Updates from June - August

Its been a long while since my last entry; and is all due to my busy schedule or more accurate the 'laziness' of writing.  So this round, I will just put the events picture based.  How does that sound?

So I will start with the last event in August and then proceed to June!  I had the privilege of being part of the organizing committee as well as participant to the 6th Iban Cultural Symposium.  It was 3 days event from the 22 - 24 August in Sibu.   If you want to read more on the symposium, do go to the SIDS Sibu blog at www.sids-sibu.blogspot.com.

I was honored to be in the great companies of the Iban leaders, professionals, academicians, etc etc; and if only we could all speak in One VOICE with a vision, mission, objectives and targets; we could be the FORCE.  Unity is vital in our community.  We need a paramount chief that could lead; unite all of us, regardless of where we are from.  Ari Batang Rajang, Ai Skrang or Ai Kemena - penyerakup kitai bangsa amat beguna endal.  Aku endang pecaya ke Tuai ke ulih ngerempung kitai bisi duduk alam dewan nya maya simposium, tang semina nganti iya Angkat aja! :)

Siti utai ke deperati ke aku mega, ianya bala kitai ke indu enggau simposium mimit aja.  Arap ke dudi ila, mayoh agi kitai enggau.  Semina Assc. Prof. Dr. Madeline Berma meh ke ngari ke kitai mansut ke siti kertas kerja.  Tubuh kitai ke indu Iban enda empai datai ba penyukat ke disebut perintah (siti ari buah Merdeka) ianya 30% megai penuduk alam perintah ke ulih 'decision making/policy'!  Nama nadai indu Iban ke pandai?  Berpelajar?  Pengelama aku ke udah enggau SIDS serta begulai enggau bala, MAYOH indu Iban ke bepelajar, berpenemu serta berpengelandik - semina nganti peluang ke diberi.  Ka ngambi peluang, nadai ngah ulih.  Tang penyikap diri udah lengkap. Nya alai sama meh kitai nyangu ke kitai ke Iban, serta sekeda nyangu ke kitai ke indu; beguna amat k sokong pagan diri.  Chukup dibagi pengawa/penuduk. 

Group picture with Deputy Chief Minister and dynamic Iban ladies/men!

Community Leaders - only 1 female, Pemanca Valerie Manyi.  We need MORE MORE!

Aku maya betemu enggau pemesai maya simposium, bisi mega meresu ke guna/peminta kitai ke indu.  Udah chukup tempoh kitai ke indu bisi tuai raban bangsa alam penuduk Temenggong, Pemanca, tauka Penghulu aba setiap bahagian di Sarawak!  Semina Tatau udah ngelantik siko indu, ianya Pemanca Valerie Manyi.

I was happy to meet up with a dear friend, another dynamic Iban lady professional, Pn. Serawa!

Jayum and I met with a relative, Dato' Dr. Anthony Nait and his wife. 

Great to be attending the symposium with my dynamic big brother, the 1st Iban Professor in the Universe :D, Prof. Dr. Jayum Jawan!  Wish that my other brother, who is the 1st Iban Ambassador could be around, then it would have been even GREATER! :)

Prior to the symposium, I was also caught up with 'Ngiling Bidai' celebration which marks the end of Gawai Dayak.  On top of that I was also attending various 'Berbuka Puasa' functions.  Basically, its all food and more food!!  I would not wan to share with all of you the amount of extra kgs lying around in the most unwanted places!!  Maybe you could see it in my August pictures or the snug-ness of all my beautiful blouses!!  haha  sssshhhhsss

It was 'ngiling bidai' at the SDNU Sibu Jaya, and that was really merry making and a time of fellowship with the community in the area.  It was held at a community hall with about 300 Iban from the area.  Thank you for inviting me to the function!

As usual, the only lady in the crowd; bendal ngiling bidai ... pedis meremik! :)

Then it was dinner with Muslim colleagues for the 'berbuka puasa'.  They fast the entire day, and then we join them for breaking of fast; and what fun that was!  Yes, I need to get some 'RESPECT' from my staff!  haha He's just the 'joker' in the group; and afraid that his 'horns' will show, he pretend its mine! ;)  

Muslim & Christian friends/colleagues enjoying a great dinner at RH Hotel Coffee House.  Sorry, can't take pictures of the food, as it was disappearing faster than I could count up to 3!! :D

Then in mid July, it was the Council of Churches (CCM) Malaysia Women Convention.  There were about 60 women from all over Malaysia who participated in this 3 days convention.  Out of these 60 women, about 25 women were from GCMW!!  So it was a get-together time for all of us, again.  During this period, I met an unexpected friends from Bintulu & Miri from the Anglican & SIB churches - it was great connecting with you ladies!

