Deck the halls (Twin Version)

Just a little something by my twin and I to spread the Christmas cheer!
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! :)

Hawker food ramblings

Meal: Breakfast

Place: Seahorse coffee shop, Jalan Rangoon

Dish: Economy rice - Rice, stir-fry vegetables, sting-ray fish with curry, egg with onions

Price: RM5.40

Overall rating: ♥♥♥

Egg was quite nicely cooked, and the vegetables have a refreshing taste. Sting-ray wasn't as fresh as I hoped it would be, but still acceptable, due to the rich curry flavour. Price-wise, I think it should've been brought down to the RM4 - RM5 range, as the freshness of the fish wasn't top-notch. All-in-all, it was a good meal, albeit a little pricey, but I could find better deals. Ta!

I need help!

This is for a competition that I recently joined, organized by Digi. I need your support and your votes!
All you have to do is go to the link below and click Vote. Simple as that.
Thank you!! :)
http://www.dgcfc.my/myentries.aspx#.UMcAiEOBloM

Life Lesson #19: A Prank

Who knew playing a prank on someone could hit home with their fears and vulnerabilities? Apparently, not me.

Recently, my friend played a prank on me that sent me panicking for all of five minutes, until I was told that it was just a joke.

Anyone who is pranked feels betrayed at first. Then, comes laughter or annoyance. I felt neither. I was relieved. Then, in true teen fashion, I began to think of ways of pulling a prank.

After much thinking (and some sisterly-comments), I realized I was overreacting.

I can't be sure if I'm overreacting for a good reason. But it forced me to face my fears and vulnerabilities.

A few years ago, something happened that gave me a scare about making friends. I immediately became wary of certain types of friends; it wasn't because I couldn't trust them, it was my fear of losing them as friends.

That prank reminded me of this unpleasant experience; I thought my biggest fear was about to happen.

After five years, I've come to realize that biggest fears are scary, but also rarely ever occur.

If I let this hold me back from really knowing and befriending some really good people, that would really be one of the biggest regrets in my life.

I'm not sure how long it will take, but one day, and I hope it's soon, I will be able to fully let my fears go.

So, thank you C, for making me face my biggest fear and "push" me down the road I should've taken years ago. 

2012 is truly a year of recovery and rediscovery for me. 

p.s. I'm still going to get back at you. Just not so soon. And oops, it looks like I've started writing again!

Life Lesson #18: My First Confession

There's less than a month till my 17th birthday. And somehow, I think I'll wake up a different person after that day. So much has happened over these years (especially THIS YEAR), that I might think it was a dream if I woke up as the same person I was before.

So this is my half-confession (?), a little memoir concluding everything that has happened in my 17 years thus far. Maybe I should write one confession every 17 years or something.

The year 2012 has been a wake-up call for me. So many tears, laughter, friends, experiences... it's hard to put them all down in words. It's been an enriching journey.

There were a lot of firsts for me this year. Some were great, some were mediocre, and some looked a bit bad. But overall, I'd say they were necessary for me to become a wiser and better person.

As a child, I almost always got what I wanted. Luckily, I didn't turn out to be a spoilt brat, but I have to say, it more or less caused me to take a lot of things for granted. At some point, I believe it made me kind of arrogant.

I never really failed to convert opportunities into successes, so perhaps, everything was easy for me. But during these 17 years, I believe I've been put on a mission to re-discover myself and my true priorities.

This year, I suffered my first loss in a competition I would "normally" win in. I was upset at first, I thought I did well. But after some time, I took some time to really ponder upon it and realized I really wasn't that good after all. I was taking it for granted, and that took a toll on my performance.

That was my first loss, but it was also my first gain. It taught me never to take things for granted, and that to accept defeat graciously was a learning experience in itself.

This year, I also had a first experience in working. And I am telling you - it ain't so easy after all.

Working for Stuff@School was both an awesome and frightening experience. It taught me many things, including writing, time management, photography and even interview skills. Learning how to communicate with other people was also part of the package. I forced myself to be more pro-active, and I haven't regretted that decision ever since.

In our group, it resembled a mini society. There were several times when some form of chaos would break out in the group, but then thanks to the help of the members, it was always subdued. Of course, it would be lying if I said everyone went back to normal. A lot of us changed, but for better or for worse, only the future can tell. All I can say is that even getting along with the group is a learning experience like no other.

Getting to see your name in the newspaper is really satisfying. I've had the privilege of seeing it a few times, so I consider myself lucky. I also thank Stuff@school for choosing my articles as there were many others who were brilliant. And I didn't get the internship, but hey, it felt good being an ambassador for an entire year (and getting mail!).

2012 was also a big year for our school's debate team. We finally made it to the national rounds. It opened our eyes to many things, and I guess it's safe to say that we came back as very contented and much wiser students. We met many people and broadened our thinking skills into other dimensions. Perhaps it wasn't much, but it definitely played a role in sharpening our minds.

Debate has always been an important part of my high school life since I was in Form 3. If I were to measure the amount of tears my team and I shed over this matter, it could probably cause floods. But then, there were all those silly and humorous times to make up for it.

I distinctly remember this year's newly-invented routine - sleeping in shifts. We would sleep for alternate hours while taking turns preparing our scripts and scouring for information. To do so, we even moved my mattresses so we could all stay in the same room. A lot of unforgettable memories were created during our times together, and they will always remain as the glorious chapters in my life.

Being part of a team is a bond that cannot be broken easily. I am thankful for having Yee Teang, Zhi Ying and Jesline as my teammates. They were there to share my joy and sadness. Without them, I would never have been able to make it to this day.

I always broke out of the box by joining the Anchor Idol competition. I never really joined competitions outside of school. This year though, I was determined to make it happen.

