Project:Gratitude 2012

By Zeng Hanyi
26 March 2012

A few weeks back, the Project:Gratitude Team went down to the University Cultural Centre. People have been participating in Project:Gratitude in the Faculties and Halls, so we decided it was time we brought a word of thanks down to the UCC as well.

Each time we go down to give thanks, we always seem to take something away with us. It was no different this time. We were encouraged once again by how a simple word of thanks and a handwritten card can bring such a joyful smile to the security guard doing her shift at a table. Or the look of pleasant surprise onthe face of the uncle sweeping the dead leavess from the garden, despite having been working in NUS for about 7 years already. Or the look of genuine concern on that uncle’s fellow colleague, as he recounted his regret at not having an education, and therefore exhorted us to take our education seriously. 

It was startling but heartwarming to realized that perhaps this is how some of them find meaning in their work here in NUS – through helping to nurture the next generation of Singaporeans in some small way, as we pursue an education they could not have had. 

We sought to be a blessing to others, and ended up growing in greater thankfulness.  

But what was most ironic, for me at least, was how this whole process began with a concern of artificiality. Others had raised the concern of projects being artificial, and it got stuck in my head as I went down that day. It occurred to me then: “Hey i don’t actually feel entirely comfortable or natural doing this. Am I being artificial to come all the way down here? What does it mean to be genuine?“ 

To be continued …

As Splash Some Colour nears the end of its run, we really hope to hear more of your thoughts and experiences throughout this whole journey! Perhaps you can respond to this post with your thoughts on the issues raised? The support staff’s perception of students? Or your thoughts on engaging in a “project” such as this?

Part 2 will be coming in a few days time, as I continue to share some of my thoughts on “What can it mean to be genuine in our gratitude and interactions then?”

Two weeks on, Amitha shares her thoughts about the Splash Some Colour exhibition:

By Amitha Pagolu, 21 March 2012

The exhibition has been going on for two weeks and I am excited by every sticker that someone has used to Splash Some Colour on our campus. Each sticker is a moment of reflection, an internalization of the need for gratitude, an awareness of the change that can move our campus.

I went down with my best friend, Andrea Ang, to the launch of Splash Some Colour on March 7^th after thanking a cleaner uncle at ADM Block. It was good to share this experience together. I was struck by how a few minutes set aside can awaken our sleeping instincts, can alert us to a forgotten but simple truth.

I hope you get to spend some time reflecting as you read Andrea’s reflections below:

I think gratitude is important especially in our age where we live very insular lives that we tend to forget others or even worse, sometimes people think that others are obliged to pick up after them.

So I like the idea of Project:Gratitude a lot. Especially for those who do want to thank others but might find it awkward to thank them out of the blue, it gives a good opportunity to do so. Although I was a bit shy about giving at first because I didn’t know how the uncle will react, it was really nice to see him so happy and grateful even for such a small gesture.

I think such projects are an important step to bringing gratitude or even just basic courtesy back into our culture and hopefully in the long run, we are able to just thank others naturally. Because then we won’t need projects but it will become part of who we are.

Meanwhile Splash Some Colour! is coming your way at the following two locations:

•    outside Engineering LT6: from 19^th – 23^rd March
•    UTown (outside Koufu: from 26^th – 30^th March 

See you there!

A roaming art exhibition at the National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge Campus: come listen to their stories, share your thoughts and Splash Some Colour!

Here’s how you add some jazz to your thank-yous :) Our resident scrapbooking veteran, Daolin, dishes out a tutorial for snazzier Project:Gratitude cards. Enjoy! :)

And Happy Valentines’ Day, everyone!

When a greeting became a conversation, and then an unexpected friendship.

By Rebekah Koh, 12 February 2012

I really hope what you are about to read can encourage you to be open to talking or simply greeting those around you. You’ll never know how you may be blessed in return!

