Concluding 2007
Monday, December 31, 2007
And so, I very much wanted to walk home today, as walking are moments when I can do self reflection. But the darn weather was so hooot today, i was perspiring before I reached Doby mrt. Thus, no walk home, but the short walk back to the mrt was quite refreshing. Words flew in my head during the ride home, and how I wished then that there was a computer that connects to my brain, so that I dun have to sit down here again to type it all out, because I could never capture my feelings in words fully, especially if it's not on the spot kind.
I shall not make any new year resolutions, because I nv kept to them, and I'd rather go with my feelings then and there. Looking back at 2007, it's been a great year I must say. I cant really remember much from the 1st half of the year, but the second half was too fast, too furious, too short. Before I can stop and savour it, it just wheezed past me.
The highlight of my year was of course, Thailand Field Studies. I was only just interested the year before, very much interested at the beginning of this year, then adamant to go on this trip when it was time for confirmation. Was even ready to steal my passport and go, if my parents din allow, ha, bad bad girl. Though it wasn't exactly very easy over there, but it changed my perspective on quite a number of things. I was somehow more able to come in terms with my own emotions, learning to let go of some things, especially guilt. Everything became so new and fresh to me again, and i love the stimulating experience.
Cambodia was again another learning trip, and before that, Bintan was a welcomed break with my very much loved girls. It seems like I've got addicted to flying off on hols this year, that I feel uneasy and restless staying in SG this dec.
My travels this year, coupled with certain modules and tales from friends who had globe-trotted, made me realise that I was so sheltered and cocooned in SG. Pple in Thailand and Cam worry abt when or where would they eat or stay tmr, while I worry abt luxury items and grades generally. Pple are having peaceful demonstrations in Canada with the police pathing the way for them; while I always think that demonstration equates to bad. The fishing community in India have demonstration songs to protest against the gov for allowing foreign fishing trawlers into their sea; they are all smiling in the video, no violence, just a very peaceful demonstration. I dare say I was touched by their determination to chase the foreign ships away, but still doing it in a very humane and peaceful way.
One thing that I have learnt, is that I'm really grateful that I'm still alive. It may sound cliche, but this is the first time I felt so strongly abt the above statement. I feel protected and loved, by my family, my friends, my country. And I wanna live on as a whole person. My mum once asked me, wat if one day u really lost yr sight? Wat would you do? I gave it a brief but deep thought, and my answer probably shocked her a little. I said: Actually I dun mind losing my sight now, because compared to those who were born blind, I am more fortunate than them. At least I've seen the world, I know wat are colors, I know wat things look like. I'll just refresh my memory of them by touching/smelling/hearing them next time. If it come one day that I'll be like that, I'll just have to live with it (after kicking up a fuss first maybe haha)
That was few years back. Thinking abt it now, how naive I was! Dun get me wrong, I'll still consider myself more fortunate than those born blind, but this time, I would not say that I dun mind losing sight. I would hold on to it like my dear life! Because there's just so many things to see out there! The world is so big, I doubt I've even finished seeing 1/1000th of them!! And I dun wanna stop learning. Not only do I want to learning by seeing, I want to learn by hearing, touching, smelling, tasting (ahh tasting... ahahaha, most exciting) and of course thinking about what I have just experienced in my senses. Which is why I wanna keep on studying, to keep on learning new things. Of course, you can learn new things when you work too, but it kinda different, I just wanna be a school/travel student forever, and my biggest wish next year would be that my school life would be prolonged as fervently wished.
I really liked what I have studied this year too, maybe it's because I started to take cross fac modules and I liked them very very much, though like does not equate to can do well, sadly. Hoping that my above can come true next year, so that I can take more of those exciting modules!!
Oh yea, and lastly, and perhaps, most importantly, I'm 21! It's no big deal actually, but what I'm getting at is, it gives me legal rights to do anything without any parental consent!!! muahahaha... so...
The world is my oyster. And I'll make good use of it.
To all my loved ones, whether you are looking forward to the new year or still brooding over the past year; whether or not you are embarking on a new journey/new phase of life next year or continuing yr last trekked paths; wherever you are in this world, I wish you a magical 2008, blest with myriad possibilities.