The whole process was refreshing and exhilarating. I'd never really understood the work behind news broadcasting before, so I learnt as much as I could. Did I do my best at the finals? I believe I did, but after more practice and confidence, perhaps, I could do better. I'm happy for all the participants, because regardless of win or loss, we came out of this as stronger, more eloquent people.

I've read a lot these few years. But I find my genre of choice slowly slipping away from fantasy to historical fiction. Reading books like A Thousand Splendid Suns, Pearl of China, The Last Empress, In My Father's House etc helped me to understand how the world around me was changing. All this while, I've been living life as an idle person, not really knowing how society was changing and what problems we were really facing. I may not understand it fully, but at least now, I'm aware of it.

Since April, I've also stopped eating the fried food in my school canteen. I still take the occasional fry, but I don't buy packets of it to eat anymore. Even though I still fell sick for some time after that, I feel healthier and brighter. Oh, and there's less skin problems for me as well, so hurray!

Almost 17 years of my life have passed, and I'm glad it hasn't gone wasted. I'm happier, more mature, and surrounded by a loving family, not to mention awesome friends. I have a great circle of buddies at school, and caring friends outside of school as well.

To all my friends, thank you for being there with me and for me even though I can be snappy or moody at times. Thank you for sharing my joy and interests, and for giving me the comfort and courage I need in life (even if it is to act crazy at times). I've shared memories with you guys that I'll never forget.

To anyone and everyone who has been in my life before, thank you for making my life an exciting one. I'm already looking forward to 17 years later. Cheers!

Pic above: 17-year-old "nerd" who's still busy finding her calling in life, but still spares some time to enjoy every moment along the way :)

Phew, this is one looooooong post.

Life Lesson #17: Age matters (sadly)

I was at the hawkers' this morning having breakfast. After ordering, I sat down and waited patiently for my food.

The problem was, I'd already downed half my cup of iced Milo, and there still wasn't a single bowl of curry mee (which I ordered) in sight.

I thought maybe the guy forgot my order. So I went back to the stall, and reminded him again. He repeated my order precisely, so I assumed that perhaps there was a lot of business.

It was when both my mum and my sister finished their meals that I'd been waiting for a long time.

At first, I didn't want to go to the stall a third time as I felt it would seem impatient and fickle of me. In the end, my mum went to the stall to speak to the owner, and only then did I manage to get my bowl of noodles (which I took to my table).

These kind of things have happened in my life before. And as teens, we all probably know why.

Age matters.

Teens often get overlooked due to the age factor. It is no wonder, then, that many teens crave for the attention and the respect they feel they deserve.

I almost lost it today. Luckily, I used every last bit of self-control to prevent myself from 'scolding' the hawker.

Teens deserve equal rights; even if it's just a bowl of curry mee.

Of course, before all that can be done, we teens also need to show how we deserve respect.

Respect is a two-way thing; everyone deserves it.

Age matters. But only you can decide whether it is fact or fiction.

Life Lesson #16: What are we reading??

A few weeks ago, something appeared on my desk - that wasn't mine, obviously - which almost gave my friend quote "a cardiac arrest".

We'd been using a different class that day, so I hadn't actually been back to our original class. My friend, who decided to drop by, walked past my desk and was shocked out of breath. (at least, that's what I think happened)

The first thing she said when she saw me? "Do you know what was on your desk? Fifty Shades of Grey!"

I was equally shocked. And for several reasons.

p.s. For those of you who do not know what Fifty Shades of Grey is, it's an erotica book which is TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for teenagers.

1. What is that book doing on my desk? I wouldn't even touch that book in a bookstore.

2. What if people thought that book was mine? What if they assumed that I read books like that? *puke inwardly* (yes, I care about my image. A lot.)

3. Why read a book like that? And why bring it to school?

Undoubtedly, that book took a lot of courage to write and to publish. But it certainly isn't one that should be read by all age groups. Reading should be done consistently, but it certainly shouldn't be done with every type of book there is out there.


Reading is not graded by quantity, but rather, by quality.

Fifty Shades of Grey may have been written to send out a message to society; but at the present point, it's still not fit for teenage reading material.

R.AGE Open Mic Competition

This is the first time my sister, Jesline and I, have finally mustered the courage to participate in a singing competition.

This is our first video cover of Drops of Jupiter (it's much shorter than the original, due to the time limit).

Hope you guys can have a look at it and support us! :)

Life Lesson #15: Forgive and Forget?

Forgiving and forgetting are almost always associated together. It's a reminder to all of us not to hold grudges against other people, to leave our past behind, to move on.

Somehow, I find this piece of advice not as practical as it sounds.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not denying the truth in this saying, nor am I doubting the benefits that forgiving and forgetting can bring us. However, it is really difficult for me to believe that it really is as simple as that.

People forgive, people get over things, but does that mean they've forgotten? Not quite.

When we trip and injure ourselves, we apply ointment. We undergo the healing process, which is slow and painful, but well-worth it when we the scar is barely visible. Some scars don't fade at all.

Even if they do, does it mean that we've forgotten how the injury felt, how it all happened?

When friends say hurtful things unintentionally, they apologize afterwards and we all laugh it off. But the damage is done. No matter how much we want to pretend to be human ostriches, the truth is glaringly obvious. Of course, it may not affect the friendship, but in the long run, it is a mark in our hearts.

An experience with a less-than-pleasant ending may be forgiven and walked past; but when the process repeats itself, who are we to criticize those who hesitate in front of the mirrors of their past?

It's easier said than done. Everyone's got an experience they don't want to relive; so do I.

When we stand before the door of a past experience, do we walk in without hesitation? Do we pause in trepidation? Do we turn back on our heels and flee?

