ReVeRiEz on UsEfUL-nEsS, EQ etc..

This must be my most messy title.. all in one.. but not much of a choice... Blogging is not a private affair.. Being on cyberspace means its easy availability to the public at large.. ie. greater chance of accidentally defaming someone.

One week of official real work, well, kind of.. and I'm still reeling in tiredness even after a long weekend. Sometimes, you get to see more people with either a lack of EQ, or that they are just plain inconsiderate. Whatever the case, just hope that things take a turn for the better for this week.

Besides, I think I need extra time awfully.. Perhaps 36 hours a day would be good. Currently, life revolves around working, and I'll probably be too dead tired at the end of the day, even if I am running on my reserve energy.

Which reminds me, I'm SO irritated with myself! To think that I forgot today is Monday, and decided to continue lying in bed till 10am! Which means I missed ZhongYiYuan again! 2 weeks and 1 day worth of not being able to listen to the programme! Argh... I miss listening to ShenJiang and Mingde crossing verbal swords with each other, or simply ShenJiang's sharp but amusing comments! *sigh* If only work starts at 10.30am, or that my computer is sound-enabled.. Oh well..

Talking about EQ reminds me of another person who is severely lacking in that. Shall not name names, but seriously, when others do you a favour, you jolly well think of that person's position too. There are some stuff where you can disclose for fun.. and there are others that you can't. Being so old already, I'm sure you should be matured enough to think, right? Or perhaps not..

And since I'm on the usefulness part, I've just emailed HW regarding the temp job. Can't believe that I'll do this favour for one of the 2 that I emailed on behalf. Is it that I'll never be able to stop feeling that I owe that person a favour? Oh well, then I better stop getting favours from others.. else I'll never ever be able to repay all my 人情债...

Some photos from trip to Jiangnan


In front of Song QingLing (I think)'s statute


Innovative way to tell people to avoid stepping on the grass!!


Lakes are awfully beautiful!!!


Here's where Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai studied at


Downwards view of the same school


Me and my 'little handsome' (otherwise called boyboy)


Nice background scenery


Here's where the drama serial was filmed

ReVeRiEz on The Passing of a President

Dr Wee Kim Wee passed away yesterday morning.

Unlike those call-in listeners just now, can't talk about any instances of chanced meetings that had touched my hearts since there weren't any.

But here was the first president that I know, whose photo I've seen every morning (or afternoon, for that matter) ever since I began schooling and understood what has been going around me. Come to think of it, my first impressioin was 'Why do we hang those 2 photographs in the foyer?' And I didn't even had any idea who they were then.

Yet, those 2 photographs of smiling Dr Wee and his wife, the calming effect that they gave, kept me company through my primary school days. In fact, mention Dr Wee, and my first thoughts would be the photos on the wall behind the stage. How different he looked then as compared to his more recent photographs (which I glanced off LianHe WanBao). He looked so awfully thin in the latter...

I'm glad I bought Dr Wee's book the moment it came out. Pity that I've never managed to get his autograph for the book (just like for the book on Mr Ong Teng Cheong)

Farewell, Dr Wee!

ReVeRiEz on Perspective

"if you put a 5 cents coin very closely in front of your eye, you'll only see that coin. But if you throw the coin in front, you'll see a lot of other things"

That was what Mr Ng said when we were talking about changes today. Considering that his partner only informed them about his soon-to-be departure yesterday(?), and that he has to sort partnership matters out in such a short time, it's a bit hard to imagine hearing that from him right? But I guess, like what he said, he could choose to sit there and cry (which... like I said, I can't imagine him doing that..) or just get on with whatever that he was doing.

Come to think of it, working at Yeo Marini was fun, or I mean, enjoyable. Felt that tinge of regret that it would no longer be existing. Hmm...
Kiez... back to studying.. Must do satisfactorily!

ReVeRiEz on Last Speech

Didn't stay very long for the Huang Clan dinner today. Sis having exams tomorrow, so we have to troop back. Still, very proud of my 'climbing mountain' analogy. The scene of those heads suddenly looking up from their food at the mention of my analagy, and then their eyes staying glued to me is still so vivid. For once, I've managed to capture their attention, away from the not bad food on the table. Felt even more happy when the host actually used the word'interesting' to describe what I had said.

