"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven", - Ecclesiastes 3:1
It's that time of the year when the Government releases its revised forecast for the year's economic growth, more babies are born (yes, many more April and May babies out there), the stream of campus crowd whirls down to a trickle, it's harder to get flight tickets for that summer holiday, and yes, people graduate.
I never thought I will ever write this post four years ago. Fresh out of summer orientation camp, there was me, part of an army of blur, beady-eyed freshmen sighing about the prospects of intense class participation in our first day of class in 2006, and looking lost amidst the sea of equally-lost freshmen. Back then, graduation seemed like an eternity away.
Now, convocation seemed like yesterday.
4 years of group projects, term papers, presentations and examinations has now given way to: many, many more years of group projects, term papers, presentations and examinations, especially for folks like me joining the Civil Service.
Graduation is more akin to finishing a marathon than getting the top poles in a race. In a 21 or 42-km marathon, no one gives a damn about the winner, or remembers his\her name 1 year down the road. But everyone remembers the sweat, the breathlessness, the little triumphs we get when we edge a little closer towards the finish line, the sight of hundreds of runners running alongside you on the same journey, and sometimes the pain when your ankles give way.
Here are some 10 take-aways that I want to impart to you, my dear reader. If you have already graduated, kudos to you and I hope you relive a glimpse of your student life amidst these words. If you haven't graduated, I hope you will find some strength or inspiration from here.
1. Making $1 million & cooking Naples-style spaghetti
Not satisfied with what you're learning in class? Get out and choose from the countless seminars, workshops and conferences in school or beyond that caters to almost every whim and fancy. Every semester, there are entrepreneurs, academics, activists, journalists, bureaucrats and others speaking on topics ranging from making $1 million before the age of 28 to cooking Naples-style spaghetti. Be inspired, and inspire others.
2. The limits of a 5-year old online portal
Don't complain about the school not providing enough internship opportunities for you. I've come to realise how students have become so reliant on OnTrac. The last thing that you want to limit your future with is a 5-year old online portal manned by 4 blokes. There are literally hundreds of companies and organisations that you can apply directly with that is sure to be aligned with your interests. Take some initiative and do your own research. Write in YOURSELF.
3. A smile a day may bring a favour your way
Be nice to all the staff, even the security guards and cleaners. Put yourself in their shoes. They have a job to do, so don't get in their way by making unreasonable demands, or not cooperating with them. Be nasty to them and you make their job even worse. Be nice to them and you bring a cheer to their day, even a favour that will be paid back when you need their help again (and you will, trust me).
4. Some of the best friends I made...
Are the ones I met through joining student clubs. Yes, one of the best ways to make friends is to join a student club. Sink your roots in and commit to a few good years. You will be surprised with what you learn, the number of people you meet along the way, and even meet your future beau. Don't join a club just for your resume. People can tell if you're genuine or if you're there for selfish reasons.
5. For taking that solo stroll
If you ever need a quiet place to read (not the library), chill or just walk to get inspiration, try the Singapore Art Museum with its cafes and galleries, the Esplanade and its windy roof-top, the National Museum with its lovely Novus bar, the Fort Canning Park with its mini-maze of flora and fauna, or even our very own Wellness Centre with its massage chairs and dim lights. Plus there are about a hundred more places that you can go to (Buzz me if you need more information).
6. The world is a book & those who do not travel read only a page
To get something akin to changing your perspective of life, go overseas for an exchange, internship, or even a prolonged CIP. Regardless of where you go to, the key is get yourself away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore, immerse yourself in a foreign culture (no, playing beer pong with the Irish does NOT count), witness how their people live and work, and put yourself in their shoes. Limit yourself to Singapore and your mindset will always be limited at that.
7. Of bad emails & worse excuses
I'm always bemused by how many students clubs can be so unprofessional, given the string of horror incidents such as emails being addressed to the wrong CEOs (sometimes they get the gender wrong too), with multiple typos, and a whole lot of other stuff that can get you fired in the corporate world. There is no excuse for not getting your facts right when it's within your locus of control. Always think about how others will perceive your club's name. Treat others professionally and you will be given the due respect too.
8. It's not just about watching the time, dear
Effective time management is not just about cramming as many tasks and responsibilities into your 24 hours a day. It's also about keeping to your word, committing to your goals, and doing what you say you will do. If you find yourself apologising once too often for late work (or late replies..."Eh guys, sorry for the late reply \ sorry for sending this in late") and broken promises, perhaps it's time to stop apologising and do a revamp of your time management plan.
9. Quit the verbal diarrhea
Let's face it: we all like to complain about our long days, workload, lousy food, and other issues unfortunate to be the target of our verbal diarrhea. We take a certain pleasure to hitting back at "the system" (because it's so darn cool to be a rebel) and making ourselves the anti-hero or the victim in the story. But let's ask ourselves: when are we ever going to be satisfied with our lives? Being a responsible student is more than just putting in the hours in the library. It's about being a part of the school community, giving feedback to people who are in the position to make changes, or getting your peers together to make some REAL change. Don't just sit on your asses all day and complain (I call that "potshot sniping").
10. YOU can be the source of change
I've always found it more exciting to talk to people who are passionate about a cause: whether it's about improving student welfare, helping the less fortunate, or even pushing to set up a mahjong club despite repeated rejections from the administration. As Bill Gates said it at a Harvard Commencement, one of the greatest experiences one can ever have in life is to be an activist of sorts to take on the big inequities in our community and the world. Rather than just being mere robots without a soul or conviction about an issue, why not make a stand and see how you can be that source of change?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
What will your reward be?
