During lesson today, one of my lecturers was talking about family tree stuff and he happened to mention our dear MM. And he said MM was one of Singapore's ex-presidents. Since when did he become our president? But I guess this misconception is actually very much present in people outside Singapore as he is seen in that light most of the time. This just goes to show how much people in other countries hear him and Singapore together more than our real president with Singapore. Something to ponder upon???

I have settled all the necessary arrangements to get myself back to home sweet home in less than 3 months' time. Haha, actually I have already known when exactly I will be going home for sometime as my family who is coming over to China for holidays is the determining factor. I shall be coming home together with them so that my stuff can be brought back alongside too. Really looking forward to seeing them then after such a long time. :)))

Thus, I will be taking SQ 805 on 26th July 2009 (Sunday) to come back home. Touch down around 10.30pm at Terminal 3. Would love to stay in Beijing longer but at the same time cannot wait to be back. :P Time really flies!!!

1. Be it talking to someone or writing a piece of something for other people to read, it is very important for there to be a main point which is obvious to the listener or reader. This is because only with the main point lurking behind as a support can communication between speaker and listener or writer and reader be at its optimum. And this can be attributed to the fact that a lot of times when we speak or write, it meant the unspoken or sort of spoken parts.
   
2. Folk literature is an interesting aspect in literature as it represents the majority of population. It reflects their culture, thinking, perspectives and perception of their surroundings at the time of creation. And the ones which are passed down to us now from the past have been through many rounds of selection and editing, only which those that are widely accepted can be passed down via the word of mouth. This explains the many variations or slight differences you see or hear from a similar general story.
   
3. In the past, long long time ago past, leaders or officials in China is not so sought after like those shown in TV of later dynasties. They lived lifes that may be harder and tougher than any average civilians, i.e. wear lousy clothes, eat and drink cheap-o stuff, stay in rundown place... Thus it was very tempting for someone to want to give up his leadership to someone else instead, and it did happen frequently. It was only later with all the scholar system that officials become a well-sought position to be.

My 1st-time experiences:

1. Watched Oliver Twist by TNT Drama Production at the 100th Anniversary building in P*U. I must say it was really a nice show and really loved the way the actors make use of simple props to show changes in scene, impressive. Realised the people do not really bother about seat number once you are late so you can basically sit anywhere at your price area, is a good and bad thing. Good in the sense you may have gotten a better view than where you were supposed to be. Bad in the sense that you will be disturbed by people who are late moving around in front of you. At the end some China guy stood up and shouted something which I did not catch, just find it a bit crazy.
2. Cycled in the rain because I did not see the small rain from my room window and was going to be late for class by the time I went down and realised it was drizzling. It was a nice feeling as it was pretty cooling but not that nice when the cold wind blew too. Maybe that is why I am starting to feel abit weird, not exactly comfortable but I wont call it sick also. :P One thing I like about the rain here in B*ijing, they are not heavy so you dont exactly get wet for going around without umbrella in the rain. SHIOK!
3. Went for something to do with the 90th anniversary celebration of the cultural revolution in Ch*na. A poetry recitation of famous works by famous poets in that period. I must say I am really impressed and moved after watching the whole thing. Since when will we get to experience such Chinese cultural activities back in Singapore at NUS? So strongly supported and widely participated by the whole faculty. It set me thinking on a lot of things to accomplish when I go back Singapore...
4. Entered the central library in P*U by myself!!! And there are so so so many different departments in the library! Plus there are so many freaking books too! How I wish I can just spend more time in the library devouring all the books!!! And the people here really study hard as every single corner of the library is filled with people burying their heads deep in book to study. The atmosphere is stern and serious man.
5. Learnt dance moves to prepare for dance performance in P*U. Super not confident as I kept forgetting the dance steps and my oh my they are hard lah! The songs so fast! The beats so hard to catch.. Hai. Just pray hard I do not become the one to spoil it for everyone else... Damn stress de lah. But I will hang in there de!!! Hope in the end it turns out well. :P

The table where I spent hours working on school work and own self-study before lessons, plus my laptop which is now 24/7 on to download all the things I can lay my hands on!!! :P

My room taken from the door angle, glad to have the window which gives me the natural alarm when the sun rises and shines in on me lying in bed! Hehehe. :)))

1. Due to the complications arising behind Chinese language use, thus even until now the theories that have been come up with to explain is still insufficient as there are certain ways of usage which have been proven to be abnormal. This is because there are times when people do not use language by the rule and change the rules when it suits their use.
   
2. Repetitions in the use of language is usually to build up the atmosphere and bring across a message stronger, especially in Chinese where we associate cube words with meanings and pronounciation. It is also a rhetoric use to make the whole piece of work sound nicer upon reading out loud.
   
