The other day I was just pondering 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. " Faith, hope, and love. These words are thrown around quite casually, you know I've got to have faith faith faith... Faith by George Michael that popular song which was number one back in my year that I was born, 1988! (hahaha I know this cuz one day sitting around with friends at Bistro Chez Fio we were talking about how music has changed so much and wonder what was our hit song on our birth year was and we searched it up) anyways faith in what? Hope, we hope the Canucks win their next game, hope for the latest Apple product. Hope has kind of lost its direction. What are we even hoping for, what should we be hoping for? now Love. How has something so amazingly sacred become so insignificant, temporary, and even abused. How and why has lust over taken love? This idea that love is found with a swipe of a finger sorry Tinder. Im kind of embarrassed how shallow we can be or how much we live in a it's all about "me" world. Or even worse is we are such bandwagoners, jumping onto any social cause thats trending at the time on Twitter. Who doesn't like to feel like they are part of something just by a #? But really who remembers that a month down the line that I #cared.
I know my actions or even my inactions they matter. It's the little things that make up a day, and the days turn into weeks, months, years. When we look back at the day to day, its the sum of those little things that make us who we are, that shape those around us. At the end of the day these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. So I say life is about having faith, giving hope, and sharing love. But its the lostness of the source where we derive faith, hope, and love that causes strife. We are connected to people around the world more than ever before but we are also so distant. There are so many different values, beliefs, and opinions which is exciting and dynamic, but can we get along? In light of the terror, sadness, and injustice that faces us everyday I want to make these three words faith, hope, and love so real, so tangible.
Friday 9 January 2015
Wednesday 31 December 2014
A Season of Growth
I've been back in Vancouver for three weeks now. Vancouver is so beautiful. There is so much life, creativity, just prettiness and care everywhere. I absolutely love being in a city that comes together. Like just going to Stanley Park for bright lights, thinking about all the hours the firefighters put in to put up the lights and deco. The effort just to make the place festive for families. It's nice you know. Then back in Brunei i had a customer msg me asking me if i had to take down my Christmas deco! what? so now we are not allowed to put up even a tree in public places...a new religious enforcement thing. Its really sad. Where is the openness?
Ive been thinking a lot the last few days on where im going to be in the new year. If i decide to stay here what about my Bistro. I dont want to leave my work but I think there is a limit of growth happening in Brunei. I went for a job interview the other day. It was just a last minute decision when i saw a posting for a nutrition and life skills coordinator to apply. It was a really good interview but ironically after the interview I had the feeling that i rather go back to school. Going through with the interview showed me that I am capable yet there is part of me that wants me to really follow my heart. I think with certainty now i can enrol in culinary school.
random things why i love vancouver
ppl compost and recycle
mountain views
chilly air
diversity of ppl
transit
ppl on transit
grocery shopping
downtown
libraries
community
hockey
watching the news
asians who speak perfect english
artsyness everywhere
fam & friends
2015 is just a sleep away. 2014 has been an absolutely awesome adventure. Be brave, be true to yourself, and don't settle for less.
Ive been thinking a lot the last few days on where im going to be in the new year. If i decide to stay here what about my Bistro. I dont want to leave my work but I think there is a limit of growth happening in Brunei. I went for a job interview the other day. It was just a last minute decision when i saw a posting for a nutrition and life skills coordinator to apply. It was a really good interview but ironically after the interview I had the feeling that i rather go back to school. Going through with the interview showed me that I am capable yet there is part of me that wants me to really follow my heart. I think with certainty now i can enrol in culinary school.
random things why i love vancouver
ppl compost and recycle
mountain views
chilly air
diversity of ppl
transit
ppl on transit
grocery shopping
downtown
libraries
community
hockey
watching the news
asians who speak perfect english
artsyness everywhere
fam & friends
2015 is just a sleep away. 2014 has been an absolutely awesome adventure. Be brave, be true to yourself, and don't settle for less.
Thursday 11 December 2014
Connections
"It is only with the heart that one can see clearly, anything essential is invisible to the eye." the little prince
My flight over was amazing, for such a long time in a plane it
felt like a bus ride away. It was so good to hear “Canadian” English on the
announcements followed by French. Just to feel the professionalism in their
voice was a nice change.
Relationships itself are invisible. It’s not like an object,
not like a cat, you can see a cat, touch the cat, snuggle up with a cat. I
think it’s so philosophical the whole topic of relationships. No one was born
without a relation. Our DNA strands can confirm that. Relationships are what
connect. It is this need to belong and to be longed for. It is so important. It
drives, sustains, and gives hope. God really created us like this for a
purpose. A craving to desire what can only fully sustain, and what can really
give us love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. At the root of the why and how’s of relationships
is God.
