The President Scholarships 2011

This year, our Government yet again offered President Scholarships to outstanding Junior College students all around Singapore. However this year, there are a few issues that some Singaporeans are not happy with. The one I'm addressing is the controversial "Aaron Koh" saga. Aaron Koh, a senior in HCJC was the first student in the last five years to have a C in his A-level examinations. Whilst compared to the other 3, is rather degrading. Some people may say that his family had a say in the decision, I beg to differ. This goes to show that in Singapore, the Government does not only care about a students grades, but also put account their character, leadership skills. It give students all around Singapore the impression that no matter how good you are, or no matter how lousy you are, as long as your character is flawed it doesn't make a difference.

Thanks for reading!
Wei Jin

The Rupert Murdoch phone scandal

"The news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. How far do you agree?"

Answer:
I agree to a great extent that the news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to extremes for sensational news.
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. Nowadays, to obtain new, interesting information about something big, news medias resort to unhealthy paparazzi culture, they camp at the houses of celebrities, famous musicians, just to be able to earn a story to tell to the world. Have you ever thought that celebrities or even musicians for that matter would want a normal life? Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe if the paparazzi was less intrusive or concerned with competing with other news medias, they may actually be willing to share updates about their life? It is clear that resorting to such disturbing means is wrong. News media were the ones who started all this unlawful tactics and should be fully accounted for it.
Intruding to a person's conversations throught phone hacking is even worse. You may think, how in the world are doing that or why are they doing this? The simple reason is to attract more readers and make more money, blah blah blah... But the main fact is that intruding a person's privacy is wrong, no matter who you may be.
However, the news media do have reasons for displaying such intolerable actions. For example, to attract readers, stand out among other news medias,etc. I can understand, everyone must have money to survive, but the thing is that they do not and should not resort to such methods to attract readers or even stand out for that matter.

Justice and Mercy in MOV

1. Is there true justice? Why?

Yes. Because, Antonio was not killed. Shylock's bond was to take a pound of Antonio flesh if he could not return his debt in time. During the trial scene, Shylock kept insisting on obtaining the flesh of Antonio's but in the end, just before Shylock was about to kill Antonio, (because as we all know, ripping a pound of flesh from a person will only result in death) Portia stepped in a raised the fact that the bond did not mention anything about blood, which in this case means that Shylock could not, would not be able to kill Antonio. Therefore, there is true justice as what was in the bond was fulfilled.

2. Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?

In my opinion, there is true mercy expounded by Portia as although Portia knew how to deal with Shyl0ck beforehand, she actually gave him a chance to stop insisting that he wanted Antonio's life before he falls into her trap.

3. Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.

Based on the text, Justice and Laws was manipulated by Portia. Portia used her status as the lawyer to manipulate the law into dealing with Shylock, he was given justice by Portia, but instead, she used the Law to counter the fact that Shylock was given justice, allowing him to receive punishment instead of the justice he O so wanted, thus proving the point of view that Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power.

In real life, I feel that Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power, one example would have to be Mr Dominique Strauss Kahn, he paid a large some of money to be released out of custody.

Thanks for reading!
Please comment!
Wei Jin

An open letter to the Education Minister from a Secondary 4 student

1. To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention

Ans: I agree with her to a certain extent. Firstly, I would like to point out that not all subjects require "factual memorisation" some like maths require loads of practice, however subjects like Science, Integrated Humanities do, in my opinion, require memorising. Why don't you look at a different point of view? Why can't you say that factual memorisation is a test of who wants it more, who is more persistent, who is the best? In my opinion, I believe that Janelle is just unhappy with the fact that she was unable to score well, if not why would she complaining instead of learning how others cope with their work? On another point, that "students are often not taught to ask ‘Why?’", I feel that it is a matter of the parents in this case, teachers are paid to teach, to be able to produce excellent students, "virtues" such as the asking 'why' is something that the parents should have instilled in their children before adoloscence.

2. Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?

In my opinion, it is indeed a well-crafted letter in terms of grammatical, fluency. However, I feel that her tone is a bit inappropiate, it seems to me like she thinks she's the only person who is facing the problem, that no one else has the problem. But in fact, thousands of other out there are facing the problem but the only thing different is that they are ACTUALLY trying to do something about it. I feel that the education system is set this why to sieve out the ones with the real potential, as by being able to score extremely well in a national exam such as A level, goes to show that that person has a high level of patience, persistence, very good at time management.

