The Opera Populaire

Copying what someone posted. I'll be in Japan for a tour from tonight (29/3) till 6/4. Will be seeing most of the History Honours peeps again during the Super Brain Quiz, which I had earlier thot I won't be able to go for :)

Had a good ktv last night with YH, Haoran, Pearl and Jamie. Think we found a new kaki who likes Chinese songs, just like us haha :) Must join us next time lei, Haoran! Was very funny when YH made up his own lyrics as he went along, even political ones. And some songs just made me unable to stop laughing.

Thanks to some peeps for my advanced birthday presents; the treat at the nice, authentic Jap restaurant by Weifen, at Aunt Kim Korean restaurant by Raine and oso a certain present that found its way to my house ;) Very sweet indeed; not something I get often! Will be celebrating my birthday amidst the cherry blossoms this year... shd be highly interesting.

You scored as Dance. You should be a Dance major! Like a lithe ballerina, you dance because you believe there is beauty in expressing the physical form. Dance 100% Philosophy 83% English 83% Art 75% Sociology 75% Journalism 67% Anthropology 67% Linguistics 58% Mathematics 50% Biology 50% Psychology 33% Theater 33% Engineering 8% Chemistry 8% What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3) created with QuizFarm.com

Soph kindly invited me to watch Doubt by Action Theatre on Fri. On the whole, I quite enjoyed the performance, despite initial reservations about local adaptation of the play. But I think the team pulled it off pretty well and I like its simplicity yet depths in terms of the thoughts it manages to provoke in you. Soph puts it down very well in her blog so I shall not bore by repeating it here :) Jubilee Hall seems so different from my memory. I went there in 2000 with my JC love interest to watch a local play starring Sharon Au. Quite a lovely theatre, quaint, with a quiet air of dignified grandeur.

Let's talk a bit abt appearance. I neva thot myself an attractive girl, but ppl like to beg to differ, in general. Last nite, someone told me that while he may not categorise me under "beautiful", there is something abt me that makes ppl look at me again and again. I have a peaceful appearance. So he always looked about and wondered which guy in church is my boyfren. But as he said, I always come alone. I was a bit surprised and told him, well, actually I dun have that many admirers to talk abt. I dun think I stop traffic though there were times when ppl actually come right up and tell me how beautiful I am and a few times, guys gave me their numbers and asked me to call them, which I never did. Once I went shopping with my bro and the shopkeeper said he wanted to ask him how did someone like him ended up with such a lovely galfren. Needless to say, my bro was not amused.

Perhaps ppl dun look at me that many times I look at myself in the mirror and see all that imperfections. Maybe I have a poor self-esteem, as some ppl have alerted me. Or maybe my taste in beauty differs from ppl in general. Hmm. Is this a reflection of the modern society's obsession with the impossible beauty as defined by fashion magazines and tv commercials?

Went to watch "Russian Dolls" with Chris this week. Din really find the movie much to rave about, though, as Chris said, some of what it said about love and relationship is very true. Am still pondering over the truth of the message at the end of the movie: that finding the right one is like opening up Russian dolls. Each layer contains a part of what you are looking for and you progress on till, at the end of it all, you find the core doll, which is the one you are looking for at the end of the journey. Something along those line; I am not good at explaining hee. Perhaps this can be a form of encouragement for my frens out there looking for love :)

Beginning to find that I like listening to French very much. Dr. Lockhart spoke a bit that day during Da Vinci Code talk and Eunice, too. Very melodic language. Maybe I'll consider picking it up. The movie showcased a bit of Russian, too. Will be extremely interesting to learn that! Chris kept laughing when the Russian ballerina said,"Paka."or something like that, meaning thank you, cos it sounds like, "Baka." Think in general, I am good at languages. But I have not been picking up as much as I would like to, largely due to procrastination. Hoping to improve my Japanese in time and pick up new ones too. I taught myself Bahasa Indonesia after my formal education in it stopped upon my coming to Singapore 15 years ago. Bahasa Indo and Malay is, as Prof Kratoska said, an easy language to learn, though difficult to be fully proficient in. Pleased to use this to advantage when putting up the Ford Factory exhibition recently.

