愛 存在

In Singapore: Life Goes On

Came back for a short Spring break.

Indescribable feelings as I touched down at the airport.
After a week of mourning, it seems that everything is back to normal, and business as usual. Nevertheless, it also occurs to me that we all know we have lost something, leaving a hole in our hearts.

Undoubtedly, the post-LKY era has begun.

Tribute: Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew

23 March 2015, it was gloomy and rainy in Taipei.

Monday Blue has never been this dreadful.

The solemn moment has arrived.

Not that we are not expecting this day to come, just that the truth always hit us hard.

Singapore's founding father had “fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans.”

“Singapore was his abiding passion,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his national address on the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. “He gave of himself, in full measure, to Singapore. As he himself put it towards the end of his life: ‘I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There is nothing more that I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.’ ”

While the nation comes together to pay respects, there are some dissenting voices coming from human rights groups, criticizing Lee's iron-fisted governing style, and hence the need to overcome the restrictions after Mr Lee's passing. But had it not been his forward-looking and strict governance, we would not be here today. Under his leadership, Singapore became an admired international business and financial center - from Third to the First World in a matter of decades. Everywhere we turn: from the housing estates, the clean and efficient roads, the corruption-free system, the schools, the world-class universities, the hospitals, the safe and green environment, to the good jobs and good quality of life, Mr Lee oversaw the transformation of Singapore.

A citizen commented, “As long as you are economically well off, with housing and food, who cares about the politics? I would much rather live in a country like this than a place where you have every freedom in the world but you are hungry.”

For these years studying and staying abroad, I have seen and been through things I would not experience in my homeland, and the privileges I get to enjoy back at home may not apply overseas. All the more I have come to appreciate the little things in life, and how fortunate we are in Singapore that we take certain things for granted. It would not have been possible if not for the painstaking efforts of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the pioneers in building the nation.

Thank you, Sir.

On this day, we have lost the great chief of command,

But we shall fight on, we shall sail on.

For that is what keeps us moving forward since fifty years ago.

Majulah Singapura.

不 怎 麼 明 亮 。

Yesterday was 人日; supposedly a happy day but the news I received were not good. The sudden passing of a MD member from my district, and a college buddy decided to quit school for a semester. ▲


A week of spending Lunar New Year in Taiwan with my family ended so fast. Having hadn't been traveling and to a cold country, my dad acted like a kid, being all-so-curious of everything. Grateful to my family who has helped me delivered a great food supplies and luggage to my dormitory, as well as area cleaning, when we returned to Taipei on the final three days.

A new semester started on Tuesday but I came back to Singapore that morning. Will be heading back to school in early March. As I recall my winter break, all I can remember is that one month of working and the recent short getaway with my family. Before I even return to school, I already have some assignments and group projects waiting to complete. And this semester, we have a big project to work on: FLAL Annual Play 2015. ✌

I ' m B a c k . 我 回 來 了 。

A Writer, Translator, Presenter, Speaker, and Editor

Well, basically, everything.

As I looked back to this semester, most of my time are spent on writing, translating, presenting, giving speeches, and editing articles.

一年的經歷、一年的成長，不是幾段句子就能闡述的。

Another thirty minutes to a brand new day, a brand new month, a brand new year, a brand new beginning.

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)

 

Last semester, a group of NTPU professors flew to Singapore to attend an intensive training program at NUS. And so after their return, these professors shared on what they have learned at NUS and how they can apply the skills to their respective courses.

Last week, I'd the great opportunity to join in this rigorous symposium and sharing session that lasted for a week. I have learned a lot, especially in an area of study (i.e. language) I'm interested in. It was great listening to all the sharing done by various professors! I'd so many things going through in my mind as I sat there listening, while also reflecting on the education system in Singapore: how students were taught in Singapore schools. 

The part that professors shared on educators and students in Singapore, I can totally relate to it. How these many years of compulsory education had drilled us in our critical thinking and writing, the process was full of sweat and tears but in retrospect, we are certainly grateful for these intensive trainings that have produced independent learners.

This semester, NTPU has enrolled about 40 exchange students from Nanyang Technological University, School of Accounting. This statistic is by far, the greatest number of exchange students from a country the university has enrolled. This is also the first time NTPU has opened its application for Exchange Students from Singapore. It's definitely a bold decision and a step taken in the hope of globalization at NTPU.