Honestly, I don't know. But I know enough from my past to prevent the mistakes of my future.

I know for a fact that I have chosen to open that door again. But hey, it's a different me, a different outlook and a different approach.

So let's cross our fingers and wish ourselves the best, that we may unravel the knots of our past, and finally move on. 

Scars may remain forever in our hearts; but they can be good ones that don't inflict any harm.

Life Lesson #14: I'm at A Thousand Views! Yippee!

I never thought this day would come.

I can be very determined when I want something really badly. But other times, I can be extremely half-hearted.

This isn't my first blog. I used to have another blog, on which I posted a short story. That was my first and last post.

Later on, when I had the intention to continue blogging, I realized I had forgotten the password. *groans*

So I started this blog with a bigger dream. I was going to make sure this was a life-long (okay, maybe teen-long) project.

But then I needed a theme for a blog. If there was no theme, there was no motivation to continue writing. I came up with the idea of "Why Life is Sometimes Awesome" after reading Neil Pasricha's "The Book of Awesome". And yes, the book is as awesome as its title.

Life Lessons came up after being inspired by a spilled bowl of noodles. I think that was really a big turning point for me in my writing journey.

There's still a long way to go, and I'm sure 1000 views is just a stone's throw on the never-ending road of "bloggery".

But for now, 1000 views is really an achievement for me. Anyone for the 2000 mark?

I'll take my blog 1 view at a time; I'll live life 1 day at a time.

Only effort brings achievement. But sometimes, it feels as if it is too hard to push on.

When you come to such a point in life, "giving up" cannot appear in your dictionary.

If it's too hard to live life 1 day at a time, live life ( fill as appropriate ) at a time.

Determine your life rhythm, and you can be the master of your life.

Another piece of good news *drumroll please* I've been featured in the Perspectives Blog for young Malaysians to voice their thoughts! *squeals*

http://www.pemandu.gov.my/gtp/perspectives/Vivien_Tang.html

p.s. Forgive the sudden outburst of girliness. I am, ahem, a girl after all :)

Life Lesson #13: Satisfaction

Satisfaction is a very subjective feeling. Everyone has a different perception of it, some of which may seem common, while some may seem anomalous.

For me, satisfaction comes from achievement.

Most achievements give me satisfaction, but there are different stages.

Needless to say, winning gives everyone a sense of satisfaction. It comes from knowing that our hard work has been appreciated and duly awarded. 

The most lasting satisfaction for me is a smile.

This morning, whilst washing my hands at a basin, I saw a grandmother and with her granddaughter. They were using the basin next to me.

The granddaughter was very young, and she hadn't grown tall enough to reach the basin even on her tiptoes. Her grandmother lifted her up with one arm and tried to turn on the tap with the other.

Most taps in public washrooms operate on the "push and release" mechanism - after one push, water flows out for a while and then stops. For most of us, it's still convenient to "push" the tap a few more times to clean our hands properly. But it was more difficult for the grandmother.

With one arm lifting her granddaughter, she struggled to gain her balance. Before she "pushed" the tap a second time, I reached my hand over and kept the tap flowing. There was a soft "thank you" from the grandmother, who regained her breath.

Before the grandmother left, she told her granddaughter to wave goodbye. I didn't expect much, as I'd often find myself waving or smiling at toddlers who returned blank stares.

So when the little girl lifted her hand and waved (and mouthed a 'bye-bye'), it brought a smile to my face as I did the same. That smile stayed in my heart for the entire day.

It was the satisfaction of knowing I'd helped someone that put the smile on my face.

We are taught to be helpful at a young age, but when competition gets in the way, help flies out the window.

Sometimes, we're busy. Other times, we feel awkward to lend a helping hand.

But most times, you'll feel rewarded when you perform a simple gesture of kindness.

People complain that our society is lacking in moral values - so they should do something about it.

A little help goes a long way; when you make it an aim to help a person each day, you're helping to create a better society. 

That, is what satisfaction is.

Bitter + Sweet = The Perfect Combination

How do you know when you've gotten your money's worth?

In "Vivien" terms, it means getting the perfect book.

How do you grade a perfect book?

To me, a perfect book used to be a book bursting with imagination, fantasies and wonderful dreams that would never occur in life. These genres are still pretty good reads; but my reading preferences have shifted a lot since then.

Historical fiction is now my cup of tea. 

Fact + Fiction = Historical Fiction

A dash of history and imagination contribute to a perfect blend of words.

All of the historical fiction books I've read so far (which isn't a lot, really) are stellar writes. I highly recommend:

1. In My Father's House, Book 1, The Shiloh Legacy, by Bodie and Brock Thoene

- Based post-World War I, the story revolves around four young men and their difficulties in adapting to their respective lives after the war. Heart-warming friendships and painful separations make this book a very special, precious and realistic read.

Rating: **** (would've gotten 5 stars if I'd managed to get the other two books in the trilogy)

2. Pearl of China, by Anchee Min

- The story revolves around Pearl S. Buck, and her friendship with a fictional character, Willow, during her times in China. Willow is actually a combination of Pearl's real friends from China. Told from Willow's point of view, it slowly unravels the adversities of life in olden-day China and a friendship that survives the tests of time, distance and restrictions.

Rating: *****

p.s. Anchee Min's other works, such as Red Azalea, Empress Orchid and The Last Empress are also highly recommended. These are all works of historical fiction.

3. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford

- This really is the creme of the crop for me. Set during World War II, it tells the tale of young love between a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl. Family conflicts and prison walls prevent the two friends from reuniting, but in a twist of fate, belongings of 37 Japanese families found in the basement of Panama Hotel bring back bittersweet memories. Love can survive time and distance - perhaps, with the help of an old jazz record and a hotel that was never taken down.

