谢谢,我毕业了!

可能因为一早已经开始工作，对毕业典礼，一直抱着不是太大的兴奋和期待。我一直觉得，毕业典礼不过是一个仪式。

对我来说，毕业典礼最重要的，莫过于我家人千里迢迢赶路出席。父亲挨着自己有失眠症，也乘长途巴士一路到来；妈妈劳累也给馋嘴的我烘了蛋糕，一路带上；姐姐从曼谷飞槟城，赶路到新加坡，又在同一天赶回槟城；弟弟为了出席，也逃了一天的课； 毓豪也下了班就赶路到来，虽然典礼已完毕。这一切，都是为了庆祝我的毕业典礼而来。

对我来说，毕业典礼不是为我而庆祝，而是庆祝家人一直以来的支持和关怀。庆祝父母在这二十年的时间，默默教导我们，扶持我们，付出最大的努力，给我们最好的教育。这一切，才是毕业典礼的意义。

只是，典礼以后，我耿耿于怀的是姐姐为了这趟毕业典礼，不知花了不少钱，还没办法和我们一起享受那愉快的周末。要是她能一只留下来，直至今天早上，一切就更好了！

谢谢你们，我毕业了。

The Visit of My Family

Chinatown

Maybe some of you may claim that:"What's so fun in Chinatown?"
Well, maybe not to you. My dad told me they visited Chinatown when they came to Singapore for their Honeymoon. Unlike the "ho mia" generation like us, my parents could not afford to have honeymoon in Paris, Japan, USA etc. The furthest they can go is Singapore. To them, this is nostalgic.

Revisit to Chinatown

Just Zho Siau-ing

Papa and En En

Vivo City

We didn't get to spend much time at the nostalgic Chinatown as the sky started to weep some tears... We rushed to MRT station and went all the way to Vivo City. That's where we tasted free chocolates, wines and beers at some choc fair! Hahaha! My dad claimed that this is the best tourism spot of his Singapore visit.

Then, we met up with YH, whom came after work and had an expensive Indian lunch at "Go India".

At the sky garden

En tasting the wine

Yum Seng~~~~

Giving out beers

They're all very TEMPTING!!!!

Family Gathering Dinner

After spending some time at Vivo City, we went to Orchard to meet up with our relatives in Singapore for dinner. The adults did all the talkings while En, Yee Hau and me were bored. That's why camera ended up with many photos from the dinner. I just picked a few to show :P

Ting Ting, the elder daughter of my cousin

Baby Girl of my cousin

Yee Hau, I was as bored as he did.

A random photo of my dad ^_^

Mama and Ah Nee Ji Ji

Lobby of Golden Landmark Hotel

I took this when I was bored waiting for the extra bed to be taken to the room. We have too many "extra" visitors in the double room, so, we have to avoid being kicked out :P

My Convocation

Before the Ceremony

Mei Ni, Xueling, Me (from left)

Ying, The nicely dressed photographer of me~

En, Me, Mama, Papa

A random photo of me by Minhua

After the Ceremony

Prof. Raju posed handsomely just for us (Yiing See and me)


Jiayen, Xueling, Libin, Me, Meijin, Minhua (from left)


Celeste and Me ^_^


Can you see my name on the board?


"Piggy", a graduation gift from my brother.

Convocation, A DAY to celebrate with our parents~


Yee Hau and Me

Handicapped

I feel handicapped! At work.

Remember things that I could not manage to get them done? I felt more handicapped after finding out from the colleague what I could have done to them. I felt stupid and helpless!

Argh~

Somehow, I just do not know how to deal with my own self. I talked to the technician in the lab after that. He kept on saying, give yourself some time.

I know, patience is what I need to learn along the way. Sometimes, my mind just forget to remind myself of that.

I feel lucky though, that my colleague is extremely patience to me. I couldn't lie, I found myself relief when I saw him back in the office this morning. It's a big "Phewwwwww....". And a bigger "Phewwwww..." when he said I'll be following him to do some other testing tomorrow. And biggest "Pheewwwwwww..." when he didn't scold me but encourage me when he found out that I've cracked one of the samples because I dropped it on the floor. (He didn't find out, I actually went up to tell him that I cracked his sample :( ...)

~Patience~

简单

简单，是怎样的一个定义?

