It is the first time that I have haven meals at a stranger’s home. However, I didn’t feel uneasy. The host and hostess are quite kind. It seems that we are more likely to be at home.
In fact, the house is not very big but very comfortable. When we reached their home, we were so happy because of the TV. It has been half year since I haven’t watched TV. The more exciting thing is that we could see the Chinese program even the boring advertisement made my eyes full of water. We just watched TV and talked about the news before we had dinner.
The dinner was quite delicious but I was surprised that the meal was cooked by the hostess’s mother. The host told me that his mother-in-law cooks meals for them.
Although the activity is called “Meals at home”, the interesting part is not the meal. The host and the hostess showed some pictures of their wedding. They have been married only for two years but they are nearly 40 years. I wondered whether most Singaporeans married so late. The most beautiful and unforgettable memory is kept in the picture. I felt the happiness when I saw these pictures. I hope that not only the host and the hostess but also all the couples can live a happy and sweet life forever and ever.
After dinner, we sang Karaoke at home. The mike didn’t work and the songs were out of date but the feeling of singing with my friends was almost the same. The hostess also sang some Chinese songs with us.
That night was nice and fun. I am looking forward for the next meal.
May 19, 2009
May 17, 2009
learn to tolerate
Learn to tolerate
I have been in Singapore for nearly half a year and learned not only knowledge but the importance of tolerance.
I still remember in the first class Ms Yap told us to assimilate the new cultures in Singapore. She wanted us to be accustomed to the new circumstance as quickly as possible. I have tried to incorporate the different ways of eating, speaking and dressing. Toleration is important for us to adjust to the new country.
A Chinese idiom said sea tolerates hundreds of rivers to make itself broad. So if we assimilate different cultures, we can broaden our horizon.
Furthermore, I have read a lot about the misunderstanding between different religions and races. In Jerusalem, Christian, Muslim and Jew-dom have to struggle for living together. There are a lot of conflicts among the three religions. In the film Schindler’s list, Nazis perpetrated cruel crime to Jews in the name of eugenics. Besides, I also learned in America prejudice still exists between whites and blacks.
Why does so much discrimination exist? Helen Keller said that the highest result of education is tolerance. So as the world becomes more and more civilized, we should learn to tolerate different religions and races. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said we must learn to live together as brothers or we are going to perish together as fools.
So next time, when you enjoy the beauty of the sea, keep in mind that we should learn from the broad sea. Be a tolerated man and try to adjust to the diverse world.
I have been in Singapore for nearly half a year and learned not only knowledge but the importance of tolerance.
I still remember in the first class Ms Yap told us to assimilate the new cultures in Singapore. She wanted us to be accustomed to the new circumstance as quickly as possible. I have tried to incorporate the different ways of eating, speaking and dressing. Toleration is important for us to adjust to the new country.
A Chinese idiom said sea tolerates hundreds of rivers to make itself broad. So if we assimilate different cultures, we can broaden our horizon.
Furthermore, I have read a lot about the misunderstanding between different religions and races. In Jerusalem, Christian, Muslim and Jew-dom have to struggle for living together. There are a lot of conflicts among the three religions. In the film Schindler’s list, Nazis perpetrated cruel crime to Jews in the name of eugenics. Besides, I also learned in America prejudice still exists between whites and blacks.
Why does so much discrimination exist? Helen Keller said that the highest result of education is tolerance. So as the world becomes more and more civilized, we should learn to tolerate different religions and races. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said we must learn to live together as brothers or we are going to perish together as fools.
So next time, when you enjoy the beauty of the sea, keep in mind that we should learn from the broad sea. Be a tolerated man and try to adjust to the diverse world.
May 16, 2009
More than a Linguistic Game ( M.L.)
In auditoriums, concert halls and other closed public places in China, the side doors for emergency use have marker beacons on them which read “Taipingmen”. The literal translation is “Peaceful door”. I don’t know exactly how this Chinese name came into being, the only reason I can think of is people originally named emergency exit as “Peaceful door” because these exits are not in use and rest in peace in usual circumstances. I have to admit that this name cannot provoke even the slightest sense of emergency, instead everytime I saw the marker I felt safe and relaxed.