Sounds so egoistic huh? Then again, it's the last time I'll get to crap there anyway. And what better way than to make it sounds impressive? Me, being the first student to have had to write her own speech, instead of reading from a pre-prepared one. The feeling of being affirmed is just... undescribable, I guess.

Then again, it is also a clear reminder that time is whizzing past. Just the other day, I mentioned in one of my emails about not wanting to grow up. Perhaps I'm just not ready to step out of my make-believed world yet. Then again, everyone has to grow up, and what better time than now to do so?

ReVeRiEz on At the Dolphin Bay

At the end of the show, I must agree with Qi that the plot is totally crap. Boy meets girl in orphanage, gets separated and then meet again when they are grown ups. Both developed a love for each other, but things happen to tear them apart. In between, each has someone else falling for them and these third parties are equally sweet. The show ends, of course, in the couple coming back together.

Meaningless show, I agree. So what made me hooked on it and finished it in less than a day? (Okiez.. I admit I actually scanned some parts..)

I guess the sweetness in the show comes, not from the leads themselves, but from the 'third parties' to the relationship. In particular, Producer Zhong. Call me sadistic if you want, but I still thought those scenes where he hid his unhappiness, where his tears flowed silently were the most touching. It seemed to depict some form of unwavering silent love, something of more strength than the regular cryings of the male lead.

Why do dramas enjoy writing such endings? Is it necessary for two people whose lives seem to intertwine to be together in the end? At the end of the show, the female lead seems the dumbest and most irritating of all. I mean, what right has she got to tell the Producer to look back and treasure who ever is there, when she herself has been harping over something that looks so near, yet so far? How many guys would be willing to pay off all your family's debts without leaking a word to you? How many guys would be so willing to give up his possessions, his money and borrow from a loan shark, just for the sake of the girl, yet without announcing it? Totally surreal and dumb, yet it gives the longlasting sweet taste.

Or perhaps it's just me. Sometimes, stubborn-ness and strength in character may just be a facade. Being obviously protected, having a shoulder to lean on seems so much more favourable. Reminds me of something that I've watched/heard somewhere at some point.. It's better to be with someone who loves you, than with the one you love.

Ah well, so much for analysis of just one dumb drama. Better study..

ReVeRiEz on True Friends

How does one define 'true friend'? Or more importantly, how does one sieve through acquaintances and spot these gems? If ever there were such a exam, I guess I'll fail miserably. Then again, having them around is always a wonderful feeling... something that cannot be easiliy described.

If there was one thing that the idiotic travel agency saga showed me, it was who those people I could trust and depend on are.

Alvin.. a colleague for 4 months(?).. someone I instinctively regard as an older brother.. Still remembered how childish I was when, whenever down, I would squat by his table and just hid from those bitches at PS.. someone I trusted so much to actually confide in him about certain stuff that I would normally not want any one who knows me know, much less some colleague whom I've only known for a few months.. then when I smsed him to help me ask his wife some questions regarding the travel-agency-saga earlier, he called back IMMEDIATELY and put his wife through the call. That felt really good, especially since we've not exactly kept in contact since I-have-no-idea-when. He and his wife could have just ignored my sms. Yet, they didn't. Proves that I was not wrong at judging people..

And then, there was Jianping's email. I think he's the only person who really truly looked and corrected my letter. All the red fonts all around. Highlighting obvious errors which no one else noticed.

Perhaps I am just easily touched, easily contented, easily happy. But who cares? It still feels great. Like what I typed in the email to Adrian, sometimes, I really feel awfully thankful. Nothing else beats having these real friends. Really.. nothing..

Thanks guys... (I mean gals included)... really...

On a less light note, I still ended up sms-ing a birthday greeting. Funny how no matter how one says one thing, one still ends up doing the opposite. Should never trust myself in being pissed off my people.

ReVeRiEz on Lousy Travel Agency

Don't ask me to type the name of the agency here. Then again, I would still feel happier typing their initials: J-AT. Go figure.