有人说，“我只想要个简简单单的生活”。可是，简简单单是有多简单？如果进一步追踪这个人，问他、了解他，可能你会发现，他要的根本就是不简单！

简简单单的生活？我现在回想起来，我们每一次这样子说的时候，可能是

1. 没话找话说
2. 没有动脑就说

为什么突然说起简单？刚刚看完的那本书“plain truth”，就是叙说着这群很简单的人，过很简单的生活。但是，进一步探讨，有些事情可能不是那样简单。让我不能不想起两个月前的云南之旅，那些简单的纳西族、白族等。再简单的生活，也已经商业化。纳西族的文字——东巴文，是丽江的特色，也就是赚钱的手信。白族人的扎染，亦是大理的特色，也是赚钱的工具。Amish，也供游客入住他们的小屋子，感受“简单”的生活。

但是，一切的一切，都不再是那么简单。相对我们住在城市里的小孩，他们的快乐来的简单。但是，也因为我们，往往把一切弄得商业化，弄得不再简单。

有了全球化，我想知道，地球上的那个小地方，还保持着简简单单的生活？或许我们永远不会知道，因为知道以后，就变得不简单。

（哦……我究竟是想表达些什么呢？）

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Ying, I know I had told you that I would not buy books before you come to Singapore for my convocation this coming Friday. But I just couldn't help it when there's a book fair! Hahahaha!

Yeah, I just bought two books last week, both by Jodi Picoult. I decided that it's enough "chim" books for me for the past few weeks. I need some refreshments with some fiction. I have read reviews on Jodi Picoult's books but never ended with reading any one of them. This book fair had given me the chance. It's a buy one free one deal, so I got two of them.

I've learned much more about Amish in this book. In case you do not know what is Amish, they're a group of people, who live without technology (no TV, internet, electricity, telephone etc), self sustain, ride on horse etc, in Pennsylvania State of USA.

An Amish girl, Katie had been convicted murder of her new born baby. Ellie, a lawyer from the city had come to defend her, by chance. That's the beginning of the whole story. Why is it interesting? Because of all the cultural shock between the two very extreme cultures.

Amish, they are "plain", they call themselves "plain people" while people in the city are "Englisher". That's why the title of the book is "Plain Truth".

I'm not very good in writing reviews, but please read them here.

Conclusions: Good for light reading~

Hazard in the Work Place

Finally, I had something "REAL" to do from my colleague. As he has to be on course yesterday and today, he passed 12 samples to me. To remove the layers and observe for cracks which might have caused the failures. (He must be a lil beh tahan since I have been following him almost everyday, in and out...(Not toilet la!) Until finally he decided to give me some task to stop me from following him!)

And I did, removed the polymer layers for the first time under the supervision of a technician. But I didn't manage to find any crack after a few hours of observation under microscope.

You might want to ask me, so what is so dangerous about my work?

1. Strong acid have to be used to remove the layers
2. Long hours in front of the microscope... Neck and back pain, stressed!

Shit!

I personally think that the strong acid is not a problem, as long as I have myself fully covered! And of cause, 100% concentration on the work. But, THE MICROSCOPE thingy is getting on my nerve!!!!

Ask my parents, I have known as one of their children with least patience... Now, I've gotten myself a job, which require patience the MOST!

I guess this is how everything works. When you're bad in something, you'll get one of it. And it's your choice, to become EXPERT in it, or get out of it.

I'm choosing the first one.

Bless me!

回望

有没有试过在欣赏风景的时候，回头望一望自己所走过的路？回望的风景是否一样精彩？抑或是更美好？还是逊色？

幸福快乐！白头偕老！

文鸣和佳秦在七月五日结婚了！！

因为结婚日定为周四，我没有办法出席！但是，作为他们的朋友还是替他们开心！他们可是我朋友当中第一个派红炸弹的朋友哦！文鸣，你太不够朋友了，红炸弹都不派，只是口头上通知而已！我回家的时候可不可以补请？

很巧合的，文鸣和佳秦都是我中一的同学，都分别曾经是我同座的朋友。佳秦是我第一学期的“同座的你”，而文鸣是第二学期。文鸣比较文静，经常被我欺负！哈哈哈！

他们特地为了他们的结合搞了一个网站，你们不妨参观参观！

Eric & Cheah Chin

祝你们幸福快乐！^_^

Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix

I couldn't explain myself, why I still want to go cinema for Harry Potter, why I want to read the last book of Harry Potter. I guess it's because I've been following the stories for so many years (though I've forgotten most of them).