Relationships can only be seen when an out pouring of love
happens which creates an action. How do we build and celebrate connections with
people? How do we get to really know someone? Spend time with them, talk, be
real, open up to trust, share truth and not lies, want the absolute best for
them, do what matters, laugh, cry, and support.
It feels like I was just here yesterday due to the
relationships that pick right back up. Let’s not take for granted the people in
our lives that know and care for us. Colman picked me up and pulled out a gift
from his hoodie front pocket. It was so awesome a free Budweiser Canucks
toque. So perfect really. My family is such a blessing. I forgot about this
thing called commuting and traffic on the way back from the airport, I need
time to adjust back to “real” life. I’m really excited to be able to be around
Abby and Riley even though Chey Leng keeps on warning me! Haha im ready to have
some energy zapped out by kids that want to play, how can I say no to their
cute Aunty Fiona, Aunty Fiona calls. Will see how long I can last. Haha!
Wednesday 10 December 2014
Thinking out loud.
"life can only be understood looking backwards, but it must be lived forwarid"
im in hong kong right now, waiting for my flight back to vancouver. and really thought it is such a perfect time to blog. it has been two years since my last post. even before Bistro Chez Fio opened! oh how time has flown. Chez Fio is not just a random blog of my thoughts anymore hahaha i hope random customers dont google search and find this ... perhaps time for a blogspot name change ... ill think about it later... what has played out over two years!
i cannot of imagined the experience and people i have met and what has played out in Brunei. it has been nothing but amazing. living a dream really. doing what i love and getting to feed so many people. i realize how awesome being out of vancouver has been, there were times i was so home sick, times i wanted to give up. even extremely frustrated with how things are run. yet my appreciation for the simplest things has grown. living in a small country def has its pros.
Bistro Chez Fio has grown so much since the first day- from different menus, opening hours, staff, but what always remains was that no matter what God always provided. It has only been two years am i ready to move on? I mean what comes next? I dont really know what it means to be a restaurant owner actually. I do know that I believe in people and trust that when people see the passion and care that is placed into a goal things are done well. Love goes a long way. i feel like i have contributed to the Brunei food scene and that makes me happy.,giving people a special place to dine and even hold events and most of all expanding their food vocab..it amazes me when someone has never had a candy apple in their life or even had pecan pie! hahahaa.... over the past two years the food industry has expanded with a ton of new restaurants, better eating choices, and a closer community of restaurant owners... what is next? im hoping farm to table dining, increase in sustainability, local eating, and maybe even one day in brunei they would have its own dairy farms! i think that might take 20 years hahaha jk
Its interesting how life just happens sometimes. you meet people, share experiences, and grow. sometimes i feel like im still 16 other times i feel like im an adult and can make my own decisions and mistakes..yet times i feel so ready to just be an adult cuz im not there yet. whatever that means. maybe it means paying more bills getting married and having kids... lol i dunno. is that what defines adulthood... or when your financially independent and living on your own?
how do we know what we want out of life? im not really sure if there is even anything i want... maybe im more of a giver.. i dont know what i want yet i know i want to give as much as i can to others...
can it just be as simple as Living simply, Laughing often, and Loving deeply....
Im going to just enjoy my time back in vancouver. excited to spend so much time with people. and just be present. i will make the most out of every day.
im in hong kong right now, waiting for my flight back to vancouver. and really thought it is such a perfect time to blog. it has been two years since my last post. even before Bistro Chez Fio opened! oh how time has flown. Chez Fio is not just a random blog of my thoughts anymore hahaha i hope random customers dont google search and find this ... perhaps time for a blogspot name change ... ill think about it later... what has played out over two years!
i cannot of imagined the experience and people i have met and what has played out in Brunei. it has been nothing but amazing. living a dream really. doing what i love and getting to feed so many people. i realize how awesome being out of vancouver has been, there were times i was so home sick, times i wanted to give up. even extremely frustrated with how things are run. yet my appreciation for the simplest things has grown. living in a small country def has its pros.