Where on earth would you find a bitch who puts words into customer's mouth? Who contradicts herself? Who talks without making sense, especially denying what every normal person would agree with?

Oh well, perhaps it has something to do with nationality, different culture perhaps. Pardon my politically incorrect statement, but seriously, people from there rank as one of my 'hate-st' group of people, if there were such a word as 'hate-st'. Oh well.

Realised that I am still rather emotional. Or rather, I am still very emotional. To think that I was almost shouting over the phone with that bitch, since she was shouting equally loudly. Time to keep track of my emotions. My mum thinks it's unbecoming, if only she heard what that bitch said. Then again, one guy just mentioned about lawyers being cool-headed this afternoon too. Does that mean I'm not suited for what I'll be doing? I wonder...

Photos in Law Faculty














Weiling and I, in front of the mailboxes.. My mailbox got cut off!














Weiling and I in the classroom (with camera on the OHP)













Me, Mingyi and Weiling outside SR2 (I think..)













Right after Law & Sociology of Family class..

ReVeRiEz on Last Tamil Class

Time flies huh?

Last day of Tamil lesson. Last time having to take 151 all the way to the interchange and then climb up to Dr Thinappan's office. Last time having lessons with such a small class.

Carolyn is flying off tomorrow. As usual, our class of 5 is still not in full force. Lessons were different today. I mean, there were no lessons, just some sort of a gathering, a chat. Don't know why but there is some tinge of.. not wanting all of this to end? Time is just flying by too fast for me to grasp.

Not that my Tamil proficiency has been any better. The only stuff I can say with confidence is probably what I want, Hi, and Thank you. Not very good considering exams are round the corner. Noticed that my grades for assignments are the lowest. Once again, the ever-jealous me came into play. But I could blame no one, yah? Simply because over confidence, or should I say foolishness, led me to juggle too many things, thereby spreading myself too thin. Should I have listened to well-meant advice from Koon and Daniel? Perhaps so. Do I regret? Perhaps not.

Unbelievable as it seems, I've always loved going to school since young. Remember the times when I would dream of school during the holidays? Or the fact that I would practise the piano simply because of the threat of not allowing me to go to school anymore if I quit piano? All these may sound comical, but yes, that was my affinity to school. No idea when that suddenly dissipated. Beginning of uni? Perhaps so. Perhaps the lack of confidence gradually made me withdraw away again.

Still, these 2 sems have made me a cheerier one. The extra workload means walking out of law faculty. And yes, it's somewhat like going out into the world, you get to see so much more. Somehow, the slightly more confident feeling is something that I would not have found in law school. Then again, who knows?

Last lesson for Tamil. My regret at not mastering the language deepened. Perhaps I should have started earlier? Perhaps I should not have done another sem? Well, that's all the past now. These memories will leave with me, as I step out of NUS, out of being a law student, and into the world. Someday, perhaps, my mastery of the language would be something that I would be proud of. Hopefully.

Dr Thinappan's room, ie. our usual classroom

Tea sponsored by Dr Thinappan

And more photos....

Gals from Tamil 2 (Notice all of us had either some red or pink on!)

ReVeRiEz on Friends (I)

What differentiates friends from acquaintances, or just another person you know? Somehow, there is no clear, correct definition; you know that person is your friend, just because that person is your friend.

Sounds pretty duhz huh? But I guess friends are those whom you'll subconsciously accomodate.. There are things that some do which would irritate you no less, yet, when friends do the same, you do not get as irritated..

Throughout this sem, I tried very hard not to be late for my Genes and Society class. There was one point where I would just skip the class if I was going to be late. Afterall, Dr Low has this weird thing about letting people move through the middle, but it's so embarassing to get one entire row to shift in just for your sake.

Well, today, I was late for class. And it was through no fault of mine, really. Someone said he'll be off for 15 minutes, and I calculated that to mean that I'll still have plenty of time to get to Science Faculty. Yet, that someone came back only 5 minutes before my lecture was supposed to start. I can picture myself blowing up at some other people (names not mentioned in case they chance upon this blog and realise it) and I'm so super proud of myself that I didn't get any bit irritated at all. Just imagine, I could actually say 'Late then late lohz'... Come to think of it, only a handful can actually try that and not irritate/anger me at all.. Oops, does that once again prove how short tempered I am? =)

In any case, you should consider yourself lucky, Mr Chai.. hahaha...

