Title: Self - Introduction
Y-outhful and
U-nderstanding
H-ungry
A-nd always
N-ever failing to pray for rain
A-nd always
N-ever failing to pray for rain
A hearty hello to the readers!
I am Yu han and I will be doing a self introduction with this post.
Firstly I will explain some of the aspects written in the peom above, I am forever hungry and I can eat a lot...but only if I feel like it. Also, I pray for rain because I'm in a sports CCA. Thus if it rains I will not have to run! :)
However, after running more often, I found runs a fun challenge to overcome. Thus, I think that my CCA has really taught me how to be resilient.
"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!"
Other than my cca, I like playing the piano. I am also an avid fan of K-pop and my favourite band is BTS. However, I am into most songs as I find music rejuvenating and relaxing after a long day.
Though not particulary fond of studying, I really like English and History. I find the subjects a good workout for my brain.
In conclusion, I think I am an easy going person who likes to be around people!
I hope you found this self introduction interesting! :)
Title: The extra in ordinary
This is a picture of the iconic swing infront of the library in the scholar's courtyard.
The special and extraordinary swing.
An ordinary object would be with no special or distinctive features; normal. However, this swing in my opinion, is far from it.
An ordinary object would be with no special or distinctive features; normal. However, this swing in my opinion, is far from it.
Physically, the swing is already different from most due to its shape. It is the type of swing which can seat four people at once with two people on each side. What makes this extra ordinary is because a swing like this is already hard to find in Singapore. This type of swing belonged back in the days however we still have it today in River Valley. Thus it is a swing with distinct and special features.
Furthermore, an object would not be just 'ordinary' if there is a special meaning behind it. Doing some research on its background, I found out from some that the swing was in fact donated by some of our alumni. Thus the swing holds the gratitude of the alumni to the school and this displays the sense of giving back to their alma mater.
Additionally, I also think that the swing holds special meaning to us students as well. For starters, we would do our homework there surrounded by the greenery of the courtyard and the relaxing rocking of the swing. During recess or lunch breaks, groups of friends would sit on the swing and converse thus bonding even further in the process. Hence, the swing is a place where many memories were made.
Thus, I believe that the swing is remarkable in its own way. A gift of gratitude to the school to become a place where bonds were strenghtened and fond memories were made. In conclusion, I think that the swing is indeed, extraordinary.
Title: Poverty and Happiness
Date: 9th February 2016
Being rich or poor does not necessarily lead to increased happiness. However, while an abundance of money doesn't make a person happier, money can reduce sadness — for those who don't have enough.
The term "happiness" could be defined as "life satisfaction" and not just the fleeting emotion of feeling happy. "Life satisfaction" is whether people feel they have livable incomes as well as the resources to support their physical and especially mental health.
It is easier to feel ground down by life's problems when you have less income. Common
The term "happiness" could be defined as "life satisfaction" and not just the fleeting emotion of feeling happy. "Life satisfaction" is whether people feel they have livable incomes as well as the resources to support their physical and especially mental health.
It is easier to feel ground down by life's problems when you have less income. Common
sense dictates that lack of money means fewer options for dealing with daily life. If a rich person's heating goes out or gets a toothache, it can just be an annoyance, while for a poor person it can be a crisis. A poor person might report himself to be happy emotionally at a specific time, while also reporting a much lower sense of happiness with life as a whole. Thus, poor people would have lesser life satisfaction. Additionally, instead of feeling jealous, the poor would have a feeling of inadequacy. This makes them feel inferior and thus, are less happy than richer people in this aspect.
However, this is also true on the opposite side of the spectrum. People want to make enough to make rent, pay for utilities, and be comfortable knowing that if the water heater breaks, they're not hosed. However, once we get more than they need, material possessions become a burden and can reduce quality of life. Once we acquire and become saturated with wealth, we start to lose a sense of meaning and purpose. Being rich would also lead to stress and anxiety as much as being poor. You will be so worried on earning more money that you fail to see the things that are already around you.
The definition of poverty is the state of being extremely poor. However, it also means the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. If you're a millionaire among multimillionaires, it doesn't feel like enough. This would ultimately lead to stress and low life satisfaction. Thus, being too rich is also a bad thing because having too much of a good thing is never good.
The term 'money cannot buy happiness' is true in literal sense. However, I feel that money can buy happiness. If we see happiness as life satisfaction, money is a way we can increase it. Money enables us to pay the bills for a comfortable life, money dictates our living quality. We may not need to be billionaires, however we need to have some form of wealth to survive in the modernised world. Thus, I believe poverty and happiness are related. The deeper in poverty someone is, the less happy that person will be.