3. If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

I would raise that fact that teacher should not judge a student based on how they good they are in a certain subject and to reduce the importance of test marks in students.

Thank you!
Wei Jin

Is money important in a relationship?

1. In your opinion, is money important in a relationship?

2. Consider the 'transactional' element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities? Provide examples for your responses.

Okay, firstly for question 1. In my opinion, I feel that money IS important in a relationship to a certain extent. I believe that money DOES play a part, but a minimal one. When someone is truly in love, it will be because he/she loves that person for who he/she is, not because of her money or background. However, when a couple takes it to the next level, marriage, this is when money plays a part. Marriage is a life long commitment which requires a certain amount of money to sustain. But I feel that the only reason why money would be of a great importance in a relationship is when children come into play. All parents want their children to have the best life they could ever have. In conclusion, I feel that money is important in a relationship to a certain extent.

Now onto the second question. Yes, I do agree that there is an upward trend of relationships or marriages valuing money over other qualities. In our modernised world, the only way to survive is with money. In the past, yes I do agree that money was not that important but now... its a whole different story. Money can basically do anything. A very common example would have to the celebrities. In my experience most renowned actors or even musician, get relationships with people in the same "social class" as them, they can't bare dating a person of a lower class than them. To add on, the people the marry must of course be earning big bucks starring in movies or even releasing albums.

