Hi!

I'm here to update on the current status of class fund as of May 08.

$2 was collected from every one in the class, so we had a total sum of $36 for May babies presents.

$36 - $4.80 (2 Singpost parcels) - $30 (Prima Deli's cake) = $1.20 (Remaining class fund)

The extra money we had for every 2 birthday babies month can use to offset for the parcels for the month of 3 birthday babies. So it'll only be $2 for every month for birthday.

I realized despite the cake was 1kg, it wasn't able to feed all of the 18 of us. So maybe we should switch to other cake shop alternatives. Anybody knows of where we can get cakes below $30, and it's delicious and big? It's even better when we can bargain to lower the price with the person like if we can sign an agreement of buying a cake every month from them. Hahaha! Just a suggestion though.

As for the money issue on the presents, I understand it may be quite costly compared to the last year's system where everyone just chipped in a dollar for every one person's birthday. Cerlyn has suggested the idea so it works on the theme of birthday mail. I believe it's more sincere and personal too.

Let's think of this way, instead of the Angel and Mortal game we had last year, the money spent buying gifts for your mortal was brought over to the birthday babies instead. Although it might cost a little more this time. But isn't giving gifts more on about making someone's day, rather than concerning on the values? I understand some of us here may not afford to take on this idea. It's not compulsory for everyone to give a present to the birthday person. It's definitely not about being awkward, or embarrassed if you don't. Chipping in the dollar for the birthday cake, it's also part of gifting.

Even the person who's not very close to you, by sending him/her a small gift shows your sincerity in sending your wishes but at the same time it can be an opportunity of sending your gratitude to that person to how he/she had helped you before. (For eg. the person might had inspired you by suggesting ideas to you, helped you print your assignments, bought your mounting boards, cut your boards, commented on your designs and really many more) These are a few little things that our classmates have done for us without asking for returns. Haha, sorry if I'm going too emotional on this. But I think we should be appreciative of what we have around us and not taking them for granted.

So my point is maybe instead of just chipping the money and let the birthday coordinator do the job of buying the gifts for the birthday people, isn't it better where we get to choose individual gifts for them? And here you can include personal notes in as well.

It doesn't have to be all huge and pricey. It's really the sincerity that counts!

Maybe we can just try this for a few months more? If it's really getting on too much on our expense, we can go back to the old system! :)

Wow, this is a really long post. Sorry if I bore you to tears!

Makiyo

P.S LOL I realized CY had posted a SNSD video below. (Y)