Bistro Chez Fio has grown so much since the first day- from different menus, opening hours, staff, but what always remains was that no matter what God always provided. It has only been two years am i ready to move on? I mean what comes next? I dont really know what it means to be a restaurant owner actually. I do know that I believe in people and trust that when people see the passion and care that is placed into a goal things are done well. Love goes a long way. i feel like i have contributed to the Brunei food scene and that makes me happy.,giving people a special place to dine and even hold events and most of all expanding their food vocab..it amazes me when someone has never had a candy apple in their life or even had pecan pie! hahahaa.... over the past two years the food industry has expanded with a ton of new restaurants, better eating choices, and a closer community of restaurant owners... what is next? im hoping farm to table dining, increase in sustainability, local eating, and maybe even one day in brunei they would have its own dairy farms! i think that might take 20 years hahaha jk
Its interesting how life just happens sometimes. you meet people, share experiences, and grow. sometimes i feel like im still 16 other times i feel like im an adult and can make my own decisions and mistakes..yet times i feel so ready to just be an adult cuz im not there yet. whatever that means. maybe it means paying more bills getting married and having kids... lol i dunno. is that what defines adulthood... or when your financially independent and living on your own?
how do we know what we want out of life? im not really sure if there is even anything i want... maybe im more of a giver.. i dont know what i want yet i know i want to give as much as i can to others...
can it just be as simple as Living simply, Laughing often, and Loving deeply....
Im going to just enjoy my time back in vancouver. excited to spend so much time with people. and just be present. i will make the most out of every day.
Monday 31 December 2012
Commit to the Lord in whatever that you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
I'm sitting at my bistro right now. and i just feel it in my bones and in my heart. everything is going to be awesome. If God is for me than who can be against me. 2012 wow ... if u asked me at this time last year.. what i would be doing in a years time... i would of never been able of told u. i am doing what im doing right now. I sitting in a restaurant that i call my own.... hmmm not bad fio... 24 and starting up my own business..not everyone can say they have this opportunity of a life time..My hope is coming to pass.. What God has planned me for is coming to pass! It is His will.. no matter what happens in the next 5 years.. i can tell myself i tried .. i did what i always wanted to do...yet the awesome thing is new dreams are still to come...greater things are yet to come.. i wonder what lies ahead.. haha like pocahontas.. just around the river bend.of course i couldn't have done this with out the unconditional love and support of my family. my parents believing in me and always encouraging me even at the time i truely wanted to give up. at times where i have been so unlovable to my closest people.. they still love me.. they still believe in me and gave me the best... i really miss all the ppl back home who have been there for me. i can be there for u in time of your need...
This whole year has been a testimony. A testimony of a step of faith, change, the calm before the storm, a storm, growth, perserverance, and ...
basically ..confident hope
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5
count down to 2013!Friday 28 December 2012
2012 Drawing to an End
So much has happened in 2012 i would of never have of imagined the outcome of this year... it wasnt just one of those years that take a long time.. this year was a whirl wind.. a whirl wind of change, fun, laughter, family reunions, saddness, tears, struggles, success, growth, and courage. i have to continue to ask myself is this real life... am i doing what i am doing right now... am i seriously living in brunei, opening a bistro, and adapting to life here.. im still terrified of settling in brunei tho... coming close to my mid twenties i cant help to think about where i would want to have a family, raise kids, and livelife... i guess i really have to think about what is seriously important for me...so many things about vancouver i miss yet at the same time im ok that i miss it you know... its a weird feeling..its like emotions that have no definition hahaha =]
the last few days Robert Frost's poem has been constantly in my head... i feel like my life im taking the road not taken...im so grateful that all my circumstances have gave me experiences that trained me to be more that capable in dealing with employees, suppliers, random things... grateful that i studied in FNH now at UBC and lol and all about AGSC and food security... i want to teach ppl about food security in brunei that would be interesting...
life is so confusing right now i wish i wish i knew what is yet to come like Robert Frost said "Sorry I could not travel both." i wonder what would of happened if i never decided to come to brunei (yet that is history) ... funny i may not know what is going to happen in the future.. but i know who holds the future.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
the last few days Robert Frost's poem has been constantly in my head... i feel like my life im taking the road not taken...im so grateful that all my circumstances have gave me experiences that trained me to be more that capable in dealing with employees, suppliers, random things... grateful that i studied in FNH now at UBC and lol and all about AGSC and food security... i want to teach ppl about food security in brunei that would be interesting...
life is so confusing right now i wish i wish i knew what is yet to come like Robert Frost said "Sorry I could not travel both." i wonder what would of happened if i never decided to come to brunei (yet that is history) ... funny i may not know what is going to happen in the future.. but i know who holds the future.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Monday 10 December 2012
This is My life
I was reminded of this song today after having a conversation about life and life decisions...
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you've got now
Yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
And you had everything to lose
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you've got now
Yeah, and today is all you'll ever have
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
And you had everything to lose
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