It's the annual dinner that SIF has to show appreciation to volunteers and sponsors who supported the overseas projects in one way or another - as a SVO in the specialist team or as an on-site SVO (for longer terms like a year).
I remember...
The first time I went to one was 3 years ago, when just returned from Bhutan when the SVOs were invited to the Istana for a high-tea. That's my first close encounter with the President. Fresh back from the mission, I was given the opportunity for a close (quick) chat with him. I was surprised when he seemed to know what were some Singaporeans doing there! He could even cite the names! Wah! I won't expect him to bother to that details! (or is it the duty of the Patron of the NGO to know to such details? Ah!). As Poh Choo had shared, the President took time to talk to each recipient to find out what their projects were about (though briefly... well, how much stage time could we ask for?). Certainly, it makes a DIFFERENCE! I guess, as we saw (often enough) in TV, certificate presenters are really just certificate presenters - they just stand there and shake hand while handing out the certificates!
This time, Seah represented the team to receive the certificates from the President.
Pre-Dinner...
It was held on Thursday (22 October 2008) at Four Seasons Hotel. First, it came with a nice invitation card - a nice combination of gold and black, with watermarked patterns! That was classic and nice.
Next, it's a "why? why choose Thursday?" Didn't the organiser consider that the invitees have to work the following day? Anyway... it's the first time I went to the dinner immediately after work... Luckily had Poh Choo to go with... could lock up all my stuff safely for the entire evening. Thanks to Poh Choo!
The Dinner...
It's a seated kind of dinner... first time went for a western 5-course dinner. There was a variety of bread (in that nicely decorated bread basket), the cold dish is duck meat with a slice of mango with some gravy/cream... Then it's the clear vegetable soup... followed by a sorbet!!! (raspberry and lychee)... then the main dish... a generous serving of groupa and 2 baby tomatos... the desert is a slice of very rich cheese cake! Last but not least a cup of coffee... Of course, the 3 items (cold+main dishes & desert) were served on big plates with small surface area covered with the edible! Well, don't undermine the main dish... It's really very filling! {haiz.... should have taken the pictures}
Getting together...
In fact, it's also a rare opportunity for the team to meet up! In fact, it's through SIF that I started to meet up with people from all walks of life! Oh yes, my activity usually happens among teacher friends... It's through this platform that I interact more with people from other professions (though a number still comes from the education field).
One of the long-time-no-see faces is Peter! The first SVO to leave for Bhutan... one of my info sources before I left... an avivd volunteer who has continued to work in SVO projects in Indonesia. Really saluate him for his commitment of time and effort... Of course, also met Dr Wong - the key driver for the IT in Education project in Bhutan! In a way, my 1-year assignment to Bhutan is part of that project too! Oh yes, am inspired by his commitment and work! I guess, it's through the participation of SVO projects that opens up a whole new world to me. Yes, there's another world.
Of course, the great team I worked with for the IIS project. Here they are: Rajas, Jason and Seah! (missing from the picture is Nirmala). We drove through the bumpy road with slums lined up on both sides before arriving at the white-house-like campus of the international school!
Who else... my dear Poh Choo who got roped in for the eChampionship project and Marissa whom I'll be working very closely with on the upcoming fact finding mission!
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