There is only one happiness in life—to love and be loved. George Sands

Thank you for reading!!!
Wei Jin

Term 2 HBL

Difficulty Rating: * * *We Slept With Our Boots On

They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyesThey washed out the blood, we loaded our ruck’s and then took to the skiesOver the mountains, villages, and valleys we flewWhere we would land we had not a clueBullets are flying, the LZ is hot We’re leaving this bird whether we like it or not30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit Get ready to go and make it quickMy heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veinsI run as fast as I can through the lead rainThe noise is tremendous, terror I can’t defineThe only reason I survived that day was divineI kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some moreYou do what you have to do, with that I will say no moreWe fought from the valleys to the mountain peaksFrom house to cave, to car to creekDirty and tired and hungry and scaredWe slept with our boots on so we were always preparedThose majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skiesThe Hindu Kush has changed so many livesUp the mountains with heavy loads we trodWho knew hell was so close to GodBeauty and terror are a strong mixed drinkSo we drank it like drunkards and tried not to thinkGood men and bad men, Mothers lost son’sEveryone loses their innocence when they carry gunsWashed in the blood, and baptized by fireI will never forget those who were called higherThey say blood is thicker than water, well lead is thicker than bloodBrothers aren’t born they’re earned. In the poppy fields, the tears, and the mudAnd when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tellAnother Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hellSteve Carlsen Task 1: Someone once said, "War is a delight only to those who have not experienced it". Indeed, when we are young and innocent, we may find war a fun subject of play, something we always look forward to be involved in. However, it does not take long for us to open our eyes to the reality of war and witness the cruelty of it. And that is exactly what Steve Carlsen is trying to bring out in his poem "We Slept with our Boots on". Steve Carlson is an ordinary soldier who has experienced 3 years of war. He joined the United States Army in October 2000 and went to Infantry Basic Training, and Airborne School in Ft. Benning Georgia. He then reported to D Company 1st battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. 82nd Airborne Division in Ft. Bragg North Carolina. He deployed to Kosovo in November 2001 as part of peace keeping operations. He Deployed to Afghanistan in of December 2002 where he participated in combat operations. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2003. Well, he may seem like an ordinary soldier, but it is exactly, being an ordinary soldier that allowed him to experience the worse of war, and the cruelty of fighting your own kind. The theme and central idea Steve is trying to bring out in his poem is that once you are involved in war, you are eternally scarred, and will lose your innocence forever. This was clearly brought out in the line "Everyone loses their innocence when they carry gun". Steve Carlsen is a experienced poem, as can be seen through the techniques he used to bring out the theme he wants to convey to his readers. Firstly, let us look at the structure of the poem. Steve's poem is seemingly untidy, with no clear structure at all. Also, the clauses are very short in the poem, most are just 3 words: "30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit". This creates a extremely fast paced poem, and Steve uses this to show fast paced war is - you are either fighting for your life, and running for your life. It is just so terrifying that you can't settle down. The moment you have settled, something suddenly pops up, and you have to defend your life again. This is also brought out through the story line of the poem - the poet and his comrades running and fighting for their lives. They were so afraid and unsettled, that they don't even dare to take off their boots when sleeping. This, being put as the title, further emphasizes the terror of war. The setting is in a battlefield, somewhere between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as the poet wrote "Hindu Kush". The first line also shows how "They unloaded the dead and maimed right before our eyes".They probably referred to the enemy, and the enemy might be miaming their dead comrades to make sure they are dead. Therefore, this setting may be one of a lost battle on the poet's side, and he and a few comrades were probably the few who survived. Hence, they had to fight and run away, for their lives. The POV is mainly 1st person POV "I" with occasional switches to "We". First, the poet would show his own personal feelings, emotions and actions, and then he would proceed to show a collective action by using "We". This is probably to link "We" and "I" together, to show that his terror, his feeling of injustice is also shared by everyone who is involved in war, and they experience exactly the same thing as him. Hence, this poem may be representing the emotions and feelings of all involved in the war, and gaining our sympathy for them. The use of language is smart. For example, the writer uses the line "baptized in fire" to show the hopelessness and cruelty of war. As we all know, baptism is a tradition whereby all Christian have to be submerged in water before being saved. This is a symbolism of being washed of our sins and having hope for the future. However, in war, there is no water, so it symbolizes that the poets sins of killing accumulated in war can never be washed and forgived. This brings out the cruelty and sinfulness of war. Also, instead of having hope, the writer is "baptized in fire". This shows how hopeless, cruel and torturing war is, to the point where it defies convention. Another possible interpretation: baptism is a tradition for Christian to gain a new life by washing away their old sins. However, in war, the only thing the poet can do is to defend his own life through "fire", which is fighting with guns, but not water. This illuminates the terror war brings to soldiers, especially ordinary soldiers like Steve Carlsen. Other techniques being used include the repitition of the word "and". "I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more ... Dirty and tired and hungry and scared". The constant use of "and", show how never-ending, dreary and tiring war is. The soldiers have to constantly do something in order to save their own lives. In conclusion, I think Steve Carlsen is a great poet. He uses much technique such as repition of certain words, symbolism and vivid imagery. His poems are always open to many interpretations like the phrase "baptized in fire". Furthermore, he experienced the most basic of war itself, and this story shown through the poem is a very true and honest depiction of war. Indeed, war is a cruel and terrifying thing. It is also meaningless terror - after all, it is just human vs human. In the end, nothing is gained, only precious lives are lost, and families separated. I can only summarize my personal response in this one quote, "Older men declare war. But it's the youth who must fight and die! Mankind has to put an end to war, or war would put an end to mankind". Task 2: Point of view The persona in the poem is probably a war veteran, someone who has survived a war. The speaker is in a resigned state and he does not care very much anymore, as can be seen from the lines "30 seconds they yelled, Lock N Load and grab your shit " and "You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more". Situation and setting The poem is located in a chaotic setting with war going on in the Hindu Kush. The term Hindu Kush on first sight, seems like some religion, but after some research, it was found to be actually a series of mountains. Language/ Diction The language and diction used in the poem portrayed a panic state, which seems realistic. Since the first few lines, real terms are used like LZ which stands for landing zone, and lock N load which is a term soldiers use. With these, a realistic atmosphere is created, bringing the reader closer to the action. The language used also suggest the carefree attitude of the soldier, who does not care much after experiencing the war. From the lines "And when I get to heaven to Saint Peter I will tell" and "Another Paratrooper reporting for duty sir, I spent my time in hell", we can see that is does not really matter to the soldier anymore if he was sent to hell, as he just came from a war which was equivalent to hell. Saint Peter, who is the guardian to the gates of haven also appears in the poem, bringing some religious references. Besides that, the line "hell was so close to god" also brings that. This line shows that on the battle field, which is referred to as hell, is so close to god, as one could get killed easily here and sent to god right away, through "hell" one get get closer to god. Personal response I feel that this poem carries many lessons on the horror war could bring to not only those fighting it, but also those around the soldiers. It shows that although there are good and bad in this world, everyone is somebody son and no one should deserve the sufferings caused by war.

Evolution of war.

In your opinion, how has war evolved from the past to present? Please use examples to justify your opinions.

The 2 ways war has evolved is the reason for the war and the technology used in the war. An example of a olden reason for a war is the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945. The Japanese at that time wanted to be the master of Asia and the Pacific region, the reason for war then was over territorial differences. Now, for example the Iraq War that has been ongoing since 2003, was sparked because of the potential war sparker that Iraq had in possession, they were working on creating nuclear weapons to start wars.
For technology, its just the drastic change in weapons and artilleries used in wars in the past. Now more powerful and destructive tools for mass destructions are being used compared to the olden weapons that were used in the past.