GCMW members at the CCM Women Convention

SIDS Sibu Mothers' Day - yes, in our busy schedule; we also manage to organize a simple Mothers' Day gathering.  We let our 'hair down' and had lots of fun dancing, singing, and more dancing!  Your be amazed at how talented the women are! 

Exco SIDS Sibu cutting the Mothers' Day cake.

Earlier in July or was in late June; it was the installation dinner of the SDNU Sibu and 10 Exco attended this event.  We're sorry to note also that this was the night that our SIDS Sibu Secretary was an victim of snatch theft as she alighted from her car to go to the hotel.  Luckily, there was not much cash in the bag, just her cards/licenses/etc.  So do be cautious ladies, wherever you might be.  On this night, YB Tan Sri William Mawan graciously gave us a government grant of RM10k!! Hooray!  The least expected, as we're guests also but our charms & effectiveness in reaching out to the Dayak women in Sibu, overwhelmed him!

In all the busy schedules/activities, I did make time to spend with family.  In mid June, my cousin Michael Lu and his family came home for a month visit.  Michael is immigrant of USA ;)  It was fun taking them, especially the children, to try out local food!  They are adventurous, at least the boys, even when I offered them chicken butt!! haha  Crispy & tasty was the word of choice! 

Coconut was the drink of choice! 

My daughter also had her moment with Kung Fu Panda at the Universal Studio, Singapore.  This was a post Gawai holiday with the family.  It was a moment to treasure when the gang (prof, sis in law, karl & val) came out of the 'revenge of the mummy' ride!  The Mummy got them good! haha

Thank you Lord for the blessings!

I am under the 'influence' of several friends (especially you know who you are in Miri ;) ); with the craze on Royal Alberts etc!!  *BIG SIGH* now am also browsing for good deals on Royal Alberts, and getting information on where to get them!!  So now my gift of choice - Royal Albert!  (I love Noritake, also :D )

Happy Fathers' Day!

The 'Force' in the family.

Thank you for the love, care, and support throughout the years and your guidance and prayers have made us who we are today.  Love you both, Mom & Dad!  Happy Mother & Father Day!!

Mom & Dad (Yeah, they are both laughing!!)

Two wonderful brothers (and sisters in laws, too!) who are Godly fathers filling the homes with love, care, strong guiding hands.

Prof. Dr Jayum (with all the future doctors in the family! ... not too sure about the lil man, might be the next Admiral!)

Ambassador Kennedy and the architect and computer specialists!

May all continually be blessed in whatever you do (including golfing!)

Amat lama meh blog aku tu enda di-abas!  Laban kaban ke ngasoh nusi cerita baru; nya meh nuh muka iya ngah!

Selamat Taun Baru (taja 5 bulan 8 hari laun! :) ) serta Selamat Gawai Dayak Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai.  Besampi ke semua bala bolih berkat, tuah belimpah, pengerai, pengerindu serta semua utai ke disampi.

Taun tu tadi nuh kelalu ngagau enggau kerja, pengawa Sarakup, serta mega pengawa Bala Indu Methodist - nyangka kelalu mayoh pengawa/tuai ke disanggup; tang ati amat rindu ngah ngerja iya serta begulai enggau bala kitai indu, kelebih agi kitai indu Dayak.  Ke taun tu berunding ke bakani kitai ulih negi serta ngemansang ke kitai indu Dayak ke peringkat ke lebih agi.

Siti pengawa ke patut dikerja kitai ianya kitai patut ngaga 'network' tauka gerempong kaban ke besai agi ari kitai indu Dayak, nemu nya bala ke bekerja tauka ke enda.  Ari kitai bekelala (network), kitai ulih betulong pagan diri alam pelbagai pengawa, serta nyukong & meransang pagan diri.

Nama penemu bala kitai?

Naka tu dulu berita aku.  Ila nampung baru!

Ngagai bala ke selalu macha blog tu; terima kasih ketegal selalu nyenguk ruai aku tu, ninga cerita enda tentu aku tu! :)

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays ...

Wishing all of you a Blessed & Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

 

Hectic September & October!

The months of September and October had been very hectic with several events!  In mid October, we are proud to celebrate Kim's graduation with her Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the University Putra Malaysia.  She's the second engineer in the family and the 2nd grandchild; and what a memorable moment for the grandparent and of course her parents.  She's currently pursuing her Masters in Project Management in UK.  Praying for her continual success (and we're looking forward to being in UK for her graduation, also!

Families at the Convocation at UPM Serdang! 

In mid September, I went to Seoul and Busan to attend the Water Congress and it was a wonderful learning experience.  Val went with me, and so we were able to enjoy the beautiful Fall weather and experience our first typhoon!

  

At Cultural Concert with the entire Sarawak delegates and spouses.

Val and I at one of the palace in Seoul!

Seaside temple in Busan.