Rating :***** (just an extra *) for good measure. This is my current favourite book.

p.s. The author is actually half-Chinese. His great-grandfather was one of the pioneers in the mining sector in the United States of America.

Just a few lovely reads to recommend for anyone who reads this blog. :)

Life Lesson #12: Busy or Free?

I flipped through my notebook yesterday to update my event calendar.

I used to love event calendars because they kept everything so organized. Even if I didn't need one, I'd get one simply because I liked the little boxes with dates and days.

Now, I'm almost completely dependent on my event calendar.

I jot down my appointments, friends' birthdays, special events, competitions etc.... Recently, I did a review of it and realized how packed it really was.

2012 is a busy year for me. My event calendar was bursting with different activities. At the time of filling in those tiny boxes, I believed myself to be joyful, annoyed, upset, frustrated, excited and maybe, even gushing different types of emotions.

When I look at them now though, I feel nothing but happiness and fulfilment.

Being busy doesn't necessarily translate for a sad, lonely life with no meaning but work after work.

Being free doesn't mean being able to live the life we envisage.

For me, I need the former to keep me satisfied, pumped and happy.

This may sound weird, (and I'm sure it does), but a busy life teaches me to appreciate time.

When I'm free with nothing to do, it's hard for me to push myself to do things.

When I'm busy with three or four tasks at hand, I learn to be more productive and maximise use of time. In fact, I often picture myself juggling different assignments in the future, but nonetheless still living a great life.

But hey, I guess everyone's different. Some people may fare better in their free time, when they can achieve peace and tranquility and think carefully about the next step.

We are all different in our own thoughts and principles, but these differences are not a platform for us to be wary or critical of others.

Respect one another for our differences - it is because of them that the world is truly a more colourful, exciting place.

Life Lesson #11: Of Happiness

I always thought that a good day would surely lead to happiness.

A smile from a friend, a teacher giving less homework, remembering to bring every single thing I need to school. These were the things that made me happy.

If a friend was in a bad mood, I would be in a sour mood. If by recess there were more than 2 pieces of homework jotted down in my notebook, I'd be in a foul mood. Forget to bring a book to school? My mood would worsen with every book I forgot to bring.

For years I assumed that everything that happened in my life controlled my moods. In order to be happy I had to wish for all these good things to happen to me.

It was not until today that I realized the futility of it all.

A book written by Andrew Matthews taught me this lesson. Accordingly entitled "Happiness Now", every single illustrated (yay!) chapter in his book is aimed at showing people how happiness is easily achieved.

Happiness is not something that we earn; it is in every single one of us, waiting to be shown through a smile, a simple gesture or an emotion.

I looked back on my life and I've realized that I was truly happy when I chose to be happy, not when all these good things I've just described happened.

When I wanted to feel happy, I lost the usual Monday blues.

I didn't even blast off at a friend who forgot to bring my paper for me. (don't worry - I wasn't mad at you, and I will not be mad at you :)

Instead, when I was happy, I was more productive, I felt better, and I really solved problems instead of worrying incessantly over them.

Sometimes, all it takes is to flex your facial muscles and muster a smile.

It can light up a day, make you happier, and possibly make someone happy as well.

Don't wait for someone or something to make you happy, because they don't have the obligation to do it for you.

Instead, make yourself happy by feeling happy.

It is only then that you truly see the value in life and learn to embrace your problems one step at a time.

Life Lesson #10 : Grandparents are around!

My grandparents are here again!

It's not often that I get to meet my grandparents, given the fact that they live in our neighbouring country, Indonesia, instead of neighbouring states or cities. Thankfully, when they do visit us, they stay for a longer-than-normal period of vacation time.

I love it when my grandparents are around.

My grandmother is a great cook. She's also quite optimistic in life.

My grandfather has an interesting sense of humour. Plus, he's got green fingers (a skill that was, unfortunately, not inherited by me).

I didn't really talk much to my grandparents until these few years.

But I'm glad I did.

There is an old Chinese saying that states that the old ginger possesses the spiciest flavour.

Of course, there is no denying that this statement has its own flaws. But nonetheless, it has survived the changes of time till this day because there is almost always truth in this saying, for most situations.

Perhaps your grandparents may not be able to teach you how to solve a chemistry question or tell you how cool they think the latest pop song is, they can teach us a lot simply from the way they look at life.

By telling us stories of their lives, by preparing scrumptious traditional dishes or just by simply sitting next to us while watching TV, they show us the value in tradition and value in life.

They teach me to be appreciative, because even if there's nothing to be thankful for, we can at least be grateful for being given a chance to live.

Life Lesson #9: Of A Taekwondo Exam

After 5 years of practice, I finally found myself in the face of a black belt exam.

Actually, I could've taken my black belt exam in March. I chickened out at the last minute and pulled out.

I would've very much liked to "chicken out" today as well.

Luckily, the prospect of wasting USD$80 weighed down heavily on me.

Words can't describe my feelings today. I was nervous/excited/scared/calm at the same time.

The session I was most nervous about was the board-breaking session.

I was equally worried about the free sparring session.

I had never been good at sparring. I tended to hop about too much and misjudge distances. Lady luck shone on me today and I managed to come out, unscathed. At least, that's what I think. After a day's rest, I should be able to tell whether or not I've perfectly un-scarred.

As for the breaking..... I DID IT! With some luck, strength and some techniques.

The most important lesson I learnt from this though, was not the fact that I seriously needed to put on more weight, muscle and strength.

Rather, it was learning that to succeed, one must be calm, patient and confident.

Even when you are faced with something you have never broken in previous attempts.

