Das bin mich

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Feb 27, 2005

Museum Visit Report

I went to visit the Asian Civilization Museum on a sunny day with my friend in NTU.

Through the exhibition of Southeast Asia, I see strong evidence of localization and regional integration. Take the bronze drums for instance. Bronze casting techniques might have been introduced from China, but the Dong Son bronze culture of Northern Vietnam, which dominated the Bronze Age of Southeast Asian, had a distinct style that defines itself and their subsequent spread in the region. Similar bronze drum forms were also excavated on many islands across island Southeast Asia, which strongly suggest trade links and transfer of technology. Similar evidence of early communication and integration within the region can be seen from the burial pottery from Gua Cha in Malaysia and that from Northeast Thailand. The sudden and widespread appearance of these burial artifacts suggests flows of people and technology to Southeast Asia from other regions as well as movements within.

Another example of localization is perhaps the ways Buddha is featured in Southeast Asian countries. The Standing Buddha in Cambodia (7 th to 8 th century) has features typical of an Indian Buddha, yet his bare right shoulder was probably a Khmer convention. Moreover, the tuft of hair (urna) usually found between the eyebrows of Indian and Indonesian depictions is absent in the Khmer images too.

There are 10 thematic galleries in the museum, featuring a dynamic picture of origins, identities, ideas and artistic styles in different parts of Asia. However, as I strolled around in the other galleries, I see a strong SE Asian focus born in mind. All the exhibitions on other parts of Asia try to answer one question: how did the outcomes of different forces shaping the regional culture impact Southeast Asia? One evidence could be seen from the missing of an East Asian gallery. There is only one China gallery instead, totally screening out the other East Asian countries in this Asian Civilization Museum! And the China gallery only showed history after the Ming Dynasty ( 1368—1644), which is actually a very recent part of the whole ancient Chinese history. The reason behind might be that Ming Dynasty was when China’s trade and communication with Southeast Asia peaked with the event of Zheng He’s voyage to the Southeast Asian region.

The visit was very fulfilling and pleasant. However, I see a lack of interest in the exhibition among the locals. No one seemed to know the way to the museum when I asked, though the Singaporeans, being generally nice in nature, did try their best to show me the way and even tried to walk me over. My friend and I had a guided tour with a family from Sydney, and an elderly lady from Norway. My friend in NTU is also from China, and she went for the visit out of pure interest in culture, without a need to write any report for school work. The visitors I saw were mainly Caucasians, and surprisingly, there are more guided tours in Japanese than in Chinese! That means the Japanese tourists outnumber both the Chinese visitors and the Chinese speaking locals! Is there a sad apathy among locals towards their culture and origin? Or culture in general?

I stopped being so pessimistic after seeing the fashion design exhibition at the lobby of the museum. Some local artists designed the clothes from inspirations in this museum and other ones. A strong Southeast Asian image is seen from all the designs, and they remind me of the ancient textiles. I also smiled at the sight of many school children sketching the images of the articles on show. Hope these images would be sown into their young hearts and grow with them, along with their Southeast Asian origin and identity.

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Feb 20, 2005

-- Mother: ( There'll be other women after your passion dies! There will be other women I know it! and) You'll get hurt!
-- Daughter: If you don't feel hurt, perhaps you'll never feel anything!
-- Mother: You won't find him!
-- Daughter: It does not matter if I find him; all that matters is I try.

That's the last conversation between mum and girl in a movie called 'Picnic". Something amazing always happens during picnics, as they put it, and you never know what it is.

There's nothing special in the plot, a pretty and demure girl who was already engaged fell in love with another guy. After many conflicts with the people around her and herself, she made the choice to go and look for the guy she really loved.

What really touched me is the ending. The conversation above, and the final scene was a train leaving along the railway near their house, running forward into the vastness of the unforeseeable future. The mother, like the girl herself, was a beauty queen of the town they live in years ago. She was betrayed by her husband, whom she really loved a lot like her daughter now loving the guy. Hence in the movie the mother always plays the pessimistic role, saying that love is transitory, and one should never follow his heart and love to avoid being hurt. However what the girl said above was really enlightening, and it ended all the confusion I've been struggling with all along.
The movie didn't show if the girl found the guy though, and we are left with this fact of life that a happy ending is never guaranteed.

