Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Has been slacking the past few days. Got addicted to playing Harvest Moon: Friends of the Mining Town. Think it is quite an old game but i still like playing. hehe, reminds me of terence phay who wants to be a farmer next time.. haha
but actually, being a farmer isn't a bad idea, i quite like the idea of sitting in the outskirts or something and work leisurely, that is if farmers can work leisurely..
Just getting used to the weather and I will be heading back singapore soon.. Not able to stay as much as I want.. but i think will just bear with it. This holiday is a tight one.. with 3 places to go and I only have this much holiday to spend. Still has lots of work to do. No point complaining because
this
is
life
*******
Is my life boring? I seriously don't know. I can spend the weekends, or even weeks staying at home. I don't normally initiate an outing, nor want to go out. I don't mind going if someone else asks me to. Does that make me a boring person?
Sometimes these question would just come down on me. A result of thinking too much? Or I am on the right track reflecting myself.
No one knows, unknown can be scary, as well as surprising. Choose your path, and that decides your future.
Damn, choices sucks.
but actually, being a farmer isn't a bad idea, i quite like the idea of sitting in the outskirts or something and work leisurely, that is if farmers can work leisurely..
Just getting used to the weather and I will be heading back singapore soon.. Not able to stay as much as I want.. but i think will just bear with it. This holiday is a tight one.. with 3 places to go and I only have this much holiday to spend. Still has lots of work to do. No point complaining because
this
is
life
*******
Is my life boring? I seriously don't know. I can spend the weekends, or even weeks staying at home. I don't normally initiate an outing, nor want to go out. I don't mind going if someone else asks me to. Does that make me a boring person?
Sometimes these question would just come down on me. A result of thinking too much? Or I am on the right track reflecting myself.
No one knows, unknown can be scary, as well as surprising. Choose your path, and that decides your future.
Damn, choices sucks.
sharkfin fullstopped here
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Parents went shanghai to play golf, my brother and I are staying home to slack.. hehe
Heard that its gonna snow next week, if this weather continues. Can't wait to see that happen, it would be so beautiful =D
but most unlikely, since now the temperature is at 9-12 degrees.
Went out to nan jing yesterday, met up with one of my friends. Had lunch together, fetch father at the airport. Toured around in the city a while.
I went out at 9am, reached home at 6pm. Lots of time wasted on travelling.. What a waste..
Lazy sunday, nothing much to do anyway except on com, watch tv, do work. November is gonna end soon, it is that fast...
Ya, and I woke up at 9, without me knowing, its almost noon already...
Gotta do something meaningful now.. *fell on bed*
zzz
Heard that its gonna snow next week, if this weather continues. Can't wait to see that happen, it would be so beautiful =D
but most unlikely, since now the temperature is at 9-12 degrees.
Went out to nan jing yesterday, met up with one of my friends. Had lunch together, fetch father at the airport. Toured around in the city a while.
I went out at 9am, reached home at 6pm. Lots of time wasted on travelling.. What a waste..
Lazy sunday, nothing much to do anyway except on com, watch tv, do work. November is gonna end soon, it is that fast...
Ya, and I woke up at 9, without me knowing, its almost noon already...
Gotta do something meaningful now.. *fell on bed*
zzz
sharkfin fullstopped here
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Days can only get colder, everyday seems a colder day. Have been raining since I come to China, strong wind and 10-14 degrees according to the weather forecast.
But according to the local residents, this winter is warmer than usual.. Global warming.. scary.. even taiwan now is at around 20 degrees.. considering that it is early winter already, it is really abnormal to have temperature above 20 degrees.
And there is a typhoon once in the winter 2 years ago when I went back to taiwan!
Things just can't get any better.
From Terence Heng's blog I got to know the Surge thinggie which is a big things among the Singaporean students. They are really smart, to be able to come up with attractive advertisements and interesting plot to get innocent students/adults to buy the $20 ticket. Too bad, their wit is used at the wrong place. It is obvious that the higher authority will definitely step in and intervene. Holding a boxing match in public, in a group of teenagers. Who knows what will happen.
Maybe they are not that smart afterall, and Singapore society is too conservative to accept such behaviour.
In my email exchanges with my cousin who is studying in US right now, I got to know how liberal, even in schools, can be. The education system in US is liberal already. They don't standardise the level of education according to your age. Right now in Singapore, our education system is standardised across the level. All students in J1 will study the J1 syllabus irregardless of your level of proficiency in each unique subjects. True enough, there are H1 and H2 syllabus now, but it does not still make much differences. Furthermore, students taking H1 subjects are not necessarily better off - because they have to stay back on some days in the week to attend the classes. It does not liberate the student's of the studying pressure, because they have to spend more time in school. Comparing to a student who takes the 'conventional' 4H2 syllabus, they are better off because they can go home/attend CCA like many others. For students taking H1 subjects, they have to go home later, or say sorry to their CCA mates because they have to go for lessons.
