Thursday, November 26, 2009
- observations made by a German national who has lived in Singapore for 9 years.
"44 years of economic and material success have spawned some very strange behaviours among Singaporeans. They spent so much to buy a house or flat, furnished it up like a palace, but spent their time outside, most of the time at work. And the maids are the ones enjoying the million-dollar or multi-million-dollar assets.
Then they pay so much, the highest in the world, for a car only to park at home. Too expensive to drive, too many ERPs and car park charges to pay. And they are encouraged to park their cars at home and take public transport, being cheaper and more convenient.
And when Singaporeans travel, instead of seeing the places, they went shopping. The best part is that they would head for the cheapest bargains, buying stuff that they could get in Chinatown or pasar malam, at even cheaper prices. But they are still happy that they got a bargain.
And while the heartlanders are busy trying to make a life here, being told to bust off if they are not happy, which they could not, the rich and presumably very happy and contented citizens are buying up properties overseas just in case they need to make that escape from this paradise.
While many Singaporeans are thinking of jumping ship, or preparing to jump ship, hoards of new immigrants are rushing in to take their place in this paradise.
And to top it all up, they keep complaining about the govt and all the policies that they found unpalatable, but come every election, they will vote and return the govt to power."
That is why sometimes even Singaporeans laugh at ourselves. Just take a look at the morning peak hour rush for MRT trains.When the door open at Jurong East, you will see uncles, aunties running faster than Usain Bolt in a 20m sprint.Usain Bolt runs his best for 100m race for money,reputation and glory but the typical Singaporeans does it JUST FOR A SEAT inside the train.Ironically, sometimes they don't even get a seat despite all their efforts.
Labels: what's gonna happen next?
7:30 AM
Saturday, November 21, 2009
It's been so long since i felt such warmth from a class of people.The class bbq was at least a 90% success and miraculously, the weather was very very kind.I guessed everyone who was present enjoyed and had a hell of a time.I was abit crazy and I shouted till I became hoarse.Towards the end, i did not have much energy left.
We played card games with forfeits and I swear that it was really really very funny.
For example, i have to drink this shiet which had sprite,butter,chilli sauce,tiger beer and seriously don't know what inside.I threw up as soon as it touched my mouth.
I think had to dance together...
and this was the finale. Only thing i will reveal here :Guy: "My love for you is as big as the sea"
Girl: "Oh so sweet!~"
Finally, the good friends/groupmates who gave me strength,motivation,laughters and alot of help.
Err... I got to admit I looked very fortunate here.HAHA
I think our smiles all looked very alike.I think all of us are funny and fun loving people and to think that we are only 4 months away from being schoolmates instead of classmates is almost like a stab in my heart.They are the ones who gave me a reason to go to school and to hang on but sometimes it is really upsetting to see us not spending more time together.Initially, It was abit like making use of you people but I am not going to let it be that way anymore.I am trying my best to help in whatever I can and to prove that I am treating you guys as my very good friends.To be completely honest, I took about half a year before i settled into life in Polytechnic.Life in poly was almost a nightmare for me initially but now, i looked forward going to school everyday.When I am in school, i feel very happy as I have excellent company to play a fool and have fun.It's impossible to be good friends with everyone in the class as most of our characters differ.It's also inevitable that some of us will have unhappiness towards one another but since we only have 4 months left together, It's best if all of us can swallow that little bit of anger and "hatred".Just continue with your usual "backstabbings" and gossips and things will pass by fine.We do not need a class tee shirt and we do not some symbols or mascots or whatever to represent us.2A/21 will be 2A/21 and we will be infamous for what we are at best and that is creating a din everywhere we go.
2:08 AM
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Today i had Outdoor Learning Class. Sounds very exciting and interesting right?
In the end we have to visit places like boiler rooms around the school to take a look at the air conditioning systems.There was a really huge spider inside there, i swear that was the biggest spider i ever saw in my life. I am going to post it up once i gotten the picture.Whenever it rains, my school will have a free swimming pool.
sigh... that really explains what are we studying.
Well, tomorrow marks the first official class gathering after nearly 2 years. Amazing isin't it? Personally, i am giving my best to make sure that this outing will really be a memorable and fun one.I must admit that I am disappointed that some people had placed this outing as a second priority.However, i do understand that everyone have their own commitments and own things to do.People don't really realise that this could very well be our last chance to have a full class outing.Well, I may sound like I am a mad class lover or something, but no. I don't really care about some people in my class to be honest.However, since we have been fated to cross paths, I feel this is a chance for everyone to have at least a kind of memory with one another.I am sure, there will be people who will be there tomorrow but with their souls elsewhere.There might even be uninvited guests and it is highly possible that it will be raining tomorrow.(fear not, wet weather plan is in place and it will run provided everyone stays calm and not go mad)
I sincerely hope that the weather will be kind to us and everything else will run smoothly to make sure that this is a fun and memorable class outing.Its our first and probably our last.
