Why join the Empower Network?

(Thought-Random)

  

        Yes, why at all join the Empower Network!  Well, I do happen to have some answers so let me tell you why.  With both my academic and toastmaster life experiences, I had been ushered in to three aspects which you and I would certainly value, namely: communication, leadership and living life. All these, I happily find in the network so there you got it - my reasons for joining the Empower Network: the communications aspect, the chance for leadership, and the prospect of living life in a special way!
 
       It is said that no man is an island.  Among other ways, we reach out to others either orally or in writing.  We may even do so through kinesic ways.  Rather than use words to communicate, we could use bodily and facial signals like a wave of the hand, a wink of the eye, - or a glare, .... a smile, -or a tight pursing of the lips.  Eye contact, by the way, is one powerful way of communicating but avoiding this also says something. Take, for instance, time when waiters in a restaurant try to avoid your eyes when they are so busy. That way, they wouldn't  have to wait on you for as long as their eyes don't meet yours.

       Communication is conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message and a receiver;  and in whichever way this process is done, like through time or through space,  always,  a chance something good comes out of it.  It makes you grow intellectually and socially - even economically.  In the Empower Network,  I would get to get in touch with friends all over the world and enjoy them.  Moreover, I'd  benefit from all that important information they'd be willing to share with me. And I like this. I like Empower Network.

         On the other one hand is leadership.  Each of us is actually a leader in our own domains, just in case we didn't realize that. A leader, by definition, is one who influences others to join him in accomplishing a desired goal.  He inspires  his followers to successful achievement by way of values, skills and charisma. And this happens whether in simplistic or in complex ways.  Necessarily, there is a diversity of concepts in behavioral and stylistic theories regarding leadership. There are variations and conflicting notions of what a leader is and how leadership processes work but the one consistent point in all these is that one can get others to desire to work with him.

        Communication and leadership, by the way, are two things that are inextricable from each other.  Valuable leadership skills are enhanced by the confidence built by good communicative skills in much the same way as communicative skills are a strong identification for leaders who successfully stand out. This makes leadership a challenge for me - a challenge I need to meet and which I can find in the Empower Network. Here, I get to have the chance for team work experience not only within my group but the chance to interact with others in the whole system. And I like this. I like the Empower Network!

        Now with regards living, all of us have been created to live lives full of joy. If we live a life of passion, as intimated by an author on life, no matter how large the inevitable obstacles that come once in a while, life can be crafted with that fulfillment borne out of a balance between family, work, and our faith in the Almighty! So life, for me, is not only  fun time chasing dreams, so to speak, but it is also fun time having those dreams come true!

        Living a life of passion, thus, is living a full, rich, and balanced life - one that I would envision in its complicated but complete form as encompassing areas like spirituality, friends and family, health, education, finances, leisure, and the like.  And this leaves me wanting for those areas that my soul needs for life's completion. While life can be lived in whatever way one must or chooses, one truth is that in this material world,  we would want to live in comfort with life's basics and more.  We would need some sort of a financial plan to support our ability to live with passion. We would want to share these comforts with our loved ones and then reach it out to the world in best we can.  I would!  In fact, I actually do. And guess what, - the Empower Network comes in to offer this chance for monetary comfort in leaps and bounds. The Network offers a "blogging system that instantly deposits money into your bank account"! And I like it.  I like the Empower Network.

        For all these reasons, therefore: -  a chance at enhancing our communicative skills,  an awesome leadership experience, an incredible promise of an improved  way of living,  come  join me into this special  "entrepreneurism" found  nowhere but only in the Empower Network!

To a Life of Passion,

S O N J A   C H A N,  Ph.D, DTM

Educator, Toastmaster.....

        

Meeting

(Thought-Random)

         Always, when we meet, and you are

        Leaving, as always the first

        You are, your strange imponderable eyes

        Unspeaking to me, as on the last, I go

        My way, half-wondering: Who had

        Been there that crossed again my

        Sentimental shade?  But, looking back,

        Five lonely houses away from you, five

        Memories more quiet than the last that

        Always came, I speak again to you and

        Cry with life for all our silences that 

        Scar the silent body of your name,

        And we become the truth self-evident

        In our pretending, the truth which counts

        Alone, for truth, in one's, and only one's, forgetting.

