Word of the week - Enabler

Yesterday I was at the Parkson food court with M when we both bumped into a mutual friend who had come to eat on his own...coming to think of it - we do go to Parkson quite a bit huh? So anyway, yeah, we were all talking about future plans and the usual..'so when are you leaving' Vietnam conversation popped up. I used to get conversations that would usually start by 'how long have you been living here already..?' but now after a year, it goes more like 'oh....so when are you leaving?' followed with a grin that says "just give it up - you know you hate it here so stop pretending and go home!"

So friend mentioned above was just about to start eating while we were about to leave (he had invited himself over to our table) and us being us, didn't have the heart to leave him alone. Started talking and the usual conversations came up. M was of course excited to tell him that she was leaving to seek a new adventure in a new country. And we then asked him about HIS plans. He's been in Vietnam for almost 3 years now (i think) and he then shared with us a brilliant idea about starting a culinary school for the underpriviledged children in central Vietnam. He's going to house it in a mini boutique residence that he'll manage so he'll be able to generate income and allow the kids to study culinary skills for free at the 'institute' - which will be obviously in the boutique residence.

Social business is what he coined it as. BUT he told us that in order to do so, he still needs a job at least for the next couple of years - corporate most likely just so it can enable him to fund his dream project...this will eventually be his retirement job/home and in a way, he wants to help the society as well. He shared with us many different ideas during lunch while chomping down his food. So yeah, whatever said and done, he said he still needs money - the ENABLER - that will then fund his retirement project(s). And why would he start thinking now about retirement since he's just more or less in between my age and M's? Well ladies and gentlemen, because he's a Singaporean!!!! (i forgot to mention that bit in the begining) and they're always just one up on us Malaysians! So yeah, here's wishing him all the best with future jobs which whill ENABLE him to save up and fund his cause at the end of the journey :)

I better start thinking of my retirement plans now too if it's not already happening! ;)