Having confidence is already half the battle won.

The few times I was unsure of my abilities (and scared of the board), I failed to break it on first attempt.

The same goes for life.

Sometimes, we are uncertain about the unknowns in our life. We don't feel confident about something new, something challenging, something that haunts our past.

But feeling like this will NEVER get us anywhere. 

We should always try to feel confident and optimistic about life, albeit knowing how unpredictable and surprising life can be.

Even if it happens to slap you in the face like a big, wet fish, let us remain positive and be confident that there will be better days ahead. P.s. we should also feel thankful that it's just a fish, not a 1-inch wooden board.

CONFIDENCE + OPTIMISM + HARD WORK = SUCCESS

Actually, these two boards don't fit. I couldn't find two pieces that fit for a momento. 

Life Lesson #8: Of The Olympic's Archery Teams

The first Olympic's match I watched was the archery competition. I had tuned in when the men's team semifinal match began.

I didn't manage to keep my eyes open till the very end, so I went off to bed after the United States had sent Japan out of the match.

p.s. The US team proceeded to beat Korea (oh no!!!) and met Italy in the finals. But Italy emerged the final winners with a one-point difference.)

This morning, I watched the women's team competition. This time though, they were at the 1/8 elimination round.

This time, the finals weren't held today. But I'll be wide awake for the finals (if I don't have school the next day).

Archery is a sport that involves loads of patience, skill, luck and a pair of incredibly steady hands. It requires optimum time control and the ability to overcome sudden wind currents.

Most of all, it requires teamwork.

Each team is given 2 minutes to shoot 6 arrows. Each person can use about 40 seconds to shoot both their arrows.

If a teammate takes too long to aim and shoot, the others are left with less than ample time to make an accurate aim. This case was sadly, very true for a few teams.

What happens when a teammate takes way too long to complete part of his/her project?

Instead of blasting off, complaining about it to other people or creating bad vibes within the group, maybe we should get into the Olympian spirit and look up to the archers.

They just smiled, gave each other a pat on the back, and got ready to make up for their teammate's unintentional error.

It takes a lot to be able to reach this mutual understanding. Teamwork and team spirit played an important role.

Till now, it is still hard for me to comprehend and try to take in my teammate's different attitudes, behaviours or principles.

Sometimes, I feel like yelling at them. At times, I have done so. But I ALWAYS regret my decision immediately after.

Yelling, scolding, firing up or complaining isn't going to get anything done. That's a lesson well learnt from my 17 short years of experience so far. Especially in a team.

Teamwork is the only key to any success in a group.

And that is what the Olympian archers have shown us time after time.

Life Lesson #7: Of A Cab Driver

In school, we are taught to behave ourselves well, no matter where we are, as our actions ultimately affect how society perceives our school.

My experience in Bangkok was a very good example of this statement.

But I'm not referring to myself as the goodie-two-shoes in this post. I was hopelessly lost in translation and had fallen sick before half of my trip was over in the land of Tom Yam.

I shared one of my most memorable experiences in Thailand with my Malay oral examiner. It was pretty unconventional, but I talked about a cab driver.

Actually, I don't quite remember this cab driver's name. But through our brief cab rides, I've come to admire this person greatly.

When we first got into the cab, he shook hands with my dad and told my dad that his proficiency in English was about 70%. We all breathed a sigh of relief as we'd encountered several drivers who couldn't understand what we were saying.

Over the course of two days, he acted as our personal cab driver. He was friendly, always ready to offer good suggestions on tourist spots, and even helped us plot a strategic route so we could cover more places in less time.

But his 70% didn't mean he understood every word we said.

Sure, there were a few times when we tried really hard not to burst out laughing when the cab driver and my dad were trying to communicate, sometimes using hand gestures.

What made me admire him most was his dedication to learning.

He always tried his best to use proper English, and to seek out the best places in Thailand for food and shopping.

In fact, all around the streets in Bangkok, you can see people of all ages walking past holding English books or audio books, learning English grammar and pronunciation.

Age is no limiting factor for these people. To them, it is never too late to learn, nor is it too difficult to learn what may be a totally foreign language to some.

It is this spirit of learning and hospitality conveyed by the people of Bangkok, but most importantly from that cab driver that makes me want to visit Thailand again.

And I hope that one day when I do return, I can meet this cab driver again.

Life Lesson #6: Of A Banana (and some worms)

As I am on the couch getting my daily dose of CNN, I feel this sudden urge to randomly browse through some sites and update myself on my friends' activities.

I see a simple update message. One word that expresses more than 7 simple letters. One word that carries a message of sorrow and regret.

Have you ever felt betrayed when you've been in something for such a long time and suddenly discovered that it wasn't what you thought it to be?

Something like that happened to me once. I must've been about 9 or 10 at that time.

I was peeling a banana in the backseat of my car. 

Halfway through the banana, I discovered some white things moving in the banana.

They.... were.... maggots. And there was a clump of them, right in the centre of the banana. The banana I was eating.

First thought: EWWW!!!!!! I don't know what made me manage to wrap up the rest of the banana and put it in a plastic bag. I might've just thrown it out the window.

Since that incident, I've been really apprehensive of bananas. I avoid bananas at all costs. Every time I peel a banana, I expect to see maggots wriggling in it.

This fear has induced me to hate bananas. This unexplained phobia of bananas sometimes annoys my family members.

Back to modern-day me.

An incident that occured recently reminded me of something very important in life.

Although bananas aren't exactly very prominent in my life, I did use to like it. It was healthy, tasty, and most importantly, had potassium - which allows people to be more mentally-energized.

I told myself it'd be silly to mistrust all bananas for eternity just because one of them happened to have maggots in it - even if it is totally gross.

