Thursday, June 28, 2007
There's a new band in town called CTI (Carpenter's Tools International). I had the privilege to hear them perform today at one of the secondary schools, and I have to say that they are good. Of course not in the same league Hillsongs or Casting Crowns, but definitely have the potential. Their concert is on the 14th of July, 3-5pm at St. Andrews Cathedral, so if you're free make your way down there and get your ticket for a small fee of $6, and listen to what may be the band of the next generation. Well for me at least.
I also finished reading False Impression today, and I must say, it's been awhile since reading a book has kept me up, on my on will, and school texts do not count. It is an awesome awesome book, and if you have not read it, which I'm sure you have not, then you're missing out on probably the next best book after Dan Brown's fantastic four.
And finally, I cannot emphasize how wonderful God has been, and how He never seizes to amaze me, joy beyond expression. After a week of boring holidays, and I think Maricar is the best person to verify that, I decided that planning the holidays on my own was going to be a moo point, so I prayed, and decided to live day by day, not something new to me, and guess what? Now my days are being filled one by one. What do I have planned next week? NO IDEA, but I'm sure God already has my agenda worked out.
Dan
11:35 pm
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
I think I have been too Australianised. I decided to just go out and walk about the mall today, also to get myself a couple of books so that I won't feel so bored. The moment I stepped out of the house, the blazing heat was enough to kill me. Then the bus stop was flooded with secondary school kids who had just ended school, which reminded me again why I didn't like to go out on weekdays. The school crowd. At the mall, I found solitude in Times book store, and got myself the couple books I wanted. Jeffrey Archer has a new book!! False Impression. My first favourite author. After Times, I walked around awhile, but I felt so...confined in the mall. Like thousands of people were being squeezed inside one building. So I decided I needed to get out. Plus I was starting to develop a headache. The interchange was terrible. The bus took awhile to come, and so I plugged in my Ipod, and had the music on relatively loud, but this bunch of boys behind just could not stop talking. Speaking in thir broken Singlish (I never thought I'd ever hear such language), and cursing in their various dialects.
The things our youth have become. This generation they curse and swear. What will the next generation become? We want to blame it on the media, we want to blame it on the schools, but are they really the ones who are at fault here? Well if they aren't, then it has to be religion, yes, let's blame religion. The cliche arguments would then surface. But why do we feel the need to blame? Does blaming solve anything? OK, so what if the mentioned parties above are indeed at fault. The problem is still not solved. Who am I talking about here? Parents of course. Hearing the language coming out of the mouth of those kids just got me really annoyed, not at the kids, but at their parents. Singapore society is so stereotypical.
How do you combat foul language?
Dan
6:12 pm
Monday, June 25, 2007
Have you ever felt like what you're doing now is a waste of time? Time is such a limited thing, and we always emphasize the need to seize it, yet what are we doing do seize? I always wonder if 10 years from now, I'll look back and wonder, why didn't I do this when I was younger. What did I do when I was younger? Play computer, watch DVDs. Yet at this age, what is in my mind that I can do now, that in 10 years time I won't look back and regret? Something productive, something to fill my time, something to be proud of. I should have thought about this before the holidays began.
Dan
7:19 pm
Sunday, June 24, 2007
The boring week came to a great end with a relaxing, long Sunday afternoon nap, after I caught up with YFC friends, and attended YC after a long break. Now another fore casted boring week awaits me ahead, unless I do something about it. Sounds so hard when it's so easy to just sit back and relax. I need a self project. And I think the humidity here is killing my creative juices...not that I had much to begin with, but I feel so blank in the mind here. Maybe it's because I haven't been studying for awhile. Could that be it?
Dan
7:42 pm
Thursday, June 21, 2007
I was watching deal or no deal the Singapore version, and I have to tell you that it is a total flop. The Singaporeans here may think otherwise, but that is because they have nothing to compare against. Just like you won't know that RI is the best unless you compare with the other secondary schools. So first comparing it against the local arena, I'd say that there is only one kind of game show that Singapore can pull off and that is the serious kind. Like The pyramid, Who wants to be a Millionaire, and the likes. We cannot do things like the wheel of fortune, or deal or no deal. Why not you ask? Because we are Singaporeans. The show was so bad that I could not even watch it, so I sat facing my computer while the TV went on. The only reason why people will still watch it, and participate in it, is because it is the only get-rich-quick game in Singapore. And I will also bet that Singapore will never broadcast the Australian version of deal or no deal because it will thrash Singapore hands down.
