Hola everyone! *if there is any around*
It has been close to two years since I last blogged about anything. For those who are in the loop, I have been through and done with my two years of National Service last month. I am glad to announce that I am back in one piece, alive and kicking.
For those who are not in the loop, here is a summary of my two years:
I have went through and passed out from the Emergency Response Specialist Course, a course that trained yours truly to be a section commander to lead fire fighters during fire incident. (If your place is on fire, you know who to call. (; of course 995 lah!) After passing out, I was selected to be an instructor, only to be from the administrative side, for the next seventeen months, which was nonetheless, fulfilling. During these two years, friendships were forged and, some, lost. However, I am working hard to gain back the lost friendships. (:
Talking about it, I was on this topic, "Friendship", with two of my friends a few days ago. "Do you realised that when you are in your late twenties, you will find it difficult to make life-time friend?" We had a good discussion about it and I shared my primary school Chinese teacher's saying with them, "Friendship that you forged, in primary school and secondary school, are the ones that will last you for a lifetime as it is forged without motives nor hidden agendas."
While some of the friendships that you made in tertiary education can last, majority are 'surface-friends'. They are people who tend to hang out with you in order to gain something from you, be it your assistance in studies or just ordering you around. Upon graduation, most will usually go their way and have their own life, excluding you from their life, only saying, "hi, how have you been? I am in a rush to *insert any excuses*" and off they go.
As hard and harsh as truth might be, I still think that a friendship will eventually be forged and is there to stay. After all, the friend and you will be 'together' for the next few years or so. On top of that, if you treat the friend nice and good, I am sure the result will be different. I always have this fantasy/beautiful image/philosophy of friendship: "If you are nice to people, they will, eventually, be nice to you." But, trust me, it does not apply to all cases after all. I had my fair share of falling down and picking myself up. I lost track of what I wanna type. Update another time. Ciao
Random Quote:
"Trust is like a mirror. You can fixed it when it is broken. But knn, I can still see the fucking crack. How?!"
Sunday, October 11, 2009
“Hi I'm Ris Low. Currently I’m majoring in my Diploma in health size and hospitaterility and travel tourism. Right now, I'm studying ‘steel’.Well, I define my style as my own persnenelety. I go by my moot. If I’m filling naughty then I will wear something rad and loud. something...you know???*BOOMZ*something that shouts ME! The very thing that I’ve worn is a piss of bigini and just gins and strut down orched rod.I rrrr know because I don't really care. It's about ME. So, the fashion is about, the fashion sense about me, so...Yarr everthing about... how i si myself.I guess that's my strategger because everybody is unique. Everybody is yah.Yes...I'm a HUGE fan of South Africa!I Love Safari.I Love Leopard Preens.You know? zipbraYeow, sort of thing?Not...not. You can wear leopard preens with dark gins. Is alright. You know? Neutral colours and...umm...Car key? car key green...you can pull it off with leopard preens and zipbra preens, Ya!” (Facebook, 2009)
Above is an extract that I obtained from Ris Low’s group in Facebook. In case anyone still does not know who she is, she is the infamous former Miss Singapore World 2009, who recently gets slammed by the public over her poor command of English and her credit card fraud case. After a firestorm of controversy, she eventually withdrew from the pageant, gave up her crown, was to be replaced by first runner up and cooked up another storm over the replacement matter. *That’s another story and I am lazy to touch on that.*
When this video is uploaded onto razortv.com on 8th July 2009, waves of comments were heard all over Singapore, a month later. The public was appalled and surprised that Singapore is going to send Miss Ris Low to South Africa, to compete with other Miss *insert country’s name* World 2009s over the Miss Universe 2009’s crown. Questions were raised regarding whether her command of English is good enough to address the world, is she well-prepared to perform on the international competitions, etc. Not to forget to mention, people has started to question the judges’ abilities and even suspect that she had used money to ‘buy’ the crown through the means of ‘buying’ advertisements on the pageant magazine and get people to attend the gala night, where entrance fees is applicable.
As if this is not enough, a dark secret of Miss Ris Low found its way into the news. Apparently, our former Miss Singapore World 2009 was convicted of credit card fraud in May 2009. She was found guilty of stealing clients’ credit cards while working in a medical clinic and went on to purchase items, such as, phones and gold anklets, and chalked up bills close to S$8, 000 during a period of two months last year. Once again, she was slammed by Singaporeans, who were surprised and shocked to know of this news. Questions were raised, again. The public wants to know whether the organisers know about it all along and is she still eligible to represent the island state to compete for the Miss World 2009 as it was thought that contestants must be free of criminal record.
Thus, Miss Ris Low decides to give up her crown and the organisers have to find a ‘replacement’ for her. Naturally, the first runner up, Miss Claire Lee, is the choice of replacement. However, this spells the impending of yet another storm. Miss Low called one of the local newspaper hotline and accused Miss Claire Lee of faking a back injury so that she will not ‘lose face’ if she happens not to be the choice of replacement by the organisers and also, informing the media regarding Miss Ris Low’s probation for the credit card fraud. These claims were all denied by Miss Claire Lee.