The same held for this incident. It wasn't a biggie in my life or anything, and even though not a lot of people noticed, I had been down in the dumps for about a week following the incident. I buried myself in work.

As much as we'd like to convince ourselves otherwise, there are some things and people in life that we just like to have around for company.

When you find out a person is not what you think he/she is, what does one do?

One can break off all ties. 

One can attempt to distance him/herself.

One can attempt to pretend nothing happened.

Or, one can choose to express her insecurities and opinions, and hope to exercise change. Which is what I tried to do.

I doubted my decision after the first few days; I was a naturally straightforward person, so some of the things I did could've been overboard for others.

Now, though, I do not regret that decision one bit.

I got an answer. I got an assurance. I got a promise of change.

Only time will tell if my restored trust is worthwhile.

But for now, I shall trust my instincts and blog on.

Just as I have learned to drop my prejudice against an innocent piece of fruit, I should also learn to regain trust when one has been proven worthy of it.

Life Lesson #5: Of Chocolates

There are a variety of  chocolates in life.

Friends aren't any different.

Best friends are like dark chocolates.

At first glance, they look like any normal piece of chocolate. As such, it is sometimes easy to overlook them and go for the ones with the richest toppings. But once you pick them up, you know there is a difference.

They may be bitter at first, but the sweetness and flavours you taste later on are enough for you to accept the bitterness as part of the package. In fact, you may start to enjoy the bitterness after a while.

Then there are those like milk chocolates.

I will always prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, any time any day. But they're pretty high on my list as well.

Milk chocolate buddies are sweet and smooth all-the-way. Little resistance in texture translates as little resistance in personality. They are easy to get along with, and pleasantly acceptable.

Fruit chocolates are pretty nice too.

These are the type that are full of surprises. They may look normal on the outside, but their personality is unforgettable. Sour, sweet, exotic, you name it, they've got it. They're likeable, but not necessarily warmly received by everyone. Not everyone enjoys surprises.

There is another kind that I've come to like over the years.

I call it uber-dark chocolate.

I don't really like bitter stuff unless it's bittersweet like dark chocolate. This is the type screams "bitter". For some apparent reason, it only seems incredibly bitter to you.

So you leave it alone and live life. But then, curiosity gets the better of you and you re-open the wrapping.

As you delve deeper into it, you find little pieces of ingredients you'd never expect to find before in a piece of uber-dark chocolate.

After a while, you actually start to enjoy it.

But when you think back on your past experiences, you cannot find a reasonable explanation as to why you disliked it so much in the first place.

This type of chocolate is one of the leading shockers in chocolate-town.

But these type of friends are also one of the hardest to find in life.

Often, we are at a loss for words when we wonder why we did or didn't do something in the past. We can't explain our behaviour, we can't explain the change.

Defining ourselves in 1+1=2 equations can stop us from meeting some of the greatest friends in life.

So before putting a person into a mould, let us appreciate the different layers of a person, because there is always more than meets the eye.

And chocolate is the best proof.

Life Lesson #4: Of Anderson Hays Cooper

It is very easy for us to chicken out and say 'no' to someone out of fear. Be it fear of the unknown, fear of the known or just fear of messing-up, we often don't have the courage to face our fears.

I am not a brave person. In fact, I may very well be the most cowardly person anyone has ever met.

But there is someone I hold in very high esteem over his bravery.

His name is Anderson Hays Cooper. Better known as the primary anchor of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, he now hosts an eponymous daytime talk show, Anderson.

He used to work as a live war-zone reporter. I was pretty impressed with his bravery at that time.

Now, there is more reason for me to admire his courage.

About a week ago, he posted an e-mail acknowledging that he was gay.

This was actually a well-known issue among society - but up till then, he had never openly acknowledged it and avoided talking about it.

He used to be afraid of admitting it. But he has spoken out now.

It may seem simple to type an e-mail, but it is never easy to highlight our own differences and insecurities.

We fear rejection and we only want acceptance. But we also know that this is very much wishful thinking.

A person once said that courage is not having no fear, but rather moving on despite knowing the fear.

To have fear is to be human. To face fear is to have courage.

Thanks to Anderson Cooper and many other people who have come clean about their differences, they've become a candle that illuminates the path for those seeking acceptance.

Courage is not something that is only bestowed upon special people - it is knowingly and willingly shown by ourselves. :)

Life Lesson #3: Of Card-stacking

It was a pretty cool day at KFC, spent talking and card-stacking.

Chow Qing's brother, Darryl stacking a card tower

No, I'm not kidding. Card-stacking in public.

My mini 3-level card pyramid

That was a pretty new experience for me. I always thought that card-stacking was something done by people who had nothing better to do. People who wanted to waste their time making something that would collapse eventually.

Perhaps, for us, we really did have nothing better to do.

But I realised that wasn't the case after I went home and started building a card pyramid myself.

I started off building one on my table. That one was about six levels tall. And it didn't topple.

So I got ambitious and built one on the floor. I was aiming for 7 levels.

There was one problem though - my structure kept collapsing at the 4th level.

After about 4 collapses, my spirits were almost gone. I felt demoralized.

I wanted to just give up.

Luckily, a thought ran through my head. If I gave up now, then it would be a real waste of my time.


So I tried one last time. Once or twice it threatened to collapse again along with what was left of my hopes. As I placed the last two cards on the structure, everything around me just froze.

Right before me was a creation of my own hands. I did it.

At that point, I didn't really know what to do. But I knew I had to get a picture.

My completed structure!

Card-stacking isn't that bad, and it certainly isn't a waste of time.