When I arrived in Singapore, I was a bit shocked to see so many “Emergency” signs. On bus windows there are signs that read “In case of emergency break the glass”; on certain exits of most buildings there are signs that read “Emergency Exit”; on the campus security call service machine in NUS there is a sign that reads “Emergency Call”. At first I was a little disturbed by all these signs which gave me a feeling of potential danger. But after a while I started to think that “Emergency Exit” is much more appropriate than “Peaceful Door”, since when fire, earthquake or other catastrophe strikes, surely people who see the “Emergency” sign will react towards these exits more quickly.
This reminds me of the Chinese name of insurance which means “Security” when translated literally. When I think about it now, I have a strange feeling about referring the arrangements for accidents and damage as “security”, but I hadn’t felt this way before I came to Singapore. In Japanese the names for insurance means “Japanese Fire” and “Japanese Life” when translated word by word. Now I marvel at the Chinese way of “underestimating” or “neglecting” the fatality accidents when these kind of things. The Chinese terms draw attention to the unlikelihood of accidents and the compensation afterwards rather than to avoiding accidents.
There are other examples where accidents and injuries occurred in elevators or with electrical appliances due to the absense of vital warnings or directions. Perhaps this is because Chinese people tend to think it inauspicious to put up signs suggesting danger directly. Unfortunately we have seldom thought about how ridiculous this is, just think about how many injuries and damages can be avoided if dangers are pointed out in a more direct way. This is more than a linguistic game, it is a matter of attitudes towards danger and catastrophe, and obviously it can be concluded that facing the crisis is a far better way compared with palliating it.
When I arrived in Singapore, I was a bit shocked to see so many “Emergency” signs. On bus windows there are signs that read “In case of emergency break the glass”; on certain exits of most buildings there are signs that read “Emergency Exit”; on the campus security call service machine in NUS there is a sign that reads “Emergency Call”. At first I was a little disturbed by all these signs which gave me a feeling of potential danger. But after a while I started to think that “Emergency Exit” is much more appropriate than “Peaceful Door”, since when fire, earthquake or other catastrophe strikes, surely people who see the “Emergency” sign will react towards these exits more quickly.
This reminds me of the Chinese name of insurance which means “Security” when translated literally. When I think about it now, I have a strange feeling about referring the arrangements for accidents and damage as “security”, but I hadn’t felt this way before I came to Singapore. In Japanese the names for insurance means “Japanese Fire” and “Japanese Life” when translated word by word. Now I marvel at the Chinese way of “underestimating” or “neglecting” the fatality accidents when these kind of things. The Chinese terms draw attention to the unlikelihood of accidents and the compensation afterwards rather than to avoiding accidents.
There are other examples where accidents and injuries occurred in elevators or with electrical appliances due to the absense of vital warnings or directions. Perhaps this is because Chinese people tend to think it inauspicious to put up signs suggesting danger directly. Unfortunately we have seldom thought about how ridiculous this is, just think about how many injuries and damages can be avoided if dangers are pointed out in a more direct way. This is more than a linguistic game, it is a matter of attitudes towards danger and catastrophe, and obviously it can be concluded that facing the crisis is a far better way compared with palliating it.
Final comments on (JEGA)
Last night, I finally finished watching prison break season 4 the 21th and 22th. I have kept on watching prison break since I was a senior student. Although some other people think that the American TV series are not that good after season 1. I still like it and never give it up. At first, I think the fantastic contents attract me a lot. In China, no director would conduct such a series that teach people how to break out of prison, so when the new things come out, everyone get excited. The plans and the exciting incidents almost take my breath away. Criminals with different characters live together.
Most of all, I feel merciful for Michael. He tried very hard to help his brother and also the other criminals break out but after the long time of struggling, he lost the chance to live a normal life and died of cancer. A kind of incurable disease. I think the audience are all happy to see that the other roles like Sucre and Burrows come back to their lives with their family. They suffer a lot and sometimes even lose their hope. The company play tricks on them just for the secret Cylla. May be we can say that all the story is centred by cylla. So many people die and many families are broken. I just wish that the story will never happen in out daily life, it is really terrible.
Most of all, I feel merciful for Michael. He tried very hard to help his brother and also the other criminals break out but after the long time of struggling, he lost the chance to live a normal life and died of cancer. A kind of incurable disease. I think the audience are all happy to see that the other roles like Sucre and Burrows come back to their lives with their family. They suffer a lot and sometimes even lose their hope. The company play tricks on them just for the secret Cylla. May be we can say that all the story is centred by cylla. So many people die and many families are broken. I just wish that the story will never happen in out daily life, it is really terrible.