Having a bit of a sore throat. Praying that it clears up before I leave for Japan next week. Meanwhile doing some Jap language and culture self-study to prepare for an easier time at the trip, though we are joining a tour package. The sakuras look set to bloom by the time we arrive, which is nice. Can't wait for the cruise down the Kyushu islands, climbing up Mount Aso and Mount Fuji. And I am looking forward to trying out the hot spring bath in the way it is supposed to be done, if you get the drift ;)

Have been reading and am planning to buy more books b4 going back to Jakarta. I tend to read fast and usually am able to finish one book in a day. Here is the list of what I have read so far, though it cannot be said to be even mildly impressive:

1) Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Mark Haddon)
3) Going Solo (Roald Dahl)
4) All that is Gone (Pramoedya Ananta Toer)
5) Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years (Sue Townsend)
6) The Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
7) Culture Shock! Tokyo
8) The Chinese in America (Iris Chang) [Partially]
9) For Women Only
10) Hind's Feet on High Places

Here are the books I have bought but have yet to read:

1) 1000 Places to see before You Die (Patricia Schultz)
2) Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths (Karen Armstrong)
3) Anti-Chinese Violence in Indonesia, 1996-1999 (Jemma Purdey)
4) The Rape of Nanking (Iris Chang)
5) Chocolat (Joanne Harris)

This is gonna be wat someone once called "laundry list" blog :) Hey, my "phantom" blog reader out there?

Attended the Da Vinci Code talk organised by Campus Crusade on Thu. Dr. Lockhart was the speaker. Very impressive, Sir! He joked that I was the "distinguished alumni" :) Now I understand better how to approach the novel. Definitely, it has sparked interest on my part to research more on church history.

It was also a great time of bonding with the VCF and other peeps. Talked a lot to Eunice and sat with her, Shu Huang and Robert behind Dr. Lockhart to give him moral support. Robert ah, said he would call me to give me his hp number during convo, but only called me that night lor! Tsk tsk. Felt especially happy; it was as though I was back in NUS again. Shared with them a little abt working exp. Was just thinking how valuable it is to share our experiences from a Christian perspective so as to help ease this potentially traumatic journey into the working life. If only I was wise enough to join such activities like Crossroads back then. But I am blessed to be in the Marketplace Christian Network and am still learning a lot. Hopefully there will be a chance for me to contribute in the near future.

Had a lovely little picnic on Fri morning with Pearl at Botanic Garden.

Spent the weekend in JB with Pearl, Shizhi & Hong Xian. Almost everybody I told warned me abt the high crime rate in JB, making me a bit worried. Raine had to add fuel to fire by msging me:"If it happens, it happens." before the trip, referring to being robbed. Tsk tsk. Such lack of concern for your 11-year old fren xia :( But by the grace of God, we came back in 1 piece, despite having moments where your heart simply palpitate, like crossing the road via a secluded overhead bridge where anything could have happened to you up there.

Went to Jusco, a huge shopping centre that reminded me a lot of the shopping centres in Jakarta. Experimented with taking bus ride there. Realised that knowing Malay is quite useful for getting around there. The guys had some uber scandalous photos taken of themselves, which I promised to show to their wives or work associates when they bec successful, whichever ones come first :p Hiaks. Also sang some ktv, which was fun as usual. Nice, relaxing holiday. Slept like a log when I reached home.

As promised (to Raine) I am putting this down as the blog of the day.

For the past few weeks I found myself looking into the faces of the ppl I see on the street. Just had that strong feeling. And today, it became reality!!!!

Nothing in this world happens by chance, so we Christians believe. Raine was saying that, if we had taken just another route, we would have missed him. Which is so true!

I instantly recognised him. I am amazed that I had not forgotten how he looks like, despite not having seen him for nearly two years. He looked the same, except perhaps taller than I remembered. And that expression on his face seemed more relaxed than in the past. He din see me, but just charged ahead, perhaps going back to his office after buying lunch. So he had indeed changed job and location of work. A certain wave of nostalgia flooded over me momentarily. Then....amusement. The realization that I am really, and I mean, really over him came and I just laughed.

Sometimes God arranges chance meeting like this to show us how much we have moved on. The result is liberating.

All the best in watever you undertake.

Been buying books but have yet to read most of them. Will read them back in Indo. But I rented "Da Vinci Code" on Fri, just to find out what all the controvesy is about. Finished it by Sat morning. I did sleep 6 hours in between, too! Haha it's been donkey years since I last do that. I have always been a speed reader. When I was a kid, I finish one book per day and re-read them at least three times.

On the whole, the "Da Vinci Code" has the making of a blockbuster all right. The plot is tremendously exciting and unexpected, though somewhere near the end I find it reeking of those standard Hollywood plot. It also comes across as being very well-researched and factual, perhaps becos I dunno all about cult practices, symbols or art history etc.