3. Buddhism did not spread around China smoothly, successfully and easily. There were times in history when it has been clamped down hard in China, where people were forced to surrender Buddhist believers, Buddhist believers forced to change or stop believing if not be killed or jailed, Buddhist scriptures burnt or destroyed.

Time flies, today is the last semester of school for students back in N*S already! Also, cannot really believe it but I have already finished almost half of my semester here in P*U too!! Not long after today, I will be going backpacking with Min Joo & Xiu Wen, after which it will be going travelling with my mum and brother (plus girlfriend), then I will be back in Singapore in around 3 more months' time! It has been great since the day I came, things are going well, experience really enriching, motivating and interesting. I am fortunate to be surrounded by nice and friendly people, be it fellow Singaporean exchange students, other Singapore students, local module mates or newly-made Korean friends.

Sort of wish I can stay here infinitely and not go back Singapore, but I know it is not possible so shall just do whatever I can to make this S*P one which I will never regret and forget. :)))

Now that spring is slowly creeping in, the whole campus is more alive with more people moving around, flowers blooming, trees greening, grass growing, bees humming and birds chirping... It is definitely a nice feeling when you see your surroundings turning more and more beautiful with each passing day. But of course, this scenery will not last long as summer will hurry scurry come along and make the place a teeny weeny bit too hot. Not forgetting all the pests that have been hiding away will be out full force too, like mosquitoes, flies and last but not least, cockroaches!!!

Well, good things dont last long, shall just treasure them while they are still around~! ;) People back in Singapore, jiayou for finals prep!!!

1. As per mentioned before, Buddhism did not originate from China, thus it was seen as something foreign. And in the history of Buddhism, because of this fact, it has been clamped down hard by leaders with political agenda. The actions taken against the religion and people who practise them were as extreme as Qin Shi Huang burning books.
   


2. The Chinese words which we are using now, if their origins cannot be explained, it is most probably a wrongly written word in the past when people copy books to be passed around and down. Well, this can be a classic case of wrong being right when it has been used long enough. ;)
   
   
3. The myths and legends which we read now may seem nonsensical and illogical to us. But when they were come up with, it is with the sole purpose of explaining how things are happening around when science is still very far from developed. Through understanding the stories, we can actually get a sneak peak on how our far far far away ancestors used to think, it can be pretty interesting. :P

My favourite ice-cream here in Beijing, the best brand with the best flavour I have ever tested, yummy~! Nice treat on a warm day! Haha, it's getting warmer, more excuses for me! Wheee~

I just need to rant this out a bit lest I go all emotionally off-balance. It really irritates me very easily when someone who keeps claiming being lousy in Chinese Language beats me in most tests and assignments. I do not doubt the claims but it just becomes a bit insulting and humiliating when the results tell otherwise. Argh.. I am really sure that the world is never a fair place, have to adjust myself psychologically and adapt physically to make the best out of this unfair system. Bleah...

Due to hectic schedule last week, lessons cancelled. See ya next week! :P

I thought I have put it past me but it seems not the case. I am not sure if you have any idea the effect you have on me, even though I am quite sure it doesn't really matter to you. But I am just plain ecstatic after every MSN conversation we have, however little or short they may be. You are someone I would very much love to share good news with and I will go online just so to see you online. I have learnt to be satisfied with what I have, I will no longer try to ask for more. :)

My 1st real singing competition thus ended, really happy that our efforts put into rehearsing the 3 songs were not the least wasted as we came in 3rd. The main objective was really just to go out there have fun, and do it in a way I would never do so back in Singapore. And sure we did, it was really an unforgetable experience as homework and rest was put aside to do more practise and think of how to make our performances better.

Want to thank everyone who made it down to support! Hope I remember everyone: Lan Fang, Khaiqi, Kai Li, Xuan Yuan, Yi Quan, Rong Hui, Ying Long, Lee Han, Jerry, Ching Hui, Kai Qin, Siew Yin, Shu Jing, Wan Xin & Esoon!!! Plus those who were not there but whose love was felt from the bouquet of flowers! Thankew Ammily, Jiatian, Catherine, Xuan Ping, Zhihui, Liwei, Meizhen, Michelle, Xin Hui & Yun Li!!! Special mention to Ying Long for lending us his precious chinese paper fan as a prop for our 2nd song at a last minute request! Last but not least, want to thank my partner Si Ting, whom without I would not have joined and enjoyed myself so much.

Finally some photos!!! (shoutout to Evelyn: I am starting to upload already!!! ^-^)