Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Ramblings: Realising. What Is Important In Life

I realised these days, I get happy quite easily. I mean, people make me happy quite easily. I used to be grumpy and hard to satisfy. I remember not being happy for a period of time when I was supposed to be happy.

I told my friend I'm not sure if I am having delusions now because it used to be so difficult. And suddenly I'm meeting people who makes me happy one after another. My friend said maybe its because I've reached the age where I know how to appreciate things in life and know what is truly important to me.

Maybe growing up and becoming more easily contented is a good thing. Maybe not, if there are no backlashes. I hope I do know what is truly important now.

Brain Storm: Regrets

I met a really good friend whom I haven't met for half a year lately and she mentioned about doing something crazy about her hair but she's afraid she'll regret it. I said she'll probably regret it more if she hadn't tried it in the future. She commented "ya people always say you'll regret something which you didn't do more than something you did. Why ah?" And I said,

If you tried something and regretted it, at least you knew the outcome. If you didn't try it at all, you wouldn't have known how it would turn out. And you can never turn back time to try it again.

She said that's true. But is it really? If you tried something, that also meant the other alternative, ie not doing it, was an attempt, it's also an outcome you wouldn't know. I told a friend this before, life is full of regrets, because you would never know how "otherwise" would have turned out.

Still I believe there are ways to lessen such negativity. Listening to your heart, then rationalising, bracing yourself, recalling your conviction. These help. Most of all, I believe in myself. That I will pull through. That I can make things right. That nothing is perfect. That I want to live my life the way I want it, not how society or anyone else wants me to.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Snippets Of My Life: What's Your Problem

Situation: Buddies gathered at D's house to chill. D's GF called to ask when is he going to meet her in town. Thus the entire gang decided to accompany him to town.

In MRT Train -

D: You all want to go shop around first while we go buy our stuff?

Me: (Loudly) What!? You make us come out all the way here and now you're chasing us away? What's your problem?

L: Eh, everyone just looked at you. And gave the "wtf" look.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Interview: An Electric Giant - By Jasmine Sim

You might find it odd for this small guy to be called a giant. If you see Wen Qin in person for yourself, he is far from gigantic. This petite electrical engineer now in his second year has recently stepped down from his position as NUS Cultural Activities Club’s president of the 9th Management Committee. The CAC Clubroom is located along the stairways leading to the Study Lounge at Yusof Ishak House in NUS. It is almost impossible to spot it without help from the hanging directional signs but the pleasant soothing sounds coming from acoustic guitars from a distance, serves as a perfect direction guide.

CAC is one of the only four, and among the biggest non-faculty clubs in NUS consisting of 9 music and dance sub-clubs. The club seeks to promote cultural awareness and conduct beginner and advanced courses for interested students to pick up new skills and showcase their talents. Amazingly, the hustle and bustle of this place, more appropriately the drum beats, guitar strums and dance steps that fill the clubroom sounded almost as if it was a “clubroom that never sleeps”. Somehow among all that background noise, Wen Qin is able to draw attention towards himself whenever he speaks. Perhaps, it is the works of his gentle yet affirmative tone. Wen Qin projects this stern “default angry face” whenever he does not speak but behind that hard exterior, he is a very approachable and negotiable leader, says Eunice Yeap, CAC’s current Honorary Financial Secretary for two terms. CAC also hosts special projects such as CAC+US; an annual concert showcase of the 9 sub-clubs, freshman orientation camps and cultural week.

It seems natural for seniors to doubt the capabilities of this junior leader in the committee, but this little giant has proven critics wrong. Former Computing Club president, Randy Valentius Kamajaya says that initially he felt worried as Wen Qin did not have any knowledge and experience beforehand. After more interactions, and seeing how passionate and dedicated Wen Qin is as a leader, Randy asserted that Wen Qin managed to get rid of other people’s doubts about his capabilities, including himself.

Wen Qin says that he was motivated to run for president because he saw the urgent need to unite and revamp the image of CAC, who was left without a president for two weeks when the 8th Management Committee stepped down. One of the many challenges, Wen Qin recollects, was that he went through great lengths to gain the support and respect of his senior members. The first step he took was to meet up with his sub-club presidents and had a face to face talk with them individually. He admitted his incompetence towards the backgrounds, courses and cultures of the sub-clubs. He made additional effort to seek consultations and gain understanding from his sub-club presidents before executing his decisions. From there, he managed to gain their trust and understanding. He was not afraid to question, and from there he learnt.

