JT's continuation

Card Crafting 4

2011-08-30T13:06:00.005+08:00

I've been crafting again! So thankful to have time to rest and relax. The great part was using my friend's stamps and stuff. She's got a whole room dedicated to scrapbooking! Gosh.

For my EL CT. ^^

For the one who likes to eat alone... haha

The king of one-liners and bad English. LOL

My music CT. From henceforth, the MU dept has doubled in size. LOL

This one will be going down the road to greener pastures... light green pastures. ^^

For the one who shares my angst with the NT classes. ^^

The senior teacher who really doesn't act senior!

For the hyperactive woman who's decked out in pink. ^^

For the one who claimed from day one to be of HOD material. LOL!

Entertainment

2011-07-19T22:49:00.004+08:00

It draws us from the real world.

A hoax that feeds us dreams, crafts our mind's eyes and tempts us with things out of our reach.

For a short while, the stars so far away, are our best friends.

Their play of woes and joys, are shared and felt as our own.

We do not tear off this veil from our eyes, just so as to mask our true lives and shield our hearts from hurts and wounds that plague us day and night.

But when the switch is off, and all is still, our loss is clear.

Life has slipped past. We were and still are in the dark.

Card Crafting 3

2011-05-24T21:12:00.004+08:00

For one of my music classmates at teachers' college, who is sweet but fierce.

For the foreign music classmate who never fails to amuse / irritate / bemuse / confound me with his crazy ideas.

For the music classmate who is ALWAYS prepared and likes to be that way. LOL

Lastly, for my poor cell member whose birthday I forgot to celebrate, a belated birthday card.

Card Crafting 2

2011-05-15T01:20:00.004+08:00

I've not been doing much crafting for such a long time that a layer of dust accumulated over all my stamps and cutters. Anyway, my teaching practicum is over so I finally found some time to do up some cards. I've much to give thanks for and much to ponder over and reflect on. Sigh... Oh well, there's always going to be room for improvement, just that my room is that big.

My belated Mother's Day card.

For my CT (mentoring/supervising teacher),
who teaches with spice, sweetness and strictness all in one.

For my CT (I've two mentoring teachers), who is patience, detailed-oriented(ness) and incredible responsibility embodied.

Card Crafting

2011-02-20T02:11:00.010+08:00

I need to record all the crafts I do... The problem is, I don't keep the crafts, I usually make them to be given away. I don't have even a picture of my creations; bookmarks, cards, booklets etc. Zilch. So I decided, enough is enough, time to keep a track of my creations before they leave my hands for good.

The first set I started. Given to a punk-rocker chick. ^_^

This one's still with me, still two minds about giving it away cos the stamping's a little scuffed up.

This one was given away to the Rose among the thorns, the DJ.

This one's for the pianist composer. Still with me though.

This one's for the drama queen shopping extraordinaire.

Finally, this one's for the little girl who lives in dreams. LOL

Malacca Discovery

2011-01-01T14:21:00.003+08:00

I'm always thrilled to find a spot of greenery in the midst of a busy street.

Pretty Woman

2010-12-09T19:23:00.005+08:00

I was watching Pretty Woman, ostensibly to locate a particular song in the soundtrack for a lesson I'm planning, but basically watching the movie again... Haha

I've located my favourite scenes: firstly it's when Vivan and Edward go to the opera. Noo.... it's my favourite because of the opera, but when everyone looks at her as she walks down the hall.

I think it must have been every girl's fantasy or at least my childhood fantasy to be an attractive woman and have everyone admire you. Maybe that's why walking down the aisle on your wedding day is a must. It's your day for everyone's attention to be centred on you and for you to be dressed in the finest.

My second favourite is this scene when Edward and Vivian spend the day together and go horseback riding in the setting sun.

Besides the cool factor of having the horse riding skills, the glow of the setting sun on Vivian's red hair and Edward in an open collar shirt just spells Burberry. Maybe it's the gap... you usually see Edward in corporate suits, and being in a relaxed mood, plus the good looks just made me go over this short scene over and over again. LOL

Taking a break

2010-11-27T02:05:00.002+08:00

December is coming!

Great finds in NIE bookshop - cheap plain black books.

I'm happy personalizing them.

Quote of the day

2010-11-08T00:46:00.002+08:00

"Ask not what your country can do for you -
ask what you can do for your country"

- John F.Kennedy

The Simple Pleasures of Life

2010-10-25T12:58:00.003+08:00

It's kinda fun to learn stuff like this. Seriously.

In the midst of thunderstorms

2010-10-23T17:31:00.003+08:00

The most incredible experience of living in the tropics must be the monsoon season. I have not appreciate it much, seeing it mostly as a problem for drying clothes, and getting extremely wet. Today however, being in position to witness so many lightening streaks in the air, accompanied by the most incredible thunder I've ever heard, really left me in awe. Such a welcome after being plagued by haze.

Danse Macabre

2010-10-21T23:15:00.001+08:00

How to play a Chopin Etude

2010-10-21T21:45:00.008+08:00

While in school where there's an ample availability of pianos (nevermind the tuning and odd one or two sticky keys), I would want to play and be reacquainted with the black and white.