Title: Chingay reflection
Date: 22nd February 2016 8.26pm
The Chingay parade is an annual parade held in Singapore as part of the Chinese New Year festivities.
The term Chingay originated from the Chinese communities of Southeast Asia, which is a phonetic equivalent of "妆艺," (zhuāngyì) which means "a decorated miniature stage" or float in the Singapore version.
PAYM (People's Association Youth Movement) has been an active contributor to chingay in Singapore.
I think that the purpose of Chingay 2016 was to celebrate the first year after Singapore's golden jubilee and our first step towards SG100, the legacy left behind by our late prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, as well as the values embodied by our pioneer generation such as Racial Harmony, Social Cohesion, Caring Community, Resilience as a Nation, Can-Do Singapore Spirit and Uphold high moral values through the theme "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore". Together we celebrate the values that made a once small fishing village to a modern metropolis.
Chingay 2016 is to bring together Singaporeans of diverse backgrounds through the entertaining celebrations be it being a performer or an audience member in the large scale celebration.
Henceforth, I feel that the organisers have successfully fulfilled this purpose. This is because when I witnessed the performance. They placed special emphasis on the floats that carried the different core values which were embodied by the pioneer generation and had floats carrying the terms 'Towards SG100' and 'Voyage SG100'.
I feel that they have fulfilled the purpose of celebrating the values of Racial Harmony and Social Cohesion well due to the fact that there were performers and members of the public of different backgrounds and races who got the chance to contribute to a “brighter” Singapore in the four-month lead up to Chingay. More than 50,000 youths from schools and youth groups have been participating in two Community Engagement Programmes by customizing 8,000 ‘Sky Lanterns’ with their hopes and wishes for the future and 2,500 lighted cubes painted by 50,000 young children and youths that represent their ideal Singapore in 2065. Through the segment "Because We Are Different, We Are One”, we got to see for the first time in Chingay’s history, an item presented by the lnter-Religious Organisation (IRO) and their collaboration with 30 religious groups as well. Thus, I feel that this promotes the core values of Racial Harmony and Social Cohesion very well.
Another thing to note would be the Can-do Singapore spirit and Resilience which was embodied by the young performers during the Chingay show. Those doing aerial acrobatics in the sky were as old if not only slightly older than me. Yet they were suspended in the air with nothing but a safety rope attached to their waist. They were required to execute their movements with precision and synchronisation in conjunction with making it look like it was easy, while hanging precariously in the air. I, who am not fond of heights, found their performance admirable and awe - inspiring.
Furthermore, another aerial performance required the performers to wear a long flowing skirt. It looked beautiful from below, however, there was a slight complication as they were lowered back down to the ground. Due to the strong winds in the air, the skirts ended up getting tangled with equipment holding them up and results could have been disastrous if not handled properly. Fortunately nothing happened and the performer was lowered safely down onto the ground. Thus, I feel that even though the performance was so difficult to maneuver through, the young performers did it successfully and did not give up.
In conclusion, as an audience, I strongly believe that the purpose of Chingay 2016 was fulfilled.
Another point to discuss would be the difference between the first Chingay and Chingay 2016.
Some background information on the first Chingay:
It was first implemented on 4 February 1973, the first Singapore Chingay parade was held partly as a result of the ban on firecrackers a year earlier in 1972 as a result of fire hazards. This ban was viewed unfavourably despite the safety issues involved. Some people felt that the ban would result in a much dampened festival mood for the Chinese New Year period. To address this issue, the People's Association and the Singapore National Pugilistic Association jointly organised a street parade from Jalan Besar to Outram Park featuring the signature floats, acrobatic acts, lion and dragon dances, stilt walkers, and the like, to bring back some cheer to the general public.
A major difference would be the integration of other communities in Singapore into the event. The first Chingay parade was to celebrate the lunar new year, thus only the Chinese community were involved in the festivities. However, Chingay 2016 sees the Chinese, Malay, Indian as well as international communities celebrating together. Thus, Chingay 2016 is an event which involves the entirety of Singapore as compared to the first Chingay which only included the Chinese.
I think that this change happened because Singapore is a multi-cultural society. Chingay being such a big event, would develop a multi-cultural flavour and then an international flavour – moving from being a street parade not just for the man on the street but also for visitors to the island. This is because it is a parade throughout the country, hence it would make sense if people of other races take part in this celebration.
