Go Knowing

I did my second presentation yesterday afternoon. It was a sharing session with people at the School - to discuss the similarities and differences in the work that the School and College do. Enjoyed myself very much. It struck me that though it's been a short time, I have built chemistry with a number of people at the School.

Met with a small party of people from DCUC in the evening for dinner, coordinated by a couple who grew up in Singapore in the 70's. Both professors at the Ottawa Hospital, Teik Chye & Daylily have lived in Ottawa for 34 years, and hold Malaysian and New Zealand citizenship. After dinner, we went to their place on Riverside - a lovely home - and chatted till late over apple strudel. Discovered that Teik Chye used to attend Fairfield church back in Singapore when he was a boy, and that he still reads Roland Chia's writings today with great interest :-) Isn't it a small world? And it turns out that ex-Bishop Ho Chee Sin is his brother-in-law...

Despite an apple strudel hangover this morning, I decided to give myself a truly Canadian weekend brunch. So in spite of the 7 deg rain and wind, I took myself to The Mayflower on Elgin & Cooper. It was packed!! Service was great (coffee/tea came immediately), and many people there were clearly regulars, engaging in cheerful banter with the restaurant owners and wait staff. Figured I wouldn't be taking much of a lunch, so I went ahead with 2 poached eggs, pumpernickel toast, preserves, sausages and home fries. Yums! Cold and wet outside, warm and cozy inside. Perfect.

Over brunch, I also received a call from a few friends here, who will be going away on holiday before I leave Ottawa. They were really sweet - they just wanted me to know that I will be missed very much, and that I should go knowing that I have their love and prayers. *sob*

I guess this is the bigger reward - to go knowing that I have spent my time here well, because I have people here I will miss. From these friends and colleagues I have learnt much about work, life and God. I also go knowing that the steps ahead will be even brighter than the ones I've taken in the last few months. Trust and believe.