Volunteer Day at Gentle Paws

Met Eileen in the morning for breakfast at KFC before going Yishun and taking bus over to the shelter. We were way too early so we walked around to explore while searching for Gentle Paws Shelter. 

Contacted the In-charge, Florence after that for the exact address. She guided me through phone and we found it! We were too early, that there was only one regular volunteer there. He briefed us on the dogs, their names, characters and which dogs to avoid. After both regular and new volunteers started coming in, it was time to walk the dog!

Dogs were randomly paired up with humans and I got Darwin. The big sweet boy. Walked with him for 2km and went back for a rest!

Surrounded by the doggies. Resting after the walk while waiting for food.

After all the dogs came back, it was feeding time! Just looking at them eat can make us smile already. Choosing only rice to eat, leaving the kibbles untouched and ended up being still hungry and begging for more food. And leaving their own food untouched and stealing another dog's food.

Eileen and I definitely had fun even though the weather was hot, tiring and the shelter was a very long walk from the nearest bus stop. 

Went off the Ikea for late lunch after that since it was near. Then bus home!

https://www.facebook.com/GentlePaws

http://gentlepaws2010.blogspot.sg/

It was really great to be able to meet the dogs in person after reading about them for so long at their blog and facebook.

Two photos that Eileen took.

Love this photo alot! Even though my hair looks like crap.

 We were staring at each other.

Hiding behind my legs because it got scolded by a volunteer for bullying another dog.

4th Appointment - Top Braces

10th Sep 2013, Tuesday

Went for my appointment bright and early at 8:15AM. Reached early to avoid rain, so had breakfast at Han's! 

The whole procedures took around 45mins. With me spending most of the time watching Avengers on the TV by the ceiling. 

Firstly, to place the bands with the right size. I've seen comments online that the process hurts as their Ortho used a lot of strength to push it in. Mine had no pain at all.

After that, I had no idea what they did. But I can only say, the whole thing was painless.

First day with the braces! No pain at all except you can feel a layer of metal between the lips and the teeth. Things changed after I had a nap. Can feel the tightness already.

Practically couldn't chew for the first 5-6 days. All I could do was swallow so it resulted in me having a hard time to release the waste back to nature. They couldn't digest properly in my body.

'

Day 5

The colour of the brackets slowly changed to mint green and now, at week two, it's more of pale green.

After the first week, I could chew normally already except still not used to food getting stucked. And I mean ALOT of food. Until I feel like I'm a hamster storing food by the side of my cheeks. 

Week 2

Can bite off something like burger without cutting it in smaller pieces already. Still pissed with the food getting stuck part. I'm sure it'll still happen for the next two years.

Around a couple of days after putting the bands, you will feel slight pain at the side of the cheeks due to the bands that pop out to hold the wire. Especially when you chew your food. The friction causes it to be more painful. But after awhile, the cheek will form a rough surface around the area and you can't feel the pain anymore. 

So far, only had one ulcer. Thank god! And no frictions between the metal brackets and the lips. 

Tip: Bring lots of sweets after the procedures as you can taste a very metalish bitter taste for a few hours. The sweets can help to cover up the taste.

3rd Appointment - Separators

Time for my third appointment and it's putting separators time, or commonly called, spacers.

For more information and purpose of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodontic_spacer

Anyway, I had eight separators on and all it took was less than 5 mins for them to settle in.

Here's what it looks like: (photos grabbed from google)

I went to the net to search about the pain yesterday and all I got was most people feel that the pain from the separators are worse than putting and tightening of braces. Hoping it won't be that bad for me. 

As all I could find was whether putting separators will be pain or not pain, I wanted to know if the pain will gradually increase and last for how long. So I shall just record down my own experience.

I have to keep the separators on until next Tuesday where it will be taken out and top braces will be fixed on.

Day 1, 4th Sep 2013, Wednesday - 5 hours after getting separators

Feeling pretty sore and there's like food stuck in between the teeth feeling. Feeling pain at my left side of teeth when I clench hard and  it's getting stronger. It's like the toothache kind of pain.

Day 2, 5th Sep 2013, Thursday

Woke up feeling aching in my mouth. The pain has spread throughout the other teeth. No longer feel something stuck in between the teeth because the soreness and achy-ness covered it. The teeth are sensitive now with slight soreness felt whenever my tongue touched them and when the top and bottom meet. Overall, pain still tolerable, but very uncomfortable. Still able to eat cheese fries.

Day 3, 6th Sep 2013, Friday

Feel much better. Not in as much pain as Day 2. But the soreness and tightness is getting more irritating at the lower set of teeth. Still able to eat potato curry puff but not the side crust.

Day 4, 7th Sep 2013, Saturday

Same as day 3. Minimal pain except being irritated by the soreness. Once awhile will keep shaking/pressing the teeth to make the feeling go away. But found out best way to let the feeling go is to eat things. Able to eat almost everything except stiff and hard food like meat, fried food and have to chew slowly with not able to chew with top touching the bottom rows of teeth.