Not very enthusiastic about the release of Order of Phoenix, but I know I will still watch it, with or without the free ticket. Oh ya, please allow me to show off. I had watched HP one day before most of everybody. Yee Hau had got 2 free tickets for private showing from National Health Group. So I was there, watching movie with 50% of doctors and dentists in the cinema. FREE!

Order of Phoenix, was actually better than Goblet of Fire. I thought Goblet of Fire was too draggy and no climax reached. But I would still say Prisoner of Azkaban was the best among the 5 movies.

The stories? Well, HP readers would have known it. Non HP readers might not want to know it, because the stories are still surrounding the same theme, You-know-who and Harry Potter of course. I just don't feel like telling them here.

One thing to take note, all the teenagers are so grown up now, so matured. I couldn't stop to wonder if they could still make it to 7th movie. I hope they can. I miss the little Potter in his first appearance. Do you remember how he looked like? Well, take a look.

神圣的感动

傍晚的卡瓦格博

日出时分的卡瓦格博，日照金山

美丽的卡瓦格博！

我很喜欢海洋，但是印象中我还没有被海洋真正的感动，还没有感受过真正的激动！

这一趟云南之旅，却让卡瓦格博彻彻底底的打败了。卡瓦格博，是藏族的神山。许许多多虔诚的教徒，每年徒步到卡瓦格博来朝拜。有些来自云南，有些甚至从西藏徒步到来。朝拜者除了徒步过来，还绕着卡瓦格博走一圈。卡瓦格博可不小啊！总共是十三峰。绕着她走一圈，不是几天几周可以完成的任务。

我所分享的照片，都是卡瓦格博的主峰。夏天是最难看见卡瓦格博的季节，因为天气比较热，云层很低，往往都把卡瓦格博给遮住了。但是，我们的运气非常的好，不只看见了主峰，还连续看了几次！

第一天傍晚看见主峰，我们几个小傻婆疯疯癫癫地很兴奋。心情特好，晚餐也吃得特别痛快。

隔天一早，我们五点起床，忍受着山上的寒风，披上行李里的所有衣服和裤子，准备看日照金山。大家都很期待，也有点担心会看不着。

我霸了个好位子，坐下来慢慢地、静静地等待。渐渐，风把云层都吹开了，主峰一点一点地呈现。太阳在另一边也渐渐升起，把金粉一点点地洒在雪山上。整个过程，很神圣。那一刻，我只想静静的坐在那儿。那种神圣，让我很感动，泪水都挤在眼里，但是就是忍住没让它留下来。

身边的游客，忙碌的照相。但是，无论怎么照，都没把最好的照在相机里。他们都忘了静静的享受那一刻的感动。感动，神圣，这些感觉，是永远不会被相继给记录下来。这种感觉，只有用心感受。

有机会，我还会再朝拜卡瓦格博。

我们都是hansel and gretel

在成长的路上，我们都像H&G一样，在路上东落西留的一块两块。可是，H&G有机会走回头路，而我们却只有永远向前走。

留在路上的小面包，永远只能成为成长的回忆。

回忆，是选择的东西。有些人选择永不回头看；有些人选择只回头看；有些人选择性回味。究竟哪个比较好，却没有人会有个rigid的答案。

人生不像数学，没有对错。

我选择性的回味。今天，我回味我成长的路程。

怡保花园一间小屋里，还带着我天真无邪的笑
南美园的一间小屋里，还藏着无知幼稚的叛逆

华乐室里，收藏着我多年以来逃课的纪录
华乐室里，收藏着一段段名叫永远的友谊

北京的一道小门后，藏着一阵阵思念的味道
南大的12号宿舍里，有我夜班车留下的咖啡香

917的一间房里，今天留下爱媚的味道，我们的笑声和泪水

你曾经在那里留下成长的印记？你还记得吗？





我选择永不忘记。

I grew up under her shadow

I'm going to reveal a little secret of myself here. It may not be a secret to all of you, but it is, to me at least.

I grew up under her shadow, but it never changed the fact that she's my loving sister and I always love her so much. And I will love her forever.