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!" Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!" Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A language crisis or something else?
House-visiting at my relatives during Chinese New Year can yield a harvest (i.e. ang paos and goodies) and also timely insights.
I am increasingly frustrated at my inability to communicate effectively with my Mandarin and dialect-speaking relatives (mainly the older folks from my Mum's side). Yes, some of my younger cousins can converse in English but prefer to speak in Mandarin, having been raised in a Chinese-speaking family environment.
It can't be a matter of language or some generational gap too as my cousin nicely pointed out today that my command of Mandarin is fine (which I strongly disagree) while I have no issues conversing with my English-speaking older relatives.
Methinks it is something else.
Having been raised in an upper middle-class family, taught in an almost exclusively all-English environment at home (although I speak to my Mum in a mixture of English and Mandarin) and school (minus the Mandarin classes), and exposed to ideas and principles like any member of the Western-educated intelligentsia (a general labeling that includes university students in Singapore) are, I feel continents apart from some of my folks.
There seems to be a chasm of thinking that divides the English and Chinese-speaking population, one based on family values and different language backgrounds that determine the type of literature one is exposed to, thereby shaping one's view of life and the world.
But the truth is that Mandarin is still the dominant language of the heartlands (which constitutes the majority of Chinese Singaporeans) while English, which is the language of government, business and education, constitutes only a minority of the population.
Having been trained almost exclusively in the latter, I believe I speak for most English-speaking Singaporeans who may feel this sense of alienation from the majority of the Chinese population who speak primarily Mandarin and dialects.
We are always so fixated about divisions along racial, religious and class lines. How about examining the divisions created by the family-language backgrounds that we all hail from?
I am increasingly frustrated at my inability to communicate effectively with my Mandarin and dialect-speaking relatives (mainly the older folks from my Mum's side). Yes, some of my younger cousins can converse in English but prefer to speak in Mandarin, having been raised in a Chinese-speaking family environment.
It can't be a matter of language or some generational gap too as my cousin nicely pointed out today that my command of Mandarin is fine (which I strongly disagree) while I have no issues conversing with my English-speaking older relatives.
Methinks it is something else.
Having been raised in an upper middle-class family, taught in an almost exclusively all-English environment at home (although I speak to my Mum in a mixture of English and Mandarin) and school (minus the Mandarin classes), and exposed to ideas and principles like any member of the Western-educated intelligentsia (a general labeling that includes university students in Singapore) are, I feel continents apart from some of my folks.
There seems to be a chasm of thinking that divides the English and Chinese-speaking population, one based on family values and different language backgrounds that determine the type of literature one is exposed to, thereby shaping one's view of life and the world.
But the truth is that Mandarin is still the dominant language of the heartlands (which constitutes the majority of Chinese Singaporeans) while English, which is the language of government, business and education, constitutes only a minority of the population.
Having been trained almost exclusively in the latter, I believe I speak for most English-speaking Singaporeans who may feel this sense of alienation from the majority of the Chinese population who speak primarily Mandarin and dialects.
We are always so fixated about divisions along racial, religious and class lines. How about examining the divisions created by the family-language backgrounds that we all hail from?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The truth has been set free
My Mum is truly the epitome of strength and resilience.
For four years, she harboured the truth behind her wanting to separate from my Dad.
As a result, she could not sleep properly, even when she moved out of the family home. Not always a good communicator, she did not share her burden with us but chose to let her actions do the talking: working hard running her own business and silently caring for her children by protecting the family assets for our future.
All the while, the truth cried to be set free but as a woman, she chose to suppress it for the good of the family.
This week, the truth finally surfaced. It came as a shock but we realised how crucial it was to move on. To simply linger in the past and point the blame finger is destructive and pointless. As a family, we have had enough of the quarrels and umpteen family meetings to mediate in disputes between both of them. We had to move to a space where new possibilities can be created.
As the saying goes, to win in life, sometimes one has to lose some. None of us asked for this to happen, but you can't have everything in life. You have to adapt and make the best of the situation.
My parents have decided to officially go their separate ways with no more claims against each other. It is for the better. Now, my Mum is happier and there seems to be this great and invisible burden lifted off everyone's chest.
Now it's time to rebuild the family again with faith, hope and love.
For four years, she harboured the truth behind her wanting to separate from my Dad.
As a result, she could not sleep properly, even when she moved out of the family home. Not always a good communicator, she did not share her burden with us but chose to let her actions do the talking: working hard running her own business and silently caring for her children by protecting the family assets for our future.
All the while, the truth cried to be set free but as a woman, she chose to suppress it for the good of the family.
This week, the truth finally surfaced. It came as a shock but we realised how crucial it was to move on. To simply linger in the past and point the blame finger is destructive and pointless. As a family, we have had enough of the quarrels and umpteen family meetings to mediate in disputes between both of them. We had to move to a space where new possibilities can be created.
As the saying goes, to win in life, sometimes one has to lose some. None of us asked for this to happen, but you can't have everything in life. You have to adapt and make the best of the situation.
My parents have decided to officially go their separate ways with no more claims against each other. It is for the better. Now, my Mum is happier and there seems to be this great and invisible burden lifted off everyone's chest.
Now it's time to rebuild the family again with faith, hope and love.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
It's great to have your own personal space!