"Sorry, but you belong to the minority group, you have to bear the consequences. We can only make timetables according to the crowd. Yes, the many others who takes 4H2."
I am not taking 3H2 1 H1, I am taking 4H2, yet I do feel a sense of unjust for my peers taking H1 subjects.
In US, you don't have to take all your subjects at Grade 10 of you are studying at grade 10. You may be bad in your maths, so you take grade 9 maths or grade 8 maths. You may be better in your geography, so you take grade 11 geography instead of grade 10. The education system is flexible, this way of education promotes students to learn more confidently. Right now, many are depressed over their results because they are underperforming. The lack of confidence may affect other subjects, ultimately. Teachers in the two different countries teach differently too. Singaporean teachers tend to pick on students' mistakes and focused on that bad point while neglecting the students' strengths. US teachers tend to boost students' morale, confidence by praising the students' strengths.
I am not saying that Singapore education system sucks. We are in the same boat, so there is no point complaining how lousy the boat is. We learn to identify the weakness in this system and work against it. Just like in band, the conductor once told us that there is always weakness to each different instruments. Only when you learn these weaknesses, and you learn to work against these weaknesses, you will be able to achieve more than the others in the same situation.
Alright, gotta go back to work, have been slacking enough, it isn't long before the A levels! Jia you everybody!
But according to the local residents, this winter is warmer than usual.. Global warming.. scary.. even taiwan now is at around 20 degrees.. considering that it is early winter already, it is really abnormal to have temperature above 20 degrees.
And there is a typhoon once in the winter 2 years ago when I went back to taiwan!
Things just can't get any better.
From Terence Heng's blog I got to know the Surge thinggie which is a big things among the Singaporean students. They are really smart, to be able to come up with attractive advertisements and interesting plot to get innocent students/adults to buy the $20 ticket. Too bad, their wit is used at the wrong place. It is obvious that the higher authority will definitely step in and intervene. Holding a boxing match in public, in a group of teenagers. Who knows what will happen.
Maybe they are not that smart afterall, and Singapore society is too conservative to accept such behaviour.
In my email exchanges with my cousin who is studying in US right now, I got to know how liberal, even in schools, can be. The education system in US is liberal already. They don't standardise the level of education according to your age. Right now in Singapore, our education system is standardised across the level. All students in J1 will study the J1 syllabus irregardless of your level of proficiency in each unique subjects. True enough, there are H1 and H2 syllabus now, but it does not still make much differences. Furthermore, students taking H1 subjects are not necessarily better off - because they have to stay back on some days in the week to attend the classes. It does not liberate the student's of the studying pressure, because they have to spend more time in school. Comparing to a student who takes the 'conventional' 4H2 syllabus, they are better off because they can go home/attend CCA like many others. For students taking H1 subjects, they have to go home later, or say sorry to their CCA mates because they have to go for lessons.
"Sorry, but you belong to the minority group, you have to bear the consequences. We can only make timetables according to the crowd. Yes, the many others who takes 4H2."
I am not taking 3H2 1 H1, I am taking 4H2, yet I do feel a sense of unjust for my peers taking H1 subjects.
In US, you don't have to take all your subjects at Grade 10 of you are studying at grade 10. You may be bad in your maths, so you take grade 9 maths or grade 8 maths. You may be better in your geography, so you take grade 11 geography instead of grade 10. The education system is flexible, this way of education promotes students to learn more confidently. Right now, many are depressed over their results because they are underperforming. The lack of confidence may affect other subjects, ultimately. Teachers in the two different countries teach differently too. Singaporean teachers tend to pick on students' mistakes and focused on that bad point while neglecting the students' strengths. US teachers tend to boost students' morale, confidence by praising the students' strengths.
I am not saying that Singapore education system sucks. We are in the same boat, so there is no point complaining how lousy the boat is. We learn to identify the weakness in this system and work against it. Just like in band, the conductor once told us that there is always weakness to each different instruments. Only when you learn these weaknesses, and you learn to work against these weaknesses, you will be able to achieve more than the others in the same situation.