So I grabbed a score from the school library, and did some research on youtube to find out how to play the music. In my exploration, I discovered gems. Spine chilling gems. So I discarded my music score and decided to bring out my Chopin Etude score.

Listening to this last one brought tears to my eyes. Not saying it's the best, but it was the most emotional for me.

What's in the bag?

2010-10-20T00:08:00.003+08:00

The essentials I carry nearly everyday... except for the earrings. I included them cos they are so cute. Thanks L!

Marimo

2010-10-04T17:40:00.003+08:00

I've a new friend! Marimo is my latest attempt to cultivate green fingers after my disaster with the poor cati. The scary thing about Marimo is that it photosynthesizes rapidly under my desk's lighting and I'm obligated to change the water every 1 - 2 days just so it can photosynthesize. Otherwise the poor thing will be suffocating under highly oxygenated water.

Tech Schooling

2010-09-30T02:23:00.003+08:00

I'm really enjoying the learning. I attend my lectures with my laptop and my camera. I know, I could skip all these gizmo with the Iphone, but really how fast can one type on the Iphone or the Ipad? Just using existing technologies to enhance my learning is already a cause for joy. What's the camera for? To take pictures of slides, too condensed to bother typing or summarizing.

Rather than spend time copying notes, I'd rather listen and type out my responses to what the lecturer is saying, and update my notes by embedding the pics in the doc.

Plus, they weren't kidding when they said they were preparing us for 21C learning. Virtually all my courses have an ICT component. I'm being introduced daily to an overwhelming variety of tools.

Question is, will I be able to use what I've learnt?

In response to burning sacred texts

2010-09-10T15:02:00.002+08:00

Dear friends,

let's remember to guard our own actions and words we speak (even on the Internet).

James 3:17- 18 tells us, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

It is very tempting being provoked, and not just provoked once but frequently, to respond back in kind. "They should have a taste of their own medicine," many would think. But we need to ask ourselves how our choices are formed. By the wisdom of God or by the wisdom of those who provoke you?

Whisper

2010-09-10T14:48:00.003+08:00

I don't understand why people feel the need to air grievances on the Internet. It just breeds a cycle of negativity without inspiring anyone to do anything and change what needs to be changed.

Whisper

2010-09-08T00:52:00.003+08:00

No matter the number of years you've spent studying books, writing essays after essays, or even studying human behaviour, if you mistake your own lack of social skills as individualism, you live in a rather self-centred world my friend.

Waiting in the Academic Gown

2010-09-05T14:21:00.007+08:00

It was a clear, incredibly sunny HOT afternoon. We retreated to the shade where I quickly put on my academic gown. So many stares and bemused expressions. It was embarrassing at first until I decided that I might as well ham it up, especially when waiting for my brother to get his camera settings right, and when your parents are fussing over your appearance... "shift your fringe," "pull up your collar," "adjust your hood", "straighten the crease in your gown,", "find a boyfriend and hurry up get married!" Okay, I added in the last one but that thought is probably at the back of my parents' minds whenever they see me lazing around the house.

By the end of the day, 5 people congratulated me (all western foreigners except for this cute Japanese businessman. Singaporeans and Asian tourists just stare. ^_^;) and I was asked by a lovely (German?) lady to take a picture of me with her Iphone. Unfortunately, the sun was too bright behind me, so I turned out dark in her camera.

I wonder what my reaction would have been if I saw someone taking academic photos or wedding photos at the Skypark? Would I have stared? Politely ignore? Or offer my congratulations? After this experience, I think offering congrats is just friendlier.

Is this SG?

2010-09-03T14:26:00.004+08:00

"Is this Singapore?" wondered my mother.

Angels in the Sky

2010-09-03T01:03:00.003+08:00

Family outing to Marina Bay Sands Skypark, where my brother took some pictures of me in my academic gown with his nifty DSLR. While he's busy editing the gazillion of shots, I shall show some nice pics by my Canon S90.

VCH

2010-09-01T21:56:00.003+08:00

At 17, I performed in here and realised a wistful dream.

At 19, I worked here in order to find a calling in life.

9 years later, I walked beside this building with colleagues,

right at the cusp of another dream.

Honda Civic Choir

2010-08-24T03:01:00.001+08:00

小胖妞

2010-08-23T22:06:00.002+08:00

This is so cute... disturbingly emo and bloody though.

Light of Gold Lux Aurumque

2010-08-23T11:33:00.006+08:00

The power of imagination, and the effort to pull off a dream.

Edward Esch's Light of Gold

Light,

Warm and heavy as pure gold

and the angels sing softly

to the new-born baby.

Lux Aurumque (trans. in Latin by Charles Anthony Silvestri)
Lux
Calida gravisque
Pura velut aurum
Et canunt angeli
Mollitermodo natum.