       I watch you and the daylight ascend

       The evening stairways to your room,

       Of all the shades your only choice,

       And then I hear you speak my name;

       The first assurance of the truth,

       Born to image and lament the final voice.

           ***************************

                           

                                                                               ***************************
                                                                                             


     

A Kids View of the Christmas Story

Gratitude

One Autumn Freak of a Snow Storm

(Thought-Random)

         October 29th, that was a Saturday in the
morning.  And we were on our way to White Plains in New York -  Bryan and Bing, Anika and I. We were to meet up with friends at a favorite Dim Sum place for lunch and then hoped to get back home to New Fairfield in Connecticut before the forecast snow storm arrived.  In Autumn?, I asked.  Yes!, I was told - in Autumn! A very emphatic affirmation. Halfway toward the place,  pretty snowflakes began to gently crowd our windshield and we enjoyed it - Anika and I! We were given a 4-inch snow alert come that evening, by the way.

        So we enjoyed fabulous company as well as some sumptuous Chinese food. The group, in fact, was such an interesting one I'd like to share some facts about them with you.  If you went clockwise with that  picture up there, take the lady- that's Ruby and she's half Filipino and half Chinese.  The guy next to her is her husband, Bryan, who is half Filipino and half Austrian, and the little girl on his lap is their daughter, Anika.  The next one would be me and beside me is Roubing who is Chinese and is married to Alan, an American.  That's him on her other side and the young boy with them is Max, their son. Now next is Suhua, a Chinese lady, married to Jeff who sits beside her,  also an American ...with Anthony next to him.  He, Anthony, is half Indonesian and half Dutch,  but he grew up in Belgium.  He is married to the lady beside him, that is Katherine - and she is German. The two little girls with them, Betty and Helda, are theirs, together with a baby boy, Tiel, close by sleeping in his crib. With the diversity of both languages spoken and of professional backgrounds which included being in academics - language, business and technology- and being in pharma - administrative and tech management, the conversation could have gone on and on and on and on....

        But enough of the people.  The fun part was in the going home.  And by then, the storm had come on for some time now. So each family went its way through a blanket of beautiful whiteness on the green of trees and bushes and lawns, (not to forget the oranges and the reds and the browns and the yellows, too, of the trees)..... on the roofs of homes and of birdhouses and on mailboxes....along the pathways - wide, crooked,  narrow.

         After a couple of minutes drive, however,  the joy and pleasure of watching snowflakes get wafted through the air slowly, slowly, shifted to an uncertain feeling of concern on watching the snowfall get heavier faster and the snow-carpeted roads get higher, demanding slower wheel maneuvering.   At the same time,  the skies have darkened considerably as other commuters had joined us with their lights on. This is normal, this is normal, we kept on telling ourselves. Anika's non-stop singing of her nursery and kindergarten songs even helped  cheer the atmosphere that was beginning to feel threatening.

        Then suddenly, Bryan goes,  Ooops!, we're having a break-down!  The serpentine belt apparently had snapped and the engine began to heat up! Being out on the highway,  all we could do was slow down, get to the side, get that engine cool off a little and then go and slow down again when it heated up.   And we inched on this way patiently, patiently, slowly, slowly, over and over again as we made our way in to the next town for help.  It turned out to be Mount Kisco. At a Valvoline Shop, we had the problem fixed while we waited over cups of coffee and some blueberry cheese cake at the nearby diner.  We were only halfway home yet.

        Were we  relieved when later  we were told our car was now okay.  So off we went with thoughts of our warm home waiting for us.  The falling snow now looked a little brighter and lighter than it did an hour ago.  Anika was happier too as Bing had bought her a couple of cup cakes from that

Mount Kisco diner to continue eating in the car. On we went, thus, a couple of more miles when  'Oh, no, Bryan - not another break down'?, Bing and I spoke  simultaneously when he gave a big 'Tsk'!  Oh yes, it was.  Apparently the fan belt gave way again!  And we were just nearing the juncture between the last city of New York and the first one of Connecticut but we weren't quite there yet!

