Emily Of Emerald Hill - Peranakan

This term, my class was given a text to study. And it was the Emerald of Emily Hill. The photo above shows the an image of the Emerald Hill.

This text is in line with the Peranakan as they characters in the text are Peranakan. They practice the culture of the Perankan. Thus understanding of the Perankan tradition, culture will help us more in understanding the text. For example, understanding that they will have to kneel down to the elders, being a Matriarch of the family and etc. This will help us understand Emily more, especially on the reasons, the motive behind on what she did. For example, kneeling down to her parents during Chinese New Year. Despite the fact that her father-in-law said that they did not need to kneel down in front of him, but Emily kneel down to her so as t manipulate the rest of the family members because if she kneel, the rest of the family members have to kneel, thus showing that she is gaining her power in the Gan family.

To understand the Peranakan more, our Literature teacher brought us to the Peranakan museum in Singapore, somewhere near the City. But unfortunately,I have competition and could not go for it. But after hearing from what my classmates shared in class, I had a better understanding of their practices, such as marriages and their dinner practices .

Emily of Emerald Hill is a text worth reading. It's also an interesting book to read as the plot of the story gets out attention. In the play, Emily is a Chinese Peranakan, who by dint of her native wit and cunning, emerges as the matriarch of a large and distinguished household, but only at the expense of her son’s suicide and her estrangement from her husband. The end of the play sees her alone in a much reduced mansion. She is old, and wistful, and the remnants of her family have moved to the suburbs while she is surrounded by the urgent hammering and pounding of an expanding inner-city construction. Well, and i will recommend to you all to read.

If you are interested to know more about the Peranakan, you can go to the website @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan or http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg/home/home.asp

School Re-Opening Tomorrow!

School is re-opening just tomorrow! I believe that many students are feeling the same as the picture above. And also, at the same time at home, trying to finish their homework. That is commonly seen among students, last minute work. But why?

Personally, being a student myself, looking from a student perspective I feel that because student feel that it is holidays, and they deserved a break. Holidays are meant for them to rest instead of work. Another reason is that they procrastinate a lot. When they made up their mind to their homework on a particular day during the holidays, they often think that there is still a lot of time and started dragging, until the last day of holiday then the realized the urgency. And thus, they tend to rush their homework. This greatly affects the performance of the students, as rush work sometimes might not be of good quality. And thus, what I feel that students should finish their homework early, so that they can really enjoy their holidays, even if it is the last day of holiday. But of course, do not forget about your revision! I know that now saying all these is of no use, but well, remember to do so the next holiday! :D

For myself, I feel that my holiday was awesome. I finished all my homework early, and did some revision. I feel that I really enjoyed my holidays, and I even went Malaysia for holidays. Even though it is not somewhere very far, but I like Malaysia a lot.

But well, school re-opening tomorrow is an unchangeable fact. I am feeling all the stress now. That is because I have to face many tests, and also being prepared to absorb more knowledge. Most importantly, the ending of this holiday is also an indication that the End-Of-Year exams are nearing. I believe that most of the students agree on this, right?

But most importantly, having stress is normal but you must know how to cope with it, then it’s all right. Lastly, over here, I would just like to wish all students good luck, good luck in your tests and exams. Let’s work hard together! :D

Any comments? Simply comment !

Hwa Chong Institution - Bilingual Camp

Hello readers. I am back! Well, any idea where i have been to this few days? Alright, I went for a camp called the the Bilingual camp organize by my school, Hwa Chong Institution. My role there was to facilitate and help the teachers. But today, i will just like to share with you the importance of bilingualism.

This camp is meant for the primary 5 and primary 6 students. They are selected by their teachers to attend the camp, and they come from different schools such as Nanyang Primary, Tao Nan Primary and etc. The purpose of them attending this camp is mainly to understand the importance of bilingualism. And in this case, the two languages is English and Chinese. These two days one night camp is a great experience for all participants and I feel elated when the said that they have learnt something from the camp. You may ask, why is there such camp?

