There were lots of things that I didn't understand when I was young.
But now as I grow, I start to get an idea of what's happening.
I used to wonder why my maid dried the wooden chopping board under the sun.
Until today Alison told me that our wooden chopping board is molding.
Then I know why.
I used to wonder why mum bought toothbrushes in bulk. Toothbrush is meant to last for long.
Until I come overseas, and I get to buy my own toothbrushes.
Then I know why.
I used to wonder why my maid kept scolding us for changing our clothes so frequently.
Until I wash my own clothes and taste the trouble of ironing it.
Then I know why.
I used to wonder why my mum was so frustrated when we didn't go down immediately for dinner.
Until I prepare my own dinner and experience nagging people to finish my heartfully-prepared food.
Then I know why.
As teenagers, we tend to think that we know better than adults.
No, we don't and we never will. Most of the times.
Now I finally get the meaning of the chinese idiom frequently used by adults 'young girl, we eat salt more than you eating rice' (even though there can be better description than salt and rice).
Or sayings like 'giving you advice is like putting money in your pocket - you will use it one day.'
Next time if you come across them telling their grandfather stories again.
It's OK if you don't understand.
Just listen.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Mount Everest
When I was on a train back to Cambridge, I overheard someone talking behind me, 'I want to climb the Mount Everest'.
MOUNT EVEREST??!!
Are you joking?? It could kill you...as in not many people can do that..come on...you must be kidding me..
That was my first reaction.
But on second thought, it wasn't that funny after all.
He sounded so certain and determined.
In fact, I am envious of him.
Come to think about it, he has something to work for and to look forward to.
He can shout it out loud and proud even though it sounds crazy to most people.
It is not wrong to dream. As long as you work for it.
MOUNT EVEREST??!!
Are you joking?? It could kill you...as in not many people can do that..come on...you must be kidding me..
That was my first reaction.
But on second thought, it wasn't that funny after all.
He sounded so certain and determined.
In fact, I am envious of him.
Come to think about it, he has something to work for and to look forward to.
He can shout it out loud and proud even though it sounds crazy to most people.
It is not wrong to dream. As long as you work for it.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Holy Saint
Everyone make mistakes.
Many repeat them.
This is perfectly normal.
I used to think that if someone did something wrong, I owed to him a responsibility to point it out and to correct it.
But pointing it out or correcting it can sometimes go beyond the tolerable limit to become disrespect or even judgmental.
I came by a chance to witness a mistake recently.
I observed.
Then I realised that those who pointed a finger at the wrongdoer are not necessarily angelic and righteous after all.
Some enjoy pointing out mistakes of others to self-assert their nobleness.
Some act out of concern but care more about their own feelings and perceptions instead of the offender's.
Some simply love to gossip about screwed-up people.
Undeniably, among the people who point a finger at the offender, there are some who truly care and intend to make him realise so that he will not repeat again.
However, there are many ways to do that.
The bottom line is to put yourself in the offender's shoes and to understand the fact that people make mistakes, people learn from it and people change.
So instead of focusing solely on how wrong he is, you tell him also the possibility of change and allow a chance for him to do so.
There is really a fine line between 'righteous' and 'judgmental', 'helpful' and 'nosy'.
If we are the victim, we have all the right to be mad.
But mind that it's something between us and the wrongdoer, being wronged doesn't give us any right to spread it out and to make it worse.
Well, of course we can bad-mouth and be revengeful.
The point is - don't play the role of an innocent victim while doing that.
If we are not the victim, we too have the right to gossip, to be unhelpful, to be a total bitch.
But for god's sake - don't act like a saint at the same time.
If we want to be a bitch. Do it in a bitchy way.
Because bitch with an angel outfit is just so wrong.
There is no saint in this world.
If we make not many mistakes so far, it's simply because we are lucky enough not to come across screwed up circumstances, or we are smart enough to avoid them. But being smart and careful doesn't make us holy.
By writing this, it sounds like I am pointing a finger at someone too.
No, to be honest, I have noone in my mind.
Wait, in fact, I have one person in my mind - and it's me.
I make mistakes. Tonnes of them.
So....
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Survive!
Had not been sleeping much for the past 10 days.
Finally got all my coursework done!!
I am so proud of myself.
Gosh ~ they almost kill me.
Please. Grant me a good mark. :)
Shall update soon.
Finally got all my coursework done!!
I am so proud of myself.
Gosh ~ they almost kill me.