Another change would be the scale of the event. The parade in 1973 was a relatively simple one which had been put together by the People’s Association and the Singapore National Pugilistic Federation, and it saw a procession of lion dancers, giant flag bearers, dragon dancers, stilt walkers, clowns and juggling acts down a 3 kilometre route from Jalan Besar to Outram Park. In contrast, Chingay 2016 sees intricately designed floats and an abundance of performers in colourful costumes. Acrobats suspended in the air. Chingay this year has brought in friends from Russia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia to perform as compared to Chingay 1973 where it was only Chinese - centric. Furthermore, Chingay 2016 has the magnificent display of fireworks unlike Chingay 1973. Thus, I feel like the one difference between Chingay 1973 and Chingay 2016 is the scale of the performance and the visual appeal.
I think that this change happened because of the increased amount of people participating in the performances. Thus, the scale of the performance would be much larger. And because there is an increased influx of performers from different races, there is a larger variety of performances being put out. Furthermore, I feel that because of the difference in technology and age. It was possible to have performers to have performers dressed in lights and have people suspended in the air.In conclusion, I feel that Chingay 2016 is very meaningful and educational. It displayed how us Singaporeans can come together to make an amazing performance. It also shows how far we have come as a nation and the display of values are a tribute to the late Mr Lee and the pionner generation. The performance were also heartwarming amd the many light show displays left us awestruck. It is truly "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore".
Title: 3-2-1 lesson reflection
Date: 28th February 2016
3 things I have found out
1. China has stopped implementing the one child policy and has since upgraded it to a two-child policy and that policy is currently being discussed over whether to abolish it or not.
2. Singapore once had a one-child policy but it has since been abolished.
3. One child policy may encourage abortion and cause unhappiness but it also benefits the country but it is heavily dependant on the situation the country is in.
2 perceptions I have gained
1. From the POV of a mother, I would be extremely unhappy and upset if I were to get pregnant with my 2nd child and be forced to abort my own flesh and blood.
2. Through the POV of the government, I think that the one-child policy is able to benefit the country as there is not much people needed to be taken care of and thus saves the economy of the country.
1 question I have
1. Will Singapore ever bring back the one-child policy at the rate we are going?
Title: Why Singapore should not be complacent
Date: 9 March 2016
Singapore should not be complacent on her achievements because prosperity does not last long if we do not put in effort to maintain it. Peace would not be kept if we do not remain vigilant. Yes, modern Singapore is a metropolis and doing economically well. Singapore's prosperity was known as a miracle as noone would have thought a small fishing village would turn into a thriving country.
This would not have been possible if not for a few factors. One would be our geographical location which was smack in the middle of major sea trade routes in Asia. This makes us very lucky as we are able to benefit from maritime trade. Next would be because of our founding fathers and pioneers who put in hard work, blood and sweat to build up our country.
Even though Singapore has achieved much in these50 years, there are still more to come. We do not know if they would be trying times or more prosperous ones. However, what I know is that we should all put in effort to make Singapore prosper further. We as students have to study hard and ensure that we are educated enough to find jobs in Singapore to help boost our economy. If the country's economy were to weaken, we would be placed at a disadvantage because we do not have any natural resources. Thus, our best resource are people.
We are lucky as well, in the fact that our location means we are free from the dangers of natural disasters. However, this does not dictate us being free of the prospect of terrorist attacks. Even if it only happened once during the Mas Selamat incident, but there could be more waiting to happen. The incident was dealt with by the authorities very well, so this efficiency has to be applied to future cases of such events. Thus, we should keep calm and be vigilant and not take our peace for granted.
Thus, I believe that Singapore should not be complacent on her achievements and we should strive to make Singapore prosper further.
Title: Singapore - Reimagining the future
Date: 5th April 2016
Photo description:
I have drawn Singapore's past in my point of view. The reason I have drawn a shophouse was because they were common back in the days as well as single story, low rise buildings unlike what we see today.
I have also drawn children playing marbles and skipping topes. This is because back in the day, entertainment to kids is not technology but playing of homemade games. The past is unlike today, where kids go around everywhere with their handphones and do not interact as much with others. Thus, I believe it represents the past of Singapore very well hence I included it inside my drawing.
Title: Where are we going? (Pre-trip reflection)
Date: 14th May 2016
As a final post prior to our flight to Suzhou, I will be writing about what I hope to learn from this 7-8 days.
Some things I hope to do is to have a hand in making my own xiaolongbao. I look forward to dining at Haidilao because the service of this famous restaurant is well-known for being one of the best. I hope to to learn more about how education in China is like and how different it is from Singapore. I also want to see how the school life of students in China who are my age differ from ours. I look forward to visit the Science and Technology Museum in Shanghai as well as I had been there before and the exhibits were nothing like I have seen in Singapore. I hope I would be given the chance to see things I do not get to see in Singapore and I hope that I would be able to purchase souvenirs from the silk factory.
