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Damn I cant go for the Pakistan trip =(
Bumped into a couple of jc frens on the streets recently. The hightlight was I met Mr kwek and his wife at Wisma yesterday. He was eyeing the same pair of pants as me haha. Talked to him for a while and he pointed out to me that I have changed quite abit. Am I really different now ?. The only change that I noticed about myself since schooling days is different hair, abit smoother skin, smiling more and maybe a little more ambitious and driven than I was before. Be it a change for the better or worst, this is the new me I guess.
My New year Resolution.
- To gain weight. 58kg by end of feb 2006.
- 2.4 km run to hit under 9:30 so can get a dinner treat ;)
- Find another short term job.
- Read 4-5 books before April.
- Go trekking/backpacking before enilstment.
- Pray harder everyday for my A level results to turn out fine.
- Be a better man.
~Nil Sine Labore
Never the color of the Skin
Its been a nearly a week since I came on here to speak my mind. Well, has been pretty held up with work for the past few days resulting in a flu. It must have been the work of some computer virus there.Ok not funny. Has been with NCS for like 3 weeks already. There are a handful things that I encountered/observed and it has changed my perspective of aspects of life. From the title you should be able to get a rough idea of what I will be driving at today. Racism can be considered a rather taboo word in Singapore. To the world, we may seem to have racial harmony within the society with different races living happily together. But are we really like this ? Personally, after observing in schools, work places and public areas for years. I'm regretful to say that only a handful of us are really willing to interact with fellow countrymen of a different race.
Warning: Following paragraphs are just solely my opinion.
I will begin with people closer to my heart and lighter issues. Take my aunt for example, She openly admits she is a racist. She complains about the smell of oil our Indian friends like to use whenever she smells it. When I try to talk her about "compromise and accommodate", she just pass me off. =
In canteen and pantry, people tend to sit with their friends and most of clique is of the same race. People of the same race sitting together eating all the time seems fine but its not fine when they are all talking in their native tongue. Why do I say that its no good ? When you have people speaking in different races, it creates a shroud of uncertainty in the room, A clique wont understand what another group is talking about. This is where our curiosity and imagination can wreck havoc. A small misunderstanding is all it takes to create a tension which may just swell up to a conflict.
Enough of examples before I get too emotional. Anyway, you may think I'm being paranoid over such issues. Just a reminder, if you do study your history and general knowledge well, most conflicts and boycotts are due to unresolved misunderstandings initially. These misunderstandings then snowball over time resulting in a permanent gap between the parties. This is even so for racial issues, like relationships, it is as fragile as Chinas because once it is broken and even though it can be glued back in shape. However, the cracks will always be there. Things are just never the same again.
I do have one suggestion to prevent our precious china from breaking. I believe that all of us just shy to interact. I think the key here is to take the initiative. Do not wait to react but rather, always try to take the first step in conversation etc. Basically, just be pro-active and things may just take off from there =) BTW, I had lunch with a group Indian nationals today and they gave a share of their home cooked curry and colored rice.
This entry is not just about racial stuffs but it sure applies in friendship and more as well. Sometimes, it sucks to keep taking the initiative, but if the relationship remains strong and perfect, it sure is worthwhile.
~Nil Sine Labore
Doing the right thing
Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie,
Dust unto dust—
The calm, sweet earth that mothers all who die
As all men must;
Mourn not your captive comrades who must dwell,
Too strong to strive—
Within each steel-bound coffin of a cell,
Buried alive;
Mourn not the tasks that you have failed before,
At least you gave your best—
Many a time things could have turned out better ,
Regrets will only make us stronger;
But rather mourn the apathetic throng,
The coward and the meek—
Who see the world’s great anguish and its wrong,
And dare not speak.
There is a hero in everyone of us. It keeps us honest, nice and gives us strength. Never suppress this heroic side in all of us. For this is what that makes us humans after all. So friends, always stand up for what you believe is right even when you know that the entire world is against you.
PS: Yes I came up with the short poem and this entire entry during work.
~Nil Sine Labore
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Warning: This is an advertisment entry.
