Happy Year of the Rooster

It's a yearly tradition with this gang. This time, theme was "dressed in our auspicious colours for the year". So we did. :) And welcome Keong to join us this year.

Conversation with My Hair Stylist

Had an interesting conversation with my hair stylist. Something I wasn't expecting.

He talked about positive energy and how to manage our thinking which in turn will have an impact on our reaction to the happenings around us. He is not talking about any religion but just being self aware of our thoughts and how they will translate to behaviour that will influence our children. Somehow he sort of believes the way we think is hereditary, meaning when our kids reach the stage we were in, they will fall back to the same emotions we had before. It could mean having the same fears or depressions (being rebellious during teenage years) or it could go the other way of being courageous and optimistic. I think to put it simply is, kids see our behaviours, learning what can be done. They might not have seen us at our teenage years but the vibes they get from us will influence their behaviours at their teenage years.

He also reminded me of one thing, that do not live up to others expectations but just be true to ourselves. Be myself. I will be happier. He shared this when he was talking about his entrepreneurship. The perseverance could also be labelled as stubbornness. He definitely had doubts, unsure if he was persevering for the right reason. But I guess he pressed on for his passion and probably a vision he had.

Refreshing chat yet something to reflect on.

Throwback to the Sports Themed Dinner

Following Rio2016,  let me do a throwback to our sports themed dinner last year. A successful one which everyone dressed the part as a sportsman.

Thinking back it was pretty funny to see all of us in sports jackets when the weather was humid. But I think it was worth it... for the fun of course.

We had dinner at Char, followed by our sports showcase at Kallang Stadium. LOL! Lastly we ended with some cuppas at Starbucks in Kallang Wave Mall!

Rio2016

While I was clearing some emails, I got bored and surfed the net. Was curious what were under my "favourites". And I revisited this blog! It was quite memorable seeing our past postings. So I thought this blog should be revived!

As suggested by GB, let me start off with a recent event, The Olympics. I am not considered an ardent fan of the game but I do enjoy watching sports like badminton, running and swimming. I must say this year's Olympics covered a lot of human stories which warmed many of our hearts.

For the record, we won our 1st gold medal in Men's 100m butterfly stroke. And it was a 21 year old young man, Joseph Schooling who became a national hero overnight. Just look at the welcome he received when he came back to Singapore! With the water salute, the hundreds of fans waiting at the arrival to the "victory parade" packed with proud Singaporeans, I am sure one wouldn't be able to forget those moments. Yes we all feel really proud.

Personally I love the moment of exchange between Michael Phelps and Joseph after the victory ceremony. The way Joseph looked at Phelps with respect and humbleness and the way Phelps celebrated Joseph's win... I just love that vibe.

And recently the badminton match between Lin Dan and LCW was another heartwarming story. Despite losing, Lin Dan was gracious and I was pretty moved by the note Lin wrote to LCW. Felt a strong sense of friendship; how they see each other as their strongest opponent and Lin shared that it was because of LCW, he wanted to be better. How inspiring is that! This is the power of sports. Not just about winning but always putting in your best to make the game enjoyable and worthwhile. Sadly LCW did not manage to beat China's Chen Long and he settled for silver. Nonetheless LCW is a champion in many's hearts cos he has played very well.

In athletics, I saw how the NZ and USA runners helped each other to complete the race. Indeed showing the spirit of Olympics. And as encouragement both went into the next round. Oh Bolt also caught my attention. I didn't know who he was but when the camera was zooming to the individual runner before the race, this guy actually did a little dance. I was thinking to myself "wah so haolian?" Only cos I didn't know who he was! Then I realised... oh ok he has the quality to be haolian. ... lol. I adore the act of him patting our Singapore's runner Yap. Short moment but definitely encouraging.

I think this year's game was a little more precious because it is the last for Phelps, Lin Dan and LCW. It is sad to think at 30 plus, you are already considered as old to be competing. Being a sportsman is tough and quite short lived in terms of the competing capacity.

When Schooling won our 1st gold, many started to question about did our government even support him at all? Some start to question if he is a true Singaporean. To me, these are noises. A little 马后炮. Most of us Singaporeans, ok at least friends around me and myself are too afraid to venture into something like this. UNLESS there is some sort of guarantee  (sure got money), if not most of us are too afraid to follow what the Schoolings did. I admire the family for their faith and love for one another. AND to me he has won it as a Singaporean.

Ok... stay tuned for more random musings.

Gen Stanley McChrystal

I chanced upon a sole remaining copy of THE Rolling Stones magazine that featured the now infamous interview of the belaguered military general. Now, I have never bought the said magazine before and at $13.40 it seemed too expensive just for one story, although the cover page featured Lady Gaga.

