Blogging on the net is always easier when you are writing in English. You do not have to worry about the "pin yin" of the words that you want to write and everything just flows.
Life can be contradictory sometimes.
You fight very hard for some things but in the end your goal flys further the more you struggle. Some people asked me if efforts do mean results; and answers seemed so easy always to say but yet also appear unattainable when you make the prescribed attempt.
Does effort equals to product? Many a time, the answer is sadly no. So how do i really give a really good answer to those of you who have talked with me at heart? Spent long hours pondering on the things that never fail to gripe and gnaw?
Today my answer is that you will get a sense of relief. Because you have fought hard for it, no matter how bad the method was to reach the conclusion, the result will prove to be a consolation, even discouraging it may seemed to be.
Sadness may come inevitably, but ultimately your heart's desires have been answered, if not achieved, and that is comfort enough.
09 December 2005
22 November 2005
梦想必须是伟大的
我觉得梦想应该是伟大的。
尤其在新加坡这样的社会，平凡最多只能带给我们稳定。对那些胸怀大志的人而言，庸碌一生也许会让我们后悔吧？在一次聚会中，我听友人道，其实我们不能如此伤感。因为我们总算三餐温饱，生活还是非常稳定。比起那些过基本生活都有问题的人而言，我们可不是幸福的？
那么梦想有何须伟大呢？
若是没有伟大的梦想，那么人生也许就不会有多少的留念或要求吧？我们有怎么会有努力的原动力、干劲儿？我们怎么会快乐？
有一些人说只要过得快乐就好了，但我想快乐也是有依据的。
尤其在新加坡这样的社会，平凡最多只能带给我们稳定。对那些胸怀大志的人而言，庸碌一生也许会让我们后悔吧？在一次聚会中，我听友人道，其实我们不能如此伤感。因为我们总算三餐温饱，生活还是非常稳定。比起那些过基本生活都有问题的人而言，我们可不是幸福的？
那么梦想有何须伟大呢？
若是没有伟大的梦想，那么人生也许就不会有多少的留念或要求吧？我们有怎么会有努力的原动力、干劲儿？我们怎么会快乐？
有一些人说只要过得快乐就好了，但我想快乐也是有依据的。
18 November 2005
我的贡献
Area 5 ATC 露营活动，我想我只有在第一天早上才算得上是有所贡献吧？
带着大家走入 campsite 的时候，竟不知觉地加快了脚步。回头一望时，顿然发现大家都有点赶不上 :p
"Do you want me to lead you guys out of the campsite?"
"No sir!"
"On 2nd thoughts, yes sir!"
那就是我的贡献 :p
带着大家走入 campsite 的时候，竟不知觉地加快了脚步。回头一望时，顿然发现大家都有点赶不上 :p
"Do you want me to lead you guys out of the campsite?"
"No sir!"
"On 2nd thoughts, yes sir!"
那就是我的贡献 :p
露营
最近去了好多的露营活动，导致现在身心都感疲惫。
酷热的太阳与“凶猛”的蚊子，真是有点难以招架。记得早上0730分抵达校园，然后随着中二的学生一路开往章宜码头。怎知上了巴士，我却只听得到的是引擎声。如果不是这样，不知道会不会是一片死寂呢？哈哈⋯⋯
“我要听你们唱歌！快点 entertain 我！”
就这样，我们开始了一个新的路程。好久没有唱 np songs 了，我竟记不起何时是最后一次的交流。那天的路程还算愉快吧？
酷热的太阳与“凶猛”的蚊子，真是有点难以招架。记得早上0730分抵达校园，然后随着中二的学生一路开往章宜码头。怎知上了巴士，我却只听得到的是引擎声。如果不是这样，不知道会不会是一片死寂呢？哈哈⋯⋯
“我要听你们唱歌！快点 entertain 我！”
就这样，我们开始了一个新的路程。好久没有唱 np songs 了，我竟记不起何时是最后一次的交流。那天的路程还算愉快吧？
31 October 2005
30 October 2005
手机与互联网
我有两个奇特的坏习惯：每逢醒来之时，我总是会翻查手机简讯。
这真是不健康的现象。
到了晚间，我总是不时地查看电子邮件信箱。这可谓极不正常吧？
其实除了紧急或工作之外，这两项科学奇迹是不是也造成了人与人之间的疏离，忽略了确切与实在的交流与沟通？
这真是不健康的现象。
到了晚间，我总是不时地查看电子邮件信箱。这可谓极不正常吧？
其实除了紧急或工作之外，这两项科学奇迹是不是也造成了人与人之间的疏离，忽略了确切与实在的交流与沟通？
20 October 2005
Yeah this is boring but oh well... its the best i can come up with
This is from "The Zahir" -- a book about this everyday thing (not living yet not dead this thing is) that is always haunting us... telling us about our regrets in not living our wildest dreams -- and one part of the book wrote about a very successful woman who had everything she ever wanted in her life.
She had a husband that she loves and who loves her back in return, but then felt that the 2 of them had lost something very important as time passed by; so she decides to go far away than to be slowly watch the marriage disintegrate.
She had everything in life and yet she was unhappy, although she could pretend that she was going through life pretending that this unhappiness didn't exist, she was afraid of falling into a depression whereby she would never emerge.
And yeah I do suppose that you guys might be asking what the hell is this story talking about… all the stuff so chim and so obscure… such a thing can happen in real life meh?
Haha much as I would to say, the story could have been fake. But it could also be real. And more importantly, I think what it has to teach us is a lot more real than many other things that we face in life.
I guess the main gist that Coelho (the author) was trying to tell us was that, how come someone who loves you so much can just leave you so suddenly? Is it that she dun love you? Is it due to other reasons that we could have never thought about? Are we too narrow-minded to accept what has unjustly happened on ourselves?
In this story, the author was very sure that his wife loves him and that he loves his wife very much in return. But he could not accept that fact that she left him without a word, and that has only left clues to him that she had gone to a faraway country to cover a war story. (she was a reporter)
She did not have to do that – her husband was very rich and that she could have lived the rest of her life feeling comfortable and obliged to please her husband, or to sacrificed her freedom and time for him… and live happily ever after --- but she did not do so.
She chose to cover a war story instead. She chose a job that could land herself into even death any minute. A job that could mean no proper sleep and meals and shelter but yet she chose to do the job. She says that soldiers live their lives to their very best each and every moment and she wants to experience how it was like to be so. She wanted to see if she could understand it all and then apply to her marriage and to the man that she loves.
So she embarked on that very fateful and sudden journey.
But before we ridicule her to be escaping reality, can we change our perspective and see that she is actually pursuing love? And that she wants the ultimate happiness for herself and the man that she loves? Even if it means that she will perish in the search for that highest love, at least she will die happy trying. She wants to return to her husband, that is why she was trying so hard to find a place to cover a war and to learn.. she wants to do it fast and to do it right.
She was pursuing for her forever.
She had a husband that she loves and who loves her back in return, but then felt that the 2 of them had lost something very important as time passed by; so she decides to go far away than to be slowly watch the marriage disintegrate.
She had everything in life and yet she was unhappy, although she could pretend that she was going through life pretending that this unhappiness didn't exist, she was afraid of falling into a depression whereby she would never emerge.
And yeah I do suppose that you guys might be asking what the hell is this story talking about… all the stuff so chim and so obscure… such a thing can happen in real life meh?
Haha much as I would to say, the story could have been fake. But it could also be real. And more importantly, I think what it has to teach us is a lot more real than many other things that we face in life.
I guess the main gist that Coelho (the author) was trying to tell us was that, how come someone who loves you so much can just leave you so suddenly? Is it that she dun love you? Is it due to other reasons that we could have never thought about? Are we too narrow-minded to accept what has unjustly happened on ourselves?
In this story, the author was very sure that his wife loves him and that he loves his wife very much in return. But he could not accept that fact that she left him without a word, and that has only left clues to him that she had gone to a faraway country to cover a war story. (she was a reporter)
She did not have to do that – her husband was very rich and that she could have lived the rest of her life feeling comfortable and obliged to please her husband, or to sacrificed her freedom and time for him… and live happily ever after --- but she did not do so.
She chose to cover a war story instead. She chose a job that could land herself into even death any minute. A job that could mean no proper sleep and meals and shelter but yet she chose to do the job. She says that soldiers live their lives to their very best each and every moment and she wants to experience how it was like to be so. She wanted to see if she could understand it all and then apply to her marriage and to the man that she loves.
So she embarked on that very fateful and sudden journey.
But before we ridicule her to be escaping reality, can we change our perspective and see that she is actually pursuing love? And that she wants the ultimate happiness for herself and the man that she loves? Even if it means that she will perish in the search for that highest love, at least she will die happy trying. She wants to return to her husband, that is why she was trying so hard to find a place to cover a war and to learn.. she wants to do it fast and to do it right.
She was pursuing for her forever.
17 October 2005
真诚
身边的人也许都觉得我是一个非常悲观的人吧？
但其实我觉得自己并非如此。我只是敢于解剖自己，勇于分享我心里的想法吧？就拿上一次写的东西而言，我觉得它不仅仅是一个道歉而已。那则留言代表了我不怕受制裁的真诚之心。
如果学生的成绩能够代表我的努力，那么今年也许我可算是非常成功吧？
再回想当初，如果那两位“骂”我的同学达至今年考试都还在我的“门下”，或许他们也不一定会考获坏成绩⋯⋯因为我敢断言，我时时刻刻都在进步，而对于让中四生能够考好成绩的能力来说，我还是相当有把握！
感谢支持我的朋友与同学，我会继续努力的！
：）
但其实我觉得自己并非如此。我只是敢于解剖自己，勇于分享我心里的想法吧？就拿上一次写的东西而言，我觉得它不仅仅是一个道歉而已。那则留言代表了我不怕受制裁的真诚之心。
如果学生的成绩能够代表我的努力，那么今年也许我可算是非常成功吧？
再回想当初，如果那两位“骂”我的同学达至今年考试都还在我的“门下”，或许他们也不一定会考获坏成绩⋯⋯因为我敢断言，我时时刻刻都在进步，而对于让中四生能够考好成绩的能力来说，我还是相当有把握！
感谢支持我的朋友与同学，我会继续努力的！
：）
14 October 2005
A Really Controversial Posting
Okie its late and i might be crazy to be doing this, but what the heck.
Tonight i had the chance to talk to someone about the incident as tagged by 安仔 and it is only now that i understand the complexity of the entire situation.
To make the really long story short, it was really a very simple affair. There was this really young graduate from the university who first joined the teaching fraternity in the year 2004 and got posted to his alma mater.
He was inexperienced and he had not a clue on how it was like to be teaching but yet he was made to take over a class as part of his teaching experience. Its absurd that such a thing should happen, as the poor class of whom he was teaching was to become the ultimate sacrifice in so that this young and inexperienced teacher could learn what teaching was all about.
Yet there was not any other way whereby he could have been made to learn.
So accidents happen and a lot of blunders later, the bad karma came back to him in the form of bad remarks and even nasty insults as was made know to him through word of mouth.
If it was in the past, this young and inexperienced teacher would have been very upset and will make it a point to quit the teaching service so as not to bring more harm to more students. But then, the present was not the way it was before.
He thought of the people he had seen; there are very capable people who could teach but chose to ruin or not care about their very own students (yes such people do exist, was seen in other schools) and came to the conclusion:
At least he was trying the best he could.
It was not the best that anyone could offer, it should be in fact quite "sucky" as most of the people in the poor class could have felt, but it was nevertheless the best the young teacher had to offer.
The worser thing is that this teacher did not even realise it until that incident in the hall that very fateful day. Many things go through in his head after that -- he still agrees that he is a sucky teacher, he still thinks his proficiency leaves much to be desired, and he is still trying to improve.
Words could only mean so much, some would say.
But yet when this young teacher thought back in retrospect, he felt that the very long hours that he had spent in the school, sometimes to an average of 12 hrs is proof enough of his trying.
But facts are facts and the truth is that he sucks. So the only thing that he can do now is to say sorry for the bad times that he had brought to the very unlucky class.
Now the teacher is still trying, and at the same time trying to look for signs for him to whether to continue in the service or not. Do let him know, approach him, be assured that he will not ridicule or scold, as he had done when the students in 4D had done. (In fact he liked that kind of "confrontation". [that meant feedback!])
As for now, the teacher can only carry on... and hope that his sincerity can move more people than turn them off.