At least, we were out of the highway now. So we went back to inch by inch, stopping and going, when the engine heated, and when once again it cooled down a little bit.

        Dear God, snow was furiously falling now.  And night had spread its own darkness.  We began to notice that tree branches  kept  on falling on the streets. I remembered the snow storm of the last holidays but it didn't look this bad.  The snow must be heavier now with leaves still on the trees, I thought. Some of the falling branches- even whole trunks of trees - were landing on the electric wires even!  We had to go around, move away, from these fallen limbs, not to mention having to continue to stop and go.  Bing had earlier called Triple A but was put on hold hours ago. Bryan called up the rest of the crowd earlier and they, too, were stuck in their own respective paths, but at least their engines were good.

        Anyway, we made it, kind of, two blocks past the town line of New Fairfield. Not too far away from home now. Then we came to a somewhat inclined part of the road, a big fallen branch blocking half of it. Our car tried to climb the steep thing but again and again it did to no avail. So we parked to the side and sat there for a while deciding what to do as we watched other cars come down, skidding, sliding like almost towards where we were, when Bryan told us to wait right in the car while he walked home to get the other car and then come  back to get us. We were going to leave the joker of a car right where it was.

        Bing was quite uncomfortable for the three of us left there thinking of the possibility of one of those cars coming down crash into us and take us down with them.  So she bravely went up to the house at which front we were stranded in to ask if we could wait inside with them instead .  With God's blessing, the nice couple there, Ben and Linda, not only sweetly offered the warmth of their home but  also offered to bring us home in their van.  But not before Anika had some fantastic moments with their pet dog, Bear.. We were just going out of the house when power went off.  Uh-oh!  As we found out later, this was true for the whole of Connecticut and some parts of the East Coast up to Massachussettes. We picked up Bryan walking on the way and finally reached home, thank heaven, even as we had to wade through the long driveway to the door in a seemingly 24-inch snow river! I thought we were to expect only 4 inches of it! Again it was such fun for Anika as she clinged to me with ringing laughter during which to me was an ordeal.

        Home was cold and dark but we made do for the night as we dumped all the firewood we had into the fireplace and huddled together in front of the bright dancing fire. But the next day was as helpless as could be.  We've had snow storms before but the power would be on! All stores were now closed. All! But well, we had an emergency shelter at the City High School.  There was breakfast, lunch, dinner and it was bright and warm in there.  The gym pool and bathrooms were available.  Even the auditorium was open for the night's rest. And the whole town was there- government officials, school heads, the next-door neighbors, etc, and us! Such a unique and an interesting kind of experience!  Classes for the kids were suspended for the week, but for the adults,  one day was all the free day from work we had.  At this point, Bryan was talking about having had enough of snow!  'You guys ready to move out?, he asked Bing and me.'' How about China?.... North Korea?....Spain?'... he goes on.  'I thought you were running away from snow?', I counter. 'Then let's go back to California!'  Was he kidding?

        Several of the town folk had  generators but not us. The city was promising power back to us in a week so we tried checking in hotels nearby but suddenly all rooms were taken. Bing kept on looking for one, however  till she did find some free rooms at the Johnson-Howard suites but in Newburg.... an hour's drive from our place!  So what the heck!  Finally, there was some temporary haven from it all. A hotel room was phenomenal for Anika.  The swimming pool, the morning breakfast, the carpeted corridors, looking for the door number and having the privilege to  insert that key to open  it These, among others, were certainly a hundred percent fun for her. On top of these was the fun of having to join Bing and me at the university where she romped around the campus and flirted with my students. That's Camille and Shawn with her who showered her with the attention she sought for.  But going to work hours on the road back and forth everyday and coming home to a place not home? Notwithstanding the seemingly luxurious aspect of it, this was actually stressful and  dismal for me  And we had to stay put till power back home returned.

