Today I sent off my elder son Noel to the airport for a 5 week attachment to Hong Kong's Ling Nan University. At 19 he is in the final year of his teenagehood if there is such a word. As part of his Polytechnic studies, his course in Humanities and Social Studies requires him to travel for overseas attachments at least once, maybe 2 to 3 times in the 3 year period.
With a tinge of melancholy, i recalled the times when he was just a baby, and my parents would dote on him, lovingly and selflessly coming over to our small apartment almost 20 years ago every single day to play with him when he could barely walk and talk.
Wife with the 2 Young Men
Today, he is off into the world (for almost 5 weeks anyway) with a mission to make it a better place. In their Social enterpreneurship course at the Polytechnic, they will get to meet many people who have been disenfranchised, aged sick, marginalised, or disabled with minimal opportunities in life. I have seen Noel blossom into a fine young man with a heart to serve. Something which my late father Geoffrey had done with no intention of fame or reward. I feel that at least, in this day and age of ever widening incomes and inequality of living standards, the younger generation who have grown up with plenty of good food and travel, feel compelled to help out the less fortunate amongst us in our local as well as regional societies.
Choosing the right fashion current looking specs
Andrew at 16 1/2 years old
A funny anecdote for everyone, today as I sent him to the airport, I wondered aloud why they was a change in airline, when the class was supposed to fly via Jetstar, a budget carrier , to Hong Kong. he said, that many parents complained about the supposedly lower standards of air travel, hence the last minute change to Singapore Airlines which is premium airline with top service and costs. I smiled at the irony of this !!
People going overseas to do good to help poor and disadvantaged people fly premium airlines and expect premium service.
Only in Singapore !!
I wish Noel to make the best of his Overseas Attachment and may he come back with the day to day exposure of staying by himself and friends which is crucial for everyday life in the near future.
Bon Voyage !!
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