I am that teacher. (haha i know its lame... but i think i am quite lame la... LOL)
Tonight i had the chance to talk to someone about the incident as tagged by 安仔 and it is only now that i understand the complexity of the entire situation.
To make the really long story short, it was really a very simple affair. There was this really young graduate from the university who first joined the teaching fraternity in the year 2004 and got posted to his alma mater.
He was inexperienced and he had not a clue on how it was like to be teaching but yet he was made to take over a class as part of his teaching experience. Its absurd that such a thing should happen, as the poor class of whom he was teaching was to become the ultimate sacrifice in so that this young and inexperienced teacher could learn what teaching was all about.
Yet there was not any other way whereby he could have been made to learn.
So accidents happen and a lot of blunders later, the bad karma came back to him in the form of bad remarks and even nasty insults as was made know to him through word of mouth.
If it was in the past, this young and inexperienced teacher would have been very upset and will make it a point to quit the teaching service so as not to bring more harm to more students. But then, the present was not the way it was before.
He thought of the people he had seen; there are very capable people who could teach but chose to ruin or not care about their very own students (yes such people do exist, was seen in other schools) and came to the conclusion:
At least he was trying the best he could.
It was not the best that anyone could offer, it should be in fact quite "sucky" as most of the people in the poor class could have felt, but it was nevertheless the best the young teacher had to offer.
The worser thing is that this teacher did not even realise it until that incident in the hall that very fateful day. Many things go through in his head after that -- he still agrees that he is a sucky teacher, he still thinks his proficiency leaves much to be desired, and he is still trying to improve.
Words could only mean so much, some would say.
But yet when this young teacher thought back in retrospect, he felt that the very long hours that he had spent in the school, sometimes to an average of 12 hrs is proof enough of his trying.
But facts are facts and the truth is that he sucks. So the only thing that he can do now is to say sorry for the bad times that he had brought to the very unlucky class.
Now the teacher is still trying, and at the same time trying to look for signs for him to whether to continue in the service or not. Do let him know, approach him, be assured that he will not ridicule or scold, as he had done when the students in 4D had done. (In fact he liked that kind of "confrontation". [that meant feedback!])
As for now, the teacher can only carry on... and hope that his sincerity can move more people than turn them off.
I am that teacher. (haha i know its lame... but i think i am quite lame la... LOL)
09 October 2005
I am Touched!
哇，安仔的话让我顿感欣慰！
其实虽然我知道大家都不善于发表自己的感情（男孩子嘛，对这种东西都会觉得肉麻，我也不例外），有时我仍然希望很多同学会对我说“老师，教师节快乐！”
哈哈，但是我知道以我的性格，与事情的局面看来，这是比较难发生的一件事。我想我也知道为什么有一些同学对我会有点讨厌（或是非常讨厌? ;p）因为事实是：我喜欢对学生大呼小叫。谁都不喜欢被吆喝吧？
就好像10月7日那一天，有几位 4D 的同学突然跑来找我。他们对我说：“Mr Chew why do you always like to shout at us?”
然后我回答：“Er.. shouting ah... maybe this is the fastest way to get things done?”
（他们好想不怎么相信我的解释）
"Actually you don't have to shout at us, you just have to tell us nicely, we will do it one."
对此我的回答是：“I am not Miss XXX XXX”
然后他们说：“its ok, anyway its the last day of school already”
然后这些勇敢的同学便跨步走回了自己的课室。
可能有人会觉得，怎么他们这么没礼貌？或者是，为什么这位老师这么不受欢迎？但当时在我脑海浮现的却是：现在的学生其实也勇于发表言论。这也许是我们现代教育的长处吧？高兴之余，我却也同意他们说的话，但更准确的来说，我觉得我有一点失职。
虽然我不是他们的级任老师，但也许我应该到 4D 去，跟他们说说喊他们的原因。但我并不后悔自己向他们发标，因为那几次的情况都不允许我好声好气的跟他们好好谈。
试问升旗礼 2 次的钟都响之后，我还能小小声、并沉稳的向他们说：同学们，你们该排队了吗？
也许我没把状况搞清楚，但当我看到中四的同学竟可以这样放荡不羁，公然对国家不敬，也不作好自己身为学长的榜样，那么学弟们又怎么能学好？我们又怎么能秉持什么仁义道德？
er... 我不知道安仔说的那些同学在我的背后说了写什么，而我也不在乎，但今天这个如此之长的 posting 其实还是冲着我的良心才须要发表的。(just in case you guys think i am feeling guilty but actually its my sense of duty that made me wanna post this) 所以 4C 的同学千万不要因此而大动干戈。不然等一下被捉不是很不划算吗？（说归说，我的心却为这次的事件而感到甜滋滋的⋯⋯因为我不是圣人，而是普通人，所以我心里非常的高兴smiles）
ok... 我应该搁笔了。This is a very naggy posting hor...
(oh my goodness.. this posting took me 45 mins.. okie i have to go sleep le... cya guys at the Leaver's ceremony... am going to miss you guys... haha i am not ah gua okie.. )
其实虽然我知道大家都不善于发表自己的感情（男孩子嘛，对这种东西都会觉得肉麻，我也不例外），有时我仍然希望很多同学会对我说“老师，教师节快乐！”
哈哈，但是我知道以我的性格，与事情的局面看来，这是比较难发生的一件事。我想我也知道为什么有一些同学对我会有点讨厌（或是非常讨厌? ;p）因为事实是：我喜欢对学生大呼小叫。谁都不喜欢被吆喝吧？
就好像10月7日那一天，有几位 4D 的同学突然跑来找我。他们对我说：“Mr Chew why do you always like to shout at us?”
然后我回答：“Er.. shouting ah... maybe this is the fastest way to get things done?”
（他们好想不怎么相信我的解释）
"Actually you don't have to shout at us, you just have to tell us nicely, we will do it one."
对此我的回答是：“I am not Miss XXX XXX”
然后他们说：“its ok, anyway its the last day of school already”
然后这些勇敢的同学便跨步走回了自己的课室。
可能有人会觉得，怎么他们这么没礼貌？或者是，为什么这位老师这么不受欢迎？但当时在我脑海浮现的却是：现在的学生其实也勇于发表言论。这也许是我们现代教育的长处吧？高兴之余，我却也同意他们说的话，但更准确的来说，我觉得我有一点失职。
虽然我不是他们的级任老师，但也许我应该到 4D 去，跟他们说说喊他们的原因。但我并不后悔自己向他们发标，因为那几次的情况都不允许我好声好气的跟他们好好谈。
试问升旗礼 2 次的钟都响之后，我还能小小声、并沉稳的向他们说：同学们，你们该排队了吗？
也许我没把状况搞清楚，但当我看到中四的同学竟可以这样放荡不羁，公然对国家不敬，也不作好自己身为学长的榜样，那么学弟们又怎么能学好？我们又怎么能秉持什么仁义道德？
er... 我不知道安仔说的那些同学在我的背后说了写什么，而我也不在乎，但今天这个如此之长的 posting 其实还是冲着我的良心才须要发表的。(just in case you guys think i am feeling guilty but actually its my sense of duty that made me wanna post this) 所以 4C 的同学千万不要因此而大动干戈。不然等一下被捉不是很不划算吗？（说归说，我的心却为这次的事件而感到甜滋滋的⋯⋯因为我不是圣人，而是普通人，所以我心里非常的高兴smiles）
ok... 我应该搁笔了。This is a very naggy posting hor...
(oh my goodness.. this posting took me 45 mins.. okie i have to go sleep le... cya guys at the Leaver's ceremony... am going to miss you guys... haha i am not ah gua okie.. )
06 October 2005
The Making of a Hero - Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the the Republic of Indonesia, Time Magazine, 10 Oct 2005
Mr Yudhoyono wrote in his article about his personal definition of heroes, and there are 2 kinds: heroes who shine in the face of great adversity and those who do their work unceremoniously, unnoticed by many of us, but who make a difference in the lives of others.
He talked about a certain army general by the name of Surdiman, who was a larger than life hero in the President's eyes in the then humble days, and another by the name Catur, who is a lieutenant-colonel in the town of Aceh hardest hit by the tsunami that swept across months back.
Catur risked his life time and time again to rescue survivors from the tsunami but was only hit by news of his perished family members. He was griefed but he stayed at his post, and spent the very same whole day guiding residents to safety.
Mr Yudhoyono met Mr Catur during his visit and the latter did not even mention anything to the president, and it was only later that Mr Yudhoyono found out about the matter from Mr Catur's peers.
Then it was the story of Miss Butet Manurung, a lady who embarked on a nearly-impossible goal of eradicating illiteracy among the isolated tribes of the Sumatran jungle.
Mr Yudhoyono had also met teachers who would walk tens of miles each day to reach their school - all for the meager reward of some $20 a month and no doubt of plenty of grief from their students.
Yet they make the journey every day.
So he posed the questions: what is a hero? Who is a hero? Is it the decorated general who leads his army to victory, or the unknown soldier quietly obeying his orders? Is it the researcher who finds a cure for cancer, or the country doctor treating the sick? Should a hero be one who saves thousands of lives, or who comforts just one?
What drives them?
Duty? Determination? Perseverance?
Doubtless that they do play their parts, but it is love thats ultimately pushes them. It was love - a love for education, a love of humanity - that sent Butet Manurung to the jungle, and keeps her there. Love - for their fellow students - makes bearable the long miles those schoolteachers ealk each day. And love - for his community, for his country - drove Catur into the same perilous sea that took his family.
Mr Yudhoyono concludes with the following:
"Perhaps Catur did not set out to be a hero; no doubt he would rather have his family back. But circumstances stirred something in him, something he could not hold back. What Manurung does- giving up her way of life to fight illiteracy - is too extreme for some, but not to her. I often wonder when i meet these brave men and women who are our heroes: what would i do in the same situation? Would i rush out to those deadly waters if my family or my country needed me to? Would you?"
He talked about a certain army general by the name of Surdiman, who was a larger than life hero in the President's eyes in the then humble days, and another by the name Catur, who is a lieutenant-colonel in the town of Aceh hardest hit by the tsunami that swept across months back.
Catur risked his life time and time again to rescue survivors from the tsunami but was only hit by news of his perished family members. He was griefed but he stayed at his post, and spent the very same whole day guiding residents to safety.
Mr Yudhoyono met Mr Catur during his visit and the latter did not even mention anything to the president, and it was only later that Mr Yudhoyono found out about the matter from Mr Catur's peers.
Then it was the story of Miss Butet Manurung, a lady who embarked on a nearly-impossible goal of eradicating illiteracy among the isolated tribes of the Sumatran jungle.
Mr Yudhoyono had also met teachers who would walk tens of miles each day to reach their school - all for the meager reward of some $20 a month and no doubt of plenty of grief from their students.
Yet they make the journey every day.
So he posed the questions: what is a hero? Who is a hero? Is it the decorated general who leads his army to victory, or the unknown soldier quietly obeying his orders? Is it the researcher who finds a cure for cancer, or the country doctor treating the sick? Should a hero be one who saves thousands of lives, or who comforts just one?
What drives them?
Duty? Determination? Perseverance?
Doubtless that they do play their parts, but it is love thats ultimately pushes them. It was love - a love for education, a love of humanity - that sent Butet Manurung to the jungle, and keeps her there. Love - for their fellow students - makes bearable the long miles those schoolteachers ealk each day. And love - for his community, for his country - drove Catur into the same perilous sea that took his family.
Mr Yudhoyono concludes with the following:
"Perhaps Catur did not set out to be a hero; no doubt he would rather have his family back. But circumstances stirred something in him, something he could not hold back. What Manurung does- giving up her way of life to fight illiteracy - is too extreme for some, but not to her. I often wonder when i meet these brave men and women who are our heroes: what would i do in the same situation? Would i rush out to those deadly waters if my family or my country needed me to? Would you?"
03 October 2005
Should Teachers Seek to Convert Pupils?
Read the above in the Straits Times forum.
There was this person who wrote in and complained that a teacher is trying to convert a friend's daughter through msn to christianity when she is a buddhist. Then she carried on to suggest that MOE should regulate teachers through MSN even.
Agreed that teachers shouldn't be doing such a thing to a student if the matter really happened. But is the matter just restricted to the fact that the teacher was a teacher?
Is it slipping into the area of religion already? Is the teacher asking the kid to listen to him because he is a teacher?
How about the fact that the public wants the teachers to be nurturing and helpful to the kids? Are we simply discounting teachers when they are trying to reach out?