Please. Grant me a good mark. :)
Shall update soon.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
再见
你问我害怕什么？
我害怕句号。
我害怕事情的结束。
以前到剑桥时，好像很不喜欢这里。
但三年的时间让我习惯了。
我习惯了课业，习惯了草坪，习惯了安静。
我开始觉得小小的房间很温暖，也觉得老老的建筑很慈祥。
更多的是，我习惯了大家。
在吃饭时谈生物，谈政治，谈经济，谈摄影。
天啊！就不能吃一餐饭吗？
但我习惯了，像是一种我们独有的模式。
平时，大家都几乎忙不过来，除了同科的都很少碰面。
但总有人记得某某的生日，总有email定聚餐地点，总有惊喜礼物。
有任何活动时，大家也会不约而同地出席。
因为稀有，所有我们更珍惜聚会。
碰面时都是开开心心的，你损损我，我亏亏你。
很难再找到这样的朋友吧。
对于他们每一位，我有难以言喻的敬佩。
每一位都有他们很令人欣赏的一面。
我想过十年，大家一定都很有成就吧。
我祝福你们。
我们都很不一样。
喜欢不一样的东西。
但我们却很相同。
都有一份对事情的坚持，付出，认真，不停学习的态度。
不过是投入的地方不一样而已。
人是奇怪的动物吧。
当身在其中，我们想快快结束，快快展开新的生活。
但事情到尾声时，又有万般的不舍。
很害怕这一切就要结束了。
我很怀念。真的很怀念。
当我说起‘寒窗十年苦’时，我想他们会很明白吧。
有些情谊是不会改变的。
至少我会努力让它不改变。
p.s. 倩芬看了这篇时应该会说：‘哇，这么得空啊，还有几个月呢，忙完考试才想吧！’ 哈哈！是的！课业无聊嘛。。。。现在就去睡觉，明天继续努力。：）
我害怕句号。
我害怕事情的结束。
以前到剑桥时，好像很不喜欢这里。
但三年的时间让我习惯了。
我习惯了课业，习惯了草坪，习惯了安静。
我开始觉得小小的房间很温暖，也觉得老老的建筑很慈祥。
更多的是，我习惯了大家。
在吃饭时谈生物，谈政治，谈经济，谈摄影。
天啊！就不能吃一餐饭吗？
但我习惯了，像是一种我们独有的模式。
平时，大家都几乎忙不过来，除了同科的都很少碰面。
但总有人记得某某的生日，总有email定聚餐地点，总有惊喜礼物。
有任何活动时，大家也会不约而同地出席。
因为稀有，所有我们更珍惜聚会。
碰面时都是开开心心的，你损损我，我亏亏你。
很难再找到这样的朋友吧。
对于他们每一位，我有难以言喻的敬佩。
每一位都有他们很令人欣赏的一面。
我想过十年，大家一定都很有成就吧。
我祝福你们。
我们都很不一样。
喜欢不一样的东西。
但我们却很相同。
都有一份对事情的坚持，付出，认真，不停学习的态度。
不过是投入的地方不一样而已。
人是奇怪的动物吧。
当身在其中，我们想快快结束，快快展开新的生活。
但事情到尾声时，又有万般的不舍。
很害怕这一切就要结束了。
我很怀念。真的很怀念。
当我说起‘寒窗十年苦’时，我想他们会很明白吧。
有些情谊是不会改变的。
至少我会努力让它不改变。
p.s. 倩芬看了这篇时应该会说：‘哇，这么得空啊，还有几个月呢，忙完考试才想吧！’ 哈哈！是的！课业无聊嘛。。。。现在就去睡觉，明天继续努力。：）
Cambridge MNight 2009
This is the Cambrige MNight 2009 Stranger Things Have Happened Here's opening dance.
From what I've heard, it is supposed to express the sense of detachment. :)
Here is the singing performance after intermission, by the 1st years and our beloved and very happening director Kenrick (the lead singer).
Can't wait for the committee to produce the DVD (hope there is one though)
I love the play very very much.
God I am going to miss Mnight.
From what I've heard, it is supposed to express the sense of detachment. :)
Here is the singing performance after intermission, by the 1st years and our beloved and very happening director Kenrick (the lead singer).
Can't wait for the committee to produce the DVD (hope there is one though)
I love the play very very much.
God I am going to miss Mnight.