让我们回顾过去，展望未来!
And so, I very much wanted to walk home today, as walking are moments when I can do self reflection. But the darn weather was so hooot today, i was perspiring before I reached Doby mrt. Thus, no walk home, but the short walk back to the mrt was quite refreshing. Words flew in my head during the ride home, and how I wished then that there was a computer that connects to my brain, so that I dun have to sit down here again to type it all out, because I could never capture my feelings in words fully, especially if it's not on the spot kind.
I shall not make any new year resolutions, because I nv kept to them, and I'd rather go with my feelings then and there. Looking back at 2007, it's been a great year I must say. I cant really remember much from the 1st half of the year, but the second half was too fast, too furious, too short. Before I can stop and savour it, it just wheezed past me.
The highlight of my year was of course, Thailand Field Studies. I was only just interested the year before, very much interested at the beginning of this year, then adamant to go on this trip when it was time for confirmation. Was even ready to steal my passport and go, if my parents din allow, ha, bad bad girl. Though it wasn't exactly very easy over there, but it changed my perspective on quite a number of things. I was somehow more able to come in terms with my own emotions, learning to let go of some things, especially guilt. Everything became so new and fresh to me again, and i love the stimulating experience.
Cambodia was again another learning trip, and before that, Bintan was a welcomed break with my very much loved girls. It seems like I've got addicted to flying off on hols this year, that I feel uneasy and restless staying in SG this dec.
My travels this year, coupled with certain modules and tales from friends who had globe-trotted, made me realise that I was so sheltered and cocooned in SG. Pple in Thailand and Cam worry abt when or where would they eat or stay tmr, while I worry abt luxury items and grades generally. Pple are having peaceful demonstrations in Canada with the police pathing the way for them; while I always think that demonstration equates to bad. The fishing community in India have demonstration songs to protest against the gov for allowing foreign fishing trawlers into their sea; they are all smiling in the video, no violence, just a very peaceful demonstration. I dare say I was touched by their determination to chase the foreign ships away, but still doing it in a very humane and peaceful way.
One thing that I have learnt, is that I'm really grateful that I'm still alive. It may sound cliche, but this is the first time I felt so strongly abt the above statement. I feel protected and loved, by my family, my friends, my country. And I wanna live on as a whole person. My mum once asked me, wat if one day u really lost yr sight? Wat would you do? I gave it a brief but deep thought, and my answer probably shocked her a little. I said: Actually I dun mind losing my sight now, because compared to those who were born blind, I am more fortunate than them. At least I've seen the world, I know wat are colors, I know wat things look like. I'll just refresh my memory of them by touching/smelling/hearing them next time. If it come one day that I'll be like that, I'll just have to live with it (after kicking up a fuss first maybe haha)
That was few years back. Thinking abt it now, how naive I was! Dun get me wrong, I'll still consider myself more fortunate than those born blind, but this time, I would not say that I dun mind losing sight. I would hold on to it like my dear life! Because there's just so many things to see out there! The world is so big, I doubt I've even finished seeing 1/1000th of them!! And I dun wanna stop learning. Not only do I want to learning by seeing, I want to learn by hearing, touching, smelling, tasting (ahh tasting... ahahaha, most exciting) and of course thinking about what I have just experienced in my senses. Which is why I wanna keep on studying, to keep on learning new things. Of course, you can learn new things when you work too, but it kinda different, I just wanna be a school/travel student forever, and my biggest wish next year would be that my school life would be prolonged as fervently wished.
I really liked what I have studied this year too, maybe it's because I started to take cross fac modules and I liked them very very much, though like does not equate to can do well, sadly. Hoping that my above can come true next year, so that I can take more of those exciting modules!!
Oh yea, and lastly, and perhaps, most importantly, I'm 21! It's no big deal actually, but what I'm getting at is, it gives me legal rights to do anything without any parental consent!!! muahahaha... so...
The world is my oyster. And I'll make good use of it.
To all my loved ones, whether you are looking forward to the new year or still brooding over the past year; whether or not you are embarking on a new journey/new phase of life next year or continuing yr last trekked paths; wherever you are in this world, I wish you a magical 2008, blest with myriad possibilities.
让我们回顾过去，展望未来!