On Frustration and Smiles...

Hey hey~

Whilst reflecting on the past week and a bit, this is what I have noticed about myself.

10 things that frustrate me:

1. missed deadlines
2. people who don't listen to others
3. toast falling butterside down on the floor
4. being in a bad mood
5. judging someone before giving them an opportunity to speak
6. tall poppy syndrome
7. wasted opportunities
8. stereotypes and assumptions
9. patronising and condescending behaviour
10. not having confidence in myself

10 things that make me smile:

1. 'like cinnamon and wasabi'
2. music that reminds of people I have met or places I have been
3. hearing the New Zealand national anthem sung in Maori
4. discovering inner strength
5. having a tummy filled with hot tea
6. saying thank you to someone wholeheartedly
   
7. curling up in bed to read a good book on a rainy day
   
8. drawing with coloured markers on a fresh piece of white paper
   
9. letters, postcards and parcels that arrive in the mail with my name on it
   
10. seeing my brothers, remembering what they were like when they were younger and realising how far they have come

*hugz*

MelMel

Purple Things That Amuse MelMel #5

Hey hey~

Okay, I don't want to admit it. But I have become one of 'those' people.... oh dear... yepup, one of 'those' people... I succumbed to fashion (or lack there of) and bought a shirt with random Chinese writing on it *sigh*

What can I say - it was a Polish souvenir I bought when I was in Zakopane - oh and did I mention it was purple?

*hugz*

MelMel

Ho ho ho...

Hey hey~

Highlights of the night:
* Ralphy dressed as Santa
* Santa 'spanking' Mrs Claus
* Tequila shots in the corework (a.k.a. the cool) office!
* Ryan and Murad counting Jellybeans
* Ausra manning the kissing booth
* Shredded newspaper EVERYWHERE (no thanks to Jakey!)
* Ruthie trying to convince Michael to dance by himself at the end of the night
* The 'attempted' clean up
* Ryan's speech caught on video - communicating with a mouth full of lollies
* Ryan and Ruthie's Polish vodka after party
* Kyle drinking straight vodka all night and not really realising it
* Taking photos of people sitting on Santa
* Unlucky dip prizes under our paper Christmas tree
* Ryan hugging our Santa cookie jar
* Su Su stuffing her elf hat with paper so it would stand up
* Pink snow?
* Sitting under the kiwi flag, singing the New Zealand national anthem with Ryan at the top of my lungs
* Raising over $40 for the Epi fund

Good times... good times...

*hugz*

MelMel

Something for All of You to Mark in Your Diaries….

Hey hey~

MC OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY CHARITY APPEAL*!!!!

(* to raise needed funds to fix, repair and restore the famous Epi Skolling Cup to its former glory)

When: Friday 24^th November 8pm

Where: Suite 2, 28 Chandos Street, St Leonards (2minutes walk from the St Leonards train station)

For those who need a map check out: http://www.whereis.com/whereis/getMap.do?nref=homeMap

Conditions of entry:

• Gold coin entry fee
• Must be dressed in appropriate Christmas attire (for example Ralphy will be wearing a Santa suit and Ausra will be dressed as a Christmas present!)
• BYO alcohol, festive snacks will be provided
• Be prepared for the MC to be running various ‘fundraising activities’ for the Christmas appeal, so please bring small change ($$$) to make generous donations towards this needy cause

Disclaimer: Party may or may not include the guest appearance of current AI AP GN Director, Ryan Sheppard!

Look forward to seeing you all there!!!

*hugz*

Your friendly neighbourhood MC 06-07

(Ausra, Ruthie, Mel, Kyle, Michael and Ralphy)

On Unlearning and Learning...

Hey hey~

It's been a period of reflection for me since finishing up LC visits this quarter and knuckling down to work in the office. Our MC team day was a great take time to think about how far I've come and what I need to focus on over the coming months.

While preparing for a session I am running for the team on personal learning plans I've been reminded of my goal coming out of International Congress to research more into UNESCO.

More information can be found on the site but I found UNESCO's Education for All campaign particularly interesting.

"Goal #3 Promote Learning and Skills for Young People and Adults
Life skills can be put into the categories that the Jacques Delors report suggested; it spoke of four pillars of education, which correspond to certain kinds of life skills:

Learning to know: Thinking abilities: such as problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, understanding consequences

Learning to be: Personal abilities: such as managing stress and feelings, self-awareness, self-confidence

Learning to live together: Social abilities: such as communication, negotiation, assertiveness, teamwork, empathy

Learning to do: Manual skills: practising know-how required for work and tasks

In today’s world all these skills are necessary, in order to face rapid change in society. This means that it is important to know how to go on learning as we require new skills for life and work. In addition, we need to know how to cope with the flood of information and turn it into useful knowledge. We also need to learn how to handle change in society and in our own lives. "

This along with five other goals set an ambitious agenda to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015.



In other news, I've recently started reading a booked called Presence. It explores the necessary change that needs to happen within individuals, organisations and society as a whole to create a balance in the world.

It begins by posing the question of what it will take for things in the world to change... to really change:

"If we could actually face our collective mortality - and simply tell the truth about fear, rather than avoiding it - perhaps something would shift"

Currently I am trying to come to terms with the concept of suspension and redirection of human thought. Yepup, upon first glance it seems quite deep, and I think the reason it is such a challenging read is because it is forcing me to unlearn and learn things all over again. All in all though it is actually quite an enjoyable read really! Many thanks to Ausra for recommending this book to me - I can't wait to discuss this for our book club.

Yes, you read correct, we have a book club.

No I have not turned into Oprah... yet!

*hugz*

MelMel