还是老歌好
在欣赏林志炫演唱会的DVD时听到了这首歌。
我非常喜欢它的歌词 - 是我们很多很多人都无法意会的。
与你分享林志炫 - 给你一些不给一些
你时常看见 嘿
自己的微笑 挂在另一个人的嘴边
车窗外的风景 嘿
幻想中绵延 自己的倒影视而不见
你时常挥手 嘿
这漫长旅途中 像和无数自己说再见
遗憾凝成焦点 嘿
它占据你的眼 真实的画面 你让它褪远
生命它给你一些 不给一些
这些那些 自己才是考验
你在念着天边那座花园 我愿笑对眼前的莲
得与失都有祝福隐藏的脸 你还在等待永恒的容颜
我愿在每个平凡刹那里面 握住无限
我非常喜欢它的歌词 - 是我们很多很多人都无法意会的。
与你分享林志炫 - 给你一些不给一些
你时常看见 嘿
自己的微笑 挂在另一个人的嘴边
车窗外的风景 嘿
幻想中绵延 自己的倒影视而不见
你时常挥手 嘿
这漫长旅途中 像和无数自己说再见
遗憾凝成焦点 嘿
它占据你的眼 真实的画面 你让它褪远
生命它给你一些 不给一些
这些那些 自己才是考验
你在念着天边那座花园 我愿笑对眼前的莲
得与失都有祝福隐藏的脸 你还在等待永恒的容颜
我愿在每个平凡刹那里面 握住无限
Thursday, March 5, 2009
English
Danny's aunty sent this email across, and I find it interesting.
ONLY THE ENGLISH COULD HAVE INVENTED THIS LANGUAGE
We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!
Let's face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple...
English muffins weren't invented in England .
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is that writers write but fingers don't fing,
grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English
should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.
In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
in which your house can burn up as it burns down,
in which you fill in a form by filling it out,
and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
And, in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?
AND IF PEOPLE FROM POLAND ARE CALLED POLES
THEN PEOPLE FROM HOLLAND SHOULD BE HOLES
AND THE GERMANS, GERMS
(no offence)
ONLY THE ENGLISH COULD HAVE INVENTED THIS LANGUAGE
We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!
Let's face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple...
English muffins weren't invented in England .
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is that writers write but fingers don't fing,
grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English
should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.
In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
in which your house can burn up as it burns down,
in which you fill in a form by filling it out,
and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
And, in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?
AND IF PEOPLE FROM POLAND ARE CALLED POLES
THEN PEOPLE FROM HOLLAND SHOULD BE HOLES
AND THE GERMANS, GERMS
(no offence)
Shopaholic
Influenced by my very eng-lit friend Chien Fen, I am determined to read at least a couple of English novels.
So I walked into WHS Smith several weeks ago right before my fashion course.
After picking up some chocolate bars, I quickly browsed through the novel section.
Was very tempted to pick up 'Twilight' since my sisters were pretty crazy about it for quite some time, until 'The Devil Wears Prada' came into my sight.
Wait! That's my book isn't it?
I am attending a fashion course in five minutes time.
I should be reading something related to Prada or Gucci or Dolce & Gabbana.
Not Shakespeare or Michael Crichton (sadly he passed away in a battle against cancer)
So I took a quick look at the back of the book.
'Sassy, insightful and sooo Sex and the City'.
Alright! Sex and the City! That's it!
I walked to the till with a copy of 'The Devil Wears Prada' by Lauren Weisberger.
***
Again, I was standing right in front of WHS Smith at London King Cross yesterday.
Again, I was feeling like a literate - I have to read something while waiting for Danny.
But this time I am going to get something different.
More philosophical perhaps.
So I went straight to the top-selling chart.
These books should be good.
If not, they are at least popular.
Fiction? Nope.
Twilight...AGAIN?
Few weeks have passed, and it's still on the rack??!
One very cynical thought suddenly crept up on me - do they actually update their charts?
I think they do.
They should.
OK. Let's see.
Many eye-catching yellow labels sticking on the books, so yellow as if they are going to pop out any second - 'Buy one and get another at 1/2 price.'
This is one thing I like about England.
The musuems are free. The papers are free. Correction - some papers are free.
And now even the novels are on promotion.
How can it not be a civilised nation??!
OKOK.
About the 1/2 price thingy - it has nothing to do with civilization. I guess it's just one of the after effects of the economic crisis.
Hehe..but who cares?
Then I glanced through the titles, which I was supposed to do at the first place.
'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. OK no more 'fashion literature'.
Next.
'Shopaholic Ties the Knot'. What? Again?
Next.
'Shopaholic and Sister'.
Fine.....
This author must be really good, and rich of course. (provided that the chart is truthful though)
It is even made into a movie - it must be good then.
But I guess mostly because a part of me (I have to admit - a very big part of me) is very interested in this interesting shopaholic series of novels.
So here comes the very predictable ending - I bought two of the series.
And I finished one of them yesterday.
And IT'S SO GOOD.
I experienced most of the things she said - like got tricked into Spring bags and all sorts of promotional strategies. And all those excuses you came out to feel less guilty about buying something totally unnecessary.
***
Well I guess we should somehow get inspired after reading a novel.
So here you go - my inspirations:
First. I should go get the other books in the series.