I find life is just like a game of basketball or soccer.I love the tactical sides of both games and i love to analyse the decisions that great coaches make.We need to use different strategies to tackle different problems.Like the sport, different strategies are adopted for different opponents.Sometimes, we need to wait patiently for an opponent's mistake to make a breakthrough but sometimes, we need to work frantically to find our own breakthrough.I always believe that if we believe in ourselves, we could achieve things that is beyond our wildest dreams.That is why i always emphasise that soccer is a game of 11 people vs 11 people and basketball is a game of 5 people vs 5 people.We should not fear our opponents just because they are stronger than us.They could be better physically and technically but we as the underdog can make it up with determination,self belief and passion.Once we can do that, we will surely throw our opponents into disarray and from there, victory becomes a possibility.It's just like our life, self belief and passion plays a big part.
I also realised that many people do not make the correct sacrifices.Sometimes, i don't understand the rationale behind the decisions people around me make but then again, if i could understand, i won't be human, i will be god.
Labels: give the man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach the man how to fish and you feed him forever
3:04 AM
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sister's first time having Ben N Jerry's.Happy and funny to see her being as happy as a small kid. Shini loved the Chocolate Therapy because it looks just like her!
Celebrated Xinghui's Birdday at New York New York.Bad comments about them don't seem to justify because they have a range of exciting dishes! The only bad thing is that their stupid drinks are way overpriced.
Jermaine's tomato and melted cheese on Chicken cutlet.
Wanling's mushroom and melted cheese on Chicken cutlet
Xinghui's Spring Chicken
Finally, my NYNY Pork Ribs.
I don't really want to type alot here. I am very tired and I am going to watch 2012 online now.
3:16 AM
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My class's first visit to SP's pizza hut together and it's probably our last time because the staff will probably ban us from going in the future.That is why i probably showed such a sad looking picture from a fabulous meal.
Sometimes in life, we will be in a dilemma. Any decisions you make will cause a huge turn to your life and sometimes, you may have to sacrifice something precious to you.I believe this justified that life is indeed cruel. After you made a decision, you will look back and ask yourself, "what if i chose the other option?" You can never know the answer and that is why it is cruel. I am in such a dilemma right now. I know if i make a rash decision, i might lose everything.
I am enjoying my life right now.There's no need to have lots of money, joy is what a human really need.Money is essential and that is what i believe but money must be handled with care and a touch of genius.However, remember money can ruin you.
Just take a look at the recent tragedy that happened. A father who was heavily in debt because he love to shower his wife with expensive gifts and he lost few hundred grands to soccer punting and shares. In the end, it was too much for him take and he ended his children's life and his own as well.For a man to choose this path, he must be really desperate and despondent.It's a traversty. Sometimes i felt much happier when i do not have any extra money with me.When i have extra cash with me, i will keep thinking on how to increase the money and fear that i will spend away the money but when i am "bankrupt", i only spend what i need and there's nothing more to think about.
Our life is all about the decisions we make and it will be decided with a little bit of luck.Unlike economics when we can calculate and predict the opportunity cost, in life you make a decision and go ahead with it. There's no turning back.
2:41 AM
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
So, it has been and it's going to be a busy week for me. I won't elaborate on this boring stuff though.
I always complained about how boring my course is and our recent "outdoor learning activity" certainly justified it.
We were asked to take photos of cracks and whatever you find that could make the brickwall collapse.Of course i will not show you those useless and dumb photos but the photographer Shini aka Ebon, used my phone and took over 50 over photos.Ebon confirm never see brickwall before.Notice the brickwall behind the photo.
Here she is, with a bright smile trying to impress Chris. Well, what can i say about Ebon? She run from SP to Vivo City 3 times a week and she climb a different mountain every weekend.She's absoutely crazy. If she keeps quiet in class, it simply means, she fell asleep. If you wake her up and she's hungry, she will scold the crap out of you.She's gonna climb Mt Fuji real soon.
This is Weilun aka Kenny. A crazy fellow who cannot stop shouting. As long as you hear somebody shouting in SP, 90% confirm is him.When I first met him in class, i thought he was mentally unsound and needed immediate medical help.However, he's like me, a Liverpool fan. So, he will never walk alone.
This is the most chio girl in my class whether you like it or not.If any of my classmates not happy and think you more chio, please tag and tell me so.She is the leader and captain of our project group and she oversees a great deal of work but sadly, she never had Ben N Jerry's before. Oh yes, her name is Peifen aka SM. She's the best! 1 2 3 3 2 1 Peifen Peifen all the way!Then Ebon made use of my phone to take a CHIO AND CUTE photo of themselves in the girl's toilet. Is that what girls always do whenever they see a mirror?
Okay la, they are my groupmates for projects and although our laziness is always there because of Kenny and me, our quality of work had always maintained a good standard with SM and Ebon around.Without them, i will be probably still be in Year 1. =(
I enjoy their company and i think they also enjoy my company right? HEE HEE HEE
6:36 AM
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Life stinks when you have no choices.
Sometimes we do not cherish even though we know we cannot do without it. After it's gone or will be gone soon, we start to regret and wished we could do much more.
I am really guilty but what more could i do? 5 months left and let's take every opportunity to make this last 5 months a memorable and happy one.I am most happy whenever i am in school but i don't like what i am studying. Just the companion,the laughters and the warmth of the great people around me will suffice. That is a kind of unbelievable feeling.
Labels: Blessed with amazing friends
10:25 AM