The past few years I have been thinking of taking up a lot of enrichment classes, some a continuation from classes I have taken when I was younger, some new courses for interest, some taken half way then dropped out due to lack of time and resources.
Each time I thought of taking a class, there is always some factor against me. First was time. In the past when I was working in those out-of-the-way places, by the time I ended work was after six, and the classes mostly start around half past six or seven in the town area, so by the time I could actually reach there, the classes were already halfway through or finishing. Hence it became unfeasible to take up classes while I was so far away, and the weekend classes were always full at the good times.
But now that I am working in such a convenient area, I can work a little later and still take up classes at the same time. The best news is that, whatever courses I plan to take up, they are all conducted around my office area, so I do not even need to travel far!
These are some of the courses I intend to take up :
1. Scrapbook Making - I have always been interested in making my own cards and gifts, but my superb lack of artistic ability makes it impossible. Now with scrapbooking courses, I can figure out a way to make nice cards as well as beautiful gifts for my friends! Imagine what a handmade photoframe, album or collage will look like! The classes are conducted in the shopping mall just opposite my office.
2. Knitting - I used to have this idea that I want to knit a sweater or scarf for my loved one. In any case, knitting is a rather good hobby to take up because it is so useful and less expensive than when you go and buy a real woollen sweater of scarf! How I wish I can visit a cold place with something handwoven by myself! And the classes are conducted in the shopping mall directly opposite my office too!
3. Jewellery Making - I have a passion for jewellery, especially necklaces. Earrings too, but unfortunately my allergies make me unable to wear costume jewellery earrings, and can only wear authentic gold, silver, white gold or platinum, nothing nickel-based. Hence I thought why not make my own jewellery, then I do not have to keep buying to match my wardrobe? However I was not able to find any jewellery making classes that fit my timing and venue distance, until a jewellery shop opened in the shopping mall opposite my office, and the shop conducts jewellery making classes too!
4. Flower Arrangement - I have always liked a good floral arrangement. What better idea than to make my own flowers during special occasions or family gatherings? At least in my own house next time the place will not look too bare and boring with flowers hanging around and table centrepieces. So when I came across a shop that not only sells flowers but actually conduct classes at the shopping mall opposite my office, I got so excited! However, the shop does not seem to be there anymore, but there is another outlet in another shopping mall about ten minutes walk from my office, so it is not too far off!
5. Dance lessons, particularly Salsa, Tango, Latin, Ballroom, Tap and Ballet - These are continuations from previous lessons I have taken. For salsa, tango, latin and tap, there is this pretty good dance studio at the shopping mall adjacent to my office, so if I do take up those lessons, I can pop by after work. And the ballet classes I am thinking of taking up have a studio on the hill behind my office. Still within walking distance! As for ballroom dancing, the nearest place I found is one train station away at an established studio, but it is still relatively near and do not need to travel so far.
6. Yoga and Pilates - I have attended a trial yoga class and it really helped me to relax. As for Pilates, I heard it is good for losing weight but I have not tried it. There is a studio near my office that offers these classes so I can attend anytime I like!
7. Baking and Cooking - I have taken up some baking and cooking lessons along the way, and have always been trying to improve my own skills on baking and cooking. Recipe books help of course, but nothing beats the hands-on practical applications of actually pounding butter and cutting meat. Furthermore, baking includes cake decorating too, something I have wanted to do!
8. Music classes like Piano, Electone, Violin, Cello, Flute and Harp - I have graduated from piano and electone, and have dabbled a little in violin, cello and flute. But I always wish I can fulfil my childhood dream of being a musician, hence thinking of re-taking up the diploma in music in piano performance, advance grade in electone performance, and then actual lessons in violin, cello, flute and harp. Best news is, there are music schools just opposite my work place, or just one train station away, as well as a harp teacher near where I stay!
9. Singing and Musical Theatre - Never can anything replace my love for singing. Since my voice teacher left a few years back, I have yet to find a replacement teacher for voice. I have wanted to re take classical singing lessons and hopefully go back and sing for the Lyric Opera or some other choral group again! Recently I also discovered musical theatre lessons near my workplace where we can actually have a small performance after the sessions end. What good news indeed!
10. Diving - This is a big step for me. I know how to swim, but it is never one of my favourite things as I never like water going into my ears. I love the sea but I am scared of drowning or being eaten by sharks. It took me lots of courage before I could even go into the sea and snorkel when I was in Phuket a few years back. Despite that, my love for underwater exploration, photography and the wonders of things unknown is slowly emerging the winner, so yes, diving is one course I would like to take up! Hopefully I can be a certified diver and go underwater exploring of the coral reef, fish and beautiful marine life!
11. Foreign languages like Japanese, French, German, Korean, Spanish and Italian - French, the language of love. Italian, the country of love. Spanish and German, two European countries who take very big pride in themselves. Japanese and Korean, the country of tasty food and polite people. What more can I say? Very useful to go travelling if I can speak more than just one language!