Book Review #2 The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick

If you are interested in startups, or how marketing and advertising are evolving, or just how Facebook is changing the world, buy this book. It’s very readable and gives great insights into how Facebook grew from a dorm room to a huge company. There’s no other book out there that gives such a complete history of the company and of Mark Zuckerberg.

But if you’re looking for an objective and true history of Facebook, this isn’t it. Kirkpatrick really, really loves Facebook. So much so that I’m not sure he’s even close to capable of being objective about the company.

The result is a book that not only celebrates Facebook’s truly amazing accomplishments, but it’s also a book that makes excuses for, or denies, Facebook’s stumbles along the way. And that’s fine. But it isn’t really the truth. What we need is a book that tells the absolute, brutal truth about Facebook.

Facebook isn’t just a social network or a potentially huge business, says Kirkpatrick. It might also bring world peace.

The two famous lawsuits that fell out of Facebook’s early days – ConnectU and houseSYSTEM – were characterized more as nuisance lawsuits than real questions about the integrity of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

We don’t need Kirkpatrick to shy away from the ugly details about the early days of Facebook. But he gives such a one-sided view of the story that it leaves me wondering what details are being left out.

“Zuckerberg clearly stole from the Winkelvoss brothers,” Kirkpatrick said this evening, “but the Winkelvoss brothers clearly stole from everybody else.”

That’s a great conclusion. I think most readers are intelligent enough to look at both sides of the story and draw the right conclusions.

They say that history is written by the victors. In the end The Facebook Effect reads more like an authorized biography than anything else. It’s the story of Facebook as Facebook wants the story told. It is a wonderful, if flawed, story about the creation of a company that half a billion people interact with regularly. I highly recommend you read it, and then wait for the book that will tell the whole story.

Thanks for reading!

Wei Jin

Post reflection on "The Soldier"

This is the poem "The Soldier" for your reference:

If I should die, think only this of me:   
That there's some corner of a foreign field
 That is for ever England.  There shall be
  In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
 A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
 Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
 A body of England's, breathing English air,
 Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,  
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less     
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
 Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
  And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
 In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Young men in Singapore, including you, will have to do National Serivce. Why do you think National Service is compulsory in Singapore and why is it important? In the poem, the speaker expresses his love for his country, England. Do you find this same spirit of passion and patriotism Singaporeans have for our country? Why? Do you have this same spirit of patriotism for Singapore? Why?

Consider your loyalty to Hwa Chong. Are you proud to be a Hwa Chongian? How have you shown your loyalty and pride as a student of Hwa Chong?

1)Why do you think National Service is compulsory in Singapore and why is it important?

My Answer: I think it is compulsory as Singapore is a small but rapidly growing country and she needs all the help she can get if we were ever thinking of sustaining any attack from other countries. National Service is also a platform for people from all walks of life to come together and serve the nation. It also promotes racial harmony and a sense of belonging to our country. National Service is important as it has been an integral part of Singapore's defence, providing peace and prosperity for the nation for more than 30 years. Apart from fulfilling military requirements, National Service has also played an important role in nation building. By bringing young Singapore from diverse backgrounds together, it helps to forge unity and cohesion among Singaporeans.

2)Do you find this same spirit of passion and patriotism Singaporeans have for our country? Why?

My Answer: To be honest, I don't really think I'm at that level of passion and patriotism for Singapore. Maybe its because I'm of a rather young age and the pride for our country has not completely settled in. Although, during times like NDP when I see over tens and thousands of people standing up and taking the pledge simultaneously, I have that "proud adrenaline" that slides down my body.

3)Are you proud to be a Hwa Chongian? How have you shown your loyalty and pride as a student of Hwa Chong?

My Answer: Of course, I'm proud to be a Hwa Chongian. Hwa Chong is one of the best schools in Singapore and the WORLD. To even be able to study here, I already feel lucky and privileged. Whenever, be it on my way home, making my way to tuition, I never I mean never forget that I'm a student of the world class institution. Giving seats up to those that need it, helping the elderly...Name it, I've done it.