Before Project:Gratitude 2012

It all started one day last semester when I had to go to school early to prepare for a presentation. At about 8:30 a.m., my group headed to the biz library to print out our presentation slides. I took notice of the auntie who quietly came by to clean the computer desks and decided to greet her with my limited Chinese, “Auntie, 早 (‘Good morning’ in Mandarin)”. These sheer two words initiated a short conversation which allowed me to get to know the auntie a bit more.

The auntie was the one who truly started the ball rolling. She first asked why we were in school so early, whether we’d eaten…and then went on to share, more personally, about what does on in a typical school day for her. As true blue Singaporeans, we talked about food. While conversing about tau huey (beancurd, a kind of Chinese dessert), it surprised me how easy and natural this was going; of course I had my friends who were more fluent in Chinese to help carry it further!

And that was my first memorable encounter with the auntie, whom I unfortunately haven’t gotten the name of.

Later in the semester, I came across Auntie again in the library. She immediately recognised me and gave me a big smile – the kind you want to smile right back at.

“小妹，你好吗?”She asked me how I was, and why I was in school again.

 “Auntie, 你还记得我啊！？(Auntie, you remember me!?)”I exclaimed in surprise.

“当然！(of course!),” she had replied.

I was very touched and encouraged by that morning, and unusually motivated to do work.

Project:Gratitude 

Soon it was the new semester and Project:Gratitude had launched. I was on a personal mission to bring oranges to the school staff who faithfully serve us everyday. (CNY = a lot of oranges at home for me to eat = a very satisfied Rebekah). It occurred to me that I could bring extras in case I bumped into Auntie, although I doubt I would. After so long since we last met, I could hardly recall what she looked like. But I brought the extra oranges anyway.

While rushing from one class to another, I had to go past the library. I came across Auntie sweeping the floor, back facing me. I wasn’t sure if she still remembered me but I wished her “新年快乐 (Happy New Year)” and presented two oranges.

“哇，很美啊！谢谢！ (wow, these are really pretty (oranges), thank you!)”I could sense she was pleasantly surprised.

I really wanted to take a picture with her as a keepsake, and so I will never forget how she looked like… BUT I didn’t know how to put it across! In my broken Chinese I told her I wanted to take a picture with her but got stuck at “因为，因为… (because… because…)

“哎呀，我的华语不太好，我不会说… (Oh, Auntie, I don’t know how to explain it to you, because my Chinese isn’t too good…)”Exasperated, I was on the verge of giving up.

Right there and then, an ex-classmate walked past and I quickly asked her to help me take picture with Auntie. I realised Auntie was really willing and glad to just that and even wanted to find a good photo spot! Haha, silly me, I got caught up with thinking too much when it didn’t matter. I felt really happy and thankful that God had provided the situation for me to show love and encouragement to unexpecting Auntie in my small act of giving oranges :)

I hope this has encouraged you - just be willing and prepared! God has prepared a straight path for me to build this relationship - and His love for you is just as great!

My advice: Be yourself, be natural and the rest will follow :)

Sometimes, we must be intentional to be impactful.

By Sangeetha Watson, 9 February 2012

Two weeks ago, some students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences organised a Chinese New Year steamboat event for the service staff on campus.

In my interactions with them, some of them revealed that they felt inferior to students and that students tended to avoid them or look at them with disdain. They said no one had ever spoken to them as freely as I did.

That really struck a chord in me. The only reason I was being so friendly was because that was what the event was about, in any other situation I would have been polite but curt. I’ve always been quite appreciative of the service staff. I try to smile at them or whisper a “Thank you” when they clear my table, or when they have to stop mopping the floor to let me walk across. But if not for this project, these acts would have remained what they were, self-gratifying and insincere.

I would have felt bad not acknowledging them. Now I voice my appreciation loud and clear. Each time I catch their eye, I will be sure to wish them a good day. And if ever they appear to be interested in having a conversation, I will make the time. 

Putting smiles on their faces also puts a permanent smile on mine.