Soon another chapter of my education journey will be ending. I’m currently stuck in the midst of my exams, and thus unable to gather much thought to present you guys with anything. My apology. Just a short entry here.
Everything that life offers us, or vice versa, has a cycle. We’ve learnt the water cycle, the life cycle of animals/insects/plants, the menstrual cycle etc. Whatever it is, it’s a cycle. It’s a cycle we are revolved or involved in. What about man and woman? Is there a relationship cycle in between? Hear me out for this.
Relationship Cycle
Stage 1: Honeymoon Period.
I know I know. How cliché can that be isn’t it? Perhaps, that’s the period we probably enjoy most. The period where nothing else seems to matter anymore, apart from the person you’re emotionally attached to or whatever it is.
Stage 2: Quarrel
As honeymoon doesn’t taste sweet anymore, quarrels start to set in. Arguments are common when it comes to relationships. Misunderstandings, differences in opinion, attitude-wise, character-wise etc. are the culprits, as at this point all of them seem to become words. Such arguments can last minutes, hours, or even days and weeks.
Stage 3: Cold-shoulder
When both parties don’t seem to be able to make their stand, come to a conclusion, and sign the peace treaty, they get bored. Ignorant set in and they refuse to talk. Often, the woman will be expecting the call of apology, which sometime ended up quarrelling again. Often, the man will be too egotistical to take any initiative, and think he’s too right to be wrong and stuff.
Stage 4: Breaking up ‘or’ Peace treaty
Well, the heading speaks for itself already. Many a times, two resolutions are concluded. They are either breaking up or coming to a compromise. And when both agree, say the ‘peace treaty’ option, the honeymoon period (stage1) resumed, and the cycle relives.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Jessie.
Like a lost soul, Jessie had longed lost her sense of time, her sense of direction and her sense about life. She’s jobless and wondered by the bay. She’s penniless and begged by the bay. She’s homeless and lived by the bay. She’s limbless, but had no recollection of any occurrences. Each day was an unpredictable day for Jessie. She had to brave all odds like the bad weather and the passing people.
The bad weather never seemed to take notice of her presence. Some day, the heaven would summon icy rains, piercing her bare naked skin like needles. Some day, they would summon scorching sun, scalding her skin to an extent where spontaneous combustion could well happen any time.
The passing people never seemed to take notice of her presence. Often, they would stepped over her, sometimes even onto her. Once a while, she would receive spits. At any time when she’s seen, the latter would often take off in horror. And never once, she had received a penny or two, food or care.
Perhaps, Jessie was used to not taking meals or drinks. Even if her stomach was groaning, screaming to be fed, nothing could be done due to her paralysis and her bad finances. Every minute, she felt lonesome. Every second, she felt meaningless.
As deep down inside Jessie, she was looking for an answer to her question, “Why?” And so, everyday without fail, she would wait for its every dawn and dusk. Perhaps, her belief still stood strong. Perhaps, her faith was still holding her together. And as with every beginning has an ending, every ending is also beginning.
And for years, she sat by and viewed every passing day. Today, a flown cover of a newspaper lands quietly by her side with a headline – “A spirit that haunts the bay.”
Sunday, September 11, 2005
The Guilt and The Soft Side
Everybody has a “soft” side. How cold-blooded a person can be, how stiff and straight a person can be or how hard-hearted a person can be, I still believe in the soft side of each individual. I have no definition in mind now to actually define “soft” side. It can be anything ranging from an issue you feel, think, empathize or sympathize about. Today, I have two ordinary stories to tell. One story on my personal cruel experience, and another on my friend’s experience.
Story 1: My cruel experience
A simple story to tell about my experience, which was dated back when I was in Dalian, China doing my overseas industrial attachment.
