A Valentine's Dinner & Dance at 105 Gibson Centre, Markham

Valentine's celebration at 105 Gibson Centre, Markham, Ont.

We had a great Valentine dinner last night at the 105 Gibson Centre!

The stage was set for the evening's entertainment

 We were fortunate to attend this special Valentine celebration as organizers prepared dinners for fifty couples only and tickets were sold out a week prior to the event.
 

VIP - Visually Impaired People preparing for the special event

 This special event was organized, prepared and served by staff members who are V.I.Ps ( visually impaired people) and volunteers of the Cultural Cafe.

A centre piece at the Valentine dinner

Guests were seated by event volunteers

We were surprised at the turn out of the evening as the event took place on a frigid windy night in the middle of a cold harsh Canada winter with temperature hovering at -20 degree C.!

 When we got there, we were seated at a table set for two people while there were tables with groups of guests attending as a group together.

The centre piece on a dinner table at the Valentine Dinner

The tables were decorated with tea lights placed in wine glasses or small glass bowls hand decorated with colourful tissue paper.

There were many student volunteers serving at the dinner. As soon as we sat down, we were served with water and drinks.

A guest taking part in the Karaoke

Before dinner was served, guests were encouraged to take part in karaoke - singing in front of other guests accompanied by a full band with the song lyrics showing on the screen. 

Never a shy person, I went up and performed my favourite song as well!

Dinner started with a fresh shrimp & green salad

Dinner started with a fresh shrimp green salad, topped with a couple of fresh bread sticks.

We liked the salad because the salad was very fresh with the dressing not too sour nor too creamy; it was just right!

Main course - delicious salmon served over tender vegetables

For our main course, we were given two choices - roasted chicken or baked salmon.

We were glad we ordered the fish which was baked with a crusty bread coating served over very tender baby asparagus and  something like potato pancakes.

The dish was delicious! Both the salmon and vegetables were cooked to perfection, with nothing overcooked or too raw. Professional quality indeed!

This chocolate dessert was heavenly!

While the dinner was delicious, with a generous portion, the chocolate dessert served to me was simply heavenly!

I am not a person who likes really sweet desserts, but that was the best dessert I have ever tasted beating any desserts I had at any five star restaurants.

Musical  entertainment at the dinner

Over desserts and hot drinks, guests were entertained by different musicians.

Guests enjoying dancing to great music

We even had a quick lesson on Cha Cha and Rhombus!

After our quick lesson, guests took to the dance floor and danced their hearts out.

Guests enjoying the entertainment

 Before we attended the Valentine dinner and dance, we did not know what to expect.

Pastor Larry & his band provided beautiful music for the evening

To our pleasant surprise, the quality of food, music, entertainment and the outcome of the event were beyond our expectations!

Organizers of the Valentine dinner & dance

The whole event would not have been possible without the excellent organization, dedication and commitment of Pastor Jonathan - director of 105 Gibson Centre, Pastor Larry-Music Pastor, and Rev. Danny - the person who pours his heart and soul leading his team of hard working VIPs of the Cultural Cafe.

It was evident that the 105 Gibson Centre and the Cultural Cafe teams have worked really hard to prepare for this Valentine event

 Congratulations are in order for both teams. Keep up the outstanding work you have been doing!  We look forward to the next event and we definitely will be back to the Cultural Cafe for more scrumptious food!

R.T.
105 Gibson Centre
Markham, Ontario

What to do if your job interview did not go well?

 Recently, a young person emailed me and told me that the interview he had the day before yesterday for the job he wanted went pretty poorly,.

Please go to my  blog post about interviews  which I hope will help people looking for work be prepared for some of the questions that might be asked by potential employers.

I cannot stress enough the importance of being extremely well prepared for the job interview. Getting an interview means that you have 50% of getting that job you really want. Potential employers give job applicants the interview to cement their belief that this will be the right person for the job advertised.

So please note the following when you are preparing for your job interviews:

1. Research on the company to which your are applying for

You must do good research on the company for which your are applying. Knowing the company's history, organization structure, their company culture and products will help you ti understand the company more. The interviewers will be impressed by the hard work you have put into learning about their company. 