After such a long saga, what thoughts/opinions/comments do you have?
I have to admit that when I saw the video, I was partially amused and surprised by her command of spoken English. I mean, she speak in the most ‘slurrish’ way and pronounced some of the terms so funny that I think my English is not the worst after all. Not to mention of thinking how the hell did she manage to win the crown, whether should the organisers send her to South Africa to compete with other Miss *insert country’s name again* World 2009. I would also religiously go back to youtube to search for her video, re-watched it and have a laugh about it again. I would even talk to my camp mates in the “Ris Low” style, adding ‘boomz’, ‘rad’, ‘filling naughty’, etc. into our sentences and we will laugh over the stupidity of it.
“Lots of Singaporeans speak this way. She is not unusual.” (The Sunday Times, 13th September 2009)
However, come to think of it now, who am I to laugh at her? Frankly speaking, my command of English is not good at all. Growing up in a mandarin speaking family and not having a good foundation of English, I am standing next to Ris Low. In fact, I think that our standard are similar, and is on par. In fact, I was rather impressed with her courage to participate in a competition of this scale and speak over a local website.
To be honest, can we blame her for her bad command of English? I believe that most Singaporeans actually speak in this kind of style or way or manner or whatever you call it. But, as she was going to be the one that is going to represent Singapore on an international stage, she was being judged very carefully by the public and, thus, is subjected to harsh comments and even, unwanted lashing.
Furthermore, in Singapore, languages are considered as a ‘chop-chop’ affair whereby the speaker just requires the listener to understand it in the simplest way and nobody will appreciate the art of the language. Moreover, the convenience of instant messaging and texting had bring down the standard of English as everyone is thinking of an idea to shorten a word so as to type faster and to save ‘spaces’ on short message services so as not to burst the character limit of 160 letters per message. These brought further erosion to the English language.
“Perhaps it’s good that she has become Miss Singapore World. Her language abilities are representative of the population.” (Anonymous, The Sunday Times, 2009)
So, shouldn’t we reflect on our mistakes and correct ourselves before we comment.
Random Quote:
“I don’t need to know who are the seven dwarfs as long as I know who’s the Snow White.”
Labels: RAD
fuck you x=
10/11/2009 02:29:00 AM
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Saturday, September 19, 2009
*DANG! I have been thinking on an opening for like close to an hour and NOTHING seem to be perfect! And you know what, I am going to start this blog on my very own writing style! (like since when I become a writer/author. =/) (=*
Today is such a pleasant day, cooling wind seeps into my room freely and the atmospher is filled with millions and millions of tiny little water droplets, that seems to be singing some cheerful song and most of all, it's a SATURDAY! BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE A FREAKING GUARD DUTY TODAY! ON THE EVE OF HARI RAYA SOMEMORE! Imagine that man! I am supposed to have like THREE weekends, including the public holiday on monday! This is like my 4th weekend guard duty and I still have one upcoming weekend guard duty on saturday! If I had the money, I would definitely sell it off! No, actually if I have that kind of money, I might as well try to sell my National Service off. HA! As if it works!
On the lighter note, I passed my IPPT! WOOT! So that means, I am cleared for my Senior Term. Period. Which means, I am about to receive my $1000+ pay soon! =D
Random Quote:
"You know what have you done wrong? Don't know right? You know what you should do? REFLECT!'
fuck you x=
9/19/2009 09:11:00 AM
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Within these 6 months, a lot of changes have been happening in my life. GAH!
Worked in NParks: was glad to know Michelle (the dutch girl), Anne (currently studying in aussie), Tamako (a very sweet lady who appear to be aloof), Glenda (the radioactive squirrel), Vicky (the very active girl), Jean (the very super duper quiet girl), Jin Hong (the super duper busy girl), Lin htet (the butterfly 'bredder') and Mardiah (the super cool girl).
NS SCDF PTP stage: currently serving 3 months and 5 days of my 2 years NSF. Still got like 1 year and 8 months to go. WAH LAU! *How I wish time really flies*
The first month was fun to know Adam (party animal), Nas (Polar Bear), Alfan (SUCKAS), Jasper (fake fireman), Thomas (the ear hole super big), Leong (the fit man).
The next two months were crazy to know Russell (RASCAL), Warren (F.A.C.T), Tiong (DART Boy), Yong Han (NIKE BAND) and Pei Han (Muay Thai Warrioress). I also get to know Adam better.
All in all, I am really glad that I have known these people, be they in NParks or SCDF. They are the people that makes my life happier and easier. Days in NParks would be dull, boring and sleepy if they were not around to make it lively. Similarly, my NS days would be listless, annoyed and stagnant if they were not around to make time goes faster, especially during BTM.
National Service has also make me realised that not everyone will like each other nor take jokes easily. Having been staying with the same clique for close to three years and did not really go and know some new characters, it's a no doubt that I have lost some of my communication skill and public relation skill. Therefore, upon entering my vocation, I do have a hard time adapting to the brand new environment as all along, I have been a straight forward person that won't mince my words and rather say it out as it is and people have find it hard to take it.