May 13, 2009
Nineteen Already (YAP)
Before I came to Singapore, I had spent more than eighteen years in Xi’an Shaanxi China. My sixth birthday there was the first birthday that was celebrated with my friends instead of only my parents and relatives. That year was my last year in kindergarten. Since then, classmates and friends become an integral part of my birthday. Every year, I received their greetings and gifts, however, this year’s birthday was supposed to be very different from the ones before, because I am here in Singapore.
To tell you the truth, I did not even anticipate many people could remember my birthday, and most weirdly that I actually had not a bit passion to celebrate it. I once said to me myself in my diary that I have to be mature, and obviously caring not about this kind of formality is a symbol of being mature.
Much to my surprise, two days before my birthday I got a parcel from China which was sent as a birthday gift from a good friend of mine. It contained a book and a thumb drive, but what it contained is not important at all. I am moved, for someone could bother to send me a birthday gift, even when I am thousands of miles away. Covering such long distance and carrying so much love, the parcel is far more precious than it was normally considered. Nevertheless, this was not the only thing that touches me. My 12 friends from the same home university arranged a warm and elaborate getting-together for me. They bought me a beautiful and yummy birthday fruit cake and a Tinkerbell model (Tinkerbell is my favorite cartoon character). Partly thanks to my birthday, we finally got a chance to round up again, because, I have to admit that, I really enjoy staying with them. They are all very good and sincere people and we are just like one big family…So many greetings and surprises came along one after another that I think I did not fully expressed my heartfelt gratitude. However, this is why I am writing this blog here.
I want to frankly thank those people who remember me, who care me, and who love me. It is your remembering, caring and loving that give me the strongest momentum and motivation to cheer up and to move on. What you have done for me touched the softest part of my heart, and I mean it. Last, my nineteenth birthday also teaches me that to always be grateful is to be truly mature.
Thank you all again.
To tell you the truth, I did not even anticipate many people could remember my birthday, and most weirdly that I actually had not a bit passion to celebrate it. I once said to me myself in my diary that I have to be mature, and obviously caring not about this kind of formality is a symbol of being mature.
Much to my surprise, two days before my birthday I got a parcel from China which was sent as a birthday gift from a good friend of mine. It contained a book and a thumb drive, but what it contained is not important at all. I am moved, for someone could bother to send me a birthday gift, even when I am thousands of miles away. Covering such long distance and carrying so much love, the parcel is far more precious than it was normally considered. Nevertheless, this was not the only thing that touches me. My 12 friends from the same home university arranged a warm and elaborate getting-together for me. They bought me a beautiful and yummy birthday fruit cake and a Tinkerbell model (Tinkerbell is my favorite cartoon character). Partly thanks to my birthday, we finally got a chance to round up again, because, I have to admit that, I really enjoy staying with them. They are all very good and sincere people and we are just like one big family…So many greetings and surprises came along one after another that I think I did not fully expressed my heartfelt gratitude. However, this is why I am writing this blog here.
I want to frankly thank those people who remember me, who care me, and who love me. It is your remembering, caring and loving that give me the strongest momentum and motivation to cheer up and to move on. What you have done for me touched the softest part of my heart, and I mean it. Last, my nineteenth birthday also teaches me that to always be grateful is to be truly mature.
Thank you all again.
May They Rest In Peace! (Lugg. 7)
Today, May 12, 2009, is the first anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake, which devastated several cities, killed around 87000 lives and made numerous people homeless. The catastrophe not only tore the ground in half, but also tore up millions of people’s heart.
Unconsciously, we have gone through one year after the most destructive disaster in China in thirty years. All about the earthquake is still clear in my mind, including my crying when I watched documentaries on TV and listened to the radio programs about how civilians in earthquake-stricken areas struggled to start a new life. When we were standing in silent tribute in class this afternoon, I thought a lot within those few minutes. I recollected the scene when we whole class in high school did this. At that moment, I felt a whiff of power pouring into my body as the sound of car horns and air-defense warning goes around all over the city. I remembered the night when I listened to an earthquake survivor, a middle school student, speaking out his gratitude to his classmates who lost life when helping him escape from the classroom. I failed to hold back my tears after the student made a promise that he would go to cemetery and kneel down in front of the deceased’s tombstone every “5.12”.