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2nd day
Second day at work today. Finally contributed significantly to the cause of the project by doing a small part. On paper it seems to be a small acheivement but it definately is a tiny yet sure first step for me on my road to greater heights. For now, I can afford to carry a cheeky smurk around and give myself a gentle pat on the shoulder for a good start.Only for now though as a long long day beckons.
Out to Lunch soon
~Nil Sine Labore
First day at work.
It was a great start to my first stint in office work. My new colleagues are helpful and quite friendly. Yes its only "quite friendly" because all of them once they hit the keyboard, they do not stop. Not a single casual conversation was exchanged during office hours. All eyes and fingers glued to the their respective desktops for the entire day only stopping to nibble on some snacks which they brought from home during lunch. By the way, their butts remain at their work desk during lunch and poor me being the only human there had to visit the canteen alone.
I started the day as a computer caveman who count on friends to help me insert blogskins,tagboards on my OWN blog but ended the day equipped with some html skills to configure and edit a professional website. All due credits for my colleagues aka html teachers at NCS esp Florence, Yen Ling and another unknown lady whom I dun know your name.Another group of new college's Raymond, Jeannie and Mary that I would love to express my appreciation for your help. Thanks for treating me like a kid and always looking out for me. Although they wont know my blog addy for now but at least if they do drop by in future, that's the least I can do to thank them after my first day in the NCS Family.
Just like all other things on this Earth, the first day is not that perfect as it seems. One thing that I cant stand is the long hours in an aircon room. My body feels rather dry and uncomfortable. The presence of the all mighty Sun is sorely missed man.
Another thing is I dun really feel at home in office settings. It is #^$%@! compared to the great outdoors which most of us adore. The blazing sun, lush vegetation, smelly sweat and the moody raingod -------> that's my ideal workplace. Dull tables and desktops coupled with a quiet environment is a real test of my endurance and patience. I hereby declare that I pass the test of endurance with flying colours by clocking 12 hrs of worktime yesterday. Hope its not just a flash in a pan but rather a good habit for my "real" working life after my tertiary education.
So much for my first day of work, I would love to share one of my life principles with everyone that just comes to my mind. "There are many tasks in life even how much we hate them but we still got to get the job WELL done."-- Lee Yi Xin.
A simply reason for that its because, we don't live in a world of our own neither is any one of us the king of the world. For that, we simply cannot listen our hearts all the time. Just imagine, if one fine day all 6.2 billion people in this world decides to be a doctor and nothing else; who is going to be the patient ? Who is going to keep our streets clean and who is going grow the pineapples and bananas ?
No matter how many times I say I hate white collar jobs in office settings, in no situation will I give up or resign for I have given my word to work till the end of the project. Its not just for the salary but simply more of honoring a promise. In fact, I will choose to return to office work after my studies and slog on for decades to come. No more career as a park ranger, zoo keeper or TCM physician for me if all goes according to plan. Although deep down I do know I will definitely enjoy a lot more being a zoo keeper, Chinese physician or hawker than locked up in a building. For the sake of my dream to become an influential philanthropist and for the countless people I can potentially help in future; all the decades of doing what I dislike will prove worthwhile.
Oh ya Esther Ng, friday never rain at all leh. So my theory is correct! =p
" Someone got to do it. Why not me(you)?"-- some beer advertisement
~Nil Sine Labore
Utopia
"In a perfect world
This could never happen
In a perfect world
You’d still be here
And it makes no sense
I could just pick up the pieces
But to you
This means nothing
Nothing at all
I used to think that I was strong
Until the day it all went wrong
I think I need a miracle to make it through"
Perfect world by Simple PlanWhat is a perfect world to you ?
A world without money and wealth will be ideal to me. Every citizen of my Utopia will take on their jobs based on passion. Their common cause will be to improve the society with no monetary gains. In simplier terms, living for others.
~Nil Sine Labore
I'm back
My long awaited return to the internet world has finally arrived. My com was down since 16 Dec 2005.Yes it was 16 Dec 2005 this date did left a small scar in my memory because my beloved 7 year old com succumbs to weariness for the first time. It doesn't really matter now that it is back and running again.
It sure feels shiok to be rentangled in the world wide web again.
"I think I'm more than ready for the trial Master."- Analkin Skywalker
~Nil Sine Labore