I have once post a question to my friends, 'Should I be myself or a pretentious freak that I know I would have never be?' The answer I have got back is be myself. Thus, it leads me to wonder. In these day, everyone have been encouraged to be yourself and express what's in your mind. But the thing is, how many people can accept your thoughts and accept you for who you are. I really think that it's just contradicting that while everyone is encouraged to voice out, they are scared about the image they protrayed to others. So, how to be yourself?
I think I am blabbering and shall go to bed before I doze off in lesson tomorrow. =/
Random Quote:
"I really think that you should be more organised."
fuck you x=
9/16/2009 10:54:00 PM
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Friday, March 20, 2009
I know I have been not updating my blog for quite some time. So I am here to say a message:
Please show your support for Mother Earth on 28th March 2009, from 2030-2130. Your support is much needed. (=
fuck you x=
3/20/2009 09:12:00 PM
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008
I remember vividly around fifteen years ago, when I was still an ignorant four year old kid, I was waiting with my parents, inside my family’s car, to fetch my maternal grandma. At that point of time, I thought to myself, ‘Who is she? Is she nice? Will she eat me?’ All sort of silly thoughts came to my mind and I waited with a heavy heart. A few moments later, I saw a lady, dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, walking to our car and was carrying a very big smile on her face. Once she reached the car, my mother immediately open the passengers’ door and let her sat beside me. My grandma was from Guangdong, China, and she had come to Singapore at a very young age with her mother, which is my great grandmother. Cantonese was the only dialect/language that she could speak and Chinese and English were the only two languages that exist in my world at that point of time. Thus, on the way to my home, I could only converse with my grandma in Chinese and she would nod in agreement. Frankly speaking, till now, I really do not know does she understand what I was saying at that time as I remembered one thing that I have said was ‘po po, ni kan. You shu leh!’ which mean, ‘grandma, look. Got trees!’
Ever since my grandma moved into my house, my life changes entirely. As I had not lived with an elderly before, I was at loss when I had to live with my grandma. Communication was one of the problems as my grandma does not understand me and neither do I understand her. I recalled once when my dad was at the doorstep, I rushed to the door and open the door for him. However, I do not know that at the same time, my grandma had slipped and fell in the kitchen. Thus, my dad gave me a good scolding and asked me to carry my grandma up. However, my grandma does not blame me at all and that really makes me guilty.
As my parents are working as a hawker, thus, the task of taking care of the four children lies upon my grandma. However, as my younger sister and I were very young, my mom would normally bring my elder sister and elder brother to stall whenever they are not studying the next day. Therefore, every morning, my younger sister and I would accompany my grandma to the coffee-shop, located at the ground floor of my house. My grandma always called it as ‘ lou ha’ (Cantonese way of saying downstairs) and we soon followed her style. Chee cheong fun was her favourite breakfast and chui kueh is what we will eat. Occasional treats of roasted pork, BBQ pork and braised chicken are part of the dishes that she will take us to it. As I had followed her since young, some of my eating habits now are inherited from her. For instance, I cannot eat rice without making it ‘wet’. Wet, as in, using soup or gravy and pour it over the rice making it easy to chew and swallow. I also loved to eat ‘kai see fatt’ (directly translated as chicken backside) as she would normally ask the seller to put some in her plate and I will steal it and eat it.
Although I am the apple of my grandma’s eyes, she was never lenient with me. Once, I was playing fire with my younger sister in the living room while my grandma was sleeping. Suddenly, she woke up and shouted, ‘why is the room so smoky?!’ Frightened by her shouts, my sister and I quickly took a blanket and cover the fire before running to the master bedroom’s toilet and hid ourselves. Needless to say, my younger sister, which we fondly called her ah mei, and I was in for a treat of ‘char kway teow’ ( it was a term for caning) by our grandma. We were caned so badly that the bruises were there for days.
‘po po, lei yak deng you tai tou ngoh di kit fen’ (grandma, you must see us getting married) was what we used to tell her when we were young and was sleeping side by side with her and what she would normally replied is that she might not see it and we would just brush it aside with ‘choy choy choy’ (touchwood). When ah mei and I were alone with my grandma, the time was not boring and lifeless. Instead, it was normally fun and interesting as my grandma would let us go lou ha and played with other kids while she will stay at home to watch tv. When we reached home, she would bathed us and watched hong kong movies, wong fei hong and yin yang lu, that were screened over channel 8, 10.30pm on every Saturday. During commercial breaks, we would play blackjack (yes, my grandma is a hip lady despite being 70 going 80 year old when she first stay with us).
Those were part of my childhood memories that I had with my grandma. Sometime, I wonder without her, what kind of childhood I will have. Without her love, will I be what I am today? Without her hopes and expectation, will I get to the point where I am today? But one thing I am sure is that, I would not get to hear her voice again. For she passed away on 4th September 2008, 1310hr
P.S: Hey, guys. No need to console me. I had gotten over with the loss but just wanna let out my feeling. (=
fuck you x=
9/09/2008 08:19:00 PM
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