Unfortunately... I was unable to buy... because, most of the fresh organic vegetables being sold in supermarkets are wrapped in polyfoam containers. This means... if I want to consume organic food, I will create a large amount of waste  !!!

Does it reflect that many investments in organic production were motivated by the market, not by the care for our earth? If eating organic food is simply for good health, I don't think such selfish attitudes is a kind of organic living!

Dare to be different, Pope tells youth

Loreto, Sep. 3, 2007 (CWNews.com) - "Swim against the tide!" That was the exhortation given by Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) to young Italian Catholics at a weekend gathering in Loreto.

The Holy Father celebrated Sunday Mass on September 2 for a congregation estimated at 500,000, composed of young people participating in a national evangelization campaign initiated by the Italian bishops. In his homily the Pope told his young listeners to ignore the blandishments of those who promote "lifestyles based on arrogance and violence, on self-interest and success at all cost, on appearances on possessions."

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In his homily the Pope warned that young people must be "vigilant and critical" as they listen to the messages of the mass media and popular culture. He underlined the importance of daring to be different, to step outside the boundaries of expectations set by a secularized culture.

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To Be Different can be...
... a choice?
... a resistance?
... a change?
... an alternative?
... an insistence?
... another world is possible?

This reminded me of my first Exposure in Nepal, in which "To Be Different" was the most inspiring message and the strongest push to the movement. It helps me to avoid taking the mainstream for granted. It becomes the motivation for a change. It is not easy to be different, especially for young people, and especially in the everyday life. Having a circle of friends sharing the same value and vision… I am not alone^^ So do u!!!

Again... I move away from home. Sorry to my mother!

Again... I stay alone. I think I will enjoy~~~

It is my first time to live out of the New Territories! I hope I can adjust well! I am happy to live closer to friends^^

After a week of cleaning and shopping, today is the first day to stay in this new home. At the moment, only a bedroom, the bathroom and the kitchen are ready for use^^ The living room is empty, as I have not yet decided what to put. Another bedroom becomes a temporary store room.

Reminder... living as simple as possible!!!

It was the second time that I was interviewed by the Catholic Church paper. The first one was done by a friend for the Japan Catholic News. I am nothing special; I think it is the choice to work overseas, the choice to serve a community receiving the attention.

The choice I had is simply... YES or NO, and the YESsss... brought me to the point where I am.

No matter how many changes there are, I love this campus, where I studied for 3 and a half year, where I baptized...

His words tonight meaned a lot to me! I miss all of them!!

"I remember the days we, the Japanese members, get closer even we've separately done our activities... in these three years it's hard for me to find and notice the way, but "actually" I'm in the road forward... got the great network and relations, keep on walking together in the light of the Lord." ~ Gacky

This offer comes exactly at the right time! It is an office and they are the people that I admire very much. This is a challenge for me to develop a close connection with parishes, which have been an unfamiliar area in my experience and network. I need a lot, a lot, a lot and a lot of support as well as advice! Please... be with me in our journey of building the Kingdom of God on Earth!

再次一擊即中^^ 小清前途問題就此暫告一段落。可以再次全情投入阻住地球轉，是一份福氣！謝謝小艾力的一句：「更陌生的地方你都去過啦！」 又係喎！我會努力！

The Closing Mass this morning means the end of this EAP 2007. Meeting these people again is not a difficult thing with today's transport; being so closed with students is the experience I feel reluctant to part from.

Though I was too much occupied with the programme that made me unable to spend much time to talk and play with the participants (and even the LOC members), I did have everyone in my eyes and in my heart! I noticed the change of each individual, which is always the HOPE in my journey!

THANKS especially for the LOC to get myself involved in the preparation and throughout the programme. The 8-month preparation was a long and rocky process; none of the members had given up! The 8-day programme was a challenge of each's physical and emotional strength.

Forgetting myself, overcoming all limitations, working with this group of students to get all out in achieving the same goal... no matter how exhausted it was, I enjoyed the every moment in these 8 days. Each member's effort and contribution allowed me to see each's potential; I was very much impressed by each's improvement. I really really really LOVE them !!!

I used to consider the Action Plan as a “report card” of a programme. It shows how much the participants are inspired and motivated from the activities. From today's Action Plan, I think… we got at least a B+

Action Plan can be important for the participants, if they are really serious to make a change, or to bring a change. I do not usually put a lot of expectation on how the Plans are implemented. Instead, I am very much concerned with their commitment in their own local community after the programme. I think, this is the most significant contribution of EAP in the last few years.

In the Cultural Night, as I cared about some-one/thing else, I missed most of the performance again, except the Korean one. The four cuties had made all people amazed! I joined them to sing a children’s song, Three Bears (Gom-se-ma-ri). Later, they acted as those inside electronic games. They played the song "We are the World", highlighting some emotional words. To end their performance and also the Cultural Night, they prepared a slideshow to review the last 7 days of works, faces, funs and togetherness... It was really a touching moment that I could not hold my tears anymore!

 Looking at them, all the stress and tiredness were nothing!!!

I hope... my presence can bring support and confidence!

A facilitator MUST at least...

• know who are the participants.
• know the expectation of participants.
• know what is the programme.
• bring along with basic stationary.
• bring along with smile^^
• be flexible to adjust with changes.