This is because students nowadays are finding hard to cope with two languages, and they often concentrate on what subject and forget about another subject. But being in such a competitive world, we should know at least two languages in order to communicate with more people. This will greatly help in enlarging your social circle, and also in your future. Thus, bilingualism is very important to a student.

Through this camp, students learn to present presentation in both Chinese and English. And also, they had a chance to experience how handling a problem, such as oil spill is like. This programme is also known as the future problem-solving programme. It helps to mature the thought of the students. This camp is seriously a great experience for all primary school students. They also might have chance to be shortlisted in our school! And thus, I urge all primary school, especially primary 5 students, to join us in this wonderful camp in the years come. It is a very great experience for you!

Well, do you have any opinion to share on bilingualism? If yes, simply just comment!

Diesel Spill In River Almond

Hello Everybody. I just read an article on Diesel Spill In river Almond and i would like to share my views on it. It really saddens me when i read this article. This pollution did cause a really great impact or rather damage on the Earth.

Recently, a diesel spill at Kirkton in Livingston. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) received complaints from members of the public on Tuesday, 15 June of a diesel spill at Kirkton in Livingston. Initial investigations were carried out by the officers have identified that the source of the pollution was a vandalized diesel tank in the derelict Buchanan House on Kirkston Road North, the former EDS print centre in Livingston. After identifying the source, they stopped the spill on Wednesday, 16 June. But by the time they stopped it, an estimated 2000 litres of diesel escaped, running into the drains on site, which then escaped into the River Almond, causing the occurrence of extensive pollution of the River Almond.

You can read more @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/scotland/edinburgh_east_and_fife/10354658.stm

According to what I have read, the spill, or rather pollution did caused an impact on the surrounding, especially the wildlife. Local residents reported seeing dead and dying fish at the river gulping for air while the RSPB also had to rescue a group of ducklings covered in oil. The spill is thought to have spread around two to three miles along the path of the river.

Based on my knowledge, water pollution can also triggers off a chain reaction in the environment and has serious consequences for all living things. Just an example using this case, the diesel spilled into the river can be accumulated in the bodies of fish and shellfish. These poisons may be passed on to us when people consume the contaminated animals. People may also suffer from many types of illness when they consumed the water. Beside that, water pollution also leads the economic loss. Take for example in this case, the spill threaten fisherman’s livelihood as well as the fishing industry. Furthermore, cleaning up spills requires huge effort and is very costly. This is because the diesel can be spread over a large area and is not easily broken down.

From my point of view, I feel that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has done their best in clearing the pollution. But I feel that they could have done better in preventing such serious pollution to take place. In this case, I feel that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) realized the pollution too late and before they knew, over 2,000 litres of diesel were spilled into the water, causing a very serious pollution. I feel that they should monitor the rivers and seas closely, and as soon as they find that something is wrong which in this case, they can observe that the dead fish, they should start to investigate and try to minimize the spill as much as possible instead of waiting the members of public to inform them. And ‘Vandals’, which is the organization that is responsible for this diesel spill should have taken up the responsibility to check if the container holding the diesel is in working condition and should be alert at all times, and if such spills occur, action must be taken immediately in order to minimize the amount of diesel spills.

All in all, I feel that this serious water pollution did made a great impact on the environment.

Actually, there are many other more pollution happening in this world. This is one of a more serious pollution. But if such pollution keeps happening, very soon the world will come to an end, just like the movie 2012. *sigh*

If you do have anything that you want to share with me, you can do so by simply commenting ! Comments and feedback are much appreciated !

World Cup - Illegal Betting

Recently, there was an uproar in a lot of countries that Illegal Betting is taking place, and even among teenagers below 18 !

Illegal betting is defined as predicting the sports results and placing a wager on it, only through bookies who are not recognized legally. It is not uncommon to see cases of illegal betting for various sport competitions, such as the World Cup, MBA and even the English Premier League.

The nature of illegal betting is similar to that of gambling. People get involved in such bettings for many different reasons. Some of them bet just because they want to win, while some of them bet just for the thrill of it.

And thus, I would like to justify if Illegal Betting is a morally right or wrong act.