Well, thats the end of my blog post
You'll hear from me soon :)
Wei Jin

Book review #1 The Definitive book of Body Language

This book, The Definitive Book of Body Language, is a great resource for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of body language and learn more about how to interpret the nonverbal behavior of other people as well as how to use body language to send the right signals. It is written by Barbara Pease. This book helps the reader understand and interpret different types of body language. It also offers practical tips and suggestions for improving your own body language and covers a wide range of nonverbal behaviours, from eye signals to arm positioning. Also, it provides numerous visual examples of body language and nonverbal signals. This book basically contains information about the background and history of research on body language and contains tips for how to become better at interpreting body language. It also contains: cultural similarities and differences in the use of body language, common body signals that indicate lying or deceit, techniques for making a great first impression, practical advice and suggestions for improving your own body language. The Definitive Book of Body Language offers an intriguing look at how people use body language to communicate. Unlike many other books on body language, this book emphasizes the fact that “clusters” of behaviors are far more telling than just a solitary gesture viewed in isolation. While other body language books tend to focus on the interpretation of lying or deceitful behavior, this book offers tips for how you can use body language in positive ways. Early chapters offer background information on body language research and how to interpret nonverbal signals. Later chapters offer a wealth of information on topics such as mirroring, eye signals, and micro-expressions. Most importantly, The Definitive Book of Body Language provides useful practical applications for reading signals and using body language to communicate. Valuable tips for making first impressions and coping with the nonverbal behaviors of others make this book a valuable resource for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of nonverbal communication.

Thank you for reading!

Letter of encouragement: Mr Nick Jones

120 Tanjong Rhu Road #1o-05
436904
30 March 2011

Dear Mr Jones,

I'm a student from the world class institution, Hwa Chong in Singapore, Tan Wei Jin. I read your article on Yahoo and was inspired to write a letter of encouragement to you. Before I go on, please send my belated birthday wish to your daughter.

As a British national magazine editor, living and working in Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, getting a day off would be a real tough thing to do, especially during the first quarter of the year. I guess you must have felt really shocked when you were at home spending time with your family when the seismic shockwaves hit and your apartment swayed. So much for your time with your family. It must have been really frustrating to shuffle between the dining table, sofa and computer over the weekend and sending tons of reassuring e-mails to friend and family members, especially on your supposed day off, I guess what matters most is that you and your family are safe and away from nature's harm. It must have been a real eye-opener for both you and your family, you must have known that Tokyo is situated on Japan's main Honshu island which is turn sits at the intersection of three continental plates, the Eurasian, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates, which are slowly grinding against each other, building up enormous seismic pressure that every so often is realised with ferocious force, but the fact that in Japan minor earthquakes or tremors are common, must have lowered your guards. I hope you are safe with your wife's side of the family in the west side of Japan. I believe that you too believe that the people that have been hit by the earthquake should and must stay strong! I will be praying and donating and doing all I can from this side in Singapore, you made the right decision to move with your parents-in-law. I wished your family the best of luck in the coming period, hope that none of your close friends or relatives were hit by the earthquake. Be Strong!

Regards,
Wei Jin

My picture

This court, this hall, this sport. Carpetted flooring, seats for supporters. This is where I belong.

Pls comment to suggest how this story can turn out to be.

My description of scenic picture

This is a picture I took from the web.
Clouds like large, fresh marshmallows floating in an anti gravity oven, drifting at their own will. Well-crafted rocks glistering under the crimson sun, right above the crystal clear water, corals can be seen through the shallow ocean. In the background, pine trees at designated positions, offering sought after shade. A centre for optimum relaxation, full of serenity.

Short Story: The Identity of a Singaporean

Short Story: The Identity of a Singaporean (revised)

“We the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people…” I never imagined myself, as a former US citizen, to be reciting this pledge of allegiance to Singapore. It has been an exciting decade since I set foot on this “Little Red Dot”. Everything changed, from my taste for food to my strong American accent. And this is how my story goes…

Mark Sullivan, division manager of BCAIC Inc. , hails from New York, USA, has 2 young daughters and a loving wife. I have just been seconded to Singapore, with a task to expand the business locally. Having heard many horror stories about Singapore, I thought I would be in for a rough ride. Nevertheless, I had to put food on the table for my family, so I can only proceed as planned.

“Good morning passengers, I am your captain for today!” A broadcast was made over the PA system. With both hands filled with bags, I chucked them into the overhead compartment and plunged into my seat. The flight was smooth and the service was excellent. The air stewardesses were all helpful and meticulous, every one of my needs was satisfied, I believe my family enjoyed it much as well. This was my first taste of the professional, award-winning, Singapore International Airlines, which I would never forget.

