My suspicions have been confirmed! The Swiss are indeed racist! I always felt that they were. I had a wonderful holiday in Switzerland but one thing that kept on bugging me was the seemingly unfriendly nature of the Swiss. Maybe it's just me? I don't know. They didn't come across as a very friendly and welcoming bunch of people, compared to London and Paris where I felt very welcomed. I suppose it's because of the homogeneous make up of the country. I hardly saw anyone who were Asian, Black, Latino and so on. It was White all the way. I remember coming accross a few people especially train conductors who always seemed to give us an unhappy or unfriendly look when checking our tickets. This despite me smiling when handing over them. Oddly enough, when the conductor goes over to the white person sitting on the other side of the train, he can be so friendly and polite, smiling all the way. Implicit racism? I'd say so. On top of that, if you want to be a citizen of Switzerland, you'll need to get approval from the community in which you'll be living in. I've read stories about how people who are of other races being rejected because of their colour. Apparently, Muslims and people from the Balkans and Africa are the most likely to be rejected and now they've succeeded in banning the building of minarets at mosques, claiming that it would "encourage Islamic extremism." Quite strange if I may say so. How can towers encourage people to be extremist? It seems to be more of an excuse than a justifiable reason. Fremdenfeindlicher Schweizer? I say Ja!
Monday, 30 November 2009
The Swiss are racist!
My suspicions have been confirmed! The Swiss are indeed racist! I always felt that they were. I had a wonderful holiday in Switzerland but one thing that kept on bugging me was the seemingly unfriendly nature of the Swiss. Maybe it's just me? I don't know. They didn't come across as a very friendly and welcoming bunch of people, compared to London and Paris where I felt very welcomed. I suppose it's because of the homogeneous make up of the country. I hardly saw anyone who were Asian, Black, Latino and so on. It was White all the way. I remember coming accross a few people especially train conductors who always seemed to give us an unhappy or unfriendly look when checking our tickets. This despite me smiling when handing over them. Oddly enough, when the conductor goes over to the white person sitting on the other side of the train, he can be so friendly and polite, smiling all the way. Implicit racism? I'd say so. On top of that, if you want to be a citizen of Switzerland, you'll need to get approval from the community in which you'll be living in. I've read stories about how people who are of other races being rejected because of their colour. Apparently, Muslims and people from the Balkans and Africa are the most likely to be rejected and now they've succeeded in banning the building of minarets at mosques, claiming that it would "encourage Islamic extremism." Quite strange if I may say so. How can towers encourage people to be extremist? It seems to be more of an excuse than a justifiable reason. Fremdenfeindlicher Schweizer? I say Ja!
Sunday, 22 November 2009
I can't stop this feeling I've got
I don't know how to describe. I feel like my happiness is going away and my sadness is coming back with each passing. Not a day passes without me having a "down" moment. I try to shrug off my "unhealthy thoughts" but they always come back to me eventually. It's tiring. I hate uncertainty. The outside world can be a very scary place. Why must life be so complicated when I want it to be simple? Control control control! I need control in my life!
On a side note, I've moved back to Bishan. The renovations are like 95% done. Just need to make some final touches and decoration before I put up pics! Thank God it's done. The house like an oasis of calm for me. Mmmmm warm and fuzzy; familiar feeling.
On a side note, I've moved back to Bishan. The renovations are like 95% done. Just need to make some final touches and decoration before I put up pics! Thank God it's done. The house like an oasis of calm for me. Mmmmm warm and fuzzy; familiar feeling.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
I've moved!
In case you don't you, I've moved to an old 2-room condo in Clementi temporarily. My house is being fully renovated. About time; I've been living in the same house all my life and I'm so excited about the new house! I'm going to make my room super nice haha. It'll have cove lighting, the wardrobe will have lights when you open the door, bedside table with a lamp like those in hotels, an LCD TV (I hope) right infront of my bed and a study that stretches the length of the window. Pics are below! My house is like a disaster zone now. They've just finished hacking and it looks like Srebrenisa or Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. Penny said it looked like someone broght a machine gun into my house and trigger happied lol.
The Old House - Living & Dining Room
The Old House - Living & Dining Room
During Renovation - Master Bedroom
During Renovation - Living Room & Balcony
My favourite pic - Kitchen!
During Renovation - Bedroom
New Kitchen
New Common Toilet - Not this colour scheme
My Room!
Sister's Room
Spare Room
New Master Bedroom
New Master Toilet
New Master Toilet
New Living Room
I love my new house! Not to forget......
I almost died packing and moving. The car was stuffed! Sunday, 30 August 2009
Reflections
I never thought this time would come. I'm already moving into my 10th month of National Service and I must say, it has been an eventful year. Lots of drama and happenings. Don't think I'd want to go back and revisit it again. I like the current status quo and I wish to keep it. I am happy with it. Hmm...a few reflections of the past 9 months.