Some very common questions are:

- Tell us something about yourself - which means your experience as related to the job, not your life history

-  Why are you applying for this job?

-  What do you know about our company?

-  What do you know about our products/ services /  programs?

2. Be aware that we live in a global village

As our societies are getting more global becoming one big global village, you need to become familiar with the cultures and some of their pop culture if you are applying to a foreign company or for a position overseas.

Besides learning about the company as much as possible, you need to be familiar with and be able to name some of the following:

- Famous books or authors of that particular culture/ country

- Name of the president, political leader of that country / name of the CEO of that company

- Some high profile politicians, popular celebrities such as singers or movie stars

- Some famous tourist sites about that country

If you are asked about similar questions, you will be able to talk about it with some information at hand as you have already done the research.This also shows that you are a well read and very kin applicant.

Many people do possess the required qualifications and experiences, but you will need to stand head and shoulders above others and distinguish yourself from among the many equally qualified applicants competing for the same positions.

3. The Inevitable questions at the end

 Towards the end of the interview, applicant usually will be asked this question:

" Do you have any questions for us?"

Unless you have a very relevant/ good question for the interviewers, please do not think that you have to ask any irrelevant questions. If you have no questions, you are letting a good opportunity to slip away to make an impression on the interviewer team. 

A good possible answer can be: No, I don't have any questions as you have explained everything to me clearly. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity for this interview...." Then you can just summarize your strengths in a few sentences and then thank the interviews.

4. Trust in God for His grace and mercy!

A few years ago, a lady was about to go to her interview for a promotion. She called and asked for advice We went over some questions and she went to the interview which she felt was a disaster.

 God has many lessons for us to learn. If your interview went really well, then you will be extremely proud of yourself, thinking that you deserve the job and that you have done it on your own. 

But that lady friend of mine knew  that the interview went was a disaster, if it's in God's will to give u this job, He will perform a miracle and  stir the interviewers' heart. Don't be discouraged. I

I remember someone said:" If you want to succeed, double your failure rate" 

5. Keep trying hard and accumulating good interview experience which will help you in the future to obtain your desired job.

 As the interview experience is still fresh on your mind, have a notebook reserved for your interviews and write down what you need to do in your future interviews So that you will not learn from your mistakes.

In my younger days going through those interviews for promotions in my career,  that was what I did and eventually I became very confident and at ease at any interview situation. 

If God is going to give someone a responsible job, it will be a hardworking and humble person who is willing to learn from his/her mistakes.

R.T.
Director - TECA
Toronto Education & 
Communications Associates
Toronto, Ontario

Receiving Visitors From Norway!

 The table is set to receive our friends for coffee and dessert!

Loved and surrounded by our children, immediate family members, we are also very fortunate to have a community of really nice folks who care and support us.

We are grateful to our pastoral staff who often offer encouragement and assistance to us whenever there is a  situation, be it be minor or a serious one.

I am proud of my simple but tasty creations for our guests!

Therefore, we invited Pastor M., her son and his girl friend both of whom living in Norway and were in Toronto for the holiday to come and visit us.

Receiving our guests from Norway

Not a good cook, I can't just whip up something or bake some cookies for our guests in an instance.

However, I did get inspired by a dinner party I went not long ago and created something special for my guests.

Celebrating Pastor Monica's birthday in our home

We sat down at the dining table and before we realized it, we talked for a few hours already! It was really interesting listening to M.'s story, his work and his deep sea diving experience in Norway.

It happened that on the evening of their visit was Pastor M.'s birthday and they brought with them a birthday cake.




We lit the candles, turned off the lights, sang the happy birthday song and celebrated Pastor M.'s birthday right in our home.

I am not a domesticated person who can prepare a fancy dinner that requires hours of work.

Entertaining with simple desserts and tea/coffee

However, I was delighted that with just some simple desserts, we could linger over tea/ coffee, shared our stories and had a fabulous time with our friends all the way from Norway!

R.T.
Entertaining with Simple Food at Home
Toronto

Celebrating a Little Girl's One Year Old Birthday!