To me, personally, I feel that illegal betting is morally wrong act. This is because it involves money. And when it comes to money, it is a very sensitive case. This is because the root of many problems in this world is money, or rather interest. (Don’t you agree? :D) And when betting comes in place, fights and injuries happen very often. This is because of a conflict that is between the person who receives the bets and the person who bets. Both of them care for their own interest, and thus, they tend not to pay up, or pay the winning side. Such cases result in fights, which may also results in serious injuries or even death! And thus, I feel that illegal betting is morally wrong as it brings many negative consequences.

Alternatively, I feel that if you really like to have a bet with your friends or family, you may use a lunch as your chips instead of money. This will be a much healthier bet instead of money.

Then what about Legalized bet? Is it morally right? Well, to be true, I don’t find anything wrong about betting with money. But if you bet excessively, and whether the law recognizes it, I feel that it is still not right to do so. It’s all right to bet, but as long as you know your limits and control yourself. A hundred bucks per month, especially during the MBA season and the world cup season is considerable acceptable, or rather is a bit too much. But other then that, it might be overboard I fee that it is not right for the person to bet so much. No matter what, I feel that he or she should not bet away all his or her assets. Instead should have self -control when they bet.

And thus, my conclusion is that if it is legalized betting, and the amount of the bet is not too high, I feel that there is nothing wrong in betting. But illegal betting and excessively betting is totally unacceptable and morally wrong.

Do you ave any views to share ? Simply do so by commenting !

Floods @ Orchard Road

Hello readers. Today after my training, I went to Plaza Sing with my friends to catch a movie. But my post today will not be on the movie, instead the ‘famous’ Orchard flood.

When I was on the bus, making my way to Plaza Sing, I realized that I saw a lot of police officers, traffic police around the streets of Orchard road. Then I saw some parts flooding. So I was thinking, it must be that orchard road is flooding.

Then, when I read the news from this link - http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_541057.html , I realized that it my prediction was correct. For more information of the flood, please read from the link.

Amazing isn’t it, Singapore’s famous city flooded! It may look as if nothing, people may think that it is just a flood, nothing much, after the flood is cleared everything will be fine. But my concern here is that will the flood affect the image of Singapore’s famous city? Will it affect tourism? And does it affect people, especially those that are working there?

Well, personally I feel that this flood is a very ‘hot’ topic among many people. Many people are already discussing why is there a flood when it is known to be a city of the country. Even my friends are talking on it on Facebook. The cause of the flood is still not known yet as it is still being investigated. Even though the amount of rainfall is approximately more than 60 per cent of the average monthly rainfall for June, but what I feel that the drainage system at Orchard Road should be world class, and floods should not take place there as that location is known to be the city of Singapore. A city is very important to a country as it more or less portrays the image of the country. I believe that this flood leaves a bad impression of Singapore among many people, and so will it affect tourism?

I feel that it will not affect tourism very greatly, but just that the flood becomes a very ‘hot’ topic among many, especially those who had came to Singapore before. But it affects the people greatly, especially those working there! I believe that many who are at Orchard Road are badly drenched, even those in vehicles! It really turns the mood down there.

All in all, I hope that such floods will not happen again anywhere, especially Orchard Road as it is the City of Singapore, and hope that the government will improve, or rather upgrade the drainage system :D

Any comments or suggestion to share? Simply do so by commenting!

Task 2 - Critical Analysis of Children in the Darkness

1. Point of View

Evidence - "Children in the Darkness"
Elaboration - It is trying to say that the children is living in darkness and not exposed to light, making the point that the children live in a dangerous place and the have to hide from the light at all times in order to stay alive.

Evidence - "From this life they can not flee / And these children are not free"
Elaboration - It shows that the children could not choose their life and have no freedom at all.
Details - "Chalk and blackboards will not be / To this door there is no key"
Elaboration - It shows that the children were not given a chance to study. This can also be seen the next stanza.