It taught me that with hope, patience and perseverance, anyone can succeed. :)

Life Lesson #2: Of A Man and His Wheelchair

On a Tuesday evening, my mum took us out for a trip to the night market.

We got some Nasi Lemak and Laksa for our dinner, besides loads of other hawker snacks as side dishes.

As my mum was having a gander at the wide array of fruits at the stalls, I turned behind me to observe my surroundings.

Everything seemed perfectly in-sync with a pasar malam trip - people holding plastic bags full of purchases, people lining up at stalls, people bargaining.

Something didn't seem to fit in with the image. It was a man, perhaps into his 50s, coming up the road.

It was common to see Westerners at the market. What wasn't common, was that this particular Westerner, had a disability - he didn't have any legs.

On his wheelchair, he rounded the market, checking out the stalls.

I lost sight of him after he passed the fruit stall.

When I was getting into my car, I saw him again. This time, he was parked next to a stall, eating his newly-bought snacks while watching the world bustle about.

When life is unfair to us, when all the odds are turned against us, it's easy to complain and be mad about how unlucky we are.

It is easy to forget, that there are many people out there who've had it worse than us.

In the end, I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to talk to this man.

He didn't need to achieve great things to teach me to be more appreciative of my life.

All it took was to enjoy his food and watch life go on.

Life Lesson #1: Of A Spilled Bowl of Noodles

In the hustle and bustle of city life, it's really easy for us to lose our cool and blast off at people when they make mistakes. At some point in our lives, we've all been guilty of directing our anger at our family members, friends or total strangers. But do their unintentional mistakes justify our unnecessary outbursts?

By being angry, we seem to let out a lot of steam. But many times, we almost always regret blowing our tops off in the first place. When what has happened cannot be undone, why make ourselves go red instead of keeping a cool head?

It was a Sunday. My family and I went out for lunch at a restaurant. Having just ordered our dishes, we tried to settle ourselves in our seats. That's when I felt something wet drip on the back of my neck.

I turned around and was greeted with the sight of a woman, half drenched in curry soup.

A waiter had accidentally spilled a bowl of spicy, soupy noodles on his customer. I think everyone in that particular area of the restaurant was anticipating an inevitable outburst from the female customer.

Except, it didn't come. She just lightly nodded her head at the waiter's apologies and graciously accepted the manager's offer of a towel and a free dish. Some of her family members helped her to wipe off the mess, the waiter continued serving plate after plate of steaming food, and life went on.

My first thought, wow. This lady can seriously keep her cool.

It got me thinking about many things in life.

That was a really unlucky thing to happen. But as the Malay proverb goes, the rice has already become porridge, so why waste our energy on doing something that is about as benificial as doing nothing?

Instead of feeling mopey about what's gone wrong, why not think about how to make it right?

All those times spent on thinking about "what if"s, we could've spent them on figuring out how to solve our problems.

And it took a spilled bowl of noodles to teach me that.

P.S. This was not the particular bowl of noodles which also "attacked" me. This was from Bangkok, and it was yummy! :)

Why life is sometimes, NOT so awesome

Adults have told us time after time, "When you grow older, you'll regret having complained about your years as a student before."

And for a few years, that kept me very much contented with my current lifestyle as a student.

As I've just found out since Form 3, being a student may not be as easy or as relaxing as imagined.

In today's era where Google rules while Apple and Samsung constantly try to rip each other's heads off, being a student isn't just about exams any more. Sometimes, it's about being an employee.

Maybe it's an over-statement on my part. Students are supposed to do their schools proud, to "grab all opportunities" and represent schools in various competitions.

That's okay if you're specialized in one field.

But for some, becoming Superwoman is also on the check-list.

Just one activity, just one, is enough to make you feel like you're a worker doing OT.

I don't mind working OT, if it doesn't affect my other activities or my studies. Problem is, that one activity becomes the centre of your life, the thing by which you need to structure your life upon.

And what's more, we don't get paid for working OT.

I thought getting home at 8.30pm was bad. (I went to school at like 6.45 am)

Apparently, it might get a whole lot worse.

Is this preparation for me to become a worker used to doing overtime work?

I don't know. But I'm sure there could be some workers out there who'd actually pity my plight.

What 'Sup?

A love for eating is a joy. And it can also be a pain in the neck.

Do biscuits make healthy snacks? Maybe not.

Milo isn't chewable, so it doesn't give a sense of fullness.

I don't do protein drinks for nights.

There is only low-fat milk in the fridge. I take full-cream to gain weight.

There's ham and sausages and eggs. But surprise (not), it's night time and I can't be bothered to cook.

Hmm.. Maybe I'll call the delivery service. 

1. McDonald's? After 3 straight Saturdays (and assorted weekdays) of Drive-Thru lunches, no thank you.
2. KFC/Burger King apply for the same reason.
3. Pizza Hut? Bread crust is way too thick, I don't get to taste enough toppings.
4. Domino's? I have to wait for more than half an hour. 
5. Japanese? They're closed.

Instant noodles? I just had a packet two days ago.

Oats? I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Conclusion?

I am a very fussy eater. ;)

Why Disney?

First up, a million THANK YOUs to Astro for giving me one free week of Disney Channel!!!! And also the other channels that I just randomly skim through.

HBO, Max, and FMP are all nice too, but not as nice as Disney. Why?

1. Disney movies are the best!
2. Phineas and Ferb are just AWESOME!!
3. It reminds me of the days when I was younger.
4. Mickey Mouse is back!!
5. Because it's... well, Disney.

Teehee :)

Wishes of The Heart

Wishes of the Heart

            

   “You did a great job today! I’ll come over on Friday, okay?”

                The little boy in front of her nods silently.

                “Bye Alan.”

                Alan waves back, and he manages a smile.