I am not a christian, in fact i am more atuned to buddhism but the matter of issue now is the fact of the poor treatment of the public towards teachers nowadays.
I remember issues when teachers were taped tearing the assignment of students and were condemned of the act. The student was innocent and should be forgiven as he was young. Nothing was done to address the fact that he was not serious in his work. Nothing was done to credit the teacher when she was trying so hard to make a connection, even if it were in the negative way.
How about the teacher who was cursed by many people when a student was punished for calling her a bitch? What should be the people looking after the students do then?
If the job of an educator were to teach and educate? What should be the way to do it? By referring the kid for counselling or giving he/she a good "thrashing"?
Can we ask ourselves, as we were through much, that which of the above would make much more of an impact?
I am not even talking about the respect that the public should give to the teacher... not of parents who call the schools and demand teachers to do their jobs for them. The kid is spoilt and the teacher should do something when it is the parents who face them more often. How about the teacher who gets blamed when the student does not do work?
Yeah it may be biased of me... well its bound to be but does not all of the above make some kind of sense in the gut? Blame me for my instinctive arguments then....
Or is it propaganda that is destroying all the good general image of teachers nowadays?
There was this person who wrote in and complained that a teacher is trying to convert a friend's daughter through msn to christianity when she is a buddhist. Then she carried on to suggest that MOE should regulate teachers through MSN even.
Agreed that teachers shouldn't be doing such a thing to a student if the matter really happened. But is the matter just restricted to the fact that the teacher was a teacher?
Is it slipping into the area of religion already? Is the teacher asking the kid to listen to him because he is a teacher?
How about the fact that the public wants the teachers to be nurturing and helpful to the kids? Are we simply discounting teachers when they are trying to reach out?
I am not a christian, in fact i am more atuned to buddhism but the matter of issue now is the fact of the poor treatment of the public towards teachers nowadays.
I remember issues when teachers were taped tearing the assignment of students and were condemned of the act. The student was innocent and should be forgiven as he was young. Nothing was done to address the fact that he was not serious in his work. Nothing was done to credit the teacher when she was trying so hard to make a connection, even if it were in the negative way.
How about the teacher who was cursed by many people when a student was punished for calling her a bitch? What should be the people looking after the students do then?
If the job of an educator were to teach and educate? What should be the way to do it? By referring the kid for counselling or giving he/she a good "thrashing"?
Can we ask ourselves, as we were through much, that which of the above would make much more of an impact?
I am not even talking about the respect that the public should give to the teacher... not of parents who call the schools and demand teachers to do their jobs for them. The kid is spoilt and the teacher should do something when it is the parents who face them more often. How about the teacher who gets blamed when the student does not do work?
Yeah it may be biased of me... well its bound to be but does not all of the above make some kind of sense in the gut? Blame me for my instinctive arguments then....
Or is it propaganda that is destroying all the good general image of teachers nowadays?
30 September 2005
Keeping our sanity
Hey all, esp to my sec 4 class:
Know that it isn't much time that we are actually spending in school, so heres some postings to allow reading at your own free times.
Today's topic is on keeping sanity; that we are all trying to keep in this mad rush of examinations. Today was at the Junior College Talk conducted by xxx Junior College and i was quite surprised that their cut off point was whooping 13 points already at the January intake of students!
The presentation wasn't much and i think all of us were not really impressed by the poster boys and girls of xxx Tay and Tay xx (alumni of xxxJC), but what really struck me was the charisma of the Principal.
He's unlike the average school principal who talks a lot on academic achievements and the harsh harsh world outside (i know i do it too.. haha) but instead, he talks about unforgetable moments in JC. He talks about crazy experiences that young people might want to do and he encourages them. Let me quote him by saying this, "one of my students went on to become a doctor and when he was asked about something that had really impacted his life, he wrote about his experiences doing CIP with the Orang Asli in Malaysia."
It was not studies or getting the best teachers (yeah they do exist) and it was not planning a perfect solution to get to the university but rather about life and experiencing it, and this principal is actually indirectly implying that xxxJC could be the school to achieve it all for those who dared to dream.
Now i am not here to sell the JC, but it is really important to enjoy life in JC in order to do well in it. Everything links and everything will fall in place when we are in sync with the school that we are studying in. This might sound vague but then if i were to make a definition about studying well in JC, it has got a lot to do with the school leadership and management of students as well as the hard work of the latter to achieve something. Effort must also come from both sides in order to attain success and i think this particular JC might not be a bad start for a successful life in the future.
Whatever it is (i know i am gettng very long in the posting), make full use of your to-be JC life or any other life in your tertiary institution of study. Study hard, join a CCA and go all out for it. You will realise that you will learn more than you've ever imagined.
I am going to end with a quote again, by a friend who said,"My life in JC was really a big regret now when i look back at it. I had missed so many chances that it really hurts me to even think of it today."
So what do we want our experiences to be in our next place of study? Only we can tell the answer.
Know that it isn't much time that we are actually spending in school, so heres some postings to allow reading at your own free times.
Today's topic is on keeping sanity; that we are all trying to keep in this mad rush of examinations. Today was at the Junior College Talk conducted by xxx Junior College and i was quite surprised that their cut off point was whooping 13 points already at the January intake of students!
The presentation wasn't much and i think all of us were not really impressed by the poster boys and girls of xxx Tay and Tay xx (alumni of xxxJC), but what really struck me was the charisma of the Principal.
He's unlike the average school principal who talks a lot on academic achievements and the harsh harsh world outside (i know i do it too.. haha) but instead, he talks about unforgetable moments in JC. He talks about crazy experiences that young people might want to do and he encourages them. Let me quote him by saying this, "one of my students went on to become a doctor and when he was asked about something that had really impacted his life, he wrote about his experiences doing CIP with the Orang Asli in Malaysia."
It was not studies or getting the best teachers (yeah they do exist) and it was not planning a perfect solution to get to the university but rather about life and experiencing it, and this principal is actually indirectly implying that xxxJC could be the school to achieve it all for those who dared to dream.
Now i am not here to sell the JC, but it is really important to enjoy life in JC in order to do well in it. Everything links and everything will fall in place when we are in sync with the school that we are studying in. This might sound vague but then if i were to make a definition about studying well in JC, it has got a lot to do with the school leadership and management of students as well as the hard work of the latter to achieve something. Effort must also come from both sides in order to attain success and i think this particular JC might not be a bad start for a successful life in the future.
Whatever it is (i know i am gettng very long in the posting), make full use of your to-be JC life or any other life in your tertiary institution of study. Study hard, join a CCA and go all out for it. You will realise that you will learn more than you've ever imagined.
I am going to end with a quote again, by a friend who said,"My life in JC was really a big regret now when i look back at it. I had missed so many chances that it really hurts me to even think of it today."
So what do we want our experiences to be in our next place of study? Only we can tell the answer.
26 September 2005
Eric Khoo's "Be With Me"
A very strange movie title; wasn't really attracted to the title until after i have finished the movie actually. Was dragged there by friends and found myself in the movie theatre without really knowing why.
Then the opening scene: "depressing" music was playing and a scene of a old and traditional provision shop of the 70's era came into our sight. I was thinking, "not another depressing show i hope?"
And so the story goes, bits and pieces of small stories comes inter-mingling together as a big one; all talking about the different kinds of love and how people handle them. Some chose despair, some chose escape. Yet amongst them a single story shone through them all.
The story of Theresa Chan.
A lady who lost her hearing as a little girl. Just when the world was slowly growing to accommodate her, she lost her sight as well, one eye following the other. And she was just a little girl. Imagine the pain and the suffering, not being able to hear or see. What would our world be?
My first instinct? Suicide.
Yet that was not what Theresa chose. She decided to face it all. She went through the long and arduous journey, a world without sight or hearing and overcome it all mostly by herself. She stays alone and she became a teacher for the blind. Brings me to tears when I was watching the movie, the thought of it was painful enough. I wonder how it must have been to go through it, and through many years.
She said she fell in love once and lost her only love whom she was supposed to get married to. He was blind and he developed nose cancer. So for the 30 over years of Christmas nights, Theresa’s tears would flow freely. Yet she feels the love strong and that life is a blessing. She was told of the hordes of people whom she had heard of being homeless and starving from hunger in the streets of India in the 1960s and she thought that her plight was nothing compared to these people who faces death. She thought that she had everything in the world.
It also came to mind that although she was blind and was to do without the many beautiful sights that everyone else had the chance to see, she felt that heaven was fair in that she was also spared the atrocities of life, by also not being able to see or hear them. “God works in mysterious ways”, that was what Theresa said.
So how about the old man who had lost his wife of many years? How about the girl who committed suicide because of a love who has deserted her? How about the man who grew up hiding from love that he was supposed to fight for? How about love that was seemingly unreciprocated from a man who has difficulty in relating to his father?
How about embracing love itself and accepting it for what it brings?
A Tribute to Miss Theresa Chan, who has bravely faced desolateness with determination and faith.
Then the opening scene: "depressing" music was playing and a scene of a old and traditional provision shop of the 70's era came into our sight. I was thinking, "not another depressing show i hope?"
And so the story goes, bits and pieces of small stories comes inter-mingling together as a big one; all talking about the different kinds of love and how people handle them. Some chose despair, some chose escape. Yet amongst them a single story shone through them all.
The story of Theresa Chan.
A lady who lost her hearing as a little girl. Just when the world was slowly growing to accommodate her, she lost her sight as well, one eye following the other. And she was just a little girl. Imagine the pain and the suffering, not being able to hear or see. What would our world be?
My first instinct? Suicide.
Yet that was not what Theresa chose. She decided to face it all. She went through the long and arduous journey, a world without sight or hearing and overcome it all mostly by herself. She stays alone and she became a teacher for the blind. Brings me to tears when I was watching the movie, the thought of it was painful enough. I wonder how it must have been to go through it, and through many years.
She said she fell in love once and lost her only love whom she was supposed to get married to. He was blind and he developed nose cancer. So for the 30 over years of Christmas nights, Theresa’s tears would flow freely. Yet she feels the love strong and that life is a blessing. She was told of the hordes of people whom she had heard of being homeless and starving from hunger in the streets of India in the 1960s and she thought that her plight was nothing compared to these people who faces death. She thought that she had everything in the world.
It also came to mind that although she was blind and was to do without the many beautiful sights that everyone else had the chance to see, she felt that heaven was fair in that she was also spared the atrocities of life, by also not being able to see or hear them. “God works in mysterious ways”, that was what Theresa said.
So how about the old man who had lost his wife of many years? How about the girl who committed suicide because of a love who has deserted her? How about the man who grew up hiding from love that he was supposed to fight for? How about love that was seemingly unreciprocated from a man who has difficulty in relating to his father?
How about embracing love itself and accepting it for what it brings?
A Tribute to Miss Theresa Chan, who has bravely faced desolateness with determination and faith.
23 September 2005
话题
“The most important thing in all human relationships is conversation, but people don't talk anymore, they don't sit down to talk and listen. They go to the theatre, the cinema, watch television, listen to the radio, read books, but they almost never talk. If we want to change the world, we must go back to a time when warriors would gather round a fire and tell stories”
A quote from a book of which i had just read, and the paragraph was telling of the exact answer that i had been searching for these few days, all in a leisure reading of a book.
I was talking to 2 cadets about the quality of our unit and apparently both parties learnt things that we did not thought of or did not even want to find out. One party was concerned about why the other was "finding excuses" not to come for activity and the other party was wanting to finally catch hold of an avenue to "vent their frustrations". The officer wanted a closely knitted unit whereby everyone would just fit into the puzzle but the cadet wanted a conducive environment whereby he would come to a CCA and be able to enjoy like what he saw in the other uniformed group.
Then I pondered and I pondered and I began to wonder: did we lose ourselves in the rules of the world? Did we get so lost in the pre-arranged layout of the big society that we are barely living our own lives in the way we wanted them to be? Things had to go because they had been going the way they were for so long that no one bothers to change them. We all want stability, we all want the formula of success, but when it comes to the end of it all, I really do wonder how many of us ever get real success, or even ever thought about it at all?
I do not want to be a person who will die an eventual death and to go about it boringly. Life should be full of colours and life should be living each and everyday with a single tingle of regret. Though I am still far from my ideal life, it is with slow and steady steps that I will embark onto this journey.
Likewise, I will carry on the long journey for 4C and for the “leftovers” in the unit. Hold on to everyone, be true, stay true and not be afraid to face hardships, that will be at least what I am aiming towards.