The burning passion in some of the presidents among the constituent clubs Wen Qin witnessed, greatly spurred him to lead his team through the many obstacles faced. Amongst them was former FASS Arts Club president, Wee Shi Chen. Wen Qin proudly praised him as someone he deeply respects. “If there is anyone who thinks about the welfare of the students first, it has got to be Shi Chen,” he added.

Wen Qin shyly describes himself as a zealous and competitive person who can be counted on most to display responsibility in his work. Former Arts Club president, Wee Shi Chen commented that Wen Qin is a strict and assertive leader, one who “does not compromise when it comes to work and isn't above making hard decisions.”

The fruit of Wen Qin’s success are visible in the improved publicity and reputation of CAC in NUS. In the past year, he has strived hard for the welfare of his expanding club members and actively championed for larger clubroom facilities. Looking forward, he sees CAC moving in the direction of the sub-clubs turning into performance ready professionals rather than remain as an interest take-up group.

The vibrant mix of committee and club members from different faculties allowed Wen Qin to be more flexible and open to different working styles and ideas. He believes such an environment offers a good opportunity to learn the best from one another. Wen Qin feels strongly about entitling ownership of roles to his committees; “give them a direction so as to inspire them to find a path for themselves to fulfil the club’s goals through words, thoughts, actions.” As simple as watching his club members enjoying themselves on stage during performances gives Wen Qin the greatest satisfaction as club president.

When asked which sub-club he secretly wants to join, Wen Qin had undoubtedly expressed that he wanted to be in Resonance, a cappella club. “This is not exactly a secret,” he grins, “but sadly I am not good enough,” he confesses with a smile plastered on his face.

Most certainly, Wen Qin’s “default angry face” is indeed a deceiving personality façade. This guy is definitely a huge ball of courage, passion and dedication— he was just about to rush off to sit in a budget discussion with his newly elected management committee.

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Brain Storm: You Are The Apple Of My Eye

I just watched the Taiwanese movie "You Are The Apple of My Eye".

Frankly it didn't get in touch with me that much especially when it comes to the school years because my younger days were pretty boring. But it did give me some insights about the topic of love.

It's a really strange thing. Sometimes two persons can be so in love with each other. Sometimes you don't really need a reason. Even if both parties are really incompatible. Sometimes it can become too much of a challenge. I always believed that nothing can be an obstacle to true love. If you really love each other, you can compromise. As long as you try, put in effort from both sides, seek understanding, communicate and build trust, most things are possible.

Yet, that isn't that case usually. We hear of breakups, we experience breakups. Do you think you can ever fully get over someone after you fell for the person once? I'm not sure. I don't think so. This is especially so when there is much yearning, when things are not working out even though you want to. How many chances can we give? How long can we fight? Is love really so transient? How much effort is worth it?

Sometimes, we give up hope on a whim. Sometimes, we give up hope thinking that we have thought it through probably, only to realise that we didn't a long time later. Then we realised that we still love our ex and we would still want to give it a try. But the awkward-ness, the past, everything that has happened, made it difficult. Maybe it was difficult for even one party to initiate again, to say I love you again, and to ask to be together again. Or maybe one or both parties are afraid to get hurt again. Despite the imploding memories and feelings, that step was difficult.

And from then onwards, we can only look at the sky and wonder if the other person is looking at the sky at the same time, and wondering if that person is missing you.
And we will wonder to ourselves, why despite loving each other so much, having so much faith, we still had to live our lives without another.
And we will wonder, what would have happened if we had picked up the courage, to forgive, to have faith, to trust that it will all work out even if there are difficulties.
And we will wonder, why did we give up, on a spur of a moment, after only considering for a short time, even after many years.
"In my next life I won't be the one to let you go".

"In the parallel universe, perhaps we are together".

So why can't it be this life? Why can't it be this universe?

I'll never know. Sometimes love is like that. And at the end of all things, despite how much we want to cry, we can only smile and say to the other person, take care and be happy. And despite saying things like "as long as you are happy, I will be", you know deep inside your heart, you want to be the person to make them happy. You want to be the main lead of that person's life. Yet, saying that is all you can do. And the most cruel thing is when the other party knows that you are the one who makes him/her happy, but that person cannot bear to tell you. Or that person told you, and you insist that it's not true, even if it is.

It's not just about feelings, it's also about compatibility, and what the future holds. But I would go against the world with you, for you. Yet, that's not what always happens.

And I can only say, "as long as you are happy, I will be".