As a student slowly making the transition to a full-time corporate life in my final semester, I have finally understood the importance of having one's own personal space.
When we are young, we always tell ourselves that it's alright to sacrifice this and that for our career, our studies, or professional pursuits. Sometimes, family time and personal space takes a back seat in that quest for the golden gauntlet.
But the chase for the golden gauntlet will never stop, not even when we are much older and will inevitably take up more responsibilities as we move up the corporate ladder. There will always be 101 things worthy of our attention and immediate remedy.
Having one's own personal space to pursue individual hobbies or interests is as crucial as taking care of our own health. Before we can be of value to others, we first have to take care of ourselves.
I have decided to put aside some personal time for myself: church service on Saturday evenings and cycling at ECP on Sunday afternoons, followed by a swim in the sea or frolicking on the beach with a good book under the hot sun. This really gives me the space to unwind and reflect.
Now, I feel so much more cheerful, measured and healthier, yet handling a heavier amount of workload compared to last semester.
When we are young, we always tell ourselves that it's alright to sacrifice this and that for our career, our studies, or professional pursuits. Sometimes, family time and personal space takes a back seat in that quest for the golden gauntlet.
But the chase for the golden gauntlet will never stop, not even when we are much older and will inevitably take up more responsibilities as we move up the corporate ladder. There will always be 101 things worthy of our attention and immediate remedy.
Having one's own personal space to pursue individual hobbies or interests is as crucial as taking care of our own health. Before we can be of value to others, we first have to take care of ourselves.
I have decided to put aside some personal time for myself: church service on Saturday evenings and cycling at ECP on Sunday afternoons, followed by a swim in the sea or frolicking on the beach with a good book under the hot sun. This really gives me the space to unwind and reflect.
Now, I feel so much more cheerful, measured and healthier, yet handling a heavier amount of workload compared to last semester.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Of hooks, needles and faith
If there's one festival that really intrigues me for its quirks and practices, it must be Thaipusam.
The festival commemorates the occasion when the TamilGod of War Lord Muruga defeated the evil demon Soorapadman. As a child, I used to wonder why those Tamil devotees would subject themselves to such pain with their piercings. Well, this year, I chose to take a closer look for some answers.
Amidst the constant stream of Tamil devotees marching from the Sri Srinivasa Permal Temple in Serangoon Road, I chanced upon a group of Chinese Hindus and Buddhists participating in the march. Here, a young Chinese devotee stops to let his two Tamil helpers adjust the piercings all over his body. Imagine enduring all that pain and carrying such a heavy load on a 10 km walk.
The Chinese devotee with the piercings was accompanied by a troupe of Chinese men carrying kavadis (jars filled with milk) on their heads. Usually a family or clan activity, the womenfolk walk alongside the men as a show of solidarity and cheer them on. In our multiracial society, it is not uncommon to see Chinese Buddhists participating in Hindu activities or praying to Hindu deities.
More piercings on a devotee's body, this time in the form of hooked plums on his back. The hooks were angled in such a way that they would be securely fastened without inflicting much pain on the wearer's back. But with that many plums on his bag, I found it disbelieving that he didn't flinch at all from the pain.
The long queue towards the end-point at Tank Road due to an artificial choke-point created at the entrance to the temple to regulate the inflow and outflow of devotees. Given the recent religious tensions in Malaysia, the authorities have also stepped up security in the area.
The end-point: The Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road, set up by the Chettiar (money-lending) community in 1859 and dedicated to the six-faced Lord Subramaniam (Lord Muruga).
The devotees poured the kavadis into the temple spring as a form of blessing, received the rites of rituals from the temple elders, and rested with their friends and family with food and drinks in a giant tent set up within the temple grounds.
The festival commemorates the occasion when the Tamil
The route from Little India to Mustafa Centre and beyond was resplendent with brightly-lit decorations. Many of the smaller roads were blocked off to traffic to clear the path for the devotees. However, many cafes and eateries serving local Indian fare were open to cater to the late-night revelers.
Amidst the constant stream of Tamil devotees marching from the Sri Srinivasa Permal Temple in Serangoon Road, I chanced upon a group of Chinese Hindus and Buddhists participating in the march. Here, a young Chinese devotee stops to let his two Tamil helpers adjust the piercings all over his body. Imagine enduring all that pain and carrying such a heavy load on a 10 km walk.
The Chinese devotee with the piercings was accompanied by a troupe of Chinese men carrying kavadis (jars filled with milk) on their heads. Usually a family or clan activity, the womenfolk walk alongside the men as a show of solidarity and cheer them on. In our multiracial society, it is not uncommon to see Chinese Buddhists participating in Hindu activities or praying to Hindu deities.
More piercings on a devotee's body, this time in the form of hooked plums on his back. The hooks were angled in such a way that they would be securely fastened without inflicting much pain on the wearer's back. But with that many plums on his bag, I found it disbelieving that he didn't flinch at all from the pain.
The long queue towards the end-point at Tank Road due to an artificial choke-point created at the entrance to the temple to regulate the inflow and outflow of devotees. Given the recent religious tensions in Malaysia, the authorities have also stepped up security in the area.
The end-point: The Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road, set up by the Chettiar (money-lending) community in 1859 and dedicated to the six-faced Lord Subramaniam (Lord Muruga).
