primrose Oil?

Dad: No! I want Vitamin E. But everyone knows about Nature’s Evening Primrose Oil, so I told you that so you can tell her to get Nature’s Vitamin E.

Me: Oh my gosh. *breathe* So that’s the actual name of the brand? NATURE?

Dad: Yes, Nature.

Me: Mooooooom!!

Mum: It’s Nature’s Way.

8 minutes later

Mum: Actually, I think it’s Nature’s Own.

Me: Oh. My. Gosh.

I really want to be more patient with my parents, but you see how we’re (not) communicating? *sighs*