Weekend

Sigh. The weekend is here. People look forward to weekend whereas I'm not particularly fond of weekend. I didn't say I don't like, just not particularly fond of it. There is a difference.

It's not like I would particularly enjoy the weekend and relax and recharge for the next work week.

Not a good daughter in law

Today is the fifteen of Chinese calendar. Looking at my mother in law's tablet, suddenly feel that I have not been fulfilling my duty to her. By right, I think i should be the one buying of fruits etc. but I think so far, I have not.

Suddenly feel ashamed. Can't continue the post.

Sorry

Hk drama

雷霆扫毒, nice show.

Wrong turn

At a traffic light, a woman in the car next to me waved to me. I wind down my window, she asked me for directions to tampines ikea. I was like omg, u r so in the wrong direction. She replied she took a wrong turn.

I quickly asked her to find a u turn and turned back. She said thank you an we drove off before the cars behind us horned at us.

It just sets me wondering, in life, many times, we took a wrong turn. And to make it right, we take another turn and we ended up more far off from our destination. But no matter what, I believe the woman would finally reach tampines ikea. She may take another 1 hour or so. But if she doesn't give up, I believe she will reach eventually.

Bhutan

I would love to visit Bhutan. It looks like a nice, laid back place which has defied globalization and the only country in the world that measures happiness.

But it is very expensive.

In the mean time, I will dream about this place.

Emotionless Singaporeans

I totally agree with the findings. Singaporeans are probably the most emotionless society. No need to dispute over the findings. Admit it. In one way or another, we have been well trained to obey. We have been trained to keep our emotions, keep our real feelings, subdue them. Do you no benefit to express what you genuinely feel.

Even as I am writing this blog, I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. Repercussions do happen. Irony, yes, I'm afraid so.

what gravity-defying COE prices have taught me

Ha, I like this headline. "Gravity-defying COE prices"

Let me see, which is the lightest gas? Hydrogen? Then COE prices is just like hydrogen, keeps going up.

And I thought Singapore's economy is sluggish? Hmmm I wonder why then is COE prices going up? Report says car dealers are rushing to meet sales target. There are still many people buying new cars? I've done some simple calculation on my own, you spend about a quarter of your salary for your car installment, ie if you earned at least $4k a month. That is not good financial budgeting.

So while COE prices continues to defy gravity and consumers start to defy logic, I shall start to learn to defy norms and materialism and be contented and most important grateful for the things I owned and my loved ones around me.

Social distance

Today, I learn a new phrase. Social distance and social mobility.

In a recent survey of students studying in top schools, 6 out of their 10 friends are in the same social circle as them, ie, live in landed property, family income way above median.

They probably had a head start in school, getting into top primary schools, staying in landed near top schools, investing in tuition and enrichment, or maybe alumni. I know of people staying in pasir ris, going all the way to amk to study.

So am I to blame if I did not invest enough resources to ensure that my children have a head start? Am I not a good parent? Is social status that important? I have many many questions I'm asking myself. Have I let my children down?

Once, I've benefitted through earning from giving tuition. I was happiest when I gave tuition at RC. The children there really needed it. I remembered one p5 boy who was failing his English. But after enrolling at the tuition classes at RC, he passé at EOY exam. He even got a good progress award. I remembered his father saying thank you to me. It was more than 10 years ago, but I could still remember.

I was also employed part time at an enrichment centre opposite parkway parade to conduct creative writing classes. Although all materials were provided for, I just need to deliver the lessons, but I wasn't happy teaching there. Because to most of the students, it was something extra for them, to improve their writing. I could sense the reluctance. Although it was a 1 hour 15 mins lesson , it felt very long for me every time I conduct a lesson.

In summary, my children will probably have difficulty in social mobility and will feel the social distance. Maybe they would blame me next time for not giving them the head start.

The delicate balance of immigrants

Much talk has been about foreign talent, immigrants, foreign labour. There are two schools of thoughts:
1) in a highly globalized world where movement is very fluid, it is normal for people to move around. In a highly globalized world where competition is tough, companies pay to attract the best. With better pay package, people move.

In a tight labour market, foreign labour is needed to ease the labour crunch. It has always been Singapore's rationale, if we do not embrace foreign talents/immigrants/labour, our economy will not be able to get to where it is today.

Singapore is not alone. Critics in Britain are saying that tightening foreigner influx will be a big barrier to growth. Even Germany is attracting foreign professionals with its own programme.

2) however, the other school of thought is: locals are saying no to foreign talent because they push up cost of living.
Dynamics change when new things are introduced. In science experiments, when new element is added, there would be some chemical reaction and perhaps a new compound is formed.

So I do not have the solution to find that delicate balance between attracting and restricting foreign talents. I'm just an ordinary citizen who needs to find my own balance in this globalization wave.

Steam oranges for cough

Used to remember old people said no oranges when you are coughing as it created phlegm.

But apparently, if u steam the orange, it actually can stop cough. So after a few days of irritating cough, I decided to google the recipe. Got to give it a try. Will update if it works.

I dunno how to title this

Marcus showed me black face this morning. I reminded him many times to apply gel on his wound since Saturday. Until yesterday evening, he was still being reminded to apply. This morning, I learnt that he didn't apply. I was quite fed up and told him that if his wound gets an infection, he may have to chop off his leg. And because of this, he was angry with me. He didn't say goodbye when he got off the car.

I was like, is there something wrong with me? First, I would not hold it against Marcus, very tired of holding qi inside me. Yes, I was angry with Marcus at first for getting angry with me, but I will not hold him to it. Maybe he really had a bad morning.

Next, I reflect. Is there something wrong with me? I learn not to say things unnecessarily, as I often got into trouble with that. But I also learn that not saying certain things also will get myself into trouble. And was being held to it, whether I say or I didn't say.

It is tiring to watch wat to say/do and wat not to say/do. Even more tiring if u r being held to it. I am not a perfect person. Please allow some room for mistakes.