The future is never up to us to predict or arrange but how it will appear to be will be dependent on our efforts to make it so. We may fail but then we must never forget that we may win too. Take the gamble and let the game of life roll on!
A quote from a book of which i had just read, and the paragraph was telling of the exact answer that i had been searching for these few days, all in a leisure reading of a book.
I was talking to 2 cadets about the quality of our unit and apparently both parties learnt things that we did not thought of or did not even want to find out. One party was concerned about why the other was "finding excuses" not to come for activity and the other party was wanting to finally catch hold of an avenue to "vent their frustrations". The officer wanted a closely knitted unit whereby everyone would just fit into the puzzle but the cadet wanted a conducive environment whereby he would come to a CCA and be able to enjoy like what he saw in the other uniformed group.
Then I pondered and I pondered and I began to wonder: did we lose ourselves in the rules of the world? Did we get so lost in the pre-arranged layout of the big society that we are barely living our own lives in the way we wanted them to be? Things had to go because they had been going the way they were for so long that no one bothers to change them. We all want stability, we all want the formula of success, but when it comes to the end of it all, I really do wonder how many of us ever get real success, or even ever thought about it at all?
I do not want to be a person who will die an eventual death and to go about it boringly. Life should be full of colours and life should be living each and everyday with a single tingle of regret. Though I am still far from my ideal life, it is with slow and steady steps that I will embark onto this journey.
Likewise, I will carry on the long journey for 4C and for the “leftovers” in the unit. Hold on to everyone, be true, stay true and not be afraid to face hardships, that will be at least what I am aiming towards.
The future is never up to us to predict or arrange but how it will appear to be will be dependent on our efforts to make it so. We may fail but then we must never forget that we may win too. Take the gamble and let the game of life roll on!
22 September 2005
The Numbing of Senses
Just when we thought that things would gradually go their peaceful courses, and who knows that we were to be struck by the terrible news of Jasper's passing.
It was an arduous 9 months of journey. The pain and the loss; who better to know other than the protagonist himself: The first few weeks of going through the exams before he got to know about the illness, the next few painful months of chemotherapy, weeks and weeks of excruciating radiotherapy and almost an entire year of suffering, of not being able to go back to school, of being alone in his preparation for his studies and of the hope of being able to continue a normal life again.
It was just a small and simple dream. Perhaps a dream that will still carry on in his heart no matter he is now.
I remember the times when we visited. The seemingly carefree face and wholesome good-naturedness... the light in his eyes whenever he talks about life and how he faced its challenges; these are not what everyone of us can handle. And i admire you, Jasper, for your courage and determination, against all odds and never ever giving up.
I still remember the fateful dinner that Miss Leong, Miss Koh, you and I had enjoyed together. Now the table of life is half-filled with the passing of you two, i am beginning to wonder what more painful challenges will life want for me to face again?
Nevertheless we all know, that the memories that we have ever had, no matter how small, will always forever be etched in our hearts, no matter how far any of us may be.
May peace and happiness always be with you.
Goodbye, Jasper.
It was an arduous 9 months of journey. The pain and the loss; who better to know other than the protagonist himself: The first few weeks of going through the exams before he got to know about the illness, the next few painful months of chemotherapy, weeks and weeks of excruciating radiotherapy and almost an entire year of suffering, of not being able to go back to school, of being alone in his preparation for his studies and of the hope of being able to continue a normal life again.
It was just a small and simple dream. Perhaps a dream that will still carry on in his heart no matter he is now.
I remember the times when we visited. The seemingly carefree face and wholesome good-naturedness... the light in his eyes whenever he talks about life and how he faced its challenges; these are not what everyone of us can handle. And i admire you, Jasper, for your courage and determination, against all odds and never ever giving up.
I still remember the fateful dinner that Miss Leong, Miss Koh, you and I had enjoyed together. Now the table of life is half-filled with the passing of you two, i am beginning to wonder what more painful challenges will life want for me to face again?
Nevertheless we all know, that the memories that we have ever had, no matter how small, will always forever be etched in our hearts, no matter how far any of us may be.
May peace and happiness always be with you.
Goodbye, Jasper.
13 September 2005
如愿以偿
今天终于如愿以偿，得以到学校外头跑步！
回想刚过去的假期，好像都没有好好地休息过。学校在一周的假期中就安排了2次的大活动，而每次都要耗上一整天那么久，真是要命。虽然时间方面很难安排举行如此大型的活动，但一小部分的我却总是希望能够好好休息。也许平常工作效率特别低，以致到了假期还是无法顺利解决繁杂的职务。
仔细想一想，工作永远都是做不完的。只要每天都能好好地出去跑一圈，那日子就会过得好一些！
回想刚过去的假期，好像都没有好好地休息过。学校在一周的假期中就安排了2次的大活动，而每次都要耗上一整天那么久，真是要命。虽然时间方面很难安排举行如此大型的活动，但一小部分的我却总是希望能够好好休息。也许平常工作效率特别低，以致到了假期还是无法顺利解决繁杂的职务。
仔细想一想，工作永远都是做不完的。只要每天都能好好地出去跑一圈，那日子就会过得好一些！
09 September 2005
Updates to the Day
Yes it does sound so common-man and cliche but i am going to do it nevertheless.
And yes i am still up at this deadly-hour as i am quite vexed over what's happening in my cca. I guess i cannot discuss this online as it will hurt people and perhaps cause irreparable damage so here i am, writing updates on my own life.
Maybe perhaps to write to myself so i can read it? Or does anyone read this blog? I guess it doesn't really matter. Maybe when i am dead and there are people who wonders what kind of a person i am, then the blog will get its readings. (hmm is this hint that i might die soon? i hope not.)
Anyway i have digressed so here's back to the main point. (I hope i am not getting crazy) I woke at ard 10am on sunday and was supposed to get ready to meet Miss Lee & company for lunch at suntec for a teochew porridge buffet. But then the lazy side of me took charge and i pig-ed around in bed till i was late for the meet-up.
Chatted with them over their humour course and was told it was not that bad. Some of you might be wondering why i did not attend the course? Or perhaps the defensive side of me wants to explain that i am overworked and even when i am on courses, the work will not get siphoned away even when it was supposed to. OOpss.. i am digressing again... but anyway, i was a bit affected when Miss Lee told me that she saw chee keong and company and that they responded "negatively" when she said she was meeting me.
Okie now Miss Lee did not really say anything or made any comment but just merely re-enacted the situation. Then Mr Kan said that maybe the boys were just thinking that meeting Mr Chew is a really boring thing to do. But then, i can't help but feel that i must have been really a monster to warrant such a reaction from them. Sadz...
Then it leads to me thinking... why do kids behave the way they do to you especially when you are trying to do some good with them? Or perhaps i was over-reacting. Or get over-agitated as some of my friends tell me of the type i am.
Maybe i am just being straight-forward and staying true to myself? Can it be that i am behaving this way?
Then i get people kicking me in the face when it was help that i wanted to give them by being nasty. They think of me as some monster and an inconsiderate and selfish person when i was doing things that upset them.
In the end this led me to thinking if all those things that i was doing all these while were worth it. Why can't people think in the big picture other than getting immersed in their own worlds? Why are people unable to step out of their comfort zones just to make things better? Why are people so nasty when they know all that it takes was a little effort on their sides? Why are people misunderstanding that all i wanted to do was to help and not putting them off or down?
Perhaps i am just another stupid singaporean behaving in his average complaining way.
But then how not to be a complaining singaporean when the last i heard in the radio broadcast was that some govt-related organization was organizing fast-track dating to singles and hoping that they will help to increase the birth rates?
And yes i am still up at this deadly-hour as i am quite vexed over what's happening in my cca. I guess i cannot discuss this online as it will hurt people and perhaps cause irreparable damage so here i am, writing updates on my own life.
Maybe perhaps to write to myself so i can read it? Or does anyone read this blog? I guess it doesn't really matter. Maybe when i am dead and there are people who wonders what kind of a person i am, then the blog will get its readings. (hmm is this hint that i might die soon? i hope not.)
Anyway i have digressed so here's back to the main point. (I hope i am not getting crazy) I woke at ard 10am on sunday and was supposed to get ready to meet Miss Lee & company for lunch at suntec for a teochew porridge buffet. But then the lazy side of me took charge and i pig-ed around in bed till i was late for the meet-up.
Chatted with them over their humour course and was told it was not that bad. Some of you might be wondering why i did not attend the course? Or perhaps the defensive side of me wants to explain that i am overworked and even when i am on courses, the work will not get siphoned away even when it was supposed to. OOpss.. i am digressing again... but anyway, i was a bit affected when Miss Lee told me that she saw chee keong and company and that they responded "negatively" when she said she was meeting me.
Okie now Miss Lee did not really say anything or made any comment but just merely re-enacted the situation. Then Mr Kan said that maybe the boys were just thinking that meeting Mr Chew is a really boring thing to do. But then, i can't help but feel that i must have been really a monster to warrant such a reaction from them. Sadz...
Then it leads to me thinking... why do kids behave the way they do to you especially when you are trying to do some good with them? Or perhaps i was over-reacting. Or get over-agitated as some of my friends tell me of the type i am.
Maybe i am just being straight-forward and staying true to myself? Can it be that i am behaving this way?
Then i get people kicking me in the face when it was help that i wanted to give them by being nasty. They think of me as some monster and an inconsiderate and selfish person when i was doing things that upset them.
In the end this led me to thinking if all those things that i was doing all these while were worth it. Why can't people think in the big picture other than getting immersed in their own worlds? Why are people unable to step out of their comfort zones just to make things better? Why are people so nasty when they know all that it takes was a little effort on their sides? Why are people misunderstanding that all i wanted to do was to help and not putting them off or down?
Perhaps i am just another stupid singaporean behaving in his average complaining way.
But then how not to be a complaining singaporean when the last i heard in the radio broadcast was that some govt-related organization was organizing fast-track dating to singles and hoping that they will help to increase the birth rates?
07 September 2005
About Giving Ourselves
Many a time i will always ask myself this question: is it worth giving part of yourself away for the benefit of others? Perhaps even giving everything of yourself away?
I first asked myself this question when i became a NCO at the age of 15. This was not the normal help brothers and sisters affair, nor did it make any compulsory obligation out of myself. I was just put in charge of a job, and i would be fulfilling my responsibility if i do my job well.
In the end i chose the less traveled path; that i will do everything within my means to help this group of juniors who were younger than me and i will do everything in my power to ensure that whatever good that was transferred to myself was going to be in turn transversed.
In the end when it was time for me to graduate, i got this green grasshopper and a present, a handmade one, and a little note that expresses the gratitude that my juniors have for me.
And so today all of them should already be holding their own jobs and most probably have forgotten that the very grasshopper for which they had made that very year still lingers and takes up a very big part of my heart. And that while they might have soared high and far, they will forever be in my heart.
I first asked myself this question when i became a NCO at the age of 15. This was not the normal help brothers and sisters affair, nor did it make any compulsory obligation out of myself. I was just put in charge of a job, and i would be fulfilling my responsibility if i do my job well.
In the end i chose the less traveled path; that i will do everything within my means to help this group of juniors who were younger than me and i will do everything in my power to ensure that whatever good that was transferred to myself was going to be in turn transversed.
In the end when it was time for me to graduate, i got this green grasshopper and a present, a handmade one, and a little note that expresses the gratitude that my juniors have for me.
And so today all of them should already be holding their own jobs and most probably have forgotten that the very grasshopper for which they had made that very year still lingers and takes up a very big part of my heart. And that while they might have soared high and far, they will forever be in my heart.
06 September 2005
Okie So I am Boring
Hi there!
Alright today i am going to talk a bit of my life, as Kais say that my blog is so so boring. All philosophy and cheem cheem stuff, like very bad hor... or in short, boring?
But the fact is hor, i think i am a boring person la.. haha...
Yeah oh well so it goes that i have not much social life in the past few days out. Teacher's Day celebrations were a bore (I'm sorry Mr Jeremy, i know you tried very hard) and i actually stayed back in school to do marking with miss lee sp and mr lim sc.
Then Miss Yvonne Chin came into the staff lounge and saw us and gasped:"omg! And i thought i was the only loser in the school! Why are you guys not going out to celebrate, or at least go home for a good rest?"
"well we are so behind in our assignments... so ... ermm... here we are."