A birthday party!

The one year old birthday is pretty important in our North America culture.

We were invited to our grand niece - Harper's one year old birthday party last weekend to celebrate her very first birthday!

Hi, Dad, I love my birthday cake!

We got there around 2:30p.m. in time to catch Harper cutting  her birthday cake. 

Grandpa and the birthday girl!

 The party was held at the party room of the parents' downtown condo, a beautiful and intimate setting for a celebration with family and  friends.












There were a lot of guests at the party. Most of the uncles, aunties, granduncles and grand aunts, friends of both parents braced the cold,  made an effort and attended the little girl's milestone event.

"Cookie Monster, stay away from my yuummmmmy Cake!"

We could see that the birthday girl was having a good time, really enjoying her cake!

Birthday party - a family event

After the birthday cake was cut and served, guests were invited to go for a dip in the condo pool if they brought their bathing suits and would like to splash around for a while with their little ones.











 We stayed around in the party room and caught up with people we had not seen for a little while.

Busy opening gifts with Mom

Then the favourite part of the party - opening gifts! Guests were asked to sit, open the gift they brought  and post with the birthday girl and had pictures taken with her.


Gifts were piled high on the table for this little birthday girl who could barely walk nor talk. But her smile was endearing!

Grandma, what's in that gift bag?

Harper's eyes sparkled and the way she reached into the gift packages, she really knew that this was her special day!











There were numerous birthday presents brought to congratulate Harper's first birthday.

She received many nice and generous gifts.

H. got a toy piano as a birthday gift

Among the gifts Harper received was a toy piano.

The adults were just as interested in the toys!

Judging from the interest displayed by some of the guests, I think the guests liked the little piano as much as the one year old Harper! 

The birthday girl loved the picnic set!

Some interesting birthday gifts for the little one!

One of the gifts that seemed to have captured the birthday girl's attention was a picnic set that came in a plastic picnic basket containing forks, cups, plates, play food items such as a sandwich, cookies, crackers etc. It even came with its very own kid size picnic tablecloth ready to be enjoyed!


As soon as it was set up and spread on the floor for her, Harper started grabbing things from the plate, trying and biting into the plastic food and playing with the various pieces.

Kids do like their toys!

Knowledge is Power! I am starting early!

Evidently, the birthday girl also liked books too!
Harper got some books among the gifts she received.  Right away, she enjoyed being read to by a couple of the guests.

Amid the excitement of opening so many gifts, I was surprised to see this one year old sitting still, focusing on the pages and pouring over the content of the book.

She will be one heck of a scholar one day! 

Gifts are always special, especially those that are made personally by the guests. There were two such gifts.

One of the birthday gifts was a black and white pencil portrait of Harper by one of the invited guests. It was a stunning piece!

Another one was a special cake resembling  a floral arrangement made by Harper's aunt, Wendy.

The cake looked too pretty to be consumed!

Hello, grandma and grandpa and my aunt Wendy!

Harper is a very lucky girl!   There were her wonderful parents, grandparents on both sides, extended families and her parents' long time friends celebrating with her at her one year old party.

I love my grandma!

She is surrounded by numerous loving family members, relatives, and her parents' close friends lending her support and guidance as she starts into the next stage of her life as a little tot!

Happy Birthday and Best Wishes to you, Harper!

R.T.
Toronto

An Unforgetable House Dinner in Markham!

One of our host's creations

Canadians love to host and attend dinner parties.

Why not? Middle class Canadians do live in nice homes with  good size living rooms and dining rooms for entertaining.

The gregarious host and her guests

The Canadian weather is cold for more than half a year and many of our activities are held indoors.

What is better than hosting a cosy dinner at your own comfortable home and sharing it with great friends.

Toasting to a memorable dinner party!

We have been to numerous dinner parties over the  years. But the one we attended last Saturday topped it all.

An extraordinary dinner party hosted by one of our friends

Our hosts moved all their furniture from their living room replacing it with a custom made dining table that could sit twenty four guests.

Our hosts and some of the guests

Instead of having our dinner buffet style, we were seated comfortably and the different courses were served all night at our seats by our hosts - Francis and Amelia.