Evidence - "Or will a war consume them / Their body and their soul" "Will their life and blood be poured
Down some endless thirsty hole"
Elaboration - The author is trying to make a point here saying that the war is so cruel that it will take away many children lives. It is so cruel that it will will never stop as was is an 'endless thirsty hole' that will keep taking away lives.


2. Situation and Setting

Evidence - "Darkness"
Elaboration - The word 'darkness' gives the reader a feeling of 'afraid/scared' by the setting the surrounding dark. When it is completely dark, one tends to be afraid, afraid that what will happen the next moment. Afraid that they might die. And often they feel helpless. In this case, it is referred to the children that are struggling in the war. Children, often to be timid especially when they hear the gun sounds tend to feel helpless, as if they were living in a complete darkness.

Evidence - "From this life they can not flee / And these children are not free"
Elaboration - The situation here is that the children have no freedom, they have no right to say about their life, they have no ways to change their life. This makes the children living in the war, living in the darkness pitiful.

3. Language / Diction

Evidence - "Could We...Could We...Could We...Could We..."
Elaboration - The repetition of 'could we' in stanza 3 emphasize that the children have no chance to do the things they want, the things they should do as a children or they want to do as a children. For example, to study, to read. COULD they be given this chance? The answer is no. As a children at that times, their responsibility is to learn how to operate a gun in order to eliminate the opposing enemy, to keep themselves living.

Evidence - "Back into the darkness From which there is no flight Back into the darkness Into which there shines no light "
Elaboration - The word 'back' makes it sounds that the children belong to the war place originally, and they were fated to live in darkness, and they will not be given a chance, a chance that exposed to the light as 'there is no flight' that brings them to. And also, the word' light' and 'darkness' contrast each other, showing the importance, the difference between 'light' and dark'.

4. Personal response

After reading this poem, deep in my heart, I really sympathize the children in the war. They should not belong to the place in the first place. But the cruelty of this world, of the war, forces them to live in complete darkness. Force them to live in a place, which make them worry everyday. Force them to face the cruelty facts of the world at a very small age. It shouldn't be that way. I feel that they should not be involved in the war. I feel that they should be like us, happily, given a chance to study in schools and lead a better life. From this poem, I can at least feel how the children lives were, for example darkness. It also make me understand that how fortunate we are, and we should learn to cherish life more instead of complaining how bad is life.

Task 1 - Background of Children in the Darkness

Children in the Darkness

There are children in the darkness
Who have not seen the light
There are children in the darkness
Who someone will teach to fight

Chalk and blackboards will not be
To this door there is no key
From this life they can not flee
And these children are not free

Could we simply light a candle
Could we give them half a chance
Could we teach them how to read
Could we teach them how to dance

Or will a war consume them
Their body and their soul
Will their life and blood be poured
Down some endless thirsty hole

Back into the darkness
From which there is no flight
Back into the darkness
Into which there shines no light

Henry M Bechtold
2010

Background:
Henry M Bechtold was in Vietnam in 1967 - 68 and again in 1969. He go back often because his soul lives in Vietnam and he go back to visit it from time to time.

He was sitting in his hotel room in Saigon just before Christmas 2009 and he was trying to write a poem about the girls who work in the park and how badly men treat them. He was angry but unable to write anything that did not sound trite or weak. He looked at the TV and the news was on. He did not know what the news reader was saying but in the background was a photo of a small boy with a helmet and an automatic rifle. This poem flowed out. The words just came to him and he typed as fast as he could to get it all down.

Resource taken from - http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Children_

To put it in simpler words, the poem is trying to convey the message that the children live in darkness. They are not exposed to the light. They were not given a chance to learn. A chance to study. A chance to do what they like. Instead, they have to start to learn on how to use a gun since young in order to survive. Imagine young children have to start fighting at a very young age, the hardship that the children have to go through; it really catches the reader sympathy for the children. It shows that war is a very dangerous, a very cruel fact to many, especially to the children.

Teachers' union concerned

Hello readers. Just a few moments ago, I came across this article on stratistime and decided to share with you all, regarding the weighting of the Mother Tongue Language, in particularly chinese, for PSLE, should it be halve or remain ?

