In The Pearl of the Orient
Graduated from the Seminary and now doing the last lap of exams that go with all this.

Am now in Penang, College General to be precise. The place where all other Seminaries within the SEA region had its start and owe their traditions and origin to. Been here since Sunday and already have gotten to the pace and setting of the life here. The siminarians here are not too different from those in Singapore. But I must say that they are more friendlier and open with one another and thsi seems to have rubbed off onto the formators too. Everyone here is friend and brother on the journey towards the priesthood.

There are altogether 6 of us who will be doing the Bacca exams. Two from this College, 3 of us from Singapore and one from Kuching Seminary. The questions for our written and oral (29th Nov and 5th Dec, respectively) have already been drawn two nights ago. So now it is only a matter of time before we put all our preparation onto paper and oral presentation. What a way to graduate from the Seminary!

Meanwhile, as long as I stick to my schedule, I should be able to finish what I have set out for and still have about two days or so for tying up loose ends before I get 'burned' for the Bacca. But I am not letting this spoil my fun in Penang island. Christopher, an ex-Franciscan is here and volunteered to take us around the place. After the last oral exam we have 4 days to explore Penang before we head back to Singapore.

For the time being, College General would be my home a while and the people here are wonderful hosts (supper last night!, giving us rooms that face the sea, seeing to all our needs, etc...).