           The few calls and texts of concern from family and friends helped brightened our situation for which our appreciation overflowed. Most of my ESL students were so sweet on the phone as well.  It simply made me relish a  most pleasant  feeling... one  you'd savor when you receive warmth from where you least expect it....a feeling warm as rejuvenating sunshine that comes after the dreary cold of a past night.

                                                 ----------------------------------------------

       

On An Evening In Roma

Volare

Sanctuary Of The Heart

Sanctuary of the Heart

Unwritten

I Don't Know!

(Thought-Random)

   
           After the fun of the morning pillow fight which Anika just got me into, ( I don't understand how she easily does that!), she now  rests her head on my arm and cuddles close to me as we lay in my bed where she had dozed off the night before. Then suddenly from out of nowhere, she asks me, "Why is your heart crying, Grama?"  I am taken aback! "What makes you say that?", I counter. "You're always sad!" she says, but I play it down, "No, I am not!"  "Oh, yes, you are!", she insists. "I am not!", I also do. 

         I remind her of how I laughed at her screaming as she tried to unearth herself from the mountain of pillows I tried to bury her in.  I feel a little guilty having had used my strength over this frail image of an angel.  But well, she vindicated herself when at that very moment of mirth on my part, she got her chance to free herself and throw a pillow at my face! Oh fiddlesticks! Her expression!   But a moment, at least, that I wasn't sad!  If I was always sad!

 

         Then I go back to ask her, "You really didn't hear my heart crying, did you?"  "Nope", she answers in a  matter-of-fact way.  "Then why did you ask me why it was crying?", I went on.  "I don't know!", she simply says.  "Why did you think I was always sad!", I didn't want to let go.  "I don't know!", she simply says.

        Funny how I borrow that line of Anika a lot of times at questions I have of my own life -  I don't know!  Why this, why that, why here, why now, why him, why me- ?  I don't know!  At one point the world embraces the cold but beautiful coldness of ice and snow .... followed by the refreshing kiss of springtime colors .... and then, the liberating sunshine of summer comes to let each soul free itself of some kind of captivity..... to be later drenched by rain clothed in thunder and lightning...... and then the leaves begin to fall!  Why!? The reasons for this seemingly remain wanting to me.

        "So must this go on and on and on in a changeless way?", I ask.  Perhaps, I also tell myself!  But it would really be interesting to have some answers and to be able to reach out to that elusive something!  Perhaps it will be this or it will be that.... it might be here and it might be now.... it will probably be him or probably just me - but,  just that?  And should you ask me why I even think of this, I am sure you know that I will say, "I don't know"!

A Little Bit of Airports

(Camera-random)

        Whenever I find myself in this transitional phase of arrival and departure,  -this, my metaphor for encounter, --- I would know I am in an airport!

        I had always loved airports ever since I knew what hope and desire did to fire up my need to experience more of the world.  Well, the physical reality of  runways and terminals and boarding gates and take offs are, of course,  part and parcel of the transit from point to point.  What is significant to me of airports, however, is a  magical recap of the thousand and one thoughts they enrich my life with. Vague, this may be, but some things so deeply felt are sometimes best left unsaid.  For now, however,  let me say that among these would certainly be about my friends and my family, and now share with you sights of airports that have either directly or indirectly touched my life.... at least, some for now.

          For instance,  the Los Angeles International Airport  in California through which I never was alone passing in and out of at the start.....

         

                            ( That's my Jewel of a son's sister he calls The Terminator, driving us to it.)

        ....or the D. Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field back home which once spelled a curious holiday mishap for me! :(

  
        But this now is an  airport in Taiwan - compliments of my friend, Charmaine Chan.

               My friend, Charmaine -  a member of one of the Baguio Lions Clubs, and  invited by their sister club,  the Taipei Central Lions Club,  to join them in celebration of its 50th Charter Anniversary.  Now, are you also going to ask me if she's family? :)
 

        

                                    

                                          

        In Japan, this time, - these are compliments of another friend, Frank Mase.

        

         Frank was with the United States Military then - with the US Navy...... and actually an Engineer but Doc, as he is fondly called,  served as  Hospital Corpsman while stationed last with the Marines at Camp Mujuk in Korea.  He looks Japanese, doesn't he?