Still, feeling happy to have met up with an old (long time plus OLDer than me.. wahahahah) friend =)

ReVeRiEz on Little India Trip

Not that it was the first time going to Little India. In fact, ever since I've started taking Tamil, we have been to Little India around 3 times. That's a lot considering that I've only been that twice in 20 years (not counting the 2 years where I was supposed to be living somewhere there) when I live not too far away.

This time round, I didn't want the trip to end. Another ending means one step closer to the end of the final semester.

Oh well, all good things do come to a close.

The temple visit (again!) was educational. This time, I remembered more stuff. There were 3 statues facing the entrance. The mother of the other 2 was in the middle. One represented knowledge, the other was the god that was worshipped on Thaipusam. Do you know that putting the middle finger to the thumb, that symbolises protection? The bells at the door are there because life is equated with sound..

Peiqi, next time we go there, can explain to you in greater detail! haha..

And of course, any trips to Little India would not be complete without food. And once again, it's at the same place! Scarily, I am beginning to develop a taste for the food at Komalas! =)

And now, for the photos:

Tamil Class with Dr Thinappan and his wife at Komalas Vilas

Nava and I

ReVeRiEz on Meeting the President


Photograph with the President
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Not too difficult to guess why we wound up there. Yes, it was for our Tamil module and there we were at a Hindu temple at Farrer Park. Dr Thinappan said the President was interested in meeting us. Oh well, we are an interesting breed I guess. But it is admirable that his excellency is an advocate for lifelong learning too. Who would have guessed that at his age, he is taking Tamil lessons from.. who else but Dr Thinappan? That makes us fellow students huh? Still, his command of the language is truly admirable. To think that we were forced to reply in Tamil. Sounds so Dr Thinappan.

ReVeRiEz on TMC

Finally, a meetup with TMC people

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Yes, time flies. 4 years plus years have just zoomed past.

Have I ever regretted wasting money going for TMC diploma classes? Not really. Those were fun times. And the friendships made were great. Just that each of us had our own paths, and these paths diverge further as we move along.

Still. It was great, really.

Memories...

My 6th sense tells me that this would be a really long entry. Oh well, that'll be befitting of my last entry in this blog. Been hearing a lot of "We should be forward looking and not be stuck in the past" sort of phrases these few days, mostly from those who could have been wallowing in sadness, yet they decided not to do so but instead came up with such words to egg their fellow colleagues on. With such stuff coming from these people, who could bear not to heed their advice? Still, allow me to be stuck in this flashback for just this moment..

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Remembered about 3 plus years ago, around the time when I first knew I got into law faculty, someone told me that she didn't think I was suited for law, simply because I was too emotional. At that point in time, the words stung. And so, I tried hard to be more feelingless, or to put it in a nicer way, to be more cool. Somehow, certain man-made disaster in Singapore serve as a catalyst to make me the totally cynical, apathetic person befitting of the description of youths that I read in the paperes lately. My overnight lost of love for a country that I had previously hold so dear. So, I did become less feeling through the years, but less emotional?

These few days have made me realised that those words were so accurate. No doubt I can forcefully delete memories from my brain, be cynical about things happening around me, but I would never have to do all these if not for my over sentimentality and over emotionality. As I stuck faithfully to my TV set this whole evening, my brain seemed to have worked overtime trying to overcome my heart. Artistes from MediaWorks have all the right to feel upset simply because they had all made the effort to unite and make things work, which fate unfortunately dealt things otherwise. But me, a viewer, feeling the pain for them, with them? What utter craziness..

Perhaps all these signify the closing of another chapter, a passing chapter in life. Very soon, all these would be buried in the dust of history. Watching the flashbacks of the lifespan of Channel U, all of them just seem like yesterday, when a just jc-graduated girl stepped into the doors of NUS. I still remember at the point of MediaWorks debut, I was totally disgusted at the signing of Bryan Wong and Quan Yifeng, artistes I thought were crap. Fast-forward to today, not only have they earned total respect (at least from me) with regards to their hosting skills, but many others have also become much better looking, more poised and yes, closer to the viewers. Yet, in a fast paced society like Singapore, no one, nothing stops just for you. Before you have grasped hold of something, time has just slipped through your fingers, never to return again.