Then it was teacher's day! (Though i dun feel anything as its like just a rest day? okie i rewarded myself by going to kushinbo for dinner but gasp... its not very nice to me.... not that the food is not nice but just not to my taste, but i still think that it is a lot of food to choose from)
maybe i shall post the lobster and crab on the other blog (http://ms4c05.blogspot.com -- sorry guys i dunno how to embed in original msg.) so that you guys can take a look.
Then it was friday and there was a Parent-Teacher-Meeting and then was forced to go home by my kakis (read above) for the teacher's day dinner.
The food was good (like 大鱼大肉 everyday hor) and we went home after that. Saturday was back in school again (Yes i know i very no life) and there was an interschool meeting from 1330 - 1700 hrs. It went on better than expected (thanks to very good and detailed planning by CI Paul) and i feel that the area people were quite united for a start. Hope that this will also be a very good start for the 400-people camp to come in november.
After a meal at mac's in bishan i was home again. Was so tired that i missed a stop when i took the bus back. damn! so walked back one bus stop lor... then realised that it was the last day of the 7th month. Time really passes by real fast.
Then a friend called in the late evening and i just went out to have coffee at starbucks at compass pt. It was just a short coffee session and i was home .... well... to blog again... haha come to think of it now... i think i really have no life.. man... must do something about it... . :p
of cos there were other things happening... like out with 2 of the teachers for a meal at little india on sunday night... then marking the whole of today.. .but then again not very productive as usual... when will i ever be able to finish... . hiaz.... okie... that's me... or a snippet of my life...
hope that it's not boring u to death already? But sorry if it did la... dun mean it... haha... :p
Alright today i am going to talk a bit of my life, as Kais say that my blog is so so boring. All philosophy and cheem cheem stuff, like very bad hor... or in short, boring?
But the fact is hor, i think i am a boring person la.. haha...
Yeah oh well so it goes that i have not much social life in the past few days out. Teacher's Day celebrations were a bore (I'm sorry Mr Jeremy, i know you tried very hard) and i actually stayed back in school to do marking with miss lee sp and mr lim sc.
Then Miss Yvonne Chin came into the staff lounge and saw us and gasped:"omg! And i thought i was the only loser in the school! Why are you guys not going out to celebrate, or at least go home for a good rest?"
"well we are so behind in our assignments... so ... ermm... here we are."
Then it was teacher's day! (Though i dun feel anything as its like just a rest day? okie i rewarded myself by going to kushinbo for dinner but gasp... its not very nice to me.... not that the food is not nice but just not to my taste, but i still think that it is a lot of food to choose from)
maybe i shall post the lobster and crab on the other blog (http://ms4c05.blogspot.com -- sorry guys i dunno how to embed in original msg.) so that you guys can take a look.
Then it was friday and there was a Parent-Teacher-Meeting and then was forced to go home by my kakis (read above) for the teacher's day dinner.
The food was good (like 大鱼大肉 everyday hor) and we went home after that. Saturday was back in school again (Yes i know i very no life) and there was an interschool meeting from 1330 - 1700 hrs. It went on better than expected (thanks to very good and detailed planning by CI Paul) and i feel that the area people were quite united for a start. Hope that this will also be a very good start for the 400-people camp to come in november.
After a meal at mac's in bishan i was home again. Was so tired that i missed a stop when i took the bus back. damn! so walked back one bus stop lor... then realised that it was the last day of the 7th month. Time really passes by real fast.
Then a friend called in the late evening and i just went out to have coffee at starbucks at compass pt. It was just a short coffee session and i was home .... well... to blog again... haha come to think of it now... i think i really have no life.. man... must do something about it... . :p
of cos there were other things happening... like out with 2 of the teachers for a meal at little india on sunday night... then marking the whole of today.. .but then again not very productive as usual... when will i ever be able to finish... . hiaz.... okie... that's me... or a snippet of my life...
hope that it's not boring u to death already? But sorry if it did la... dun mean it... haha... :p
05 September 2005
一刹那的感动
今天待在家中批卷，在闲余中无意看到了‘联合晚报’的头条：“绝对 superstar 比赛冠军伟联获胜靠的是毅力。他的同情票只占 1％。”
虽然我没有看该节目，但我却对阅读头条新闻而感到思潮起伏。伟联是一个身带残缺的参赛者，我想大家是众所周知的。
之前他打进了初赛，除了才华以外，也难免争取到了观众的“同情分”。如今报章报道他获胜的原因为“毅力”；这让我觉得为之一动。
试问我们现今的社会中有多少人靠毅力从事或至少秉持这样的信念？我们是不是碰到了挫折便不再抗争、不为奋斗？多少人因为学业不理想而自暴自弃，多少人又总是沉沦于痛苦的深渊？我们是否肯愿意检讨自己的过失，是否曾想方设法去挽回或补救？或者是事业不如意的我们、或者是面对感情问题的情侣，我们又是否曾看得透彻？
很多时候，我们也许都不曾做到吧？
伟联的例子也许能让大家看到这一点：面对困难时与其自我封闭，倒不如坦然接受挑战，勇敢对抗！
伟联眼睛见不着，与对手相比他在表演多方面都不能占到任何优势，但他却也能够、也只能孤注与把自己的歌唱好。也许也就是这样的一股劲儿、这样的毅力才能让他把诸多的不变转为优势。
原归正传，成功有时靠的就是这么一股毅力。对伟联而言，毅力就是大家认为帮他大忙的因素。那我们自己问题的药方又是什么呢？
虽然我没有看该节目，但我却对阅读头条新闻而感到思潮起伏。伟联是一个身带残缺的参赛者，我想大家是众所周知的。
之前他打进了初赛，除了才华以外，也难免争取到了观众的“同情分”。如今报章报道他获胜的原因为“毅力”；这让我觉得为之一动。
试问我们现今的社会中有多少人靠毅力从事或至少秉持这样的信念？我们是不是碰到了挫折便不再抗争、不为奋斗？多少人因为学业不理想而自暴自弃，多少人又总是沉沦于痛苦的深渊？我们是否肯愿意检讨自己的过失，是否曾想方设法去挽回或补救？或者是事业不如意的我们、或者是面对感情问题的情侣，我们又是否曾看得透彻？
很多时候，我们也许都不曾做到吧？
伟联的例子也许能让大家看到这一点：面对困难时与其自我封闭，倒不如坦然接受挑战，勇敢对抗！
伟联眼睛见不着，与对手相比他在表演多方面都不能占到任何优势，但他却也能够、也只能孤注与把自己的歌唱好。也许也就是这样的一股劲儿、这样的毅力才能让他把诸多的不变转为优势。
原归正传，成功有时靠的就是这么一股毅力。对伟联而言，毅力就是大家认为帮他大忙的因素。那我们自己问题的药方又是什么呢？
04 September 2005
Happiness - Extracted from The Zahir
‘I don’t know if everyone is unhappy. I know they’re all busy: working overtime, worrying about their children, their husbands, their careers, their degrees, what they're going to do tomorrow, what they need to buy, what they need to have in order not to feel inferior, etc. Very few people actually say to me: “I’m unhappy.” Most say: “I’m fine, I’ve got everything I ever wanted.” Then I ask: “What makes you happy?” Answer: “I’ve got everything a person could possibly want – a family, a home, work, good health” I ask again: “Have you ever stopped to wonder if that’s all there is to life?” Answer: “Yes, that’s all there is.” I insist: “So the meaning of life is work, family, children who will grow up and leave you, a wife or husband who will become more like a friend than a real lover. And, of course, one day your work will end too. What will you do when that happens?” Answer: there is no answer. They change the subject.’
‘No, what they say is: “When the children have grown up, when my husband - or my wife – has become more my friend than my passionate lover, when I retire, then I’ll have time to do what I always wanted to do: travel.” Question: “But didn’t you say you were happy now? Aren’t you already doing what you always wanted to do?” Then they say they’re very busy and change the subject.’
‘If I insist, they always do come up with something they’re lacking. The businessman hasn’t yet closed the deal he wanted, the housewife would like to have more independence, and more money, the boy who's in love is afraid of losing his girlfriend, the graduate wonders if he chose his career or it was chosen for him, the dentist wanted to be a singer, the singer wanted to be a politician, the politician wanted to be a writer, the writer wanted to be a farmer. And even when I did meet someone who was doing what he had chosen to do, that person’s soul was still in torment. He hadn’t found peace yet either. So I’ll ask you again: “Are you happy?”’
‘No, what they say is: “When the children have grown up, when my husband - or my wife – has become more my friend than my passionate lover, when I retire, then I’ll have time to do what I always wanted to do: travel.” Question: “But didn’t you say you were happy now? Aren’t you already doing what you always wanted to do?” Then they say they’re very busy and change the subject.’
‘If I insist, they always do come up with something they’re lacking. The businessman hasn’t yet closed the deal he wanted, the housewife would like to have more independence, and more money, the boy who's in love is afraid of losing his girlfriend, the graduate wonders if he chose his career or it was chosen for him, the dentist wanted to be a singer, the singer wanted to be a politician, the politician wanted to be a writer, the writer wanted to be a farmer. And even when I did meet someone who was doing what he had chosen to do, that person’s soul was still in torment. He hadn’t found peace yet either. So I’ll ask you again: “Are you happy?”’
01 September 2005
About Loneliness
Writing on a blog and writing what you really feel are definitely entirely different things. You cannot but wonder how people will feel when you write certain things too close to the heart. That is but one of the several risks that you must undertake when you choose this less traveled (yes it is with a single letter “L”) path.
A lot of people put it that the progress of the society pushes humans to become alienated. We become increasingly individualized because of the same gradual improvement to the ease of getting day-to-day tasks done. In the process of getting things done fast by technology and know-how, we unconsciously lose the interaction that we spend in doing it. (Or as gained as some might put it)
Thus we feel lonely.
We begin to ponder on how we can still reach out to people around us. We begin to feel a vacuum forming around each and every single one of us. We go to work and we go out to play. We see people and yet we are so far apart in our minds and our souls. We begin to express ourselves in different ways, in blogs as “experts” have pointed out to be, a device in which is a representation of our loneliness that comes about and along with progress.
When we become institutionalized (a measurement of professional development), we become less and less humane. We become efficient and we present a professional and effective image to all the people around us. We begin to want to be seen in a different light, we aspire to be perfect and we are above the rest. We lead and we desire people to follow us in our fashion.
But is that truly what things seemed to be running? Is that universal truth? Is that what certain religious individuals pertain it to be? Is that the true meaning to our very own lives?
Do we get in touch with our souls? Do we see the need? Are we connecting as we ought to be?
A lot of people put it that the progress of the society pushes humans to become alienated. We become increasingly individualized because of the same gradual improvement to the ease of getting day-to-day tasks done. In the process of getting things done fast by technology and know-how, we unconsciously lose the interaction that we spend in doing it. (Or as gained as some might put it)
Thus we feel lonely.
We begin to ponder on how we can still reach out to people around us. We begin to feel a vacuum forming around each and every single one of us. We go to work and we go out to play. We see people and yet we are so far apart in our minds and our souls. We begin to express ourselves in different ways, in blogs as “experts” have pointed out to be, a device in which is a representation of our loneliness that comes about and along with progress.
When we become institutionalized (a measurement of professional development), we become less and less humane. We become efficient and we present a professional and effective image to all the people around us. We begin to want to be seen in a different light, we aspire to be perfect and we are above the rest. We lead and we desire people to follow us in our fashion.
But is that truly what things seemed to be running? Is that universal truth? Is that what certain religious individuals pertain it to be? Is that the true meaning to our very own lives?
Do we get in touch with our souls? Do we see the need? Are we connecting as we ought to be?