Finally... this EAP started! All participants arrived at the venue, Caritas Ma On Shan Secondary School after dinner. There were three 'old' faces, Ikumi, Emi and Henry^^ Others were new, but I felt familiar with them... young, fresh, full of energy!!!

First night... LOC meeting until 3am

There are "three abundance" in Jeju, (1) Strong Wind, (2) Stone and (3) Woman. Right... it is really windy! Stones are commonly used to construct walls for protection against the strong wind. According to our tour guide, even during typhoons, such stone wall can stand very well, because the small gaps between stones help to channel the wind off.

Since many men of Jeju were lost at sea, women became larger in number. At the same time, the harsh living environment makes women work a lot outside their families. Especially during low-tide, many women-divers work in the sea to catch seafood, such as abalone, shell, and fish. They become one of the Jeju symbols.

It was surprised that the natural environment has been so well-preserved. Walking along the coast, the layers of blue-green sea colour is very eye-catching. If we were lucky enough, we could have seen dolphins too. There are a number of beaches, which were naturally formed. Standing in the water, you would be amazed by how clear it is, though it is a bit cold without a sunny weather. The tour guide said that in Jeju, it could be possible to see the seabed at least within 10-meter’s water level!

這個濟州之旅其實是鎖匙窿先生及其 Haja Global School 同事的活動，本貓乘機參與，終於可以一遊這個著名的美麗小島 噢！一到步便在機場的停車場碰上韓劇拍攝，遇見了權相佑。他型是型，但步姿造作了一點吧？！最有趣的，是三位追星的中年女士，既興奮又害羞地，把我們四人作掩護「偷影」權先生。

第一天沒有什麼的特別安排，因為到達濟州已是下午三時多，只是在民宿附近逛逛沙灘、游游水，其他的時間都是吃吃喝喝 我們一行四人入住的民宿很不錯呢！有兩個寬敞的房間，也有齊備的煮食設備，民宿的主人更充當我們的司機兼嚮導﹙只可惜聽不懂韓語﹚噢... 原來濟州人有自己的方言，是跟韓語很不同的，所以匙窿先生也不能明白。

The rainy day brought us to the new Catholic Student Center located at Sinchon, where Fr. Lee was recently assigned to. The 3-floor Center is situated in a normal business building. I was told that these 3 floors were donated by a Catholic fellow.

Each floor of the Center is designed for different purpose: office, chapel and cafe. Opened since March 2007, there is a young lady working with Fr. Lee to manage the Center. Sunday Mass is held in the chapel every week, giving students of the nearby universities a new choice. The cafe furnished with a simple kitchen, comfortable sofa and audiovisual facilities is opened for students to hang around and to have meeting. We had a relaxed afternoon here to chat; unfortunately Fr. Lee was not around today

The evening was a reunion with Giyoun, whom I know in the March HRs Internship in Geneva. I enjoyed the Korean barbecue dinner and the chat with her colleagues^^ My fourth drinking night in Korea...  Soju-Soda mix!

Recently the ROK government decided to send Korean combatants to Lebanon. They will be part of the U.N. peacekeeping forces monitoring and securing the cease-fire in Lebanon under the mandate of a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Korean troops have been present in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they are mainly giving logistic support or doing re-construction. In the case of Lebanon, however, the Korean troops would directly take part in the patrol and inspection activities. This brought concerns about the new involvement of Korean troops in the global society.

There were speeches given by several NGO representatives. The roughly half-hour event was ended with statement-reading and slogan-shouting.

這是喪行首爾的一天。跟 Soojin 分手後，獨個兒來到 Seoul Station。中午時份，最好是躲進冷氣間，這裡有個不錯的 Lotte Mart，絕對合適這頭愛逛超市的貓^^

待太陽伯伯沒那麼的「兇」，望了一望附近的舊首爾火車站﹙Seoul Railroad Station﹚，是日佔時期的建築。步行不久便看見祟禮門﹙Sungnyemun﹚，是古代首爾城牆的正門，現在獨立於大馬路中央，由摩天大樓所包圍。隔一條馬路便是著名的南大門市場﹙Namdaemun Market﹚，是南韓最大的綜合性市場，這裡賣的貨品真的是包羅萬有呢！

原來，南大門的隔鄰便是明洞區﹙Myeong-dong﹚；是一個熟悉、親切的地方，因為 SFCS office 就在這裡。走進明洞大街，即時感覺被捲入潮流的旋渦，眼前都是穿戴光鮮的活潑年輕人。儘管熟悉，沒方向感的貓依樣地迷路 --;; 好不容易找到了明洞主教座堂… 噢！它竟穿上了外套，正在進行外牆裝修。

突如其來的拜訪，雖然感覺有點不禮貌，還是闖進了 SFCS office，碰碰運氣。幾位學生正在開會，討論即將舉行的 Agriculture Camp。幸好剛好是晚飯時間，未有做成太大滋擾，還有個免費晚餐^^ 吃飽飽，與 Soojin 和她的朋友會合，是第二個喝酒的晚上。昨晚是 Soju，今晚有 Makgeolli…  正！！！

 Arriving Seoul at night, I took bus to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to meet Soojin, who was going to accommodate me for the first 2 nights. Near the bus-stop in a sidewalk snack booth (大排檔), there were Yuri and Yeo-ok. We knew each other in the World Social Forum 2004 in India. Immediately, we had a re-union and I had my first drinking night in Korea