WenJiabao, prime minister of China, said that it was the catastrophe that made the country prosperous, when he visited the earthquake-stricken areas. He went to a hospital in the city of Beichuan and comforted the newly orphans who lost their parents just several days before. The orphans were sobbing, unaware of what the old man was talking about. It was rather provoking that some local officials asked the vulnerable children to stop crying with a fierce tone. I could not understand what was in their mind. How could they do that to a group of people who just lost parents and were only about 7 years old? Anyway, when I thought of our volunteers and medical staff and soldiers who were in the front line, I would forget the scandal and be touched by the strength of Chinese people.
May the deceased rest in peace, and the survivors keep striving!
Unconsciously, we have gone through one year after the most destructive disaster in China in thirty years. All about the earthquake is still clear in my mind, including my crying when I watched documentaries on TV and listened to the radio programs about how civilians in earthquake-stricken areas struggled to start a new life. When we were standing in silent tribute in class this afternoon, I thought a lot within those few minutes. I recollected the scene when we whole class in high school did this. At that moment, I felt a whiff of power pouring into my body as the sound of car horns and air-defense warning goes around all over the city. I remembered the night when I listened to an earthquake survivor, a middle school student, speaking out his gratitude to his classmates who lost life when helping him escape from the classroom. I failed to hold back my tears after the student made a promise that he would go to cemetery and kneel down in front of the deceased’s tombstone every “5.12”.
WenJiabao, prime minister of China, said that it was the catastrophe that made the country prosperous, when he visited the earthquake-stricken areas. He went to a hospital in the city of Beichuan and comforted the newly orphans who lost their parents just several days before. The orphans were sobbing, unaware of what the old man was talking about. It was rather provoking that some local officials asked the vulnerable children to stop crying with a fierce tone. I could not understand what was in their mind. How could they do that to a group of people who just lost parents and were only about 7 years old? Anyway, when I thought of our volunteers and medical staff and soldiers who were in the front line, I would forget the scandal and be touched by the strength of Chinese people.
May the deceased rest in peace, and the survivors keep striving!
May 10, 2009
a tragedy
As usual, I searched the internet in Central library after lunch. It is cool to come to my own QQ space. Not only can I publish some blogs which present my life stories and emotions, but get a view of my friends’ new trends. If I am lucky enough, I can receive some interesting feedbacks from my lovely friends. In a nutshell, I like the wonderful space to get in touch with my acquaintances and enjoy my time.
However, when I read a new blog in one of my high school classmates, I did not feel easy. A young Chinese female teacher in my high school committed a suicide. Although she had not taught me, I felt sad because she was only 30 years old and didn’t have enough time to enjoy love from family and friends. It was said that she didn’t get along well with her mother in law. After a fierce quarrel with her mother in law, she lost her temper and jumped from the window in her own house in 2.am. What a repulsive incident!
The young teacher was a leading teacher in a class in Grade 3. After hearing the bad news, her students expressed their sad feelings and swore that they would work harder to pass the coming national entrance exam to comfort their beloved teacher. It indicated that she was a good teacher. She had won a lot of prizes and the students respected her from their heart.
I can imagine that her parents must have been very grieving. She had a good job and got married. It was the very time to look after her parents and cared her own family. How could she choose a suicide? It was committed impulsively and hurt a lot of people. Maybe the domestic problem was serious but through more interactions and tolerations I think she could alleviated the gap problem with her mother in law.
We should value our lives and be responsible to ourselves and family. When we felt frustrated or irritated, please pause and cool ourselves down. Gap could be wiped out if we try to solve.
However, when I read a new blog in one of my high school classmates, I did not feel easy. A young Chinese female teacher in my high school committed a suicide. Although she had not taught me, I felt sad because she was only 30 years old and didn’t have enough time to enjoy love from family and friends. It was said that she didn’t get along well with her mother in law. After a fierce quarrel with her mother in law, she lost her temper and jumped from the window in her own house in 2.am. What a repulsive incident!
The young teacher was a leading teacher in a class in Grade 3. After hearing the bad news, her students expressed their sad feelings and swore that they would work harder to pass the coming national entrance exam to comfort their beloved teacher. It indicated that she was a good teacher. She had won a lot of prizes and the students respected her from their heart.
I can imagine that her parents must have been very grieving. She had a good job and got married. It was the very time to look after her parents and cared her own family. How could she choose a suicide? It was committed impulsively and hurt a lot of people. Maybe the domestic problem was serious but through more interactions and tolerations I think she could alleviated the gap problem with her mother in law.
We should value our lives and be responsible to ourselves and family. When we felt frustrated or irritated, please pause and cool ourselves down. Gap could be wiped out if we try to solve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)