Youtube: Those Years [Theme Song of You Are The Apple Of My Eye] [With self translation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xWzlwGVQ6_Q

【那些年,我們一起追的女孩】電影主題曲《那些年》
演唱:胡夏/作曲:木村充利/作詞:九把刀

又回到最初的起點
記憶中妳青澀的臉
我們終於來到了這一天
桌墊下的老照片
無數回憶連結
今天男孩要赴女孩最後的約

Back to the starting point again
I recall your sentimental face
Finally we have come to this day
The old photos under the desk
links back to uncountable memories
Today, the boy is  meeting the girl for one last date

又回到最初的起點
呆呆地站在鏡子前
笨拙繫上紅色領帶的結
將頭髮梳成大人模樣
穿上一身帥氣西裝
等會兒見妳一定比想像美

Back to the starting point again
Blanking standing in front of the mirror
Clumsily tying the knot of my red tie
Combing my hair to look like an adult
Wearing a cool looking suit
Later you'll surely look more beautiful than I imagined

好想再回到那些年的時光
回到教室座位前後 故意討妳溫柔的罵
黑板上排列組合 妳捨得解開嗎
誰與誰坐他又愛著她

I wish I can go back to those days
Back to the classroom seats    Making you scold me gently on purpose
The permutation questions on the blackboard      Do you bear to unlock them?
Among everyone, he is the one in love with her

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想擁抱妳 擁抱錯過的勇氣
曾經想征服全世界
到最後回首才發現
這世界滴滴點點全部都是妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to hug you     embracing the courage which I lacked
I wanted to conquer the world
But it's only when I look back that I discovered
you make up every bit of my world
那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想告訴妳 告訴妳我沒有忘記
那天晚上滿天星星
平行時空下的約定
再一次相遇我會緊緊抱著妳
緊緊抱著妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to tell you      tell you that I never forget
That night under the starry skies
I made a promise with you in a parallel universe
If I ever see you again, I'll hug you tightly
I'll hug you tightly

又回到最初的起點
呆呆地站在鏡子前
笨拙繫上紅色領帶的結
將頭髮梳成大人模樣
穿上一身帥氣西裝
等會兒見妳一定比想像美

Back to the starting point again
Blanking standing in front of the mirror
Clumsily tying the knot of my red tie
Combing my hair to look like an adult
Wearing a cool looking suit
Later you'll surely look more beautiful than I imagined

好想再回到那些年的時光
回到教室座位前後 故意討妳溫柔的罵
黑板上排列組合 妳捨得解開嗎
誰與誰坐他又愛著她

I wish I can go back to those days
Back to the classroom seats    Making you scold me gently on purpose
The permutation questions on the blackboard      Do you bear to unlock them?
Among everyone, he is the one in love with her

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想擁抱妳 擁抱錯過的勇氣
曾經想征服全世界
到最後回首才發現
這世界滴滴點點全部都是妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to hug you     embracing the courage which I lacked
I wanted to conquer the world
But it's only when I look back that I discovered
you make up every bit of my world
那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想告訴妳 告訴妳我沒有忘記
那天晚上滿天星星
平行時空下的約定
再一次相遇我會緊緊抱著妳
緊緊抱著妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to tell you      tell you that I never forget
That night under the starry skies
I made a promise with you in a parallel universe
If I ever see you again, I'll hug you tightly
I'll hug you tightly

Dialogue:

Shen Chia-yi: Yes you're childish. You're really childish.
Ko Ching-Teng: Yeah I'm childish. It's because I'm childish, that's why I woo such a hardworking girl like you. It's because I'm childish, that's how I could have wooed you for so long.

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想擁抱妳 擁抱錯過的勇氣
曾經想征服全世界
到最後回首才發現
這世界滴滴點點全部都是妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to hug you     embracing the courage which I lacked
I wanted to conquer the world
But it's only when I look back that I discovered
you make up every bit of my world

Dialogue:

Shen Chia-yi: You're a stupid fool! You don't know anything at all.

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想告訴妳 告訴妳我沒有忘記
那天晚上滿天星星
平行時空下的約定
再一次相遇我會緊緊抱著妳
緊緊抱著妳

The rain I missed all those years
The love I lost all those years
I really want to tell you      tell you that I never forget
That night under the starry skies
I made a promise with you in a parallel universe
If I ever see you again, I'll hug you tightly
I'll hug you tightly

Dialogue:

Shen Chia-yi: Do you want to know the answer? I can tell you now.
Ko Ching-Teng: Please don't tell me now. Please let me have the chance to continue liking you. If I don't ask you, then you can't reject me. So please don't tell me now.

*the word on one of the faces of the lantern says "Yes"*