The devotees poured the kavadis into the temple spring as a form of blessing, received the rites of rituals from the temple elders, and rested with their friends and family with food and drinks in a giant tent set up within the temple grounds.Verdict of the night? It is faith that drives these devotees to take up this walk of humility and sacrifice, and numb their pain. Perhaps only persons of faith of any faith can unquestioningly understand the intense sacrifice and physical hardships displayed by these devotees.
As always, I am in awe of the power of the human spirit.
As always, I am in awe of the power of the human spirit.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
We are in the news again!
I have finally closed the final chapter of my work for the BSM Middle East programme. Apart from the photos, it is through the stories and reflections of the students that also capture the memories that people have of the programme, and of the great time that we had in the Middle East.
Here is the final list of media coverage articles on the programme (Note: Please click on the title to access the link):
[January 2010]
BSM Middle East in cross-cultural exchange with Saudi scholars
Over 60 SMU students from the sixth batch of BSM Middle East hosted 35 King Abdullah Scholars and their families from Saudi Arabia to an evening of friendship, cross-cultural exchange, bonding and performances.
The Blue and Gold, SMU’s student publication
A potent mixture of fun with tradition and modernity
SMU undergraduate Zhong Ming shares his take on the blend of tradition and modernity during his travel experiences with the Business Study Mission to the Middle East in December 2009.
The Blue and Gold, SMU’s student publication
[18 January 2010]
Work abroad while young and single
Kenny Tan, a final-year economics student, shares some advice from Singaporeans working in the Middle East on the benefits of an overseas work experience. He visited the region with his class of 41 undergraduates as part of SMU's Business Study Mission Middle East programme in December last year.
The Straits Times
[4 January 2010]
Oasis of strength amid the gloom
SMU undergraduates Oliver Loke and Kenny Tan who went on a recent Singapore Management University business study mission learns first-hand the opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The Business Times
[30 December 2009]
Singapore Management University students tour Bahrain World Trade Centre
More than 40 students from SMU visited the Bahrain World Trade Center as part of the Business Study Mission Middle East programme. The visit helped the students to gain insight through direct in-situ exposure of the state-of-the-art commercial building.
City Tribune
Gulf Daily News
Bahrain Tribute
Al Bilad
Al Watan
Al Ayam
[29 December 2009]
Singapore Management students visit BWTC
More than 40 students from SMU visited the Bahrain World Trade Center as part of the Business Study Mission Middle East programme. The visit helped the students to gain insight through direct in-situ exposure of the state-of-the-art commercial building.
Trade Arabia
Zawya.com
[13 December 2009]
41 Singapore students on ME study tour
Forty one undergraduates from the SMU's Business Study Mission (BSM) Middle East are visiting Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to study the internationalisation strategies of Singaporean companies in the region.
Trade Arabia
[24 October 2009]
A safe and comfortable environment attracts students from Saudi to Singapore
King Abdullah scholars from Saudi Arabia share their views about living in Singapore at a cultural exchange session with SMU students [from the Middle East Business Study Missions].
Berita Harian
[17 October 2009]
Cultural exchange between Saudi Scholars and SMU students
Over 60 SMU students hosted Professor Abdulghaffar S. Bazuhair, the Saudi Cultural Attaché to Singapore, and 35 King Abdullah Scholars and their families from Saudi Arabia to an evening of friendship, cross-cultural exchange, bonding and performances. This is part of the sixth BSM to the Middle East which will head to Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 5 to 16 December this year.
Suria
Check this for the complete list of media coverage for the BSM Middle East programme.
Here is the final list of media coverage articles on the programme (Note: Please click on the title to access the link):
[January 2010]
BSM Middle East in cross-cultural exchange with Saudi scholars
Over 60 SMU students from the sixth batch of BSM Middle East hosted 35 King Abdullah Scholars and their families from Saudi Arabia to an evening of friendship, cross-cultural exchange, bonding and performances.
The Blue and Gold, SMU’s student publication
A potent mixture of fun with tradition and modernity
SMU undergraduate Zhong Ming shares his take on the blend of tradition and modernity during his travel experiences with the Business Study Mission to the Middle East in December 2009.
The Blue and Gold, SMU’s student publication
[18 January 2010]
Work abroad while young and single
Kenny Tan, a final-year economics student, shares some advice from Singaporeans working in the Middle East on the benefits of an overseas work experience. He visited the region with his class of 41 undergraduates as part of SMU's Business Study Mission Middle East programme in December last year.
The Straits Times
[4 January 2010]
Oasis of strength amid the gloom
SMU undergraduates Oliver Loke and Kenny Tan who went on a recent Singapore Management University business study mission learns first-hand the opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The Business Times
[30 December 2009]
Singapore Management University students tour Bahrain World Trade Centre
More than 40 students from SMU visited the Bahrain World Trade Center as part of the Business Study Mission Middle East programme. The visit helped the students to gain insight through direct in-situ exposure of the state-of-the-art commercial building.
City Tribune
Gulf Daily News
Bahrain Tribute
Al Bilad
Al Watan
Al Ayam
[29 December 2009]
Singapore Management students visit BWTC
More than 40 students from SMU visited the Bahrain World Trade Center as part of the Business Study Mission Middle East programme. The visit helped the students to gain insight through direct in-situ exposure of the state-of-the-art commercial building.
Trade Arabia
Zawya.com
[13 December 2009]
41 Singapore students on ME study tour
Forty one undergraduates from the SMU's Business Study Mission (BSM) Middle East are visiting Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to study the internationalisation strategies of Singaporean companies in the region.