31 August 2005
A Teacher's Day Tribute
最近看到了一位同事为了学生而感到情绪非常低落。
她非常努力，想把课业做得尽善尽美，但是却得不到所追求的成果。她勤奋异常，但学生总是无法专心听课，却还在班上惹是生非。
终于有一天，她在上课时转过身，偷偷地哭了。可想当时的她是多么地无助！
今天她还是坚持自己的一份信念：永不放弃！
至此我向您致敬！
她非常努力，想把课业做得尽善尽美，但是却得不到所追求的成果。她勤奋异常，但学生总是无法专心听课，却还在班上惹是生非。
终于有一天，她在上课时转过身，偷偷地哭了。可想当时的她是多么地无助！
今天她还是坚持自己的一份信念：永不放弃！
至此我向您致敬！
29 August 2005
失眠的夜
我现在失眠。
为什么失眠？刚才喝了亚坤的 “teh si”，所以辗转难眠。
我现在觉得自己有点心血来潮。
为什么觉得心血来潮？因为无法入睡，所以上网，然后看到一位好久没看到的朋友，然后却又得知了他的 blog 是什么，然后再读他的 blog，所以心血来潮。
然后朋友说他最近很忙，没什么时间上网。
我看了看自己 －－ 我好像也没什么时间在 blog 上面写写东西。怎么我们都这么忙？怎么我们都不在做这些有趣的事了？
于是这个 blog entry 是我在失眠的时候写的。
为什么失眠？刚才喝了亚坤的 “teh si”，所以辗转难眠。
我现在觉得自己有点心血来潮。
为什么觉得心血来潮？因为无法入睡，所以上网，然后看到一位好久没看到的朋友，然后却又得知了他的 blog 是什么，然后再读他的 blog，所以心血来潮。
然后朋友说他最近很忙，没什么时间上网。
我看了看自己 －－ 我好像也没什么时间在 blog 上面写写东西。怎么我们都这么忙？怎么我们都不在做这些有趣的事了？
于是这个 blog entry 是我在失眠的时候写的。
14 August 2005
迷失的我们
最近老发现自己一直在用英语发表言论。
很多时候，我总是觉得华文难以表达心中的想法。这不在于我不会写，而是你们可能看不懂。对于华文教育，我已是看开了许多。华文不该再是主要的语言了吧？华文应该被当作是第三语言吧？
我们向中国看齐，所以大家都须要读得懂华文。我们所受的教育都是和英文挂钩较深，所以华文须要以不同的方法来教不同能力的人。政府所谓的因材施教也许就是这样的短浅吧？
也许大家华文不好都是社会的错吧？我们或许也不该再继续活在自欺欺人的观念中。与其说华文不好的同学是不求上进的人，倒不如说他们是迷失了方向的羔羊？若是华文再也激不起他们的兴趣，那么我们也只好认输 －－ 因为有时真的是所谓的“事实胜于雄辩”吧？
很多时候，我总是觉得华文难以表达心中的想法。这不在于我不会写，而是你们可能看不懂。对于华文教育，我已是看开了许多。华文不该再是主要的语言了吧？华文应该被当作是第三语言吧？
我们向中国看齐，所以大家都须要读得懂华文。我们所受的教育都是和英文挂钩较深，所以华文须要以不同的方法来教不同能力的人。政府所谓的因材施教也许就是这样的短浅吧？
也许大家华文不好都是社会的错吧？我们或许也不该再继续活在自欺欺人的观念中。与其说华文不好的同学是不求上进的人，倒不如说他们是迷失了方向的羔羊？若是华文再也激不起他们的兴趣，那么我们也只好认输 －－ 因为有时真的是所谓的“事实胜于雄辩”吧？
07 August 2005
Dealing with Farewells
The scene of dear old Biblio Baggins came into my mind when i decide to write on the topic of farewell tonight. Biblio wanted to be away from his boring life at Bag End and he wanted to go search for his adventure at the very same time. Such was the passion that was burning in his heart that he finally put on his ring and disappearerd right in front of a huge crowd who apparently adored him.
Then, at the end of this week, we would be saying farewell to our dear Justin of 4 Charles. The time that we had was very short; there were not many happy memories capsuled when we were around with him, studies were heavy laden on many of our backs and time was forever in short supply.
Could it be that he is parting for his west heaven as stated in Tokkien's last chapter? Could this be the last time that we might see him? That dear Justin will just return to Singapore and then begin a brilliant career and never be reunioned again as part of our class again?
Or that the class of Sec 4 Charles of the year of 2005 will all be going our separate ways very soon? Time was short and time will be shorter still. In a week or two, the prelims will be here and soon the big Os will come and it will be many new schools and many bright futures awaiting.
I will be assigned another new class and life will just carry on to do its new work... ...
Perhaps thats what farewells were meant to be. To remind all of us forgetful humans that certain things can be so important and so precious, that we ought to be cherishing every single moments of our lives and that we should do our very best each time we are blessed with good things or faced with tough challenges.
To Justin who is leaving for his brighter future: do your best and shine brightly as a star should be and leave your splendour for all to see; be someone useful and be of a person with a undying spirit of service to the community. Do us all proud and one day, if that day should come, maybe the class of Sec 4 Charles shall once forth come again and relive the happy moments that was once shared by one and all.
Bon Voyage.
Then, at the end of this week, we would be saying farewell to our dear Justin of 4 Charles. The time that we had was very short; there were not many happy memories capsuled when we were around with him, studies were heavy laden on many of our backs and time was forever in short supply.
Could it be that he is parting for his west heaven as stated in Tokkien's last chapter? Could this be the last time that we might see him? That dear Justin will just return to Singapore and then begin a brilliant career and never be reunioned again as part of our class again?
Or that the class of Sec 4 Charles of the year of 2005 will all be going our separate ways very soon? Time was short and time will be shorter still. In a week or two, the prelims will be here and soon the big Os will come and it will be many new schools and many bright futures awaiting.
I will be assigned another new class and life will just carry on to do its new work... ...
Perhaps thats what farewells were meant to be. To remind all of us forgetful humans that certain things can be so important and so precious, that we ought to be cherishing every single moments of our lives and that we should do our very best each time we are blessed with good things or faced with tough challenges.
To Justin who is leaving for his brighter future: do your best and shine brightly as a star should be and leave your splendour for all to see; be someone useful and be of a person with a undying spirit of service to the community. Do us all proud and one day, if that day should come, maybe the class of Sec 4 Charles shall once forth come again and relive the happy moments that was once shared by one and all.
Bon Voyage.
02 August 2005
28 July 2005
Farewell, My Dear Friend
Its been only a short year since we've know each other, going through with times that were difficult and hectic, facing challenges, sharing jokes, having the time of our lives. This friendship that we have forged, troubles we have shared, will continue to edge on in all our hearts.
We kept wondering, what is it that you had to leave; I cried, we cried; if those tears would bring you back, we would very much do so, though yet in vain these tears seem to be. We grief, we remember, and we will always keep you in our hearts. Maybe one day we will see you again, maybe those tears that we shed will become the very bright lights that will shine down upon you and us.
Farewell, my dear friend.
We kept wondering, what is it that you had to leave; I cried, we cried; if those tears would bring you back, we would very much do so, though yet in vain these tears seem to be. We grief, we remember, and we will always keep you in our hearts. Maybe one day we will see you again, maybe those tears that we shed will become the very bright lights that will shine down upon you and us.
Farewell, my dear friend.
22 July 2005
Hi Blog
Isn't strange that sometimes there are so many things that you wanted to say to people but felt that the times and places were all wrong or that the people weren't really prepared to listen even if it was important?
Have been working a very engaging career ever since i joined the service a year back. A new bird people wouldn't qualify me as now as my colleagues tell me, yet experienced wouldn't exactly the words to be used either.
The job has been a challenging one... teaching by itself requires much energy and zeal, and much preparation in order to come up with a satisfying piece of work; yet school is never encouraging of such a culture. It would perhaps be far-fetched to say that some people in the past committed the fatal mistake of criticising teachers' work to be too free, thus that teaching has become more like managing corporate companies -- in which the children and education become the ultimate sufferers of such a phenomenon.
Sounds tough? Case to be made easier? Teaching used to be too little work? Tax payers complain -- teaching becomes a corporate management -- teachers become more of managers aka part-time maids.
In both cases the children are still the ultimate victims. It was never for these children that adults nowadays think and prepare for. We are all making our own perfect worlds, we fight from ranking to banding; we vie for the awards and statuses and we talk about distinguishing ourselves making an impact on students' lives.
Did we make it?
The answers seem to be yet apparent and vague at the very same time... ...
Have been working a very engaging career ever since i joined the service a year back. A new bird people wouldn't qualify me as now as my colleagues tell me, yet experienced wouldn't exactly the words to be used either.
The job has been a challenging one... teaching by itself requires much energy and zeal, and much preparation in order to come up with a satisfying piece of work; yet school is never encouraging of such a culture. It would perhaps be far-fetched to say that some people in the past committed the fatal mistake of criticising teachers' work to be too free, thus that teaching has become more like managing corporate companies -- in which the children and education become the ultimate sufferers of such a phenomenon.
Sounds tough? Case to be made easier? Teaching used to be too little work? Tax payers complain -- teaching becomes a corporate management -- teachers become more of managers aka part-time maids.
In both cases the children are still the ultimate victims. It was never for these children that adults nowadays think and prepare for. We are all making our own perfect worlds, we fight from ranking to banding; we vie for the awards and statuses and we talk about distinguishing ourselves making an impact on students' lives.
Did we make it?
The answers seem to be yet apparent and vague at the very same time... ...
17 July 2005
About Re-committing Ourselves
For those who had put their minds and even their souls into a single commitment or the like, there is always a juncture when we take a step back and really begin to ponder: were all of those that i have done worth the effort that i have paid?
Come to think of it, i wonder if i can ever answer this very same question that has been bothering me for years.
Ever since i was accidentally given the post of Chairperson many years back, it has became my personal resolve to maintain or even bring glory to the Unit. I have gained much and i have lost an equal amount; of friends whom i would have wished better bonding or of opportunities that had went by uncherished.
Passing out was supposed to make me feel at ease but yet a CI i have yet again resolved to be achieving.
Years passed and now i am at this very point as a person of stature and powerful standing, yet i am not spared the grimness of the very same question that puts me to questioning: am i still able to give? Has the touch or the passion passed by myself? Am i so lost in the mundane that it becomes impossible to relive the past?
Has my resolve lost its meaning?
Come to think of it, i wonder if i can ever answer this very same question that has been bothering me for years.
Ever since i was accidentally given the post of Chairperson many years back, it has became my personal resolve to maintain or even bring glory to the Unit. I have gained much and i have lost an equal amount; of friends whom i would have wished better bonding or of opportunities that had went by uncherished.
Passing out was supposed to make me feel at ease but yet a CI i have yet again resolved to be achieving.
Years passed and now i am at this very point as a person of stature and powerful standing, yet i am not spared the grimness of the very same question that puts me to questioning: am i still able to give? Has the touch or the passion passed by myself? Am i so lost in the mundane that it becomes impossible to relive the past?
Has my resolve lost its meaning?
16 July 2005
POP 2005
With the annual camp just passed by, it is indeed a blink of an eye that the sec 4s are passing out today. I remember the many memories, i saw the pain; laughter echoed and images flashing by ... ...
What was the journey like? How did you pass by these 4 years and how did it all add up?
Images of myself i always see whenever a new batch comes and goes. Being with each seems to be re-living the experience a brand new time again, and every parting is always hard to bear.
If there can be a choice, would time stop? Would any of you have wished it this way?
What was the journey like? How did you pass by these 4 years and how did it all add up?
Images of myself i always see whenever a new batch comes and goes. Being with each seems to be re-living the experience a brand new time again, and every parting is always hard to bear.
If there can be a choice, would time stop? Would any of you have wished it this way?
01 July 2005
NPCC Annual Camp 2005
Heres my take on the camp that took place from 13th to 15th June. It was the first time after so many years that we decided to take the entire unit out to Pulau Ubin for the Annual Camp. Fun as it might have been for some of us, it is indeed a very expensive camp to run.
And then it was a lot of preparation before the camp started, and all the officers and CIs had to go Ubin to recce before we could confirmed the planned out route as well as marking the checkpoints.
Guess the real action started during land expedition whereby i was not part of. Had to bring a few PRC teachers to go sight seeing as they wanted to tag along, and so hence we went, tagged along by a few of the sec4s too. It was a good time to go sightseeing and do get to know the other parts of P. Ubin; we went to the spice gardens whereby cucumbers, lady fingers, lemon grass and many other fruits and vegetables were grown.
Some of them actually crowded round a well and peered into the place at the same time under the cover of the plants that crept along the entire frame of the well. It was quite a funny picture i had taken and well, i guess i will post that up for all to see as soon as i can. Then some of them went on to say that they have had experiences whereby they had to take baths drawing water from the well... and with fishes inside! Haha it was really quite funny but i used to bathe from a well with many big fishes when i was little and regularly went visits to my granduncle in the kampong last time.
Then i would peer over the icy well water and see if the fishes were doing anything funny... and i remembered also that i asked my mother if the fishes really eat mosquitoes that would otherwise be breeding if there were not put into the pond? Such memories... though now when look into the well during the camp, the feelings were utterly changed ... ...