Day 5, 8th Sep 2013, Sunday

Can eat almost normally except real hard things. Still pretty irritated by the soreness but the pain has been lowered. Can eat with some strength on the right side but not the left. Able to eat chicken wings today.

Day 6, 9th Sep 2013, Monday

Everything seems normal. No more soreness, no nothing. Can eat normally except feeling abit of pain on the left side but still can use strength. Cannot even feel the separators are inside unless I use my tongue to feel it.

The records shall stop here since tomorrow morning, I will remove the separators and fix in the top braces already.

FOH Volunteer at The Necessary Stage

Went off for my first Front-Of-House Volunteer experience with Vanessa that we signed up for previously. The venue was very far for me that it took me 2 hours to reach home after it ends.

It was definitely a very fun experience especially with the staffs over there being very friendly. 

The play that we were volunteering for, which is presented by The Necessary Stage.

Mobile 2: Flat Cities

There were two sessions per day, 3PM & 8PM. We were given the chance to watch the play as well. Very interesting play with multiple languages involved although there were a few parts I do not understand. Perhaps due to me being not a very 'arty' person. 

 Took from : http://www.necessary.org/

"On the cusp of Japan's surrender during World War II, a Japanese general suffers a stroke and is tended to by a Malay gardener. As they spar, having heated debates about the war, the present is revealed: a Japanese man in a relationship with an Indian woman in Kuala Lumpur; his ex-wife coming to grips with an astrologer's predictions; their son, studying in the United States and confronted by his classmates about Japan's past. 

A multilingual production featuring artists from Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, Mobile 2: Flat Cities casts the spotlight on stories of personal, social and universal struggles across Asian cities. 

The play is The Necessary Stage's long-awaited follow up to the critically-acclaimed Mobile, which premiered at the 2006 Singapore Arts Festival and toured to Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo."

We signed up for volunteering on another two sessions on another Saturday as well! 

But first, four final examinations coming up. Stress first, relax later.

The Necessary Stage,

278 Marine Parade Road,

#B1-02 Marine Parade Community Building,

Singapore 449282

Second Consultation - Prices

And so, I went for my second consultation that involves the introduction of different braces available for me to choose.

1. The normal metal kind
2. Ceramic which serves the same thing as the metal kind except that the brackets are transparent to make it less obvious.
3. Invisalign which I was hoping to opt for it.

Was quoted:
1. Metal - $3900
2. Ceramic - $4400
3. Invisalign - $7000

And that's how I was forced to let go the option of Invisalign. Chose Metal as since both Ceramic and Metal serve the same quality, why pay more? I don't think people will notice the difference unless they look up close. And, if any reasons the brackets dropped off, the clinic would fix it back free of charge. As for Ceramic, they will charge $90 for each bracket as it's more expensive.

My charges and payment details:

$3900 - less 5% as I paid full payment instead of instalment = $3705
$3705 - $215 (x-ray and models that I took in the first consultation) = $3490
$3490 + $244.30 (GST) = $3734.30

The package is inclusive of scaling and polishing once every three months throughout the treatment.

Paid $2250 on my own and mom paid the rest first in order to gain the 5% discount. More debts!

No extractions needed for now. Will see my mouth/lip 'shape' after 6 - 8 months into treatment and decide if I want to extract. No idea how to explain it well.


Next appointment will be putting in the separators!

Icon by Shunji Matsuo

Last Sunday, 11 August 2013

Went all the way to Tanjong Pagar, 100AM for hair treatment with Lihern. We bought the $38 groupon vouchers which includes Hair & Scalp treatment. Then I added additional step for the scalp treatment and a hair cut by my stylist which happens to be a senior one. 

Total: $32 (UP $40) + $25 + GST = $60.95 + $38 (Groupon)

Spent so much for my hair! Side note, my hair is short now again which I'm liking it! 

After that, went off the meet Eileen and her family for the 7th Month Dinner.

Busy period coming, with all the talks after classes, then FOH volunteer, and most important UT3. 

Braces Appointment #1

I finally took the first step and booked an appointment for my first consultation.

Decided on "About Braces", Dr Stefan Vaz after looking at reviews and forum.

8 Sinaran Drive, Novena Specialist Center #06-01, Singapore 307470
aboutbraces.org/


Saturday, 27th July 2013, 8AM

Pretty fun experience for me.

Doing the moulds, x-ray and photo taking

Total bill:

Orthopantomogram : $80.25
Lateral Cephalogram : $80.25
Study Models : $69.55

Total: $230.05

If I were to take up their package for braces, this fee would be waived off.

Next appointment on 28th August 2013, Wednesday, 10:15AM

Hopefully the pricing offered would be cheap and no extractions needed although I know it only happens with very very slim chance.

Can't wait!

Random updates

This month has passed seriously fast. It's like suddenly, it is already the end of July.

Nothing much to update as I've been going nowhere but school.

I went for a volunteer work for Operation Smile last Sunday, 21st July 2013 with another two classmates of mine. We were under Smiles for Smile, a record breaking event where we will make a large logo of a smiley face with photos that random people took. It was creative, but it was not quite a pleasant experience for me because of the way they manage the volunteers. 

Anyway, my UT1's results are finally all out. 

