smitten in sydney...

humour me as you read this little story i have to tell from my world youth day experience. it's probably not 100% accurate, but the gist is there...

the whole group was on its way to bondi beach on wednesday for the franciscans' come to the water programme. we took a bus there from st francis of assisi on paddington, a 378 if my memory serves me right. i was initially standing as the bus was packed with many other pilgrims on board.

as the crowd in the bus cleared, i eventually found myself seated on the inner seat of the second last row on the left.

being me, i just kept to myself, staring out the window and drinking in the scenery. suddenly, the girl behind me says hello and asks me where i'm from.

singapore, i reply and then ask her where she's from.

paris, she says.

and we begin to chat. i find out that she's studying law and mention that i had been to paris when i was 10 and i mention the eiffel tower.

"oh," she says. "i think i have something you might like!" and she dips into her bag.

a moment later, she fishes out a little eiffel tower keychain.

"that's for you."

i'm momentarily stunned by her spontaneity and the pretty little keychain. and after a wow, i thank her for the gift and say, "hang on, i've also got a little something for you too." i reach into my pouch and pull out one of the merlion pins dad gave me and hand it to her. "it's not much, but that's a merlion..." and i try to explain what it is and what it stands for.

she takes it, and slides the pin out from the sheath and then pins it on her shirt, which she shows me with a smile on her face.

we talk a little more and before long, we reach our destination: beautiful, beautiful bondi beach.

the bus starts to clear out as everyone starts alighting and eventually, the two of us are left at the back.

"after you," i say as i gesture for her to go on ahead first.

"it's ok, go on ahead first," is the reply.

"it's alright, i insist."

"thank you," she says and moves.

as she does so, she adds in a line with a sincerity and appreciation i have never really felt before.

"you're a gentleman."

as i get off the bus after her, i realise i haven't asked her name.

so i turn around and ask her for it.

it's florence, and i give her my name as we shake hands and part.

and then it started, initially as a regret for not taking a photo with her followed by a regret for not getting her number or contact.

her sincerity and spontaneity, kindness and generosity as well as the connection i felt in that short 5, 10 minutes together has made a large impression on me. i've never felt this way before, especially after such a brief meeting.

yet here i am. a fool, fallen for a girl named florence from paris who gave me a keychain of the eiffel tower.

while it looks more and more likely that it is something that is doomed to remain in the realms of fantasy, what happened was truly real.

if it is meant to be, then it will be.

in the meantime, you can bet that i'll be treasuring that little keychain.

before i leave...

i seriously can't believe world youth day is finally here. i mean it seemed so, so far away when keenan came to talk to us about it last year and told us about the sessions, about the things we would do... then came the sessions and the fundraising and the fellowship and stuff.

and now, here i am, 10 hours before flying off to brisbane.

it's been a wild, wild past few days. lotsa break ups, late night lanning, last-minute shopping plus a long overdue marathon footy session at the cage today. though my naggy back started nagging, it's since gone. inconsistent as usual, but not without some moments that make me smile when i think about them, like the deliberate measured pass that led to the first goal of the day and scoring in the last game. i've come to the conclusion that i operate like a left wingback playmaker, though on the real field, i'd probably die of exhaustion from running up and down the flank like a wild dog.

also managed to get about doing the class and 27 jerseys to boot. can't wait to get them when i come back!

as the clock ticks down to my pilgrimage, i can't help but wonder. what's the weather gonna be like? how cold will it be?? what are we gonna do? who are the people that we're gonna meet? what will they be like?

this is going to be one heckuva 10 days ahead.

see you on the 21st and have a blessed july!