It is this courage to love that touched me deeply.The courage to love even if no happiness is guaranteed. It's amazing to see a demure girl making such a tough decision, and I truly admire her courage, behind which lies a deep passion of life.

Blessed are those who dare to love! Having loved, one knows that he HAS LIVED.

And this brings me to an M1 advertisement saying, '1 life! Live it.'

I am no longer confused, or scared. I can feel hurt/depressed/hopeless at times, but I shall never give up in life. Because the passion towards it would never die.

And to have this passion, is the most important thing of all.

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Feb 20, 2005

1 am, and I'm writing here in my blog.

Another busy week has passed. Glad this week I can concentrate more on my studies when i think less on other stuff. No longer as dreadful as last sem, when I hardly understood what was going on in lectures and tutorials. I can at least keep up with my work this time. Good girl.

I went for shopping with Ketty just now, haha yesterday actually. You guys can refer to my Chinese entries for details. The reason why I'm using an on-line diary in the Chinese session is, people from China have difficulty accessing my site, so I'd better find something they can access to keep them updated on my life.

Guys I'm really confused recently. Can anybody tell me what love is? I realise despite that I crapped a lot in the last entry, I find myself more puzzled than ever on this subject.

Did I ever love? Or did I not? How could I tell???

Or maybe I should simply stop searching for the answer, because when I stop the painstaking process of contemplating, I feel so much relieved and trouble free. And the thing is, maybe I can NEVER find it anyway...

What can I do? Or we shouldn't take things too seriously sometimes?

When ignorance is bliss...

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Feb 14, 2005

A day to remember.

A day to forget.

Rejecting people and getting rejected.

What a lot of fun! (and tears too I guess)

And if u ever ask me what is love, I'm getting confused myself. It shouldn't be that complicated. If love's existence must be tested like in a scientific lab, then it is not love any more.

It can be as sophisticated as u wish because u can never figure it out that way! One gets confused because he confuses himself.

Love is simple.

It might be wanting to see someone very much; it might be thinking of him/her every now and then, and smiling at the thought that there is such a wonderful person in ur life; it might be enjoying the company of someone, feeling totally comfortable and at home; it might be simply delighting in/appreciating the way he/she is, behaves, or smiles...

As all of you who could view this page are my most trusted friends, I don't mind sharing with you how my Mr Right looks like (in my mind).

He is confident of what he pursues, modest in how much he knows, happy for what he has, and responsible for what he does. Cares much for people around him, as well as people he barely knows. Open to differences and willing to learn; not afraid to admit & correct his mistakes and stand up for the truth. Matured in mind and a kid at heart.

And all I want is to love and be loved by the same person.

I'll live the rest of my life waiting for that to happen.

And some ppl simply see it as the reason to BE...

My 'Proclamation of Love'! :P

Some entertainment for you all on V Day! :> haha... Wish you guys happiness always...

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Feb 13, 2005

Hey guys I've uploaded the photos for CNY in the Gallery, but dunno why most of them don't come out. :< Do forgive me! :P

Went to wrap flowers for V day just now. In YIH with the people in Chinese Soceity. The roses are so thorny!

Love also?

Wish all those couples a Happy Valentine's Day! And singles like me out there, Jia you and stay happy and attractive! :P Maybe ur Miss Perfect/Mr Right is just around the next corner... (",)

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Feb 10, 2005

Much to be updated. A Swedish Dinner we had on Monday, a friend from Sweden came to our kitchen to cook for me. I was quite shocked when I saw how much he'd brought with him! a big plastic bag and a full back pack!

The food was yummy. It had to be, because we spent 3 hrs cooking! Everything, from starter to dessert, was PURELY Swedish. He bought all the stuff from Ikea (all imported from Sweden). Swedish wine and Swedish music too! I liked the food a lot. It's amazing now I hardly dislike any food at all (I used to dislike a lot of food)! Stayed in hostel eating canteen food for too long I guess, but this is actually very good-- I don't have to cook a lot after I marry because I won't pick on the food who-so-ever cooks! ~hiahia(evil laugh)~

I invited Sarah and her boy friend also. It's really nice that she came, because I don't have many entertaining friends like her! :>

I'll upload some pictures on that later.