My Bucket / Dream List

2010-08-22T05:06:00.009+08:00

Since sleep does not seem to be coming soon, I shall think of stuff that I want to do. In no particular order or any importance embedded, subject to changes while living:

1. Learn to speak Cantonese. ( I want to be able to communicate fully with my grandparents!)

2. Learn to drive. (So helpful during CNY)

3. Learn to speak Japanese. (So I can finally understand those funny variety shows.)

4. Learn to speak Malay. (So I can finally understand my students.)

5. Learn to speak Indonesian. (I want to go back to Medan!)

6. Meet the right guy, get married and have two kids. (This one needs an order)

7. Teach English in a foreign land, and do missionary outreach.

8. Get a driving license.

9. Get a double bass performance diploma.

10. Buy a piano and get a piano performance diploma.

11. Bring new people to Christ every week.

12. Share the gospel with someone new every week.

13. Bring God's miraculous healing to people.

14. Organise my books.

15. Organise my clothes.

16. See Dad accept Christ, the whole family passionate for God.

17. See the bad debts fully paid up.

18. Get a music degree.

19. Get a bass amp and learn to play the electric bass,

20. Backpack to Jiuzaigou.

21. Hear the voice of God, literally.

22. Learn to use Skype.

23. Learn sweep-oar rowing.

24. Decorate my own home.

25. Take nicer photos

26. Have my own G12 group of leaders.

27. Get better at ironing.

28. Wash the windows.

29. See one of my songs used in church to praise and worship God.

30. Orchestrate one of my songs.

31. Bungee Jump

32. Tread water

By the grace of God, I pray and hope to be able to fulfil these soon if not now.

What is YOUR bucket list?

Warning! Do not drink this at 11pm!

2010-08-22T04:53:00.002+08:00

One would think that University would have made me a more informed person, or at least teach me the value of drinking coffee for late night studying. Unfortunately, I applied the value at the wrong time and now am insomniac when I REALLY need to sleep. When morning comes, things should be rather interesting... for my friends.

I have been crafting

2010-08-22T04:40:00.002+08:00

Counting down 5 days before I leave the school for teachers' college! There's not enough time to make one for all the people I want to thank, motivate, encourage... basically leave a momento behind.

Gratefulness

2010-08-22T04:01:00.003+08:00

So pleasing to see young earnest pondering minds.

Oxymoron; the handwritten email

2010-08-19T22:31:00.001+08:00

Another brilliant find from Scription

Call me old fashion but nothings beats sincerity than a good effort in penmanship. The effort and discipline to train one's handwriting conveys more sincerity than a shallow effort to send a 'personal touch' through a computer mediated communication.

Bachelor

2010-08-15T00:21:00.001+08:00

I really do not realise how much I tower over most people until I see pictures of myself with others.

A wild goose chase

2010-08-10T00:29:00.009+08:00

A wild goose chase around Singapore, including a live band performances by 40DOF youths and the last video instalment of the "You Can" series - "You Can Dream".

Date: 10 Sep 2010

Venue: Start point at Bukit Merah Central

Time: 12pm

Ages: Teenagers

Registration fee: $8 (A T-shirt will be given to each participants)

Relief Class

2010-08-06T18:35:00.003+08:00

This is a great show to talk about history! Fighting Spiders is about growing up in Singapore during the 1960s. My relief classes never fail to be riveted. They get pretty bored when the plot focuses on the parent and child relationships, but the funny moments capturing the boys' playing antics are always the most popular.

When I tell them that the things they saw in the show really did happened, and bring their attention to the use of water basins (Sanitation system, water rationing), sitting on the road (Entrepreneurship), triads (Colonial governance, youth crimes, syndicates), and even the food the boys eat with their families (meritocracy), the students' eyes grow bigger! LOL! I love young minds.

7pm in school 02

2010-07-22T21:45:00.003+08:00

It was a magical evening when Simei turned into Sydney for one brief moment. LOL

Drugs

2010-07-20T19:40:00.002+08:00

No, this is not a drug raid, just a collection of medication to help me with my month long coughing spasms that culminated with a cold infection today.

A new toy!

2010-07-18T22:54:00.004+08:00

I've got a new toy to play with! The best part of this camera is its plain looks! Nobody (except for people in the know) would want to steal it. Just in case though, I'm considering pasting a little mashimaro sticker with my name on it. Still thinking...

Sammi Cheng 她回来了

2010-07-10T23:42:00.003+08:00

Nothing much to say, just watch lah.

谁能给你一个完美的人生？你自己能吗？

7pm in school

2010-07-09T05:23:00.001+08:00

There's no deeper statement than 'I'm a pretty pony'.

I feel like a dino

2010-07-08T22:08:00.005+08:00

I've watched The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs way too many times. All credit due to the continual relief classes I took and a severe lack of imagination on relief teaching. Just bumping into a furniture gave me visions of having Triceratops hips. I am also able to whistle some of the background music from the documentary. I need new DVDs for relief teaching.

Gratefulness

2010-06-27T21:50:00.003+08:00

Today, I'm grateful for like-minded friends who are passionate for the same cause as I am. Having them makes working for the cause so much more enjoyable. The feeling is less of a work and more of an enjoyment, thinking is less of a chore and more of creative inspiration, and finally the effort is never an implicit nor explicit form of sacrifice, but a continuous outpouring of affection and devotion.