I would like to know how silk is formed and I would like to find out more about the history of Kun Opera Museum during this trip. Some questions I have are how many people are needed to operate a silk factory and what kind of jobs are offered in the factory. I would also like to know if there are any interesting legends surrounding the Huangpu River.
Title: OELP post trip reflection
Date: 29th May 2016
Year 2 Suzhou OELP
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Name. School. Class. Stream. Period of Country of
Internationalization Visit
Experience
Ho Yu Han River Valley. 2G. Integrated. 20 – 26 May 2016. China
High School. Programme
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Reflections :
I chose to go on this trip because this would be a trip where I am away from my parents for an entire week so I can see where exactly I am on the independence scale. Furthermore, a trip to China would allow me to fully experience what the Chinese culture is like right from the birthplace of it. Thus I am sure it would be a different experience from the Singaporean Chinese culture. Another reason why I decided to go on this trip was because I wanted to go overseas and learn more about how other countries are different from Singapore.
Decisions which were made when I chose to go on this trip was to willingly spend a weeks time away from my family members and to be able to get along with my peers despite the long and frustrating hours we would be spending together. I hope to learn more about the Chinese culture when in China. I also want to learn about how students in China go about their daily lives and how different their lives are compared to Singaporean students. Another thing I hope to learn is more about the History of China and what role Suzhou played in its rich history. I want to know more about relations between China and Singapore to understand where Singapore stand in such a fast-paced world as well as have an insight as to where Singapore would stand in the future in terms of growth and economy.
A situation I came across which made me feel strongly about was when I attended the classes students at Suzhou LiDa Middle School attended. This was because I realized that the students during class were very quiet. More quiet than seen in the Singaporean student classes. They were very attentive as to what the teacher is saying and would always immediately stand up when the teacher calls them to answer a certain question. They would then answer promptly with little hesitation to prove they had been very attentive and there was a no nonsense attitude during classes. This shocked me because in Singapore, classes were not this quiet and students were not this serious.
One person that I had seen that taught me more than what could be achieved in class was my buddy, Yu Yang. Upon meeting her, she struck me as very confident and welcoming. She was very hospitable towards me and made me feel like I belonged in a foreign country. Yu Yang was able to teach me how to be more open minded, something that could not be taught in the confines of a classroom. She showed me a different point of view and allowed me to see Singapore from a different point of view. From the point of view of a foreigner. She opened my eyes to some flaws in China’s politics and differences which I could never have learnt in the classroom as we unfortunately do not learn subjects regarding politics.
One fact that I had learnt about this trip that impacted me the most was Singapore could easily be left behind in the fast paced world. Countries are constantly developing and growing very fast. Modernization is a scary thing, countries which are once less developed are becoming more urbanized each passing day due to continuous upgrades and construction. Singapore, even though being a first world country, has no natural resources. Instead we rely on human resources to find a footing on a global scale. However, the amount of graduates Singapore churns out could never compare to the likes of China or America where their population is much larger than Singapore’s. That is why we are continuously learning from other countries. We are constantly sharing information to make ourselves useful because if we do not share, other countries would eventually find out by themselves anyways. I learned that we are merely a pond and the world is an ocean in comparison. This this impacts me the most because it would mean that for Singapore to continue progressing and prosper, she has to rely on the next generation of Singaporeans who would help continue the legacy left behind by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the pioneer generation.
This trip has made me more independent and more matured in thinking. I am probably going to analyze daily things more thoroughly given the fact that I spent the whole trip staring out of the window during bus rides. I will most likely ask a lot more questions because I kept questioning myself whenever I see things in China which are different from Singapore. For example the electrical fences surrounding schools which I hope they would never implement in Singapore. My attitude towards learning would be more “willing” because I have been exposed to a lot of things which require me to absorb information at a fast pace and it was quite interesting. So instead of thinking something would be boring I would willingly lend my eyes and ears too learn before I judge for myself. Some long term changes I hope will take place would be the stronger bond between the classmates of 2G. We have had many ups and downs during this trip but we have also enjoyed all the fun moments together. Be it laughing together during the bus trip or performing heartfelt songs to our China buddies and nearly crying. I have learn many things during this trip. However things I have learnt that I would like to take back to Singapore is the amount of discipline students have in China. This would be useful as it provides a conducive environment for everyone to focus on learning. However, I believe it should be taken in moderation because it would feel like a prison and be suffocating to students with so much order put into play. Another thing I hope I can bring back is the amount of independence I had in China. I was able to wake up on time as well as clean myself up nicely without help from my parents. I did not need to rely on them to pack my luggage or even borrow luggage space as I was careful as to what I bought because I knew they would not be around to lend me their luggage space.
