SSEAYP bpy06

GREETINGS...

Dearest BPY for the year 2006 and fellow readers,

I joined the youth ship program in 2005 and met many interesting characters I never thought I would ever encounter in my lifetime. Many tears were shed, but many friendships were built as well... I have gained families around ASEAN and Japan, and we are still in touch on a very regular basis! (My Vietnamese mum just called a few seconds ago... asking when I would be going there again since RBA is flying into the city!) ~ SIGH! How do you try to explain 'busy"?

As you all know, being a youth leader, especially in a culture where men are more dominant, was a very interesting experience. I may have shared some 'stories' with all of you, and all of them true, no matter how silly or sordid it may have sounded. Being a leader is TOUGH, but it gets easier with co-operation amongst ourselves.

I come to see all of you practice, sometimes, when I have the time and energy left in this body and mind of mine to spare towards the end of the day... And when I do see all of you, memories of what I have gone through floods through my mind... Even a wall I created can't contain the rush of desire to get on and join the ship again. Its an opportunity of a lifetime (I am sure many of the ex BPYs have said that to you...) but it is, and its true. Try and maximise your time. However, everyone can enjoy it a bit more if we all work together and look after our individual discipline especially timekeeping. Not to mention it would add less grey hairs onto your Youth Leader and his assistant's heads! Poor souls...

Your turn and time is coming up soon and I sincerely wish all of you have a great time, get to enjoy every waking moment you are still in the program and have dreamless nights (Dijauhkan nightmares!) I envy you going into the ship and leaving me behind. I envy that you all get to travel and leave me behind. I envy the fact that you would be having fun and me slaving at work in Brunei. But I had my chance... and so will you. Always remember.. You go as a group, you stay as a group and you leave as a group.

If nothing else goes wrong, I should be greeting you in Brunei's waters when the ship docks. I'll take LEAVE especially for this moment. The ship won't be coming back to us for a while after this year, or so the news travels to my ears...

So do enjoy yourself and have a blast. Last words from me... Be kind to each other!

Lots of love, and best wishes,
Meela Aliuddin
YL 2005