Whisper

2010-06-26T00:46:00.002+08:00

Gainsaying a person, proving your point, triumphing over others will not earn you respect. You just proved how violent a person you really are through your words.

I jogged

2010-06-14T23:29:00.005+08:00

Finally, a day to myself! I spent a wonderful afternoon at a cafe writing my journal! Lol. Such a productive use of time. Unfortunately during the 3 - 4 hours at the cafe, I consumed a chocolate milk and a cafe mocha, which left me pretty bloated and guilty.

So when I reached home, the sun was setting and I decided to do something about the guilt and the calories that I do not count.

Unfortunately, I really detest jogging. It has absolutely no meaning for me whatsoever. Yet since I was too lazy to bring out the swim wear, and it was really too late to go cycling anywhere, jogging at my neighbourhood stadium was my last resort for exercise.

While walking there, I met other joggers who decided to warm up by jogging to the stadium. I steadfastly walked on and refused to jog.

When I reached the stadium, there were many joggers and some sprinters on the track. Everyone was evidently working hard to punish their bodies.

My mind rebelled against this hated sport and a conclusion was reached to not exert energy for this sport. However, since I was at the stadium, it would be pretty silly to simply walk back home. So I began jogging really slowly. My pace was so slow and casual, I did not need to breathe through my mouth, and many an elderly passed me by as I doddered my way around the track.

To my surprise, the experience became rather pleasant. I refused to bend myself to internal pressure and speed up to match the pace of other joggers. Instead I amused myself by changing my gait, lengthening and shortening my strides, bouncing a little more or a little less, and swishing my hips in an imaginative attempt to get rid of some excess fats. Before I knew it, 5 rounds were over and my mind was idly pondering the familiarity of some young sprinters who dashed past me twice.

After my 7th round, it was dark and my ears felt hot. It was time to go home. As I walked towards the stadium's exit, one of the young sprinters called out, "Cher!" Instinctively, I turned and realised to my horror that the young sprinters were students from my school. I had just demonstrated my lackadaisical jogging attempt in the presence of the very people I was suppose to be a role model for. Yet then again, despite my slow and casual jog, my unfit body was drenched with sweat. So I pretty much presented myself as I should be. Unfit, but making amends to be fit.

Since I had nothing to be ashamed of, I faced the student and inquired casually for the students' intrusive presence in my neighbourhood. They apparently lived in my neighbourhood too, which stands as a testimony of my country's success in increasing population density. Nobody really knows who their neighbours are. The students had came together at night in order to train during the school holidays.

After a few words, my student bid me farewell and rejoined his comrades. I made my way to the grandstand to do some stretches since the students may be watching, and one should always make it a point to do some cooling down stretches after exercising to prevent muscle aches and cramps.

Leaving the stadium and the view of my students, I steadfastly walked home.

My favourite song for the moment

2010-06-05T21:38:00.004+08:00

Something haunting about repetitive strings and circular harmonies. LOL!

Though I have to admit that costume, which shoots laser beams, is rather distracting.

Let's go to Munich!

2010-06-05T20:32:00.002+08:00

So magical... I'd buy into BMW's art of engineering.

Kinetic Sculpture

2010-06-05T20:15:00.005+08:00

Random clicking on the web on a sick day bears some surprising discoveries

I am actually a little freaked out by these moving skeletal monsters.

Hidden

2010-05-24T20:16:00.003+08:00

After a long day of marking, my colleagues and I decided to treat ourselves.

Since that day, I've not had the chance to show off these peepers except on weekends.

Maybe it's the consciousness to role model to students, or just simple unwillingness to open this can of worms.

I've been quiet.

2010-05-24T16:15:00.006+08:00

I've been very quiet online. So the question is, have I been cruising or drowning in my career as a teacher? Currently, I'm happy to report that I've been coping well and am still looking forward to a fruitful career in teaching. My government should be well pleased to know that this recruit at least, has little to complain about and is enthusiastic about her vocation.

I wanted to start off my blog with the title, "My students have no life." That, however, is not exactly the most optimistic sentence in this sea of negativity my students are living in. Nonetheless, as I mark composition after composition, I am convinced that this generation needs help: to find meaning to life, to live fruitfully, to have life. To plainly speak, someone needs to teach this generation how to have fun.

Take for example what one 14 year old student writes (grammatically edited) :

The television is my life. I have been watching television since I was young so
the television is very important to me.

To be honest, I really wanted to cry when I read this statement. One might be consoling and say that young people are prone to exaggeration and have little understanding in enormity. Yet, knowing the power of words, I can't help but wonder how my students see themselves.

The way into a teacher's heart

2010-03-02T17:58:00.005+08:00

Believe it or not, the way into a teacher's heart is not through flattery, but a self concious effort to recognise one's own flaws and work on them.

As a teacher, I cannot help but smile when realization and understanding dawns upon the faces of my students. The sheepish smiles and the subsequent determination not the make the same mistake again always makes my day.

Then again, it would not be harmful to write a good story about an inspiring teacher. Good stories are not designed to flatter nor do they have inconsequential examples, but are stories that cause the marking teacher to pause and reflect (even for a short 2 seconds during her busy marking).