Trade Arabia
[24 October 2009]
A safe and comfortable environment attracts students from Saudi to Singapore
King Abdullah scholars from Saudi Arabia share their views about living in Singapore at a cultural exchange session with SMU students [from the Middle East Business Study Missions].
Berita Harian
[17 October 2009]
Cultural exchange between Saudi Scholars and SMU students
Over 60 SMU students hosted Professor Abdulghaffar S. Bazuhair, the Saudi Cultural Attaché to Singapore, and 35 King Abdullah Scholars and their families from Saudi Arabia to an evening of friendship, cross-cultural exchange, bonding and performances. This is part of the sixth BSM to the Middle East which will head to Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 5 to 16 December this year.
Suria
Check this for the complete list of media coverage for the BSM Middle East programme.
We should have more commercials like these...brilliant!
These are just brilliant!
I especially enjoyed this one. Lol, I would never do something as bold as this...
And here's a series for you car lovers out there!
I especially enjoyed this one. Lol, I would never do something as bold as this...
And here's a series for you car lovers out there!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Got this off a friend's note: Wonderful read for some soul-searching...
I am sick of my spoiled generation. I'm convinced that I'm born into a generation of proud, obnoxious, brats who think that everyone else owes them a living. It's just something about having lived in a generation of abundance and prosperity that seems to have spoiled the good down-to-earth values of the human race and turned us into a sour batch of people who just leave a sick taste in the mouth.
"Why do you think so?" you ask?
Let's tackle this problem one step at a time.
First, was the general comments and observations I've had of so many people here in Singapore - also the same group who have even endearingly been dubbed "champion complainers" by LKY. People here - especially those in the age-range of my generation - complain about ANYTHING. Seriously, people should be installed with some sort of complain-quota. I mean, it really annoys me.
Why it annoys me? Because it's proud. Pretty much any form of complaining is basically saying, "I don't deserve this." i.e. "I know better what I deserve." and ""I deserve better."
Just a couple of months ago, I asked someone about his attitude to work - which was simply sloppy and irresponsible - and was so shocked to his explanation that his pay didn't justify a better work attitude. What the-?! What kind of mindset is that?! When the heck did salary become the independent variable?! Money is a reward, and you are rewarded how you well you work. A man reaps what he sows. You shouldn't be working any less diligently because you're growing peas instead of rice. That's dumb. If you've been blessed with the seeds to grow peas, grow them well. Then, and only then, when your boss has seen your attitude in the small things, he will later give you a gift to care for the big things.
Complaining pisses me off. It's inefficient and affects you (and serves to plant you in the very place you don't want to be in, according to the self-fulfilling prophecy), and it affects others around you as well. You BECOME a problem, as well as a problem-creator. Don't do it. Don't be a part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
But I'm not done with this rant.
I'm upset with this spoiled generation because they don't care for people any more than for themselves. They put themselves first, disregarding the feelings of others.
And here is where I draw upon an anecdote of a lunch at my workplace with the some interns. So, I work in a food manufacturing company where we have lunch together. It's a humble place and lunch is cooked on roster by the aunties at the factory. In short, food was prepared for them, they came down, decided that it wasn't good enough for them, and decided not to eat, leaving all that food to waste. What the..?! Sure, the food where we work isn't exactly MacDonalds. And yeah, maybe the rice might be a bit hard at times, and we might be limited by the ingredients we have on some days.... But don't they know that the food was cooked by someone who thought for them? Someone who made time and effort to cook for them? Don't they know that everyone else ate less that day so that they would have enough to eat?! I don't know why I even allowed them not to eat! The auntie who cooked that day was so hurt. I was so embarrassed by their attitude I had to explain to her that it wasn't her cooking and it was just a flaw in my generation. :(
A couple of months ago, I read a sociological article about the change in mindset of the societal roles and responsibilities of parents and children and was so saddened by the findings. The finding of the research was basically that parents were now working harder and later into life as they take on heavier burdens of putting their children through higher education and moving into "Altruistic parenting" which meant that they no longer expected their children to give back to the family as soon as their children were ready to work ("ready to work" which used to be defined as physically able to get out and get a job). Alright, the increased burden on the parents I can accept. Thing is, on the flipside, the children, instead of becoming more grateful to the greater sacrifices of their parents, have seemed to devolve into a generation of...leeches. My generation is a generation that EXPECTS their parents to support them through school. They EXPECT their parents to provide for them until "they're ready" (now defined by some psycho-emotional decision of the children). And worse, they DON'T see themselves as responsible for their parents when their parents are in their old age - they expect THE GOVERNMENT to do that! When their parents are ill or old they expect someone else to care for them! And if they don't get their way, and find their parents too much of a bother, they just abandon them!
What the heck is wrong with my generation? My sick, ungrateful, generation.
It pisses me off. It pisses me off that I have grown up in a generation of kids that have been so pampered by their parents who have worked their butts off to pay for all sorts of tuition and classes for their kids, and have their kids instead complain about some ridiculous thing like how their parents are not giving them enough money for...LIFESTYLE. It pisses me off that I've grown up in a generation where parents sacrifice their time and sleep to chauffeur their children around and still have them reliant up till they're...goodness how old (apparently I've heard of a 30 plus year old still being driven around by her dad). 0_o
I'm stick of this generation that thinks that everyone owes them a living and that work is easy and they SHOULD get be treated well when they haven't even proven their worth. And to this, I have so many anecdotes this past winter that I hesitate starting on them for fear that I won't be able to stop.