I thought it should be inspirational??
Well, I've to say it's good market positioning. For very obvious reasons - targetting on shopaholics is always the right thing to do. And it's absolutely brilliant to write an entire series on it. Because shopaholics will ALWAYS come back for the next season. :)
- Right, I guess this is one good inspiration. -
Second. I am a shopaholic afterall.
- Sincere confession and realisation - very inspirational! -
Third. One great thing about being a shopaholic - I AM NOT AT ALL ALONE! :)
- Very very inspirational. keke. -
So what are you waiting for? Another thing on your shopping list:
Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.
So I walked into WHS Smith several weeks ago right before my fashion course.
After picking up some chocolate bars, I quickly browsed through the novel section.
Was very tempted to pick up 'Twilight' since my sisters were pretty crazy about it for quite some time, until 'The Devil Wears Prada' came into my sight.
Wait! That's my book isn't it?
I am attending a fashion course in five minutes time.
I should be reading something related to Prada or Gucci or Dolce & Gabbana.
Not Shakespeare or Michael Crichton (sadly he passed away in a battle against cancer)
So I took a quick look at the back of the book.
'Sassy, insightful and sooo Sex and the City'.
Alright! Sex and the City! That's it!
I walked to the till with a copy of 'The Devil Wears Prada' by Lauren Weisberger.
***
Again, I was standing right in front of WHS Smith at London King Cross yesterday.
Again, I was feeling like a literate - I have to read something while waiting for Danny.
But this time I am going to get something different.
More philosophical perhaps.
So I went straight to the top-selling chart.
These books should be good.
If not, they are at least popular.
Fiction? Nope.
Twilight...AGAIN?
Few weeks have passed, and it's still on the rack??!
One very cynical thought suddenly crept up on me - do they actually update their charts?
I think they do.
They should.
OK. Let's see.
Many eye-catching yellow labels sticking on the books, so yellow as if they are going to pop out any second - 'Buy one and get another at 1/2 price.'
This is one thing I like about England.
The musuems are free. The papers are free. Correction - some papers are free.
And now even the novels are on promotion.
How can it not be a civilised nation??!
OKOK.
About the 1/2 price thingy - it has nothing to do with civilization. I guess it's just one of the after effects of the economic crisis.
Hehe..but who cares?
Then I glanced through the titles, which I was supposed to do at the first place.
'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. OK no more 'fashion literature'.
Next.
'Shopaholic Ties the Knot'. What? Again?
Next.
'Shopaholic and Sister'.
Fine.....
This author must be really good, and rich of course. (provided that the chart is truthful though)
It is even made into a movie - it must be good then.
But I guess mostly because a part of me (I have to admit - a very big part of me) is very interested in this interesting shopaholic series of novels.
So here comes the very predictable ending - I bought two of the series.
And I finished one of them yesterday.
And IT'S SO GOOD.
I experienced most of the things she said - like got tricked into Spring bags and all sorts of promotional strategies. And all those excuses you came out to feel less guilty about buying something totally unnecessary.
***
Well I guess we should somehow get inspired after reading a novel.
So here you go - my inspirations:
First. I should go get the other books in the series.
I thought it should be inspirational??
Well, I've to say it's good market positioning. For very obvious reasons - targetting on shopaholics is always the right thing to do. And it's absolutely brilliant to write an entire series on it. Because shopaholics will ALWAYS come back for the next season. :)
- Right, I guess this is one good inspiration. -
Second. I am a shopaholic afterall.
- Sincere confession and realisation - very inspirational! -
Third. One great thing about being a shopaholic - I AM NOT AT ALL ALONE! :)
- Very very inspirational. keke. -
So what are you waiting for? Another thing on your shopping list:
Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.
Monday, March 2, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIN!!
To my always pretty and smart sister Wan Jin,
Unbelievable! She is now sixteen years old!
I can still remember her being that small little girl, who used to check every night if our house doors were locked; and that chi-cha-po who started talking at a relatively young age. ;)
But now she has grown into a beautiful young lady.
Wish you:
1. Score flying colours in your exams!!!
2. Enjoy your time in Young Enterprise and whatever commitments you are having!!
3. Stay happy, young, beautiful as always!!!
Wish you all the best my dear sister! Have a great year ahead!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Unbelievable! She is now sixteen years old!
I can still remember her being that small little girl, who used to check every night if our house doors were locked; and that chi-cha-po who started talking at a relatively young age. ;)
But now she has grown into a beautiful young lady.
Wish you:
1. Score flying colours in your exams!!!
2. Enjoy your time in Young Enterprise and whatever commitments you are having!!
3. Stay happy, young, beautiful as always!!!
Wish you all the best my dear sister! Have a great year ahead!
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