Catching up

I met Pong for dinner and also to collect the products I was getting from him on behalf of my SIL. We went to Thai Express at Plaza Sing, had dinner and chat all the way. It was good.

We talked alot about teaching, life, work, problems and stresses we were facing. He is my friend from MLS 2008 - the HOD course I attended at NIE in 2008 from Jan-Jun. Funny how we only attended a few lessons together but we somehow got to know each other and realised that we share the same passion for diving too. He is the only person from the MLS course that I am still in contact with. Amazing huh? I am not even in contact with any of those HODs I went on the learning trip to China with.

He told me about his dive trip to Tioman over the last weekend. It sure sounds fun! He also said he was sure that I would get along with those people there cos they were "my type". I also learnt from him that there ARE people who go alone for dive trips and get to know people along the way. The Dive Master would pair the "singles" with a similar-level buddy so if I were to go alone for such trips I wouldn't have to worry at all about not having a buddy and all that.

All the talk about the possibilites really made me very excited (once again) about diving! I will really REALLY get down to it this year. I must. I need to justify the fact that I go around telling the whole wide world that I like diving.

We sat down at about 715pm and chat all the way till 10pm. Then he had to go pick up his wife and 2 boys.

I thought to myself tonight while I was on the way home... I think I need to open other social circles with people more my age (who share similar interests, of course). This applies only to men, I realise (sorry younger guy friends who stumble on my blog). Except for some of my younger guy friends, the conversations I have with those guys who are more mature are more intellectually stimulating. They are also better able to relate to the issues I face - because of maturity perhaps? Or similar experiences? Whichever way, I felt the intellectual exchange tonight...

Thank you for your friendship.