Perhaps all these ties in with my usual topic of treasuring things. Perhaps the greater sadness emanates from the lack of time in treasuring the choice I, the viewer had. As said time and over again, people just seem to learn how to treasure only when that thing is lost. Watching MediaWorks Chinese News on Channel U for the last time, I couldn't help but be like a sponge, absorbing details as much as I can. This is so, even though there was a period of time when I had used the programme to practice my Translation skills and shadowing. Yet at that time, it was work, focusing only on being able to translate properly, or following decently. If you ask me for the name of the reporter, you would have drawn a blank for me.

The greatest irony of all this is that.. I've just realised that one of the 2 (which is awfully few) seniors I was closer to in RGCO whom I've subsequently lost contact with is.. or rather, I mean was, one of the reporters on Channel U. And to think she is the sports reporter whom my mum mentioned was cute. And it's not that I didn't know of the new reporter either. Just that I've never bothered to focus a look, for, the moment I saw her face just now, my 1st reaction went like.. Was that Yiting?

Through this particular entry, I sound totally like a pathetic soul, immersing myself in the fantasy world of TV. I guess, in a way, Channel U appeared at a time when I needed an alternative harbour to hide from the storms. And pathetic as it sounds, hiding myself in the fake world, immersing myself in the happenings, the laughters from the programmes brought me away from what the real me could have felt. I guess the destruction of a safe and sound harbour is what makes the vast sea look so unsafe and uncertain, making a person not want to venture out.

Interestingly, someone expressed his surprise at me typing in a matured manner yesterday. To that, I don't even know whether to cry or laugh. Laugh because my act of childishness, craziness does seem so believable that it should be commended. Cry, simply because of the discovery that yet another doesn't know me?

Whatever it is, 2004 has come to an end. Good or bad, it's all over and it's time to move on. Farewell 2004!

and of course,

I love u, Channel U!

Small fries...

Was thinking of what to call this entry when I suddenly recall a favourite 'adjective' a certain Physics teacher of mine used. Almost everyone is at the mercy of something, the only difference being the extent to which the person is at a loss of power.

A devastating quake and round of tsunamis hit areas close to Singapore on boxing day. Those affected, as usual, were the ones who were already less well-off. Interestingly, some international organisation made a remark about the more well-off country being less generous with their aid, and immediately, the supposedly guilty ones poured in more money. Closer here, one hears so much about 'I feel so sad for those victims' comments. Yet, I couldn't help but recall something that a certain English teacher impressed upon me. It's always easy to say what is required of you. But do you truly feel that way?

When I first heard of the disaster, my first thought was whether my friends were safe, particularly those staying in Indonesia. (Pardon my awful Geography, I simply couldn't figure out how close or far their islands were from those affected areas)

It's so much easier to feel the fear, the sadness when you are involved. Whereas from a supposed outsider's point of view, what degree do you feel? or is it mere words of feelings? I don't know. Perhaps that's the reason why I'm not a social worker too.

Closer to home, it's 3 days before MediaWorks finally pulls down its shutters.. for good. Time does fly. 3 plus years has just flown by without me even grasping it. Once again, it's those smaller fries, aka commoners as in MediaWorks employees who are at the mercy of some Almighty power who can rule that competition is necessary and then decide otherwise at their own whims and fancy. AND those who suffer? The small fries who trusted their words, who believed that they could do their part in making a difference took the untaken path. And what do they get? Heartache? Lost opportunities? White slips?

Who do we blame when we hear that our people lack the dare to dream spirit?

There has been so much talk going on about a certain forum when the unfortunate participants were labelled arrogant, unable to feel for the less fortunate aka smaller fries. These people were bombarded with 'hate mails' lamenting on the state of the future of the country.

But is there a cause for worry? Afterall, does it sound any bit different from the certain group of adults that we supposedly have to rever anyway? Just take a not-so-apt but the-one-currently-on-my-mind example. The look on the faces of the people with the team-spirit that is so lacking in many corporations when their 'baby' is on the face of being taken away from them. One must be really stone to not feel a single thing.