12. Ice-Skating and Skiing - Ever since I went to Japan to ski a few years back, I fell in love with skiing and always wanted to try again. Of course, being in a tropical country where there is sun, sun and more sun everyday of the year, there is absolutely no chance to do any skiing here. But there is a place here that offers skating and skiing lessons (very basic of course, definitely nothing to be compared to the actual mountain slopes), so it is better than nothing! Unfortunately, the place that offers these lessons are rather far away from where I stay and work, so I would need to see about the time and schedule.
13. Rollerblading - I have always been afraid of roller-blading as I am afraid of falling and breaking every bone in my body. But then again, what is life if you do not try anything once? After I finally learnt how to cycle, I have been aiming for more things, where roller-blading is top of my list! And the place for lessons are at the beach near my place, so I do not need to go so far!
14. Fencing - Ever since I read "Three Musketeers" and watched "Zorro", I fell in love with swashbucklers! Unfortunately, growing up, fencing was not popular hence there were hardly any schools or professional centres that teach fencing. But nowadays many youngsters take up fencing lessons, and some centres do conduct for adults too. One centre I know is near my office and there is another branch near where I stay too, so I can fight and poke and try my hand at being a swashbuckler to my heart's delight!
15. Horseback Riding - Being a "horse" myself, and after having rode on ponies when I was very young when my family went for a trip to Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Lake Toba, I always thought riding bareback or riding a horse is a very exciting activity. We have the Polo Club here and Turf Club that offers horseback riding lessons, unfortunately these are situated in out-of-the-way spots that make travelling there a tad difficult. Still, it is a good activity to take up and if I can ride a horse, who knows, perhaps I can go riding one day, if that is even possible!
16. Arts and Crafts, particularly Watercolour and Oil Painting, Calligraphy, Sculpting and Pottery - I am never an art person, but I do appreciate nice works of art. Unfortunately, I cannot draw or paint to save my life. Yet I have always been fascinated by pictures of artists holding a pastel and painting on canvas or a mural, and always thought what more beautiful way to capture the scenery (besides photography) than to paint the actual landscape? Besides, it will also be a nice gesture to give as a gift, and also if I can make a little plate from clay. I have yet to find a place where they give reasonable rates for adult art classes, thought, but I sure am going to continue looking and searching!
So these are the courses I would like to take up, and the good news is that most of these courses are just at the doorsteps of my office area! Ah... that is the joy of working in town! You end up actually saving money because everything is at your doorstep and do not need to spend so much travelling around!
Each time I thought of taking a class, there is always some factor against me. First was time. In the past when I was working in those out-of-the-way places, by the time I ended work was after six, and the classes mostly start around half past six or seven in the town area, so by the time I could actually reach there, the classes were already halfway through or finishing. Hence it became unfeasible to take up classes while I was so far away, and the weekend classes were always full at the good times.
But now that I am working in such a convenient area, I can work a little later and still take up classes at the same time. The best news is that, whatever courses I plan to take up, they are all conducted around my office area, so I do not even need to travel far!
These are some of the courses I intend to take up :
1. Scrapbook Making - I have always been interested in making my own cards and gifts, but my superb lack of artistic ability makes it impossible. Now with scrapbooking courses, I can figure out a way to make nice cards as well as beautiful gifts for my friends! Imagine what a handmade photoframe, album or collage will look like! The classes are conducted in the shopping mall just opposite my office.
2. Knitting - I used to have this idea that I want to knit a sweater or scarf for my loved one. In any case, knitting is a rather good hobby to take up because it is so useful and less expensive than when you go and buy a real woollen sweater of scarf! How I wish I can visit a cold place with something handwoven by myself! And the classes are conducted in the shopping mall directly opposite my office too!
3. Jewellery Making - I have a passion for jewellery, especially necklaces. Earrings too, but unfortunately my allergies make me unable to wear costume jewellery earrings, and can only wear authentic gold, silver, white gold or platinum, nothing nickel-based. Hence I thought why not make my own jewellery, then I do not have to keep buying to match my wardrobe? However I was not able to find any jewellery making classes that fit my timing and venue distance, until a jewellery shop opened in the shopping mall opposite my office, and the shop conducts jewellery making classes too!
4. Flower Arrangement - I have always liked a good floral arrangement. What better idea than to make my own flowers during special occasions or family gatherings? At least in my own house next time the place will not look too bare and boring with flowers hanging around and table centrepieces. So when I came across a shop that not only sells flowers but actually conduct classes at the shopping mall opposite my office, I got so excited! However, the shop does not seem to be there anymore, but there is another outlet in another shopping mall about ten minutes walk from my office, so it is not too far off!