1.) I feel better now. No more panic attacks, much less anxiety and depression. Good progress I think. I'm no longer suicidal and I'm think I'm more happy now than I've ever been. I feel happy on most days now.
2.) I'm more assertive now. I stand up for my rights and views which I dont think I would have a year back. I'm sick and tired of letting people put me down or scold me for nothing. I'd speak out instead of keeping quiet. And I must admit, it does feel good. I don't need to keep everything inside now.
3.) Closer friendships. I've become much closer with my friends. They've helped me through the initial months and I must thank them for all their support and encouragement. I don't know what would have happened to me if it weren't for them. They are great company and help me take my mind off many things. I love their quirks too haha very amusing. A big thank you to all my good friends! I'm sure you know who you are. ;)
4.) I'm more optimistic and positive. Big change I think. I've learnt to see the brighter side of things now. I have no idea how i've managed to become more optimistic. I dont really care about being the top or having everything now. I've also come to realise that I'm actually a very fortunate person. I have a lot of things going for me. Good, stable and loving family and friends, a secure place in NUS and USP, bright future according to the fortune teller in Hong Kong lol, good health, no big problems, good counsellor, good collegues and working environment and good superiors. Yeah, I am lucky.
5.) More religious. Complete turnaround but I really believe God exisits now. I'm no longer agnostic and happy to be Catholic. >.< I've had many epithanies in my initial months. Being more religious seemed to have helped me through and I think I'm happier now. I pray often and I think someone really is out there to watch over me. I thank God for everything. He has touched me! Yipee!
Yeah...I think I'm more happy now than I have ever been. My counsellor has thought me many things. I've managed to deal with my sources of stress which range from friends to work to family, etc either by dealing with them, being more assertive or not caring at all and as a result I'm living a relatively stress free life now. I hope the status quo continues or gets better. I'm happy with the way things are. I've changed a bit but I think they're good changes. :)
1.) I feel better now. No more panic attacks, much less anxiety and depression. Good progress I think. I'm no longer suicidal and I'm think I'm more happy now than I've ever been. I feel happy on most days now.
2.) I'm more assertive now. I stand up for my rights and views which I dont think I would have a year back. I'm sick and tired of letting people put me down or scold me for nothing. I'd speak out instead of keeping quiet. And I must admit, it does feel good. I don't need to keep everything inside now.
3.) Closer friendships. I've become much closer with my friends. They've helped me through the initial months and I must thank them for all their support and encouragement. I don't know what would have happened to me if it weren't for them. They are great company and help me take my mind off many things. I love their quirks too haha very amusing. A big thank you to all my good friends! I'm sure you know who you are. ;)
4.) I'm more optimistic and positive. Big change I think. I've learnt to see the brighter side of things now. I have no idea how i've managed to become more optimistic. I dont really care about being the top or having everything now. I've also come to realise that I'm actually a very fortunate person. I have a lot of things going for me. Good, stable and loving family and friends, a secure place in NUS and USP, bright future according to the fortune teller in Hong Kong lol, good health, no big problems, good counsellor, good collegues and working environment and good superiors. Yeah, I am lucky.
5.) More religious. Complete turnaround but I really believe God exisits now. I'm no longer agnostic and happy to be Catholic. >.< I've had many epithanies in my initial months. Being more religious seemed to have helped me through and I think I'm happier now. I pray often and I think someone really is out there to watch over me. I thank God for everything. He has touched me! Yipee!
Yeah...I think I'm more happy now than I have ever been. My counsellor has thought me many things. I've managed to deal with my sources of stress which range from friends to work to family, etc either by dealing with them, being more assertive or not caring at all and as a result I'm living a relatively stress free life now. I hope the status quo continues or gets better. I'm happy with the way things are. I've changed a bit but I think they're good changes. :)
Monday, 22 June 2009
Tan Kah Kee? Don't make me laugh.
I was completely pissed when I read an article in The Straits Times saying that one of the Downtown Line stations located outside Hwa Chong Instituion will be named Tan Kah Kee, a prominent figure in HCI. Not only is it an ugly name, it is not practical and highly biased to name a station after someone who has a special place in an elite school! Ugh. I hope the LTA takes my feedback seriously. I can't imagine having more MRT station names being named after people, rather than location. To show my displeasure, I wrote to the LTA.