OFFICIALS of the Singapore Chinese Teachers' Union (SCTU) have met Education Minister Ng Eng Hen to express their concerns over a possible cut in the weighting given to mother tongue languages in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

They had a 11/2-hour dialogue on the issue, which has stirred up strong, polarising reactions in recent days.

The union, which represents the 1,600 Chinese teachers in Singapore, yesterday released a statement about the meeting on Monday evening, which was also attended by Mrs Josephine Teo, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

Currently, mother tongue has a weighting of 25 per cent, similar to that for English, mathematics and science, the other three subjects in the PSLE.

The union called in its statement for this weighting to be preserved 'so that it is more in line with the principle of bilingualism and further strengthens the competitive advantage of Singapore in developing bilingual talents'.

At the dialogue, Chinese teachers shared their concerns with Dr Ng and gave their feedback on how the teaching of the Chinese language could be improved, particularly for weaker pupils.
(adapted from http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_522725.html)

Upon reading on this article, i feel that the union has came out with a right conclusion. I totally agree that this statement 'so that it is more in line with the principle of bilingualism and further strengthens the competitive advantage of Singapore in developing bilingual talent'. Even though some may not like it, but that's a fact. Bilingual talents are better than people who only knows one language. And of course, they will go even further in their career in the future. I know some may have objections to what i have said. Well, feel free to share with me your views by simply commenting. :D

HIV Discrimination

Today in school, i had an interesting thinking lesson on HIV Discrimination. And thus, i want to share my views with you.

Well, before that, you may be wondering what is thinking lesson? Well, it's a lesson that i would say is reviewing on anything, which allows you to think from different perspective. This is a lesson conducted in Hwa Chong so as to develop our thinking. So back to the topic - HIV discrimination.

Why HIV discrimination is one of a hot topic in the society? Well, I personally feel that it is because the number of people contracted with HIV are increasing, and HIV discrimination is getting more common and obvious.

HIV is transmitted through sex. That’s a fact known by many. Until now, there is no cure for it. If it is serious, it causes death. And thus, you can see why people discriminate HIV. Firstly, it causes death and there is no cure for it. Secondly, it involves sex, which is also very sensitive. And this, people’s fear for the disease often turn to discrimination in order to keep the HIV positive people away, and keep themselves safe and away from the disease. But is this an effective way to keep one away from the disease? Is this fair towards the HIV positive people?

Everybody should be responsible for their actions. Since one ignored to have safe sex, they should face the consequences when they contracted HIV. In this case, the consequence will be being discriminate by the society, or even ostracized by the society. These often pressurize the HIV positive people and they might not even feel like living. But is this a fair treatment to them? After all, they are still humans. Human do make mistake and they do deserve a second chance. And also, they also do deserve our pity as everyday in their life, they are just waiting for death.

I feel that since HIV is only transmitted through Sex and blood, I feel that it’s still safe to interact with them. This disease is unlike SARS, or any diseases that spreads through the air. Well, I understand that one is afraid, but even so, we should muster our courage and help them get onto life, help them instead of discriminating them. Before discriminating a person, think of what’s the point of discriminating them? To keep them away? To make ourselves feel better? Personally, I feel that it does not make ourselves feels better, and also, I feel that there is nothing to be afraid of to the extent that we have to keep them away from us, or even from this earth. I feel that that’s too cruel. They are also part of the Earth, they also have a life. We should be fair to them. We don’t have the right to take away their rights.

And thus, I also agree the ‘red ribbon’ project that is carried out in Singapore. It reminds people to give the HIV positive people a second chance, and help them instead of discriminating them. So I would like to emphasize my stand that I feel that it is not right, it is not the best way to discriminate a person with HIV. Instead, we should help them, encourage them, give them a second chance.

I am sorry that i may sound a bit 'fierce', but this is what i personally feel, deep in my heart. We should always give people chances, even if they commit a mistake, and not discriminate them. So how far do you agree with me? Do you think we should discriminate people with HIV? Share with me your views by simply commenting. :D