This is precisely where the controvesy occurs, I think. As the line between reality and fiction blurs, some readers may get confused and swallow everything it said whole without attempting further research to establish fact from fiction. I prayed very hard before reading it so that God will guide me in His truth. I am pleased to say that He has protected me. Sadly someone told me this week that some Christians had their faith shaken by this book. Which is quite shocking becos perhaps if u just treat it as a work of fiction it's pretty fine. But I guess there are some fiction that are so-well crafted you can't help but wonder if the things inside are true. I used to be terribly disappointed when I found out that my idol, Sherlock Holmes, is nothing more than a fictional character.

I am aware that I have no basis for saying wat the book claims is not true, not being particularly familiar with church history. Although I do find that the arguments put forth in the book is not exactly convincing. Perhaps you can even go so far as to accuse me of trying to protect my own agenda blindly: my faith and everything it stands for. While I cannot buy whatever the book is saying, I am not knowledgeable enough to refute it with facts and arguments, so was wondering if anybody wanna jump into a sorta discussion via the comments site abt this matter? So that I can learn a bit more.

By the way think Campus Crusade is organising a talk on the "Da Vinci Code" some time soon. Will pop by since I am free.

Thanks to the peeps who have been so sweet as to enquire after me. I am fine; things have been partially resolved, except for the long-standing ones. Have spoken to someone I have gotten to call my mentor and she been telling me wat to look out for and pray abt. Though I still feel scared of wat's gonna happen, at least I am in it with Him. Sense that this is gonna be yet another growing process and in a way, I am looking forward to the challenge.

I have always been open to advice abt the issues I face in my life. But this time round, I just dun feel like opening up for some reason. I have been getting plenty of advice but have not been particularly interested both in opening up or listening to them. Not that I dun value them. Indeed, I treasure those who love me enough to want the best to happen to me. But perhaps I have learnt that listening too much to others sometimes do more harm than good, eps when they dun understand. And I have changed a bit too. Perhaps it's just a general mood of not needing to open up. Or am I still harbouring unforgiveness for the way I have been treated hurtfully whenever I open up? *Shrug*

Gabriel said something really touching yesterday. He talked abt the time when he was unemployed and everyone else already had a job. As they did a round of inroduction and everyone else told ppl wat their profession were, he said,"Hi, I am Gabriel and I like kaya waffle." Everyone laughed. He said that but that is who he is and it does not change whether or not he has a job.

Think that is so true. Some of us define ourselves based on our profession and I find that normal. But there is also this part of us that is simply....us. It does not change wherever our profession takes us. And I think it is a very important thing to remember; not to let our job define us entirely.

Had a great drinks session last night. Felt very moved when the live band sang "You're Still the One". It was the song my cousin danced to when she married her Caucasian husband and every bit of the lyrics speaks of their long-distance relationship bearing fruitition. Think I posted it long time ago. I still tear whenever I hear it and it's on my mind the whole night hahaha.

Something seems to have snapped deep inside since Sat morning. Been praying and meditating, but my heart refused to be quiet. The term is : quiet desperation. The very issues I have been trying to avoid has caught on with me and demand to be resolved.

Perhaps if I had been born a boy, things may have be much easier. How do you balance others' expectations of you and following God's destiny? Especially if the others are the very ones who mean a lot to you in life?

Sometimes I think I shd not even try, since wat I do is not appreciated. Some have advised me that communication is the answer, but I wonder if communication can solve everything. The truth is that, my mind is a mess at this point in time. Was talking to a fren last nite and wondering if wat I said actually make sense, becos my words sounded very jumbled up to me. Hmm, come to think of it, this blog looks like a mess, too. I dunno wat I'm talking abt. It's been a long time since I felt this way.

W.W.J.D.?

Copying an actual book's title.

Still feel like rot over some matters. Am praying and thinking about wat to do about those long-standing as well as new issues. I dun like to whine or gripe, but I find myself slipping into this pattern.

Being the sole Christian in a family of non-believers is a painful matter at times. The issue often spill over to other matters as well, like this time round. It will perhaps take forever and one day to resolve.

Thanks to my dearest frens for cheering me up!

Indeed, this is a season of change and self-discovery. If only changes are not so painful, at times. It's hard to fight a lonely battle.

Was very blessed by a few incidents yesterday, when I was down and out.

Lorraine took the time to call me and comfort me. Upon looking back, it was a bit embarrassing to be talking about ur probs on e handphone and sobbing on the bus where everybody could see and hear you, but I was so grateful for her concern. Thanks gal. Hope u are feeling better yourself.

Audrey oso wanted to call me to hear me out. She said she would pray for me at this gathering she was attending. Oso told me I am a great fren with a great sense of humour. So sweet of her.

Attended the boys' CG. Din wanna sit in the circle tog with the rest cos I wanted to hide away. But I was so moved when Bala was attentive to me, suggesting to come join them in the circle and made sure that he offered the tidbits that were being passed around to me. I was amazed at how much he had matured and thank God for the work He had done in Bala. He has indeed grown to be a sensitive and caring boy with leadership qualities. I was not surprised to hear that he is in the Students' Council now.

