Stories

Everyone has his or her life story to tell. May it be interesting, may it be long, may it be life-changing, there are many stories out there waiting to be told. In the newspapers, we read about people who are able to make it in this fast-paced, ever-changing world. Those are the success stories. There's so much to be learnt form these stories. Mostly, it's about how the person overcame all odds, challenges with iron-clad determination. Admittedly, this has become predictable but nonetheless, a seemingly essential ingredient for success.

Then there are stories which sets us thinking. Thought-provoking articles about what-ifs and the moving line which separates the good from the bad. Justification of certain punishments. Moral values. OB markers. There are a wide collection of stories that entices the grey matter to start working.

Of course there are also the stories which lead to tears. We must not forget that there are other people who are not as fortunate as us to be living in a material world. Sometimes, the world has been divided into two: one of a more affluent nature and the other a much poorer cousin being an understatement. People who are living well below the subsistence level, constantly worrying when the next meal is going to be, where is the next shelter to call home. There is help for them, but it is never enough. So should we expand our efforts or resign ourselves to the fact that we can only throw so many starfishes back into the water?

Life stories are wide and plentiful. If we ever bothered to stop to smell the roses, we should be able to stop and listen to the stories that people are willing to share. There is much to learn and helps to broaden our horizons.

Responsibility

It's a big word with many implications. Assuming a leadership position puts me face to face with this intangible entity which gets heavier with time. Some people are able to handle the burden admirably (Frodo Baggins in Lord of The Rings), others become weighed down by this invisible force. Friends who you can depend on become absolutely crucial in this juncture. While the rewards may justify the work, often, it is a thankless task.

I'm not sure how I'll handle it if it is being thrust to me. I only hope that I have the strength and persistence to see it through. It would by no means be the first time I'll be faced with it and it will definitely not be the last. To improve and grow, learning is needed. And it goes in a cycle...

Mirrors

Look into a mirror and what do you see? A reflection of oneself that is untainted by lies or malice. A doppelganger staring right at you. Reality in the virtual. They are the windows to your soul. When you face a mirror by yourself, there is no longer a need to deceive and pretend. What you see is what you get.

Mirrors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are dresser mirrors, dentist mirrors, wall mirrors, road mirrors, hand mirrors and even house of mirrors in amusement parks. Mirrors have a variety of uses that help us in our daily lives. It has become such an integral part of our lives that I can dare say that there are few who have not looked into one at least once a day.

Something as simple and elegant as a mirror with such an important function, yet it serves to provide us with a greater insight on who we really are. When we stare into the mirror and ask who is the fairest of them all not unlike Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, what would the mirror say? Are we really happy with what we have become or who we really are?

If one can see the inside of another soul, what do you hope to see? Something as gleaming as the first rays of sunlight? Or something darker like the abyss which is devoid of light?

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" - adapted from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

VJChoir All-guys Outing

2 guys, a girl and a pizza place. 8 guys, 1 bottle of alcohol and 1 Japanese restaurant. What's the link? Well, the former is a hit drama/comedy, the latter was an outing I just came back form. The outing was memorable for more than one reason.

To be honest, I've not seen most of the people for a long time. While the time gap for KW and Shawn is perfectly understandable (they are currently studying overseas and are only back for the holidays) and that of Calvin and ZY can still be acceptable (they are studying in NUS), the fact that I've not seen CL, WL and JLo is quite amazing since we are all studying at NTU. Well putting that aside, it was a happy occasion to see all of them again. Reminisience was definitely on the cards.

Eventually selecting a Japanese restaurant at Marina Square, we made our way there exchanging stories and playing catch up. After placing our orders we began a HTHT which was nothing short of intriguing. We touched on personal relationships which I would not disclose here since there are sensitive issues. We also talked about what we wanted to do in the future. This would be one of the outings that I would cherish because the time we spent together in the company of brothers is precious to me!

We've set another outing soon. Hint: It has something to do with our passion.

Hope to see everyone again!

Mad World!!

Approaching the end of the holidays...

The national anthem rang out from the loudspeakers. Everybody stood up to take the pledge. The president takes his leave. The after-party starts amidst the excitement of the fireworks. Parade ends and school holidays draw to a close...

Very real indeed. I'm just picturing how it would be like on 9 August 2009. There would be joy and there would be a sad voice inside me telling me that school is starting again. I must say I have enjoyed the very long holidays. Busy with the little things as well as the big things, the holidays gave me a much-needed break away from the stressful studying environment. The changes that may happen (i.e I'm no longer staying in hall and I may be joining a new CCA) provide some anticipation.

The impending D-day leaves me the impression that I must cherish the last part of the holidays. As such, I'm trying to organize outings to meet up with old friends (did I say old? I mean young!) as well as new ones. I sincerely hope the attendance won't be too bad.

The autumn wind brings with it the scent of fallen leaves. The leaves fall so that new ones can grow. The cycle of life continues in a never-ending cycle that never fails to amaze me.

The Korean Wave

Yes everyone, it's here. For the very slow me, it has come. But for the more updated, it has been here like eons ago. The Korean wave (or K-wave) has landed on our shores, threatening to sweep us all off our feet. The onslaught of Korean drama serials, pop music and culture has open up and challenged our perceptions of Korea. It is not uncommon nowadays to watch Korean drama serials on our TV with Channel U offering up its fair share. For the cable subscribers there are even 2 more channels which cater to your every K-needs. Fortunately (or unfortunately? :-) ) I have finally caught on to the craze and come to appreciate these serials for what they are. Jewel in the Palace, the hit Korean serial about a palace chef introduced me to the traditional form of Korean culture with the scenic locations as well as a well-thought storyline. On the topic of storyline, although there is a school of thought that Korean serials have very similar storyline (they are quite really), they do have variations and the realistic portrayals more than make up for the predictable storyline. Korean reality television also has a very different way of attracting the viewers that I have difficulty trying to describe. Then there is Korean pop music which was introduced to my more fashion-conscious bro. Super Junior, the recent performer in the recent Melody Awards in Taiwan, is a mega-hit with fans all over the world. Their single "Sorry Sorry" has sparked massive following with fans taking to imitating their dance moves and even classes on how to dance to their music. It helps that they have boyish good looks and lots of idol quality. FT island graced our shores just yesterday and released quite a few hits.

Well, I'm not really sorry that I have caught the K-train. (maybe just a little since I caught a really late one) Till next time, may we all learn the dance steps for "Sorry Sorry". :-)

The many faces of English

The English language is a mystery. Many people have tried decoding it but to no avail. Many more have tried to understand it but failed. There are so many facets of English that are all unknown territory. Not even Christopher Columbus could completely discover this vast piece of land. How many ways can you express sadness? Heartbroken, downhearted, disconsolate, devastated. These are just some of the words that are synonym to "sadness". Unbelievable isn't it? That is probably one of the contributing reasons why some people (me included) find it hard to learn a new language. If there are so many words that have the same meaning then why not use them interchangeably or even eliminate some of them to make things easier? Linguists will say that there are some differences to the different words and although some of them differ by a minute degree, they add colour and variety to the language. They will say it's the beauty of the language. Well, tell that to the normal primary/secondary/tertiary students. It's a massive headache!

On one hand the intricate patterns of the English language can be a terror to learn, on the other hand I must admit that I do enjoy the language especially what is written in books. The different words use in different situations has a magical feel to it, bringing something as two-dimensional as a story in a book to life. They can change something as mundane as going to work/school into vivid pictures and endless adventures. Learning it is difficult but appreciating it makes it much more bearable.