And then it was a lot of preparation before the camp started, and all the officers and CIs had to go Ubin to recce before we could confirmed the planned out route as well as marking the checkpoints.
Guess the real action started during land expedition whereby i was not part of. Had to bring a few PRC teachers to go sight seeing as they wanted to tag along, and so hence we went, tagged along by a few of the sec4s too. It was a good time to go sightseeing and do get to know the other parts of P. Ubin; we went to the spice gardens whereby cucumbers, lady fingers, lemon grass and many other fruits and vegetables were grown.
Some of them actually crowded round a well and peered into the place at the same time under the cover of the plants that crept along the entire frame of the well. It was quite a funny picture i had taken and well, i guess i will post that up for all to see as soon as i can. Then some of them went on to say that they have had experiences whereby they had to take baths drawing water from the well... and with fishes inside! Haha it was really quite funny but i used to bathe from a well with many big fishes when i was little and regularly went visits to my granduncle in the kampong last time.
Then i would peer over the icy well water and see if the fishes were doing anything funny... and i remembered also that i asked my mother if the fishes really eat mosquitoes that would otherwise be breeding if there were not put into the pond? Such memories... though now when look into the well during the camp, the feelings were utterly changed ... ...
11 June 2005
一首歌勾起的回忆⋯⋯
晚间听着音响播放的歌曲，突然让一首歌勾起了10年前后的回忆。
第一次听到 Bryam Adams 的这首歌，“Please Forgive Me”， 的我，想必是就读中学三年级的时候。当时记得正下着倾盆大雨，我们一群人都被捆在学校的食堂内。学长正乐得清闲，于是从活动室里拿出了一台收音机，插上了电线，让收音机大声地播送着流行乐曲。
当时豆大的雨滴所发出的沙沙声响仿似无法遮挡我们听歌的雅兴；我们随着音乐大声地迎唱，一首悲伤的歌曲似乎没能牵动我们。眼下大家都只顾着随 Mr Adams 呐喊，压根地完全也没把歌词放在心上。
当时的我们是无忧无虑的吧？我们没有伟大的抱负，也没有多少的烦恼，大家都只是单纯的唱唱歌、解解闷⋯⋯那多么写意的日子，至今回想起来让我觉得十分怀念。
如今播放的还是同样的一首歌，但却已经是人事已非。大家都各奔东西，为自己的生活、心里的理想奋斗。是否大家还会再齐聚一堂，重温一下那份旧日的情怀？还是同一首歌，再让我们重新唱它一遍，是否还会一样的那么有共鸣吗？
第一次听到 Bryam Adams 的这首歌，“Please Forgive Me”， 的我，想必是就读中学三年级的时候。当时记得正下着倾盆大雨，我们一群人都被捆在学校的食堂内。学长正乐得清闲，于是从活动室里拿出了一台收音机，插上了电线，让收音机大声地播送着流行乐曲。
当时豆大的雨滴所发出的沙沙声响仿似无法遮挡我们听歌的雅兴；我们随着音乐大声地迎唱，一首悲伤的歌曲似乎没能牵动我们。眼下大家都只顾着随 Mr Adams 呐喊，压根地完全也没把歌词放在心上。
当时的我们是无忧无虑的吧？我们没有伟大的抱负，也没有多少的烦恼，大家都只是单纯的唱唱歌、解解闷⋯⋯那多么写意的日子，至今回想起来让我觉得十分怀念。
如今播放的还是同样的一首歌，但却已经是人事已非。大家都各奔东西，为自己的生活、心里的理想奋斗。是否大家还会再齐聚一堂，重温一下那份旧日的情怀？还是同一首歌，再让我们重新唱它一遍，是否还会一样的那么有共鸣吗？
02 June 2005
可爱的假期
生活又再度变得美好了！我又能为所欲为，能尽情的听歌、游泳、看书、与朋友到外吃饭、喝咖啡⋯⋯享受这写意的人生！
这个星期五是 4C 的 bbq，看来他们真是使尽了心思，想把它搞好。但是 200 只鸡翅膀和鸡腿怎么吃得完？我听了这个消息都差点儿昏了过去！你们的胃口这么大吗？太吓死人了吧？
但放松归放松，玩乐归玩乐，大家可别忘了这个六月不是你们中四的假期。好好的把握这宝贵的时间，赶快把功课给赶上，不了解的课业请赶快搞清楚，然后利用最后一个礼拜的时间回来向老师们查询，成绩才会进步。
别忘了，年底考完试后，你要怎么玩都行。现在请一定要咬紧牙根，把该读的东西一网打尽，不要弄成亡羊补牢的地步 ok ？
（快去查⋯⋯什么是“亡羊补牢”？你们中三的时候我有跟你们在课堂说过的⋯⋯）
这个星期五是 4C 的 bbq，看来他们真是使尽了心思，想把它搞好。但是 200 只鸡翅膀和鸡腿怎么吃得完？我听了这个消息都差点儿昏了过去！你们的胃口这么大吗？太吓死人了吧？
但放松归放松，玩乐归玩乐，大家可别忘了这个六月不是你们中四的假期。好好的把握这宝贵的时间，赶快把功课给赶上，不了解的课业请赶快搞清楚，然后利用最后一个礼拜的时间回来向老师们查询，成绩才会进步。
别忘了，年底考完试后，你要怎么玩都行。现在请一定要咬紧牙根，把该读的东西一网打尽，不要弄成亡羊补牢的地步 ok ？
（快去查⋯⋯什么是“亡羊补牢”？你们中三的时候我有跟你们在课堂说过的⋯⋯）
27 May 2005
New Post on 26 May 2005
http://ms4c05.blogspot.com/
Go and take a look! And please don't ask me why i got 2 blogs... its a complicated affair :p
Go and take a look! And please don't ask me why i got 2 blogs... its a complicated affair :p
25 May 2005
经过朋友的头脑的思绪
与一位老朋友共事多年的我，在昨天让我看到了他脆弱的一面。
他说他觉得非常失望，一群失去了“权力”的学生竟然为了自己的遭遇而感到愤愤不平，改变了他们对团体平日的作风与精神。这件事的发生让他感到非常的沮丧；原来一些人的所谓付出与忠诚是由他们所被授予的权力程度而断定的。他们的举动好像意味着权力是他们原先努力的原因。一旦失去了这样的“优待”，他们就变得非常的冷漠，甚至连态度也变得不可一世。
这样的面对方式是否显示了我们的气量非常狭隘？我们的自尊心是否过分膨胀？我们能够虚心向学吗？我们开始的努力到底是为了自己，还是为了向我们看齐的小辈而付出？我们这样的处理方式是否传达了不良的意识与价值观？我们是否考虑过自己为我们的学弟做了个怎么样的榜样？
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
他也只能带着一脸的憔悴，口气中叹着的是一阵淡淡的无奈⋯⋯红肿的眼睛告诉了我在前一晚的他，一定是失眠了。
他说他觉得非常失望，一群失去了“权力”的学生竟然为了自己的遭遇而感到愤愤不平，改变了他们对团体平日的作风与精神。这件事的发生让他感到非常的沮丧；原来一些人的所谓付出与忠诚是由他们所被授予的权力程度而断定的。他们的举动好像意味着权力是他们原先努力的原因。一旦失去了这样的“优待”，他们就变得非常的冷漠，甚至连态度也变得不可一世。
这样的面对方式是否显示了我们的气量非常狭隘？我们的自尊心是否过分膨胀？我们能够虚心向学吗？我们开始的努力到底是为了自己，还是为了向我们看齐的小辈而付出？我们这样的处理方式是否传达了不良的意识与价值观？我们是否考虑过自己为我们的学弟做了个怎么样的榜样？
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
他也只能带着一脸的憔悴，口气中叹着的是一阵淡淡的无奈⋯⋯红肿的眼睛告诉了我在前一晚的他，一定是失眠了。
20 May 2005
Conflicts
I have been worrying over students and parents and student leaders lately. Some of those of which have not been studying, of some who had been playing too much, of others who are losing focus over their studies. There are parents who are so kept up in their own worries that they forget their children and then start to feel helpless and worried when their children begain to do odd things either behind or in front of them.
Have not been seeing much positive things lately, and would even say that it was quite disappointing to see that a CCA that i have been following for almost 13 years has also taken quite a dip observed from the recent spate of events.
There are people who are concerned of their personal glory and mission that they fail to see the big picture in which they are supposed to play a role, and even ended up making a mess of the beautiful canvas that was supposed to be part of their contribution. Then there are others who feel that they do not belong to any part of their loved ones even when they are so much being loved for. There are even some who lived in the lap of luxury and fail to see the role that they are supposed to play for their families in the future.
It could be cliche to say that they are unknowing of their own happiness and live life decadently instead of being good children or role model for parents, peers and juniors around them but i do beg to differ.
Little people know contentment, some hungers ever for power. Some basked in the love of their parents and refuse to admit that they are fortunate people who have shelters and parents who sacrifice for them.
As i compare to what they are enjoying their life to, i can't help but feel saddened. If we do not treasure, we will then be made to live our lives without our loved ones and so torturing can the feeling be at times that you can no longer feel anything. It is a fate worse than having to adapt to family who you no longer feel close with.
Life goes on, and it moves even if we do not recognise their presence. Time goes on even as we refuse to accept the order of things or how certain process seems to go towards. We have to get on with life, even if it means each step is a struggle, or that it is ever a burden. The worse life seems to treat us, all the more we should push to carry on with our lives. Cause it is precisely these struggles for a better life that we can truly feel pride and satisfaction in all our endeavours.
Have not been seeing much positive things lately, and would even say that it was quite disappointing to see that a CCA that i have been following for almost 13 years has also taken quite a dip observed from the recent spate of events.
There are people who are concerned of their personal glory and mission that they fail to see the big picture in which they are supposed to play a role, and even ended up making a mess of the beautiful canvas that was supposed to be part of their contribution. Then there are others who feel that they do not belong to any part of their loved ones even when they are so much being loved for. There are even some who lived in the lap of luxury and fail to see the role that they are supposed to play for their families in the future.
It could be cliche to say that they are unknowing of their own happiness and live life decadently instead of being good children or role model for parents, peers and juniors around them but i do beg to differ.
Little people know contentment, some hungers ever for power. Some basked in the love of their parents and refuse to admit that they are fortunate people who have shelters and parents who sacrifice for them.
As i compare to what they are enjoying their life to, i can't help but feel saddened. If we do not treasure, we will then be made to live our lives without our loved ones and so torturing can the feeling be at times that you can no longer feel anything. It is a fate worse than having to adapt to family who you no longer feel close with.
Life goes on, and it moves even if we do not recognise their presence. Time goes on even as we refuse to accept the order of things or how certain process seems to go towards. We have to get on with life, even if it means each step is a struggle, or that it is ever a burden. The worse life seems to treat us, all the more we should push to carry on with our lives. Cause it is precisely these struggles for a better life that we can truly feel pride and satisfaction in all our endeavours.
19 May 2005
Moments That Take Your Mind Away Somehow?
Was cleaning my cup when i happened to look out of the pantry window. There was a slight rain on the outside and the raindrops were falling on the leaves of the trees. The air was fresh, light around was a paling white and all was tranquil and fresh... ... and suddenly it seems that we are in a temporary world where we forget that we are stuck with our neverending work ... ... what a bliss!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Currently playing
Song for the Journey -- Tish Hinojosa
Don't explain -- George Shearing
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Currently playing
Song for the Journey -- Tish Hinojosa
Don't explain -- George Shearing
17 May 2005
莫待无花空折枝
金缕衣
劝君莫惜金缕衣，
劝君惜取少年时。
花开堪折直须折，
莫待无花空折枝。
这个早上真是把我给吓死了！你们怎么能够还想在考试的当儿计划到中二学生冒险营呢？
看看上面的诗句；“金缕衣”为你们的“贪乐” －－ 不要贪图一时的快乐⋯⋯要珍惜你们仅剩下的宝贵时间，往着最后的两个礼拜冲刺。
“花开堪折直须折” －－ 花在盛开的时候就是我们应该把它摘下来的时候。倘若不这么做，等到了“花朵”凋谢过后就太迟了。
试问把没有花的枝叶折下来会有什么用处呢？
But then i guess that there is another side to the story. At the time that this entry is being entered, one of my friends actually tell me that i should let you fellows go for the camp.