And another highlight. THE CHINESE NEW YEAR! I celebrated with many friends of my friend--sounds complicated? Yeah, I went to Wuxia's gathering with mainly SMU students from China. Shizhuo joined me as well. The people there are nice, and we had a lot of fun during both the BBQ and KTV sessions, especially the latter. We were literally SCREAMING our lungs out, not singing at all I have to say. That was really fun! I haven't been so crazy for a long time! Wuxia and I sang several songs together, and danced. It was so entertaining I tell you! Too bad we didn't record it! :P All of us hugged each other at 0:00am, and it was the first time I felt at home during Chinese New Year in S'pore, despite the fact that I actually celebrated it with mostly strangers.

Wuxia treated us the Karaoke. Thanks a lot Wuxia! Not so much for the treat, but for the fantastic New Year Eve. I must thank God for giving me a wonderful friend like ya.

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Feb 5, 2005

Another busy week has passed, like the previous 3 since school reopened, much happening each day. It's ok to be busy once in a while for a lazy me. Although sometimes breathless, I feel a sense of fulfillment. I've been slacking for too long! 4 years since I came to S'pore... So now it's really time to get back to work and LeARn something.

I've got 5 modules again this sem, pretty much taking my time... Marketing's lecturer Ass Prof . Lau is quite an entertaining and insightful teacher, like him much. Statistics is going a bit slow, but never mind, I'm patient enough not to skip the lectures! :P In fact, I don't intend to skip any more! Can't remember how many I had skipped in JC... Managerial Economics, hmm... The lecturer is an American, who speaks fast. Some of my faculty mates complain that they can't catch what he's saying, but it doesn't seem to be a prob for me yet. Maybe I'm more used to the American accent than the locals, as I was taught that way in China. The tutor is an Indian, quite a nice guy. He seems to like me and another gal from China a lot in our class. She's quite smart. I like this module, as I finally can use my Maths in this Business School...:P Southeast Asia Studies... There are altogether 5 or 6 lecturers each covering one aspect of the SE Asia's culture, history, politics, art, ethics... wOw! None of them is Singaporean, a pretty international group of intellectuals. Hia~ It's cool to listen to their lectures, very enlightening! If only my English is better than it is now. And last but not the least, German II. It's getting a lot tougher this time! Guess have to work even harder than last sem... In fact, German is always the module I spend the most time on... Come on yangz, you are a BIZADER, not an arts student or something...

Yeah, I'm feeling quite settled down this sem. Last week Sarah had been bugging me to go clubbing with her, but I gave her a frim 'no'. Poor gal! haha... well, I no longer feel like to. The anger and anguish in my chest I always felt in JC time is somehow missing now. I still like to dance, but only in the weekly classes in PGP. I don't feel the urge to go clubbing any more! Am I more matured, or simply, OLDer? :>

My SE Asia tutor asked us a question in the first tutorial session. She was trying to explain the term 'essentially contested concept', and said if anyone of us could give an uncontestable answer, he/she could get full mark for this module without attending any tutorials!
So the question goes, 'what is love?'
I thought for quite some time, and gave up.
I guess there's no simple answer. Anything we say could well be contested after all. It's way too complicated and broad to be defined!

At this point of time I want to improve my English a lot. I'd always been contented for my standard in JC and Secondary School, as I just aimed for a pass and realised I could do slightly better than that. However now, I'm no longer in the science stream, and behold, (oops read too much Bible) there's SO much out there to be read for a BIZADER or an arts student whatever I am... :P Furthermore, I'm taking a third language now! What's the point if my second language is still weak...

And yeah, my story. I am stopping for now, half done, 80,000 characters, 8 chapters. There seems to be a lot to do in Semester time, and I can't get the focus necessary for story writing. No hurry, I'd get back to it as soon as June holiday comes! So my dear readers-to-be, excuse me for that! Wonderful stuff always comes slowly! haha... :> KiDDinG!

Have a nice weekend!