One fine day over the weekend, I was roaming round the busiest town of Dalian city with my mate. Shopping had been a daily chore to us back there, so the two of us had decided to plain enjoy the busy street along with the nice cool weather. As we were starting to mesmerize in the sweet scent and the scenic plot, my leg was jammed within the arms of a little boy. I was dumbfounded by the method, and soon regained my composure. I struggled my way out and had no mercy upon how. What the boy wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
The struggle went on, yet the boy didn’t give up. Only after much struggle, only when he got hold of my mate’s muffler, and only when I started to realize the muffler was tearing into two, I gave in. Together, we bought two stalks of rose and continued our walk. So much effort put in to get two chaps, loaded with hundreds, to buy some roses. What the boy wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
On a return trip, after a movie at one theater house nearby, we were caught up again. Although it was getting dark, the persistence and determination remained strong. This time round was a little girl. She rushed straight into my mate and grabbed her by her jeans with all her might. Nothing could be done, even when we resisted. She just didn’t give up. What the girl wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
We battled. Physically and verbally. She didn’t give up, we didn’t give in. And the struggle went on for a while. Only when the little girl realized how cruel we might be, only when the little girl realized we had dragged her almost onto the two-lane carriageway, and only when the little girl realized her words, her tears and her effort were of no use to get two chaps, loaded with hundreds, to buy some roses again. She gave up. The last sentence I heard from her was simply (in Chinese), “You bought roses from him (the little boy), why not from me?” The last sight of her was – she wiped away her falling tears, turned around and walked away. Tears were rolling still, when she hung the bucket of roses on one hand and with another clinging onto some strangers to buy her roses. What the girl wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
-it happens on the street opposite this building.
Since then, the struggles, the persuasive words, the cries, and especially the last sentence of that little girl still echo in my mind. I can visualize that whole situation as if it just happened yesterday. I was indeed cruel. I could have bought it. I could have bought it. There was no need for a struggle. It was one buck to me, not even enough for a chicken rice meal or a meepok dry. Sometimes I can’t stop thinking. Perhaps, what’s done is done. Neither can I rectify the whole issue nor can I reach the little girl again. And I’m very guilty and these experience will stay haunting me.
Since then, whenever I walked passed one with a bowl or one with tissues, that incident would reappear in mind and I would not hesitate to drop a penny or two or buy some tissues.
Story 2: A friend’s experience
It happened to her at some point in life in the past. It was in one of Singapore’s busiest underpass, connecting orchard mrt to many different parts/buildings of orchard road. There was an old lady, physically disabled. Her scent was certainly unpleasant. She was praying for enough pennies to buy herself a proper meal. No one seemed to care at that moment. And out of desperation, she decided to start approaching strangers instead.
Many were irritated. Some were really annoyed. The more people she approached, the more people tried to avoid. Perhaps it was really “peak” hour. Everybody seemed to be in a rush. No one seemed to care. Nothing good and kind happened until she met my kind friend. After much words of persuasion, the intention was pretty clear, and what caught my friend’s attention was, “…please! I’m really hungry and I just wanted enough money for a proper meal….” Without further ado, a ten dollars’ note was passed, and he rushed away for a running-late-meeting. Despite her physical disability, the old lady hurried to my friend and whispered, “God bless your kind soul.”
Perhaps, the money to the little boy will end up in the hands of the master. Perhaps, the old lady wanted the money for another cause. Whatever it is or may be, does it really matters? There's a clich'e saying that goes, "Is the thought that counts." It's like buying a gift for a person's birthday, you don't care much regarding how he uses/treats your gift. It's your thoughts that count. Perhaps, we can apply this to the above situations, and stop thinking where it will land. What goes around, will come back to you one day.
Story 1: My cruel experience
A simple story to tell about my experience, which was dated back when I was in Dalian, China doing my overseas industrial attachment.