And here is where I insert a fragment of "work" I picked up whilst cleaning up after my interns:
Tracks that seriously were not pleasant to have discovered. I'm even afraid to ask for an explanation because I rather the benefit of the doubt.
I was going to send them a debrief email before I found this. I haven't sent the email yet, but I've been considering ending the mail with, "Btw, if you want to skive, it's technically not right to do it even if your boss doesn't find out, cause' it's dishonest. But if you do, at least don't leave tracks, because it's just not very clever."
Okay, this is where I'm stopping with the anecdotes because I can feel that I'm about to go into b****ing mode which I also don't agree with. It was wrong, they should have known it, so I'm not going to delve further into that.
But seriously, This is not just a spoiled generation, this is also an ignorant generation.
A weak, ignorant generation.
This is a generation that complains about food, about having to take public transportation, about...all sorts of things that falls short of their expectations in life. And worse, expects people around them to pay for that shortfall. Does this generation not know the blessings that they have? Do they not know that there are families - SO MANY of them - that struggle every day for a single bowl of rice? Do they not know that there are people out there in the world who toil in the fields for a meager pay and that these are the people who are working hard to give us the food we have in our stocked pantries? Do they not know that there are people who have left their families, paid large sums of money, and flown hundreds of miles, just to work for a pay to support their loved ones so far away?!
Don't you dare despise the construction workers or maids or cleaners, you sick spoiled kids, for these are the very people who serve you and support your country's prized name of a clean metropolis. And don't you dare complain about how foreigners are coming in and taking up so many jobs when you wouldn't take up the very same job if you were paid a hundredfold simply because you're so proud and it's "below you". Don't you dare give me that snobby attitude because you're "more educated". You were blessed with that opportunity in life and somewhere along your ancestry someone worked darn hard to bless with the life you're now living. Not everyone in the world has the opportunities that have been GIVEN to you and you should not be despising them for that. Don't you dare despise these who probably have more courage and understanding of life and love, than you.
In fact, I challenge you. Next time you feel a complaint coming up, I challenge you hold it in, and try to take a new, humbler perspective to life. And to these people whom you're tempted to despise, I challenge you to THANK them. I challenge you to thank them for their service to you. I challenge you to thank them for the sacrifices they've made to come to occupy the "lower ranks of society". I challenge you to HONOR them for their love for their families. Seriously I challenge you to go talk to any one of them and ask them about their life story. Ask them why they came, what they left, and find out what kind of sacrifices they've made.
Maybe then, you'll be a little more humble, and a little more grateful for everything you have.
Keep it real people. Step out of that bubble of pride, and know that you are blessed.
*fingers crossed that this rant has somehow made a difference to help save us from the ugly deteriorating path we seem to be on*
"Why do you think so?" you ask?
Let's tackle this problem one step at a time.
First, was the general comments and observations I've had of so many people here in Singapore - also the same group who have even endearingly been dubbed "champion complainers" by LKY. People here - especially those in the age-range of my generation - complain about ANYTHING. Seriously, people should be installed with some sort of complain-quota. I mean, it really annoys me.
Why it annoys me? Because it's proud. Pretty much any form of complaining is basically saying, "I don't deserve this." i.e. "I know better what I deserve." and ""I deserve better."
Just a couple of months ago, I asked someone about his attitude to work - which was simply sloppy and irresponsible - and was so shocked to his explanation that his pay didn't justify a better work attitude. What the-?! What kind of mindset is that?! When the heck did salary become the independent variable?! Money is a reward, and you are rewarded how you well you work. A man reaps what he sows. You shouldn't be working any less diligently because you're growing peas instead of rice. That's dumb. If you've been blessed with the seeds to grow peas, grow them well. Then, and only then, when your boss has seen your attitude in the small things, he will later give you a gift to care for the big things.
Complaining pisses me off. It's inefficient and affects you (and serves to plant you in the very place you don't want to be in, according to the self-fulfilling prophecy), and it affects others around you as well. You BECOME a problem, as well as a problem-creator. Don't do it. Don't be a part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
But I'm not done with this rant.
I'm upset with this spoiled generation because they don't care for people any more than for themselves. They put themselves first, disregarding the feelings of others.
And here is where I draw upon an anecdote of a lunch at my workplace with the some interns. So, I work in a food manufacturing company where we have lunch together. It's a humble place and lunch is cooked on roster by the aunties at the factory. In short, food was prepared for them, they came down, decided that it wasn't good enough for them, and decided not to eat, leaving all that food to waste. What the..?! Sure, the food where we work isn't exactly MacDonalds. And yeah, maybe the rice might be a bit hard at times, and we might be limited by the ingredients we have on some days.... But don't they know that the food was cooked by someone who thought for them? Someone who made time and effort to cook for them? Don't they know that everyone else ate less that day so that they would have enough to eat?! I don't know why I even allowed them not to eat! The auntie who cooked that day was so hurt. I was so embarrassed by their attitude I had to explain to her that it wasn't her cooking and it was just a flaw in my generation. :(
A couple of months ago, I read a sociological article about the change in mindset of the societal roles and responsibilities of parents and children and was so saddened by the findings. The finding of the research was basically that parents were now working harder and later into life as they take on heavier burdens of putting their children through higher education and moving into "Altruistic parenting" which meant that they no longer expected their children to give back to the family as soon as their children were ready to work ("ready to work" which used to be defined as physically able to get out and get a job). Alright, the increased burden on the parents I can accept. Thing is, on the flipside, the children, instead of becoming more grateful to the greater sacrifices of their parents, have seemed to devolve into a generation of...leeches. My generation is a generation that EXPECTS their parents to support them through school. They EXPECT their parents to provide for them until "they're ready" (now defined by some psycho-emotional decision of the children). And worse, they DON'T see themselves as responsible for their parents when their parents are in their old age - they expect THE GOVERNMENT to do that! When their parents are ill or old they expect someone else to care for them! And if they don't get their way, and find their parents too much of a bother, they just abandon them!
