Dear Friends,
After 15 wonderful years, I will be stepping away from my role as Cultural Program Manager at Lan Su Chinese Garden.
I still remember the first time I walked through the garden gates in 2009—it felt like coming home. As someone born in Penang, Malaysia, and a proud descendant of the Straits Chinese, stepping into Lan Su reminded me of the beauty, heritage, and traditions I grew up with. What began as a volunteer experience quickly became a lifelong connection.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape the garden’s cultural programming into what it is today — a space for meaningful engagement, education, and celebration. I have especially cherished working alongside so many of you during our major festivals like Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn celebration. From setting up craft tables and guiding families through hands-on activities, to being our event support, your presence made each celebration more vibrant, joyful, and seamless. These moments of shared effort and dedication truly brought the garden to life, and I’m so grateful for the care and energy you brought to every event.
As I turn the page to a new chapter, I’m filled with excitement and hope – not only for what’s next in my own journey, but for all that’s on the horizon for Lan Su as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. This milestone reflects not only the garden’s lasting beauty, but also its growing role as a cultural and community anchor. The vision for the future Lan Su Annex is especially inspiring. I truly believe it will become a vibrant extension of the garden — creating even more opportunities to uplift voices, build community, and honor culture in deeper, lasting ways, while opening new doors for connection, learning, and celebration for generations to come. Volunteers will continue to play a vital role in shaping this future, helping to welcome, support, and inspire all who walk through the garden gates.
To our incredible volunteers — your continued presence as volunteers will keep the heart of the garden beating strong. You are the welcoming smiles, the helpful hands, and the joyful energy that make every visitor’s experience memorable. I’m also looking forward to staying connected with the garden in a different way — perhaps through volunteering again! You haven’t seen the last of me yet.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for walking this journey with me. The moments we shared — the laughter, the challenges, the celebrations — have left a lasting imprint on my heart. I’ll treasure them always and feel incredibly lucky to have shared this chapter of my life with you.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Maggie Lim
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