"And they glorified God in me." Gal 1:24
What have we done that others will see God and glorify Him?
Dan
3:12 pm
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I had gelare waffles with James today, and it was fantastic. I missed those waffles. As I walked around plaza singapura I realised also how things have changed, and are changing. I also realise how I've changed. Life is so much simpler in Australia than it is here. Though I feel more familiar with the setting here. Perhaps its because I do not know much about Melbourne yet. I also felt foreign in that mall. Like I didn't belong there...I guess it comes with age right? Do you know what else comes with age? Spelling words they were meant to be. Like this entry, and the entries before. No more "r" or "wad" or "haf". And this group of malay guys were whistling across the mall at girls. Nothing new to me at least, seeing as how aussies holler from across the lawns, but they do it with style and class, plus the smooth words that just sweep girls off their feet. These malay guys did it like the alpha males of the stone age marking they're territory. As I walked to the escalator pass them, I turned to stare at them, also of course making sure they didn't harm the girls, since they had already walked up to them and all. Very random I know.
Dan
12:29 am
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Gal 1:10.
The verse is very straight forward, and needs no explanation. Even a non-christian will understand it's meaning. Well at least the first half of that verse. Will we dare boldly proclaim ourselves as bondservants of Christ?
Dan
3:10 am
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I've been helping out at the youth camp and it's been very very tiring. I must first of all commend those who have been at the camp for all the days. Your strength, and endurance through thick and thin is admirable.
I've only been helping out for less than two days in total and I am dead beat, with aching shoulder muscles. I helped plan a camp during Easter for OCF, and the thought and effort that went into the camp was just overwhelming. The help we received from everyone. It made it that much easier and I now appreciate all the help and advise that was given, especially the volunteering. The effort spent to put this youth camp together was no less, and might even have been greater.
And now I know why the experience was so different. A camp for youth requires a camp committee filled with the energy of youths. People who stay up till the wee hours of the morning just to chat, and talk over the phones for hours. People who scream when meat fall to the floor, and where weather is the last thing that will stop them. A camp for you adults require freedom, and a lot of room for improvisation. It is a camp broken down to its core of just food and the reason why people are at the camp.
I'm sorry if I sound random now, and I'm sorry to Jolene if I left early. I saw the look of "What you're leaving? But we still have 2 games to go.." in your eyes...did I? The thoughts going through my head, the memories coming back. People have changed, and phased onto adulthood, and I think it's time that I do too.
Dan
1:15 am
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The airport experience was good on my way home. I was at Australian customs, and I think it's a thing to pick on people travelling alone, so to those who want to travel alone prepare to be stopped a lot. I was checked at the Australian customs...the usual check. The man checking me was huge...and I think Russian...he had that very strong accent. His first question was "Are you under 18?" I was like... I decided to try a new style at the airport and dress a bit more formally to see if the treatment would be different if I were a dressed like a student. Seems like its the face, so what can I do if I look young?
The flight was quite pleasant...what else can you say about a fly? Exciting, fun, interesting, would all result in the conclusion that something went wrong during the flight, even if it was not fatal. As the plane was landing there was this stewardess who had to go round and ensure that all the safety precautions were in place in case the worst happened, but I think the airline should try and train their staff not to invoke unnecessary fear. Saying things like "Please don't put your bag here in case you have to run," isn't exactly comforting. Where is the faith?
And on a totally different note, the heat is killing me.
Dan
7:18 pm
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Now the SCV hike. I understand their rationale for the hike, and I also understand that these things are bound to happen in the monopoly market. The perks of studying economics is that you understand why all these should, and will happen, and you also understand why there will be complaints. This does not mean that as a consumer I am happy. Sometimes I wonder if these management boards ever studied economics, or have someone on their board who did economics. Claiming these hikes are "inevitable", or "natural" are terrible excuses.
But it's not all the organisations fault. Singaporeans are so well protected in every way a slight change in climate and we make a big fuss about it. I received a letter in the mail today informing me of a price hike in bank charges, and I was indifferent about it. Do you know why? Because I know that in this country there will always be competition and I will always have choices as a consumer. Price hikes, and high GST are all part and parcel of life around the world, and if Singapore is to become a first world nation it will have to happen as well. It's just a pity Singaporeans both as consumers and as businesses lack the experience to handle such issues appropriately.