P.S. And this also means that I am not the sole Singaporean in NTPU this semester! Yay~

For EMI to be systematically enforced in schools, and the hope of globalization at NTPU can become a reality rather than just a talk, it will be a long-term journey of many challenges. Yet, the undertaking is worthwhile.

Of course, knowing that the university I am in has academic exchange with the university in my homeland in this aspect makes me feel really contented. NTPU x NUS. ^^

Unanimity

 

Psychologically speaking,  this "human-group" unanimity is quite interesting.

The colour black gives people a sense of security. Possibly.

Best Description of Winter, Yet

G o a l

// "When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish
 what at first seemed impossible." — Nido Qubein // 💪🎓

人 。

L O V E

During speech class today, my group was assigned the topic, "Describe LOVE," and so we came out with the following within ten minutes:

// Love be be described as four seasons.

Firstly, spring is like meeting your first love. Just like planting a seed into the ground, you may anticipate its growth; yet, at the same time, you may worry for its possible short live.

Secondly, summer is like being passionately in love. You will think of each other anytime, anywhere. Yet, such love can be so intense that conflicts may arise between two different individuals.

Thirdly, autumn is just like couples entering a stable relationship. The two begin to understand and accept each other as who he or she is. Yet, the passionate love in summer can also give rise to a dull relationship in autumn.

Lastly, the coldness of winter give the couple unmeasurable hope for an eternal love. Yet, if the couple could not truly understand each other, winter signifies an end to the relationship.

Just like the four seasons, love can be both simple and complicated. //

It may not be a perfect piece of literary work but we do understand that it takes two to work together for a lasting relationship.

秋 。

It's the time of the year that I pretty much treasured. The weather's cool and nice, seeing the fallen leaves and flowers on the ground makes me feel calm and peaceful.

Yet, recently some of my close friends are experiencing the tough period after a break-up. A year before they were all lovey-dovey but a year later, they are causing harm to each other.

A year before I might not realize anything; however, a year later, I can relate to and learn something out of all these sharing by my friends. There's more to life besides the complicated world of love, an aspect that everyone and every couple is learning, even 'til old age.

A year before at Ikeda Kayokai, I shared, “想要交男朋友。” A year later at Ikeda Kayokai just now, I also shared, “想要交男朋友。” Nevertheless, the feeling and thoughts are different.

I believe before entering in a relationship, one should first learn how to be independent - not in the sense that both parties are lacking in communication or meeting up, rather, can still enjoy and feel at ease even if both couldn't always be together, for they know they are connected as one in heart and mind. Second, learn to fulfill the promise made to self. For if one couldn't even do that,  how can he/she make promises to his/her partner? How can they establish trust? These being said, here comes the third: establish matured communication, at all times. Most friends who ended up in a break-up are due to the lack of communication between the two, thinking that there's no point in him/her knowing since he/she can't do anything either. Chanced upon this last week about relationship between two parties: 

你不問，我不說，那是缺乏關心；

你問了，但我不說，那是缺乏信賴；

你不問，但我說了，那是依賴；

你問了，我說了，那就是溝通。 (Well said)

但願大家找到屬於自己的幸福！
畢竟傷心痛苦的過去終究會隨著時間慢慢淡去。加油。👣

A guidance shared at Ikeda Kayokai earlier today: 
「重要的是從依賴，轉換成富主體性的自己。
因為美好的戀情只會發生在兩個成熟的個體之間。」 💋

心墻

// "We build too many walls and not enough bridges." — Isaac Newton //

好歌推薦

【春浪 X 台北 X 音樂節 X 2014】

NTPU-ISA Biannual Day Trip

平溪 · 十分

Never Ever Lose Hope

"Hope costs nothing; it is free. Yet it is life's most valuable treasure."

「⋯ 如師子吼，任何病障不足為禍。」 👏 

【大學部迎新茶會 X 2014】

Victory

The Straw Hat Crew

 

【你還剩下什麼？】

【我還有夥伴。】

ONE PIECE 展 《原画 X 映像 X 体感 · 航海王 · 台灣》

#throwback #family #summer 

牽心萬苦

I'd inception in my afternoon nap yesterday before hitting the gym. I literally forced myself out from the dream as the last scene totally scared me off.

Anyway, overheard this song at the gym yesterday.

的確，人生中有許多人事物一直讓我們牽挂在心頭。