Shoshin-Zazen

Oh yes, after 2 weeks in a place so far away from home the truth is finally settling in. One year ago, I contemplated to join NOC (NUS Overseas Colleges), and had to go through interviews, and more interviews. After that long and tedious process, I took a long long flight to stockholm, arrived safetly, settled down, bought alot of groceries and visited some cemetaries and old town and started work. I didn’t feel any different, just a little self-suprised that I made it to this nordic country, and working for a company that is, well a great place to work in.

There are some things that are noteworthy:

1. No ready made breakfast in the morning.
2. Waking up to silence (and the occasional alarm clock).
3. Listening to other people’s conversation and pretend that you know what they are talking about.
4. Learn to present your country well (or rather in a good light).
5. Introducing yourself to your corridor mates one at a time.
6. Having sinus everytime I walk outside.
7. Cooking both lunch and dinner together at one shot.
8. Going to the supermarket to record prices down to compare them in another supermarket.
9. Having to plan your meals one week in advance.
10. Spam the mircowave oven with leftover food.
11. Drinking milo in the cold cold morning is a (huge) luxury.
12. Peope screaming their heads off (Lappis shout) at 10pm for no apparent reason.

All right if I think of more I will post it here. Meanwhile enjoy my homecooked pasta with alaskan pollack with assorted vegetables.

It was more than ten years ago since I stepped foot into the bird park, but I am glad I did.

There are birds that look like they can bite you head off, while others just brighten your day! Find more pictures here.

And happy birthday, Singapore. Though the annual national parade just got owned hand down by the Beijing Olympics Opening ceremony. An incredibly proud moment for all chinese around the world.

Evil vulture looking for easy prey…

A few of us was at the Changi Jetty yesterday for yet another boat ride to my retirement village of Ubin when we got caught up with a chinese conversation with the bumboat uncle, probably in his 50s.

“You all are students?”

“Yes we are”, we replied.

 ”I always tell my children, studying is very important. Last time, I had no opportunity; no money. Now, all I can provide to my children is the opportunity and encouragement. No money; no future.”

We nodded our head in understanding. Alas, the Singaporean Dream argument.

“One of my children joined NPCC in school, I told them to focus on their studies! I told them to wait till they get into the university then join something they like.”

We weakly nodded. I can see where this is going: wait till you get married, wait till you have children, wait till you earn enough, wait till you retire and the proverbial, “wait till you die.”

“Now, they have grown up. One of them even got a scholarship to go to America.”

“Wa..”, was the only comment we could make besides nodding our heads. I thought we were some answering machines with pre-set responses. I could think of nothing else to say without offending him or leaving us with an awkward conversatsion.

“That’s why I say, you all must study hard and not let your parents down. We can only give you encouragement, otherwise we are all junk! The Singaporean Government thinks that we are useless!”

At this point, he asked a nearby elderly uncle whether he agreed with him, who quickly added, “We are waiting to die only!”

Whether or not this conversation brought out the uncles’ inner demons, there is a overboding sense of deject. Perhaps this is to be expected, after all in the very Singaporean way, the singapore dream is a dream only for the young. The old? They make no economic sense! Better off dead and paying the death tax (now a thing of the past).

But the truth is, they (the elderly) have already woken up and not chasing the dream anymore! The only funny thing is that they are encouraging the same Singaporean Dream that they have been dreaming about to their sons and daughters.

Do you see the irony? Call it the American Dream or the Russian Dream, but as one grows old, whether or not one enjoys the durain dream or banana dream, it is just a dream! This pursuit of happiness is so shallow. I enliken this to catching a cloud or its just like cotton candy seem to be such a huge huge candy!

Do you see the circle? We spend all our youth chasing money, and when we attain it, we spend all our money chasing youth?Â

Dreams are important, dreams motivate people. But beware, dreams can blind too.Â

My project leader has just asked us to write some reflections about the trip. I just thought i would share what i contributed =)

“Better it is to live one day virtuous and meditative than to live a hundred years immoral and uncontrolled.“ - Happiness, The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom, translated from Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Indeed, the 14 days spent in Chiang Rai was worth every minute of my time contrary to wasting the holidays away. YEP ’06 has allowed me to gain unparalleled experience into another world and culture, which on a cursory glance is devoid of any similarities with the Singapore way of life. The YEP experience is one that cannot be gleaned from television sets or the internet – one has to personally feel it. The knowledge, or the wisdom that one acquires from making new friends in the YEP team, interaction with the villagers, teaching, or even just being away from a comfortable life is immeasurable. That is something that I will treasure for a long time to come.

Picture note: Haha..Sorry Louis, i cant resist it ..nevertheless thanks for the artistic shot!