Rev. Haesun Kim, Director of Scranton Women Center, a friend I had known for almost 20 years!  Had a wonderful time of fellowship with her in Seoul.  Should have taken a better picture!! :D

At a palace in Seoul (yeah, realize I am very bad with remembering names of places!)

Lunch picnic at a beach in Busan!  Wonderful time with Autumm and her husband.  Thanks for showing us around!

 

In early October, I also visited Bangkok for a couple of days for pleasure and work.  Thus, had a wonderful time of sightseeing and also what a paradise for shoppers, although, I didn't quite enjoy the later. 

Temple in Bangkok!

Ngagau ke diri ...

Beberapa bulan tu endang ngagau amat aku, segau-segau baum, bemain, serta berjako di merata endor. Kebuah iya? Laban ati ke rindu endal ngah begulai serta bersulu enggau pagan diri. Taja aku tu ukai orang ke udu bejako ;) tang meh rindu amat ngah mending ke bala bercerita lucu sida!

Pun Ogos tu kemari, kami sebuat nurun bemain bowling enggau bisi nuka 15 iti tem. Siti tem, 4 0rang sekaban. Aku laban ke ari kawasan Maludan (SIDS Sibu) lalu bekaling enggau bala indu ari opis aku empu ke mega nyadi kaban SIDS Sibu. Stedi kami, champion baru!! Auk aku tu nadai dianjung, bol aku tembu nuchi parit aja! :D

Kiba-Kanan: Mundun, Aku, Lynda & Elizabeth -
semua orang kuat bowling (ko kenu aku nya, nyukup ke tubuh aja!)

Tu bala ari kelas ngaga tangu; setiap hari enam aba opis SIDS Sib. Aku tu nyengguk orang aja, mata (ke lebih agi pengelandik kerja jari) nadai dianjung! Rindu meda sida ketugau ngaga tangu. Ke ngasoh kelas tu rami, sida kaban tu; sambil jari berkerja, mulut bercerita jenaka! Tang meda aku sekeda mayoh agi ke ketawa ari berkerja! Semina tangu-tangu tu tembu sebedau Krismas tu ila!!


Ujung minggu Julai tu kemari, bisi 70 orang bala kami nurun nemuai ngagai Rh. Imba, Sg. Passin. Naka meh penjauh menoa, naka meh pemerinsa nadai ai paip! Rumah panjai sida endang chukup manah serta tegap; tang nya meh nadai ai paip & elektrik! Empai datai pemansang ke baka nya, taja menoa bukai udah chukup mansang.

Penatai kami disambut enggau chukup basa. Manok dibiyau, babi digayang! :)

Bala ke diluan moto enda tentu ragak, nyangka laban aku ke bisi kini bala malu bercerita jenaka. Sida ke dibelakang express ukai enda chukup ragak! Dinga kami di luan cerita sida!!

Nemuai & ngirup tengahari enggau 2 orang kaban ke enda berpengerai ianya Pn. Monica Giri & Pn. Juliana (Indai Daniel). Rindu ka betemu baka tu ambl erandau enggau pagan diri.

Quiet Moments ...

Its been a busy & challenging time for me since May!

In May, was involved in the annual Gawai dinner celebration, then I had to do some speaking engagements to Johore Baharu, Miri, and Kapit. On top of that, a birthday ;) and then more traveling/trainings. After more than 10 years, I finally got on an express boat and make my way on the mighty Rejang River to Kapit. I was so humbled and pleased to have met the Kapit ladies and in particular an old Iban woman and her granddaughter, who specifically came to hear me, and they walked all the way!

June was another hectic & challenging time. I was invited to participate in a women leadership program, and was an aggressive program involving making several trips to Kuala Lumpur! Last minute was also asked to head a state level conference of water engineers and had to organize it within a short time of about 4 weeks or so, and that was 'tiring' albeit uplifting. Met a fellow blog engineer after many years of reading each other's blog! So if your reading this, I got to say you sing karaoke and dance very well!! :D

Aaahhh July is still upon us, but I felt 'drained' and the Lord had issue a challenge to lead the General Conference of Methodist Women. Against all Odds (reminds me of the movie with same title), I was elected to be the President of GCMW. Chances of winning was ZERO; but we might plan, the Lord determines! I am at peace and will do my best with the new team! However, I did have a 'worrying' moment when for almost 12 hrs my mind was blank ie no ideas on what to say for my 'maiden' speech as the Incoming President. I prayed and couldn't even write 'good morning' on the paper! Amazingly, the words just flow when I was at the podium - Faith, Hope, Unity, Holiness, - some of the key words that was shared! Next week, am off again to do work with the rural women; speaking engagement and I am not looking forward to the 3 hours boat ride, low tide, etc but most of us who love giant fresh prawns which will be served are real excited!!!

Alright, till next time ...
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