Alright, gotta go back to work, have been slacking enough, it isn't long before the A levels! Jia you everybody!
sharkfin fullstopped here
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Hi! Finally get to blog again. :)
At China again, so I cant go blogspots, but I can still blog. So here comes to update these few days..
went for chalet from 13th to 17th. Had a great time with the fellow classmates. Though only few of us stayed overnight, I was really happy with the turn up rate for BBQ, as well as the teachers. The feeling of everyone crowding around the pit is heartwarming (literally warm). It aint boring and tiring to be cooking because you have so many people around you and waiting for food, that makes you "wanted" in a sense. Ya and I sure love cooking (plus the making of fire too). Mahjong games are fun, horror/gore/scary movies are thrilling too. Some of us have fun scarying each other, or be scared, some are too scared and hide under their cushions. Some had fun looking at others' constipated faces. Nights are fun, so are the days. We went for Wild Wild Wet, don't dare to go for one of the water activities so I stayed in the lazy river looking at them dropping from heights and watching them screaming the hell out of them. Never liked the feeling of weightlessness, never. Pool games are fun, though I rarely play with the balls. (er, cue balls) Although we never get to night cycling, which is one of the events I have been looking forward to, the spirit together and having fun as a class is the best of all. I really like my class, the same way I hope I make others comfortable in class.
**********
It's so cold here, 13 degrees, hope junquan, jiawei and xinwei are alright in shanghai. didn't have a nice ride to shanghai. It is scary to look out from the plane window and see the wings shaking. With a tailwind of 140 KM/Hr, we arrive a little earlier even though we left late in Changi Airport. the last 30minutes of the ride is just like a roller-coaster in the air. It is much more scary in air, because you dont know when you are going down, or up. Safe landing at last, now back at home, with my nice blanky :)
**********
November is gonna be over soon, so will december. Before we know it, A levels will be around the corner. We need to start work, no matter how much we have slacked in the previous holidays, the race for As starts now. Easier said than to be done, at least there is aim, to complete the assignment. If left alone, there is no aim, so naturally we won't be doing any work. Goal is important.
Self motivation is crucial, we need to keep reminding ourselves that no matter what happens, we must not give up, even you don't see your goals. There is no such thing as aimless, just that you don't see it. The aims is there, but you decide to run away from it and immerse yourself in self-illusion. Don't run away, face it.
**********
My blog is getting random, like talking about random stuffs. To add to this randomness, I want to thank all the people who have helped me all along. Be it in acadamic, CCAs, friendships. My classmates who have been of great fun and joy. With people like yanmin laming around, audrey being unglam but definitely funny, jiawei getting high in class all the time. Lessons are enjoyable with so many nut-heads (quote from xinwei) around. That has keep me motivated and awake in class. In band, I have to thank my perc seniors, our current percussionists Ai Wen and Christi for guiding me all along when I joined band earlier this year and all the encouragement before the concert. The late evening practices are definitely unforgettable experiences. Not forgetting Kia Meng, one of the first band members outside of percussion section that I befriend with. He has also given me much encouragement and advice to me, and ya, being quite lame (ok la quite funny) at times too. Most important of all, Yingqun for being there for me all the time when I need. In volleyball, you have been helpful keeping me motivated when I was still in volleyball, but sorry that I quit in the end. Even though you always niao me, I thank you for your truth and sincerity and it is humourous, to even laugh at myself -_- It will be something that is memorable, when I look back at the old school days. Thank you for being a great friend!
Last but not least, thank you everyone for being a part of my life, your words of encouragement, joy, laughter, tears, anger, will have an impact on my life.
**********
Sounds so much like thanksgiving, but ya, it is time to think about my friends, and family. Only when you start reflecting, then you know there are many people around you that you often take them for granted, and they are the ones who truly stand by you.
Friends, to me, are as important as myself.
At China again, so I cant go blogspots, but I can still blog. So here comes to update these few days..
went for chalet from 13th to 17th. Had a great time with the fellow classmates. Though only few of us stayed overnight, I was really happy with the turn up rate for BBQ, as well as the teachers. The feeling of everyone crowding around the pit is heartwarming (literally warm). It aint boring and tiring to be cooking because you have so many people around you and waiting for food, that makes you "wanted" in a sense. Ya and I sure love cooking (plus the making of fire too). Mahjong games are fun, horror/gore/scary movies are thrilling too. Some of us have fun scarying each other, or be scared, some are too scared and hide under their cushions. Some had fun looking at others' constipated faces. Nights are fun, so are the days. We went for Wild Wild Wet, don't dare to go for one of the water activities so I stayed in the lazy river looking at them dropping from heights and watching them screaming the hell out of them. Never liked the feeling of weightlessness, never. Pool games are fun, though I rarely play with the balls. (er, cue balls) Although we never get to night cycling, which is one of the events I have been looking forward to, the spirit together and having fun as a class is the best of all. I really like my class, the same way I hope I make others comfortable in class.