In addition, as a plea to all students, try not to begin your sentences with 'And' or 'But' and never 'Because', not matter what you read on the Internet.

P.S. This was obviously done after marking Common Test scripts.

Why so different?

2010-03-02T13:20:00.010+08:00

My students noted and subsequently asked, "Teacher, how come only NT students must go listen to police talk?"

The school had invited the police to give a talk on the dangers of drug abuse, and only the NT students were singled out to attend the talk.

My spirit sank as I struggled to give my students an answer. I could not explain to them that when they were slotted into the different streams, they were not only categorised simply by their academic ability but were also accorded labels on their behaviour and tendencies.

I wanted to tell them that though many of them came from broken families, had non existent guardians, and lived in poorer circumstances (as compared to the majority), it did not mean that they would most likely be people who commit crimes or took drugs. It also did not mean that all their friends were deviant criminals.

Yet, despite my will to believe in them, I knew that there are sociological links. At times like this, I feel really helpless.

Postscript: Great, when the students were asked if they knew of any friends or family members who had taken drugs before, hands were raised all across the auditorium. So thankful for the police officer who told them that drug users come from all walks of life, and are of all ages.

Two months

2010-02-18T21:40:00.003+08:00

It's going to be two months since I started teaching.

I'm still trying to separate work from the personal. The key word is 'trying'.

I can't help but be reminded of my students, especially the naughty, energy sapping ones. I try distract my mind by watching television, playing computer games, or occupying myself with other activities like church matters, music matters etc. It does not work.

I awake with a sick feeling in my stomach. A classic symptom of stress.

I refocus my mind, and think positive thoughts like, "Today's a new day!", "Yesterday's baggages are yesterday's!", and "I LOVE my students! Warts and all."

Admittedly, it's just easier to sigh, be weary, be dejected, and give up.

But how can I possibly give up? I can't help but see a bit of myself in everyone of my students. And I'm reminded everyday of the second chances I have received and I am being given. So I have been given, so I can give.

Leave the work... totally

2010-02-03T20:32:00.001+08:00

I'm learning to detach myself. To leave the work and all its emotions behind. So that I'm free to pursue the other things I want to do.

The Class Test

2010-01-31T20:19:00.004+08:00

20 scripts: 3 mediocre passes, 17 failures.

It's hard not to be depressed after marking. Questions and doubts always abound.
Where did I go wrong?
Was the paper too hard?
Were questions ambiguous?
Why did some give up?

Then again, as I look through the scripts, I'm thankful for the careful dedication to details some of my students poured in; annotations, highlights, interpretations.

I'm thankful that everyone of them turned up for the class test. Only two gave up midway and started answering 'I don't know' or leaving questions blank. Almost all gave concerted efforts to put down answers using their own words, and therefore show effort in understanding the passage instead of simple blind copying from the text.

That is victory.

Flabbergasted

2010-01-26T20:36:00.005+08:00

Today was yet another day, where I had to adjust my thinking.

I'd like to think that I'm a pretty open person, open to new ideas and thinkings. Yet I realised today again, that I'm also another mere human, with preconceptions and assumptions.

So when I'm confronted with a reality check - I was flabbergasted. Again and yet again today.

I really have to change my thinking and realise AGAIN that people develop skills and abilities at a different rate; some alarmingly slower than others, some pleasantly faster than others. It's a lesson worth repeating.

Moreover besides skills and abilities but understanding, social skills, and what some of us think as simply 'maturity'.

I have however, come to realise that what we view as 'maturity' or 'common sense' is not that easily gained or transmitted. Sigh... patience, I need more patience and the ability to explain with the right words.

All that one learns in Uni, needs to be relearned in working life - especially when your occupation is so relational.

Everyday is a brand new day

2010-01-21T05:53:00.004+08:00

I'm resolved to think this everyday and be grateful:

Everyday is a brand new day.

So I can change from yesterday.
I can believe in the impossible because one will never know what possibilities today may have.

It's the weekend

2010-01-09T12:17:00.004+08:00

And my brain is on my students.

This is ridiculous. After only 5 days, how can they occupy my thoughts so much?

I go to sleep wondering if they will turn up for class, if they'll hand up the homework, if they understood me, if I was too fierce, should I have said things differently?

Urghed.

My feet still aches and I feel guilty thinking that I've neglected my loved ones already.

Grumpy grumpy.

This was a tiring day

2010-01-06T00:12:00.004+08:00

Tiring partly because I made many mistakes.

Was late for three meetings, could not go for orchestra rehearsal, forgot some tasks, felt like vomiting etc...

In general, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

After the 1st day of work

2010-01-04T20:26:00.005+08:00

My many emotions on the 1st day at work...

Uh.... What?

??

grrr....

(Stifled laughter)

GRYAAHHHH!!!!!

HWHAT??!

Sobz

Sigh...

Ooooh...

Humans sure are capable of many mixed feelings.

That werks

2009-12-23T15:16:00.006+08:00

After a long and tiring day, we made our way past well dressed young people. I was a little bit conscious of the brief stares and puzzled looks at our bag packs, shorts, t-shirts and sandals, our dishevelled hair, oily skins and wearied faces. But all that went away when the friendly staff greeted us, accommodated our request for the bigger table with the bigger cushion seatings, and didn't blink an eye when all we ordered were...