Our first week in Singapore was all on administrative matters. After that, it was all about work and living the life as a Singaporean. Our family went to all of the renowned places such as the Zoological Gardens, Sentosa and Botanical Garden, etc. We experienced a variety of activities. Together with Singapore’s efficient education system, my daughters were both enrolled in a local kindergarten in no time, while my wife stayed at home and kept herself busy with other expatriates wife and of course our household chores were all taken care of by our Filipino helper. This was when my time in Singapore got interesting.

During a meeting with one of Singapore’s well-developed organizations, Mr Bean, I realized that Singaporeans were very efficient and professional and what they call it, kiasu. The representative that conversed with me shared with me about Singapore’s way of working, he even told me about the word “kiasu”, which from what I understood is known as being afraid of losing out to others. For example, Chinese New Year is coming up; many “kiasu” families have multiple bookings with several restaurants even before they were open for reunion dinner reservations.

There was once were my colleague introduced my family to this unique pastime called “prawn fishing”, from what I had understood it was a time for relaxation where anybody could come and fish for prawns in an enclosed pond for just thirty Singapore dollars every three hours, I was something which my family enjoyed a lot. We never even knew there was such a thing in the world! At the prawn fishing area near East Coast Park, my family decided to take up the three hours of fishing as it’s something we would not be able to do again. The stall owner was so kind that he allowed us to have another hour free! My daughters were ecstatic when they had caught their first prawn. To our surprise, we only realized after we were done that we allowed to keep the prawns we caught! The friendly and kind stall owner even threw in a few more for the trip home. We ask the stall owner for things to do at the beach just next door. He told us that we could utilize the “free” barbecue pits at the beach. My family was stunned by the fact that a barbecue pit was free! Nothing, I mean nothing was free in New York, even tissues. We were all really happy with Singapore’s way of life. That day, we spent the day at the beach. Barbecuing our fresh prawns, swimming at the ocean, having a whale of a time. I’ve never seen my family this happy before! It made me feel great. However, that night my younger daughter fell terribly ill being under the sun for most of the day and not being hydrated. At 2am, my wife and I brought here to the nearby hospital, Raffles hospital, to our surprise during the wee hours of the morning there were still many people working there, always on the watch, always ready. My daughter was prescribed with medicine and within a few days, she was back in top form.

My impression of Singapore had already started to change. Not only were the people friendly and easy to converse with, they were also kind and helpful. Unlike in New York, it was like the survival of the fittest; colleagues were pitting against each other and never helping one another out with work. After only being exposed to the Singapore style of work, I finally realized that life here was not that bad. In Singapore, people work together as a group and not individually.

Surprisingly, I have developed an immense liking for chilli. Similar to all other Singaporeans, I have started to eat chilli with basically everything. One day after work, my wife and I gathered the children and went out for dinner at this special place near my office which was highly recommended by my Singaporean colleague, Lau Pat Sat. At first, the one thing that captured all our eyes was the portable stalls that were lined up at the entrance of the food centre. The distinct smell of barbecued chicken and mutton kebabs filled the air, which later I was told that they were called satay. The atmosphere of the hawker centre was amazing; people from different races and background were coming together and enjoying the food they love. Their love for food was just indescribable. One of the favourite Singaporean pastimes is eating, especially eating out. Stall owners were friendly and helpful, from what I observed, they gave me a larger portion compared to the other locals; I guess this is their way of showing their generosity? That night, our family had a whale of a time, unexpectedly there was an elevated stage right smack in the middle of the hawker centre which was used for musician to entertain the patrons with soothing music, which was something very creative, on the contrary in New York there’s no such thing as a hawker centre.

One more thing that I noticed was that Singapore’s cleanliness is highly commendable. I was told that the cleanliness is due to Singapore being a “fine” society. Apparently, imposing of fines is a common thing here, from littering to jaywalking to speeding. I’ve also caught on the Singaporean way of speaking, Singlish. Apparently, the use of expressions such as “la”, “lor”, “hor”, “ah” is extremely common among the locals. Over time, I soon find myself lapsing into the use of these expressions. I enjoyed every bit of my stay here and soon I realized that my older daughter is eligible for Primary 1 registration and thus decided to take up the government’s offer of Singapore citizenship to secure her a place in a reputable local school.

“I, Mark Sullivan, hereby renounce my US citizenship to become a citizen of Singapore.” Today, both my daughters are in renowned secondary schools with fluency in both mandarin and English. From then, I never looked back.

Done by: Tan Wei Jin(24)

2o3