                                The Tokyo-Haneda Airport......
                                       
                                                         (Charmaine likes these: they're futuristic, she says :))

        But this airport  coffee shop was one I myself had a lay over in on my way to NY from Malaysia:- The Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

         Now in Korea, -  these airport shots are again compliments of Frank.....
                                                                                

 

                                The Pohang Airport

The

                             The Gimpo Airport

        From Austria, my friend, Fritz Nessmann lends me these photos of his  (Flug nach Innsbruck) although they are not exactly of commercial airports - because he flies a private aircraft.

                                 Im Cockpit

                                 Kartenlesen...... That's Fritz reading his map

                                Tofana

                                 Cortina               
                                  

                                 Faakersee

                                 Innsbruck
  

                                  Uber der Stadt

                                 Innsbruck
   

                                 Endanflug LOWI

                                          Good job, Fritz!

                             

 Now back to home base -

                          At the Honolulu International Airport, Peter and Cora seeing me off and back to New York

                                      





The Starbucks anywhere addict-







 And for a momentary flight back in time, at the Adenauer Airport in Cologne, Germany

                          .....bringing Erin, Elise and Eleine 'home' to Bing and Bryan.  (Also a flight, our first international one, and one which was emotion- packed at the airport immigration office but fun! :))

        -then at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany, after a visit:

                                                                              

         so again in the US of America.......

         The summer in Chicago with my friends, Cely Somera and Norie Ople -

                                                                             best friend forever.......

                                                    ..... my cousin, Wilma Castro with better-half Tony and her family

                                                                                                                    

                                                             this is Anthony.......

                                        and -

                                                      and............

                          ... and my special friend, the phenomenal Bernie Floresca! :)

         So that at the end of all the fun-

        I found myself at the Chicago O'Hare Airport:

 Through the gates.....

to the :-

 La Guardia International Airport in New York City-

                                            

                                 

                                 Missed you, Anika!

        Earlier had been at the Raleigh-Durham Airport in North Carolina after the visit to Fr Mike and Mary Anne:-

                                 Mary Anne and Fr. Mike caught catching scenes at the Duke University Campus

                                 It was day before July 4th then....

                                              The interesting young man who sat beside me in this flight.

        On a more domestic front, this is fetching Elise at the JFKennedy International Airport in New York:-

 

                                          Where can Elise be?

                                          Ah, here she is!!!

        This time at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains,  New York.....

                                With the classic UncleRey coffee classification' of  the girls: - Decaf, Americano, Espresso and Pure Caffeine! :)

S

 

                                Saying goodbye to Erin going to San Francisco...

         .......but later to say Hello to Elise coming home  from San Francisco at the JFK airport.

 

                                             Hey Guys, Elise is here!!!

        An interlude.... aboard the Cathay Pacific from Makati to New York among an interracial company!

        and an airport in Connecticut - The Bradley International Airport:-

        Erin also coming home from San Francisco ...

        via The JFK International airport-

  

              Then we brought Tanya to Omaha for the Acadeca competitions-

                                           

                                           Anika with her own luggage....

          ... and the layover at Milwaukee -

        

         At another Milwaukee layover...

                                           A new friend, she found.....

                                             but this particular one she met at the JFK Airport!

        And at the Omaha Airport:

                                           That's Tanya,  our Acadeca champion speaker

       One flight from Malaysia to New York had this layover at the Detriot Metro Airport-

                                Korean students flying back home at my gate too.

                                           ...had to have lunch first!  was starving....

        Family to San Francisco for Erin's graduation

                                           At the San Francisco International Airport...

                                              Erin, our Stanford graduate with Nicolai

        Then going back home to Connecticut....

                                          The San Fran Airport

                                 Erin, I want you beside me.....!

                                             I love you Ella....

        At the Newark International Airport in New Jersey.... this time to see Elise off to Nepal/Rome.

        And that was an episode from my Airports Affair...just an episode actually, -

        Till the next account of other flights off.....

                                                      -----------------------------------------  

Thanks, Charmaine

Thanks, Frank

Thanks, Fritz