What the heck is wrong with my generation? My sick, ungrateful, generation.
It pisses me off. It pisses me off that I have grown up in a generation of kids that have been so pampered by their parents who have worked their butts off to pay for all sorts of tuition and classes for their kids, and have their kids instead complain about some ridiculous thing like how their parents are not giving them enough money for...LIFESTYLE. It pisses me off that I've grown up in a generation where parents sacrifice their time and sleep to chauffeur their children around and still have them reliant up till they're...goodness how old (apparently I've heard of a 30 plus year old still being driven around by her dad). 0_o
I'm stick of this generation that thinks that everyone owes them a living and that work is easy and they SHOULD get be treated well when they haven't even proven their worth. And to this, I have so many anecdotes this past winter that I hesitate starting on them for fear that I won't be able to stop.
And here is where I insert a fragment of "work" I picked up whilst cleaning up after my interns:
Tracks that seriously were not pleasant to have discovered. I'm even afraid to ask for an explanation because I rather the benefit of the doubt.
I was going to send them a debrief email before I found this. I haven't sent the email yet, but I've been considering ending the mail with, "Btw, if you want to skive, it's technically not right to do it even if your boss doesn't find out, cause' it's dishonest. But if you do, at least don't leave tracks, because it's just not very clever."
Okay, this is where I'm stopping with the anecdotes because I can feel that I'm about to go into b****ing mode which I also don't agree with. It was wrong, they should have known it, so I'm not going to delve further into that.
But seriously, This is not just a spoiled generation, this is also an ignorant generation.
A weak, ignorant generation.
This is a generation that complains about food, about having to take public transportation, about...all sorts of things that falls short of their expectations in life. And worse, expects people around them to pay for that shortfall. Does this generation not know the blessings that they have? Do they not know that there are families - SO MANY of them - that struggle every day for a single bowl of rice? Do they not know that there are people out there in the world who toil in the fields for a meager pay and that these are the people who are working hard to give us the food we have in our stocked pantries? Do they not know that there are people who have left their families, paid large sums of money, and flown hundreds of miles, just to work for a pay to support their loved ones so far away?!
Don't you dare despise the construction workers or maids or cleaners, you sick spoiled kids, for these are the very people who serve you and support your country's prized name of a clean metropolis. And don't you dare complain about how foreigners are coming in and taking up so many jobs when you wouldn't take up the very same job if you were paid a hundredfold simply because you're so proud and it's "below you". Don't you dare give me that snobby attitude because you're "more educated". You were blessed with that opportunity in life and somewhere along your ancestry someone worked darn hard to bless with the life you're now living. Not everyone in the world has the opportunities that have been GIVEN to you and you should not be despising them for that. Don't you dare despise these who probably have more courage and understanding of life and love, than you.
In fact, I challenge you. Next time you feel a complaint coming up, I challenge you hold it in, and try to take a new, humbler perspective to life. And to these people whom you're tempted to despise, I challenge you to THANK them. I challenge you to thank them for their service to you. I challenge you to thank them for the sacrifices they've made to come to occupy the "lower ranks of society". I challenge you to HONOR them for their love for their families. Seriously I challenge you to go talk to any one of them and ask them about their life story. Ask them why they came, what they left, and find out what kind of sacrifices they've made.
Maybe then, you'll be a little more humble, and a little more grateful for everything you have.
Keep it real people. Step out of that bubble of pride, and know that you are blessed.
*fingers crossed that this rant has somehow made a difference to help save us from the ugly deteriorating path we seem to be on*
What, they firebomb churches in Malaysia?
Yup, that's what my friend exclaimed in response to the latest fiasco coming from our northern neighbour.
As exaggerated as it sounds, it's probably reflective of the sentiments that many people now have of Malaysia. This is due to a surge in ethnic and religious tension fanned by the controversial High Court ruling overturning a ban that now allows the Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" in its publications. The entire episode has been blown out of proportion
The fact that the media has had a field day publicising this issue and splashing angry messages on the front pages of newspapers does not help. Muslim pressure groups have publicly demonstrated against the ruling even after the firebombing incidents - an implicit defiance of the sensitivities of the Christians.
I'm not a theologian and it does not concern me whether the term "Allah" predates Islam or should be exclusively used by Muslims despite the Catholic Church in Malaysia having used the term widely in their publications for decades.
The perpetrators of the firebombing incidents have crossed the line that most Muslims in Malaysia will never want (or dare) to cross. However, a response to the High Court's ruling speaks more of a society that harbours deep divisions that run along ethnic and religious lines, against PM Najib's vision of "1Malaysia".
This latest attack will reinforce the fears of the minorities who already perceive the attack on the churches as an attack on the minorities - who else are predominately (and officially) Christians in Malaysia except the Chinese and some Indians?