I'm no beer drinker, but I have to admit that when you're sweaty, hot and tired, a good beer is a godsend.

You can literally hear the chorus of angels going "Arhh~~"

If you're wondering which microbrewery we went to.

To clarify, it wasn't my idea to go for that beer. Credit goes to the other drinker. ^^

Blessed with friends

2009-12-21T23:22:00.002+08:00

I wonder why I felt so tired of people?

Today I've been surprisingly blessed by friends!

Friends who are unquestioning, understanding, and gentle in their boisterous manners.

Friends who encourage simply by listening and pointing you towards the better perspectives.

Friends who simply laugh when you whine and complain because they know that complaining is temporary.

Today I truly repent for the negativeness, and ask for forgiveness for the cynicism.

The dark haze has passed and I can see truly again, and be simply thankful and grateful.

Too many people to please

2009-12-18T23:29:00.006+08:00

After checking out of the chalet, I thought I was free to rest and relax at home.

Then I realised after receiving a sms that I had arranged to meet a couple of friends and a teacher, which I had forgotten because I lost track of the days while at the chalet.

Then in the evening was a dinner spent with friends talking about music, which ended on a slightly disturbing note upon a good friend's slightly negative reaction to my decision to teach.

Musing on the way home, on a crowded train, a thought suddenly dawned upon me - there were a lot of people in my life to please. Not that I have to put up a false front to please others. But more of keeping up with other people's pace, learning to accept differences, and learning to be sociable when it's just easier to retreat inwardly and keep to oneself. Maybe I'm too used to being alone and not having to contend with other people's presence. And when I'm thrust into the midst of society, I'm reminded that there are many, many people in my life.

1. The friends at the chalet.

2. The friends from uni. (not to mention the different factions of uni friends)

3. The music friends.

As I walked home, at a late hour at night, I added another group of people to please in my life.

4. My family.

On the weekend, there will yet be another group of people to please.

5. Church friends.

Next year when I start working, yet another group.

6. Colleagues and superiors.

Is it any wonder how exhausted people are? Simmel's optimistic view that only the city living individual experiences true freedom really seems applicable to me right now, typing in my own room, in a mercifully darkened house (because my parents are asleep).

Tomorrow, there's only one person to please. ^_______^

Spring Cleaning

2009-12-15T22:39:00.002+08:00

Spring cleaning, to me, is a little like coming to terms with who I really am. The accomplishments, the failures, the little joys and little demons, old dreams, new dreams, old ideals, present ideals, ideals that never bore fruit, ideals that burst forth and changed me, bad habits, good habits, old habits and new habits.

When I face myself from all that collection of nicknacks, odds and ends, I am reminded that to move on, I must free myself from all that clutter and look towards the future.

It's a little bit hard, getting rid of the old stuff. I end up remembering old emotions. Lingering in the past, finding it harder and harder to let go... till I resign and tell myself to just keep it - and think, "I'll always be like that." And then the defiance sets in, "what's wrong with being like that?"

But I'm reminded of my resolve: unless I de-clutter my life, how can I be free to move on? It's a bit of taking a break, a stop point. To take stock of who I really am. And when I stop, I stop blaming myself. Stop taking pride in the past. Just stop.

And finally when all is swept away: the dust, the grime, and the clutter, I can go.

Hermes window display

2009-12-09T04:18:00.003+08:00

One for the blog before I leave for Muar.

I wonder if this could be art?

More from here: Stunning Video Installation

I've got the Wave

2009-12-04T15:01:00.002+08:00

Cool! I've got Google Wave! Unfortunately, my contacts who also have the wave are not exactly people who I always work with or correspond frequently with. Hopefully with the invitations I sent out, we can test it out. ^^

In 25 Hours

2009-12-01T12:24:00.001+08:00

In 25 Hours, I will move on. Impatiently waiting for it. Maybe I should enjoy my last 25 hours.

Whisper

2009-11-13T13:06:00.004+08:00

Good intentions paved the road to hell.

Writing

2009-11-11T13:43:00.002+08:00

It suddenly dawned on me that I've been well trained in the need to meet expectations. So I not only clarify what is expected of me, I even ask for the SOP, hoping that somewhere out there, there's someone's footsteps to follow after.

But in writing, there are no other thoughts but my own. Sure, shaped by the giants of thought whose own journeys left behind historical footsteps and shaped the destiny of humanity. But in my own journey, I can only walk and in walking, somehow realise the route till I see my destination and run towards it.

The end is near. Press on.

Whisper

2009-11-02T21:34:00.004+08:00

How do I describe how I'm doing? Aaaaaaagggrrrrrraaaahhhhhhh!!!! pretty much sums it up.

Whisper

2009-10-21T17:46:00.004+08:00

Guy sleeping in library is irritating me with his snores! LOL. It's amazing, I can hear his snores through my ear phones! - I use the ear phones to muffle out the chitter chatter of people in the library.

Whisper

2009-10-16T20:03:00.002+08:00

Feels like a struggle with Proteus... am I at Penuel?