**********
It's so cold here, 13 degrees, hope junquan, jiawei and xinwei are alright in shanghai. didn't have a nice ride to shanghai. It is scary to look out from the plane window and see the wings shaking. With a tailwind of 140 KM/Hr, we arrive a little earlier even though we left late in Changi Airport. the last 30minutes of the ride is just like a roller-coaster in the air. It is much more scary in air, because you dont know when you are going down, or up. Safe landing at last, now back at home, with my nice blanky :)
**********
November is gonna be over soon, so will december. Before we know it, A levels will be around the corner. We need to start work, no matter how much we have slacked in the previous holidays, the race for As starts now. Easier said than to be done, at least there is aim, to complete the assignment. If left alone, there is no aim, so naturally we won't be doing any work. Goal is important.
Self motivation is crucial, we need to keep reminding ourselves that no matter what happens, we must not give up, even you don't see your goals. There is no such thing as aimless, just that you don't see it. The aims is there, but you decide to run away from it and immerse yourself in self-illusion. Don't run away, face it.
**********
My blog is getting random, like talking about random stuffs. To add to this randomness, I want to thank all the people who have helped me all along. Be it in acadamic, CCAs, friendships. My classmates who have been of great fun and joy. With people like yanmin laming around, audrey being unglam but definitely funny, jiawei getting high in class all the time. Lessons are enjoyable with so many nut-heads (quote from xinwei) around. That has keep me motivated and awake in class. In band, I have to thank my perc seniors, our current percussionists Ai Wen and Christi for guiding me all along when I joined band earlier this year and all the encouragement before the concert. The late evening practices are definitely unforgettable experiences. Not forgetting Kia Meng, one of the first band members outside of percussion section that I befriend with. He has also given me much encouragement and advice to me, and ya, being quite lame (ok la quite funny) at times too. Most important of all, Yingqun for being there for me all the time when I need. In volleyball, you have been helpful keeping me motivated when I was still in volleyball, but sorry that I quit in the end. Even though you always niao me, I thank you for your truth and sincerity and it is humourous, to even laugh at myself -_- It will be something that is memorable, when I look back at the old school days. Thank you for being a great friend!
Last but not least, thank you everyone for being a part of my life, your words of encouragement, joy, laughter, tears, anger, will have an impact on my life.
**********
Sounds so much like thanksgiving, but ya, it is time to think about my friends, and family. Only when you start reflecting, then you know there are many people around you that you often take them for granted, and they are the ones who truly stand by you.
Friends, to me, are as important as myself.
sharkfin fullstopped here
Friday, November 10, 2006
Has been a long time since I last updated, almost 2 weeks, but dont worry, I am back! =)
Past 3 days had been really hectic. When I landed in Singapore on 6th Nov 11pm, the first message i received is from our PW group mates asking me whether I can for PW meeting the next day.
So the next 3 days had been practising, fine tune of the powerpoint, re-writing of scrips/memorising and more rehearsing. Our efforts finally paid off today.. only slight hiccup....
I opened the older version of our ppt and we continued to present without us knowing..
Not much problems, except one part where there is a typo, and some circles to highlight the points we want to deliver. Nevertheless, today's OP is a smooth, safe journey. Our assessers are Mrs Teri-Leo and another geog teacher whom I do not know. Terence said teri-leo is damn chio, lol. Anyway, each of us are just only given one question and, nothing much. I was asked my Teri-Leo:
"If you were to present your idea to the MOE, what will be the selling point of your project?"
This question come quite straightforward, at least I answered without really much hestitation. Coming to think of it, I got a little feeling that I did not really answer the question. Heck, its over now :P
Then took some photo with the classmates and watch yanmin's group getting high about taking all sorts of photo. I guess they are just excited that everything is over. Phew :)
Went out with the class to have dinner, crapped and lamed at the food court. It was really a good session, getting to know more and.. fun! The return journey home with Si Min and Fan Di is a non-stop laughter. We didn't care how unglam we are laughing so loud in the MRT station. Everyone is just high after OP!
**********
Zooming back to the taiwan trip. It can't be anymore different than the previous ones. As usual, there is the usual relative gatherings. I really miss some of my cousins who have went to US to study. From my mother sides' cousins, its divide into 2 age groups, the teenagers and the children. I am the only one in my group now, sadly. However, it is still fun to go back, see all my cousins and aunts. I am lucky that I have nice aunts and uncles, especially my smallest aunt. I think she cares more about my future than my mother does, keep telling to go medical or lawyer in the future coz she thinks that those are the two occupation that will earn money next time. I haven really thought of what I want to be next time. However, the rough idea is there already, definitely not lawyer :P
Oh ya, went to 礁溪, somewhere on the east side of taiwan. Took a 1.5hrs train to get there. And this is inside of the hotel that we stayed in
Very Jap feeling. Went there to go hot springs. Nice and warm in a cooling weather in taiwan. It drizzled a little and that adds to the enjoying of dipping in hot spring too! =D
Stayed there for a night and returned home the next time.