Dan
10:48 am
Monday, June 11, 2007
I was going to blog about the Singapore education system and it floppiness, but I realise it'll never change, and so no matter what I say, or no matter how hard the Singapore government tries, things will ALWAYS be the same. That is sad.
On a separate note. God is amazing. Less than 6 hours of study today, I managed to condense the last topic of management. It was like He pointed out the specific points to me and told me that is it. It's so simple.
Dan
1:06 pm
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Time is a strange thing. One moment its here, and the next it's gone, and we're left thinking what could have been. People have different ways of viewing time, and it affects their perception to a certain extent. I always tell myself this time next week, where will I be. And before I know it, I'm there. It never seizes to amaze me that as fast as time seems to fly by, I am always prepared for what is to come. OK, so perhaps I plan ahead sometimes, but just last week I had not done any of my exams, and I could not even imagine how I'd get through, and now I've got one paper left, and I've got confidence that it will turn out well. My friend who is doing the same paper this Wednesday, and I think has studied for it more than me is very worried. Too worried if you ask me.
What I'm trying to say is that all this could not have been possible without God.
I used to think quiet time was a chore, that I had to squeeze time out just to read the bible. But now, I can't imagine a day not reading the bible, or a night not praying to God. In a way I think studying here in Australia has opened up my spiritual life. Perhaps its uni, perhaps its fewer restrictions with school life. So I shall stop here before my anger towards the Singapore education system flares up again.
Dan
4:25 pm
Friday, June 08, 2007
"But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." 2Thess 3:3
I'm not sure if she will read this, but one day we were all at her apartment, and she asked us to each quote a verse that has held us up through the semester. I quoted 2 Tim 3:12. Before the exams I came across this verse in my quiet time, and realised how often we blame God when things do not go our way. We ask why. We want answers. Yet we also say we trust Him. So much for being faithful. But God is faithful to us. Faithful to His promises. It's not head knowledge, it's not gut feeling, but an experience.
Dan
10:54 pm
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Singaporeans have this tendency not to speak up when justice is undone till someone else goes first. Simply put, it is in our culture not to be adventurous. To show how extreme this phenomena is, we don't even offer to help pick up books that fall to the ground, or offer help to people around unless asked for it. Yet when it happens to us, we wish that help would come.
No doubt that Singaporeans all around the world have heard, read, and developed their own opinions on the NSWA closing in Singapore. Many feel sorry for the students, and of course agree that the government should step in and act on behalf of these students. After all, wasn't it the government who came up with the aim to have 150000 foreign students in the country? Wasn't that the reason why NSWA was set up? Now Froebel Academy is creating trouble for its students. A host of private institutions are set up all around Singapore, and the ministry has done a fantastic job and driving to achieve its aim, but at what cost?
150000 foreign students in the future is a awesome aim, and will no doubt serve to enhance Singapore's economy in many ways, creating a bright future, but what is wrong with the current 80000? Does that mean we are any less of a success with only 80000 foreign students? In my opinion out government can do with a few setbacks, and perhaps even failures for its future. Creating increased competition in its next election. Increasing competition does drive market forces to produce at the more efficient outcome after all.
Dan
11:32 am
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
OK I was not going to blog till my papers were over but I just could not keep this inside. It's the second day of the exam, and I've already done two papers, and let me just say for the record that I am rather pleased with myself this exam, and who can forget that all this would not have been possible without God.
Now I know I've not been for exams in almost two and a half years, but seriously, how much can things change about an exam? Melbourne Uni has its exams at some exhibition hall, and it is HUGE. In fact huge doesn't even do justice to its majestic architecture. How people not get distracted by the awe striking ceiling I do not know. I sat at my table, and I saw the guy next to me come in with a half eaten muffin, WHICH HE DID NOT EAT TILL 2 HOURS LATER AFTER THE PAPER. Now, I'm no chef, but is a muffin really meant to be eaten that long after? There was another guy who whipped out a twix bar in the exam hall straight after the paper. A chinese dude with ear plugs!!! I have to try that one day. And another with an ipod!!! And the people around me just get up and walk to the toilet. I thought you always had to ask for permission? Well I might try that one, but till I find extra time during the paper.