The Road Ahead or the Road Behind

2009-09-26T16:01:00.005+08:00

Sometimes I think the fates must grin as we denounce them and insist,

The only reason we can’t win is the fates themselves have missed.

Yet, there lives on the ancient claim – we win or lose within ourselves,

The shining trophies on our shelves can never win tomorrow’s game.

So you and I know deeper down there is a chance to win the crown,

But when we fail to give our best, we simply haven’t met the test

Of giving all and saving none until the game is really won.

Of showing what is meant by grit, of fighting on when others quit,

Of playing through not letting up, it’s bearing down that wins the cup.

Of taking it and taking more until we gain the winning score,

Of dreaming there’s a goal ahead, of hoping when our dreams are dead,

Of praying when our hopes have fled. Yet, losing, not afraid to fall,

If bravely we have given all, for who can ask more of a man

than giving all within his span, it seems to me, is not so far from – Victory.

And so the fates are seldom wrong, no matter how they twist and wind,

It’s you and I who make our fates, we open up or close the gates,

On the Road Ahead or the Road Behind.

-George J. Moriarty

Whisper

2009-09-07T23:00:00.005+08:00

Grateful for old friends today. They are truly God's divine interventions to a poor spirit, lifting it up with sound advices or simple good cheer.

Whisper

2009-09-06T22:17:00.000+08:00

Can we live without leaders?

The greater goal of straws?

2009-08-30T21:51:00.004+08:00

For some reason I'm reminded of dear G_. While dining in one of Medan's coffeeshops, we were presented with suspicious translucent straws for our bottled drinks. Miraculously, G_ produced a zip locked bag of straws to rescue us.

[Via SimpleStyle]

All aboard!

2009-08-30T16:20:00.004+08:00

The joy of overcoming personal dislikes and preferences in order to work with others and accomplish a common goal.

Courage

2009-08-19T18:13:00.000+08:00

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at
the testing point. ~C.S. Lewis

Time to muster up every little virtue I may have.

Teamwork

2009-07-22T17:58:00.002+08:00

Sometimes you just need to believe.

[Photo credit to Chris via Facebook.]

Fluffy clouds at Shangde

2009-07-18T20:02:00.007+08:00

I'll remember this moment. When we paused in our tracks, looked up the sky and watched the clouds go by.

我会永远记得这一刻。我们暂停，抬起头来，看着天上的云彩。

Sydney photo

2009-07-09T00:27:00.003+08:00

Unfortunately you can see the piecing of the photos to form this pic.

We walked so much this day, my parents promptly fell asleep when we got back. Dinner that night was REALLY late.

Bubbles

2009-07-09T00:23:00.003+08:00

I wonder how patient you have to be to get a great shot like this?!
Bubble pictures here.

Potluck Dinner

2009-07-07T14:49:00.005+08:00

Riot after the potluck dinner. Shanghai will be FUN. Photo credits to Chris via Facebook.

Sydney photo

2009-07-06T11:21:00.002+08:00

After imagining myself in an MTV-like senario, enjoying the breeze and good weather, assured that I've protected myself from Sydney's scorching sun by religiously applying layers of sunblock, I went home to find out that my head was sun burnt. At my hair parting... -_-;

Moral of the story: Wear a hat.

Rippy builds a nest

2009-07-03T13:15:00.005+08:00

Rippy's bubble nest. No mate for him though. haha.

Post Fundraising Sunday

2009-06-29T18:46:00.016+08:00

Big success at the fund raiser. Our net profit was about 6 times our cost. And we sold off more than 90% of all items!
(Photo Credits to M_ via Facebook)

Mummy's healthy breakfast

2009-06-27T10:20:00.002+08:00

I became curious of what Mummy was eating for breakfast. So she made me a bowl too.
Oats and fruits... I'm no fan of oats, but the fruits were yummy!

Fundraising

2009-06-27T09:56:00.006+08:00

I've met M_ everyday for 6 days straight... preparing for our fundraising on Sunday.

Here are some sneak peaks of what we will be using to raise funds.

The card design is done by M_ a graphic designer. ^^

Perk up someone's day with a rose!

These cookies are really good! Crunchy edges and soft insides.

There're more stuff like handmade jewelery kindly donated by SH,
Pouches, t-shirts, more baked goodies and balloon sculptures. Tired, but excited. ^^

I have to rethink the Stravinsky's quote on the right

2009-06-19T17:26:00.004+08:00

The copy is just so... bad, I have to rethink Stravinsky's quote on the right side of my blog. Evidently, I don't think you'd call these guys great artists...

Sick Rippy

2009-06-18T00:33:00.004+08:00

My fish got sick... it had small pin white spots and weird gunk hanging off it's body. So I visited a pet store in Marine Parade and was roaming around the fish medicine shelf for a good half an hour and looking at pictures of my sick fish to try to determine the illness when a friendly staff decided to be kind and help me out.

Except that he was bad in English and I was bad in Chinese. Nonetheless I showed him the pictures of my sick fish only for him to tell me that he honestly wasn't certain about the exact illness and so recommended me an all-in-one herbal cure made in our very own Singapore.