5. Dance lessons, particularly Salsa, Tango, Latin, Ballroom, Tap and Ballet - These are continuations from previous lessons I have taken. For salsa, tango, latin and tap, there is this pretty good dance studio at the shopping mall adjacent to my office, so if I do take up those lessons, I can pop by after work. And the ballet classes I am thinking of taking up have a studio on the hill behind my office. Still within walking distance! As for ballroom dancing, the nearest place I found is one train station away at an established studio, but it is still relatively near and do not need to travel so far.
6. Yoga and Pilates - I have attended a trial yoga class and it really helped me to relax. As for Pilates, I heard it is good for losing weight but I have not tried it. There is a studio near my office that offers these classes so I can attend anytime I like!
7. Baking and Cooking - I have taken up some baking and cooking lessons along the way, and have always been trying to improve my own skills on baking and cooking. Recipe books help of course, but nothing beats the hands-on practical applications of actually pounding butter and cutting meat. Furthermore, baking includes cake decorating too, something I have wanted to do!
8. Music classes like Piano, Electone, Violin, Cello, Flute and Harp - I have graduated from piano and electone, and have dabbled a little in violin, cello and flute. But I always wish I can fulfil my childhood dream of being a musician, hence thinking of re-taking up the diploma in music in piano performance, advance grade in electone performance, and then actual lessons in violin, cello, flute and harp. Best news is, there are music schools just opposite my work place, or just one train station away, as well as a harp teacher near where I stay!
9. Singing and Musical Theatre - Never can anything replace my love for singing. Since my voice teacher left a few years back, I have yet to find a replacement teacher for voice. I have wanted to re take classical singing lessons and hopefully go back and sing for the Lyric Opera or some other choral group again! Recently I also discovered musical theatre lessons near my workplace where we can actually have a small performance after the sessions end. What good news indeed!
10. Diving - This is a big step for me. I know how to swim, but it is never one of my favourite things as I never like water going into my ears. I love the sea but I am scared of drowning or being eaten by sharks. It took me lots of courage before I could even go into the sea and snorkel when I was in Phuket a few years back. Despite that, my love for underwater exploration, photography and the wonders of things unknown is slowly emerging the winner, so yes, diving is one course I would like to take up! Hopefully I can be a certified diver and go underwater exploring of the coral reef, fish and beautiful marine life!
11. Foreign languages like Japanese, French, German, Korean, Spanish and Italian - French, the language of love. Italian, the country of love. Spanish and German, two European countries who take very big pride in themselves. Japanese and Korean, the country of tasty food and polite people. What more can I say? Very useful to go travelling if I can speak more than just one language!
12. Ice-Skating and Skiing - Ever since I went to Japan to ski a few years back, I fell in love with skiing and always wanted to try again. Of course, being in a tropical country where there is sun, sun and more sun everyday of the year, there is absolutely no chance to do any skiing here. But there is a place here that offers skating and skiing lessons (very basic of course, definitely nothing to be compared to the actual mountain slopes), so it is better than nothing! Unfortunately, the place that offers these lessons are rather far away from where I stay and work, so I would need to see about the time and schedule.
13. Rollerblading - I have always been afraid of roller-blading as I am afraid of falling and breaking every bone in my body. But then again, what is life if you do not try anything once? After I finally learnt how to cycle, I have been aiming for more things, where roller-blading is top of my list! And the place for lessons are at the beach near my place, so I do not need to go so far!
14. Fencing - Ever since I read "Three Musketeers" and watched "Zorro", I fell in love with swashbucklers! Unfortunately, growing up, fencing was not popular hence there were hardly any schools or professional centres that teach fencing. But nowadays many youngsters take up fencing lessons, and some centres do conduct for adults too. One centre I know is near my office and there is another branch near where I stay too, so I can fight and poke and try my hand at being a swashbuckler to my heart's delight!
15. Horseback Riding - Being a "horse" myself, and after having rode on ponies when I was very young when my family went for a trip to Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Lake Toba, I always thought riding bareback or riding a horse is a very exciting activity. We have the Polo Club here and Turf Club that offers horseback riding lessons, unfortunately these are situated in out-of-the-way spots that make travelling there a tad difficult. Still, it is a good activity to take up and if I can ride a horse, who knows, perhaps I can go riding one day, if that is even possible!
16. Arts and Crafts, particularly Watercolour and Oil Painting, Calligraphy, Sculpting and Pottery - I am never an art person, but I do appreciate nice works of art. Unfortunately, I cannot draw or paint to save my life. Yet I have always been fascinated by pictures of artists holding a pastel and painting on canvas or a mural, and always thought what more beautiful way to capture the scenery (besides photography) than to paint the actual landscape? Besides, it will also be a nice gesture to give as a gift, and also if I can make a little plate from clay. I have yet to find a place where they give reasonable rates for adult art classes, thought, but I sure am going to continue looking and searching!
So these are the courses I would like to take up, and the good news is that most of these courses are just at the doorsteps of my office area! Ah... that is the joy of working in town! You end up actually saving money because everything is at your doorstep and do not need to spend so much travelling around!