We are told that mergers and acquisitions are part and parcel of a successful country. No doubt, I have no arguments about that. Yet, a successful economy is not necessary equated with a gracious feeling society. With those big fries being so focused on the big picture ie. profits, who bothers about small fries? They are, but stepping stones, to greater things for the corporation. They are, but dispensible, properties who can be used when necessary and dumped aside when not. When we are taught this right from young, isn't it a case of the pot calling the kettle black when we hear of certain big fries amolishing the future generations?

Disclaimer: This is just the humble opinion of the small insignificant fry here. My sincere-st apologies should this unimportant piece offend any out there though it was never meant to be so. Serious!

Memories

You know a person is a bit over sentimental when she readily agrees to pay at least $260 for a handphone repair with 3 months warranty just because the phone was a 21st birthday present from her sis. I'm sure the lady at the service centre thought I was a nut-case when I did just that. Oh well, that's just me, yah? Even though sis told me to trade in for another, but hey, the phone does mean a lot to me, especially since she sacrificed 500 bucks from her hard earn money just to get something that I had wanted but couldn't bear to buy. And of course, it came at a time when I was awfully down.. Anyway, better not let sis know, otherwise she'll feel upset that she bought the non-durable phone for me..

Anyway, met up with Lijia finally. Thankfully I was much better than the past few days, else I don't even think I'll be able to drag myself out at all. Talked about a lot of stuff, particularly about S03J. Somehow, the topic seems so close, yet so far. Sounds familiar, yet at the same time so strange. And to think that I've almost forgot some of the people. When we agreed that we turned back time, I couldn't help but remember how much I wished I had kept in touch with them. Those memories were nice, come to think of it. Yet perhaps cause they were that sweet that I had wanted to delete them permanently just so that I could get on. Having Lijia everywhere I went, going over to Ghim Moh during Chinese lesson breaks, learning origami from Shawn, Bio lab class with Yijun......

Then again, it's over so no point thinking of all the IFs anyway..

Also, finally got my photos developed.. The few photos with human somehow seem to depict all the more 'landmark' part of my memories for the year. (and my mum was commenting about me taking loads of photos of non-humans aka soft toys, cute tibits etc) But still, there were some moments that were not captured, eg attachments, and some other gatherings. Oh well, all that matters are that they were captured in my head, yah?

Cebu Trip Gathering
The first of some of the gatherings I had within the year. To think that this is our first gathering since JC1. A bit pathetic huh? But the turnout wasn't that bad, considering it was only decided a few days before, though it could have been better, considering the number of last minute back-outs.

Anyway, back to the photo
Back: Sijie, Huihui, Jini
Front: "Brother" Adrian, ME!!, Lizhen, "Grandfather" Kok Sing

To think that all of us couldn't forget Sharon Phua.. Haha.. Seems like notorious people stay in memories much longer..

Tamil Class

Of course I shall NOT name the people in the photo since I've still got no idea what some of their names are. Actually only one. Haha.. but still, better not.

Anyway, Tamil lessons were fun, other than having tormenting homework. Imagine putting in the entire Sunday night rushing Tamil homework. But I guess I don't regret taking it, despite my B.

PA Policy Studies Lunch sponsored by our director
Back: Thenesh, our director Sion Yoong, Jianlin, Wanjing
Front: Crystal, Me, Claire, Zheyi. (Absent: Yude)

Lunch at Marche. To think I was there a 2nd time in less than 24 hours after having gone there the night before with last year's VSA camp people.

Somehow, don't know what made me join PA after having thought of it in year 1. Remembered that was what Sion Yoong asked me when he first called me to turn up for a meeting. I mean, a year 3 wanting to join?

But I don't regret joining though. Despite getting irritated by a certain person, overall, the memory was still not bad. The really occasional meetings, the people, the discussion, Wanjing and Jianlin's 'bickering'.. Not to mention the final Lunchtime Forum at Munchie Monkey with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Dr Maliki and Ms Penny Low (I hope I rem her name correctly) as guests.