Ying, she is a very intelligent woman. She's confident, positive, caring, passion and loving. She's smart and successful. She has a clear mind of what she wants and never stop working on it. She's always the best sister for me and my brother. She brings happiness to all of us! I felt lonely when she was away studying in Uni.

She's my idol in real life. I "followed" whatever she did when I was little. I developed her thoughts in me unconsciously. There was once, I felt so hurt that I teared and teared, when she told me she was wrong, she wanted me to learn from her mistakes. I cried so hard for her mistake. I cried so hard, that she's wrong for the first time of my life. Because to me, she's always right.

I grew up under her shadow. Teachers in school, whom taught her before, tend to make comparisons between the two of us. I still remember how hurt I felt, when one of the teacher I hated the most said:"Your sister was very good in maths. You're... work harder". I hated him!

Some relatives couldn't believe that I could strike As in exams when I did. I used to hear phrases like, "Ying is better". Until one day, maybe the grown ups started to realize I actually understand what they said.

I remember the "threat" I felt before En came into the world. There was once, grandpa asked me how I felt for having a little brother soon. I forgot my reply. But I never forget his. "Your dad will love your sister, and your mom will love your brother. They will not have time for you." I was 9, I couldn't differentiate whether that's a joke or some truth. I'm lucky my parents are as loving as ever. But, the fear of being abandoned always stay in me.

(Sorry, out of the topic)

I grew up under her shadow. Until one day, I forgot why, when, how, I realize I'm a different person from Ying. No doubt, we have a lot of similarities. But it will not change the fact that I'm not her shadow.

Then, I start to "develop" on my own. The real me.

Ying, I love you. You're always the best sister for me. You taught me a lot. You taught me how to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good person. You taught me that I'm special, at least to my loved ones. You taught me passion and love. You taught me, maths.

I'm always very thankful I have my parents. I must have done something good in my past life. They're the best thing we can ever have. They're loving, understanding, and good in parenting.

En, I love you too. I wish you will not grow up under our shadows. I hope to see you to be a better person than I do. I hope to see you success.

I'm crying as I'm writing this post. Finally, I have the guts to reveal this. To dare to grow out of the shadow, to dare to say this, doesn't mean I don't love Ying anymore. It simply means I finally successfully grow out from the old me. (I know Ying will understand this.)

Finally, I'm growing up on my own.

Finally, I dare to admit, I was wrong.

Feeling Good

Feeling good, simply because I'm still alive, simply because I dare to dream, simply because I'm growing, simply because I'm working for success, simply because I appreciate things that happen around me every moment.

Been reading everyday, improving myself, reflecting on what I do and did, setting my mind to a positive path. I do not know how to describe this to all of you, but I simply feel good, doing and knowing I have the ability to.

Things that I remind myself everyday:

1. Temper! Temper!
2. Confident
3. Never say NO, Never say DIE
4. Stay away from complaints
   
5. Assertiveness
6. Laziness is the worst evil in myself
7. Think success and work on it

But first thing first, define success!

PS.
Special thanks to Ying's boss, Choo San. We 唔亲唔戚, but you still always share GOOD STUFFS with me and my friends. Thank you~

And more...

It's late at night, I know I'm supposed to be on my bed, having my dreams... But I just can't let go of THE book I'm currently reading, and my thoughts.

"The Road Less Travelled" by M. Scott Peck. (Thanks KH for recommending this)

The book had caught so much of my attention, that I couldn't stop myself thinking, reflecting based on what the author had written.

I need a change.

It's not just about the book. I've been pondering since the final semester of my uni life. Is that what I want from myself? I read, I searched, for something I once thought, is the meaning of life. But now I think, I'm actually looking for more, I'm searching, for myself.

I think it's very important to recognize yourself, to keep yourself conscious about your unconscious, to lead yourself to something really meant for you.

To get yourself doing things that you want to do, the best way which works for me, is to write it down, and to constantly remind myself.

I want a change.

Change in:

1. temper
2. level of assertiveness
3. guts to present myself with confidence

I lost the sense of "dedication" to things I love for the 4 years in uni. This is the reason, I thought my life in uni, in a way, SUCKS. I still very much remember my CO days, that all of us, dedicated our time, our energy fully to achieve the common goals we set for ourselves. We went through everything together, held each other strongly, to "fight" with the "authority" whom we thought they're "enemies" in a way, we never gave up.