I was told that i am simply being too possessive and not letting you people learn the lessons of your life; lessons that should be learnt the hard way to remember them by. If not for these lessons or the failures that might come with them, we might never learn what it means to fail, or to learn to treasure the things that we ought to treasure. In this instance, it is the time that will never come back once we depart from our revision to join in the fun for the camp -- and that life has many such similar parallels...
Make clear the paths and you make your choice.
What will your choice be?
劝君莫惜金缕衣，
劝君惜取少年时。
花开堪折直须折，
莫待无花空折枝。
这个早上真是把我给吓死了！你们怎么能够还想在考试的当儿计划到中二学生冒险营呢？
看看上面的诗句；“金缕衣”为你们的“贪乐” －－ 不要贪图一时的快乐⋯⋯要珍惜你们仅剩下的宝贵时间，往着最后的两个礼拜冲刺。
“花开堪折直须折” －－ 花在盛开的时候就是我们应该把它摘下来的时候。倘若不这么做，等到了“花朵”凋谢过后就太迟了。
试问把没有花的枝叶折下来会有什么用处呢？
But then i guess that there is another side to the story. At the time that this entry is being entered, one of my friends actually tell me that i should let you fellows go for the camp.
I was told that i am simply being too possessive and not letting you people learn the lessons of your life; lessons that should be learnt the hard way to remember them by. If not for these lessons or the failures that might come with them, we might never learn what it means to fail, or to learn to treasure the things that we ought to treasure. In this instance, it is the time that will never come back once we depart from our revision to join in the fun for the camp -- and that life has many such similar parallels...
Make clear the paths and you make your choice.
What will your choice be?
14 May 2005
她在想什么
（图片登在 http://ms4c05.blogspot.com）
OK! 又有新的网页日记；这次是在回家的路途中无意碰上的一项观察。
照片显示的是一张画有涂鸦的椅子 －－ 一位女生想必在我之前也坐在同一个位子吧？但同样的位子坐的却是两个迥然不同的人。我想她的情绪波动也许非常的大；因为我们应该很少看到女孩子在公共巴士上涂鸦吧？她是否粗鲁我们暂时搁置不提，但她的字句上流露的却是自己心灵深处想要表达的苦楚吧？
她的心情是怎样的？大家是否可以在 tagboard 试着分析与分享？
我将期待你们的回应⋯⋯
OK! 又有新的网页日记；这次是在回家的路途中无意碰上的一项观察。
照片显示的是一张画有涂鸦的椅子 －－ 一位女生想必在我之前也坐在同一个位子吧？但同样的位子坐的却是两个迥然不同的人。我想她的情绪波动也许非常的大；因为我们应该很少看到女孩子在公共巴士上涂鸦吧？她是否粗鲁我们暂时搁置不提，但她的字句上流露的却是自己心灵深处想要表达的苦楚吧？
她的心情是怎样的？大家是否可以在 tagboard 试着分析与分享？
我将期待你们的回应⋯⋯
Just an Update
Hi pple!
Just wanna say that i will be updating both blogs;
http://hengsia.blogspot.com
and
http://ms4c05.blogspot.com
as one cannot type chinese and the other one can... and please do help me if you know how to combine www.flickr.com with blogspot and still can read chinese. What to do when you are computer idiot right?
anyway i got 4 blogs to the links segment already le. Talking about links, i seemed to recall asking raphael to teach me how to make one, but in the end he never help me. In the end i have to figure it out through trial and error. The moral of the story? Never give up, never surrender!
Cos when you give up you will never know the answer for which you have search for!
As for now, i am just contented that i can post pictures and type chinese at the same time. For ease of reading will be updating this blog if there are new pictures posted.
Ciao~
p.s: i hate those people who can mark so fast! Damned envious!
Just wanna say that i will be updating both blogs;
http://hengsia.blogspot.com
and
http://ms4c05.blogspot.com
as one cannot type chinese and the other one can... and please do help me if you know how to combine www.flickr.com with blogspot and still can read chinese. What to do when you are computer idiot right?
anyway i got 4 blogs to the links segment already le. Talking about links, i seemed to recall asking raphael to teach me how to make one, but in the end he never help me. In the end i have to figure it out through trial and error. The moral of the story? Never give up, never surrender!
Cos when you give up you will never know the answer for which you have search for!
As for now, i am just contented that i can post pictures and type chinese at the same time. For ease of reading will be updating this blog if there are new pictures posted.
Ciao~
p.s: i hate those people who can mark so fast! Damned envious!
13 May 2005
Sharing a little of my life?
Was requested to share more of my private life? Hmm i guess it does sound mysterious of the happennings of your teachers. When i was in secondary school, i always wonder how the lives of my teachers are. Looks like some things do really have a cycle.
Anyway there is nothing really special about my life; I am just another ordinary person on the street, and life revolves around school, home(family) and friends. If it were just another ordinary week, most of the time would be spent at school.
However if there were something that could perk me up, it would be a good movie, nice conversations with friends in the cafe and just simple meal get-togethers. Hmm i don't watch much of the television programmes on show everyday, as time is really short and passes by really fast always. Recently am reading Da Vin Ci code.. am taking forever to finish it though.
Am losing a lot of sleep over marking recently, and sleeping at odd timings.. wonder if its all like that if you had a lot of markings to be done. Oh well, shall have to wait and see... ...
Anyway there is nothing really special about my life; I am just another ordinary person on the street, and life revolves around school, home(family) and friends. If it were just another ordinary week, most of the time would be spent at school.
However if there were something that could perk me up, it would be a good movie, nice conversations with friends in the cafe and just simple meal get-togethers. Hmm i don't watch much of the television programmes on show everyday, as time is really short and passes by really fast always. Recently am reading Da Vin Ci code.. am taking forever to finish it though.
Am losing a lot of sleep over marking recently, and sleeping at odd timings.. wonder if its all like that if you had a lot of markings to be done. Oh well, shall have to wait and see... ...
12 May 2005
感人的故事
我们敬爱的前总统黄金辉博士逝世了。
我对他的认识并不深，在他任期的时候也只是一个毛小子，所以对这项消息的反应也不是很大。但当我阅读有关他的新闻报道时，眼眶却不禁有些湿了。
关于他爱的故事，关于他与妻子共同走过的 69 年，我就觉得是一种感动。人的一生也不过那短短的几十年，虽然非常短暂，但却让许多人摸不着它的意义。有些人忙碌了一生，终究寻求不到他的快乐，但却又有另一群人却能天天开心，度过一个充满意义的人生。
黄金辉博士也许就是理想人生的一种代表吧！虽然贵为总统，他却知道自己对人生的要求，并有始至终地追求他的人生理想与哲学。“平易近人”与“充满热情
”的他所达致的最大成就也许就是与妻子所建立的坚定感情。
之所以感动，因为他对妻子的付出是那么的无私，那么的不求回报。而只拥有短暂人生的我们，又能有多少机会遇见这样一个肯为我们无私付出的人呢？我们是否又能做到像黄博士这样？
我对他的认识并不深，在他任期的时候也只是一个毛小子，所以对这项消息的反应也不是很大。但当我阅读有关他的新闻报道时，眼眶却不禁有些湿了。
关于他爱的故事，关于他与妻子共同走过的 69 年，我就觉得是一种感动。人的一生也不过那短短的几十年，虽然非常短暂，但却让许多人摸不着它的意义。有些人忙碌了一生，终究寻求不到他的快乐，但却又有另一群人却能天天开心，度过一个充满意义的人生。
黄金辉博士也许就是理想人生的一种代表吧！虽然贵为总统，他却知道自己对人生的要求，并有始至终地追求他的人生理想与哲学。“平易近人”与“充满热情
”的他所达致的最大成就也许就是与妻子所建立的坚定感情。
之所以感动，因为他对妻子的付出是那么的无私，那么的不求回报。而只拥有短暂人生的我们，又能有多少机会遇见这样一个肯为我们无私付出的人呢？我们是否又能做到像黄博士这样？
10 May 2005
旧歌介绍
红的黄的橙的灰的
曲：小夏 | 词：彭佳慧 | 编：
静静着仰望着天空 轻轻的哼着你的歌
星星在闪烁 映在黑暗中
可是我的心好重 渐渐的不想说什么
昏昏的烟雾飘渺中
星星在闪烁 我也在其中 可是你从没想过
红的 黄的 澄的 灰的 那么多彩虹
画在蓝色的天空中 我以为你真的懂
红的 黄的 澄的 灰的 画一道彩虹
我走了 给你天空
（回忆起那段拥有 开始有笑容)
This is a very simple yet meaningful song; it is about the proclaimation of a girl who is using a tape recorder for her diary entry. Here is roughly how it goes:
Silently i gaze at the sky.
Very softly, I hymn your song.
The stars are shining bright,
Against the dark of the sky,
But my heart feels heavy instead.
Gradually, I don't feel like speaking.
Blurry are the haze that makes my view.
The stars are shining bright,
and i am amongst them,
but you have never thought about (them) at all.
Red, yellow, orange and grey; so many colours of the rainbow.
Embossed in the blue of the sky,
I thought you really knew.
Red, yellow, orange and grey are the colours i draw for you in the form of a rainbow,
Now I leave, giving you the piece of your sky.
(i think back of memories past, and i begin to smile)
曲：小夏 | 词：彭佳慧 | 编：
静静着仰望着天空 轻轻的哼着你的歌
星星在闪烁 映在黑暗中
可是我的心好重 渐渐的不想说什么
昏昏的烟雾飘渺中
星星在闪烁 我也在其中 可是你从没想过
红的 黄的 澄的 灰的 那么多彩虹
画在蓝色的天空中 我以为你真的懂
红的 黄的 澄的 灰的 画一道彩虹
我走了 给你天空
（回忆起那段拥有 开始有笑容)
This is a very simple yet meaningful song; it is about the proclaimation of a girl who is using a tape recorder for her diary entry. Here is roughly how it goes:
Silently i gaze at the sky.
Very softly, I hymn your song.
The stars are shining bright,
Against the dark of the sky,
But my heart feels heavy instead.
Gradually, I don't feel like speaking.
Blurry are the haze that makes my view.
The stars are shining bright,
and i am amongst them,
but you have never thought about (them) at all.
Red, yellow, orange and grey; so many colours of the rainbow.
Embossed in the blue of the sky,
I thought you really knew.
Red, yellow, orange and grey are the colours i draw for you in the form of a rainbow,
Now I leave, giving you the piece of your sky.
(i think back of memories past, and i begin to smile)
09 May 2005
The Rain Has Come
Wow... finally the rain all of us had been waiting for has come. Makes me think of Yanni's "The Rain Has Come". It could be due to a similar experience that he was inspired to write this song. Imagine the anguish that he had to go through after such weather. But then again, he doesn't stay in singapore, so i wonder what was his exact feelings?
Anyway hows revision going along? Haven't really been in close contact with you fellows for quite some time. It sure feels a long time ago. Was talking to a fellow colleague and we have this same sentiment that time goes by really fast; haven't had the time to breathe and half a year have already passed by.
Heard from many that the 15% of the prelims really "sucks"? Well i guess it is, things are a bit rushed and last-minute. But the school has good intentions when they made such a decision. Don't give up and study hard even though you feel that you are not going to do well. Ultimately all this is made to help you get better results for your Os at the end of the year. Trust that the school is making such a decision to help you get your goal. We never will know which are the things that we are not sure of until we really put in our effort to study. That means if we give up and don't study now, we will never know what we do not know.
A lot of times in live we have to do the things that "suck" to get the job done, and many a time it is for a greater good. We must learn how to see far and learn to look forward for that delayed gratification that will satisfy us better rather than to look for short-term satisfaction.
Hope that this makes sense to you fellows :)
Anyway hows revision going along? Haven't really been in close contact with you fellows for quite some time. It sure feels a long time ago. Was talking to a fellow colleague and we have this same sentiment that time goes by really fast; haven't had the time to breathe and half a year have already passed by.
Heard from many that the 15% of the prelims really "sucks"? Well i guess it is, things are a bit rushed and last-minute. But the school has good intentions when they made such a decision. Don't give up and study hard even though you feel that you are not going to do well. Ultimately all this is made to help you get better results for your Os at the end of the year. Trust that the school is making such a decision to help you get your goal. We never will know which are the things that we are not sure of until we really put in our effort to study. That means if we give up and don't study now, we will never know what we do not know.
A lot of times in live we have to do the things that "suck" to get the job done, and many a time it is for a greater good. We must learn how to see far and learn to look forward for that delayed gratification that will satisfy us better rather than to look for short-term satisfaction.
Hope that this makes sense to you fellows :)
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