Fundraiser

Total funds raised to date - 345 Eur

To place a contribution, 

Paypal account - tanwenyen@gmail.com

or email tanwenyen@gmail.com for more details !

At The Beginning

When I had the vball awards night last week, I went on my first fundraising attempt for the trip to Nepal. Out of the 20 plus people who were there, I managed to ask bout 15 of them, from which i managed to collect a good sum of 90.80 euros. I’d say it was a pretty good start, considering it was only pure donations. Some gave the miserable 2euros while quite a few gave a whole big 10, but regardless of the amount i’m still grateful nonetheless. The thing about me, i just HATE (a huge word i know) asking people for money, and sometimes help. i know its a bad thing (the help part), but i dont know why, i find it really hard to ask a person for money.. i feel as though i’m begging for it which i’m not, i think. i find myself helpless when it comes to such situations and it brings me to being hopeless.. lol. anyway, i could have gotten much more than 90.80 if i asked those others and i know it because they so happen to be those working ones like Megan and Gianma, but oh well, its done. 

My second big effort will officially begin tomorrow. I owe this huge effort to Grace, YY and Fiona especially cos they have been such a big help! 2 nights ago, I was really feeling down because I got rejected by a zillion supermarkets that I called up to do bag-packing. Apparently they were all booked right to the end of the year! So I was talking to YY, and earlier Grace and I have discussed about some kinda cooking fest to sell to UCD-ians but that was too close to exams. So the idea of selling it to the RCSI-ians came up,  n poof! it was a plan. yay hey! Next day, all 8 of us went galivanting to Belfast and we planned things out from there. 

So tomorrow, we’re going to town to get groceries n i’m gonna cook char bee hoon and banana fritters. BIG HUGE pressure man. it has to taste nice. at the same time, i havent really been cooking much lately! so yes, big huge pressure there. Gonna call Grams later to get some cooking tips. Boy, I havent spoke to Grams in ages! Feeling so bad about this now, i really miss her.. 

And then we’re gonna cook on Sunday and deliver them to RCSI on Monday.. so far I have 23 orders. I’ve put a modest target of 40 now, but i really do hope more orders will come pouring in tomorrow or the day after. Fingers crossed. 

Also, I just got my Meningitis C jab today in the Health Centre for free. The doc was really cool, she wrote down a list of jabs I should take, not that I dont know already from the TMB website, but she kinda emphasised the importance of taking those booster jabs like Revaxis for Polio, Diphteria and Tetanus along with Typhoid and Hep A and also, hold your breath, Meningitis ACYW (lol, those are the OTHER strains lah) ..  Maybe I should steal those jabs from lil baby Katelyn instead of paying them myself.. bah! Got an appointment with TMB anyway in the first week of June. 

Gonna book my flight tickets next week.. then call up Nepalese embassy in London to make sure they give me that visa when I get to the customs. So everything on this side is pretty much still on hold until I have flow of cash from that 1500 euros I need to raise.. 

Hmm.. what else? Yeah I guess this is my first entry for the trip! Second entry, I’ll write on my project there and where I’m based. Till then, good night! 

Pilot

Someone wise once told me, "Stop being so afraid of what everyone thinks and do want you think you should do"

I never really thought I was scared of things or what people think of me until one day, I had one of those self reflecting days. I realise that the more grown-up I am, the more reserve I become. I know I am no longer the same free-spirited person I once was. The person who could speak my mind whenever I like without worrying about being judged, the person who laughs at the slightest jokes.. And then, I came to the conclusion, that this is what we call.. 'Growing Up'.

Why is it that we fear outcomes? 

Sometimes I also wonder, what exactly is my purpose in life? If God created humans to create other humans, then I guess God must have skipped me in the line. Because somehow, the main objective of why humans are created - to love one another - is not present in my life. Sure, I do love those around me. My parents, siblings, relatives, friends.. but there is still an empty void in my heart. One that is not filled, one that I am sure is the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle that will complete my life someday. 

In the mean time though, my hands are filled with all other things I know is important to shape the person I will become. One of which is the craziest decision I have ever made so far - probably can be equal to getting married in the future - to go to Nepal all alone. I must have been out of my head when I sent in the application to Volunteer Abroad.. 

It is however, confirmed. So no matter what reservations I have of it, no hot showers, no toilet flushes, Typhoid and riots in the streets, there is no backing out and no looking back. Part of me feels like I'm finally living the dream, something I should have done a year or two ago, and the other part of me is a total freaked out mess. I really am trying to make this journey as joyful as possible with those around me who have been helping me so much and supporting me I sometimes feel so helpless. Mummy and Grandma, first of all, thank you so much for even considering letting me go. I understand that it is difficult to even agree, what more I didnt even exactly ask for a permission but went ahead applying for this. The greatest love of all is truly this, knowing that you cant let go of your little girl, worrying for me day and night, but yet, you know this is what I want and you let it be. 

I now also understand how difficult fundraising can be.. So to all my friends, thank you so much. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for helping me, one way or another, giving me this opportunity to go out and see that part of the world.  

I really do fear the outcome of this trip. And I really do fear the process of it too. Naturally, I would want everything to be smooth sailing but I know it is impossible. Bumps and scratches are the essentials in moulding a person to become a beautiful 'sculpture'. And to weather them all in good and tough times are what determines an outcome..

So to everyone, myself and those whom I will be working with in Nepal, here's to what God is creating us for. Cheers!