Myanmar, oh Myanmar... 4 years and counting!

Some soon-to-be students for UTS Sydney who did massive research
work about me and wanted to speak to me in person to know what
motivates me in life. Well, life itself motivates me. Inspiring others
motives me. Love motivates me :) What else would one need?

 On this exact day, I'm marking my 4th year in the Golden Land. I can't believe I lasted through the storms, the power cuts, the internet breakdowns and the excruciating heat :) BUT, I'm a third-world country survivor and lover. Of course I lasted :)

I didn't even think that I would have the time to do my annual anniversary blogpost to mark my "X year in Myanmar". Really, MOH says my full-time job is working part-time! LMAO.

This year, well, this year I got seriously whacked-out busy. I would've thought that letting go of the SoyAi Boys so that they can now start flying on their own would mean I would have a lot more free time in my hands to pursue other passion projects. Well, guess what? Passion projects take up time!!
Sooooo...... what have I been getting myself into after SoyAi?

Well, I say "after SoyAi like I don't care about them anymore but you know, the boys will always be like my brothers and I will always be there for them. I just know that they needed this opportunity to soar. And they are flying. I am so, so, so proud of them. All those hardwork, the crying, the heartbreaks, the screaming, the banging of my head of the walls, the crazy has all finally started bearing small tiny fruits. The boys have truly proven that people CAN TURN THEIR LIVES around. The most recent moment of proudness - was regarding their Youth Centre lease. Previously, they would tell me "Ma Eileen, rental contract finish in June." Full Stop. But last week, they said the same thing, but they added, "But we have a plan!" And they went on elaborating their well thought-out plan. I was impressed. I was thoroughly impressed and seriously - if someone had told me earlier that letting go of them would be the fastest way for them to grow, I would've done it way earlier. I still see the other kids every weekends and spend some time with them. But it's really a little harder now because the caretakers keep changing them. This would be a whole new blog just to explain :/

Anyhoo..... now that the Boys are flying, I've started seriously getting into the coaching thing. I'm coaching everything.... LOL Well, first I'm lecturing at Strategy First Institute - the most established and reputable education centre in Myanmar especially for working professionals. I lecture for the ICM / CIM Diploma subjects : Advertising, Integrated Media and Digital Marketing. Then, I'm also starting my absolute passion - coaching fitness classes :) I mean, I have invested money in the certifications you know! Time to get my ROIs LOL !! For both of these, I do have so much fun doing it but you know, there are certain responsibilities that come with coaching and let's put it this way, the lecture notes don't exactly prepare themselves :P Both my parents were teachers and as such, they're really large shoes to fill. That's why, I don't even qualify as a teacher. Only just a coach :) 2 things I place importance on : "Know What You Don't Know" and "Teach To Inspire". 

I'm happiest when I actually see my students improving..... whether it is in the academic or fitness, it doesn't matter. I just get joy to see them get better. I hope I can continue inspiring them to go get the moon. Cos you know right, if you want the moon, you better bloody go get it yourself :P

Other than that, I am still consulting for CM. I did express my wishes to leave earlier this year and the decision was that DBW would have a think about it. Then just over the weekend, I opened my pay packet and found that I was actually given an increment instead. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What to doooooooooo???? I did speak about wanting additional days off just so I could pursue other consultation work that I would also enjoy. We shall see. But whilst I'm still with CM, I would definitely do my best in every area that I am looking at - including areas I am not - like training people. I suppose, this is a passion more than a responsibility. I wanna make sure people are given the right platforms to surge forwards in their lives. Not always easy. Sometimes I'm talking to the wall. But really, if 1 out of 10 moves up, I think I've done something. Right???

Recently, I also started doing Digital PR consulting for one of the awesome tech start-ups in Myanmar - called Nexlabs whose CEO was named one of the Forbes #30Under30 list. It's quite a change because I get to have so much fun with the digital content.  Like seriously a lot of fun. You'd have to follow Nexlabs FB pages and Instagram pages to see :)

Social work wise, I still haven't given up on starting or looking to volunteer my time on a project that serves to empower women. I've been working with the Boys for so long. I wanna help girls too. I did started chatting with a group that helps abused women and ex-trafficking victims but they were located really too far away. Bums. If anyone out there hear of anything, please let me know!

Meanwhile, I have a flight to catch as I have been invited to attend the Asean Women Social Entreprise Forum in Bangkok. This would be interesting and the SoyAi Boys have packed me a whole bagful of SoyAi Cookies (their proud new product) to bring along with me. We'll see :) I hope I don't finish them before the forum starts!

Myanmar has seen a transition of power from their first real democratic elections. The new opposition government has officially taken over and started administrating. What the results will become is still yet to be seen but everyone can feel the hope in the air. Well, to be honest, I'm so jealous cos this is something Malaysia have yet to achieve - for the opposition team to win. But again, a whole new other story here for another time.

So, Myanmar........ oh Myanmar. I have really grown to love you but truly hate some of the really horrible Myanmar moments like the power cuts because it is excruciatingly hot particularly this year. I hate the traffic. I hate the slow-ass internet. But you know what, we learn to find our way around it - including lecturing in the dark!! Wooots!! What can you do right? You either cry or you chug along and try to get things done as planned :P Even simple stuff like washing your hair (everytime!! :P)

I'm rooting for you, Myanmar. Here's to another awesome year ahead for you and I :)

Below - sharing some of the highlights of the first half of my 2016 in Myanmar :)

I was invited to speak at the Strategy First Forum on Leading Change
in the Digital Era of Myanmar. This pix - from one of my students. LOL

My awesome fit class at Real Fitness Myanmar

Me training the Marketing Team at CMHL.... It's a big team because
CMHL is growing. It's a long road ahead. I'm committed to help 

This is at our Youth Centre for the Pre-Thingyan Party
and this was the day we saw both my passion worlds come together
Students and The Kids :) 

Here with the top celeb in Myanmar - Sai Sai at the One FC 2016

Here at the STEPS Social Enterprise Idea Competition. They wanted
to hear about SoyAi and wanted the founder to speak though I preferred the
SoyAi Boys talk. Well, in the end, we all had to speak! LOL

Told you, no matter what, I will always be there for the Boys.
Here, they needed some help urgently so they came looking for me
at the office..... LOL.