So for the past week I've been diligently dripping the medicine onto my poor fish, who strangely didn't even notice me dripping the medicine until lately.

I took him out from his purple box and into a plastic bowl so as to disinfect his box and change the water.

If you can see the white pin spots on his body.

The good news is after a week of diligent water changing (every three days - cos I couldn't stand the gunk lying at the bottom) and dripping medicine on my pet (a drop every two days - cos he looked miserable), Rippy is back to his hungry inquisitive self and making happy bubbles. He's still a little shy at his reflection though... preferring to run away than to flare up a challenge. Hopefully, he'll be back to his old self again.

Movie: Sherlock Holmes

2009-06-18T00:22:00.003+08:00

Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson?! Somehow my image of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson wasn't quite this suave... or young. But I'm a fan (got my complete collection of Sherlock Holmes series falling apart to prove it), and besides Robert Downey Jr. always includes some interesting comedic scenes as seen from the trailer below. Can't wait for December.

Movie website here

Movie: Nine

2009-06-11T23:46:00.006+08:00

I wanna watch this!

With stellar cast of women and one man, good music, fascinating wardrobe and set...
More from remotecouchpotato

TPO: The Soldier's Tale

2009-06-11T12:38:00.003+08:00

The Philharmonic Orchestra (Singapore) is performing Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale. Check it out here.

Quote

2009-06-10T12:06:00.002+08:00

Thinking that something isn't strange, is strange itself.

- Kimura Takuya's character, Tsukumo Ryusuke in Mr. Brain

Love Story to Viva La Vida

2009-06-09T00:35:00.004+08:00

Popular musical elements are usually recycled so it's not unusual to sometimes find similarities between two different songs... and link them. But I like this rearrangement, even though it sounds and feels different from the original songs. The emphasis on the rhythmic element still retains the spirit. Maybe the ancients were right, the beat does communicates with the spiritual?

I wanna take great pictures too!

2009-06-07T23:12:00.004+08:00

I came across a wonderful website on the daily life of a Japanese photographer. If only I knew how to take photos like his that depict serenity and peace... the mundane won't be the mundane.

Someone recently said to me...

2009-06-06T02:27:00.003+08:00

I didn't introduce him to you because you'd chew him up and spit out his bones with bits of flesh still hanging.

I still haven't decided whether to feel offended or complimented.

Yet another weird phone call

2009-06-06T01:55:00.007+08:00

I called back the missed call number in my phone...

"Hello?"
"Yeah, someone gave me a missed call?"
"Who is this?"
"This is Jean."
"Where are you from?"
"Huh? No, someone left me a miss call. I'm returning the miss call."
"What number is this?"
(Said my phone number)
"No, this number belongs to my colleague. I called my colleague."
"What? That's impossible, I've had this number for years."
"Wait, where are you from?"
"Singapore?"
(Duh. What planet are you from?)

"What company?"
"I'm not working."
"Which part of Singapore are you at?"
"East."
"Oh my colleague also in the east, maybe mixed up. What is the number you called?"
(Said the phone number of the missed call, internally cursing my phone company for yet another stupid wrong number.)

"Yeah, that's me. But I was calling my colleague. I spoke to her just earlier today!"
"Think, you dialed wrongly. You should check with your colleague her number again."
"Wait uh, I'll try to call her. See if the phone number works. What's your name?"
"Jean."
"Gin? Genie? Genie in a bottle?"
(Oh please... how many times have I heard THAT before. But I decided to act dumb.)

"Huh?"
"You know? The song? Uh. By Britney Spears?"
(Actually it's Christina Aguilera... but my patience was running out.)

"Yah."
"Okay, I call okay? If you get you pick up okay?"
"Right."

(Seconds later the phone rings)
"Hello?"
"Hello? Jean?"
"Yeah. You got me. Think you should check with your colleague her number again."
"Anyway, I think it's fate uh. Somehow maybe God wanted us to meet."
"Ha. Ha. Anyway I've got to go."
"Okay, thank you, byebye."

My friend says I'm too nice to have stayed on the phone for so long. I agree. Need to be wiser in the future.

50 People 1 Question

2009-06-06T01:45:00.002+08:00

The question: where would you wake up tomorrow?
The responses? A revelation of dreams, aspirations, fantasies, gratitude and contentment.
http://fiftypeopleonequestion.com/

Dew in Muar

2009-06-05T23:35:00.002+08:00

I miss mornings in Muar. The birds are incredibly loud, the air is cool and damp, and a fresh new beginning without baggage.

Strange

2009-06-03T04:13:00.003+08:00

Today I...

Put facial foam on my body puff scrub

Forgot how to write my surname in Chinese

Signed my signature wrongly

Walked from the bathroom to my room... thrice... and forgot what I was suppose to take for two of those times

Could not recall what I ate previously

Could not spell avocado

Opened the fridge and forgot what I was looking for

Looked high and low for my keys, before realising that they were with me... in my jeans pocket

Wrote in my diary with a marker

Origami Money

2009-05-30T15:31:00.005+08:00

And I thought knowing how to fold a paper crane was pretty good...
Got them from here.