Well, my two biggest worries are down the drain, so I'm quite relaxed now. Not that I ever was really stressed. More...tired of waiting for exams, having to study the same thing over and over. Those who have papers, you have my sympathy.
9days!!!
Oh and one more thing. Marcus and I have been eating a bit of subway recently so here's a conversation we had one day at subway.
Me: So, what are you having?
Marcus: I don't know. Maybe I try their special la (points to some Hickory BBQ sauce beef sandwich)
*half way through the meal*
Marcus: What's BBQ sauce made of?
Me:I don't know. What's a hickory?
*both of us look at the sandwich which is in his hand*
Dan
10:16 pm
Sunday, June 03, 2007
This time next week I'll be half as stress as I am now. So really I'd be in holiday mood.
10 days!!! Whose gonna see me at the airport :p
Dan
11:15 pm
Saturday, June 02, 2007
I was reading an article the other day about a gaming school that was going to open in Singapore. It's aim was to help people, primarily parents, wives, girlfriends, bridge the gap with their children, husbands, boyfriends, who tend to game a lot. I reckon that the school will receive a mixture of responses, since negative connotations such as "addiction" and "violence" are just one of the few things associated with gaming. I should also mention that another aim of the school is to change these opinions of gamers.
Now I would imagine that parents, more specifically mothers, would think this absurd, and do away with the idea of a gaming school altogether, which would then defeat the purpose, no matter how noble the intentions. Others might find it a chore to have to attend a school to learn about something they are not interested in, then again, since when does anybody attend a school and claim that they like everything they learn?
When I read that article the first thing that came to my mind was that this man was a genius. An entrepreneur investing in a high risk venture, with potentially high returns. The benefit to society would be tremendous considering that gaming is becoming more and more involved with our future. Even if its not the games, consider then the technology involved in the games. If successful, this man will earn fortunes, his shares will sore, and people will never look at gaming the same way again.
But of course, like all great public goods, the knowledge of gaming is not restricted to him alone, and if parents are determined to attend such a school, what's stopping them from learning it from their own kids? If girlfriends attend such a school to bridge with their boyfriends, one must wonder what kind of relationship the two must have to drive their partner to such extremes. That's right, an extreme. As much as the idea of a gaming school tickles my interest, and I would love to see how this venture works out, society will forever fail to see the benefits of gaming, and hence having to learn it, unless the benefits are made explicitly clear to them.
The Singapore government promotes family days, promotes young couples getting together, perhaps its time to stop emphasising on the desired result, and start emphasising on the process necessary to attain that result.
Dan
6:37 pm
Friday, June 01, 2007
I've not done my revision on management yet, but from what I can recall from my lectures and tutorials, which is amazing a fair bit for someone who hasn't been revising, a management can strive to improve its operations in certain areas, but when all is said and done, management cannot boast, and claim to have excelled in every area. Such as the 'China Bar' just outside of campus boasts cheap food, and quick service. The 'Subway' across the street from that prides itself in its quick, efficient service, quality sandwiches with great flexibility, and who can forget those ads that emphasise healthy food.
These food outlets strive and survive in the food industry not just because they generate profits, but more importantly, they know what they must do to compete on a level to generate those profits. Looking at it from a broader perspective, their management knows what is crucial to survive. Of course it helps if they all had a management degree, or had some form of training in the area. And just like any form of management, a country's government must know what ticks, to keep its nation afloat in an ever changing world. And like many businesses, no country can boast of having excelled in every area. China and India knows its population is it's strength, and uses its cheap labour to its advantage to attract foreign MNCs. Japan knows that its mountainous terrain is a limitation, but boasts great productivity, and quality. Plus its people are very hardworking. Singapore. Once took pride in its cheap labour. Then in its excellent port. Now its airport is almost on par.
But every management knows that all success comes at a cost. 'China Bar' has sacrificed quality food. 'Subway' has sacrificed diversity. What has Singapore sacrificed in its strive to become the hub of South East Asia? I say, in it's bid for success, and emphasis that its people are its core, people is the very thing that Singapore has sacrificed. A stressful working environment, fast paced lifestyle, and a push for more females to enter the workforce, has created issues such as starting a family later, depression, higher divorce rates because work has taken up too much time.
What is the future like for Singapore?
Dan
2:40 pm