Abalone served on fresh sliced cucumbers

 There was a menu all typed up and placed on the table so we knew exactly what we would be eating.

 Dinner started with three trays of raw and cooked sushi paired with warm saki served in tiny Asian style cups, followed by abalone served on fresh sliced cucumbers.

Yuummmmy potato and shrimp salad!

 In all, there were three appetizers, a seafood soup, four main courses and three different kinds of desserts!

It was a dinner unlike any other we ever had, a feast fit for a king!

Each guest was served his/her own freshly cooked lobster!

The most surprising element of the dinner was when the hosts showed us a case of fresh lobsters and then cooked them in the kitchen and served them to us right after.

We were given a quick lesson on how to remove the meat from our lobster professionally like a Newfoundlander in the Canadian east!

It definitely helped us to remove the lobster from its shell much easier and enjoy our lobster in a cleaner manner. 

This extraordinary dinner was generously hosted by a lovely couple, Francis and Amelia.
It was evident that they spent a lot of time and efforts preparing this dinner for us.

All the guests enjoyed the extraordinary dinner tremendously!

We appreciated their kindness and thoughtfulness in receiving us into their home. The dinner invitation gave us the opportunity to visit their home and get to know them on a more personal level and learn about their hobbies and talents.

Amelia created these lifelike miniature fruit and vegetable 

We discovered that Francis is a very handy person who not only custom made their dining table that can accommodate from eight to twenty four guests, but also finished their entire basement himself making it a great living space!





Amelia pursues her hobby in arts and crafts and creates many lifelike miniature daily objects being displayed around their home.












Francis, complimented his wife's craft talents and made both the miniature and regular size display shelves ( such as the one on the left ) for her creations. We were blown away by the beautiful and artful projects made by both of them.

It was a fantastic memorable evening! Most of all we had a marvelous time with lovely folks whom we befriended while working on a  charity project! Good deeds do pay off!

R.T.
At a feast fit for a king!
Markham, Ontario

Homecoming and Sharing Adventure Stories in Southern China

A get together with friends

It has been really nice having our son home!

The whole house seemed to have come alive with him around!

Nanking Road, Shanghai, China

J. introduced to us the cute little gadgets he brought back from Asia for us and his young cousins.

J. in Shanghai, China

He is happy, lively and keeps sharing with us about his teaching life in Asia enthusiastically.

A traditional Miao minority house

Before coming back to Canada, he visited China recently and recounted his experience positively.

Rice Terrace, Guilin Region

J.'s visits included a number of famous sites in China, such as Shanghai, southern China including the Rice Terrace in Guilin.

J. and the Miao people, Guilin, China

J. has always been interested in different cultural and minority groups.


 This time he visited the Miao minority group in the rice terrace region

Guilin, China

 He said the mountain scenery in the Guilin area was breathtaking!

Neighbour and friends came to visit J. in Toronto

Add caption

We hosted a couple of dinners for the neighbours and young people to get together.





J.'s cousins, Jordon, Melody and Monica both came after work to see him.

Some of J.'s  friends travelled a good distance to come and visit him.

J. opening his Christmas presents at home

We tried to do things together and enjoy each other's company.

These moments of the family being together are precious. I have a feeling that it will be a little while before he comes back to Canada again as our son keeps telling us how much he enjoys living in Asia.

On the day he left for Asia, we prayed, thanked God, and shared a bible passage with him.

Before he left the house, J. opened his Christmas presents. We spent the evening watching a show by Shun Yun at the Song Centre. We all enjoyed the show, especially J, who has shown a great interest in Chinese cultures since his traveled there.

A traditional house in Guilin area

We took him to the airport and sent him off. I was filled with emotions and sad to see him go.
I know as parents we need to release our grown children. I cried a little. J. asked us to pray with him before he went inside the terminal.

We prayed and asked for God's blessings and guidance for our son!

J. has fallen in love with Asia, especially China

All the best to you, son, and may God protect you, guide you and light your way in Asia, the place where you have fallen in love with and welcomes you!

R.T.
Toronto
Missing our son already!