One fine day over the weekend, I was roaming round the busiest town of Dalian city with my mate. Shopping had been a daily chore to us back there, so the two of us had decided to plain enjoy the busy street along with the nice cool weather. As we were starting to mesmerize in the sweet scent and the scenic plot, my leg was jammed within the arms of a little boy. I was dumbfounded by the method, and soon regained my composure. I struggled my way out and had no mercy upon how. What the boy wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
The struggle went on, yet the boy didn’t give up. Only after much struggle, only when he got hold of my mate’s muffler, and only when I started to realize the muffler was tearing into two, I gave in. Together, we bought two stalks of rose and continued our walk. So much effort put in to get two chaps, loaded with hundreds, to buy some roses. What the boy wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
On a return trip, after a movie at one theater house nearby, we were caught up again. Although it was getting dark, the persistence and determination remained strong. This time round was a little girl. She rushed straight into my mate and grabbed her by her jeans with all her might. Nothing could be done, even when we resisted. She just didn’t give up. What the girl wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
We battled. Physically and verbally. She didn’t give up, we didn’t give in. And the struggle went on for a while. Only when the little girl realized how cruel we might be, only when the little girl realized we had dragged her almost onto the two-lane carriageway, and only when the little girl realized her words, her tears and her effort were of no use to get two chaps, loaded with hundreds, to buy some roses again. She gave up. The last sentence I heard from her was simply (in Chinese), “You bought roses from him (the little boy), why not from me?” The last sight of her was – she wiped away her falling tears, turned around and walked away. Tears were rolling still, when she hung the bucket of roses on one hand and with another clinging onto some strangers to buy her roses. What the girl wanted was for us to buy at least a stalk of rose which only cost 5yuan (S$1).
-it happens on the street opposite this building.
Since then, the struggles, the persuasive words, the cries, and especially the last sentence of that little girl still echo in my mind. I can visualize that whole situation as if it just happened yesterday. I was indeed cruel. I could have bought it. I could have bought it. There was no need for a struggle. It was one buck to me, not even enough for a chicken rice meal or a meepok dry. Sometimes I can’t stop thinking. Perhaps, what’s done is done. Neither can I rectify the whole issue nor can I reach the little girl again. And I’m very guilty and these experience will stay haunting me.
Since then, whenever I walked passed one with a bowl or one with tissues, that incident would reappear in mind and I would not hesitate to drop a penny or two or buy some tissues.
Story 2: A friend’s experience
It happened to her at some point in life in the past. It was in one of Singapore’s busiest underpass, connecting orchard mrt to many different parts/buildings of orchard road. There was an old lady, physically disabled. Her scent was certainly unpleasant. She was praying for enough pennies to buy herself a proper meal. No one seemed to care at that moment. And out of desperation, she decided to start approaching strangers instead.
Many were irritated. Some were really annoyed. The more people she approached, the more people tried to avoid. Perhaps it was really “peak” hour. Everybody seemed to be in a rush. No one seemed to care. Nothing good and kind happened until she met my kind friend. After much words of persuasion, the intention was pretty clear, and what caught my friend’s attention was, “…please! I’m really hungry and I just wanted enough money for a proper meal….” Without further ado, a ten dollars’ note was passed, and he rushed away for a running-late-meeting. Despite her physical disability, the old lady hurried to my friend and whispered, “God bless your kind soul.”
Perhaps, the money to the little boy will end up in the hands of the master. Perhaps, the old lady wanted the money for another cause. Whatever it is or may be, does it really matters? There's a clich'e saying that goes, "Is the thought that counts." It's like buying a gift for a person's birthday, you don't care much regarding how he uses/treats your gift. It's your thoughts that count. Perhaps, we can apply this to the above situations, and stop thinking where it will land. What goes around, will come back to you one day.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Saturday Party Fever!
"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey
-group photo
Weekend was fantastic. Saturday party fever you can call it. Attended Sarah's 21st birthday at the Legend's Country Club. That international buffet dinner was fabulous. Once again Sarah, I would like to wish you a Happy 21st Birthday with many joys and laughters. Welcome to the adult world. Well, I would love to join you, but my time ain't right yet.
-gorgeous, but i'm just wondering if she was still sober then after much wine.
-poor hungry sarah. only left with a small piece of her cake.
-the four smart peepsss
Party was certainly fantastic. But that's not all. Went down to sahara (an arabian pub) for some sheesha and some cold beer. Woohoo. We eventually got picked up for some dance, which we have no idea how. Well, to save some faces, we managed to "pretend" to know how.
The night ended around 5am after a good supper at the usual hang-out. Cheers.
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