I lost this DEDICATION.

I want this back so much.

I think, dedication makes me feel so much alive.

If you find me losing dedication again, please pull me back, and show me this entry.

Life

I'm not very good in expressing my feelings in English, but lately I'm just too lazy to write in Chinese. Sorry...

I'm in my 4th week of working life. My boss had given me my FIRST task ever, and all of the sudden, I felt something in me. I ponder for a while, this is familiar. The "energetic" level! I had this when I was doing my internship in Beijing. I felt all the same, except with the blocked nose and frequent coughs.

All of the sudden, I feel so grown up. I'm dealing with my savings, salary, investments (hopefully), sales, groceries (like auntie!), house moving problems etc... Things that did not require so much attention from me, Things that I did not have to deal or rather do not have to deal in this seriousness level. Last but not least, growing. Growing spiritually.

I was reflecting back on my uni life last week. And after some thoughts, I walked into my housemate, and I asked her "Do you ever feel your uni life is a bit pathetic?" She said yes. I was relief that someone feels the same as me. But at the same time, I "pity" people like us.

I have images of vibrant life in uni before entering it. I imagined myself surrounded by interesting activities, which members fully devoted themselves into it; I imagined myself busy coping with studies and activities and lab works with bunch of closed friends and course mates. I imagined, all the vibrant life!

My uni life, is everything opposite from what I have just mentioned. I was shocked to realize that uni students seldom 100% involved in the clubs they joined. Instead, we joined a few to earn points so that we can stay in hostel. I learned that my course provided minimum lab works and practical works for students. I learned that, the class was too big, I couldn't simply get closed to my cohorts.

I learned all the negative facts of my first perception to the uni, and I kept all these views in myself. To a point, I shielded myself from people. I became sort of a social porcupine.

I was again, shocked when I reflected to the memories of my uni life, that I was a pathetic scholar. A student whom know only notes and tutorials and wasting time watching meaningless drama in the room. Pathetic! I told myself.

There's no one to be blamed because I simply put myself into such situation. I could have live a better and more vibrant life. Instead, I chose to stick to my few closed friends whom I know they share the similar values (never regret that I've made closed friends, but I should have made more friends instead), I chose to be the homey girl who cannot wait to fly back home every single holiday she has (never regret of this though).

Today, I again hesitated to make a move to ask a colleague to clear my queries. Wth! But, I finally managed to clear my throat and walk in front of a group of chit chatting colleagues. But due to my very low level of confidence and also sickening voice, I've been "ignored" at certain sense. Luckily another nice colleague came up to help. I felt so thankful. When I got back into my seat, I said to myself, PLEASE TALK OUT CLEARLY NEXT TIME!

Suddenly, I feel so grown up.

Life is meaningful only when we learn how to solve problems, and grow with it.

Transformers

You've gotta watch this!!! Especially you're 20-30 years old, you've watched Transformers cartoon in the evenings of your childhood, you remember the theme song of Transformers (even no lyrics, just the melody is good enough) etc, you just need to watch THIS!

The visual effect is fantastic! I watched this in the so called 2k Digital Cinema at Golden Village in Vivo City. The price of the ticket of this "special" cinema is just the same as the normal ones, so why not have a try? I didn't really spot any difference in visual resolution (maybe because I was sitting on the 2nd row), but I did realize the difference in sound effect! It feels like BumbleBee was transforming just beside me! Hahahaha!

Some commented that the plot was so normal and boring. Yea, indeed, true. These movies involved robots (love stories, comedy, sci fic etc... as well) normally inherit a trend. But, it really depends on how the producer and director tell the stories. And I think Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg had done a GREAT job!

Maybe you can argue that I'm just being bias because these are my childhood memories! But I don't care, I would still highly recommend this movie to all of you! It's really wonderful to see your own childhood cartoon became so real and GREAT! That's why, I must emphasize 20-30 year old, please watch this! Hahahaha!

I wonder will these producers and directors make all my childhood cartoons into movies. We have had Flinstones which was not good, Ninja Turtle (not my choice) and? Maybe they should consider Thunder Cats? What about Smurfs? (Erm... If that's the case, all the actors have to be in blue little costumes...)