Already, there has been widespread accusations of institutional discrimination against the minority religions. The authorities have been slow to issue permits to the construction of new churches, and religious court cases such as the highly publicised hearings to allow official recognition of conversion of Muslims to Christianity always favour the Muslims. The Government appealing to the High Court to overturn its ruling and the authorities seizing copies of imported bibles in Sabah and Sarawak reaffirm this long-held belief. Islam as a religion is perceived to be given special privileges, sometimes at the expense of minority religions.
These actions speak of the Malay-Muslim majority having a "siege mentality" of sorts, being deeply suspicious of the minorities, and taking steps to ensure the pre-eminence of the Malays through dominance of the political system.
Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam once said that the Malays should stop having an inferiority complex, and the non-Malays to stop encouraging the Malays to develop an inferiority complex.
But the sad fact of this awful episode is this: Already disgusted at being treated as second-class citizens, angry at doing all the hard work of propping up the economy, and hopeful of the opportunities that one can get elsewhere, more and more people from the minorities who are fearful for their security will want to leave Malaysia for a better future.
Already losing talent and potential taxation revenue, Malaysia will face a brain drain if this migration trend turns into an exodus.
But for now, first steps first: PM Najib must prove that he is a leader for all Malaysians. He must be prepared to fight entrenched interests within his own party and that of the Malay majority to ensure a more level playing field for all races, if he wishes to realise his "1Malaysia" vision.
As exaggerated as it sounds, it's probably reflective of the sentiments that many people now have of Malaysia. This is due to a surge in ethnic and religious tension fanned by the controversial High Court ruling overturning a ban that now allows the Catholic Church to use the word "Allah" in its publications. The entire episode has been blown out of proportion
The fact that the media has had a field day publicising this issue and splashing angry messages on the front pages of newspapers does not help. Muslim pressure groups have publicly demonstrated against the ruling even after the firebombing incidents - an implicit defiance of the sensitivities of the Christians.
I'm not a theologian and it does not concern me whether the term "Allah" predates Islam or should be exclusively used by Muslims despite the Catholic Church in Malaysia having used the term widely in their publications for decades.
The perpetrators of the firebombing incidents have crossed the line that most Muslims in Malaysia will never want (or dare) to cross. However, a response to the High Court's ruling speaks more of a society that harbours deep divisions that run along ethnic and religious lines, against PM Najib's vision of "1Malaysia".
This latest attack will reinforce the fears of the minorities who already perceive the attack on the churches as an attack on the minorities - who else are predominately (and officially) Christians in Malaysia except the Chinese and some Indians?
Already, there has been widespread accusations of institutional discrimination against the minority religions. The authorities have been slow to issue permits to the construction of new churches, and religious court cases such as the highly publicised hearings to allow official recognition of conversion of Muslims to Christianity always favour the Muslims. The Government appealing to the High Court to overturn its ruling and the authorities seizing copies of imported bibles in Sabah and Sarawak reaffirm this long-held belief. Islam as a religion is perceived to be given special privileges, sometimes at the expense of minority religions.
These actions speak of the Malay-Muslim majority having a "siege mentality" of sorts, being deeply suspicious of the minorities, and taking steps to ensure the pre-eminence of the Malays through dominance of the political system.
Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam once said that the Malays should stop having an inferiority complex, and the non-Malays to stop encouraging the Malays to develop an inferiority complex.
But the sad fact of this awful episode is this: Already disgusted at being treated as second-class citizens, angry at doing all the hard work of propping up the economy, and hopeful of the opportunities that one can get elsewhere, more and more people from the minorities who are fearful for their security will want to leave Malaysia for a better future.
Already losing talent and potential taxation revenue, Malaysia will face a brain drain if this migration trend turns into an exodus.
But for now, first steps first: PM Najib must prove that he is a leader for all Malaysians. He must be prepared to fight entrenched interests within his own party and that of the Malay majority to ensure a more level playing field for all races, if he wishes to realise his "1Malaysia" vision.
KL escapade theme: RED
Pavilion Plaza is such a pleaser. Well-decorated and designed, it provides some eye-candy for the typical shopper who is looking for more than just a bargain. Here, the Christmas spirit still permeates amidst a healthy tinge of modern sleekness
The tea-pot set, wearing a coat of auspiciousness, that was used for the traditional tea ceremony where Andrew and Colleen served tea to Andrew's elders before their lunch wedding
Against the afternoon hustle and bustle, Malaysia's national flower - the Hibiscus - hangs calmly and proudly in a garden next to Merdeka Square. It is as beautiful as our national flower - the Vanda Miss Joaquim
One of the oldest churches in the capital city. Still swimming amidst a sea of controvery and conflict, the place of Christianity and Catholicism is still not clearly defined in this predominately Islamic country today
The irresistible deep-water crabs served with salivating egg yolk sauce, along with a host of Teochew-style seafood delicacies. The perfect prelude that goes along well with some good-old post-dinner durian and mangosteen extravaganza
And yet more food to incite those taste-buds to action. Here are some Korean beef served with garlic on a hot-stove, sizzling with the meat juices still fresh and succulent. The price? Almost half the cost in Singapore
Our quest to find a toilet at the National Museum which was unfortunately closed on a Sunday did yield some interesting finds. Here is a throw-back to colonial heydays with a manual-primed, English-designed fire-engine model
Saturday, January 9, 2010
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