Organisational Behaviour: B+ (1 more mark to A!)

Marketing: C+ (Pretty disappointed, but expected)

Effective Communication: A 

Creative Concepts: A

Art of Story: A

Awesome first exams to start the school life! 

Mother's Day dinner at Cafe De Paradiso

So, initially was intending to treat mom for vegetarian mother's day dinner. Then, I asked her if she wants to ask my grandma along, as the previous night when they celebrate mother's day with the other aunts and uncles, we were not there. Decided on this Cafe since it's near my grandma, and I have been wanting to try it. Last minute, mom asked my neighbour along, as her sons are not taking her to any dinner and will be alone at home. Lucky us, mom friend drove us to my grandma's. Ended up cousin came along too.

WRONG CHOICE

Here's the bad experience. Before we were seated, we ordered our food first cause we know it will take awhile to be done. We ordered around 7.45pm. The claypot yi mee came, without any utensils. Mom self-serviced to get it. Then, vegetarian sharkfin soup came. Without any small bowl as well. They just dump the big bowl here and went off. Until we call out. After that, the cereal prawn came. We just stared at it cause our rice wasn't here! Halfway, the table beside us asked for two water, and the waitress slam the drinks on our table without checking and went off. We have to pass the drinks ourselves to the next table.

This is one thing I am most mad of. After nearing to 8.45pm, I checked with the waitress on the rest of our dishes, if she have missed out ordering it. She assured me it's on the way. And went off. Shortly, I saw the chef shouting to her, asking her HOW MANY BAKED RICE IS NEEDED, AND SHE ANSWERED THREE. So what is this? ON THE WAY? You didn't even send the orders to the kitchen in the first place! My mom, cousin and neighbour was very hungry already. The baked rice only came at over 9pm. It took over 1 and a half hour for their supposedly dinner to come.

Then at first, we ordered satay as well. I saw them serving a few to other tables, and stopped. Until I checked with them as well, and they said it's coming. After very long awhile, I saw them mass serving the satays. Like what? Shouldn't you serve based on the table's order instead of mass producing then serving them all at once and let the tables that ordered first wait so long?

I ordered an Ice Chocolate and Banana Chocolate, and after awhile, the Ice Chocolate came. After waiting, I checked again, and they forgot my Banana Chocolate...

The very last dish came, potato cheese balls. When we were already done with other food at like 9.30pm which is their closing time. We thought they forgot this again, and never bothered to ask them.

And the bill. What to expect? More problem. I checked through and saw a smoothie, and a cappuccino charged to us. Then I saw 12 cups of plain water charged to us as well. 5 person drinking 12 cups of water. You kidding me? We came for water buffet? They just mixed up the table's bills and anyhow charge! Ended up they overcharged us over $10+. So glad I checked the bill. Normally, I don't.

Total bill came up to $95.

Totally feel so heart pain. Not cause of the money, but we have to pay for the unpleasant experience, and making my mom and others suffer with empty stomach for so long. When it's supposed to be a celebration.

Will I ever go back again, NO. Unless someone wants to treat, and it's not during peak hour time.
In my opinion, if they can't handle so many customers, then don't open so many tables.
Although the food was not bad.

The only picture I took when we just settled down. Nice ambience though. Then I never bothered to take photos of their foods after that. Was already fuming mad.

Mom and cousin

P/S: Don't get plain water next time if you wanna go. They charge us 50 cents per cup, and never bothered to let us know when we ordered it, never thinking it's so expensive.

Ultimate Projects - Spring Blossoms at Gardens By The Bay

16th Feb 2012, Saturday

I volunteered in an event organised by Ultimate Projects. It was held at Gardens By The Bay.

Project Spring Blossoms 春到花开 - Walk With The Elderly

Asked Komz and cousin, Patricia along and they said yes! Met Eileen and her brother, Desmond along the way, then Patricia. Reached around 1pm. There were a total of around 140 volunteers and elderly.

The day we acted like tourists. 

After a short wait, it was grouping time! 

The group 10! 

Julius (group leader), Eileen, me, Ivan, Jo (couple), Rachel, Yi Kai, Emily (mother & son)

After introducing and warming up, we waited for the elderly to reach. Due to a miscommunication, we waited quite long for our group's elderly to arrive.

The elderly I'm in charge of! She's 72!

Short of 1 elderly here that was in our group.

After the exploring of both dorms, it was 'lou hei' time! 

Simple dinner was provided after that, and the buses came to fetch the elderly at around 7pm. 

More photos after the elderly went off.

Group 10 again at the end of the day

Awesome photo taken by cousin with my camera

Awesome photo taken by cousin with my camera

Awesome photo taken by cousin with my camera

I went back to the Cloud Forest after that with Eileen, Desmond and Patricia after that as Patricia has yet to explore the place as the elderly that she was in charged of, doesn't want to walk anymore.

It was evening by then, and there was awesome light effects!

Took the train to Jurong after that for late dinner, at Jcube. Had Old Town. 

Took a train back after dropping cousin at the interchange for her bus. Very tiring yet satisfying day! Shall wait for the update of the next event.