                As Julia drives home from work, a smile breaks out across her face. One little smile can light up her entire day. Pulling into the driveway, she waves at the little children frolicking in the neighbourhood.

                She only has one client for today, so work ends early for her. She flips through her mini diary and checks her schedule. As a social worker for kids, she teaches kids with disabilities. She works six days a week, and tomorrow is a long-awaited break in a busy week.

                Being a social worker was never on Julia’s agenda when she was young. She had wanted to become a ballerina. As a young girl, she fell in love with the beautiful twirls of the ballerinas, dressed in pure, white chiffon silk and satin. Thursday was her favourite day as it was Ballet Day.

                She excelled greatly in ballet, not just because of her passion but also a natural talent for elegance. She was the teacher’s prized prodigy, the one who would always play the lead role in any ballet acts at their academy. Her ambitions were set, and her parents were supportive of her choice.

                An unfortunate accident on a cold, rainy night took everything away from her. She was left with a deformed left foot. She cried and cried when she saw how badly twisted her foot had become. There was nothing her parents could do to comfort her. She was only ten.

                She now faced a question with no answer – what was she going to do? A young woman by the name of Fanny gave her that crucial direction in life. Fanny was her new idol – she wanted to be a social worker.

                She loved the kids dearly – they were her little gems. The kids loved her too. She would tell them stories about herself and Fanny, about funny facts that teachers never told you in school. Most importantly, she gave them the love and hope that they needed.

                Julia smiles as she recalls all the kids that she’s helped in her career. She alights from her car and unlocks the front door.

                The answering machine beeps. Julia opens the voice message.

                Hi Miss Julia, this is Mrs. Thompson, living on Carrol Street. I have a daughter aged 10, and she’s going through a rough patch in life. I was just wondering if you could drop by the St. Jude’s Hospital tomorrow and talk to her for a while. I’ve heard from my friends about your skills as a social worker, and I’ll be really grateful if you could help me out. Thank you.

                Julia considers this for a moment and rings up Mrs. Thompson. Tomorrow’s her birthday, but she never celebrates it with anyone, so working on her birthday doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

                When she arrives at ward 105 of St. Jude’s Hospital, she sees a girl with blond, wispy hair, lying under a snow-white duvet, staring soulfully at a picture.

                “Hi, I’m Julia. Did your mum tell you I was coming?”

                She nods silently, and then Julia sees the tears in her eyes.

                “What’s wrong, sweetie? Are you upset that your mother isn’t here?”

                The girl shakes her head and slowly lifts the duvet covering her leg. Where her right foot should’ve been, there was now a heavily plastered and bandaged block. Julia opens her mouth but no words come out.

                She gently removes the picture in the girl’s hands to take a closer look. In the picture, she sees a young girl twirling around in a tutu.

                “Is that you?” The girl nods between tears.

                Julia moves over to the bed and hugs the little girl. She can feel the girl weeping into her clothes, and for the next half an hour, Julia strokes the girl’s hair gently while she sobs.

                Julia glances momentarily at the patient name card. Dani Thompson.

                “Dani?”

                “Mm.hmm?”

                “I wanted to be a ballerina too.”

                “Really?”

                “Ya. I was just like you. I loved that white tutu.”

                “Then why aren’t you a ballerina?”

                At this, Julia takes off her custom-made shoe and shows Dani her left foot. Dani gasps and looks at her.

                “That’s why I didn’t become a ballerina. But that doesn’t mean you can’t become one.”

                “But mummy said I can’t dance anymore….”

                “Your mummy isn’t wrong, but that’s just for now. When you’re out of this place, there’s a whole world of opportunities out there, you know that? Being a ballerina doesn’t mean having two perfect feet.”

                “Then what is it? My tutu?”

                Julia smiles. “There are many different ways to tell a story. A great ballerina can perform a simple routine, but it sends a message beyond any other. Work hard, and I assure you, you will be a great ballerina when you grow up.”

                “Really? Will I get to own white and pink and purple tutus when I do that?”

                “Yes you will, honey. You will.”

                And then they both sat on the bed, staring silently at the setting sun.

“Today’s my birthday, Dani. What wish do you think I should make?”

“Oh, happy birthday. I don’t know, maybe you can wish to become a ballerina again.”

 Julia closes her eyes and makes her birthday wish.

Fifteen years later….

                An elegant dancer stands in the middle of the stage. She has come to the end of her routine, and the lights fade on her as she does a graceful pirouette. The audience get up on their feet and clap for the ballerina.

                It is a simplified routine from The Swan Lake, not as complex as the original, but the dancer’s limited dance movements tell a story like no other. Her abnormally twisted right foot has made her success even more respected.

                Congratulatory words are exchanged, but Dani is not interested in any of these. She rushes off at the first chance she gets and hails a cab.

                “St. Jude’s hospital, I’m in a hurry.”

                The cab driver nods his head in acknowledgement and lives up to his word – they arrive in less than 5 minutes.

                Dani enters Ward 105 tentatively. It’s night time, and she’s worried that her visit will disrupt the patient’s sleep.

                “Dani, is that you?”

                “Julia! I did it!” She rushes over to the bed and gives her a big hug.

                “Thank you so much!”

                The lady lying on the bed smiles weakly and readjusts her IV stand. “I didn’t do anything.”

                “You used your wish on me, didn’t you?”

                “It was just a birthday wish you know.”

                “But it was a generous one. Thank you.”

                And then, roles reversed, they sit together on the bed and stare at the twinkling stars in the night sky.

                We all have wishes for ourselves and our loved ones. And like gifts, wishes come in different shapes and sizes. But the most precious gift of all is a simple wish that is not used for ourselves, but rather for a stranger in need.