In conclusion, this trip has been a great bonding experience as well as an enriching one where I learnt many things. Some which cannot be taught in the classrooms. Thus I hope that more trips like this can be organized in the future, maybe to countries even further than China.
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Date: 24th June 2016
$10 challenge
Interview
A question directed towards the tour guide was what were her thoughts on the cost of living in their hometown.
She expressed that as China was a big country with many cities, it was hard to estimate the cost of living as a whole. This is because cities like Beijing or Shanghai which is where major cities are would definitely have a higher cost of living than the more rural areas. It is the same as us, the cost of houses at the city areas of Singapore would be much higher than other places.
However she said that the cost of living was fine for her and manageable. She also said we should not see the cost of living in China as 'cheap'. Due to the differing salaries between us and the people living in China. Something 'cheap' for us could be expensive to them because of the difference in currency.
Observations
After observing the supermarket we had been taken to in Suzhou, I will list down some of the similarities as well as the differences I have observes.
Similarities:
The supermarket is much like Singapore's NTUC and Cold Storage etc because of its layout, for example, there are many aisles categorized for the sake of easy navigation through the large supermarket. So I can say that the placement of products is around the same standard as how they do it in Singapore.
Differences:
Even though it was called a 'supermarket' which we associate with the likes of its Singapore counterparts like NTUC and Cold Storage, the products sold in China are much more diverse and does not really fit the 'supermarket' context. One would think it would just sell everyday groceries and daily necessities. However, what we did not expect was the supermarket to sell. In addition to groceries and 'normal supermarket' products, the supermarket in China also sells electric appliances, clothes and children toys. It was like a mix between 'Kiddy palace', 'NTUC' and 'Courts'.
The other big differences were the prices of products there which threw us for a loop. It was like heaven! No other words to describe. For one, we were tourist who were loaded with RMB we had to spend as bringing it back to Singapore was more of a waste (Of course not spend it to the point of bankruptcy). In Singapore, I always thought that the prices of the products were reasonable. However in China, I realized how much of a difference there was. A large bottle of MnM's could go for $8-$10 in Singapore and we found the exact same product in China going for an estimate of $3.
The next difference was the presence of chewing gum! A product which is banned in Singapore can be found almost everywhere in China.
Last but not least, it was the kind of brands they sell in the supermarket in China. There were many brands I did not recognize. As China is a big country, they naturally would sell their own local brands first so I see a lot of unfamiliar brands which are a definite native to China. A similarity though, is that big 'international' brands could still be found in the Chinese supermarket. Such as 'Hershey's' and 'MnMs'
Title: Trip Task (Education)
Date: 24th June 2016
Observe
When I joined my buddy for her lessons, my initial impression was that the teachers would be very strict with a no nonsense attitude. However, it turns out that their teachers were just like how teachers are like in Singapore! They all teach very well especially the English teacher who was so warm and welcoming towards me, Giselle and Chlovia. The students in class were much more disciplined than us as all of them were listening intently to whatever the teacher was teaching. However, I realised that there were much more lively than us during break times, a total 180 degree turn from their lesson behaviour. However that made us more comfortable with our buddies because it turns out they were like us Singaporean students who loved to have fun even though they were in a more stressful environment than ours.
School life photos
These photos show that the Suzhou Lida Middle School students have many facilities to aid in their studies and so they have an enriching school life
Interview
The school culture in China is similar yet different from ours. They always have a daily dose of homework as compared to us having some 'off-days' once in a while.
The students in Suzhou do not have CCAs, but they have something akin to that in the forms of clubs they want to join by choice. They do not have pocket money in the form of cash, instead they have something like an 'E-Zlink' card to buy their meals.
The social media platforms they use are in the form of Weibo and QQ which is something like Whatsapp which majority of Singaporean students use.
1 thing
One thing I would want to bring over from Suzhou Lida Middle School is the concession cards to buy meals. I think it would be cool and interesting to use and it would speed things up when paying for our meals be it in the canteen or the good news cafe. Maybe even implement it so that we can use the card to buy things from the bookshop as well.
Title: Trip Task (Heritage and Monuments)
Date: 24th June 2016
Reflection
我选了这篇图片因为木渎古镇是个水乡，所以古时候人们都是利用划船当车一样。因此我用了这篇图片来代表木渎古镇。
Tensions between heritage and modernization
Funny
ReplyDeleteClear, intellectual thinking and a good way of writing :)
ReplyDelete