Still, I bought the magazine and read the story on Stan the very night.

As a soldier and leader, he has joined his men in their missions, braving stray bullets and ruthless forces.

While he said things he should not have said, and Obama really have no choice but to remove Stan from command, reading the article in entirety, what came across to me was a frustrated General fighting a impossible war (started by an ex president), an enemy that is elusive and allies that do not always appear to be helpful. Against this backdrop, his was a voice calling for recognition of the problems that beset his mission.

Suicide

I remember one colleague mentioned that when a person chooses to end his life, he is already not himself. Because for one conscious mind to take the very first step to kill own self will take a great deal of "courage" and determination.

Recently, 2 suicidal news caught my attention. The news were on the Korean star and Ms Kerin Peh (I will call her the Bride). I realised how tough times can be, to cause such distress to human beings like us who are educated and "were taught how to handle things in life". Some of us learnt vicariously, while others have to go through the harder way, i.e. personal experience.

Saw some comments about the news about The Bride who took her life just yesterday. Some were sympathetic while others criticised and preached how precious life is. I am not here to judge but I think one has to go through a great deal of trauma to understand. For me, I took a sympathetic stand. Really felt sorry for her having to go through the pain and yet not able to "recover" from the heartache.

As for the Korean actor, it was said that the stress and guilt in juggling his career and his ill dad pushed him to choose this path. He said life was hard.

Indeed, life was very difficult for the 2 cases. Depression is a trap. To get out, you have to be willing to leave a part of you and free the rest of yourself. Some are lucky enough to pull themselves away while others need others to give them a thug. Of course, there are also some who "choose" to fall deeper and deeper.

What we have learnt in schools is somewhat "fairytale" and usually good things happen in life. We were taught the moral values and good behaviours. We were taught how to handle academic topics, how to solve problems in Maths, in Science. Real life experience is hard to teach, no doubt. Still, with the increasing pace and expectation of the society nowadays, the issues on handling extreme emotions cannot be undermined.

A Little Ambition

A colleague asked me what I thought of his impending transfer to a new appointment. I said I think it is good to which he replied I was the first to say something positive.

I said in life you must have minimally a little ambition to be useful and gain knowledge. Without this, then it is likely that every job or opportunity will be viewed negatively.

And one cannot overemphasise the importance of communication in the corporate world. While the ultimate objective is getting the desired message clearly understood, the form ie tone, language and style, do a play equally important roles particularly in your supervisor's comparison of you with your peers.

A good chat

There is a saying that discussion/talk about ideas is the highest form and discussion about people is the lowest. That is easily understood because the talk tends to become gossip, wild postulations, albeit just for a laugh.

I met my university professor at my office canteen and we had a good chat. It was one of the most fulfilling chats I had in a long while.

Whilst we talked about people, it was to update each other of people we know in common and how they are now. We also enquired about each other's family.

Largely, we shared our ideas and experiences. It helped that although we are both engineers by training, we have a healthy respect for culture and the arts.

We both agreed to task ourselves to meditate more often so that we can be better balanced to face the world.

Documentary

I watched a National Geographic documentary titled "Escaping from North Korea". It is an excellent production. Real lives and faces (some blurred to protect their identities) need no dramatisation.

Against the risk of being caught and possibly imprisoned or executed (repeat offender), some north koreans take this path to escape their homeland. The journey is a ironic one, summed up by the cliche so near yet so far.

The destination is South Korea ie next door. But the route is through China, then through Laos and finally the Soth Korean embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

It is not just a matter of luck whether one will be caught in China or Laos and be deported. Physical suffering and patience tests the refugee -- the entire ordeal could take months while the actual border crossings takes place over a few days. Many pack a handy dose of opium to commit suicide if caught.

Border crossing take place at night, refugees including children and old grandmothers make the more than 10 hours trek in near darkness and heavy vegetation. I think of it as an over-extended exercise in Pulau Tekong minus the food.

The greatest irony of all is that for the lucky ones who end up in Seoul, the real journey for them starts. Adjusting to a life from communist to capitalist, feeling out of place and being the underclass, poor and starting life all over again no matter your age. But the lure of freedom...that surpasses all.

Bing-bang or ping-pang

As a matter of correct pronunciation, the chinese words for table tennis 乒乓 is pronounced "ping-pang" and not "bing-bang".

Not many chinese are sensitive towards correct pronunciation especially the use of 翘舌 eg "zh" instead of "z" or between "ch" and "c".

I hear a DJ pronouncing 结束 as jie-su when it should be jie-shu.