Afterwards we were supposed to go for Just One Hour production at Wesley, where Pastor is preaching. But God had other plans. Tab asked me to stay back cos she needed to talk. I had been worried abt her but had not dared to approach her. Besides I thought that she must have confided in someone but apparently not. I don't know if I was of much help. But I did pray that God give me wisdom before I speak to her. Hope she is feeling better now.

Later on, Uncle Jamie told both of us something rather shocking. Youngsters nowadays are so different from us. I will try to keep a lookout and be more involved in the lives of the younger gals. I hope the children look back one day and understand how important Uncle Jamie has been in their lives, where their parents may be unable to reach.

Had a great dinner at Secret Garden at Middle Road with Hong Xian, Yueheng, Shizhi, Jiao Zhu and Pearl. Very nice restaurant, with al fresco concept. Every table is lit with candlelight. Never expected that a beautiful restaurant like that exists there. The food is quite good, too, though on the pricy side. After that we had a good time celebrating Hong Xian's birthday over tau huai. Was a very nice time of chit chatting. Can't wait for the JB trip, guys :)

Walked past unscathed when my Mom suddenly confronted me with a very difficult isssue last night: tithing. Was talking with her on the phone abt travelling when she suddenly woke up from her stupor and questioned me abt tithing. Said that she heard that her frens told her that Christians give a portion of their income to the church, is that true? Where do the money go to? I was stunned becos it has always been an issue I am uncomfortable bringing up to my parents about. I have always been given free reign of how I wish to spend the allowance they gave me, but I think they are actually more uncomfortable with the idea of me giving it to the church than if I had spent it on some frivollous stuff out there, for some reason or another. So I literally froze when she brought up the subject with me.

Said a silent prayer that God just give me the wisdom to say the right words before replying, in an honest manner, hiding nothing. Just answering her whatever she asked without any attempt at evading. To my surprise, God indeed cause favor to rest on me. She din say anything less than nice even when I told her the exact amount I gave every month. Perhaps the fact that it is my own hard-earned money and I have every right to spend it the way I want helped. Breathed a huge sigh of relief after that.

Encountered the rudest service ever at a travel agency yesterday. Now this is a reasonably reputable travel agency, which has always seen many customers and I was quite appalled at being treated as such by the person. This is what happened:

The receptionist directed me to this agent. So I sat down and asked him the usual stuff like how is the weather like in Japan now and when is the peak season and the price etc etc. To the best of my knowledge I was being very courteous, smiling and all as I asked.

But the man kept replying in a huffy tone and rolling his eyes as he replied. After a while he wasn't even interested in replying but sat in a sullen silence as I tried to jot down the price etc, continuing to ask. When I asked to borrow a pen, he kinda threw it to me. And he did not even bother to enlighten me more on the differences between some tour packages, but used his standard lines of,"People travel there at ALL seasons! It depends on what you want to see!" and "The two packages, well, it depends on what you want to see!" rolling his eyes all the while.

At last, I looked at him straight in the eye and said in a quiet tone,"Excuse me, why are you so impatient? I was just asking." That was when he seemed stunned into silence and did not dare to look me in the eye. The phone rang and saved him from further embarrassment. I stood up and left, telling the receptionist that the man was very rude as I did so.

People told me I shd have just asked for his name and called for the manager right then and there. Well, I was very angry, esp as I felt I did nothing to provoke such a response from him. As a customer, I have every right to ask and compare prices. He cannot expect me to just go straight up and want to book seats with them immediately, can't he? As a travel agent, he did not even deliver the very basics of customer service, but was outrightly insolent. I don't know what sort of boss he has, but I don't wish on him the same treatment as he did me, so I just left without creating a scene. Hopefully, he has learnt his lessons for the day.

Aunt and cousin told me that particular travel agency has a reputation for having bad service later on. Ah well. Mom even said that perhaps some people look down on customers who speak Chinese. Think that is crazy, given that the travel agency is located in Chinatown and I think the Chinese-speaking probably make up a majority of their customers. I like to speak Chinese to people I am close to and oso when I am trying to establish a closer rapport with some people, so there is nothing I can do if he does have such a prejudice towards the Chinese-speakers.

In contrast, a rival travel agency was so polite and helpful. Not only did the travel agent helped me select confirmed departure date without my asking, but oso told me which places are nice and what to do there. He oso pointed out the selling points of each itinery and gave suggestions etc. That was the sort of service that will keep me coming back as a customer.