And the rest of the holiday until 6th Nov is pretty much the same as what I do in the past years, visit relatives, grandparents and slack at home, go around the neighbourhood.
Came back to Singapore alone. Still remembers the feeling when I was sitting in airport alone eating my set dinner packed in the afternoon. Somehow, felt damn sad at that time. I won't be going back for the next 3 years due to NS issues. This is officially, the last time I am going back as a teenager.
You will never know the feeling of going home, until you have stepped out of it and return
********
On a brighter mood, its gonna be class chalet soon! the very first chalet that I am gonna ever have for the past 18 years of my life. No I won't get any alcohols, it is for your health. :) Can't wait for the guys to upload the details of the program. Night cycling is a must! Though I will die halfway. Better start conserving my energy and have a good rest before chalet.
Soon, I will be finally liberated from PW and it is really, gonna be over, forever, and ever..
Past 3 days had been really hectic. When I landed in Singapore on 6th Nov 11pm, the first message i received is from our PW group mates asking me whether I can for PW meeting the next day.
So the next 3 days had been practising, fine tune of the powerpoint, re-writing of scrips/memorising and more rehearsing. Our efforts finally paid off today.. only slight hiccup....
I opened the older version of our ppt and we continued to present without us knowing..
Not much problems, except one part where there is a typo, and some circles to highlight the points we want to deliver. Nevertheless, today's OP is a smooth, safe journey. Our assessers are Mrs Teri-Leo and another geog teacher whom I do not know. Terence said teri-leo is damn chio, lol. Anyway, each of us are just only given one question and, nothing much. I was asked my Teri-Leo:
"If you were to present your idea to the MOE, what will be the selling point of your project?"
This question come quite straightforward, at least I answered without really much hestitation. Coming to think of it, I got a little feeling that I did not really answer the question. Heck, its over now :P
Then took some photo with the classmates and watch yanmin's group getting high about taking all sorts of photo. I guess they are just excited that everything is over. Phew :)
Went out with the class to have dinner, crapped and lamed at the food court. It was really a good session, getting to know more and.. fun! The return journey home with Si Min and Fan Di is a non-stop laughter. We didn't care how unglam we are laughing so loud in the MRT station. Everyone is just high after OP!
**********
Zooming back to the taiwan trip. It can't be anymore different than the previous ones. As usual, there is the usual relative gatherings. I really miss some of my cousins who have went to US to study. From my mother sides' cousins, its divide into 2 age groups, the teenagers and the children. I am the only one in my group now, sadly. However, it is still fun to go back, see all my cousins and aunts. I am lucky that I have nice aunts and uncles, especially my smallest aunt. I think she cares more about my future than my mother does, keep telling to go medical or lawyer in the future coz she thinks that those are the two occupation that will earn money next time. I haven really thought of what I want to be next time. However, the rough idea is there already, definitely not lawyer :P
Oh ya, went to 礁溪, somewhere on the east side of taiwan. Took a 1.5hrs train to get there. And this is inside of the hotel that we stayed in
Very Jap feeling. Went there to go hot springs. Nice and warm in a cooling weather in taiwan. It drizzled a little and that adds to the enjoying of dipping in hot spring too! =D
Stayed there for a night and returned home the next time.
And the rest of the holiday until 6th Nov is pretty much the same as what I do in the past years, visit relatives, grandparents and slack at home, go around the neighbourhood.
Came back to Singapore alone. Still remembers the feeling when I was sitting in airport alone eating my set dinner packed in the afternoon. Somehow, felt damn sad at that time. I won't be going back for the next 3 years due to NS issues. This is officially, the last time I am going back as a teenager.
You will never know the feeling of going home, until you have stepped out of it and return
********
On a brighter mood, its gonna be class chalet soon! the very first chalet that I am gonna ever have for the past 18 years of my life. No I won't get any alcohols, it is for your health. :) Can't wait for the guys to upload the details of the program. Night cycling is a must! Though I will die halfway. Better start conserving my energy and have a good rest before chalet.
Soon, I will be finally liberated from PW and it is really, gonna be over, forever, and ever..
sharkfin fullstopped here