I am writing to express my displeasure towards the naming of the station located outside Hwa Chong Institution and would like to urge the LTA to reconsider the name. While the name Tan Kah Kee does have a significant meaning for the institution, the name chosen is not practical and highly biased. Although it is true that the station is located right outside the insitution, the station will also be used by other schools nearby such as Nanyang Girls High School and National Junior College as well. Naming the station Tan Ah Kee signifies a preference towards HCI and will be unfair to the other schools. The fact that HCI lobbied its students to suggest Tan Kah Kee as a name for the station further shows that the LTA is being influenced by the school and not by the public in general. Hence, it is indirectly showing a particular preference as well as elitism which displeases Singaporeans like me who did not attend the school. Why should this station be named after someone who had an affiliation with a particular institution when there are so many other alternative names? The LTA might also come across as displaying double standards as many stations located outside schools have not been named after these institutions or with names relating to their history. Examples include Dover station located outside Singapore Polytechnic, Marymount station located outside Raffles Junior College and Insitution, Bartley station located nearby Maris Stellah High School and many others.
Naming stations after people will open the floodgates as schools will start campaigning for names significant to their history to be chosen for stations whenever a new one is constructed near or outside their school. I, and many other Singaporeans personally prefer current naming conventions that reflect location. The LTA should strictly follow it to show impartiality. The LTA should also take note of the fact that many residences live in the area the station is serving and consider their opinions. Most would not have have attended the school and thus, would not be able to identify with Tan Kah Kee. Naming the station Duchess or Watten would however enable these residents to identify with the station name.
On top of that, naming the station Tan Kah Kee does not show practicality. As I mentioned ealier, many SIngaporeans are not aware of who Tan Kah Kee is, let alone him being a prominent figure in HCI. Many commuters will not know location of the station which may lead to confusion. Prague's metro faced such a situation before 1990 when stations were named after Communist ideology, not location. Hence, I would strongly urge the LTA to reconsider the name Tan Kah Kee. It is impractical and biased.
I am writing to express my displeasure towards the naming of the station located outside Hwa Chong Institution and would like to urge the LTA to reconsider the name. While the name Tan Kah Kee does have a significant meaning for the institution, the name chosen is not practical and highly biased. Although it is true that the station is located right outside the insitution, the station will also be used by other schools nearby such as Nanyang Girls High School and National Junior College as well. Naming the station Tan Ah Kee signifies a preference towards HCI and will be unfair to the other schools. The fact that HCI lobbied its students to suggest Tan Kah Kee as a name for the station further shows that the LTA is being influenced by the school and not by the public in general. Hence, it is indirectly showing a particular preference as well as elitism which displeases Singaporeans like me who did not attend the school. Why should this station be named after someone who had an affiliation with a particular institution when there are so many other alternative names? The LTA might also come across as displaying double standards as many stations located outside schools have not been named after these institutions or with names relating to their history. Examples include Dover station located outside Singapore Polytechnic, Marymount station located outside Raffles Junior College and Insitution, Bartley station located nearby Maris Stellah High School and many others.
Naming stations after people will open the floodgates as schools will start campaigning for names significant to their history to be chosen for stations whenever a new one is constructed near or outside their school. I, and many other Singaporeans personally prefer current naming conventions that reflect location. The LTA should strictly follow it to show impartiality. The LTA should also take note of the fact that many residences live in the area the station is serving and consider their opinions. Most would not have have attended the school and thus, would not be able to identify with Tan Kah Kee. Naming the station Duchess or Watten would however enable these residents to identify with the station name.
On top of that, naming the station Tan Kah Kee does not show practicality. As I mentioned ealier, many SIngaporeans are not aware of who Tan Kah Kee is, let alone him being a prominent figure in HCI. Many commuters will not know location of the station which may lead to confusion. Prague's metro faced such a situation before 1990 when stations were named after Communist ideology, not location. Hence, I would strongly urge the LTA to reconsider the name Tan Kah Kee. It is impractical and biased.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Beware of envy - the deadlist sin
Losing a friend is painful, but losing a friend because he/she is jealous of you is excruciating.
Money isn't the root of all evil, envy is. It destroys everything and unleashes the destructive side of men. It's the deadliest sin out of the 7 deadly sin. Beware of people who commit them habitually; they mean trouble.
So much for the value of friendship above everything else. Pfft. No wonder I hate the human race sometimes.
Money isn't the root of all evil, envy is. It destroys everything and unleashes the destructive side of men. It's the deadliest sin out of the 7 deadly sin. Beware of people who commit them habitually; they mean trouble.
So much for the value of friendship above everything else. Pfft. No wonder I hate the human race sometimes.
Monday, 1 June 2009
I am happy!
Yipee! I'm finall posting a happy post in like forever lol. Two piece good news. Firstly, I got an offer from both NUS and SMU. Secondly, I got into the University Scholars Programme at NUS!!! That's like awesome awesome. I can't believe it. Me, being selected to be one of the 130 people at SMU's SOSS and USP's 180? How amazing is that? I am so lucky and thankful to the guy up there for helping me. I can't wait to get out of NS and go to NUS. :D
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